Washington Screws Samoa

CBS 60 Minutes aired two segments about two tropical islands half a world apart: Haiti and Samoa. Most Americans don't even know that Samoa exists and that it is an American territory.

Last year an earthquake of 8.0 magnitude hit along with a 20-ft. tidal wave [tsunami]. This is the official report:

Samoa

Disaster Assistance at a Glance Recent Disaster Declarations: Tsunami OFDA Response: Emergency relief OFDA Preparedness: Disaster preparedness, capacity building Latest OFDA Report: East Asia and Pacific Tsunami and Storms Fact Sheet #5 (79KB PDF) Asia and Pacific - Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation Programs (67kb PDF) and (map)

Most Recent Disaster Declaration:
Tsunami, 10-01-2009

On September 29, a magnitude 8.0 earthquake occurred off the coast of Samoa, 120 miles south of the capital of Apia, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The earthquake generated a tsunami surge that resulted in waves reportedly reaching as high as 20 feet, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The tsunami surge particularly affected the south and southeastern coast of Upolu Island, while also affecting villages on Savai’i, Manono, and Apolima islands. The earthquake and associated tsunami killed 110 people, injured 180 others, and displaced approximately 32,000 individuals according to the Government of Samoa (GoS) Disaster Action Council (DAC). On September 29, the GoS issued a declaration of disaster. On October 1, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., Arnold H. Campbell issued a disaster declaration due to the effects of the tsunami. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $100,000 through the U.S. Embassy in Apia for the purchase and distribution of relief commodities in coordination with the GoS DAC and the Samoa Red Cross Society.

The American Samoans total less than 100,000 people and are as poor as the Haitians. But there is no political/ethnic pressure group in Washington D.C. pushing for a similar response that the Haitians are receiving. To be fair, the devastation in Haiti is much worse and the Haitian society does not have the cultural cohesiveness and strength of the Samoan society. Still, the response from Washington was anemic, at best.

The Samoans primary industry is canning tuna which accounts for 80% of the islands' income. Last year, one cannery closed. In response, Congress decided that the other cannery must pay U.S. minimum wages. As a result, the other cannery may be closing.

Washington once again showed that it can screw up any screwed up situation even further.