Caribbean quake shakes Dominican Republic

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, Wednesday March 16, 2011 – A 5.3 magnitude earthquake shook the Dominican Republic this morning just days after experts warned that the country is at risk of experiencing a quake similar to the one that hit neighbouring Haiti last year.
There were no immediate reports of major damage or injury, however.
The quake, which hit around 9:37 am about 77 miles east north east of La Romana, Dominican Republic at a depth of 0.6 km (0.4 miles), was measured at 5.3 magnitude by the Santo Domingo State University’s UASD Seismology Institute. The US Geological Survey initially put it at 5.0.
The Associated Press last week reported that Columbia University researchers had warned that the Dominican Republic could be hit by an earthquake similar to the 7.0 magnitude tremor that devastated Haiti in January 2010.
“The next event of this type will probably occur on the other side of the island (Hispaniola)," said the university’s Urban Design Lab director Richard Plunz, who led the investigation. "It could generate very serious damages in the long term.”
Plunz and the rest of the researchers are to meet with President Leonel Fernandez at the end of next month in Santo Domingo to apprise him of their findings.
Worries of earthquakes in the region and calls for the Caribbean and Latin America to get themselves earthquake ready have been heightened since last Friday’s 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
“Tragedies of this magnitude, triggering tsunami warnings across the entire Pacific and numerous other countries, underscore the importance of like-minded states collaborating in the vital area of disaster mitigation and preparedness,” acting CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite said after the disaster that killed thousands and damaged a nuclear plant.

Tout pour le pouvoir , alliance avec Titid s'il le faut

Alors que la Candidate Mirlande Manigat, avait déclarée le 3 mars dernier, lors d’un point de presse a l’aéroport de Miami en Floride « Comme citoyenne, je préférerais qu'Aristide revienne après les élections [...] Je pense que ce que nous avons besoin maintenant, c'est d'avoir plus de Paix [...] s'il décide de rentrer, je ne suis pas le chef de l'Etat, je n'ai pas l'autorité nécessaire pour bloquer son retour ».

Lundi midi, lors d'une conférence de presse, Mirlande Manigat a « réajustée » son discours concernant le retour de l’ex-Président Jean Bertrand Aristide déclarant « Loin de m’opposer au retour d’Aristide en Haïti, je m’en réjouirais, vu que l'ancien Président a promis d’aider, une fois de retour dans le pays, dans le domaine de l’éducation » ajoutant « tout le monde connait la place importante qu’a l’éducation dans mon programme et si Aristide veut aider dans ce domaine, il pourra m’aider à mettre en application mon programme. »

Un ajustement nécessaire, puisque tout comme son adversaire Michel Martelly, elle cherche à s’attirer une partie des votes de l’électorat Lavalas.

Affrontement a Mirebalais

Contrainte de renoncer à s’adresser à ses partisans et d’abandonner précipitamment la ville, théâtre de tirs nourris et de jets de pierre, la candidate démocrate-chrétienne dénonce l’attitude, une fois de plus, violente des supporters de son rival, Michel Martelly, et s’apprête à protester officiellement auprès de l’institution électorale

