York Calls for Debt Cancellation for Haiti

Around 30 York residents assembled at the city's Parliament Street Fountain, on the busy "Residents Weekend", to call for Haiti's debt to be cancelled and to denounce the imperialism and distaster-capitalism that have marred aid efforts so far, and threaten Haiti with centuries more suffering. Over a hundred passers by signed petitions, and the protest received local media coverage, raising the need for long-term political and systemic chance alongside the excellent short-term aid donations that have marked a public outpouring of concern.

On one level this was a bizarre thing to have a protest about. First, was it a protest against an Earthquake? No, it was a protest against vested interests in disaster response. Second, was it about the debt crisis, or wider imperialism and economic enslavement? Probably both by the time the protest actually took place. Third, and perhaps the biggest challenge of all: is disaster relief a non-political issue.

Those who took part clearly believed political analysis was needed, even if Obama and Brown have been quick to paint themselves as on a par with the millions who have donated through DEC and other chairities. Once their motives are and their first interventions have been assessed, clearly their is power politics and more going on (Obama's capturing of the airport stands out like a sore thumb).

The poverty that compounded the devastation in Haiti is not a quirk of history. It has come about because our government, that of America and France, and the World Bank and IMF, have collaborated consistently to repress what would otherwise be a strong and independent people. These imperialist and neo-liberal actions must be resisted, including in the streets!