The Winnipeg-Haiti Solidarity Group presents
Panel Discussion: Critical Perspectives On Haiti
Date: Friday, May 7, 2010
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: Bulman Center, University of Winnipeg.
Please join us to be informed of recent emergency relief experiences in Haiti, and of current views and ideas regarding Canadian and international efforts.
“It’s been more than three months since the earthquake in Haiti, yet hundreds of thousands of victims are still living in appalling and life-threatening conditions,” explains Stuart Hammond, a coordinator of Haiti Solidarity BC. “”The severity of Haiti’s current crisis are exacerbated by Haiti’s past, which include the U.S., Canada, and France’s policies in Haiti since 2004”.
“Good aid works side by side with Haitians to train their people to take over the skilled work, and assists local enterprises develop to sustain Haiti with needed resources,” says Scott Weinstein, an Intensive Care Nurse who volunteered for three weeks at the General Hospital in Port-au-Prince after the earthquake. “Most charity aid however, decides what’s best for Haiti, pays foreign aid workers and buys foreign materials and food. These charities undermine Haitian social development and commercial enterprises every step of the way, and at worse, perpetuate dependency, exploitation and poverty.”
Panelists include
Scott Weinstein, RN from Montreal, who served three weeks volunteering at the public General Hospital in Port-au-Prince after the earthquake. Here is an article Scott wrote for Rabble.ca.
Bruce Guenther is Food, Disaster, and Material Resources Coordinator for Mennonite Central Committee, who will be reporting back after spending 6 weeks in Haiti. He will return to Manitoba on May 6th.
Stuart Hammond of Haiti Solidarity BC, participated in a two week delegation to Haiti that returned to Canada four days prior to the earthquake. A full report issued by the delegation can be viewed here.
Bob Henry of the Manitoba-Cuba Solidarity Committee will speak about the relationship between Cuba and Haiti, focusing on the crucial contributions Cuba has made towards Haiti since the earthquake.