Haiti media-medical team fundraiser Sunday
While an estimated 20,000 people in Port au Prince are dying needlessly of medical neglect every day, according to Dr. Evan Lyon of Partners in Health, LA Times photo captions calling people “looters” and Anderson Cooper’s “looting” stories on CNN are catching a lot of criticism. One LA Times photo showing a “looter” wearing a Barack Obama T-shirt made me wonder whether our president, as much as he loves his wife and little girls, would watch them die without doing all he could to save them.
The mission of the media-medical team being organized by Minister of Information JR will flip the script by meeting the medical needs Haitians identify and broadcasting the stories Haitians most want the world to hear. You know they’ll go where the needs are greatest and the stories most compelling because they’re being guided by Pierre Labossiere of the Haiti Action Committee, one of the most highly esteemed and trusted Haitians in the U.S.
To help send them to Haiti NOW when the need is greatest, please either
- Come and bring your family and friends to the Haiti Relief Benefit tomorrow, Sunday, Jan. 24, 7 p.m., at the Black Dot Café, 1195 Pine St., West Oakland, featuring Pierre Labossiere of the Haiti Action Committee and attorney Walter Riley of the Haiti Emergency Relief Fund or
- Make a tax-deductible donation to HRIN (Hurricane Relief Information Network), the Bay View’s nonprofit project founded after Katrina for survivors of that and subsequent disasters. Donate online at Support SF BayView (scroll down to MAKE A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION) or by mailing your check, made out to HRIN, to SF Bay View, 4917 Third St., San Francisco CA 94124-2309. Call us at (415) 671-0789 if you need more information.
For the past week, I’ve been concentrating so hard on coverage of Haiti that I’ve fallen way behind on reading my email, so please forgive me if your messages are unanswered. I’m trying hard to catch up. Call (415) 671-0789 if your message can’t wait.
Willie was out all day today with a small army of volunteers gathering signatures for the recall of San Francisco District 10 Supervisor Sophie Maxwell. Read Sophie Maxwell: Why recall? Why now? to find out why. Tomorrow, Sunday, and part of Monday are the last days to sign the petition to put the recall on the June ballot. Call (415) 671-0789 right away if you live in District 10 and want to sign.
Here are the latest stories (there’d be more, but our internet connection has been down much of today):
From Cynthia McKinney: An unwelcome Katrina redux (with details on the benefit)
Former KPFA broadcaster Nadra Foster facing trial Feb. 5 (with videos) Pack the courtroom Friday, Feb. 5, 9 a.m., 7th & Washington, 4th floor, Dept. 111
Earthquake in Haiti: Under Aristide, Haitians were prepared for disaster, interview with Pierre Labossiere (with audio and photos of the Candlelight Vigil by Kamau Amen-Ra)
Pam Africa on the Supreme Court ruling against Mumia
Venezuela steps up aid effort to Haiti, questions U.S. military deployment
Haiti: NGOs and relief groups call for immediate and widespread distribution of water and other aid
‘Cannabis: Legalize It or Not’
Traffic to www.sfbayview.com is way up with folks looking to us for honest coverage of Haiti. Whenever you visit, remember to check our Calendar of Events for great ways to make a difference and Pen Pals for a friend who’s reaching out to Bay View readers like you.
Mary Ratcliff, editor