'In the West, zombies may be considered the stuff of Hollywood B films but in Haiti
they’re part of everyday life. Zombies are taken so seriously here that turning
someone into one carries the same penalty as murder. But, as our documentary this
week shows, outlawing the practice is doing little to stop it. We look at how
Haiti’s troubled political climate is encouraging child sacrifice and murder.

'“He is fresh, this young dead one,” states a voodoo priest, gesturing
at the decomposing skull of a baby. “They killed it and sold it to me.” The room
fills with choking smoke as he throws the child’s bones into a fire and crushes
them into a dark powder. One by one, other ingredients are added and prayers chanted
to make zombie powder.

The powder will be used to kill or enslave
his enemies or those of his clients. Research by the Harvard Ethnobotanist Wade
Davis found that the powder contains a series of toxic and psychotropic ingredients,
including an extract from the puffer fish which cause complete paralysis. The
victim will become dizzy; their limbs will cease up and heartbeat slow to a virtual
stop. To all appearances, they will be dead. Then – still completely aware of
what is happening to them – they will be buried alive.' (Journeyman <A HREF="http://www.journeyman.tv/?lid=18340">streaming
video)