February 10 MAWO Forum Report

On February 10th, Mobilization Against War & Occupation (MAWO) organized a forum on Haiti at the Britannia Community Center. The forum entitled “Haiti After the Earthquake: Why are there more Foreign Troops than Doctors?” gave people an opportunity to discuss about the current situation in Haiti, how different countries have responded to this earthquake and how we as antiwar activists need to respond.

Janine Solanki, Co-chair of MAWO and MC opened the evening with a few short film clips on Haiti. The film clips highlighted the history of the Haitian people’s struggles against foreign occupation from the struggle for independence that led to the Haitian Revolution to the present-day occupation of their country by foreign forces.

After the film clips, Alison Bodine, Co-chair of MAWO and who also works with the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization – Pastors for Peace spoke. She emphasized the important role that Cuba has been involved in before and after the earthquake in Haiti.

Then Nita Palmer, secretary of MAWO spoke. She explained how the sending of foreign troops to Haiti was one of many occupations that Canada and other western imperialists’ countries have occupied around the world since 2001. These wars constitute the new era of war and occupation that imperialist countries have fought in an attempt to save off their economic crisis by imposing war and occupation on developing countries.

Andrew Barry, an executive member of MAWO stressed the necessity of seeing the important role of Cuba in Haiti before and after the earthquake. That Cuba has continued to help the Haitian people through doctors and in other social areas to improve the living standards of Haitians.

After the speakers, followed lively discussion about Cuba’s and Venezuela’s role in Haiti and to sign the petition demanding the US and Canadian government send doctors and aid not soldiers to Haiti and to forgive the Haiti foreign debt.