Des affrontements à coups de pierre ayant opposé, au milieu de tirs nourris, des partisans de Michel Martelly et de Mirlande Manigat, ont fait plusieurs blessés légers, lors d’un meeting de la candidate démocrate-chrétienne qui a dû être annulé mardi après-midi à Mirebalais (Bas-Plateau Central, centre), un nouvel épisode de violence qui marque la campagne électorale entrée dans sa dernière ligne droite.
Evacuée d’urgence par les membres de sa sécurité rapprochée avec le soutien des agents de l’Unité départementale de maintien d’ordre (UDMO), Mme Manigat a sévèrement condamné ces "nouvelles provocations" des partisans de "Sweet Micky" et annoncé son intention d’adresser dès mercredi une "protestation formelle" au Conseil électoral provisoire.
Suite à des jets de pierre, de nombreux coups de feu ont retenti provoquant des scènes de panique au moment où le service d’ordre tentait de maîtriser des individus chauffés à blanc qui avaient investi la foule avec des posters de Michel Martelly.
Parmi les blessés que le correspondant local de Radio Kiskeya a pu remarquer figurait un des musiciens du groupe rap vedette Barikad Crew (BC) ayant endossé la candidature de la professeure Manigat.
Sans avoir eu le temps de s’exprimer devant de nombreux supporters qui l’attendaient, l’aspirante à la Présidence a été contrainte de quitter précipitamment la place publique de Mirebalais où devait se tenir le rassemblement.
Les incidents ont touché d’autres secteurs de la ville et l’Hôtel Mirage, un établissement appartenant à un partisan de Michel Martelly, a essuyé des jets de pierre.
Intervenant en direct sur les ondes de Radio Kiskeya au "Jounal 4è" (l’édition de 16 heures), Mirlande Manigat a dénoncé les "attaques systématiques" des partisans de son rival dans ses différents déplacements électoraux.
Une situation qu’elle qualifie d’inadmissible en soulignant qu’à Mirebalais des hurleurs ont causé un vacarme insupportable pendant trois quarts d’heure.
Elle s’est, par ailleurs, plainte de la passivité de la police qui n’aurait rien fait contre les agresseurs.
La candidate entend aller jusqu’au bout de sa campagne après avoir effectué une tournée globalement satisfaisante dans le département du Centre qui l’a aussi conduite à Hinche, Cerca Carvajal et Boucan Carré.
A cinq jours d’un deuxième tour historique, l’intolérance et la tension semblent gagner nettement du terrain après déjà de graves incidents qui avaient fait plusieurs blessés lors d’un autre meeting de Mirlande Manigat, la semaine dernière au Cap-Haïtien (nord).
L’Organisation des Etats américains a condamné lundi ces violences électorales et exhorté les deux camps à calmer leurs partisans en vue de rendre le scrutin de dimanche pacifique.

La démocrate-chrétienne a notamment reçu au cours des dernières 24 heures le soutien de la ministre de la culture, Marie Laurence Jocelyn Lassègue, qui a obtenu une mise en disponibilité, et de quatre syndicats d’enseignant. spp/Radio Kiskeya

Harvard Men’s Soccer to Host Haitian National Team April 10

 CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The Harvard men's soccer team will host the Men's National Team of Haiti on Sunday, April 10 to benefit Partners in Health relief efforts in Haiti.

The Haiti National Team is traveling to New England for a five-day benefit tour, taking on Dartmouth on April 8 before heading to Cambridge for a 5 p.m. game at historic Harvard Stadium.

Haiti is currently the 99th ranked team in the world out of the 202 FIFA nations.

"We are thrilled to host our friends from Haiti," said head coach Carl Junot. "Together with Partners in Health and the administration at Dartmouth, we hope that this extended weekend of games will be a large benefit to Partner's In Health's work in Haiti."

he events at both Dartmouth and Harvard will raise money to support Partners in Health and its relief efforts in Haiti, which is still recovering from a catastrophic 7.0 M earthquake that struck on Jan. 12, 2010.

Admission for the game will be free to Harvard undergraduates, but donations will be accepted for this worthy cause with all the proceeds going to Partners in Health. Check back at GoCrimson.com for more details on the event as it nears.

Almost a year ago, the Harvard University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee successfully coordinated a "Harvard For Haiti Campaign" that raised over $5,000 in donations and contributions on Feb. 19, 2010.

The SAAC collected donations at men's basketball and ice hockey games with student-athletes, dressed in vintage game apparel, passing through the stands with size-18 sneakers and zie-14 ice skates. Additionally, the Department of Harvard Athletics donated all parking proceeds from the night which included events for basketball, ice hockey, men's lacrosse and MIAA Swim Championships at Blodgett Pool.

