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
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