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Posts with the tag Haiti

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By Jacob François - Apr 24th, 2009 at 6:25 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

Popular Initiative calls for removal of Bush appointee in Haiti

by Kevin Pina

HIP - A spokesperson for grassroots organizations aligned with Haiti's Fanmi Lavalas party demanded the Obama administration remove current US Ambassador Janet Sanderson. Reached by telephone in the capital of Port-au-Prince a leader of a group calling itself the Popular Initiative stated, "She is lying about last Sunday's elections by not acknowledging it was our boycott that kept voters away." He continued, "She claims it was because this was not a regular election year and that people may be tired of the political process. The only voter fatigue we have in Haiti is with undemocratic elections. Allow Fanmi Lavalas to participate and we'll show you the voters have a lot of energy and enthusiasm for an authentic democratic process. She is out of touch with reality in Haiti."
Haiti held controversial Senate elections last week that were boycotted by Fanmi Lavalas after all of their candidates were excluded on procedural grounds. Voters mostly stayed at home on election day after Lavalas launched a campaign called Operation Closed Door. The Obama administration is widely seen as having green lighted the contested elections after Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton visited Haiti three days prior to the ballot.
The Popular Initiative has also called for a re-evaluation of US policy in Haiti by the Obama administration claiming that its current direction is a holdover from the Bush administration. A second spokesperson in the conference call declared, "It is time for a real change in Haiti and that can only come by breaking with the past which means the policies of the Bush administration. A good place to start is with the removal of Ambassador Sanderson who was put in place by the Bush government."

They also blamed Ambassador Janet Sanderson for pressuring the Preval administration to issue arrest warrants for 42 of the organizers of the election boycott including five hunger strikers who were forced out of the parliament building by police earlier on Monday. "She made remarks on the radio that the organizers should be investigated. Since then several of our people have been forced into hiding including Rene Civil and Nawoon Marcellus. They have invented a new and bizarre charge, obstruction of democracy," concluded the spokesperson.
At a press conference yesterday, the Popular Initiative and other groups aligned with Lavalas announced they would step up the pressure for the return of Jean-Bertrand Aristide from exile in the Republic of South Africa. They declared May and June months of mass mobilization against elections that exclude Lavalas and to fight what they call the "growing misery and poverty as a result of the removal of our democratically elected president on Feb. 29, 2004."

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HPP CALLED FOR THE ANNULMENT OF THE ELECTIONS.

By Jacob François - Apr 22nd, 2009 at 3:15 pm EDT

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A PARTICIPATION RATE LOWER THAN THE 5% FORECASTED BY HAITIAN PRIORITIES PROJECT

(HPP). HPP CALLED FOR THE ANNULMENT OF THE ELECTIONS.

http://www.hpp4haiti.com/english_annulment.htm

HAITIAN PRIORITIES PROJECT (HPP) takes this opportunity to thank all of its partners and contributors who helped achieved a careful and precise pre-election poll conducted in record time. Success was achieved despite the difficulties encountered in Haiti to produce reports in a time-sensitive manner. With the information provided to us by the people and our workers, and their respect for democratic principles in relaying and analyzing the facts as the people reported, our survey is by far the closest to the reality of the so-called elections on 19 April 2009.

To our beloved people, we send our applause and eternal gratitude for having once again demonstrated peace, serenity and political savyness. Your show of ingenuity and resilience against this undemocratic election gave a lesson of democracy to the CEP, the government of Haiti, and the international community. This past week has been a testament to the true will and might of the people. HAITIAN PRIORITIES PROJECT simultaneously deplores the attacks of 19 April 2009 against election workers, politicians and the general public. We condemn acts of violence by militants and soldiers, against the people, trying to force them to vote in elections without complying with democratic norms. We say "shame" to those who have tried by flawed polls to influence the election results on behalf of wealthy patrons who completely ignore the welfare of our nation. Shame also to the security forces national and international operating in the country. These individuals who are supposed to be concerned with the safety of the people of Haiti, and the security of its streets proved unable to, despite the few participants in the streets, in order to protect the population against the violence of the enemies of democracy.
Key points
HPP has completed its analysis of the electoral procedures enacted by the senate on behalf of the Electoral College, and the application of the rules in the partial elections of 19 April 2009. It is necessary to report clear and serious cases of violation against articles 97, 121,125, 166 and 203. Detailed data on these issues were presented to the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) prior to the elections. We have verified these violations as being true and the behavior of CEP regarding these concerns was illegal and unreliable based on the aforementioned articles.

HPP has found evidence of abuse by the electoral commission in favor of LESPWA candidates. Corpuscles belonging to the President of the Republic’s inner circle receivedexcessive and inappropriate support through the use of funds made available
and access to materials belonging to the state. They have exerted violence against elected officials and the public. These abuses have been demonstrated by the Senator of FUSION in the Central Plateau, Ms. Edmonde Bauzile Supplice, who claimed to be the subject of death threats. Heavily armed individuals have closed many polling stations.
Candidates for the Senate in the South East, Yves Dérisier (Fusion of Haitian Social Democrats) and Jean Pierre Joseph (Rassemblement National Progressive Democrats) have been officially withdrawn their candidacy from the race on Saturday 18 April 2009. Their withdrawals have been in protest to the decisions of the Conseil Electoral Provisoire (CEP) that they consider illegal.
The independent candidate Ronald St. Jean announced Thursday his withdrawal from the race because of many loopholes and violations by the establishment and the Electoral College machinery. He denounced the lack of a set of tools which should be the matrix of any serious election such as:

The participation rates are abnormally low across different constituencies eligible
The electoral register should have been available six months before the election, but still is not
The general electoral roll and electoral partial list should be ready for 60 days and 30 days respectively before the election.

These abuses occurred in several regions of the country. Although important in terms of elections and democratic principles, the aggregate number of violations from these irregularities is decisive to the slimmest extent.

