12592: AFL-CIO California resolution condemns sanctions against Haiti (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: MKarshan@aol.com

On July 25, 2002, the 2-million member California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO adopted a resolution calling for an end to the sanctions against Haiti and urging support for House Concurrent Resolution 382.

Resolution of the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO

Let Haiti Live!

Whereas, since the landslide election of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 2000, the United States has spearheaded an international financial aid blockade of Haiti. Over $500 million in funds allocated for the government of Haiti are being withheld by the U.S., European Union, International
Monetary Fund, World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank. These grants and loans, intended for health care, education and public works [such as providing potable water], are currently blocked. Secretary of State Colin Powell recently reasserted that the US will continue to embargo these funds in order to leverage a “political outcome” in Haiti ; and

Whereas, it is appalling that the U.S. is using humanitarian aid as a political weapon, particularly against Haiti, the poorest country in the hemisphere, where there is only one doctor for every 10,000 patients, where many Haitians have no access to potable water, and where the infant mortality rate [a key indicator of a pending humanitarian disaster] is 74
out of every 1,000 live births; and

Whereas, the US policy of sanctions is punishing Haiti, and the people are suffering. Haiti has the most serious AIDS crisis in the hemisphere. While a national AIDS plan was presented by the government of Haiti at the United
Nations over a year ago and was lauded by health experts as sound, its funding has been withheld; therefore be it

Resolved, by this 24th Biennial Convention of the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, that the Federation join the Congressional Black Caucus and religious, labor and grassroots organizations in solidarity with the Haitian people’s demand that the U.S. government release the funds and lift all sanctions against Haiti, by endorsing Let Haiti Live! – the Campaign to Lift the Sanctions against Haiti ; and be it further

Resolved, that the Federation encourage affiliated unions, area central labor bodies, and the national AFL-CIO to endorse and participate in Let Haiti Live! – the Campaign to Lift the Sanctions against Haiti ; and be it finally

Resolved, that the Federation support House Concurrent Resolution #382, introduced by Congresswoman Barbara Lee and the Congressional Black Caucus Task Force on Haiti, urging the Bush Administration to end any embargo against Haiti, and release the blocked humanitarian and developmental aid.
--Adopted by the 2 million-member California Labor Federation

                                       July 25, 2002

Essentially identical resolutions were also adopted by the San Francisco Labor Council, the A. Philip Randolph Institute, and by the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, San Francisco chapters.