Once again social media is proving it has the chops to stay in a breaking news cycle foot race with mainstream media. Citizen photojournalists are kicking ass on the “big dawgs” when it comes to getting images out of Haiti during this time of disaster.
The video referenced below has an out-of-breath, unknown photographer providing real time commentary on the earthquake as seen from a distance, in the mountains. It is chilling. At the very end of the video we hear, in English: “The world is coming to an end!”
The following comes from Global Voices:
The Caribbean blogosphere is busy tonight, discussing very sad news – an earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter Scale struck off the coast of Haiti, causing major damage and loss of life in the already besieged island nation.
Twitter emerged as the fastest, most time sensitive vehicle through which to report on the catastrophe; Facebook was also full of wall comments on the disaster, from both French and English-speaking Caribbean netizens. One user in Trinidad and Tobago was already collecting “foodstuff, blankets & clothing for Haiti”, asking donors to “label all bags”. Others, like Jamaica-based Annie Paul, quoted lyrics from calypsonian David Rudder‘s ode to the island: “Haiti, I’m sorry…but one day we’ll turn our heads, restore your glory”, following up with links to video of the earthquake, which she found posted on YouTube:
And “Behind Blondie Park” is carrying some compelling images and accounts as well.
Related articles:
- Relief Efforts for Haiti (firstthings.com)
- Haiti Earthquake: Hundreds Feared Dead (news.sky.com)
- Experts warned of earthquake risk in Haiti (cnn.com)
- Haiti Earthquake Relief: How You Can Help (huffingtonpost.com)
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Perhaps we can get a load of Michael Pritchard’s water bottles that filters filthy water into drinking water as demonstrated on TED.com into the hands of the Haitian people immediately. If everyone in the USA bought just one, they would have too much good water.
Good idea Marco; however, you must first have “filthy water” to clean up. The trouble now in Haiti isn’t contaminated water, it’s that they have NO water–clean or dirty–to drink. charity:water has a couple of partner organizations in country they are asking people to donate to. Charity:water isn’t a disaster relief group. Personally I’m thrilled they aren’t trying to jump in and try to “do disaster relief” around this.
I’m not sure how well the filter works, but isn’t there a bit of ocean water around them?
Those filters weren’t meant for desalinization –that process is very intensive and expensive. I heard today that Oxfam is actually doing some great work on getting water to the area, filtering and having it read for drinking.