Serious irregularities have occurred, and attempts to manipulate voting results are evident. There are major procedural violations. A number of election workers have been involved willingly or forced into acts of fraud. These irregularities also reflect a lack of control over the production of official documents including the accreditation of observers and the documents relating to official travel, which have been used to fraudulently claim the right to vote.

PPH does not in any way prejudge the prerogative given to CEP in making their own decisions, however, the facts at issue, are to submit its analysis in order to inform the public and to provide candidates and political parties an independent and objective   evaluation of the process.

HPP requests that all concerned remain calm and ensure that their apprehension of the elections is based solely on a neutral and rigorous analysis of electoral facts. With a rate of less than 5% of qualified individuals who took part in these elections, the CEP, thePresident and the international community can in no way validate these elections.

Participation rate
Official figures should show a national participation rate of less than 5%, or about 25% to 46% less than the turnout in the elections of 25 June 1995 Page 4. http://www.gao.gov/archive/1996/ns96147.pdf In 2006, the participation rate was 30%, based on statements made by David Wimhurst Spokesperson for the UN mission in Haiti. (see haitiprogres) www.haitiprogres.com/2006/sm060426/eng04-26.html
A participation rate this low simply reflects the wish of the people to stop the government of Préval/Pierre-Louis and the international community from reinstituting exclusion in Haiti. It was a strong and vigorous message and mobilization by the Lavalas Party: "PÒT FEMEN, LARI BLANCH. However, offices or polling centers that display higher participation rates than others in their areas deserve further attention. Moreover, if the results of these offices heavily favor one candidate, this could indicate an attempt to manipulate the result of the elections through ballot stuffing or fraudulent votes made in the absence of witnesses or observers.

HPP lead its election observation in accordance with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation and Code of Conduct adopted by the United Nations in 2005. These principles should have been utilized uniformly to abate and nullify this farce election.

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HAITI: Fanmi Lavalas Banned, Voter Apprehension Widespread

By Jacob François - Apr 17th, 2009 at 5:51 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

HAITI: Fanmi Lavalas Banned, Voter Apprehension Widespread
By Jeb Sprague*

NEW YORK, Apr 17 (IPS) - Weekend senatorial elections in Haiti are mired in controversy as Fanmi Lavalas (FL), the political party widely backed by the poor majority, has been disqualified.

As the global financial crisis unfolds, U.N. officials in New York City and Port-au-Prince are struggling to defend a troubled electoral process while gathering donor aid.

Meanwhile, a recent study by the Florida-based advocacy organisation Haiti Priorities Project (HPP) has found widespread popular apprehension and disaffection among Haitians ahead of the upcoming senatorial elections.

During eight days in early April, seventy HPP volunteers, 10 from the United States and 60 from Haiti, dispersed across the country. Their goal was to survey how people viewed the upcoming election.

"Only 5 percent of potential voters nationwide say they are ready to go to the polls in order to elect 12 senators for the upcoming elections on April of this year," said the group in a press release. Many of the respondents had never heard of the candidates fielded in the election.

Jacob François of the HPP explained to IPS, "We organised our census primarily through town hall meetings, where organisers spoke to people in groups and individually. From this we tallied the opinions of what was estimated to be 65,000 people out of a population of 8 million."

In February it was announced that Haiti’s Conseil électoral provisoire (CEP) would not recognise candidates from FL in the upcoming senatorial elections. The reason given was that the candidates - listed in two different slates - did not have the signature of the party’s head, former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who was ousted by the George W. Bush administration in 2004.

FL is in a process of reorganisation that even sympathetic observers have termed "disarray." After the initial failure of the two separate FL slates to gain CEP approval, the factions came together agreeing upon a unified slate. The slate was signed by Emmanuel Cantave - keeper of the party's seals - who has approved FL slates for the past 13 years.

Still, the CEP rejected the list. Its stated objection was that the list lacked Aristide’s signature; giving just days notice, it requested a non-fascimilied signature from Aristide, exiled in Pretoria, South Africa.

U.N. officials initially urged the CEP to include all parties.

Praising the efforts of FL to be included within the electoral process, the U.N. representative for a Security Council delegation, Jorge Urbina, stated that they "were glad to hear from (Lavalas) that they are using every legal instrument in their power to reverse this decision."

In a press release, the secretary general of the Organisation of American States, José Miguel Insulza, stated, "I cannot help but express my concern about the possibility that an important group of Haitian citizens might feel that they are not being represented in this process."

By early March, Haitian Judge Jean-Claude Douyon had ruled that the CEP could not disqualify the FL candidates. Concluding that "[t]he political rights of the Lavalas have been violated," he ordered the "reintegration of candidates of that party, if they each individually meet the legal standards."

However, not long after, Judge Douyon was mysteriously removed from his post, and the CEP disregarded his ruling.

In recent weeks, following a visit from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a consensus cemented among government elites to go forward with elections without FL. Criticism of the exclusion ceased.

In late March, U.N. press agencies reported that 100 tonnes of election equipment had arrived in the country, divided into 12,000 voting kits.

CEP and U.N. officials now lay blame at the feet of ousted President Aristide. The U.N.'s Urbina says that FL's exclusion was due to Aristide’s unwillingness to sign.

Some proponents say Aristide, who has been kept from returning to the country, does not wish to give his support to elections under which holdovers from the U.N.-backed dictatorship of 2004-2006 remain and the potential for fraud and vote rigging are high.

Top leaders of his movement have been systematically targeted, in part explaining FL’s internal dissension. The highest former office holder of FL, Yvon Neptune, spent two years in jail, and has a case hanging over his head despite it being ordered dismissed two years ago by a Haitian appeals court, and almost a year since the Inter-American Court of Human Rights told Haiti to halt the case. Another FL leader, Father Gérard Jean-Juste, who spent seven months in jail with untreated cancer, is sick in a hospital in Florida.

At the same time, FL political prisoners, such as Ronald Daulphin, remain in jail after five years without being tried. A justice process for thousands imprisoned and killed under the interim government remains out of sight.

Even so, since Aristide's ouster, a few senators have, without Aristide's endorsement, run in elections claiming to represent FL without any objection made by the CEP. Only in recent months, with violence decreased, has FL come together nationally to participate in elections.

