Detail: Nobody can fail to be moved by the scale of the human suffering in Haiti following the devastating earthquake, which has left hundreds of thousands of people dead, thousands more missing and millions homeless. The response from the public has been phenomenal – and the donations are urgently needed.
However, not many people understand that even as new money is pouring into Haiti to bring relief to millions in the aftermath of the earthquake disaster, the government is still paying money to the International Monetary Fund and other creditors to pay off national debts which corrupt Haitian dictators ran up in the past.
Today, Haiti still owes some US$890 million, much of it to global financial institutions, and is due to make millions in debt payments in the coming year alone.
?Supported by many leading Irish artists, Trócaire will host the Drop Haiti’s Debt concert in Vicar Street, Dublin on Thursday February 11th. All proceeds from ticket sales will go towards Trócaire’s relief efforts in Haiti, however the primary purpose of this concert is to raise awareness for Trócaire’s Drop Haiti’s Debt campaign. While financial assistance is of paramount importance in the immediate, in the long run Haiti will only recover and begin to build a sustainable future when its immense debt is dropped. Acts on the night will include: Cathy Davey, Julie Feeney, Villagers, The Chapters, The Chakras and many more...