Cholera reaches Port Au Prince tent cities

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/11/2010111023475117420.html

Pick Me Up’s

 

 

Walk the Talk- Aid Facts in Haiti

So many of us with connections to Haiti know that transparency and accountability are often lacking with "development" and international involvement. Reliance and depedance should be avoided; however in light of recent events- hurricanes, earthquake, Cholera, Tomas etc. internatonal assistance and pledge has proved NECESSARY. Unfortunately, we continually fail to walk the talk. In fact we are ALL talk and very LITTLE action.
I wanted to share some recent statistics that I have come across.

• US$6.036 billion was pledged for Haiti in NYC on March 31, 2010, for the following 18 months in all fields of spending—government, international agencies, charities and ngo’s. Of that, $886 million is for debt relief.
• As of September, $1.940B has been pledged for 2010. That’s 32% of the total March 31 pledges. Of this amount, $1.317B has been disbursed or committed. That’s 22% of total pledges. The U.S. has committed zero for 2010.

Canadian funding
• In NYC on March 31, Canada said it is committing US$632 million to Haiti for 2010/11. This includes funding already promised to Haiti in Canada’s pre-earthquake, CAN$555M aid budget for the years 2006-2011. CAN$150 million was spent up to March 31, 2010; none of this went to the Haitian government.
• Of the US$199M promised for 2010, Canada has disbursed $44M, or 22%.

Who is demanding transparency? Are we too trusting? What is the solution here?

Dear: Thomas - Please slow down!

Please continue to keep Haiti in your thoughts and prayers as Tropical Storm Tomas threatens to hit Haiti on Friday. At this time the storm has been downgraded to a tropical depression but there is some debate over whether it could move into a Category 1 or 2 Hurricane by Friday.

Their problems did NOT disappear with the spotlight.

January 12th Haiti was hit by a devastating earthquake, an earthquake that last 35 seconds but left the Haiti I knew literally unrecognizable.

7 months post quake- a presidential election is announced- let the unrest begin! Haiti has a long history of political corruption and instability- much turmoil and anguish surrounds the democratic process.

http://www.guatemala-times.com/news/world/1789-haiti-the-stakes-of-the-post-quake-elections.html

http://www.rttnews.com/Content/GeneralNews.aspx?Id=1460112&SM=1

Nearly 10 months post quake and 1.3 million people are still living in unsuitable living conditions- homemade tents, sheets propped up on sticks, dirt floors. Rainy season lives on!

Nearly 10 months post quake Haiti makes the news yet again- A Cholera outbreak- it is estimated that there have been over 330 deaths with thousands infected.

Why?

• Lack of Clean Water
• Lack of Sanitation
• Lack of Treatment
• Lack of Suitable Living Conditions
• Lack of Action

Haiti will make the news yet again as a tropical storm “Thomas” threatens to ravage this devastated island. Please keep the Haitian people in your thoughts and prayers.

http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFN0123899920101101

http://news.nationalpost.com/2010/11/01/haiti-braces-for-looming-storm/

I am not sharing this information so you feel guilt, I am sharing this information so that you feel RESPONSIBLE. Responsible to care, responsible to act, responsible to stay knowledgeable. We are not citizens merely within our own communities, we are global citizens- responsible to our neighbours to the North, South, East and West of us.

Please do something, within your own means, to help! It could be as simple as spreading the word- share the link to this blog post, share the to the various articles. Haiti needs our help- now in crisis and our partnership for years to come.

Their problems did not disappear with the spotlight.

Tomorrow’s Starting Now….

“If you’re out there”- John  Legend

If you hear this message, wherever you stand
I'm calling every woman, calling every man
We're the generation
We can't afford to wait
The future started yesterday and we're already late
We've been looking for a song to sing
Searched for a melody
Searched for someone to lead
We've been looking for the world to change

If you feel the same
Then go on and say
If you're out there
Sing along with me
If you're out there
I'm dying to believe that you're out there
Stand up and say it loud
If you're out there
Tomorrow's starting now
Now, now
No more broken promises
No more call to war
Unless it's love and peace that we're really fighting for
We can destroy hunger
We can conquer hate
Put down the arms and raise your voice
We're joining hands today
Oh I was looking for a song to sing
I searched for a leader
But the leader was me
We were looking for the world to change
We can be heroes
Just go on and say
If you're out there
Sing along with me
If you're out there
I'm dying to believe that you're out there
Stand up and say it loud
If you're out there
Tomorrow's starting now
Now, now
Oh now, now
If you're ready we can shake the world
Believe again
It starts within
We don't have to wait for destiny
We should be the change that we want to see

If you're out there
Ooooh
If you're out there
And you're ready now
Say it loud
Scream it out
If you're out there
Sing along with me
If you're out there
I'm dying to believe that you're out there
Stand up and say it loud
If you're out there
Tomorrow's starting now
If you're out there
If you're out there
If you're out there
If you hear this message, wherever you stand
I'm calling every woman, calling every man
We're the generation
We can't afford to wait
The future started yesterday and we're already late

A friend in need…. read how YOU can help!

Hello Friends! I am writing today on behalf of a very good friend of mine, her name is Rhyan Buettner and I have the pleasure of working alongside her the past two summers in Haiti. She is recently taken on the incredibly rewarding challenge of supporting an orphanage in the heart of Haiti, she has taken on this commitment with its associated challenges and rewards- she is truly an awesome lady! 

At this time she is calling on YOUR help- she is in need of CHILDREN’s GRAVOL in liquid form preferably but the chewable and suppositories could also be helpful. If you have access to this or know someone who could help/donate/ put me in touch with someone would could please contact me ASAP. I am needing to collect these materials and send them off to the USA before she departs for Haiti yet again at the end of next week.

Please email me directly at britt_berri@hotmail.com

Please check out her blog and read more about what she is doing: www.becausehecalled.blogspot.com

Thanks in advance!

In Haiti Love,

Britt