Memorial students organize Haiti relief efforts

Breezeway benefit sends aid from one island to another

By Ryan Belbin

Ten days after Haiti was devastated by a massive 7.0-magnitude earthquake, the Breezeway hosted an all-day benefit concert.

The Memorial University of Newfoundland Students’ Union (MUNSU) collaborated with Oxfam, the Canadian Federation of Students, The Graduate Students’ Union, and MUN HOPE, to organize the appropriately titled “From One Island to Another.”

The concert began at 3 p.m. on Jan. 22, with musicians from an eclectic array of genres entertaining the crowd for the next 12 hours. Volunteers from MUN Oxfam and the university community collected donations throughout the evening.

A silent auction raised additional funds, all of which were donated to the Humanitarian Coalition Fund.

The event raised $10,000, which was matched by the federal government.

Although similar events typically require weeks of preparation, the concert came together fairly quickly. Cameron Campbell, MUNSU Director of External Affairs, attributed the success of the show to the outpouring of support from the community.

“A couple of us had a conversation last Friday about the fact that we should get together and do something. Monday morning, we had a meeting [with] a bunch of different student groups, the student union, [and] the Canadian Federation of Students, and we were able to start working out a plan. We wanted to do something that was going to be an all-day event, and it kind of grew from there.”

Oxfam, a major supporter of the show, approached MUNSU. Bill Hynd, national campaigns co-ordinator for Oxfam Canada, was very pleased with the response to the event, praising the MUN student population.

“All credit needs to go to the student union and the students at Memorial for supporting this. Nobody said no; everybody wanted to help. That’s why this event happened quickly,” he explained.

A full group of local entertainers volunteered their talents for the Breezeway benefit show. With Terry McDonald, Janiel Lynch, Carolann Fowler and Stephen Green, Siochana, the New Zazou!, the Insiders, Rocketrocketship, Quiet Elephant, the Baytown Connection, and DJ Sina spinning tracks until the wee hours of the morning, the event drew an impressive audience.

The federally registered fund, administered by Oxfam Canada, Oxfam Quebec, Save the Children Canada, and Care Canada, is just one source that is providing a much-needed financial stimulus to Haiti.

The Jan. 12 earthquake’s epicentre was west of the capital city of Port-au-Prince. It resulted in up to 200,000 fatalities, an estimated 1.5 million people being left homeless, and 3 million requiring emergency aid.

The most impoverished nation in the Western Hemisphere prior to the quake, Haiti is struggling to rebuild itself.

According to Hynd, the best way to help Haiti in the aftermath of the destruction is by sending money to stimulate the local economy. Oxfam is currently involved in a cash-for-work program, whereby local Haitians are hired to help in rebuilding their homeland. “Who’s going to rebuild the city? It should be the people that are there,” he said.

“Hopefully, out of this crisis, this might be a tipping point for a much better future.” The United Nations is currently investigating a giant cash-for-work program for Haiti.

Meanwhile, government leaders from around the world are discussing Haiti’s massive debt, which Hynd estimates to be more than $671 million. This figure follows a debt reduction of over a billion dollars last year. With half the population scraping by on less than two dollars a day, he believes that it is now crucial for the debt to be forgiven.

Despite the severe situation in Haiti, governments and organizations from around the globe are scrambling to provide aid. Student and community organizations in the city are coming together to effectively respond to a crisis situation.

Campbell praised the students for their involvement and generosity, pointing out that various on-campus groups have been raising funds and awareness throughout the week, with a collection of loose change earlier that afternoon alone bringing in over two thousand dollars.

“I think people here are generous by nature,” Campbell said. “Sometimes, you take for granted how good it is here in Canada, and here in Newfoundland and Labrador. You see the images from a place like Haiti and you realize these people have absolutely nothing. They had nothing, and then on top of that they had a big disaster like this. I think people feel obligated to help out and give back as much as they can.”

Hynd echoed his sentiments. “It makes you realize, we’re one world. One world. As much as we see ourselves as Newfoundlanders, and then as Canadians, the fact is that we share a planet together, and when we see people suffering like that, we have to help. As one fisherman said to me, ‘Helping people down there is just like helping people around the bay. Just that that bay’s a little further down.’”

Other benefits are being held in St. John’s in response to the Haiti earthquake, including Oxfam’s Harmony for Haiti at Gower Street United Church on Jan. 31, and the ongoing Hope for Haiti campaign organized by local radio stations.

For more information on the Humanitarian Coalition Fund, visit www.thehumanitariancoalition.ca, or contact MUN Oxfam to find out how to get involved.

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