[News] Hait & Cuba - Selective Commendation, Selective Indignation
Anti-Imperialist News
news at freedomarchives.org
Fri Apr 16 18:21:33 EDT 2010
http://www.counterpunch.org/kirk04162010.html
April 16-18, 2010
Recent Media Coverage of Cuba
Selective Commendation, Selective Indignation
By EMILY J. KIRK, JOHN M. KIRK and NORMAN GIRVAN
The January 2010 earthquake in Haiti caused some
230,000 deaths, left 1.5 million homeless, and
has directly affected 3 million Haitians1/3 of
the population. On March 31, representatives of
over 50 governments and international
organizations gathered at the United Nations
Haiti Donor Conference to pledge long-term
assistance for the rebuilding of Haiti. At the
conference, Cuba made arguably the most ambitious
and impressive pledge of all countriesto rebuild
the entire National Health Service. While the
efforts of other government have been praised,
those of Cuba, however, have largely been ignored in the media.
The aim of Cubas contribution is to completely
reconstruct the Haitian health care systemand to
do so in a sustainable manner. The new system
will be based on the Cuban model, embracing
primary, secondary and tertiary health care, in
addition to the training of additional Haitian doctors in Cuba. In summary[1]:
The primary level will include 101 clinics to
treat annually an estimated 2.8 million patients,
perform 1.3 million emergency operations, deliver
168,000 babies, and provide 3 million vaccinations.
The secondary level will be provided through 30
community hospitals. They will have the capacity
to treat annually 2.1 million patients, and
provide 1 million emergency surgeries, 54,000
operations, 276,000 electro-cardiograms, 107,000
dental exams, 144,000 diagnostic ultrasounds, and
487,000 laboratory tests. In addition, due to the
high numbers of poly-traumatized patients, the 30
rehabilitation rooms will be included throughout
the country and will provide 2.4 million
therapeutic treatments for some 520,000 patients.
The tertiary level of health care will be
delivered by the Haitian Specialties Hospital,
staffed by 80 Cuban specialists. It will contain
various clinical departments, and will be used
for research and teaching, as well as the further
training of Haitian professionals who will
gradually replace the Cuban professionals.
Finally, 312 additional medical scholarships are
to be provided for Haitian students to study in Cuba.
What is also significant point is that these are
not just pledges from Cuba, but rather a
development of medical assistance which has been
provided over the last eleven years, and
dramatically increased since the earthquake. A
Cuban medical brigade has been in Haiti since
1999 and has a presence in 127 of the 137
Haitian communes, saved 223,442 lives, treated 14
million people, performed 225,000 operations and
delivered 109,000 babies[2]. Furthermore much of
the promised programme is already in place, as
post-quake, 23 of these primary care health
centers, 15 community reference hospitals and 21
rehabilitation rooms are up and running.
The cost of the Cuban programme over a ten-year
period is estimated at $690.5 millionusing 50
percent of international prices for services of
this kind[3]. This is an enormous amount for a
small developing country (11.2 million
population); and moreover one that has been under
a crippling economic blockade from its powerful
neighbor for nearly half-a-century. It is even
more notable when compared to those of other
governments, particularly those of industrialized
countries. For example, Cubas contribution in
relation to its GDP is 152 times that of the
United States, which pledged $1.15 billion[4].
Among other G-7 countries, France, the former
colonial power, pledged $188.93 million, Germany
$53.17 million, Japan $75 million, and Canada
$375.23 million, while Italy and the United
Kingdom, though not specifically listed, were
probably included in the $203.19 million pledge
that was made in the name of EU Remaining group of countries.[5]
Hence in absolute terms the monetary value of
Cubas contribution is almost 4 times that of
France, 12 times that of Germany, and almost
twice that of Canada. Indeed, excluding the U.S.,
Cubas contribution is more than the rest of the
G7 countries combined, as well as 35% more than
the contribution of the World Bank ($479
million). In all, 59 pledges were made from
governments, regional blocs and financial institutions.
In other words, while other countries are
pledging money, Cuba is actively creating an
entire sustainable health care system which will
treat 75% of the Haitian population,[6] and save
hundreds of thousands of lives.