"After the earthquake in Haiti, there were many student-athletes who wanted to help out, but weren't sure how to do so. With the help of the athletic department, SAAC was able to collect money for Haiti relief," said former SAAC president and current Harvard Varsity Club Assistant Director Melissa Schellberg. "I was so impressed at how willing Harvard basketball and hockey spectators were to give to such a great cause. It's inspiring for all of us who wear Crimson, fans and athletes alike, knowing that we are helping out in every way we can."

• Haiti Radio Commercial (Creole)
• Official Dartmouth Press Release

rapper Nate Dogg died

Rapper Nate Dogg dead at 41

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March 16, 2011 |  5:27 am

The family of rapper Nate Dogg has told the Long Beach Press-Telegram that the performer died Tuesday at age 41.

No details were immediately available, but the paper said Nate Dogg, whose real name is Nathaniel D. Hale, had suffered two strokes in recent years.

His musical collaborator, rapper Snoop Dogg, posted a note on his Twitteraccount saying: "RIP NATE DOGG."

Rapper Ludacris said on Twitter: "There is a certain void in hip hop's heart that can never be filled. Glad we got to make history together."

Hale was born in Long Beach.

He got his start with Snoop Doggy Dogg and Warren G in a Long Beach-area band called 213. He later recorded with Dr. Dre on "The Chronic" and appeared in Snoop Doggy Dogg's "Doggystyle," according to Times reports.

Cholera epidemic in Haiti may exceed UN projections: Study

The cholera epidemic in Haiti will exceed UN projections, reveals a new study conducted by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and the Harvard Medical School.

The United Nations' has estimated that there will be 400,000 cases of diarrhoeal disease over the course of the epidemic. But, the study, to be published in the journal Lancet, predicts that the number of cases may double and reach upto 779,000 between March and November this year.

"The epidemic is not likely to be short-term", "It is going to be larger than predicted in terms of sheer numbers and will last far longer than the initial projections," The Eureka Alert quoted UCSF medical resident Sanjay Basu, as saying.

Basu, who conducted the study with Jason Andrews, a former UCSF resident, said that three public health interventions must be used by the authorities to curtail the epidemic .People must be provided clean water, vaccination and proper antibiotics.

Analysis suggests that antibiotic treatment can be the most effective way to save thousands of lives in Haiti.

According to Basu, the high cost of the antibiotics makes it difficult to ensure its access to the people.

Earlier, no cases of cholera were registered in Haiti, but due to the devastating earthquake in 2010, the disease has emerged as a major epidemic.

Last year, between October and December nearly 150,000 people in Haiti suffered from cholera, and over 3,000 people had died. (ANI)

S.Africa 'cannot stop Aristide's return to Haiti'

PRETORIA (AFP) – South Africa cannot prevent Haiti's exiled ex-president Jean-Bertrand Aristide from returning home before this weekend's presidential run-off on the island, an official said Tuesday.

"It is not our responsibility to say if Jean-Bertrand Aristide should or should not leave South Africa before the election," deputy foreign minister Marius Fransman said.

The United States on Monday urged South Africa to encourage Aristide to stay put, fearing that his return would cause political turmoil as the country prepares for Sunday's vote.

"The US needs to engage the Haitian government. If his (Aristide's) passport has been issued, we cannot decide when he should leave South Africa," Fransman told reporters.

Haiti cleared the way for Aristide's return by issuing him with a new passport in February.

"It is essential that the Haitian government should be leading the process and we will facilitate whatever decision they take," he added.

An Aristide aide in Haiti said last week the return of the ousted leader, who has been living in South Africa since 2004, was "imminent".

Aristide and his wife Mildred work at the University of South Africa in Pretoria, where he received a PhD in African languages in 2007.

Aristide served three presidential terms and was ousted from office twice, eventually fleeing a 2004 popular uprising aboard a US plane.

He remains a popular figure in certain quarters in Haiti, especially in the capital's teeming slums, and in the tent cities that have sprung up since the January 2010 earthquake where many decry the slow pace of progress.