Dr. Paul Farmer on Bill Clinton's Apology for Wrecking Haitian Rice Farming: "A Great Relief"

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DemocracyNow.org - Shortly after becoming the U.N. Special Envoy to Haiti, former President Bill Clinton publicly apologized for forcing Haiti to drop tariffs on imported subsidized U.S. rice during his time in office. The policy wiped out Haitian rice farming, seriously damaged Haiti's ability to be self-sufficient, and contributed to Haiti's forced urbanization that likely increased the earthquake toll. Dr. Paul Farmer, who serves as Clinton's deputy in Haiti, told Democracy Now! today: "I felt a sense of great relief just hearing him say that. I felt grateful for it as an American." For the complete transcript, podcast and for additional reports on the situation in Haiti since the earthquake, visit http://www.democracynow.org/tags/haiti FOLLOW DEMOCRACY NOW! ONLINE: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/democracynow Twitter: @democracynow Subscribe on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/democracynow Daily Email News Digest: http://www.democracynow.org/subscribe Please consider supporting independent media by making a donation to Democracy Now! today, visit http://www.democracynow.org/donate/YT

Comments

a Sham a Shame

conantdog, the pigs were circa 1981 or late 70's to early 80's.

Yeah I'm gonna help rebuild Haiti after I helped destroy it. Great apology. Now we know who to praise for Haiti's wealth.

Haiti earthquake was cash cow for the clinton foundation.

Cool. Next time I want to commit a crime I know now I can get away with it if I apologize for it later.

"Tut mir leid."-Hitler

@Patman968574 Interesting. Thanx for bringing this to my attention. I will definately look into it.

I like Bill Clinton. This is the first time Ive heard a politician apologise for anything. Politicians such as Goerge Bush, whov commited actual crimes with far more devastating consequences, should follow suite

I'm glad Amy made the comment at the very end to clarify just was Clinton was apologizing for. If Clinton's intention was to decrease Haitians' ability to sustain themselves, and to reduce the costs of their labor, then his policy was particularly deplorable. How meaningful is his apology after the fact? Does he intend to help Haitans or to exploit them? Why is a politician taking part in a humanitarian effort?

OK, an "apology' is one thing, and rectifying the situation is another. It's too profitable for Clinton and Farmer to want Haitians to go back to food self-sufficiency. Haitians are still going hungry nearly two years after the so-called apology.