03 January 2020

Puerto Rico Exodus – Post Hurricane Maria 2017



The Battle for Paradise by Naomi Klein, 2018, Excerpts

Since Hurricane Maria, some 200,000 people have reportedly left the island, many of them with federal help. This exodus was first presented as a temporary emergency measure, but it has since become apparent that the depopulation is intended to be permanent.

Instead of helping people here, providing shelters here, bringing in more generator power to the places that need them, getting the electric system up and running, they’re encouraging people to leave instead. The disappearance of so many people in such a short time operates as a political escape valve. The exodus also conveniently helps to create the “blank canvas” that the governor bragged about to would-be investors.




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