François of the HPP, discussing the U.N. and Haitian government's actions, explains, "They just do not learn. They can’t exclude a major party in Haiti from an election, that's total exclusion. It will undermine the entire process. In addition, the CEP has no business going into the internal affairs of Lavalas."

The tenuous political alliance between Haiti’s President René Préval and FL has collapsed.

Elected in 2006, Préval had the support of the impoverished majority who hoped, through his candidacy, for a return to normality and an end to post-coup repression that left thousands dead.

Once elected, critics say, Préval's administration imposed the priorities of foreign donors and elites. The emphasis today is on garment exportation.

Thousands of Lavalas activists have mobilised against the disqualification, more demonstrations are planned for the weekend.

With the credibility of the upcoming elections badly damaged, foreign donors have attempted to smooth things over with a hastily organised conference pledging aid disbursement.

Speaking to donors and NGOs, whose influence in Haiti is colossal, U.N. Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon explained, "Haiti is at a turning moment...by acting now, we will protect the considerable investment and progress we have made so far."

Meanwhile, grassroots Haitian activists, such as a Ronique, a member of a women’s collective in Cité Soleil, condemn what they claim has been a thwarting of democracy led by Préval, the CEP and the U.N.

"In the matter of elections, basically what you have is a decision to explode Fanmi Lavalas, that is the way we in Haiti see it, that this was a decision by the international community with the complicity of President René Préval to get rid of and exclude Lavalas from the election because everyone knows FL is the majority party in the country," she said in a radio interview.

She added, "People are not enthused, it is a complete silence around this election. You don't see candidates going through the neighbourhoods where the people are suffering. Nobody is interested because they don't see themselves participating in this process."

With sadness in her voice she mentions Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine, one of the most internationally recognised FL leaders. He was abducted in late 2007, just after announcing his intention to run in senatorial elections, and remains missing. A leading human rights activist, he worked tirelessly to bring former death squad leaders to justice.

IPS has found that one death squad leader has been living in a luxurious hotel overlooking Port-au-Prince. Louis Jodel Chamblain, a founder of the infamous FRAPH death squad that murdered and raped thousands during the early 1990s, was interviewed by IPS a year ago at the Ibo Lele Hotel. Within earshot, U.N. officials and NGO dignitaries dined and slept.

*Wadner Pierre in Miami contributed to this story.

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ONLY 5% OF THE POPULATION IS READY TO CAST THEIR BALLOTS IN HAITI, REVEALS A SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE HAITIAN PRIORITIES PROJECT. IF FANMI LAVALAS WAS ADMITTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTIONS ON APRIL 19 2009, THE PARTICIPATION RATE WOULD BE AT 85%

By Jacob François - Apr 16th, 2009 at 10:34 am EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

Monday, April 13, 2009
According to a survey conducted by Haitian Priorities Project, 70 members were allocated in ten departments within Haiti monitoring the progress of the electoral contests for April 19 2009. Based on the findings, only 5% of potential voters nationwide say they are ready to go to the polls in order to elect 12 senators for the upcoming elections on April of this year. Two Consecutive lists were presented, one with the allowed names accepted by the Electoral College (CEP), and the other with the names of the candidates admitted by the CEP including those 12 candidates of Fanmi Lavalas. A great percentage of candidates admitted by the CEP, that the population is not familiar with, being aware of their names or presence in the upcoming elections in April. In the Nippes department, the majority who participated in the survey intend to stay home due to the inconsistency exhibited by the administration of President Préval and the international community wanting to practice exclusion, a system in which the people have been rejected since the fall of Duvalier 1986. The word of caution is that there cannot be credible elections with the exclusion of Lavalas. According to the statements received from individuals interviewed, hunger is rampant in the country, especially in Grand Anse, Central, North East, North West, South, West, Artibonite, and the Northwest of Haiti. In the West, no trend was developed on the ground in order to identify who is the likely winner for the April elections. Among 26,000 voters interviewed in the West Department, 95% find these elections were an aberration and a slap in the face of the people who took to the streets in order to elect Rene Preval President. Those voters interviewed did not understand why President Preval would want to have an election which excludes the most popular party in Haiti, Fanmi Lavalas. They reiterate the fact that they cannot endorse these elections if based on exclusions. The right to vote is a sacred issue due to the fact that countless numbers of people risked their lives to ensure that people can elect their own leader.

It is also noteworthy to mention that the people interviewed were able to differentiate between Lavalas and the Hope Party (LESPWA) of President Preval. According to data received, the incumbent Hope Party does not exist as a political party or grouping, but is only a leech living off Lavalas’ legacy at this time. People can tell the difference they said.
In the Grand Anse, frustration is increasing due to poor conditions of the roads; they emphatically stated that these elections are not a priority for them. They therefore promised to block any attempt by the government of President Preval to practice exclusion.
In the South, many have argued their concerns that Preval has promised to initiate an agricultural program in the area during his election campaign, and to this date, nothing has been done to alleviate the suffering of the poor in the area.
They believe the Center department is not given priorities in his governmental policies. The inhabitants of the Center have declared that they will not condone an unfair election; such violation could lead to their own demise. In the North, most people promise to stay at home, and it sound as if despite the large sum of money released for Moises Jean-Charles by Mr. Preval administration that, voters will this time take action so that no one ignore that Fanmi Lavalas is the undeniable force in the political arena in Haiti.

In the north-east and north-west, the candidates are not well known with the exception of Luke Fleurinord of the Party MIRN.

