US House passes Haiti quake aid bill
WASHINGTON — The US House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation Wednesday to boost charitable donations to victims of the Haiti earthquake, including a hugely successful Red Cross text-message appeal.
The bill, modeled after a similar measure that bolstered giving after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, would allow cash contributions made through March 1, 2010 to count against 2009 taxes.
The measure, which could clear the US Senate and go to President Barack Obama as early as Wednesday, allows those who answered a Red Cross appeal for donations via text message to use their telephone bill as proof of donation.
“We all witnessed the horrendous event that took place in our hemisphere last week and have united in a bipartisan way to do what we can to ease the pain of those who are suffering in Haiti,” said Democratic Representative Charles Rangel, chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.
“This legislation can encourage Americans to increase what has already been an outpouring of generous support for the people of Haiti,” said the tax-writing panel’s top Republican, Representative Dave Camp.
Camp said the measure, which cleared the House by voice vote, deserves Obama’s “immediate signature” once it passes the Senate.
AFP
Olympic Newsdesk — Haitian Athletes Dead; Two Cities for 2013 Session
Up to 30 officials, coaches and players are said to have died last week in the collapse of the national football federation headquarters during the Port au Prince earthquake.
Also among the casualties: two taekwondo athletes, two boxers and three judoka who died when the building where they were training was destroyed in the quake, according to Luis Mejia, president of the Dominican Republic Olympic Committee. Mejia visited Haiti last week carrying supplies donated to the Haitian Olympic Committee.
In an email sent Tuesday, HOC President Jean Edouard Baker acknowledged the support of other NOCs in the Caribbean and the Americas.
“Five days after the earthquake, we are still trying to save some victims,” says Baker.
“We cannot yet start evaluating what was destroyed. Somehow one has the feeling that the whole city is to be rebuilt,” he says.
Baker says the HOC offices and staff were unscathed in the quake.
Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic have offered to help with athlete training.
FIFA vice president Jack Warner of Trinidad says FIFA will contribute $250,000 to earthquake relief. Fellow FIFA vp Moon Jung Chung of South Korea says he will personally donate $500,000 to Haiti.
Two Cities for 2013 IOC Session
Malaysian sports officials hope hosting the IOC Session will boost Kuala Lumpur’s chances of hosting the 2019 Asian Games. (Getty Images) IOC spokesman Mark Adams tells Around the Rings Buenos Aires, Argentina and Kuala Lumpur Malaysia are the two cities vying to host the 2013 IOC Session.
The IOC will decide on a host city at the Session in Vancouver Feb. 10-11.
Two major decisions await the 2013 IOC Session: choosing a successor to IOC President Jacques Rogge and selection of a host city for the 2020 Olympics.
A Malaysian sports official said hosting the Session would give the country a boost in its bid to host the 2019 Asian Games.
Neither city has hosted a Session, but Kuala Lumpur was the site of the 2002 IOC Executive Board meeting.
Final VANOC Board Meeting Before Olympics
VANOC will hold its final board meeting before the Olympics today
A press briefing is scheduled for approximately 1PM Vancouver time. An agenda for the meeting was not released.
Olympic Council of Asia Sets Bidding Deadline
Asian NOCs must submit all multi-sport event bids to the Olympic Council of Asia by March 31.
The events still needing a host are: Asian Indoor/Martial Arts Games in 2013 and 2018; Asian Youth Games in 2013 and 2017; Asian Beach Games in 2016 and 2020; Asian Winter Games in 2017 and 2021; Asian Games in 2019 and 2023.
The next Asian Games will take place in Guangzhou, China, this November.
Aroundtherings.com
Interview: Olden Polynic – We are a forgotten people
Olden Polynice played center in the NBA for 15 seasons. During that time, he distinguished himself as more than a hardnosed rebounder. He was the most visible Haitian athlete in the history of U.S. sports.
In 1993, Polynice was the first U.S. athlete ever to join a hunger strike during the season to protest the treatment of HIV-positive Haitian refugees imprisoned in Guantánamo Bay. Today, Polynice lives in Los Angeles and runs the Olden Polynice Hoop Foundation. He calls himself “an activist for Haiti until the day I die…whether it’s chic or not.”
Polynice spoke with Nation and SocialistWorker.org columnist Dave Zirin about the post-earthquake calamity in Haiti.