And yet, in spite of the extraordinary value of
this commitment, it has been largely ignored by
the principal North American media. An analysis
of coverage of the Haiti Donor Conference by five
major U.S. mediaCNN, the New York Times, the
Boston Globe, the Washington Post, and the Miami
Heraldrevealed that, of 38 posts recorded in the
ten days immediately following the Conference,
only one mentioned the Cuban contributionand
that only briefly. In fact the first four listed
above entirely ignored Cubas contribution; the
one mention being in the Miami Herald. On the
other hand 22 of the 38 postings mention the U.S.
contribution. The amount of media coverage is
also instructive in indicating the gradual
decline in media interest following the disaster.
That said, the UN Haiti Donor Conference was
clearly worthy of widespread attention, with a
major gathering of some of the worlds leading
decision-makersyet there was noticeably little
published about it, and especially about Cubas extraordinary contribution.
In addition, our analysis of the first fifty
results in Google News for United Nations Haiti
Donor Conference generated only two articles
that mentioned Cubas role; one of which simply
focused on the rarity of Cuban and United States
officials working together. By contrast, 31 of
the 50 articles discuss the contributions of
developed countries at the Donor Conference, and
21 specifically discuss that of the United
States9 of which mention the $1.15 billion pledged by the US government.
Indeed a content analysis of the articles reveals
that their main theme was the importance of the
role of the United States in helping Haiti. The
dollar amount pledged was repeatedly stated, and
the U.S. effort was often described as being
equally (or more) important than that of the UN.
According to one article, The biggest
contributions came from the United States and the
European Union.[7] Even if one compares the
absolute amounts pledged, this is simply not
trueas the Venezuelan pledge was for $2.4
billion[8]. Another article singles out the
United States, explaining Over 140 nations,
including the United States, have provided
immediate assistance and relief to millions of
Haitians,[9] and in media coverage the United
States consistently headed the list of
contributing countries. Another article lists the
United States as having a more important role
than the United Nations, noting Haiti's friends,
as they are called - including the U.S., France,
Brazil, Canada, the UN and the Red Cross.[10] In
sum, while relief efforts in Haiti were/are an
international affair, the media have largely
focused on contributions made by the United States.
Another common theme in coverage was the lack of
assistance from other countries. Hence, when the
assistance of the United States was not praised,
those of other countries were denigrated. As one
article states, The United States pledged $1.15
billion, in addition to the $900 million it has
already given... By comparison, China pledged
$1.5 million yes, you read it right, million with
an ``m'' -- in addition to the nearly $14 million
it has already given.[11] Thus, there is a
consistent pattern of disproportionately positive
representation by the media of the role of the
United States, one that both emphasizes the
actual pledge and ignores blatantly the significant Cuban pledge.
There is a dramatic contrast between the cover-up
of Cubas extraordinary contribution to Haiti by
mainstream US media and the enormous attention by
the same media on alleged human rights abuses in
that country. Literally dozens of articles on
this topic have appeared in recent weeks. Of
particular media interest was the death of
Orlando Zapata Tamayo (a jailed dissident with
a criminal record who refused food for 80 days
before dying) and the hunger strike of Guillermo
Fariñas. The death of Zapata as a result of the
hunger strike continues to be written about and
discussed. Indeed it has been used consistently
as a springboard to increase criticism of the
Cuban government. Thus, between February 10 and
April 6 we found a total of 77 stories in the
five media houses surveyed about the hunger
strikersfive in CNN, seven in the New York
Times, 13 in the Washington Post, four in the
Boston Globe and 48 in the Miami Herald. The
difference in the coverage of these two
Cuba-related stories is striking. It reveals a
clear disinterest in providing positive
information on Cuba, but a significant appetite to criticize Cuba.
As a result, instead of reporting on an
enormously important and topical story on a
programme aimed at improving the lives of 75% of
Haitis population, the media have chosen to
focus on the individual cases of two men who have
consciously and deliberately decided to embark on
a suicidal course. It does not take much to work
out that the aim is to embarrass the Cuban
government by following these human interest
stories about two individuals who oppose the
Cuban government, presenting them as martyrs. It
is also obvious that there is a clear media
filter, one which seeks to prevent any media
coverage that could be construed as being
positive of Cubain this case seen in the
governments commitment to the reconstruction of Haiti.
