How to help Haitians

When disaster strikes, it's often hard to find the right words. When the disaster is in the form of an earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale in Haiti, the most impoverished country on the planet, it's almost impossible to find the right words, let alone hit the right tone.

It's also hard to know how to react personally. How can we help a country where tens of thousands are dead and the capital has been reduced to rubble? Which organization should we support in such a situation? How do we know if the money will be used in a productive way? In Business Spotlight 1/2010 you can read two opposing views on the topic of foreign aid. Is it ineffective and counterproductive — or is it an essential source of finance for poor countries? At the time of disasters like the earthquake in Haiti, most people would agree that it is necessary — and it's necessary immediately. Die Zeit has compiled a list of trusted organizations in Germany that are focusing their resources on Haiti right now.   

US President Obama spoke about the Haitian earthquake and used all the right words — with the right tone — which we hope will lead to the right reaction. Listen to his speech.

Now, learn useful vocabulary from Obama by doing our exercise on the next page.

Deborah Capras