"The history of the eradication of the Haitian Creole pig population
in the 1980's is a classic parable of globalization. Haiti's small,
black, Creole pigs were at the heart of the peasant economy. An
extremely hearty breed, well adapted to Haiti's climate and
conditions, they ate readily available waste products, and could
survive for three days without food. Eighty to 85% of rural households
raised pigs; they played a key role in maintaining the fertility of
the soil and constituted the primary savings bank of the peasant
population. Traditionally a pig was sold to pay for emergencies and
special occasions (funerals, marriages, baptisms, illnesses and,
critically, to pay school fees and buy books for the children when
school opened each year in October.)
In 1982 international agencies assured Haiti's peasants their pigs
were sick and had to be killed (so that the illness would not spread
to countries to the North). Promises were made that better pigs would
replace the sick pigs. With an efficiency not since seen among
development projects, all of the Creole pigs were killed over a period
of thirteen months."
Reluctant and rebellious as we are some manage to save a few creole
pigs to cross-breed with the new "better pigs" as result a new
heritage breed was born.
in the 1980's is a classic parable of globalization. Haiti's small,
black, Creole pigs were at the heart of the peasant economy. An
extremely hearty breed, well adapted to Haiti's climate and
conditions, they ate readily available waste products, and could
survive for three days without food. Eighty to 85% of rural households
raised pigs; they played a key role in maintaining the fertility of
the soil and constituted the primary savings bank of the peasant
population. Traditionally a pig was sold to pay for emergencies and
special occasions (funerals, marriages, baptisms, illnesses and,
critically, to pay school fees and buy books for the children when
school opened each year in October.)
In 1982 international agencies assured Haiti's peasants their pigs
were sick and had to be killed (so that the illness would not spread
to countries to the North). Promises were made that better pigs would
replace the sick pigs. With an efficiency not since seen among
development projects, all of the Creole pigs were killed over a period
of thirteen months."
Reluctant and rebellious as we are some manage to save a few creole
pigs to cross-breed with the new "better pigs" as result a new
heritage breed was born.
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