In the south-east, there was a fierce crackdown against the population. Lots of money was also distributed in order to buy the population votes from the incumbent party Lespwa. We at Haitian Priorities Project are currently cataloging incidents and or crimes committed by supporters and members of the party Lespwa in order to insure that these incidents never happen again. The survey was conducted by Haitian Priorities Project (HPP), from April 1 through 8 of this year among a sample of 65,000 people across the country. A margin of error was estimated at +or-3% in the national sample was noted.

www.hpp4haiti.com

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Haiti, Prez Obama, and I

By Haitiana4Obama - Apr 14th, 2009 at 9:53 pm EDT

Also listed in: 5 groups

Now I know many Haitian people are exceedingly becoming more encouraged as President Obama rolls out his foreign policy as well as immigration plans. Especially those who have family or friends in this country illegally and pray that God continues to fill this American President with a compassionate and intelligent (yes) heart. While I think there's a lot that the Obama Administration can do to help Haitians as well as Haitian Americans succeed in this new century, we need to ask ourselves when is enough...enough? When will the Haitian people become tired of being Orphans to the Western Hemisphere? That is what we've become in a sense, hands out, ready to receive donations. Now a recent article came out saying America was ready to invest in Haiti once more, and a HuffingtonPost blogger wrote a piece, this blog was in part inspired by some of the statistics in the aforementioned blog, now allow me to opine: Read More »

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ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

By WEBMASTER - Dec 13th, 2008 at 2:26 am EST

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The Pickens Plan: For those who would like to become an active participant in a solution for our nations energy needs I urge you to join with T.Boone Pickens in his quest for a cleaner planet through alternative energy.

Also see Green Wave Energy: Green Wave was founded by Mark Holmes and was formulated for viable alternative energy solutions. Green Wave Energy is promoting state-of-the-art energy-saving products and services throughout the country.

Green Wave Energy understands alternative energy technology will become “main stream” when

individuals and organizations understand that alternative energy technology exists and
when people see the economic benefits of using alternative energy technologies

Call 949.645.1701 for information on how Green Wave Energy can help you save the planet.

Alternative Energy
Source: David Apperson

url: http://veterans.barackobama.com/page/community/tag/alternative-energy

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Donate to this project tax deductible

By Jacob François - Nov 11th, 2008 at 6:45 am EST

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We are currently mobilizing funds for our projects in Haiti, if you can, please make a donation. If not, forward our request to your lists on our behalf.

Project 2000 International, Inc. has its core service as education. We believe that if people are educated, opportunities will result. We have now began to grow beyond our core service by providing health services, agricultural education, micro-credit and training schools in order to develop a sustainable entrepreneurial revolution in Haiti. Please, help us in securing funding for our programs.

We are a 501c3 organization; your donations are tax deductible

http://www.project2000international.org/eng_agriculture.htm

http://www.project2000international.org/eng_credit.htm

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Congratulations, Please Donate to a Worthy Cause Tax Deductible

By Jacob François - Nov 5th, 2008 at 6:00 pm EST

Also listed in: 9 groups

We are currently mobilizing funds for our projects in Haiti, if you can, please make a donation. If not, forward our request to your lists on our behalf.

We are a 501c3 organization; your donations are tax deductible

http://www.project2000international.org/eng_agriculture.htm

http://www.project2000international.org/eng_credit.htm

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EchodHaiti.com Endorses Barack Obama

By Ginau from Olney, MD - Oct 13th, 2008 at 10:01 pm EDT

      As America decides whether to elect its first Black president in its more than two hundred year history, we as Haitians, in our more than two hundred year history, are no strangers to Black presidents, Black Prime Ministers or Black Emperors for that matter. Our history of democracy is much shorter, but the decisions have not been made based on race.
       EchodHaiti.com and HaitianDiaspora.com endorse Barack Hussein Obama for President of the United States of America in the 2008 elections. For, as Haitian-Americans, we believe he is the better man to lead the U.S. in its Time for Change.

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Moment of Truth: A despair Mccain

By DARIO from Deltona, FL - Aug 30th, 2008 at 11:38 am EDT

On august 29 th of 2008, this very day is Sen. John Mccain's birthday, we all want to wish him "happy Birthday". However he has given himself a great gift, he nominates Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska to be he's running mate. Wow, this man has taste. Ladies ask yourselves does Mr. Mccain think you are not smart enough where does he come from? He thinks that all of you would vote for him if he just picks someone who has similar body paRTS as you do. We got news for Sen. Mccain, women's ability is not limited to Vice Presidency, they can be President. Please stop taking women for granted! He is doing this out of despair you can tell when someone is about to lose he or she would do anything. After watching, seeing one of the most great speeches that ever given in the 21st century by Sen. Barack Obama for his presidential nomination. The republican party and their candidate got scared to death all of a sudden they can not think straight. Gov. Sarah Palin, why are you accepting to be used, you are simply your party's scapegoat. You are making a bad name for all women, they are better than that this is why Sen. Hillary Clinton ran for the highest office in America...more power to her. We have a trememdous respect for her. She changed America not you, Gov. Palin, she was not picked out of the chery bowl. On November 4th, we are going to vote for Obama, Mr. Mccain, you cannot help us. We are witnessed when it comes to battle you go and hide your true self. We will not let that happen inside the WHITE HOUSE. We won't find Mr. Mccain if elected he is going to run away. "Eight years is enough" We need to breath fresh air for next 4 YEARS. We are voting democrats.

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Haiti not getting the help it needs

By Jacob François - Aug 28th, 2008 at 11:14 am EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

We believe that USAID has repeatedly launched itself into propaganda to collect more of the American taxpayers' money on behalf of Haiti — and yet has nothing to show for what has been allocated on behalf of Haiti to USAID.

On many occasions, USAID has organized these types of meetings with no concrete objectives and follow-up. We have discussed with members of Congress the possibility of establishing an independent civilian auditing body to verify the claims of USAID. To date, no system is in place to supervise their work.

The Haitian Priorities Project recently submitted an agriculture project for funding to the World Bank. Our proposal was developed to assist with the food production and pricing crisis in Haiti. Our proposal was rejected despite Haiti's population protest over the food crisis. This situation has become so critical that it led to the firing of numerous officials due to their failure to foresee this situation and to subsequently lessen the impact on Haitian citizens.

