World Enivironmental Issues Brief

  • LARGE AREAS SUBJECT TO OVERPOPULATION
  • INDUSTRIAL DISASTERS
  • POLLUTION (air, water, acid rain, toxic substances)
  • LOSS OF VEGETATION (overgrazing, deforestation, desertification)
  • LOSS OF WILDLIFE
  • SOIL DEGRADATION
  • SOIL DEPLETION
  • EROSION
  • GLOBAL WARMING

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Global Issues Snapshots

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Haiti

— Current Environmental Issues —
extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land is being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion; inadequate supplies of potable water

— Health Indicators —
HIV / AIDS prevalancy rate: 5.6
Fertility Rate: 4.9
Infant Mortality Rate: 63.8
Life Expectancy at Birth: Male: 55.4
Life Expectancy at Birth: Female: 59.0
Life Expectancy at Birth: Total Population: 57.0

— Population —
Population Total: 8,706,497
Population Growth Rate: 2.5

— Economic Indicators —
GDP Real Growth Rate: 1.8
Military Expendatures Percent of GDP: 0.5
Unemployment Rate: 0.0
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14.4
GDP Per Capita PPP: 1,800
Population Below Poverty Line: 80
    (Definitions of poverty vary considerably among nations.)

— Education and Communications —
Global Issues Snapshots
Global Issues Snapshots
Bordering country: Dominican Republic

— Background —
The native Taino Amerindians - who inhabited the island of Hispaniola when it was discovered by COLUMBUS in 1492 - were virtually annihilated by Spanish settlers within 25 years. In the early 17th century, the French established a presence on Hispaniola, and in 1697, Spain ceded to the French the western third of the island, which later became Haiti. The French colony, based on forestry and sugar-related industries, became one of the wealthiest in the Caribbean, but only through the heavy importation of African slaves and considerable environmental degradation. In the late 18th century, Haitis nearly half million slaves revolted under Toussaint LOUVERTURE. After a prolonged struggle, Haiti became the first black republic to declare its independence in 1804. The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti has been plagued by political violence for most of its history. After an armed rebellion led to the departure of President Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE in February 2004, an interim government took office to organize new elections under the auspices of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). Continued violence and technical delays prompted repeated postponements, but Haiti finally did inaugurate a democratically elected president and parliament in May of 2006.