Haiti.

i finally wrote an email this morning, to everyone and no one in particular. i had been writing and re-writing it my head since wednesday and still am not sure exactly what it adds to the atmosphere. but i digress. please read on:

Dear friends,

I've been drafting emails like this all week, not really sure of what I'm trying to get at. As I'm assuming is true for everyone on many levels, the current catastrophe in Haiti is devastating me. The immediate tragedy of it all and also the context; the dread and anticipation about how corporate and global powers contributed to this mess in the first place and may very well only make it worse, long-term-style worse, as recovery unfolds. How can we educate ourselves about the history, of Haiti and beyond, so we can stand at the ready when the corporate interest strikes again? Just one example of how this has already started, a quote from the right-wing Heritage Foundation.

I can't figure out how to react or what to do. What are other people doing? How are we keeping this in our minds and our hearts, and in our actions? I want to know.

I also want to keep at the forefront of our minds the way other issues can be manipulated in this time of crisis. I saw Naomi Klein speak on Wednesday and she so rightfully reminded us how crises are often used as a pretext for pushing through policies that wouldn't otherwise pass during times of stability; how disaster hysteria is taken advantage of to pass controversial or unpopular decisions.

So let's talk about Haiti and its immediate and long-term rebuilding. And let's also talk about how to see the big picture and not let those in positions of power- government, corporate, or otherwise- manipulate our focus and get away with more potentially devastating decisions.

I had been compiling a list of organizations, writings, articles, etc, and then Tyrone posted this very awesome and comprehensive list on Enough (enoughenough.org). Many of them overlapped, so please visit Enough for the full scope! Some highlights include:

~ Ten Things the US Can and Should Do For Haiti -- social justice lawyer Bill Quigley's straightforward, right-on rundown list.

~ Partners In Health's fund, Stand With Haiti: PIH is a longtime health organization working in Haiti. They are reputable among progressives and have pretty rad political analysis. The vast majority of their staff is Haitian and they are already on the ground there.

~ Lambi Fund of Haiti: Rooted in peasant and women's organizations in Haiti and based on the premise that the Haitian people understand how development is best achieved in their country. Doing long-term sustainability and development work.

~ Grantmakers without Borders' criteria for disaster response (they support the two orgs above):

1. First and foremost, provide unrestricted general funding to allow resources to go where they are most urgently needed.
2. Give only to those organizations with an existing presence in the region and a broad familiarity with local conditions, customs and politics. Avoid well-meaning but inexperienced organizations.
3. Give only to organizations that engage local community members in all aspects of disaster response and recovery. Avoid top-down responders.
4. Prioritize organizations with a strong focus on gender and the ways in which women are differently impacted during and after an emergency.
5. Prioritize organizations that link emergency response with recovery and long-term rehabilitation and that build local capacities.

~ Reasons why you should give to Haitian-led, localized organizations and NOT the Red Cross

~ much of this information is coming from and continually updated on DemocracyNow! and other crucial indie media sites.

Please respond with thoughts, additions, information, insights, challenges, ideas, reports on what you're doing or thinking...I don't want to let this fade.

With hope,

Jessie