Haiti Advocacy Committee

2011-10-11T13:55:00.001-07:00

Haiti ACTION ALERT XII

Get the United Nations “peacekeepers” out of Haiti.

August 14, 2011

Please urge Congressman Larson (who is your U.S. Representative?) to work for the removal of MINUSTAH from Haiti as soon as possible

The video is profoundly disturbing. It shows four men, identified as troops from the UN mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), seemingly in the act of raping an 18-year-old Haitian youth. ABC News reports that a navy lieutenant has confirmed the authenticity of the video.

The incident is likely to pour more gasoline on the fire of resentment that Haitians have for the UN troops who have occupied their country for more than seven years. There has been a dire pattern of abuses:

· in December 2007, more than 100 UN soldiers from Sri Lanka were deported under charges of sexual abuse of under-age girls.

· In 2005, UN troops went on the rampage in Cité Soleil, one of the poorest areas in Port-au-Prince, killing as many as 23 people, including children, according to witnesses.

Make no mistake about it: the UN occupation of Haiti is really a US occupation. It was sent there in 2004 after a US-led effort toppled Haiti's democratically elected government. Recent WikiLeaks cables confirm that the US government sees MINUSTAH as an instrument of its policy there.

There is no legitimate reason for a military mission of the United Nations in Haiti.

· The country has no civil war.

· Haiti is not the subject of a peace-keeping or post-conflict agreement.

· It is now virtually certain that MINUSTAH brought the cholera bacteria to Haiti that has killed more than 6,000 Haitians and infected more than 400,000 in the last 10 months. This was an act of gross negligence:

And the fact that UN troops are immune from prosecution or legal action in Haiti encourages abuses. The occupying troops don't speak the language either, which severely limits their capacity for any positive security role.

How long can MINUSTAH be allowed to continue to occupy and abuse Haiti?

To call:

1. Call 202–224‑3553 and select the option to leave a comment or speak to a staffer.

2. Whether you speak to the staffer in person, or just leave a message, here’s what to say:

“My name is ___________ and I am a resident of __________.

I am calling to urge Representative ___________ to use his/her leadership to garner support for a the removal of UN peacekeepers from Haiti.

4. If you are speaking to the staff person be sure to thank them for their time and ask them for the Congressman’s position on Haiti in general and MINUSTAH in particular.

In just few minutes, you can help support progress in Haiti! Thank you for your time and help.

Please let us know what response(s) you receive from your Congressman. Thank you.

The Haiti Advocacy Committee

Greg, Marylou, Sarah and John

Email: HaitiAdvocacyCommittee@saintbridget.com

Blog: http://HaitiAdvocacyCommittee.blogspot.com

Haiti ACTION ALERT XI

2011-08-20T13:45:00.000-07:00

Haiti ACTION ALERT XI

Show the U.S. Senate:

We still care about earthquake victims in Haiti.

August 14, 2011

Please urge Senators Lieberman and Blumenthal and (who are your U.S. Senators?) to support the recovery progress and accountability in Haiti.

One in two Americans donated generously to earthquake recovery in Haiti. Yet, in spite of the great response from the American people and the U.S. government, approximately 680,000 Haitians remain in camps eighteen months after the earthquake, living in conditions unfit for humans. Haitians living in camps have seen little if any progress and want to know where all the aid money is going. There must be more accountability and transparency in the effective use of relief aid in Haiti.

In May 2011, Congresswoman Barbara Lee sponsored H.R. 1016 to measure the U.S. government’s Haiti aid efforts. The bill passed with unanimous consent in the House and is currently pending review in the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Please urge your Senators to support this bill in the Senate.

The bill, at no additional cost to the American taxpayer, requires President Obama to report on the status of post-earthquake humanitarian, reconstruction and development efforts in Haiti as well as on-going U.S. government programs. USAID and the U.S. Special Coordinator for Haiti will be required to assess progress in the following areas:

Protection of vulnerable populations, including internally displaced women, children, and the elderly;
Improvement of water, sanitation and access to emergency healthcare;

U.S. and international engagement with Haitian ministries, local authorities, and Haitian citizens;
Overall progress of relief, recovery, and reconstruction in Haiti;
Extent to which U.S. efforts are in line with local priorities;
Coordination among U.S. government agencies, U.N. agencies, and other international institutions;
Mechanisms for communicating the progress of recovery and reconstruction to Haitian citizens;
Participation of Haitian grassroots groups, civil society networks and the Haitian Diaspora in recovery and reconstruction efforts.

