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 $1 billion in old debts.
Please click here to sign the petition.
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. 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.
Many international groups recognize this as an imperative to Haiti's ability to recover with any hope of joining the world as a productive member. Haiti's leaders have done her no favors, as many others have noted here. My husband, step-son and I have joined in the effort to call for the foregiveness of Haiti's debt. We have the same letter content and links to elected officials and the White House at http://forgivehaitisdebt.blogspot.com/. Let's join our voices for the humanitarian steps to release Haiti from their impossible poverty.
If you really wish to help Haiti financially then move to make sure that the vast amounts of aid money and new development money do not go through the hands of the Thugocracy that calls itself Haiti's government. We do not need to further enrich the people who have done such a horrible job of growing the country in the first place.
That's the question the right wing in America can never answer.
They talk about money being wasted on Haiti but they fail to remember that the only reason Haiti is in such a poor state is because it was ravaged by US-backed dictators.
We are in a lose-lose situation. Many American hearts are bleeding for these suffering people but who do you trust in their government with the money??
If we stay too long and try to build roads and bridges and water supplies ourselves.. we get accused of being imperialists trying to "occupy" their country. If we just throw money at their problems that won't work either!!
Amazing.