WFHB FireHouse Broadcasting

January 12, 2010. The island nation of Haiti is struck by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake, causing unimaginable death and destruction. Haiti's interior minister says at least 100,000 people were killed, and the final death toll may be double that. Relief efforts face significant obstacles including the nearly complete loss of infrastructure. Millions of Haitians are now refugees in their own country, where basic services like water and electricity have been wiped out. The earthquake in Haiti has captured international attention, but how much do we really know about this place? It’s among the poorest nations in the Western Hemisphere, but it’s also the first independent black republic in world. Tonight we learn about Haiti and its proud people in a campus forum featuring Indiana University’s top experts on Haitian politics and culture. Geology professor Michael Hamburger explains what happened below the surface. Matt Auer speaks frankly about the stark poverty in Haiti, and professor Beth Gazley offers tips on effective relief aid. We’ll also hear touching personal stories from IU students with friends and family in Haiti. This is a WFHB radio exclusive recorded on-location at Indiana University’s Alumni Hall on January 21, 2010 and hosted by Bradley Levinson, director of IU's Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies.