User:Opriter/Haiti Reconstruction/INTRODUCTION

The January 12th earthquake that devastated most of the city of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, was a terrifying event for not only Haitians living inside the country and abroad but for people all over the world. The pictures seen on TV and Internet were emotionally disturbing. This event can't let me indifferent. My first reaction was to look at the cause of this surprising and destructive event and decide how I can contribute. Ideas have predominance over the material world. As an educator with a background in math, science and engineering I started by gathering as much as scientific information about geology, seismology, earthquake engineering and paraseismic construction. I decided that my best contribution to our beloved country is to write about my research and dialogue with others in other to find valuable solutions for our country. I am not limiting myself to the scientific aspect of this endevour. The other aspect of my purpose is to write and dialogue about the natural disasters that plague the country, compile as many as possible events related to the terrible natural disaster of January 12th. This can serve as a reservoir of information not only for education and information but for reflection and action. Our behavior should be guided by the moral, philosophical, scientific principles not by the destructive ones that lead us to the terrible situation we face now without hope to exit. I want you to contribute to this endevour by sharing your knowledge, expertise and ideas. The development and the reconstruction of some physical infrastructure of Haiti should be the matter of Haitians first but if we do it in clans and battles between ourselves we will not go anywhere. Remember how we get our independence by the union of all components of the existing society. What about our motto "L'Union fait la force". What have we done of it?