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Note in Pats comment "clothes they can't sell in their shops". Goodwill also sells the clothes and items you donate it covers their operating costs. Makes sense to sell the non-movers to some one. In turn, the sellers in Haiti probably don't charge much as Haitians couldn't afford much. However, I agree that if you donate with the understanding that the recipients will get it for free and, instead, they have to pay it is fraud.

Andy, I also noticed some time ago you had a missive about vast quantity use of cooking oil in Africa. In the picture accompanying it, note the cans of oil are labeled "USAID not for commercial sale." An excellent graphic example of the diversion of aid for pecuniary gain.

Comment About Used Clothing Imported to Haiti

hi Andy

Believe that would be star anise.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_anise

mike

Comment About Cinnamon in Haiti

Hi Andy,

this is not cinnamon but anis - very good spice for colds and coughs.....

By the way, if you want to come to Uruguay, I have a bed for you in Montevideo. I live now with my new German partner and we enjoy the sun and the sport club next door. And we are buying a sail boat, too......

Comment About Cinnamon in Haiti

I had the very same question about this a few years ago when I was in Thailand visiting with some Burmese refugees and wondered where did their obviously American style clothes come from. I was told that the clothes, (like the ones you saw) are from non-profits such as you mentioned. Generally, these are clothes they couldn't sell in their shops. They then sell them onto distributors who ship them overseas for sale. There is a considerable cost in doing this and an even greater profit to the distributors.

The non-profits, such as Goodwill and the Salvation Army, do perform a valuable service. The opportunity for them to sell items that are not moving from their stores is simply another revenue stream which helps them to achieve their mission. However, they are not concerned about the path the clothes take once out of their hands. This also happens with the electronics they cannot sell, which is a far greater problem and perhaps one they should consider more closely.

There are literally mountains of keyboards, monitors, and computers, again castoffs from recycling centers or non-profits, that are shipped to places in Africa and China.

According to CRI English.com "Mobile phones, for example, contain heavy metals such as lead and beryllium, as well as bromide used as a flame retardant in the circuit boards, all of which are potentially dangerous for humans.

The cadmium contained in a single mobile phone battery can contaminate about 60,000 liters of water."

Another example of this is what is happening in Ghana. According to earthhopenetwork, "Containers filled with old and often broken computers, monitors and TVs - from brands including Philips, Canon, Dell, Microsoft, Nokia, Siemens and Sony - arrive in Ghana from Germany, Korea, Switzerland and the Netherlands under the false label of "second-hand goods". The majority of the containers' contents end up in Ghana's scrap yards to be crushed and burned by workers, often children, sometimes using only their bare hands. This method not only pollutes the environment but also exposes workers to potentially toxic dust and fumes. This crude "recycling" is done in search of metal parts, mostly aluminium and copper, which sells for approximately 2 US Dollars per five kilos."

I commend you for your questioning the morality of the situation you noted in regards to the clothing. I hope you will agree that what you saw is a form of recycling that offers those people an opportunity to have an income through the resale of the clothing. In the long run it is a good thing for those people and their environment.

Comment About Used Clothing Imported to Haiti

Hello, please send me a catalog or maybe a website where I can see the price, shipping method, policy, etc. please email back diamondmvs@yahoo.com I am hoping for you qiuck response.

Comment About Bangkok Wholesale Shopping

The Clinton's took a tax write off on there donated underwear.

Former president Bill Clinton once made public a tax return on which he deducted $2 apiece for donated underwear. In a mandatory financial disclosure,

I bet there worth double now.

Comment About Used Clothing Imported to Haiti

I have heard about this practice. It is most likely one of their countrymen who is turning these donations into a business. That person probably justifies it as "putting food on their table," but is invariably taking it off of someone else's. There is a way to stop it however. Due to this I have recently only donated to charities that I know directly distribute to the people recieving the benefits. The next step is education, this is a harder issue, because in many countries (the US included) the government doesn't want the people to know.

