Petition Delivered; G7 Leaders Call to Cancel Haiti’s Debt!
Michèle Bertol, a Haitian Canadian and ONE member, hands over the petition urging the cancellation of Haiti’s debt to Canadian Finance Minister James Flaherty’s Chief of Staff, Derek Vanstone, at the G7 finance ministers meeting in Iqaluit, Canada. Michele is joined, from left to right, by fellow ONE members Vanessa Griffin, Jean-Sébastien Icart and Erin Faulks.
Thanks to the more than 400,000 who signed the petition worldwide, the cancellation of Haiti’s debt may be all but a formality at this point.
Yesterday afternoon, four ONE members delivered the petition signatures to cancel Haiti’s debt at the G7 finance ministers summit in the small Arctic Canadian town of Iqaluit.
The petition was signed by over 200,000 ONE members and nearly 200,000 Avaaz members globally. Haiti debt petitions from Oxfam International and Jubilee were also delivered.
The petition was handed over by Michèle Bertol, a Haitian Canadian and ONE member who is the director of planning for Iqaluit and who has lived in the town for 20 years.
Just before the scheduled handover, Canadian Finance Minister James Flaherty, speaking on behalf of all the G7 countries, issued the following statement:
“The earthquake caused unprecedented damage that requires exceptional measures. We agreed that the debt should not be a burden that will weigh on the recovery of the country. We are committed in the G7 to the forgiveness of debt. In fact all bilateral debt has been forgiven by G7 countries vis-à-vis Haiti.
The debt to multilateral institutions should be forgiven and we’ll work with these institutions and other partners to make this happen as soon as possible. We discussed the long term reconstruction assistance that Haiti will need as it emerges from the current urgent situation as a result of the earthquake.”
Though the $1 billion in debt is still not yet technically cancelled, the G7 countries (the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Japan) hold considerable influence over the international lending institutions that must ultimately and officially cancel Haiti’s debt. We at ONE now feel confident that the full cancellation of Haiti’s debt is closer to being a done deal than ever before — and we hope the details will be hammered out quickly.
And it’s all thanks to the hundreds of thousands around the globe who stood up for the people of Haiti to make this happen. Thank you!
- Previous Post US Treasury calls for full cancellation of Haiti debt
- Next Post The time is now for a bottom-up poverty plan
 |
 |
 |
About the Blog
The International ONE Blog is a daily log of the anti-poverty movement. The site is operated by ONE staff, with guest contributions from ONE volunteers, members and allies.
The content of each post and each comment represents the views of that author and does not necessarily reflect the views of ONE. ONE does not support or oppose any candidate for elected office, and any post expressing support or opposition for a candidate is not endorsed by ONE.
08/02/2010 at 6:33 am
Great news!!!
But as I said: I hope that the economical releif and the aid and help for Haiti really reaches the poor people and the ones who have lost everything and that it will not only be an advantage and income for corrupted and rich people there.
08/02/2010 at 3:24 pm
today when i readet the newspaper make me very happy anyway wonderfull news
08/02/2010 at 5:26 pm
Well done everyone it’s good to know that we can do something positive even from such a distance and from our armchairs!!
08/02/2010 at 5:29 pm
Great! Way to go guys!
08/02/2010 at 5:31 pm
absolutely BRILLIANT news – amazing!! i’m SOOOOOOOOOO happy!!!
08/02/2010 at 5:32 pm
Magic…Well done. Great Idea! Let’s keep going!!!
08/02/2010 at 5:42 pm
Great news ! thanks.
08/02/2010 at 5:51 pm
World leaders leave me speechless. To see kindness from all over the world gives me faith in the future for everyone’s children. Thank you One Org.
08/02/2010 at 5:53 pm
when i opened my inbox and read the update from One.org, i never felt happier. Congratulations to one.org and its members. Let’s continue our contribution to positive social change and push through our humanitarian causes..
08/02/2010 at 5:54 pm
I only hope that this wonderful organization can go on fighting to eliminate the shameful “debt” imposed by The “EX” colonialist countries on the African countries and other “ex colonies”…! People are dying by the thousands there too…EVERY DAY!
