Help Haiti Today
Keren Dongo, the Community Engagement Manager at ONE, just sent this update to ONE members and I wanted to share it with you. You can read her first post here, and sign the petition to drop Haiti’s debt here. -Chris
In the last few days, I have learned that most of my family members in Haiti, though homeless, are alive. Even as we grieve for those we lost, we are thankful for the safety of other loved ones, and for the incredible outpouring of concern, aid, and assistance coming from all over the world.
Since this disaster occurred last Tuesday, I have wanted nothing more than to go to Haiti to help, hold and comfort my family and other survivors. Knowing I can’t do that now, I am putting all my energies into helping Haiti rebuild its country without the burden of old debts. Together we can continue spreading the word by asking our friends and family to add their voices to this global petition.
Please click here to sign the petition:
http://www.one.org/us/actnow/drophaitiandebt/index.html?rc=drophaitiandebtblog
Petition text:
As Haiti rebuilds from this disaster, please work to secure the immediate cancellation of Haiti’s $1 billion debt and ensure that any emergency earthquake assistance is provided in the form of grants, not debt-incurring loans.
Since last Friday, ONE’s policy team has learned of even more debt Haiti owes, moving our tally on Haiti’s total global debt from $890 million to just over $1 billion — and making this action to wipe out all of their debt that much more important.
Haiti needs a sustained international effort as it seeks to recover from this earthquake. Beyond the current emergency response, we’ll need to ensure that money saved from debt relief is invested in long-term development, and that assistance to Haiti isn’t given in the form of new loans that would exacerbate the debt problem.
But here and now, there is a very clear goal: let’s get rid of this crippling debt.
PS, remember to share this petition with your friends and family here.
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January 19, 2010 at 10:00 pm
Isn’t it known that the leadership in Haiti is corrupt? Aren’t they the ones who went into debt? To forgive their debt seems to not address the needs of the people. The Haitian government has ignored the needs of the people for years. Forgiving these corrupt politicians debt would open the door for them to accept more money to “help” their country. I feel like letting them out of debt would allow them to syphon off more money intended to help their people.
Somebody shed some light on this for me.
January 19, 2010 at 10:11 pm
Wikipedia says the debt goes way back – Here’s Chapter One.
“Haiti’s legacy of debt began shortly after gaining independence from France in 1804. In 1825, France, with warships at the ready, demanded Haiti “compensate” France for its loss of a slave colony. In exchange for French recognition of Haiti as a sovereign republic, France demanded payment of 150 million francs (modern equivalent of $21 billion).[1]“
January 19, 2010 at 10:15 pm
Wikipedia – Chapter Two
From 1957 to 1986, Haiti was controlled by the father/son dictatorship of Francois “Papa Doc” Duvalier and Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier. For nearly thirty years they diverted foreign assistance towards their own personal interests. While exactly how much money the Duvaliers stole is unknown, after Jean-Claude Duvalier was forced to step down an audit established that at least $500 million had been diverted in just his last six years. Once stolen, the money was used for a variety of purposes. A certain amount went directly to the Duvalier family. For example, Michele Duvalier famously spent $20,000 on a shopping trip to New York in the early 1980s. The money was also used to strengthen the Duvaliers’ control over Haiti, with payoffs to the Tonton Macoutes (Francois Duvalier’s personal militia), Haitian soldiers, and local officials. [1]
January 20, 2010 at 11:54 am
I have a question. I am a college student in ga and ine of my classes and i want to help by sending Haiti people clothes and blankets. But we dont how to get them over to Haiti. Could you please tell us how.
January 20, 2010 at 2:02 pm
This is the White Houses website dedicated to helping Haiti:
Its probably the best and most reliable way to get information.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/01/13/help-haiti
Also, Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org/