This bill is a way for us to help Haitians by bringing accountability in the use of tax dollars currently being spent on aid efforts.

Please call your Senators and urge support of the Senate version of H.R. 1016.

To call:

1. Call Sen Blumenthal at (860) 258-6940 and Sen Lieberman at (860) 549-8463 to leave a comment or to speak to a staffer.

2. Call 202–224‑3553 to speak to YOUR Senator and select the option to leave a comment or speak to a staffer.

3. Whether you speak to the staffer in person, or just leave a message, here’s what to say:

“My name is ___________ and I am a resident of __________.

I am calling to urge Senator ___________ to use his/her leadership to garner support for a Senate version of H.R. 1016 calling for progress in Haiti through more accountability in aid efforts.

4. If you are speaking to the staff person be sure to thank them for their time and ask whether they think that the Senator will support this bill.

In just few minutes, you can help support progress in Haiti! Thank you for your time and help.

The Haiti Advocacy Committee

Greg, Marylou, Sarah and John

Email: HaitiAdvocacyCommittee@saintbridget.com

Blog: http://HaitiAdvocacyCommittee.blogspot.com

HAITI ACTION ALERT X

2011-07-13T14:38:00.000-07:00

Haiti Action Alert - X
Find Out where your US Representative stands
June 30, 2011

The well-being of our neighbors in Haiti is, generally speaking, of little concern to our congressional representatives in D.C. We have heard very little from those representatives about Haiti. It’s up to us, their constituents, who do care about Haiti to demand their point of view and, when necessary, persuade them to become active on behalf of Haitians.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Here in Connecticut’s 1st District the question is for Rep John Larson:
Congressman Larson: What is your position on Haiti?We think that Mr Larson has not clearly expressed his position on Haiti. Like his colleagues, they have done nothing to alleviate the suffering of the Haitian people who were promised billions of dollars in debt relief and in rebuilding support. Meanwhile, the situation in Haiti worsens as neighborhoods in Port Au Prince are now forcibly evicting homeless earthquake victims from some tent cities, though they have no where else to go. Bulldozers that could be used to clear the roads so travel can commence are instead being used to reclaim the parks for the rich who are tired of looking out of their mansions and seeing such an unsightly scene.Please contact Rep. Larson and hold him accountable for what is and what is not being done in Haiti to help rebuild this once proud nation.
1) What are Rep. Larson's specific policy positions on Haiti?
2) What is Rep. Larson's vision of a stable Haiti? What kind of economic structure, educational system, food and agriculture, etc?
Email Rep. Larson at www.larson.house.gov OR
Call him at 860-278-8888
Please act now! More and more homeless Haitians are dying from disease, violence, and undernourishment. Tell Congressman Larson that you care and that you want the United States do everything possible to get.Haiti back on its feet.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
For OTHER Congressional Districts: Do You Support Haiti?
Please identify and send an email to your Representative from this web site: Write Your Representative - Contact your Congressperson in the0 U.S. House of Representatives. (http://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml)
OR Call 202-224-3121 and ask to speak to your Representative.

Knowing that you care about our Haitian neighbors, please contact your U.S. Representative to find out if he/she cares also. AND what they have done and are willing to do to make effective post-earthquake construction happen.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Contact your Congressperson and let us know your experience with him/her, please.

The Haiti Advocacy Committee
John, Sarah, MaryLou and Greg at St Bridget, Manchester, CT
email: HaitiAdvocacyCommittee@saintbridget.com
blog: http://HaitiAdvocacyCommittee.blogspot.com
If you would like to be removed from our email list, please let us know.

