Thursday, January 21, 2010
Resolution on Haiti Adopted by the National Executive Committee of the CUT Trade Union Confederation of Brazil (January 19, 2010)
Reposted from the ILC:
The National Executive Committee of the CUT, meeting in São Paulo, Brazil, on January 19, 2010, reaffirms its solidarity, manifested since January 13, with the earthquake victims in Haiti. The CUT has decided to launch a campaign to help the reconstruction of Haiti, emphasizing its support to the Haitian trade union movement, through the collection of funds among the Brazilian trade unions and members. These funds will be sent to the organizations in Haiti with which the CUT has relations.
The CUT has been in touch with Haitian trade union leaders who were part of the international delegation that attended the 10th CONCUT [CUT National Convention] in August 2009. The CUT was informed of the full scope of the catastrophe that has befallen the people of Haiti. Many trade unionists were killed, many others had their homes destroyed. The commitment of the CUT is to help rebuild the workers' organizations and to assist the families of the trade unionists and workers in Haiti.
The current disastrous situation in Haiti was not inevitable. It is the result of the historical exploitation and pillage by the Big Powers, such as France and the United States, of a country that became the first independent Black nation in the world in 1804.
The CUT underscores the fact that the huge number of victims (some sources speak of up to 200,000 deaths and millions left homeless in a country of 8 million inhabitants) and the extent of the damage suffered in the region of Port au Prince, the capital city, were not inevitable. These are the direct result of deprivation and poor conditions of infrastructure and housing in a situation where over 60% of the work force is unemployed and salaries are appallingly low, while the government of Haiti continues to pay millions of dollars monthly to the foreign banks on its foreign debt.
The earthquake was an act of nature, but the fact there are no hospitals, no means of transportation, and no organized public services to attend to the victims is not a "natural" phenomenon. It is the result of a policy applied for years under the discipline of the International Monetary Fund in the interest of the Big Powers that supported the dictatorship of the Duvaliers until 1981 and then fomented the coup that ousted President Aristide in 2004.
The CUT, which supports the sovereignty of the Haitian people, notes with concern that this tragedy has been answered by the U.S. government with a veritable military occupation. The more than 13,000 troops sent by Washington, all fully prepared for war, now practically control the entire country. And what they are doing is dumping supplies from low-flying aircraft to a starving population, leaving without any food the children, the elderly and the injured -- all of whom are unable to scramble and secure a "humanitarian package" for themselves.
What Haiti needs is doctors, nurses, engineers -- and not occupation forces, whether from the United States or the United Nations.
The CUT calls for the immediate cancellation of Haiti's foreign debt by the creditor countries and the return of all reparation funds paid to France by Haiti at the time of its emancipation. The CUT calls for the opening of all borders in the countries to which the Haitians may wish to travel. It calls for solidarity and material aid, respecting the dignity of the sister people of Haiti, as well as the repeal of all restrictions to foreign aid. And it reaffirms that it is necessary to aim to restore to the Haitian people their sovereignty, with the end of foreign military occupation.
We call upon affiliated unions and branches and state CUTs to deposit their contributions at the Bank of Brazil, Agência 3324-3 current account 956251-6 (SOS Haiti Union), mandating the CUT to deliver this assistance to the national trade unions in Haiti with which it has relations.
We also propose the organization of brigades of workers, organized by the CUT, to help in the reconstruction of Haiti, particularly of the Haitian trade union movement. In addition to assuming its own responsibility in providing aid to the Haitian trade union movement, the CUT is willing to participate in united relief efforts with other trade unions and popular movements with the aim of strengthening the solidarity with the workers and people of Haiti in this difficult time.
signed/
National Executive Committee of the CUT
The National Executive Committee of the CUT, meeting in São Paulo, Brazil, on January 19, 2010, reaffirms its solidarity, manifested since January 13, with the earthquake victims in Haiti. The CUT has decided to launch a campaign to help the reconstruction of Haiti, emphasizing its support to the Haitian trade union movement, through the collection of funds among the Brazilian trade unions and members. These funds will be sent to the organizations in Haiti with which the CUT has relations.
The CUT has been in touch with Haitian trade union leaders who were part of the international delegation that attended the 10th CONCUT [CUT National Convention] in August 2009. The CUT was informed of the full scope of the catastrophe that has befallen the people of Haiti. Many trade unionists were killed, many others had their homes destroyed. The commitment of the CUT is to help rebuild the workers' organizations and to assist the families of the trade unionists and workers in Haiti.
The current disastrous situation in Haiti was not inevitable. It is the result of the historical exploitation and pillage by the Big Powers, such as France and the United States, of a country that became the first independent Black nation in the world in 1804.
The CUT underscores the fact that the huge number of victims (some sources speak of up to 200,000 deaths and millions left homeless in a country of 8 million inhabitants) and the extent of the damage suffered in the region of Port au Prince, the capital city, were not inevitable. These are the direct result of deprivation and poor conditions of infrastructure and housing in a situation where over 60% of the work force is unemployed and salaries are appallingly low, while the government of Haiti continues to pay millions of dollars monthly to the foreign banks on its foreign debt.
The earthquake was an act of nature, but the fact there are no hospitals, no means of transportation, and no organized public services to attend to the victims is not a "natural" phenomenon. It is the result of a policy applied for years under the discipline of the International Monetary Fund in the interest of the Big Powers that supported the dictatorship of the Duvaliers until 1981 and then fomented the coup that ousted President Aristide in 2004.
The CUT, which supports the sovereignty of the Haitian people, notes with concern that this tragedy has been answered by the U.S. government with a veritable military occupation. The more than 13,000 troops sent by Washington, all fully prepared for war, now practically control the entire country. And what they are doing is dumping supplies from low-flying aircraft to a starving population, leaving without any food the children, the elderly and the injured -- all of whom are unable to scramble and secure a "humanitarian package" for themselves.
What Haiti needs is doctors, nurses, engineers -- and not occupation forces, whether from the United States or the United Nations.
The CUT calls for the immediate cancellation of Haiti's foreign debt by the creditor countries and the return of all reparation funds paid to France by Haiti at the time of its emancipation. The CUT calls for the opening of all borders in the countries to which the Haitians may wish to travel. It calls for solidarity and material aid, respecting the dignity of the sister people of Haiti, as well as the repeal of all restrictions to foreign aid. And it reaffirms that it is necessary to aim to restore to the Haitian people their sovereignty, with the end of foreign military occupation.
We call upon affiliated unions and branches and state CUTs to deposit their contributions at the Bank of Brazil, Agência 3324-3 current account 956251-6 (SOS Haiti Union), mandating the CUT to deliver this assistance to the national trade unions in Haiti with which it has relations.
We also propose the organization of brigades of workers, organized by the CUT, to help in the reconstruction of Haiti, particularly of the Haitian trade union movement. In addition to assuming its own responsibility in providing aid to the Haitian trade union movement, the CUT is willing to participate in united relief efforts with other trade unions and popular movements with the aim of strengthening the solidarity with the workers and people of Haiti in this difficult time.
signed/
National Executive Committee of the CUT
# posted by redlion @ 9:53 pm 
