The Shelters That Clinton Built (from The Nation)

[tpsbmam]

Are the same as or similar to the formaldehyde laden, crappy Katrina FEMA trailers -- they were manufactured by the same company.

<snip>

The project was announced by Clinton as his foundation's first contribution to the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission, which the former president co-chairs. The foundation described the project as "hurricane-proof...emergency shelters that can also serve as schools...to ensure the safety of vulnerable populations in high risk areas during the hurricane season," while also providing Haitian schoolchildren "a decent place to learn" and creating local jobs. The facilities, according to the foundation, would be equipped with power generators, restrooms, water and sanitary storage. They became one of the IHRC's first projects.

However, when Nation reporters visited the "hurricane-proof" shelters in June, six to eight months after they'd been installed, we found them to consist of twenty imported prefab trailers beset by a host of problems, from mold to sweltering heat to shoddy construction. Most disturbing, they were manufactured by the same company, Clayton Homes, that is being sued in the United States for providing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) with formaldehyde-laced trailers in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Air samples collected from twelve Haiti trailers detected worrying levels of this carcinogen in one, according to laboratory results obtained as part of a joint investigation by The Nation and The Nation Institute's Investigative Fund.

The kids swelter in the trailers and get massive headaches, feel sick & have problems with their eyes. One student interviewed reported that her teacher gave students pain killers three times a week "so they can make it through the school day." A janitor reported "a burning sensation" in his eyes when he worked long hours in the trailers.

Any number of factors might be contributing to the headaches and eye irritation reported by INHAC staff and students. However, similar symptoms were experienced by those living in the FEMA trailers that were found by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to have unsafe levels of formaldehyde. Lab tests conducted as part of our investigation in Haiti discovered levels of the carcinogen in the sixth-grade Clinton Foundation classroom in Léogâne at 250 parts per billion—two and a half times the level at which the CDC warned FEMA trailer residents that sensitive people, such as children, could face adverse health effects. Assay Technologies, the accredited lab that analyzed the air tests, identifies 100 parts per billion and more as the level at which "65–80 percent of the population will most likely exhibit some adverse health symptoms...when exposed continually over extended periods of time."

Randy Maddalena, a scientist specializing in indoor pollutants at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, characterized the 250 parts per billion finding as "a very high level" of formaldehyde and warned that "it's of concern," particularly given the small sample size. An elevated level of formaldehyde in one of twelve trailers tested is comparable to the formaldehyde emissions problems detected in about 9 percent of similar Clayton mobile homes supplied by FEMA after Hurricane Katrina. Maddalena explained that in "normal" buildings, you'll see rates twelve to twenty-five times lower than 250 parts per billion, "and even that's considered above regulatory thresholds."

There's way more at The Nation.

As if Haitians haven't suffered enough!

In defense of Clinton, the foundation has raised & contributed approximately $23 million for Haitian relief. This happens to be a major fuck up though, one that once again affects Haitian children. Given the past history of these trailers and this company, this is a fuck up that was completely avoidable.


:cry:

(I posted in GD:Presidential by mistake so I'm cross-posting here.)

[izquierdista]

1. Let's see what you can do for $7,000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll6z-9UvHmQ
Part II: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbkOpBgk-YM&feature=relmfu

So which is a better use for $23 million? Moldy outgassing trailers, or 3000+ earthships?

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Problem is that even disaster relief is now a source of "investment"

and "wealth creation..."

Makes me sick... and of course the ICRC's remedy for these things is not going to produce any profit.

(Use locals to rebuild and give them the materials to do such)

It worked like a charm in Central America but it is not coincidence that this has not been done in over 15 years.

[DURHAM D]

3. I see you are loving this story. How many more times will you post?

I guess it is better to not look for solutions to problems and not try to provide help. I will remember that. Lesson learned.