HAITI ACTION ALERT IX

2011-02-26T14:35:00.000-08:00

Haiti ACTION ALERT IX

February 25, 2011

Re-Do Haiti Election; Include Aristide

Haiti’s presidential election this past November was a disaster, starting with the exclusion of former President Aristide’s Fanmi Lavalas Party (the largest party in Haiti) ... and ending with the second top vote-getter to be replaced in the runoff election … a decision by non-Haitian election supervisors based on incompetent analysis.

1) Instead of conducting this runoff election, many Haitians want the opportunity to once again elect Aristide as their President. Please advocate for a completely new election … including Aristide’s party.

2) Aristide has been issued a diplomatic passport by the government of Haiti. The United States is trying to prevent his return. Please advocate for allowing Jean-Bertrand Aristide to return to his native Haiti.

Because the United States is instrumental in the decisions of the Interim Commission on the Reconstruction of Haiti, we must call on our representatives to pressure that organization and Co-Chair Bill Clinton (who is also the UN Special Envoy to Haiti) to facilitate both of these events. That will not be an easy task; many people must speak up for that to happen.

· ASK YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES TO CALL FOR A NEW ELECTION, INLCUDING FANMI LAVALAS, IN HAITI.

· ALSO ASK THEM FOR THE UNITED STATES TO SUPPORT ARISTIDE’S RETURN TO HAITI.

Please CALL OR EMAIL TODAY President Bill Clinton and one or more of your elected officials.
Here are numbers

for President Bill Clinton: http://www.clintonfoundation.org/contactus/

for Connecticut Representatives:

1^st District Congressman John Larson: (202) 225-2265; www.larson.house.gov

2^nd District Congressman Joe Courtney: (202) 225-2076; http://courtney.house.gov

3^rd District Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro: (202) 225-3661; http://delauro.house.gov

4^th District Congressman Jim Himes: (202) 225-5541; http://himes.house.gov

5^th District Congressman Chris Murphy: (202) 225-4476; www.chrismurphy.house.gov

for Connecticut Senators:

Senator Joseph Lieberman: (202) 224-4041; http://lieberman.senate.gov

Senator Richard Blumenthal: (202) 224-2823; http://blumenthal.senate.gov

for ANY member of Congress: (202) 224-3121

6 attachments — Download all attachments
The Poor Always Pay.doc
32K View Download
Haiti Election - chickens come home to roost.doc
26K View Download
Sham Election Shames US.doc
27K View Download
Growing Momentum to Democracy.doc
29K View Download
This Time People of Haiti May Win.doc
27K View Download
Democracy in the Balance.doc
29K View Download

Haiti ACTION ALERT Vlll

2011-02-13T15:43:00.000-08:00

Haiti ACTION ALERT Vlll

February 12, 2011

Sustainable Development of Haiti NOW

Enormous piles of rubble clog the streets. One million people still live in the chaos of tents, which many describe as a living hell, with rape and the insecurity of other crimes escalating daily. Already burdened by chronic poverty before the earthquake, conditions are increasingly dire. How can we change this? How can we best care for Haiti?

Our government has pledged its support but has failed its implementation. Justice demands accountability.

ASK OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO IMPLEMENT THE PROMISED U.S. SUPPORT OF HAITI?

LET’S TELL THEM WE WANT HAITI FIXED NOW.

Please CALL OR EMAIL TODAY one (or more) of your elected officials.
Here are numbers

for Connecticut Representatives:

1^st District Congressman John Larson: (202) 225-2265; www.larson.house.gov

2^nd District Congressman Joe Courtney: (202) 225-2076; http://courtney.house.gov

3^rd District Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro: (202) 225-3661; http://delauro.house.gov

4^th District Congressman Jim Himes: (202) 225-5541; http://himes.house.gov

5^th District Congressman Chris Murphy: (202) 225-4476; www.chrismurphy.house.gov

for Connecticut Senators:

Senator Joseph Lieberman: (202) 224-4041; http://lieberman.senate.gov

Senator Richard Blumenthal: (202) 224-2823; http://blumenthal.senate.gov

for ANY member of Congress: (202) 224-3121

image001.gif
5K View Download

HAITI ACTION ALERT VII

2010-12-22T07:24:00.000-08:00

Haiti Action Alert VII

“Give Aid to the Haitian People NOW”

December 21, 2010

Direct Action: Come to this Demonstration in Full Solidarity with Haitians to Demand Full Disbursement of Pledged Monetary Aid.

