International
Help Haiti Today
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 Haitians rebuild their lives without the burden of debt. Like me you can’t go to Haiti today, but here is what we can do: we can convince global creditors to cancel Haiti’s $1 billion international debt.
Please click here to sign ONE’s petition calling for cancellation of Haiti’s debts
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.
Haiti needs a sustained international effort as it seeks to recover from this earthquake. The current outpouring of support is encouraging, and now we need to cancel Haiti’s debt so the country can start its recovery without the burden of debts it won’t be able to pay. In addition we must be vigilant that new aid doesn’t come in the form of loans that would create new debt for Haiti.
But here and now, there is a very clear goal: let’s get rid of this crippling debt.
Keren Dongo
Community Engagement Manager, ONE.org
P.S. Today we updated our petition text from our initial ask for $890 million worth of debt cancellation to $1 billion to reflect new information on further debt of which we were not previously aware.
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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.
20/01/2010 at 6:47 pm
Hoje li uma matéria dizendo que o Clube de Paris pediu a anulação dos débitos do Haiti… Espero que o clamor seja ouvido e a bondade e a generosidade prevaleçam.
Today I read a substance saying that the Club of Paris asked for the cancellation of the debits of Haiti… that the nations hear the outcry of the people . I wait prevail that the the goodness and the generosity.
23/01/2010 at 12:28 am
We are ready to go to Mars
but not to Haiti
23/01/2010 at 6:54 am
The Italian and the German government have already declared their intention of dropping debts Haiti has towards them. Let´s hope that all debts will be dropped!
Mrs. Keren Dongo, I hope and pray that your relatives and friends in Haiti are well!
24/01/2010 at 11:41 pm
I understand that cancelling the debt sounds like a good idea. Do you REALLy think that the Haitian Government as corrupt as they are, will give the money and help their people if they have no debt?
The President left the country after the earthquake and stayed in a hotel in the Dominican Republic. You think he cares about the average Haitian.
I lived in the Dominican Republic and say Aid come from the U.S. in the form of clothing, shoes, etc. and the Haitian Military and Government bring it across the border into the Dominican and sell it.
The Haitians I know now, including my late Dominican husbands mother, know all too well who are the “haves and who are the have nots”.
Debt or not, the goverment will NEVER give that money or help their people with the money that they have now. There are rich Haitians in that country who could help every day and chose not to.
The Aid that is sitting in the airport, who got the food and clean water first? Someone who works on the street selling shaved ice and juice or the Military, Goverment officials, etc.
There are still people starving who haven’t eaten since the Earthquake, almost 2 weeks now. They are now dieing of starvation. Their government is not helping them and will not help them just because the debt is cancelled.
Be a realist. The government keeps tourists out. They choose not to open their country to tourists and make jobs for the people of Haiti when they could build their country to be a beautiful tourist location but the political strife in that country is unbearable for the people.
Before you sign that petition you need to talk to Haitians in your own country, rich and poor from Haiti, they are 2 different classes and do not speak to each other even now in another country.
25/01/2010 at 6:30 am
Jodi, I understand exactly what you are talking about. I have seen exactly teh same in countries like Peru (where I lived 7 years). The rich were richer that rich people in Germany, and the poor of course a lot poorer. And corruption from police to government, from judges to administration officers, was immense.
That is why I said here that Haiti needs a long term support. Not donations like now in the emergency situation, but long term projects to stabilize the political and economical situation of the country. Future support should be related and connected to political changes, to control and prohibition of corruption. Not necessarily only from outside, put upon Haiti by other countries, but by the Haitian people themselves. A catastrophy like it has happened now to Haiti, is terrible, but may also be a chance for a democratic and more just change. My hope is that the people of Haiti (and I talk mostly of the poor ones) together with the international community of states, manage to move towards that change.
I don´t mean that the UNO or something should impose their politics on Haiti, for every country should have the right to develop according to it´s own rules. But international support should go together with the will and development of the people of Haiti and be tied to a fair and really democratic development of the country.
26/01/2010 at 5:17 pm
German ONE members are doing phone calls to the german Ministry of Development to ask them to plead/vote FOR the debt cancellation for Haiti at the meeting of the IMF on wednesday (tomorrow).
27/01/2010 at 11:08 am
the hypocrisy of some governments is a nonsense! but that good that already it has a mobilization for the people that need! we go to join the voices!
27/01/2010 at 3:15 pm
Yes, it is good to see that more and more the people take the actions their governments don´t do.
Si, es un gusto ver como más y más gente hace las acciones su gobiernos deberían hacer (y no hacen).
I hope to see a positive result for Haiti after the today´s FIM meeting.