Here is a great article by Rev. Steven D. Martin, part of the newly formed group The New Evangelical Partnership For the Common Good. Martin suggests that if we really want to help Haiti, we should cancel their debt. One of the most crippling realities for many third world countries is their debt.
Martin writes -
Now is the time for the world to act.
We applaud the United States’ leadership in coming to the aid of the Haitian people. We commend the outpouring of resources from people worldwide through charities. We ask that we all join together in finding long-term ways to help rebuild Haiti, and the answer is right there in front of us in the Lord’s Prayer: “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
A nation buried in rubble should not also be buried in debt.
Now that is an idea we should be able to get behind.
January 26, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Although I appreciate Steve Martin’s idea, someone should tell him that Haiti doesn’t owe any money to the US. We’ve been practicing the principle he is preaching for a decade now and have forgiven most of the poorest nations who owe us money. Haiti’s major creditors are the World Bank, IMF, Taiwan and Libya (although I just heard this today and could be wrong on the 4th creditor)
The US has been giving over $500 million a year to Haiti for years, perhaps decades. Aid hasn’t worked. The only thing that has helped Haitians out of poverty is allowing them to immigrate to the US. Unfortunately nothing else has ever worked. The only way to help them has been to help them escape their terrible government.
January 27, 2010 at 3:46 pm
You speak the truth my friend, no amount of aid will ever fix Haiti without justice from the top down in the government. I don’t think Martin meant it as strictly a US call to forgive debt, but thanks for the additional insight. If we could just get Gadhafi on board we would really be rocking!
Money means little without justice.