January 8, 2011, from 10 AM –12:30 PM New York City

A demonstration in front of the Clinton Foundation Office of former President William J. Clinton, Special Envoy for Haiti,

55 W. 125^th Street

This initiative sponsored by The Haiti Solidarity Network of the Northeast (HSNNE) and sustained by a growing coalition that includes:

· Community Development International (CDI)

· Haitians Unified for Development and Education (HUDE)

· Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH)

· Justice Alliance Network of New Jersey (JAN-NJ)

· Organizing for Haiti

· Pax Christi Metro New York

· Peoples’ Organization for Progress

· Sustainable Orphanages for Haitian Youth

· Unity Ayiti

· Haiti Advocacy Committee – this is US!

Driving Directions: (From the Hartford area):

à Take I-84 W for approximately 62 miles from Hartford and then

à take Exit 20------I-684 toward NY-22/WhitePlains/Pauling.

à Stay left at the fork and merge onto I-684 South, and stay on it for nearly 30 miles.

à Merge on Hutchinson River Parkway and stay on this for 7.7 miles—

à continue onto the Cross-County Pkwy (see signs for George Washington Bridge) for another 4.7 miles

à Keep left at fork—follow Saw Mill Pkwy/South New York City signs and

à merge onto Saw Mill River Pkwy South for 2.2 miles.

à Take a slight left onto Mosholu Pkwy. for .9 miles and then

à take I-87 South/Deegan Expy. toward the Triboro Bridge.

à Merge onto I-87 for 5.8 miles and then

à take exit 3 toward E 138^th St/Madison Ave. Bridge

à merge onto Exterior St/Madison Ave Bridge,

à turn right on E 138^th St,

à make a U-turn at 5^th Ave.

à continue onto Park Ave, then finally,

à turn right at E 125^th St/Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd

à look for Clinton’s office at #55.

Train Directions:

à Take Train to 125^th Street Station, then

à walk northwest for ¼ mile to 55 E 125^th Street)

HAITI ACTION ALERT VI

2010-12-18T10:26:00.000-08:00

HAITI ACTION ALERT VI

November 26, 2010

Where is the Money for Haiti?

“A supplemental request for Haiti reconstruction passed the Senate in May and then the House in July. But a measure to direct how the money is spent was held up after it was anonymously tabled for further review. The US still hasn’t delivered a cent of the $1.15 billion in new aid for Haiti it pledged earlier this year.”

Democracy Now September 29th 2010

BACKGROUND

Where is their money? Ten months after the earthquake upended the land and the lives of the Haiti’s people, where is the pledged money? Ten months after the world finally took notice of the poorest country in the western hemisphere, and pledged support, the people continue to wait; ten months after tectonic catastrophe a people already burdened by chronic poverty, continue to die from cholera, crime and chaos. Their misery, hunger, lingering loneliness, and death must be addressed with the full force of justice.

ACTION REQUEST

It has been ten months and only a tiny percentage of the money pledged and donated has reached Haiti. How can this be? Call and write your representatives NOW and demand answers. Let them know that as the Haitian people suffer physically and emotionally, our souls atrophy beneath our paralysis.

Please CALL one (or more) of your representatives today. Here are numbers

for eastern Connecticut Representatives:

1st District Congressman John Larson’s number is: (860) 278-8888 – CALL HIM.

2nd District Congressman Joe Courtney’s number is: (860) 886-0139 – CALL HIM.

for Connecticut Senators:

Senator Joseph Lieberman’s number is: (860) 549-8463 – CALL HIM.

Senator Christopher Dodd’s number is: (860) 258-6940 – CALL HIM.

