Last summer, food prices skyrocketed to an all time high. We here in America might had felt the effect as no more than like a mosquito bite [if you ever have been bitten by one], but those living in Haiti experienced the big gnawing bite. The Haitian woman to the left is seen here drying out mud biscuits or cookies made of dried yellow clay mixed with water, salt and vegetable shortening or margarine.The mud, which comes from Haiti's central plateau region, is first strained and then shaped into biscuits which are left in the sun.The pale brown biscuits, known by locals simply as "terre", have traditionally been eaten by pregnant Haitians and children as an antacid and source of calcium. However, for some Haitians unable to afford even a plate of rice, terre has become their staple diet.
There are many reasons why many Haitians are resorting to this extreme, and it is not only due to high food prices. Can you think of any? And try these questions as well:
- Why is the price of food in Haiti so high?
- Is the story above another example of structural violence? How? How is it not?
- What do you think of this statement made by workers world website "The reason Haiti is currently starving is simple. Canada, the U.S. and France—the three imperialist powers most involved in exploiting Haiti..." ?
(picture was taken from Telegraph.co.uk)
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