Good news for Haiti! MAU members joined with ONE a few weeks ago in writing US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, urging him to use his influence to secure the immediate cancellation of Haiti’s remaining $1 billion debt and ensure emergency earthquake assistance is provided as grants, not debt-incurring loans. Mr. Geithner agreed and just today 400,000+ petitions were delivered to a meeting of G7 finance ministers.
Canadian Finance Minister James Flaherty, speaking on behalf of the G7 countries, issued the following statement, “The earthquake caused unprecedented damage that requires exceptional measures. We agreed that the debt should not be a burden that will weigh on the recovery of the country. We are committed in the G7 to the forgiveness of debt. In fact all bilateral debt has been forgiven by G7 countries vis-à -vis Haiti. The debt to multilateral institutions should be forgiven and we’ll work with these institutions and other partners to make this happen as soon as possible. We discussed the long-term reconstruction assistance that Haiti will need as it emerges from the current urgent situation as a result of the earthquake.”
Watch Haiti’s Ambassador Raymond Joseph thank ONE members and all signers of the petition. (If you haven’t yet, sign the petition here.)
Makes me think of Margaret Mead’s words: “Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.”
Click here for full report.
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