"the pathetic excuse of humanitarian aid"

On January 28th, we had the chance to have a telephone talk with Camilla Chalmers, from the Plateforme Haïtienne de Plaidoyer pour un Développement Alternatif (Haitian Platform in Defence of an Alternative Development, PAPDA), in Port-au-Prince. Here we transcribe the questions and answers we could exchange in spite of the natural difficulties of communication in these circumstances. We believe his opinions represent a contribution to understand what’s really going on in Haiti, they contradict the official version of the media and give us a very precise notion of the type of solidarity that the Haitian people need –and that we should not fail to give.

Related Links:
The forest behind the trees: what’s behind the US occupation of Haiti? | Wikipedia on Haiti | Code Noir | Namoi Klein – My date with Aristide | Haiti's children die in UN crossfire | An Interview with Jean-Bertrand Aristide | Al Jazerra Haiti coverage | What Future for Haiti? - An Interview with Patrick Elie by Reed Lindsey | Taking us to democracy like cattle to a killing house - Patrick Elie | Haiti's Catch-22 - An interview with Patrick Elie | Interview with Aristide's lawyer, Miami-based Ira Kurzban | Will Criminal Gangs Take Control in Haiti's Chaos? | Fear of the poor is hampering Haiti rescue | Haiti's streets 'safer than before earthquake | US troop landings delay Haiti aid | Why the U.S. Owes Haiti Billions | The Rescue Operation's Priorities in Haiti | US accused of 'occupying' Haiti as troops flood in | Haiti - a history of intervention, occupation and resistance | Strong aftershock hits Haiti | Naomi Klien's document | has the world failed Haiti? (video) | US aid relative to other countries | The Incapacitation of Haiti | Against the grain main site | Haiti - a beginners guide (indy link)

In January 2009 Independent Newspapers, in the face of mounting criticism of its commercial exploitation of children, withdrew its 'Building for the future campaign.

Related Links:
Victory for Schools as Irish Independent Scraps Voucher Scheme | 50 Primary Principals speak out against Independent Newspapers’ “Building for the Future” promotion | Call for Students to Boycott A.I.B. School Bank | Schools Out! Stop the Commercialisation of Education | Against Supevalu's Kids in Action Voucher Scheme | Against Commercialism in Irish Education | INTO Calls for End to Commercial Exploitation of School Children

Education Articles on Indymedia.ie

Dr.Hajo Meyer - Holocaust survivor

On Saturday 30th January Auschwitz survivor Dr. Hajo Meyer, Dr. Haidar Eid of the Islamic University in Gaza and Sara Kershnar of the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (IJAN) addressed a standing room only crowd of over 140 people in the Central Hotel in Dublin. The public meeting, entitled “The Misuse of the Holocaust for Political Purposes”, was organised by the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) as part of a high profile speaking tour hosted by IJAN and the Scottish PSC.

Related Links:
Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign
International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network
Global BDS Movement
Dr. Haidar Eid

-- We hope to have a video of the meeting up soon - please check here or the IPSC website in the next week or so, thanks.--

Not Building for the Irish Indpendent's
Future, anymore!

Irish primary schools celebrated a victory this week as Independent Newspapers abandoned their “Building for the Future” scheme just weeks after its high-profile launch.

It is the first time a major in-school marketing promotion has been scrapped and is an embarrassing climb down for Independent and their co-sponsors Bank of Ireland.

The launch of “Building for the Future”, which demanded a quota of 20 tokens per pupil from schools wishing to enter, was met with condemnation from across the teaching community.

Related Links:
50 Primary Principals speak out against Independent Newspapers’ “Building for the Future” promotion | Call for Students to Boycott A.I.B. School Bank | Schools Out! Stop the Commercialisation of Education | Against Supevalu's Kids in Action Voucher Scheme | Against Commercialism in Irish Education | INTO Calls for End to Commercial Exploitation of School Children

Education Articles on Indymedia.ie

Give These People Food and Medicine, not troops

Anyone judging from the huge numbers of troops mobilised to Haiti could reasonably believe that this is a country in the middle of a brutal civil war instead of a nation hit by a deadly earthquake. While the Media has been feeding constantly news of murder, mayhem, and gangsters supposedly in control of Haitian streets, together with calls for a “strong arm” and “security” to make possible the delivery of relief, the reality seems to be quite another. Medical and Food assistance has been largely delayed by a cobweb of inefficiency, bureaucracy and negligence and not for “security” issues. In the meantime, hungry and thirsty Haitians have been largely looking for their beloved ones under the rubble with their bare hands. Very few doctors and relief agencies have dared to go to the streets of Port-au-Prince, where precious assistance –currently stockpiling in the airport- is much needed.

Related Links:
Wikipedia on Haiti | Code Noir | Namoi Klein – My date with Aristide | Haiti's children die in UN crossfire | An Interview with Jean-Bertrand Aristide | Al Jazerra Haiti coverage | What Future for Haiti? - An Interview with Patrick Elie by Reed Lindsey | Taking us to democracy like cattle to a killing house - Patrick Elie | Haiti's Catch-22 - An interview with Patrick Elie | Interview with Aristide's lawyer, Miami-based Ira Kurzban | Will Criminal Gangs Take Control in Haiti's Chaos? | Fear of the poor is hampering Haiti rescue | Haiti's streets 'safer than before earthquake | US troop landings delay Haiti aid | Why the U.S. Owes Haiti Billions | The Rescue Operation's Priorities in Haiti | US accused of 'occupying' Haiti as troops flood in | Haiti - a history of intervention, occupation and resistance | Strong aftershock hits Haiti | Naomi Klien's document | has the world failed Haiti? (video) | US aid relative to other countries | The Incapacitation of Haiti | Against the grain main site | Haiti - a beginners guide (indy link)

Another Gig for Haiti - Thursday 28 Jan @ 8pm [Le Cirk, 32 Dame Street, D2, (€2 entrance)]

LASC meeting on Haiti, Thursday 28 Jan @ 7.00 [Seomra Spraoi, 10 Belvidere Court, Dublin 1]

Haiti: Solidarity Not Occupation (meeting / speakers) Cork Tuesday 02 Feb @ 8pm [Solidarity books, 43 Douglas st].

LASC meeting on Haiti in Galway on Feb 2 @ 7.00 [bridge mills, Galway]