Emergency Progressive Fundraising for Haiti

Here are a few progressive organizations you can donate to:

Haiti Emergency Relief Fund was established by a group of folks who have been doing Haiti solidarity work since 1991, working closely with Haitians to build and support mass-based civic groups on the ground there-- unions, peasant cooperatives, schools, women's organizations and more.

Help Rights Action raise funds which will be used for food and water, health and shelter relief:

Tax-deductible Donations for "Haitian Earthquake Relief": Make check payable to "Rights Action" and mail to: • UNITED STATES: Box 50887, Washington DC, 20091-0887 • CANADA: 552 - 351 Queen St. E, Toronto ON, M5A-1T8
Credit-card Donations: http://rightsaction.org/contributions.htm

SOA Watch is joining other Latin America and Caribbean Solidarity and human rights groups in raising funds for food and water, health and shelter relief for those affected by the earthquake and for community re-building efforts. To contribute to the Haiti earthquake relief, click here to donate online, call us with your credit card information or send a check or money order with "Haiti" in the memo field to SOA Watch, PO Box 4566, Washington, DC 20017

PARTNERS IN HEALTH: If you are a health professional interested in volunteering, please send an email to volunteer@pih.org with information on your credentials, language capabilities (Haitian Creole or French desired), availability, and contact information. Check out their website to donate:
http://www.pih.org/inforesources/news/Haiti_Earthquake.html

The Lambi Fund's mission is to assist the popular, democratic movement in Haiti. Its goal is to help strengthen civil society as a necessary foundation of democracy and development. The fund channels financial and other resources to community-based organizations that promote the social and economic empowerment of the Haitian people. Check out their website to see how you can help:
http://www.lambifund.org/

All African Peoples Development and Empowerment Project (AADEP): One of the primary goals of AAPDEP is to use the collective energy, skill and expertise of Africans wherever they are located and to include others with skills who are willing to work under the guidelines of this project, to offer their skills for the development of Africa and African communities throughout the world. Check out their website to see how you can help: http://www.developmentforafrica.org

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FEARS OF HUGE DEATH TOLL AS EARTHQUAKE ROCKS HAITI ON JANUARY 12, 2010. PRESIDENTIAL PALACE AND HOSPITAL AMONG BUILDINGS REPORTED TO HAVE COLLAPSED.

A devastating earthquake struck the impoverished Caribbean nation of Haiti last night, causing what first reports said was widespread damage in the densely populated capital of Port-au-Prince with one hospital among numerous buildings said to have collapsed. 

Part of the national palace, which is home to Haiti's first family, had also collapsed. Information on the precise extent of casualties remained sketchy as evening became night across the country. However, early reports suggested the numbers hurt and killed could turn out to be very significant.

The earthquake, which was followed quickly by severe aftershocks, measured 7.0 on the Richter scale. Its power and scope to cause grave damage may have been exacerbated because it occurred just ten miles from the capital and was only about six miles deep, which geologically speaking is shallow.

A report from Associated Press said a hospital in Port-au-Prince had been toppled. Other eyewitnesses spoke of structures collapsing across the city and a shroud of grey dust filling the sky before it became dark. Traffic was at a standstill and wails and screams could be heard in many neighbourhoods.

For a people already hurt by a recent history of cycles of political violence and wrenching poverty, the aftershocks brought instant panic and despair. The city of Port-au-Prince is a place of crammed chaos at the best of times with buildings barely built to withstand quakes. The potential for devastation will have been worsened because much of the city is built on mountainsides. "Everybody is just totally, totally freaked out and shaken," said Henry Bahn, a visiting official with the US Department of Agriculture who was in his hotel when it hit. "I just held on and bounced across the wall. I just hear a tremendous amount of noise and shouting and screaming in the distance."

[…]

It appeared to be the largest earthquake ever recorded in the Caribbean basin, an American seismology expert suggested last night.  Early fears of a tsunami affecting neighbouring countries, including Cuba and the Bahamas, eased as night fell. That said, the shock of the earthquake were felt over wide part of the region, with reports that it had been felt as far away as the British and American Virgin Islands and in Cuba.

By David Usborne, US Editor, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/fears-of-huge-death-toll-as-earthquake-rocks-haiti-1866219.html