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by Katherine Ponder, with additional reporting by Rebecca Larson
Direct selling is still strong around the world. Seventeen countries now have more than US$1 billion in sales annually through this channel of distribution. The results are indisputable. Business in North America is gaining representatives; Asia is decreasing slightly in revenues, but growing in direct sellers; South America continues to rise; and Europe is doing well. Marc Pouw, Managing Director of Direct Selling Europe (DSE) says, “[The industry] continues to grow and offers excellent income and career opportunities for each of the members of DSE. 2010 will be another successful year.by Whitney Allen
On the evening of Jan.12, an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 7.0 struck Haiti in the highly populated area of Department Ouest, 10 miles from Port-au-Prince. The initial quake was followed by a series of aftershocks in the days after, including one of magnitude 6.0 in Gressier, west of Port-au-Prince. Described by The New York Times as the worst earthquake to hit the nation in more than 200 years, the disaster has created social and economic crises in the already-fragile nation. Haitians living in “shantytowns” and poorly constructed buildings were among the hardest hit, leaving even the local Red Cross overwhelmed by the need for water, food, medicine and basic hygienic items.