In examining the medias representation of Cubas
role in Haitis development and the stories of
two dissidents, it is clear that politically
biased infotainment has won out. Sadly (but
perhaps predictably), in their coverage of Cuba,
the media in the developed world have focused
on the latter while ignoring Cubas remarkable
offer that will surely and significantly improve
the lives of millions of Haitians, (while at the
same time highlighting the role and contribution
of the United States). Yet again we have an
example of selective commendation and selective
indignation in the North American medias presentation of Cuba.
Emily J. Kirk will be an M.A. student in Latin
American Studies at Cambridge University in September.
John Kirk is a professor of Latin American
Studies at Dalhousie University, Canada. Both are
working on a project on Cuban medical
internationalism sponsored by Canada's Social
Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada
(SSHRC). Professor Kirk co-wrote with Michael
Erisman the 2009 book "Cuba's Medical
Internationalism: Origins, Evolution and Goals"
(Palgrave Macmillan). He spent most of February
and March in El Salvador and Guatemala,
accompanying the Henry Reeve Brigade in El
Salvador, and working with the Brigada Medica Cubana in Guatemala.
Norman Girvan is Professorial Research Fellow at
the University of the West Indies Graduate
Institute of International Relations at the
University of the West Indies in St. Augustine,
Trinidad and Tobago. He is Vice Chairman of the
Board of the South Centre and member of the
United Nations Committee on Development Policy.
Notes.
[1] Details from the Statement by Cuban Foreign
Minister Bruno Rodriguez to the Haiti Donor
Conference, available at
<http://www.haiticonference.org/pledges-statements.html>Pledge
Statements; United Nations International Donors
Conference Towards A New Future For Haiti. 2010.
[2] From the Pledge Statement by Foreign Minister Rodriguez.
[3] The total includes the medical services
provided, calculated at 50% of international
prices; the sustainability of these services and
the personnel providing them; and the training of
a further 312 Haitian doctors in Cuba. Whereas
the Official Text of the Cuban Statement
published on the
<https://undp.box.net/file/412916690/encoded/39769548/be988a3663eeb8775a5e73766a4be61a>UN
website refers to this cost over four years,
the text of Foreign Ministers Bruno Rodriguezs
speech as published by Granma International
refers to this cost over ten years (see
<http://overseasreview.blogspot.com/2010/04/statement-of-cuban-foreign-minister-at.html>Overseas
Territories Review)
[4] Cubas contribution of $690.6 million is the
equivalent of 1.22 percent of its annual GDP
($56.52 billion in 2009); the U.S. pledge of
$1.15 billion is the equivalent of 0.008096
percent of its annual GDP (14,204 of billion in
2008). Source of the Cuban GDP estimate is the
CIA Fact book figure at official rates of
exchange; that of the US is the World Banks World Development Indicators.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.
[7]
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8596080.stm>UN
Haiti Donor Pledges Surpass Target of Almost $10 Billion. BBC. 1 April, 2010.
[8] The Venezuelan pledge, which has also been
largely ignored by the U.S. media, consists of
$1,431 million via the PetroCaribe Oil Facility
for infrastructure and social spending, $409
million via PetroCaribe for direct budgetary
support to the Government of Haiti, $395 million
in debt forgiveness (announced shortly after the
earthquake), $100 million through the ALBA Bank,
$37.2 million towards the Union of South American
States $200 million pledge, $2.3 million for
emergency supplies via CITGO, and unspecified
support for food and education; for a total of
$2,420 million. Source:
<http://www.haiticonference.org/pledges-statements.html>Venezuelan
Pledge Statement.
[9] Esther Brimmer.
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/esther-brimmer/rebuilding-haiti-a-global_b_528790.html>Rebuilding
Haiti: A Global Response to a Global Crisis. The
Huffington Post. 12 April, 2010.
[10] Wilnetz, Amy.
<http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2010/04/12/2010-04-12_renew_haiti_from_the_ground_up.html>Renew
Haiti From The Ground Up. NY Daily News. 12 April, 2010.
[11] Andres Oppenheimer.
<http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/04/03/1562417/china-should-be-ashamed-of-its.html#ixzz0ktnhldAK>China
Should Be Ashamed of Its Aid to Haiti. Miami Herald. 3 April, 2010.
This article was written for Cuba-L Analysis and CounterPunch.
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