The quality of life in Haiti is increasingly desperate - today for every 10,000 Haitians only one has access to a physician. The U.S. government is still leading the international community in withholding $500 million in humanitarian aid from the Haitian government, and the situation in Haiti is rapidly deteriorating. In a recent report from the Central Plateau in Haiti, Dr. Paul Farmer writes:

"I have worked for almost 20 years in Haiti and have seen U.S. aid flow smoothly and generously during the years of Duvalier dictatorship and the military juntas that followed. As a U.S. physician, I believe it shameful that the current embargo has been enforced during the tenure of a democratically elected government. Such policies are both unjust and a cause of great harm to the Haitian population, particularly to those living in poverty."

You are receiving this letter and packet because you have endorsed the Let Haiti Live! Campaign, or have expressed interest in learning more about it to get involved. This packet includes several pieces which can help you be a participant, and these pieces can be duplicated to share with your members, family, friends and community.

Congresswoman Barbara Lee's resolution to release humanitarian aid to Haiti (H.Con.Res. 382) now has 52 supporters - but this isn't enough! One of the targets of this campaign is to pressure Congressional representatives to support the resolution, which is now in committee. In this packet you will find:

• A short fact sheet on the Let Haiti Live! Campaign and ways to get involved
  
• A copy of H.Con.Res. 382 (PDF Format)
  
• A list of the committee members of the Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and Trade - our targets for the summer campaign
  
• A sample letter to Congressional representatives, to be used for both the House and the Senate
  
• A sheet of four postcards (PDF Format) - copy onto card stock, cut and distribute widely; these can be used for House and Senate
  
• Sample letters to the editor for a local newspaper campaign
  
• A copy of the sign-on letter endorsed by 82 organizations and delivered to every member of Congress at the end of April
  
• Press Release from the Council on Hemispheric Affairs, outlining the causes and effects of the U.S. government's current policy
  
• Paul Farmer's "Haiti: Unjust Aid Embargo During Health Emergency"
  
• Haiti Action Committee's "Myths About Haiti"
  
• A brochure FYI about Haiti Reborn/Quixote Center
  

Thank you for your continued support of the Haitian people through the Let Haiti Live! Campaign. For more information, please visit our website: www.quixote.org/haiti or send an email to haiti@quixote.org.

For a more just world,

Melinda Miles and Andrew White
on behalf of Haiti Reborn staff