African pigs – Creole pigs.

History of the U.S.-led Extermination of Black Pigs in Haiti in the 1980s

In the early 1980s, the U.S. government, along with international organizations, launched a campaign in Haiti to exterminate the country’s Creole pigs, a breed of black pigs that had been integral to Haitian rural life for centuries. This controversial action took place under the pretext of controlling an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF), not a disease called “PPMC” as noted, but rather ASF, a highly contagious viral disease affecting pigs, which had been detected in the Caribbean in the late 1970s.

The events surrounding the extermination of these black pigs, and their replacement with imported foreign breeds, including the pink pigs commonly seen in the U.S., had far-reaching and devastating impacts on Haitian society, especially for rural farmers. Here’s a breakdown of the history and its implications:

Background: African Swine Fever (ASF) Outbreak

In 1978, an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) was detected in the Dominican Republic. ASF is a highly contagious disease that affects pigs and has a high mortality rate but poses no risk to human health. It quickly spread to other parts of the Caribbean, raising alarms among regional governments and international organizations, including the United States.

The fear was that the ASF virus could spread to North America and devastate the U.S. pork industry, which prompted the U.S. to intervene. Haiti, which shared the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, became a focus of concern because of its large population of pigs, specifically the hardy Creole pigs. These pigs were well-adapted to Haiti’s environment, able to survive on very little food, and were central to the rural economy and culture.

U.S. Intervention and the Extermination Campaign

Under the guidance of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), an extermination campaign was launched in 1982 to eradicate the Creole pigs. The official reason for this mass culling was the concern that the ASF virus would spread from Haiti to the U.S. and affect North American pig farms. The campaign saw the killing of almost all of Haiti’s Creole pigs, an act that caused significant resentment among the Haitian population.

To soften the blow, promises were made to replace the slaughtered pigs with new, ASF-resistant pigs from the U.S. However, this plan did not work as intended, for several key reasons:

1. Cultural and Economic Importance of Creole Pigs: Creole pigs were considered the “bank accounts” of rural Haitians. They were a reliable source of income, savings, and food. When times were tough, pigs could be sold to cover expenses like school fees or medical bills. The loss of the Creole pig dealt a significant economic blow to Haitian peasants.

2. The Replacement Pigs: After the eradication of the Creole pigs, the U.S. began importing foreign pigs, including pink pigs bred for commercial farming in the United States. These pigs, however, were not suited to the harsh Haitian environment. Unlike the hardy Creole pigs, the imported pigs required special feed, veterinary care, and modern farming techniques, which were beyond the means of most rural farmers. As a result, many of the imported pigs died or failed to thrive, exacerbating the economic devastation.

3. Social and Political Implications: The extermination of the Creole pigs deepened the sense of mistrust between the Haitian population and the United States, as well as between the peasants and the Haitian government, which was seen as complicit in the process. The move was widely seen as an attack on rural life, pushing many Haitians into deeper poverty and dependence on foreign aid. The cultural disruption was profound, as the pigs had been central to local rituals and family traditions.

4. Failure of the ASF Threat Justification: Many Haitians believed the threat of ASF was exaggerated or even fabricated by the U.S. to justify the elimination of their pigs. While ASF had been detected in the Caribbean, there were claims that the U.S. was more concerned about protecting its own pork industry than actually helping the Haitian people. The fact that the replacement pigs were unsuitable for Haitian conditions only added to these suspicions.

Consequences and Legacy

The extermination of Haiti’s Creole pigs was a catastrophe for the rural economy. It pushed many small farmers further into poverty, as they lost their primary source of savings and income. The failure of the pink pig replacement program further highlighted the disconnect between the solutions offered by international agencies and the actual needs of the Haitian people.

The episode remains a symbol of the devastating impact that foreign intervention, when poorly executed or misguided, can have on local economies and communities. It reinforced long-standing grievances about the role of the U.S. in Haitian affairs, particularly in the rural sector, which had already suffered from economic marginalization.

In recent years, there have been efforts to reintroduce Creole pigs to Haiti, acknowledging their cultural and economic importance. However, the damage caused in the 1980s is still felt today, with many rural communities struggling to recover from the loss of their traditional livestock.

Conclusion

The extermination of black Creole pigs in Haiti in the 1980s, under the pretext of stopping the spread of African Swine Fever, was a disaster for the country’s rural population. It wiped out a vital part of the rural economy and culture and left many Haitians even more vulnerable to poverty. The episode serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of poorly designed foreign interventions that fail to consider the social and economic realities of the communities they aim to help.

About african pigs

The extermination of the Creole black pigs in Haiti had devastating consequences for Haitian farmers, particularly in rural areas where the pigs played a crucial role in their livelihood and culture. For generations, these pigs were considered a form of economic security, often referred to as the “peasant’s savings account,” as they could be sold during times of financial need, used to pay for children’s education, healthcare, or significant family events. When the U.S. and international organizations initiated the mass culling under the pretext of controlling African Swine Fever, Haitian farmers lost not only their primary source of income but also their traditional way of life. The foreign replacement pigs, which required expensive feed and specialized care, were not suited to the Haitian environment, and many died, leaving farmers worse off than before. This loss deepened poverty in rural areas, increased dependence on foreign aid, and further marginalized Haiti’s peasant communities. Socially, it contributed to mistrust of foreign intervention, as the eradication of the pigs was seen as prioritizing U.S. agricultural interests over the well-being of Haitian farmers. Decades later, many rural communities have yet to fully recover from the economic and cultural impact of this intervention, underscoring the profound and long-lasting damage caused by the extermination.

People’s opinions

They exterminated our pigs, made them extintcs. So, we can buy their soft, liquidy and jello tasting pigs. Ignorant and ill advised politicians are the root cause of such a calamity.

Toulou T3l3l0u

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