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[Haiti Action Guelph] Moist: Harper government must fulfill its commitment to Haiti


Home / Global Justice Moist: Harper government must fulfill its commitment to Haiti 

http://cupe.ca/global-justice/moist-harper-government-fulfill 

Dec 17, 2010 11:22 AM 

Following the devastating earthquake in Haiti, CUPE joined the international labour community and immediately pledged support for Haiti. Now another tragedy unfolds: a cholera epidemic that is the result of a lack of publicly provided safe drinking water. In an open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, CUPE national president Paul Moist calls on the Harper government to step up and fulfill its commitment to Haiti before more lives are lost. 




Dear Mr. Prime Minister: 

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) is an affiliate of Public Services International (PSI) a global union federation representing over 20 million workers who deliver public services in 150 countries around the world, including Haï. 

Immediately after the January 12 earthquake and again at the international donors’ conference, the government of Canada pledged support through various institutions and agencies as well as pledging direct financial aid to the process of creating a better Haï. In front of the world, the government of Canada,on behalf of its citizens made a solemn pledge to help people. That pledge was, we believe, in recognition of our role as world citizens and our commitment to work together as a global community to build strong, sustainable and just societies where all people can enjoy a high standard of living. 

Now another tragedy unfolds in Haï – a cholera epidemic that is the result of a lack of publicly-provided safe drinking water, effective sanitation and quality health care for all. This situation impacts all of us but our fellow world citizens in Haï are again paying with their lives. We believe the price is too high. 

Quality health care, clean water and effective sanitation are human rights. Nowhere is this more clear than in Haiti where people’s lives and livelihoods are at stake. 

The report card on Canada’s pledge to Haï shows our country has fallen far short delivering on its aid commitment. Our members and our families are angry. We are embarrassed that promises made in our names have not been fulfilled. 

We in CUPE and our colleagues and partners in Public Services International and other global trade union organizations will continue to monitor and report on the response of world governments and institutions. We will continue to issue reports on what our various governments have done. 

We would like to know what your government is going to do. When will Canada keep its promise on aid to Haï? 

We look forward to your reply outlining what actions will be taken to fulfill these pledges. 



Yours truly, 



PAUL MOIST 
National President 
Canadian Union of Public Employees 

In solidarity 


Ajamu Nangwaya 

Sadly, proximity to power has an unsurprising ability to mutate a politician’s spinal cord into bright yellow jelly. - Tariq Ali 

Any individual or group that would aspire to lead society must be ready to pay the costs of leadership: to accept the responsibility, to suffer calumny, to surrender security, to risk both reputation and fortune. If this price, or some important part of it, is not being paid, then the chances are that the claim to leadership is fraudulent. Society is never redeemed without effort, struggle, and sacrifice. - George S. Counts 

We who do not seek power, only want the consciences of [the masses]; only those who wish to dominate prefer sheep, the better to lead them. We prefer intelligent workers, even if they are our opponents, to anarchists who are such only in order to follow us like sheep. We want freedom for everybody; we want the masses to make the revolution for the masses. The person who thinks with [her] own brain is to be preferred to the one who blindly approves everything.... Better an error consciously committed and in good faith, than a good action performed in a servile manner. - Errico Malatesta