Haiti solidarity fund for Batay Ourviye

[syndicat]

There is an online system for donations to assist Batay Ourviye, a radical grassroots union in Haiti:


http://tinyurl.com/BatayOurviye (http://tinyurl.com/BatayOurviye)

[Martin Blank]

Glad the MWC sorted that out.

The WPA's one-click button on its front page has the updated link.

[Patchd]

I haven't got a VISA, MASTERCARD, AMEX or DISCOVER card otherwise I would have contributed. Is there a way I can contribute with a debit account?

[bricolage]

I haven't got a VISA, MASTERCARD, AMEX or DISCOVER card otherwise I would have contributed. Is there a way I can contribute with a debit account?

I'm in exactly the same boat.

[ls]

If you guys have some sort of low-level current account, they come with a VISA Electron card usually (well it's for poor folks who can't afford that flashy crap) and you can just do normal VISA transactions, even though it doesn't say whether you can or can't.

I've never gotten any shit for it from my bank and done it a few times now. :tt2:

[bricolage]

If you guys have some sort of low-level current account, they come with a VISA Electron card usually (well it's for poor folks who can't afford that flashy crap) and you can just do normal VISA transactions, even though it doesn't say whether you can or can't.

I've never gotten any shit for it from my bank and done it a few times now. :tt2:

Nah I don't have one of them, only a maestro/cirrus debit card.

[ls]

By the way, you might be interested to read this: http://www.zcommunications.org/znet/viewArticle/4643

I do not know how true it is, but it is pretty damning if it is true.

[syndicat]

By the way, you might be interested to read this: http://www.zcommunications.org/znet/viewArticle/4643 (http://www.anonym.to/?http://www.zcommunications.org/znet/viewArticle/4643)

I do not know how true it is, but it is pretty damning if it is true.


I can't respect Jeb Sprague's various critiques of Batay Ouvriye. He started his campaign at the same time as various sectarian attacks by ANSWER and its Leninist leadership against BO. They had links to a competing union organization in Haiti...a union that refused to organize workers in the free trade zones (where BO organizes). That means they were complicit with neo-liberalism.

Moreover, altho BO took funds from NED, they said there were no strings attached as far as they were concerned. Their subsequent actions support this. They opposed the invasion of Haiti. More recently at a labor conference in Cuba they laid out their support for the revolutionary governments of Cuba and Venezuela.

If Sprague wants to make his case, he has to provide evidence that BO actually has done things to support Ameerican imperialism. Taking money from NED isn't sufficient to show that, given BO's statements that they are willing to take money from the devil if need be.

We might criticize BO's leadership for being somewhat opportunistic in this, and my own organization has its political differences with their leadership, but we consider them the nearest thing to our own viewpoint in Haiti.

[bricolage]

Is that the znet article? To be honest I know hardly anything about the whole thing but I'd heard the writer of it was tied to the Aristide administration in some way, not sure though.

[Martin Blank]

Most of those attacking Batay Ouvriye are supporters of former President Aristide and his Lavalas movement. Sprague and others latched on to Lavalas in the 1990s out of some sense of belief that it was "anti-imperialist". After Lavalas was effectively banned from participating in "elections" in Haiti, they backed Aristide's ally, Preval, who is now the current head of state and has turned over control of the country to the Pentagon.

[The Ungovernable Farce]

This is also worth reading (http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/4644).

[miamiautonomy&solidarity]

Update of BO Solidarity Fundraising
*Since we are a new member to revleft.com we can't post links on this thread. Please just google Batay ouvriye to find their positions on accepting money from the solidarity Center and for more information on them.



Dear comrades,
This is a quick update on the fundraising effort for Batay Ouvriye, as well as some information about the group and some of the controversy that has been brought up.
First of all, Miami Autonomy and Solidarity would like to thank all the groups and individuals that have donated money, spread the word, and defended Batay Ouvriye and their organizing work. It is inspiring to see the networks that we have created and the quick response from so many people. The money that we are sending will go to directly support workers impacted by the earthquake by providing food, water, and health care.It will also support the purchasing of minutes on cell phones so survivors can contact loved ones, and coordinate a grassroots relief effort.
We now have a way to donate online. Please go to Miami Autonomy and Solidarity's blog (you can google this) for the address. Please update this and help us spread the word! Help with translating this into other languages is also appreciated.
For those who are interested in learning more about Batay Ouvriye check out their website—it is in 4 languages. (google Batay Ouvriye)
Also, there have been many people who have been criticizing Batay Ouvriye for taking money from the Solidarity Center in the past and are attempting to undermine their work. Here is a link to two responses by BO for those who want more information and also need some help in the debates they may be having
(The information is on the tab called "positions") We will continue to send updates periodically. If you want to contact us directly please email us or visit our blog which will also contain updated information.

In solidarity,
Miami Autonomy and Solidarity

[miamiautonomy&solidarity]

Latest Update on Haiti Solidarity
Dear comrades,
We wanted to update everyone on the money that has been raised for Batay Ouvriye , as well as what Batay Ouvriye has said they will use it for. In the next week we will have a report of BO’s activities with more detail.
So far $6,724 have been donated to Batay Ouvriye.
If you would like to donate there are three ways to do so-- online, mail, or bank account-- which you can find on our website (revleft will not let us post links):

Mail: Miami Workers Center, 6127 Northwest 7th Avenue, Miami, FL 33127-1111 Please write “for MAS/BO” on the memo line

Bank:City National Bank of New Jersey
900 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102
ABA Number: 0212-0163-9 City of NJ Newark
For further credit to:
Account Number: 01 000 9845
Account Name: Batay Ouvriye
Account Address: Ave. Jean Paul II, # 7
Here is a direct quote from BO’s appeal letter sent on January 20th, breaking down their expenditures:
According to the inventory we have made up to now, here are our most immediate needs:
Destroyed homes US $ 50,000.00
Destroyed belongings 20,000.00
Hurt, crippled 10,000,00
Daily existence 30,000.00
Dealing with deaths 10,000.00

Total US $ 120,000.00

We need to add 40% to this calculation because the various prices keep skyrocketing and will continue to do so. So, the real TOTAL of this section is about: $US 170,000.00.

We will continue to send updates periodically. If you want to contact us directly please email us or visit our blog which will also contain updated information.

In solidarity,
Miami Autonomy and Solidarity