"In 2008, there were 15.2 million refugees around the world, and it is estimated that 80 percent of refugees are women and children" (Refugees International) . . . most Shan refugees continue to be left out of this statistic and denied official refugee status despite undergoing severe persecution in their home country.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Political Activism: Cancel Haiti's Debt

Last night I lit off a lantern in Thailand in memory of a former classmate from University of Portland, Molly Hightower, and all of the people she was working with in Haiti. Molly died while working with 'Friends of Orphans' last week in Haiti (https://secure.imodules.com/s/769/inner.aspx?sid=769&gid=1&pgid=894&cid=1924). Please keep her friends and family in your thoughts as well as all of those personally affected by the earthquake.


             Paul and I setting of the lantern

Given the immediacy of the situation, this week I chose to base my political activism around Haiti. Being on the other side of the world, and in a country with a slow mail system I am tagging onto the Oxfam Australia email campaign to urge for Haiti's debt to be canceled. I invite you to follow this link and do the same: http://www.oxfam.org.au/act/take-action/trade/2010-01-cancel-haitis-debt

I also encourage you to do whatever you can from where you are, whether it is to consider assisting in relief or rebuilding efforts down the line, donate money, or even if it is to just pass on this message.

:) Michelle
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1 comment:

  1. ElizabethJanuary 24, 2010 at 8:01 AM

    Thanks for posting about Molly, though I did't know her this story triggers emotions and reminds us that the devastation in Haiti affects all of us. Sounds like you're doing what you can and I admire that even when you're far from home you're always working on behalf of others.
    -Elizabeth

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