麻豆社

Alan Johnston presents despatches from 麻豆社 correspondents around the world.

In this edition, Imogen Foulkes reflects on Haiti's desperate efforts to keep going after the devastating earthquake, and Vishva Samani visits an area of California deeply involved in the medical marijuana trade.

How is Haiti coping?

When a poorer nation is struck by disaster, there's often a familiar pattern to the global response. Initially there's huge sympathy and intense media interest. The aid pledges pour in. But as time passes the world's attention wanders. And often the aid starts drying up even though the disaster's victims are still in desperate need.

Imogen Foulkes says this is what's happening right now in Haiti - and while Haitians' faith in God and their own strength is as firm as ever, conditions on the ground have not improved much.

Garberville - a garden that care forgot?

Humboldt county, in California, is a rugged place, lying on the Pacific coast. In winter, rain rolls in from the sea. But in summer, the sun beats down on the hills. Perhaps it's that combination that helps make the area so fertile.

Forestry is big business here. But the soil also gives rise to another, more discreet activity. As Vishva Samani explains, many local people are in the habit of cultivating a rather controversial crop.