08/02/2010 at 6:09 pm
I am elated that that has happened. I did watch it on the CNN news. I speak daily with the Haitian students I teach and taught, whether here or abroad and those parents who don’t quite understand what is going on, I take the time to explain.
I know Haiti needs this and this new lease on ‘life’ would bring Haitians everywhere together in the rebuilding of their birth place or the place of their ‘roots’. This would show the world at large how much can be done in UNISON as ONE.
08/02/2010 at 6:11 pm
We are just ONES!!!! Very happy and proud to see the results of my little effort – just signing my name on a good cause list!!!! Always think we can change the world a little bit if we want! To our brothers from Haiti, I wish relief and a future they didn’t had yet!!!!
Thank you!
08/02/2010 at 6:16 pm
THANKS, A MILLION THANKS–To the G7 Leaders–
For hearing our plea on behalf of Haiti.
MAY GOD RICHLY REWARD YOU!
Respectfully yours,
Beverly Fleming.
08/02/2010 at 6:42 pm
Thank you to the G7 leaders for hearing our voices on behalf of those who cannot speak to you.
May God bless you in every way.
Respectfully,
Martha Briggs
08/02/2010 at 7:00 pm
Dear All
Great News but no celebrations as yet as long as these people are suffering now in Haiti the work must not stop and must indeed increase
08/02/2010 at 7:04 pm
great, guys! it feels really good to know you helped someone in need. GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU!
08/02/2010 at 7:12 pm
Ic h bin sehr froh darüber, wunderbare Nachrichten.Meine Hochachtung für Eure Arbeit.
08/02/2010 at 7:13 pm
To One and All,
It is a good thing that each and everyone of us can see that our actions can make a difference. The pressure must be kept on World Leaders, to provide the financial assistance that will be required as Haiti has a longer road to hoe to recover and build. The world must give the people of Haiti a hand up not a hand out and the world should take its lead from the people of Haiti as to what they want and need.
We do not know what is better for them no more than they know what is best for ourselves. Let us be vigilant to make sure the worlds leaders remember the above noted.
In the day and age of the 90 Second Sound Bite and the 24 Hour News Cycle let us be sure that everyone fulfills the commitments they have made to Haiti, especially when the world has moved on to the next story that captures the headlines.
Bless all your Hearts for your Good Works.
Deborah Menzies
08/02/2010 at 7:34 pm
Great news! But let’s keep going with rebuilding Haiti.
08/02/2010 at 7:56 pm
Good that the love of life won over love of money! Congrats to the haitian people!
08/02/2010 at 8:03 pm
Truly amazing, I was hoping for a reduction but this are great news.
08/02/2010 at 8:04 pm
What exciting news! It feels great to be a part of something so incredibly significant. Thank you ONE for making this happen. So many lives will be affected positively because of this.
08/02/2010 at 8:18 pm
How wonderful!
Compassion & realising that your troubles are my troubles has won the day.
We are indeed all ONE.
Now I hope that every single Haitian benefits from this change, and this poor country can recover and heal.
08/02/2010 at 8:19 pm
Amazing! Simply Amazing! I’m totally jubilated! I’ve never been a part of anything like this before and to see firsthand hand how a positive (and peaceful) intervention by ordinary people can have such an impact is again, truly amazing. I thank and delight in the Lord mightily who has not only heard prayers for Haiti but also the cries of the Haitian’s themselves. God lives! God loves! God cares!
08/02/2010 at 8:30 pm
I`m so proud to be part of this great organization! Congratulations to all the people that make this wonderfull news posible!
If there is heaven… is all yours, that`s for sure.
08/02/2010 at 9:29 pm
Great, just great, I’m so glad, excellent work, congratulation!
08/02/2010 at 9:47 pm
woop woop!!! wd people….
08/02/2010 at 10:01 pm
Congratulo-me com todos e todas que contribuíram para que esta ação fosse vitoriosa. Assim como muitos já disseram, a ação de homens comuns pode mudar o curso da história. A decisão dos países do G7 anular a divída do Haiti é muito importante. A luta em favor do Haiti deve ser também a luta em favor de todos os povos que sofrem com a miseria, a fome, as doenças. Países da América, da Ásia e principalmente da África. IMAGINEM TODOS OS POVOS VIVENDO EM PAZ…Que ações como estas sejam exemplos para a nossa geração e para as gerações futuras. O MUNDO É UM SÓ E TODOS SOMOS RESPONSÁVEIS UNS PELOS OUTROS. PARABÉNS À ONE POR ESTA GRANDE CAMPANHA!