USAID is only pretending to help. Administrators continue to dismiss funding requests as "too expensive" or "unnecessary." HPP is not unrealistic in its requests and evaluations. At the very least, it urges the World Bank and USAID to conduct a comprehensive assessment of feasibility based upon the proposal submitted by grass roots organizations within the communities targeted and vital action areas outlined.

We believe at this juncture that USAID needs to literally clean up its act. Its reputation among the majority of the Haitian population is quite negative. To illustrate the point, the USAID office is on a boulevard in Haiti where there is significant trash. USAID is housed in one of the largest buildings in the country and yet does nothing to mitigate the trash situation in its own neighborhood. When Haitian citizens walk past this poorly maintained facade, they take this as a message that USAID doesn't care.

This is where the USAID can spend the money earmarked by the American taxpayers for Haiti:

An electrical plant capable of producing 1,500 megawatts of electricity around the clock;

At least 1 million telephone lines;

Fiber optic lines, i.e. Internet, broadband and DSL;

At least 10,000 miles of sewer lines, 400 miles of interceptors and 40,000 miles of paved roads.

Once the money earmarked for Haiti is spent on the needed projects, Haiti will once again be capable of taking care of its citizens.

Jacob François is co-founder of the Haitian Priorities Project.www.hpp4haiti.com

www.project2000international.org

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-haiti28forumpnaug28,0,6324037.story

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The Gov'ts of Haiti & Iraq To Blame for Imperialist actions of US?

By Chantal - Aug 11th, 2008 at 7:30 pm EDT

Also listed in: 6 groups

Regarding Phil's post:

Barack gave a Speech on the Americas on May 23rd – about Haiti he said: “That is what is so badly needed – not just in Cuba and Venezuela – but just to our southeast in Haiti as well. The Haitian people have suffered too long under governments that cared more about their own power than their peoples' progress and prosperity. It's time to press Haiti's leaders to bridge the divides between them. And it's time to invest in the economic development that must underpin the security that the Haitian people lack. And that is why the second part of my agenda will be advancing freedom from fear in the Americas.” See http://www.barackobama.com/2008/05/23/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_68.php.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

When I hear U.S. politicians perpetrating this type of propaganda that just defies everything I know about what is really going on in Haiti, Cuba, Venezuela and Iraq, it makes me feel angry and hopeless.

That the U.S. government empowered so-called "rebel" thugs to intimidate the democratic government of President Aristide. That they declined to help him by supplying arms or assistance. That they had an embargo on aid, arms, loans...etc in order to bring the Aristide government to its knees (AN EMBARGO ON AID TO A COUNTRY DEEMED THE POOREST IN THIS HEMISPHERE).

Did those actions play any part in the conditions in Haiti... same type of extortion and games that have been played by the "Western" powers for keeping Haiti poor, underdeveloped, and a place where sweatshops could flower. And the super rich could lord it over the super poor.

When the poor people rose up and were ready to fight these "thugs" and the thugs could not get the job done, the US proceeded to invade the country, along with Canada and France. They kidnapped President Aristide and took him to the country of Central Africa.

It is well documented and tragic the number of innocent civilians that have died (over 3000), been raped (over 35,000), not counting the ones still being held as political prisoners or rendered secretly. Who is responsible for the chaos, danger, injustice, impunity, political murders (slow genocide of the Lavalas party) that have occurred? Could it possibly be due to US interference in Haiti's sovereign affairs? Interference not just in the US backed coups of 1991 or 2004. But encompassing the twenty year occupation (1915-1935) and the support of vicious dictators like Papa and Baby Doc Duvalier.

Honestly, what are Haitians to think when the US supports murderers, thugs, drug dealers and dictators?

Continuing to perpetuate the myth that Blacks, Africans and other people of color cannot rule themselves, Barack Obama joins the ranks of the "Western" white ideologues who believe that only they are equipped to rule, are civilized and cultured.

Who will that myth of incompetence help? It certainly does not say much for your hope, change or dreams.

Too much to hope for some truth and atonement to Haitians. Too much to hope that someone will acknowledge the role of Haiti in breaking the shackles of enslavement and empowering the end of slavery in this hemisphere.

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HAITI: People Who Shaped Bush foreign Policy Should not Shape Obama's

By The Obama Artist - Aug 4th, 2008 at 12:13 pm EDT

Also listed in: Action Wire | Haitians for Obama

THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S POLICY ON HAITI CAN NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE THE ONES SHAPING OBAMA'S POLICY ON HAITI NOW. IT"S LIKE HAVING KARL ROVE ADVISING OBAMA ON FOREIGN POLICY. OBAMA DOES NOT LIKE OPPORTUNISTS AND FLIP FLOPPERS. WE WILL NOT LET ANYONE CONTINUE TO HIJACK OR HOLD HAITI HOSTAGE. HAITIANS ARE BEING RAPED, KIDNAPPED AND MURDERED. DRUG TRAFFICKING IS RAMPANT IN THE ISLAND. WE CAN CHANGE THE SITUATION. WE WANT CHANGE! YES, WE CAN! THE MAJORITY CAN NOT BE EXCLUDED. OBAMA IS AGAINST THAT. THERE IS AN OTHER GROUP OF HAITIANS AND HAITIAN-AMERICANS READY TO PRESENT THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN THE PLAIN TRUTH ABOUT HAITI. LET"S RESOLVE THIS ISSUE BETWEEN HAITIANS/HAITIAN-AMERICANS BEFORE IT BECOMES A BIGGER ISSUE. IT WON'T LOOK GOOD IF THERE ARE TWO SEGMENTS OF HAITIANS/HAITIAN-AMERICANS IN THE U.S. WHO CAN NOT RECONCILE THEIR DIFFERENCE.BEFORE WE REACH OUT TO OBAMA ON A SEPARATE VENUE, AND BEFORE WE PUT OUT PRESS RELEASES AND HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE, LET'S TRY TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE TOGETHER. OBAMA IS SO OPEN MINDED, HE ALLOWS ALL OF HIS SUPPORTERS A PAGE ON HIS WEBSITE. HE WANTS TO HEAR FROM EVERYONE. Haitians with a Conscience for Obama Read the article below: _____________________________________________________________________________In a message dated 7/31/2008 8:19:47 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, Whygeorges writes:

Ladies and Gentlemen,I appreciate very much this initiative and I fully support it. It's positive step that you are taking on behalf of the Haitians, Haitian-Americans living here in the US as well as Haitians in my native country Haiti. As the former Head of the Haitian-Americans for Clinton-Gore Constituency in 1992 and 1996, as well as a supporter of presidential candidate Sen. Obama since DAY ONE and having already contributed and encouraged others to contribute thousands of dollars to the Obama presidential campaign by mobilizing people via my TV show in New York and working with Obama New York Headquarters, I don't think anyone in good conscience can ignore the elephant in the room when comes Haiti. To reconcile the Haitian society, this issue must be addressed; otherwise, the Talking Points and Statement of Purpose are meaningless. To have more details of what I am talking about, please read the article below that I posted on my page in Obama's website.RegardsSmith Georgeswww.ArtandFreeWorld.com www.RediscoverHaiti.com-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------CARICOM and The Majority of the Haitian People Have SpokenRestoring US Prestige and Reputation AbroadBy The Obama Artist - Jul 1st, 2008 at 8:21 pm EDT Also listed in: Action Wire | Haitians for Obama Comments | Mail to a Friend | Report Objectionable Content Tags: Foreign policy, Haiti, IraqIRAQ 1) President Bush took us to a war in Iraq. A war that has been costing us about 12 billion dollars a month and thousands of Americans and Iraqi's lives. That's insanity.

HAITI2) President Bush empowered thugs in Haiti to overthrow the first democratically and constitutionally elected president of Haiti Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Sen. John Kerry said "The The Bush administration empowered the insurgents in Haiti to overthrow Aristide because of Bush's theoretical difference with Aristide." As a results thousands of innocent Haitians lost their lives. Today Haiti is still in chaos. Kidnapping, rape, drug trafficking are rampant in Haiti. President Jean-Bertrand Aristide describe his removal in Haiti as a kidnapping by the Bush administration. The Bush administration opposes the return of Pres. Aristide to Haiti. The Bush administration wants Pres. Aristide to stay in exile in Africa.

The arrogance and blatant racist act of Pres. Bush in regard to the Haitian president is one of the reasons why Americans reputation around the world is at an all time low.

When Sen. Barack Obama becomes president, he must reverse Bush's insane foreign policy.

Smith Georges
The Obama Artist

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HAITIThe CARICOM Agreement | Report to Admin Reply By The Obama Artist Jul 4th 2008 at 2:52 pm EDT
Delete Comment Haiti has become a land of kidnapping because of the Bush administration's cruel policy toward Haiti. There was an agreement that President Aristide (the first democratically and constitutionally, elected president of Haiti) also signed and backed up by CARICOM (all the Caribbean countries.) The agreement was designed to bring the Haitian society and leaders together; however, Pres. Bush had rather side with a small click of thugs and drug dealers such as Chamblain, Guy Philippe & Co. . As a result, President Aristide was forced out of power and thousands of innocent Haitians died, raped, kidnapped. Sen. John Kerry said that Pres. Bush empowered the insurgents to overthrow Pres. Aristide. Pres. Aristide was forced into exile. (Pres. Aristide was literally kidnapped and embarked in a US plane out of Haiti). Bush prevents Pres. Jean-Bertrand Aristide from returning to his native country. This is the most anti-democratic and racist act of the century. Sen. Obama totally opposes Bush's abusive foreign policy. WE WANT CHANGE. Smith GeorgesThe Obama Artisthttp://my.barackobama.com/page/dashboard/private

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Happy 90th Birthday Mr Mandela

By Nicky - Jul 18th, 2008 at 9:10 am EDT

Also listed in: Sarasota for Obama

It's Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday today!

Nelson Mandela's life is a beautiful example of forgiveness in action and the ability to communicate effectively with people who have different ideologies. Today is a good day to turn our attention to civil liberties, the concept of freedom and what that means exactly and what it means to be a humanitarian.

If you don't know very much about this great man I encourage you to read his biography, A Long Walk To Freedom. There is also a beautiful coffee table book on Mandela which includes comments on and letters to Mr Mandela from celebrities, past presidents from various countries and peace makers like Desmund Tutuu and includes some great photographs.

And while we are considering this great man we can notice the similarities between Mandela and our soon to be President Barak Obama.

Mandela was labelled a terrorist by his adversaries.

Mandela spoke about peaceful negotiations.

Mandela was told he was idealistic and not realistic and could never give "the people" what he was promising.

Mandela was accused of not being christian enough.

Mandela was told that he didn't have enough experience at running a country.

I was born in South Africa and lived there until 5 years ago. I was there during the times when white people only had the vote. I was there when millions of people stood for 6-8 hours waiting for their opportunity to vote for the first time...some who were 70, 80 and even 90 years old. I was there when Steve Biko was murdered and I was there when the Truth and Reconcilliation Committee listened to and forgave hundreds of people for the torture, murder and terrorising of people that opposed the apartheid government. I have seen what one man can do and I've seen what one man can inspire the people of a country to do.

"Never doubt that a small group of people can change the world - indeed it's the only thing that ever did." Margaret Meade

Yes, we can.

p.s If you are looking for a humanitarian organization to support or are interested in google the following:

Invisible Children (I highly recomend you watch the original movie of Invisible Children. One of those life changing moments when you watch this one!)

Help Haiti Now A local Sarasota lady is sending money directly to contacts in Haiti to build schools and provide basic needs like shoes, food and school supplies. Would be grateful for anything you can spare. Her name is Michelle.

Unicefusa.org Sign up to join the Fight for Child Survival...

Get involved with the homeless/working poor in your local community. In Sarasota there are a few of us that meet 6pm on Friday evenings at the park outside Selby Library. Bring a meal to share with those who don't have any. Everyone welcome.

