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13338: Wilson posts Re: Danger in Haiti
From: riwilson <RIWILSON@maf.org>
I agree with Bob.
I have been living and working in Haiti for 6 1/2 months a year for
the past five years. There is always news from the embassy about the
danger of traveling in Haiti. But one must undrstand that it is their
job to post that warning, then they can say, "See, we warned you."
should anything happen.
I have, at various times traveled in all the areas that I received
warnings against going to with no apparent danger. Perhaps i was too
stupid or unconscious to realize I was in danger. But I don't think
so. I usually travel via tap-tap or kamyon and have never found even
any impolite conduct or comments.
I do warn people to pay attention to where you are and what is going
on. If you see a large crowd (not including normal traffic jams and
blokis') turn around and go another way. If there is known fighting
and manifestations don't go there unless you have to do so.
Last year it took me 3 hours to make a twenty minute drive from the
airport in Port-au-Prince to the house where I was staying. Why? Two
main routes were blocked because the charismatic Catholics were having
their annual convention; road construction and bad roads near Batimat;
and a third route was blocked due to a gun battle that killed some
people. But all this is normal.
The greatest danger most people face is not from violence but from
things they may have little control over, e.g. mosquitoes bearing
malaria and dengue fever; the water supply untreated, etc.
But even this is not a problem if one prepares ahead. I keep my
clothes on (including long sleeved shirts) to discourage the
mosquites, keep fans blowing on me at night (when there is
electricity) becasue mosquitoes don't fly well in a breeze, and use
insect repellant with DEET; I carry my own treated water (which I
treat myself) and when I cannot do this I carry Lugol's solution
(water based iodine which I put in any untreated water or water I am
unsure of it's quality).
Bob, I think you are quit right to suggest the thought pattern has
changed in America. We have lost our sense of adventure and desire to
challenge the unknown. The greatest question among many young people
I meet getting ready to go out into the work force is, " What are the
benefits? What are your retirment plans?"
I wonder how long it would have taken the pioneers and settlers to get
to California if they had asked these questions first, or demanded
that there be governemtnal gaurantees of safety and security before
they hitched up their teams to go out into the unknown? Perhaps we
are paying the price that comes with our increase technology and ease
of living. I wonder if that price will prove to be too high
ultimately?
Richard Wilson
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