Senator-Elect Richard Blumenthal’s number is: (860) 808-5318 – CALL HIM.

and for ANY member of Congress: (202) 224-3121 – CALL TODAY

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

DEMAND THAT THE MONEY PROMISED TO HAITI
IS THE MONEY SENT TO HAITI

NOW

Following the Aid Money to Haiti...by Sharyl Attkisson

www.cbsnews.com/stories/.../main6477611.shtml

Democracy Now November 11, 2010

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/11/11/haiti_cholera_outbreak_reaches_port_au

Bill Clinton lobbies for earthquake aid to Haiti, Jonathan M. Katz

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/cb_haiti_earthquake

1) Please find a few brief background papers on this alert at http://HaitiAdvocacyCommittee.blogspot.com

2) If you would prefer to not receive these Haiti Action Alerts, please send a quick email to HaitiAdvocacyCommittee@saintbridget.com and ask to be removed.

Haiti Action Alert V

2010-10-18T15:34:00.000-07:00

HAITI ACTION ALERT V
August 31, 2010
Support H.R.6021- The HEAR Act
The Haiti Emergency and Reconstruction Act

Why is action important now? The earthquake that devastated the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, and surrounding areas in January 2010 killed more than 200,000 people and injured over 300,000. Houses and businesses were destroyed, leaving 2 million people displaced from their homes. Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere before the earthquake, is struggling to recover due to capacity, human, resource, and infrastructure constraints. Recent legislation introduced by Representative Conyers (MI), H.R. 6021, the Haiti Emergency Assistance and Reconstruction (HEAR) Act, provides an effective policy framework for long-term recovery and development efforts in Haiti and allocates generous funding over 5 years towards this goal.
What is the Church’s position? The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the Catholic community’s international relief and development agency, believe that the recovery efforts in Haiti require adoption of a strategy for long-term recovery and sustainable development that coordinates different U.S. government agencies in a comprehensive approach while engaging faith-based organizations and other groups with expertise and experience in Haiti. In a letter of support for HR 6021, CRS and USCCB stated that this bill represents a serious effort to address the long-term recovery needs of the Haitian people.
Please contact your U.S. Representative
and ask him/her to support H.R.6021
Here’s a sample letter you might use as a starting point for your letter, fax, email or phone call:

Representative Larson,
I am writing to urge you support H.R. 6021 which provides a strategy and funding for long-term reconstruction and development in Haiti.
The earthquake that devastated the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, awakened the world to the ongoing disaster that is Haiti. Widespread compassion led to promises of help to put Haiti on its feet; the United States was appropriately among the first to pledge support in the short term and the long term. It has taken longer than we expected, but recent legislation introduced by Representative Conyers, H.R. 6021, the Haiti Emergency Assistance and Reconstruction (HEAR) Act, provides an effective policy framework for long-term recovery and development efforts in Haiti and allocates generous funding over 5 years towards this goal.
Please do whatever you can to ensure that this bill passes quickly and intact.
Thank you.
Sincerely …
(Be sure to include your address, with zip code)

1) You can find a few brief background papers at http://HaitiAdvocacyCommittee.blogspot.com

2) Also at our blog, you can find our previous ACTION ALERTS, several of which still require our advocacy in support of our Haitian neighbors.

3) If you would prefer to not receive these Haiti Action Alerts, please send a quick email to HaitiAdvocacyCommittee@saintbridget.com and ask to be removed.

HAITI ACTION ALERT 4: Agricultural Focus in the Long Term Plan

2010-07-25T18:35:00.000-07:00

As plans for its future are being developed, reports out of Haiti indicate that there is considerable support for returning the country to a strong agricultural basis, so that it can provide its own food as well as provide exports to help make the economy strong.

In an interview published July 17th, Former President Bill Clinton briefly touched on aspects of the plans he is shepherding as Special UN Envoy to Haiti and co-chair of the Interim Haiti Reconstruction Commission. He mentioned a national health system, green energy, communications system, transportation improvements and housing. He did not mention the agricultural sector.

Haiti activists have broad-ranging ideas about how to rejuvenate agriculture for the benefit of the whole country. Plans include credit availability, fertilizer, reforestation and soil recovery, decentralized federal government, land redistribution, transportation system (passable roads), and warehouses and processing facilities. Related initiatives would be shifting much of over-populated Port-au-Prince to the rural countryside for agricultural employment, while insuring adequate housing in both environments.