08/02/2010 at 10:08 pm
It is the least that the G7 could do; after all, it was mostly them that have made our brothers and sisters in Haiti live in poverty. All it took was the mass death and destruction of a people to make them act.
And they dare call us terrorists, those of us who campaign against them, who campaign for all our brother and sisters to share the wealth.
Long Live the Revolution.
Michael Rooney
Ireland
08/02/2010 at 10:15 pm
I’m so very happy!!!
God bless EveryONE!
09/02/2010 at 12:26 am
fantastic news, my main hope is that the poor people of Haiti, the average everyday person benefits from this,
09/02/2010 at 12:50 am
Indeed, very good and optimistic news, but there is still much to be accomplished… I wish all the actions that will take place from now on (with even greater participation) have the same happy ending. Congratulations to all !! Keep up the good job..
09/02/2010 at 2:06 am
I feel JOY in my heart today !
It’s moments like this that make me believe that there is still hope for humans on this planet.
09/02/2010 at 5:34 am
Such wonderful news!!! Feel so happy for what we all have accomplished, and to be a witness of th fact that there’s still so much love left in our planet
09/02/2010 at 7:37 am
I am indded very happy and greatful to the people of the world who all showed love, care, and concern to the Haitians. It still shows that the world is a global village and will continue to enjoy peace and harmony. I am happy to have put my signature and i am honoured. I am greatful………………………………………………
09/02/2010 at 9:17 am
GREAT GREAT GREAT
I am celebrating the great news.
09/02/2010 at 10:02 am
The pewer in this ONE is amazing
KEEP ON FRIENDS
09/02/2010 at 1:32 pm
Thanks for this news. In reality humans if we can make changes if we begin to act together all as one.
Shalom from Beer-Sheva.
09/02/2010 at 3:46 pm
ONE WORLD, ONE LOVE……………………………………………..HOPE FOR HAITI BUT NEVER FORGET OTHERS POOR COUNTRISYS……………………………ALESSIA, SARDEGNA ITALY
09/02/2010 at 5:27 pm
Wonderful news! It is an honour to play a very small part in such a global achievement. Thank you, one and all.
Pauline, UK
10/02/2010 at 5:29 am
Great news! Thanks to One for organizing the petition. What else can we do to help?
11/02/2010 at 4:27 am
thank you !
11/02/2010 at 6:19 pm
THAN´S ONE , YOUR ARE FANTASTIC, CONGRATULETION……..
11/02/2010 at 6:56 pm
I am very happy and very proud to be a very small part of that!!!
We really can be powerful acting together!!! congratulations ONE!!!!!!!!
13/02/2010 at 10:45 pm
Haití needs our help !
22/02/2010 at 3:19 am
It is sad that it through a tragedy like this we got to know what was Haiti once in time, as we say in Haiti ” It is never too late for a good deed. Having the opportunity to do someting good to someone its something that come from heaven. Some day I wake up asking God to send someonetno my way to do some good him or her. An act of service that no one should let pass by inactively, You won’t immagine how much we can do together, when we are many nothing is too small.
Do whatever you can and let God do the rest.
03/03/2010 at 10:23 am
I heard about you from summit video, thank you “One” 4 your minstry. We are “History makers” music band & leaders of ministry to unformals: emo, gots, punks… We hope that we’ll can to courage our people to take part in you movement too in near future. & we hope for you letter to may mail & may be your some interest vsion to our unformals…
05/04/2010 at 2:35 pm
we are the world
10/08/2010 at 6:33 pm
John, thanks for being so sensitive to our family dynamics. You helped everyone feel at ease. We specifically want to thank you for the way you encouraged us spiritually in our conversations prior to the wedding, but without any hint of being overbearing. We aren’t sure about God or church, but we found it easy and refeshing to talk with you about this. And you were amazing at the wedding! We both feel like you made it all come alive in just the right way. Thanks………..
Travel Hotels
05/10/2010 at 8:00 pm
Very well! Glad to know.