Comment About Used Clothing Imported to Haiti

Boy it does seem interesting there, but as you comented about the state of affairs with the women being ill-treated I don't know that I would appreciate it for very long if staying there. I've just been looking at Carnival cruises and realised that you can alos actually get quite cheap holidays through this cruise line that are exceptionally good for the money. The web page I found at http://www.carnival-cruise-line-deals.com/ has sound info on getting Carnival cruise deals that are impressive, worth looking at also.

Comment About Go from Les Cayes to Miragoene Haiti

“Hello sexy man. I go with you ”?

That get's me to stop every time. I mean how many could be lying to me in one night ?

Comment About Walk and Talk Travel Tip

Count your blessings ! In Peru , where I was hospitalized with altitude sickness , the shower was connected by very loose wiring to a wall water heater . Consiquently one got a shock when ever you touched the taps .I was never brave enough to experiment with standing on the metal drain at the same time . Incidentaly , why are the buckets red all over the world ?

Comment About Fill the Bucket Travel Tip

I would welcome women tag alongs under 30 and good physical shape. Extremely wealthy is fine also, and of course Shakira has a standing invitation for years.

Comment About Bags of Water Travel Tips

I just noticed you when I was checking out Togo, Africa, because my HVAC cleaner is from Togo and is in Colorado going to college. So I haven't checked out your whole website, but have you had tag a longs sometimes or is it best to be on your own? Just something I've dreamed of for a long time.

Comment About Bags of Water Travel Tips

I am a protesting Christian.

Haiti is Christian.

Stats are crap on denominations.

I have on saw one Vodoo thing and just a sign not a practice.

I would guess 50 percent Catholic and 50 percent missionary induced Protestants.

Voodoo so far is small in the southwest of Haiti

Comment About Miragoane Haiti

What is the most common faith in haiti? Please share your faith.

Comment About Miragoane Haiti

Congratulations ! At last you are seeing a little of that lovely Island . The prices seem steep . I wonder how often that Hotel gets a tourist ? What did you do to entertain all those little girls ? Learn a few hand tricks and you will be rewarded with a lot of smiles . I once became so popular on a bus ride to Chi Chi Castinango that I finished up with a baby on my lap ! Trust the people , they are the best if they have not been corrupted by the U.N. A few trinkets don't hurt either , a string of Mardi Gras beads got my daughter a ride to Timbucktu !

Comment About Miragoane Haiti

Nice trip, how did you do there, where i can see a review? :)

Comment About Go from Les Cayes to Miragoene Haiti

your insane.....god bless you.

one question!!

is it possible to buy a beachfront home cheap ? maybe rent it out to a house keeper for free while your gone ?....looks beautiful

Comment About Haiti Market Video in Les Cayes

Simple ask the only white person you see for a bed for ten dollars you will get one and some good conversation and probable a meal thrown in. I actually do not like it here. The men are terrible to the women. I have only 3 months left and will be glad to leave but sad to say goodbye to the children. I wish I could invite you but women only. sorry.

Comment About Go from Les Cayes to Miragoene Haiti

...I WAS BORN N RAISED IN HAITI...N IT IS A BEAUTIFUL ISLAND FULL OF HISTORICAL PLACES N BEAUTIFUL BEACHES...I THINK PPL SHULD VISIT HAITI MORE N REALLY EXPERIENCE HOW IT REALLY IS LIKE INSTEAD OF.

Going BY WHAT THEY SEE ON TV...THE MEDIA ONLY SHOWS THE BAD PARTS OF HAITI AND HIDES HER REAL BEAUTY IN THE PROCESS. IN THE 40S N DA 50S HAITI WAS ONE OF THE NOST POPULAR DESTINATIONS IN THE CARRIBEAN...NOWADAYS PPL WULDNT EVEN THNK OF GOIN DER..I THNK HAITI DESERVES A FAIR CHANCE!

Comment About What do you want me to do in Haiti

Andy,

Re: Prices are nutty -
Yeah, especially considering Haiti has the lowest GDP per capita in the western hemisphere.

