Chile and Haiti´s earthquakes: so different and so similar

         World's tectonic plates are always moving, but in the last days seem to have beaten more dramatically than usual. For example, on 12 January, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti; it killed nearly 300,000 people and left more than 1.5 million people homeless. Then on February 27, another earthquake hit southwestern part of Chile, it has killed hundreds and left more than 2 million homeless. A Haitian family, the Desarmes, tragically suffered two disasters. After the earthquake of Haiti, Pierre Desarmes, a Haitian musician based in Chile, he brought his father, mother, two brothers and their families to live near him in Santiago. They were there when the second earthquake hit Chile. He told to the BBC that he felt that the helplessness was in his life and it was the worst thing that could happened him. His story invites comparison of the two earthquakes. In fact, the media highlighted the great natural and social differences that separate the experiences of the two countries.

         First, we are going to see the difference. The magnitude of the Haiti earthquake measured 7.0 on the Richter scale, this phenomenon struck five miles of people below the surface of the earth, and its epicenter was near the center of the country's largest population, the capital of Port-au-Prince. In comparison, the earthquake of Chile was 500 times more powerful 8.8 on the Richter scale, but its epicenter was 22 miles below the surface and far away from large population centers. Moreover, because the epicenter was in Chile in the Pacific Ocean, the tsunami caused about 50 feet that destroyed entire coastal towns south of the country. In addition, after the initial advice that the most stringent building codes in Chile protected the country from devastation similar to that of Haiti, it became clear that the earthquake caused massive damage to the country's second city, Concepción, and roads and bridges in other places. As a result, the earthquake and consequent destruction of houses and infrastructure were less extensive compared with Haiti earthquake caused much more serious and down many more buildings. Disaster experts estimate it will cost about $ 14 billion for the reconstruction of Port-au-Prince.and Chilean earthquake’s cost for rebuilding houses and infrastructure in the country is $ 30 billion dollars.

         However, the level of death and devastation in Chile was not as severe as in Haiti, but this has nothing to do with plate tectonics, geological faults, and the epicenters. The real reason for this difference is historical and social.

        

         Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with more than 80 percent of the population living below the poverty line. The U.S. government is largely responsible for this situation since they support abusive dictators, undermining attempts at social reform and imposing neoliberal economic which plans that destroyed their agriculture and farmers moved to Port-au-Prince. The United States also contributed to destroy the Haitian state, which almost do not control of what happens in the country. This is why the Haitian government does not have building codes, even in the capital, which is on the fault line. By contrast, Chile is one of the richest countries in Latin America. Its GDP (gross domestic product, it is like PIB in our country) per capita is $ 14,700 compared with $ 1,300 in Haiti. However, these statistics hide the difference social inequality. In addition, the modern seismic building code of Chile has designed to resist earthquakes, was approved in 1972.

         The history of international assistance in the two cases is also similar. As in Haiti, the response of capitalist governments around the world to the earthquake in Chile has been ridiculous. The "international community" offered a pittance to Haiti. United States, for example, only contributed $ 100 million, a sum that pales in comparison to Obama's military budget of U.S. $ 650 million or U.S. $ 3 billion U.S. dollars spent on occupy Iraq and kill 1 million Iraqis

         While the principal media emphasized the differences between the two disasters, the similarities are striking. In both cases, the behavior of national governments has selected priorities to overcome corporate profits and they put the human necessities a second part. In both disasters, the government responded slowly to the crisis. In Haiti, the country's government is powerless. The real power is the occupation of the United Nations, backed by the United States. In Chile, the government of Michelle Bachelet did not respond. With almost criminal negligence, the Chilean armada does not the country from the tsunamis.

         In brief, disaster in Chile and Haiti should be a cautionary tale. We will face more natural disasters of this type, in which the economic system and their governments do not respond in a way that puts people first. We could say that Chilean and Haitian earthquakes are too different since their economics and social problems are different , but if we saw how each government react in irresponsible way to this problem it is something to worry.

Cesar Salinas Romero A08