The concern is that the international planners, President Clinton in the fore, are not hearing the voices of the people of Haiti as they talk about these agricultural priorities.

Please contact President Clinton and ask him to include agricultural reform as a major element of the reconstruction of Haiti.

Here’s a sample letter you might send or just use as a starting point for your letter, fax, email or phone call:

William J. Clinton
Clinton Foundation
55 West 125th Street
New York, NY 10027

Dear President Clinton,

As happy as I was to hear of your appointment to lead the Haiti Reconstruction Commission, I am becoming concerned by reports that the Haitian people’s desires are not being heard nor reflected in the Commission’s developing plans. In particular, having read about the people’s plan for agrarian reform and agricultural focus in their new economy, I was surprised that agriculture was not mentioned in the report of your interview about progress and the plan on July 17th.

Please assure me that the Haitian people’s voices are being heard by your Commission and their desires included effectively in the plans being developed. If possible, perhaps you could send an outline description of current agricultural plans you have. If somehow agriculture is not a focal point of the plans, please tell me why not?

By the way, the reason for my interest in Haiti is …

Thank you very much for your efforts on behalf of Haiti.

Sincerely …

Articles pertinent to this posting:

Monsanto’s 475-ton Seed Donation Challenged by Haitian Peasants

Haitian Farmers Commit to Burning Monsanto Hybrid Seeds

'So That Everyone Can Eat, Produce It Here':
Food Sovereignty and Land Reform in Haiti

Five Questions Monsanto Needs to Answer about its Seed Donation to Haiti

HAITI ACTION ALERT 3: Why are Haitians Being Left Out of Their Own Development?

2010-07-06T07:17:00.000-07:00

Dramatic irony is once again playing out in Haiti as foreign donors purport to know more about Haiti than the Haitians living there. Maria Aguiar of the Boston-based human rights and international development organization, Grassroots International, reported that since the earthquake, Haitian peasant movements and urban-based coalitions have become disheartened because, although they have shared several thoughtful strategies for the renewal of Haiti by Haitians, they have been excluded from the discussions about plans for Haiti’s relief and reconstruction.

At the forefront of the Haitian peoples’ movement is a group called PAPDA, the (Haitian Platform to Advocate Alternative Development), which suggests an agricultural approach to rebuilding Haiti. They call for the return of Haitian workers to agricultural sectors that had been abandoned due to economic structural adjustment. Grassroots International has been sharing PAPDA’s statements as widely as possible, while working to amplify Haitian voices within policy debates.
RENHASSA is a Haiti national network advocating for Haiti food sovereignty (produce 80% of Haiti’s food at home, use indigenous seeds), integrated land reform, and total reforestation.

Links to articles pertaining to Haiti Action Alert 3:

-Decentralized government goal of Haiti's rebuilding effort after quake

-Haitians Excluded From Decisions on Rebuilding After Earthquake

-Solidarity Economy’s Role in Haiti’s Survival

-'Post Disaster Needs Assessment' - Whose Needs? Whose Assessment?

Please contact Hillary or Bill Clinton and ask that they include the Haitian organizations into the development talks they are overseeing

SAMPLE LETTER -The following is a form letter that you can copy and paste, or add your own ideas, to advocate for Haitians controlling their own destiny.

Hillary Clinton
Secretary of State
2201C Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20520

-OR-

William J. Clinton
William J. Clinton Foundation
55 West 125th Street
New York, NY 10027

Dear Mr. / Ms. Clinton:

On behalf of the Haitian people I encourage you to make the needed changes in policy which will enable Haitians to be an integral part of their own development plans and implementation. It is critical that we empower PAPDA, and other grassroots organizations like it, to participate in making the changes that need to be made for the benefit of all Haitians.

Please support our efforts toward this end. Thank you.

Sincerely: The Haiti Advocacy Committee, HaitiAdvocacyCommittee@saintbridget.com

HAITI ACTION ALERT 2: CONTINUING NEWS COVERAGE: REBUILDING HAITI

2010-05-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends of Haiti,

You probably have noticed the lack of coverage of Haiti by your news sources – newspapers, radio, television, and internet. This advocacy alert is aimed at those news organizations, the very ones you depend on to know what’s happening in the world. It is time to let them know that we are interested in the Haitian people in their desperate situation and what’s being done about it every day.

