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The Student News Site of Sacramento City College

The Express

The Student News Site of Sacramento City College

The Express

‘Haiti is not forgotten’

Haiti national Pierre Labossiere describes the conditions in Haiti today and their struggles to rebuild on April 16, 2012 in the CAC. Deneke Metaferia | [email protected]

Pierre Labossiere, co-founder of the Haiti Action Committee and social justice activist, emphasized April 16 the continued injustices Haiti suffers after more than two years since the earthquake.

“Once there is a disaster, there are headlines which are great, but then people forget and life goes on, but the issues continue and the tragedy continues,” said Labossiere at the Cultural Awareness Center.

Labossiere’s main point in his speech was to educate people not only on the history of Haiti, but also on Haiti’s religious culture and why Haiti is an impoverished nation in spite of the fact that it is so rich in natural resources such as gold and oil.

“I’m appealing to you, as you look at Haiti, don’t go for what is being pushed out there, that it is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere,” Labossiere said. “I change it to say that our people are one of the most impoverished people in the Western hemisphere and a friend of mine that is more direct will say that Haiti is one of the most robbed people in the Western hemisphere.”

Labossiere said that according to the United Nations, donors pledged an estimated $4.6 billion in the aftermath of the earthquake, but Labossiere remarked that no one knows where the money went.
“So where are we today? The miserable conditions of our sisters and brothers in Haiti had been used by many to make money,” Labossiere said.

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“They show pictures of people with starving children, and these are tearjerkers to get people to dig into their pockets and people are generous people want to give their support,” said Labossiere. “People give. Most of that money never reaches the people that need it. It reaches the big CEOs, but people are still living in tents. People are miserable, it’s shameful.”

As a major supporter of former Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide, Labossiere talked about Aristide’s deposition and exile and return to Haiti. Labossiere spoke about the history of Haiti, including where Haiti is located, what resources it possesses, the headlines of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti and how the earthquake affected its habitants.

He remarked his joy to see that, “Haiti is not forgotten.”
Labossiere spoke to a room full of people, including several students from Solano Community College and members of the Party for Socialism and Liberation.

“What we need is for democracy to take hold in Haiti,” said Labossiere. “I don’t mean a democratic party. I mean democracy, as the people having a say in the decision making in Haiti, to choose on how to use the natural resources, to be able to address our concerns and needs, and unless the people in Haiti have a say, Haiti will always be where it is today.”

More information on Labossiere’s movement is available at www.haitisolidarity.net

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