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At the Helm of Trouble in Haiti

By Chantal - Jul 10th, 2008 at 11:59 am EDT

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Dead on the Fourth of July, what sweet poetic justice. The Nation termed his legacy "the mark of the white hands". Helms formented, tormented and hated so many and is justly reviled far and wide.

Jesse Helms, John McCain and the Mark of the White Hands

Helms and his protégés succeeded in the ouster of the democratic government of Haiti. Helms branded Aristide a "psychopath and grave human rights abuser", paving the way for Washington's right-wingers, Paris and Haiti's ultra-rich to engineer "regime change" that resulted in the killing of thousands. The ensuing chaotic years that followed led to the current occupation of Haiti by UN "peacekeeping" forces (who have been responsible for genocidal acts, rapes and other crimes against humanity).

Can the US claim "victory" in Haiti? This was the cynical declaration of the US State Department amid the food riots, kidnappings/disappearances, political imprisonments...etc. Can the forceable removal of a democratic government and the replacement of said government with a neo-colonial regime that is not accountable to the people of Haiti but is to Washington be called a "victory"? That is myopic thinking. This is not long-term victory. What a hollow victory that is predicated on the continuing misery of the Haitian masses.

"His notorious race-baiting and Red-bashing political campaigns molded the modern Republican party"

new record for obstruction

The Toxic Legacy of Jesse Helms

The Guardian/UK

MORE...

Aristide's call for populist economic programs set off alarms for the richest Haitians and in Washington D.C. Leading the charge against Aristide was Senator Jesse Helms, then the chair of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee; Roger Noriega, Helm's chief of staff and Otto Reich, a fanatically anti-Castro policy maker in the Reagan and Bush administrations.

Aristide's populist experiment in Haiti was not to be allowed by Washington. Guy Philippe and other members of FRAPH, a U.S.-backed death-squad, carried out a coup that killed between 3,000 and 5,000 Haitians just months after Aristide's election."

Coup Against Aristide | U.S. Occupies Haiti, by Cherrene Horazuk

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Restoring US Prestige and Reputation Abroad

By The Obama Artist - Jul 1st, 2008 at 8:21 pm EDT

Also listed in: Action Wire | Haitians for Obama

1) President Bush took us to a war in Iraq. A war that has been costing us about 12 billion dollars a month and thousands of Americans and Iraqi's lives. That's insanity.

2) President Bush empowered thugs in Haiti to overthrow the first democratically and constitutionally elected president of Haiti Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Sen. John Kerry said "The The Bush administration empowered the insurgents in Haiti to overthrow Aristide because of Bush's theoretical difference with Aristide." As a results thousands of innocent Haitians lost their lives. Today Haiti is still in chaos. Kidnapping, rape, drug trafficking are rampant in Haiti. President jean-Bertrand Aristide describe his removal in Haiti as a kidnapping by the Bush administration. The Bush administration opposes the return of Pres. Aristide to Haiti. The Bush administration wants pres. Aristide to saty in exile in Africa.

The arrogance and blatant racist act of Pres. Bush in regard to the Haitian president is one of the reasons why Americans reputation around the world is at an all time low.

When Sen. Barack Obama becomes president, he must reverse Bush's insane foreign policy.

Smith Georges
The Obama Artist Read More »

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Obama speech on Haiti

By Phil - Jun 26th, 2008 at 12:17 am EDT

Also listed in: 6 groups

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New Ideas For Obama's Latin American Policy....

By Heidi Jane - May 26th, 2008 at 8:49 am EDT

Barak Obama's position on Latin American policy, he described at the Cuban American national foundation in Miami, Florida, May 23, 2008, isn't exactly liberal.... but it is a moderate to liberal view, and well yes, educated. He suggests promoting current development agencies like AID, MCC, IDB but there really are too few details to his "plan" to grasp what he is suggesting. But what is encouraging (or maybe disbursing) is that he isn't all that far from what is going on now in terms of LAC policy. He mentions the hot button topics of Latin American policy, like the Merrida Plan, Cuban’s policy of non-engagement, Haiti’s development and construction, wile intergrading immigration and pro-Americanism into the speech. There should be a few new ideas that he could include like

promoting a technical corps instead of the peace corps for graduated countries;
meld policies of the IDB with the summit of the Americas commitments, by matching the declaration with loans done at the bank;
include subnational lending to subsovereign nation states as a new way to strengthen economic and financial systems in LAC;
help the Inter-American Foundation by increasing it's budget to provide grants for grassroots development;
add training for import and export within trade agreements ;
promote small business development through opening up the IFC's loans to Medium size business of less than an Million dollars a piece and
assist to regulate the microcredit market.

But these are just a few ideas.... I hope as the campaign goes on, we here more about his plan in further detail.

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Haitian Flag Day

By Jacob François - May 18th, 2008 at 9:57 am EDT

In 1803, our ancestors declared Haiti free and independent; they adopted the flag of freedom-blue and red with the inscription: In Union is strength! For the heroes of the war of the Haitian independence, "In Union lays our Strength," reflected the unification of blacks and mulattos against the slave owners as a strategic tool in order to obtain our freedom and independence.

These valiant black slaves, although tired from the painful yoke of slavery, quickly understood that if "Divide and Conquer" succeeded so well for the slave owners, it became imperative for the revolted slaves to unite, blacks and mulattos, poor and rich in order to win the battle for independence. "Union is Strength" enabled them to win the fight against slavery-as Haiti became the first black independent republic in the world.

Tribute to Jean-Jacques Dessalines, who after two hundred years of independence, no one has been able to match his vision of cohesion for the daughters and sons of Haiti, irrespective of their social status or clan. He envisioned a Haiti fair for all. After two hundred years of structural ills, we have no choice but to educate our people to the concept of the Haitian nation, citizenship and patriotism.

The Dessalinienne-written by the famous Justin Lhérisson-contains exactly the words we needed to trigger national awareness that is necessary for a better Haiti. One which respects the right of its people, a strong and fair justice system, and an economy linked to the needs of the poor for inclusion, ensuring their economic security for a Haiti free, happy, and prosperous in the 21st century, capable of sprinting feverishly towards a modern economy capable of taking care of its citizens.