Right now the AP and NPR are still over there reporting, but everyone else has gone home. The Haitian people are in great need of solidarity right now and there are many stories to be told. For example, a month ago, a group of 500 Haitians from all over their country met in Port-Au-Prince in a grassroots effort to rebuildHaiti. Their organization is called PAPDA (Platform To Advocate Alternative Policy). A story about PAPDA would be crucial to publicizing this greatly unrecognized organization of Haitian activists.

Please contact any of these media outlets and any other news source you know of, especially if you are a customer of theirs!

CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, ABC News, CBS News, NBC News, USA Today, Time, Newsweek, New York Times, Democracy Now, Boston Herald, Hartford Courant, Journal Inquirer, New London Day, Wall Street Journal, CommonDreams.org, Providence Journal...

At the same time, contact your local news asking them to pick up syndicated stories about Haiti and spread them in your area --- tell them all “we want to hear about Haiti”.

Below this alert you can find a sample letter you might find helpful as you construct you’re your own request to your own media targets. Either way, we want to convey the message that we, their customers and US citizens, are not receiving the information about Haiti we need. We want to know what is happening there and what our government is doing to help rebuild the country as it should be done.

In peace and solidarity: The Haiti Advocacy Committee, HaitiAdvocacyCommittee@saintbridget.com

SAMPLE LETTER

To The Editor,

A couple of months ago daily news reports about and from Haiti were a staple of your organizations. Lately that has changed considerably; I don’t remember one piece in the past two weeks. In spite of the fact that Haiti has not yet been rebuilt, that Haitians are still suffering unbearably, that the United States has committed to be instrumental in reforming that country, and that there are many US citizens involved with Haiti and interested in her recovery status, it has become very difficult to know anything of what is happening in Haiti. Or, for that matter, what is happening in DC on behalf of Haiti. Please change that. Please find and share with us some news about Haiti every day. I have been looking and will continue to look for that information regularly.

Thank you.

In peace and solidarity: The Haiti Advocacy Committee, HaitiAdvocacyCommittee@saintbridget.com

HAITI ACTION ALERT 1: FULL INTERNATIONAL DEBT RELIEF for HAITI

2010-02-27T08:00:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends:

This is our first communication as the Haiti advocacy group and we would like to once again to say thank you for providing your e-mail addresses and support on behalf of justice for our Haitian neighbors ... in addition to the great work you already do for your friends in Haiti.

We have cause for celebration at this time because the U.S. Treasury Department has announced that the United States is supporting full international debt relief for Haiti. That led the G-7 (Global-7) economic powers 2 weeks ago in Iqaluit, Canada, to also strongly favor eliminating Haiti’s international debt, which will open the way to grant financing aimed at the rebuilding of infrastructure.

Now our voices of support for this positive step are needed in order to assure that the international financial institutions (IMF, World Bank, IADB) implement these policies as soon as possible. We are asking that you take two actions at this time – both grounded in our solidarity with the Haitians.

As a first step in our advocacy we can easily sign a petition of support of full international debt relief and grant aid at the following link:

http://www.one.org/us/actnow/drophaitiandebt/ambassador.html

ONE is a social justice group whose founders and/or board members include, Gates Foundation member Jeff Raikes, former U.S. Presidential Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Joshua Bolten, CARE USA Chief Executive Officer Helene D. Gayle, and U2 lead singer and tireless advocate for justice worldwide, Bono.

Secondly, in addition to this petition, please write to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and one or more of our elected representatives.

Let them know that:

We are an active and committed group of citizens in their district who have much history working for the Haitian people.

We want complete debt relief to happen immediately and expect them to support this effort.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
202-647-4000
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20520

email from their web site at: http://contact-us.state.gov/

The Honorable President Barack H. Obama
202-456-1111
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
(Please include your e-mail address)

Please call 202-224-3121 and ask for your US Senator or Representative.

Email Senators at: http://www.senate.gov and Representatives at: http://writerep.house.gov

In peace and solidarity: The Haiti Advocacy Committee