“The race of mankind would perish did they cease to aid each other. We cannot exist without mutual help. All therefore that need aid, have a right to ask it from their fellowmen; and no one who has the power of granting can refuse it without guilt.” -Sir Walter Scott
A few months ago, I posted about continued relief efforts by everyday heroes in Haiti. I talked about the mercurial nature of the collective conscious: how quickly individuals will rush together and pool their joint resources in a massive tidal wave of charity when that clarion cry of humanity-in-need rings out. This is what happened in the immediate aftermath of the Haiti earthquakes, when record breaking numbers of donations, volunteer workers and international relief poured in. The eye of the world zoomed in on the devastated island nation and refused to blink. In retrospect, it is a moment we as humans should be proud of — that in the midst of crippling despair we put aside the political, social and religious barriers that typically keep us apart and stepped forth to extend our hands to brothers in need.
But the eye of the world is a fickle thing, with the ADD attention span of a hyper-active American teen. It’s funny how suddenly the tides can shift and those waters of attention and sustained aid recede back into the oceans of our everyday push-pull. So it is, after the initial waves of relief rolled through, our collective interest has shifted away from Haiti. Current stories and images from the ground have already all but disappeared.
And yet, the truth is Haiti is still very much a country in desperate need of help. Thousands of people huddle every night in makeshift shelters in sprawling open-aired camps, often with no fresh water or sanitation. And with the rainy season so soon approaching, there is the ticking time-bomb fear of shelters getting washed away. People drowning, children catching dysentery and cholera.
In the midst of our everyday grind, it’s easy to forget, or lose perspective on the global condition. I know I personally am guilty of this more than I care to admit. And so it brings me infinite inspiration and faith to learn today of the unbelievably uplifting pledge from the United Nations towards rebuilding Haiti. In case you haven’t heard…
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2010/2010-04-01-02.html
“Pledges of nearly $10 billion in immediate and long-term aid to help Haiti recover from January’s catastropic earthquake were made Wednesday within hours after UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon opened a day-long donors’ conference by calling for “a sweeping exercise in nation building on a scale and scope not seen in generations.”
Ban appealed for $11.5 million over the next 10 years to help the Caribbean nation recover and rebuild after the earthquake that claimed more than 200,000 lives, destroyed much of the capital Port-au-Prince, and left one third of the population in need of aid.
Haiti’s President Rene Preval, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and UN Special Envoy for Haiti former U.S. President Bill Clinton co-hosted the conference, entitled Towards a New Future in Haiti, which was attended by delegates from more than 130 nations.”
Let me restate this again, so you understand the scale of awesomeness. The UN collectively pledged 10 BILLION DOLLARS, to rebuilding Haiti over the next 3 years and beyond. Prior to yesterday’s conference, the Haitians had nervously requested 3.9 billion for the immediate next 18 months, with the knowledge that this amount was unlikely to be attained. Well you know what we at SuperForest say about expectations… Be expected to be blown away and endlessly surprised by human kindness. Instead of 3.9 billion, UN stepped up with $5.3 billion for the next two years. 9.9 for the next three.
Not only that, The World Bank Group has separately announced a $479 million pledge to recovery and development efforts in Haiti through June 2011, including a $39 million credit wipe of outstanding debt. Can you imagine… this is the equivalent of your landlord giving you money when you lose your job and can’t make rent, and then telling you those last 6 months you missed — well forget it.
Quite simply I am humbled by the colloborative spirit and the sweeping social action of the UN. I am in awe. It gives me hope in our abilities as nations and individuals to come together for common good. And more, that even when one of us loses sight, when we drop the torch of humanity in the darkness of our own survival, there are others right besides and all around us who will pick up that torch and continue to lead the way. That within our collective conscience, there is “Lighthouse keeper” mentality — that even in the roughest seas, there is always someone tending the fire and steering us safely home.
Thank you UN and all the representatives and countries who have kept the light on Haiti. You have risen above symbolic words and gestures and stepped up to the plate swinging. The result of which I can only call… an Inspiration Homerun!
There is much good to be (being) done
–aa
Pic unrefugees.org
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