MSF/Doctors Without Borders Emergency Relief Fund

image via msf.ca

I'm sure you're all aware of the devestating earthquake that hit Haiti a few days ago, there has been images of the destruction all over the news, most of which I've found really difficult to look at. So often when things like this happen I feel completely helpless to do anything, the task is so huge, so we've decided that from now until February 14th (if not longer), we'll be donating 15% of all sales to the MSF/Doctors Without Borders emergency relief fund, we'll then match that 15% ourselves. MSF is an organisation that we've supported personally for a number of years, and if you're unfamiliar with their work I would recommend checking out their website. Basically, it is a large group of doctors with a wide range of expertise, who provide mostly emergency medical relief in countries hit by natural disasters, war, extreme poverty, etc. One of the things I really love about MSF is that they are completely politically and religiously independent, and therefor unbiased about who receives their care.

While this was a natural disaster, Haiti being the poorest country in the world is no accident, and seeing people wring their hangs over how unlucky the country is and wonder why so many bad things happen to them is driving me crazy. In my mind, the IMF, the World Bank and American foreign policy are all complicit in this disaster, along with other countries who don't support Haitian refugees, immigration or democratic political movements within the country. I hope that after we donate to support the disaster relief, we also talk to and petition our governments to allow Haiti self determination and to support them in becoming an independent, economic and food secure country.