One of the myths about Haiti

Myth
Haitians caused the floods and mudslides because they deforested the hillside for charcol.

"Over the centuries, the colonial powers cleared millions of acres of virgin tropical forests to make room for coffee, and millions more were degraded by erosion, damage to waterways and other secondary effects of production. In heavily deforested Haiti, about 80 percent of the loss of tree cover came from coffee production..." source and cacao, sugarcane and mango.






Some comparisons that indicate the difference in colonial and socialist care of its culture.

Average life expectancy cuba 76/80, Haiti 56/59

Average number of children per mother cuba 1.5, Haiti 3.7

Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births: cuba 45 , Haiti 670

Infant deaths per 1,000 births: cuba 7, Haiti 80

Adults HIV/Aids rate: cuba 0.1%, Haiti 3.8%

Doctors per 1,000 head of population: cuba 5.9, Haiti 0.3

Adult literacy rate: cuba 99.8% Haiti 52.9%

Unemployment rate: cuba 1.8%, Haiti 66%







Infant deaths per 1,000 births: 80

HIV/Aids rate: 3.8%

Doctors per 1,000 head of population: 0.3

Adult literacy rate: 52.9% (m 54.8%/f 51.2%)

Economic outlook: Not encouraging. After some slow progress, riots were sparked in 2008 by food price rises. UN officials admit Haiti is facing a job creation crisis, and depends on remittances and aid.

Main industries: Sugar refining, flour milling, textiles, cement, light manufacturing

Key crops/livestock: Coffee, mangoes, sugarcane, rice, corn, sorghum

Key exports: Clothing, oils, cocoa, mangoes, coffee

GDP: £2,541m (131st)

GDP per head: £269

Unemployment rate: 66% without formal jobs

Proportion of global carbon emissions: 0.01%