Eric

Comment About Go from Les Cayes to Miragoene Haiti

Why do you go there if these people want to be uncontacted? Why cant you respect that!!! These people have suffered from contacts like yours, thats why they dont want to be contacted.

Comment About Isolated Peru Tribes Expedition

awwwww that is so cute .... never seen anyone drinking water out of a plastic bag. I think you're right about it being healthier too.

Cheers,

Marica

Comment About Bags of Water Travel Tips

Dear Andy , what I want you to do in Haiti is to seek out the culture and history of a people that have survived and risen above even worse times than these . Remember , the Island suffered from the intrusion of the American Marines in the twenties .
Are ther no longer any carnivals ? Troups of drummers and dancers coming down from the hills to dance in the streets ? Even ( polliticaly incorrect ) cock fights ? You have been there over a week without a mention of the Voodoo that made the whole of Port au Prince throb on nights of worship ! Usualy the cock that won in the fights became a sacrifice on that occasion )

Comment About Bags of Water Travel Tips

Andy...firstly, I must say thank you for all the wonderful pictures of children you've taken so far. For me, I can tell a lot about a place by looking into their eyes. Again, thank you.

A suggestion for what to do while in Haiti....find a traditional priest, and have him (or her) "initiate" you. If that is just too intense for you, at the bare mininmum, please attend a few "festivals" and/or "rituals". The locals will direct you...

The Butterfly Tribe Khalifa

Comment About What do you want me to do in Haiti

it should be:

ba-kit hin-di. not HIN-DAY

dont complicate the vowels. they are pronounced as it is.

Comment About Bakit Hindi - Why Not Philippines

I know where you live now!!!! Thanks! )

Comment About Luggage Tag Magic Marker Travel Tip

never buy ballpen again...
always free at trade shows, good hotels, banks, almost everywhere.
aloha,

Comment About Short Writing Pen Travel Tip

Find the best London Hotels

Until the coming of railway networks in the 19th century, London was a city which was more familiar with coaching inns and lodging houses. With the coming of the railways, there was also development in the hotel industry, to cater the visitors with proper accommodation. The history of London is long and exciting. There are millions of pages dedicated for London describing it as an amazing city in England you can almost realize the ghosts of London on your visit while staying in the best London hotels.

London has a large number of best London hotels which can easily fulfill all the needs and requirements of the tourists on their visit to the city. London of 21st century is known for having a wide range of hotels which vary from traditional grand giants like the Ritz and the Savoy, modern chains like the Four Seasons and Hilton, to townhouse hotels like the Darlington Hyde Park. Though there are different hotels in London but people long to stay in London luxury hotels as they are provided with all the facilities. But as they are highly expensive, people vote for their stay in other budget hotels. Most of the best London hotels are concentrated around Heathrow Airport, Knightsbridge, Kensington, Mayfair and many others.

The best thing about London luxury hotels is that they are classified into different stars depending on their services. Moreover, the location of the London luxury hotels also matter as they stand in some of the most expensive districts of London. However, as most of the people visiting London cannot afford luxury hotel room, there are several budget hotels in the city for this reason. For this reason, budget hotels in London are also very important. London budget hotels are found located close to bus station or train station thus satisfying the travelers who do not wish to spend extra money to reach their best London hotels where they are staying.

London Hotels
http://www.lastminutetravel.com/Destination/London-Hotels.aspx

Comment About Cheap Hotels Baguio Philippines

I want you to leave Haiti. I have not one bit of interest in what your doing there. I did however send some money to the orphanage-you got me there. They deserve more and I will put them on my list.

Comment About What do you want me to do in Haiti

i had an interesting discussion about going to hell with Greg at the orphanage. Well, I assume we accept that one must sin to go to hell.
I said,
"I am lazy, I do sin p, so I do not have to pray as much."

I figure, people who pray a lot must be worried. I suppose people who want me to go to hell must want some company on their trip.

Comment About What do you want me to do in Haiti