For the country and for our fathers, train our sons, train our daughters. Free, strong and prosperous, we are our brothers' and sisters' keeper. Train our sons, train our daughters for the country and for our father's legacy. Train, train, train our sons, for the country and for our fathers legacy.

Being Haitian, free Negroes on Haitian soil are sacred rights bequeathed to us by our parents. Under no circumstances should we put these privileges to compromise, because our ancestor's souls will revolt in their graves.

Helping Haitians find and understand the country's history and its legacy are key issues for the renewal of the Haitian nation. Very often, the intelligentsia believe that to be a patriot or a nationalist coincide with the notion of hatred for other people in order to promote your own ideals, however, the notion that we're promoting today on May 18, 2008 has nothing to do with this definition of patriotism or nationalism.
The concept for us is to put the interest of our country Haiti above personal interests in order to achieve a Haiti as it was meant to be based on its history. Our ancestors did not have so many opportunities that are offered to us today in the era of globalization, our responsibility is to advocate and promote our ideals in order to enhance the understanding and shed light on our struggle. Having for a compass-freedom and human rights as sacred instruments for the renewal of the country and our environment.

At the dawn of the celebration of the Centennial of our independence, a mental giant like Lhérisson was able to highlight our duty as citizens in the national anthem for us to analyze or think about our duty towards our motherland. But our disbelief and lack of vision we have stopped us from having a common vision for our people, which resulted in a U.S. invasion. That is the result of our lack of vision and cohesiveness: the return of France on the Haitian political scene by demanding and collecting a ransom from Haiti for over a hundred years, the American occupation, the occupation of the United Nations and its members from the third world that we had helped gain their own independence. The Préval government has the responsibility to declare its national plan for regaining our sovereignty specifying the date of departure for Minustha from our territory.

Haitian Priorities Project calls upon all Haitians and the French government, to think about the possibility for France to prove that it is really an ally for its former colony, which despite its setbacks and calamities, still remains an example of bravery and endurance.

The annual budget of Haiti stood at 77.6 billion gourdes/38.56gdes, or about $2,012,448,133.00. If we capitalize the amount of the ransom of independence that France forced the Haitian government to pay, we end up with a sum of $21,685,136,000.00 capitalized for fiscal year end 2003. If you take this value divided by the current annual budget of Haiti ($21,685,136,000.00 / $2,012,448,133.00), we get a value equal to the total financing of the program of René Préval's government for a period of 11 years.

The most important step that France could make would be to demonstrate its humanitarianism and its respect for human rights and settle the debt that France owed to Haiti, accepted by former President Jacques Chirac and the French parliament. While celebrating the creation of the Haitian flag, it would be a great gesture on the part of the French Government to repay all of this unjustified ransom collected by the French Government, which would allow the Haitian government to equip the country with the infrastructure needed, in addition, this will allow the Haitian government from reaching out to the rest of the world in order to complete its annual budget for at least a period of 11 years. This would certainly bring economic stability in the country; a prerequisite condition for revitalizing the economy and sustainable development for the reconstruction of the Haitian society.

On this day while we celebrate the creation of the Haitian flag, let us unite friends of Haiti, let's re-light the torch of bravery which motivated the warriors for the independence of Haiti and give value to their slogan "Union is Strength"

Haitian Priorities Project calls upon all Haitians and friends of Haiti to unite in order to demand from France the handing over of the ransom of independence extorted from Haiti. More than ever, we need the support of 8.5 million Haitians to demonstrate to France and the world that we are united in a single voice fighting for Restitution of over 23 billion dollars and the time has come for France to return to Haiti this ransom collected unfairly.

Haitian Priorities Project wishes everyone a joyful celebration of the Haitian flag. Remember: "Union is Strength"

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/restitutionpourhaiti/
http://www.hpp4haiti.com/flag%20day/english_flagday.pdf
www.hpp4haiti.com www.project2000international.org312-735-6071

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Don't Let Them Eat Dirt...

By Pamela A - May 1st, 2008 at 1:10 am EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

The media has won. The distraction tactics worked. We vented all our energy on the vaporous matters concerning what came out of that preacher's mouth while 140 miles off the coast of Florida, Haitians are making meals from dirt.

MSM details the facts of how the mud cakes are made and how they taste and the obvious reasons accounting for Haiti's ranking as the poorest country in the Americas. Yet with all these facts, why isn't the answer provided to the unasked question, how did it come to this? Like a boil or a cold or the flu, extreme poverty didn't just all of a sudden pop up one day and force people to start eating dirt!

"Thirty years ago, Haiti had all the rice it needed. Then in 1986, Haiti turned to the IMF for a loan. Now, after cutting tariff protections on local rice, Haiti imports most of its rice from the United States, which in turn remains heavily subsidized. US rice farmers get one billion dollars a year in government subsidies. Meanwhile in Haiti, hungry people are rioting in the streets because they cannot afford to buy rice", states Amy Goodman of Democracy NOW! http://www.democracynow.org/2008/4/24/the_us_role_in_haitis_food

“American rice invaded the country,” recalled Charles Suffrard, a leading rice grower in Haiti in an interview with the Washington Post in 2000. By 1987 and 1988, there was so much rice coming into the country that many stopped working the land. Citizens of the USA know very little about the role of their government in helping create the hunger problems in Haiti or other countries http://www.counterpunch.com/quigley04212008.html

And why aren't we outraged about that - after all they are human beings? Did YOU know that they're eating dirt because of American backed policy? Do you think that that fact would be a topic to garner media attention particularly when the exposure would bring substantive issues to the fore at this time of opportunity to learn about the impact on peoples lives due to America's policies and it's support of the IMF and the World Bank policies inducing extreme poverty?

But there is much that individuals can do. Besides donations to feed individual hungry people let's participate with advocacy organizations like Bread for the World or Oxfam to help change the U.S. and global rules which favor the rich countries. This advocacy can help countries have a better chance to feed themselves.

YES WE CAN!

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