FIRST QUESTION: How are your loved ones?
I JUST spoke to my father for the first time. He’s in Port au Prince: He’s good. He’s alive. No injuries or nothing major. But we know that we’ve lost at least one cousin. The roof of her house fell on her. We are waiting to hear from an uncle and other cousins. We don’t know if all four of them are dead. We’ve just heard nothing.
WHERE WERE you when you first heard what happened?
AHHH! THE irony of it all. I was at a funeral for my girlfriend’s cousin, sitting there at the church. This is about an hour before I heard the news. And for whatever reason, I’m thinking about my dad, Lester. Then after the funeral ended, my girlfriend and I walked to the cemetery, and she showed me her father’s gravestone, and I swear on everything holy that this is true: Her Dad’s name was Lester as well.
And then at that moment, my phone rings, and I hear about the earthquake. I thought first that it was a joke. Earthquake? In Haiti? Haiti doesn’t have earthquakes! We have everything else, but not earthquakes! Then I spent days trying to get through to my father, and here we are.
MANY PEOPLE are giving to help rebuild Haiti.
YES, PEOPLE have been really good. Giving to Wyclef’s group, the Red Cross, my group, the Olden Polynice Hoop Foundation. Everything helps. But Haiti needs the help when it’s not chic as well. I remember when I went on the hunger strike to protest the treatment of the Haitian refugees in ’93, and everyone got so mad at me doing it. If I did it now, there would probably be a parade for me. But I didn’t care about any of the criticism.
That’s my home. I’ve always done stuff for Haiti. I’ve always been an activist, and I continue to be one. I want everyone to know: This earthquake is not a Haiti problem. It’s a world problem. Anything that affects Haiti affects the world, and if you think that’s not true, then you are sadly mistaken.
DO YOU think the Haitian people should be granted temporary asylum status in the U.S.?
WHY NOT? We open our doors to everyone else. Cubans are granted asylum. I’m not saying bring the whole country up here, but Haitians are the forgotten people. That cannot happen now.
It’s absurd to me that on an island like Hispaniola, which Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic, the Dominican Republic can possess wealth while Haiti suffers. How is that possible? It’s all political…I’m very thankful President Obama has acted as swiftly as he has, but I’ll say it again: we are a forgotten people.
I HAVE to ask you your thoughts about Pat Robertson saying the earthquake happened because Haiti made a pact with the devil for independence.
PAT ROBERTSON can suck a big one–you can quote me on that. He is not a man of God and shouldn’t claim to be. And you can quote me on that. Please.
NEW SUBJECT: Have you tried to contact Haitian players like Samuel Dalembert of the Philadelphia 76ers?
I SPOKE to Samuel last night. I’m trying to reach out to as many as possible. I want to organize all the Haitian players with one goal in mind. The goal is to make sure that they continue to represent Haiti and their families: They are Haitian and proud. There are many players, unlike Samuel, who are Haitian and don’t want to claim it.
I am Haitian and proud of it! You always have to be proud. We actually have ethnicity. We have culture. I want to organize all the Haitian athletes and have them claim a sense of responsibility. Not just right now, when it’s chic, but every day of our lives. As we play and we make money, as we make the highlight films, we should let the world know that we come from a different place, a special place.
Let the world know: Haiti is already hurting, before any earthquake. Haiti has been hurt. Don’t wait for a major catastrophe to be involved. Claim your home. Don’t let us be a forgotten people.
First published at TheNation.com.
HAITIAN ATHLETES CAN TRAIN IN FOUR LATIN COUNTRIES FREE OF CHARGE
MEXICO, Jan 20 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) – Haitian athletes participating in this year’s Central American and Caribbean Games in Mayagüez here can train free of charge in Mexico, Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic in a gesture of solidarity.
Sports radio and television stations in this capital praised the attitude of these nations in face of the tragedy of the Haitian people, victims of a powerful earth quake last Tues Jan 12.
A bulletin of the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organisation (ODECABE) signed by Puerto Rican Hector Cardona said that it was the best way to express solidarity with the pain and suffering of the Haitians.
According to Mexican sports officials a special commission will make the necessary coordinations to help in the technical preparation of the Haitian team and cover the trip of the athletes to the games in Puerto Rico.
According to the ODECABE communique, Haiti is scheduled to compete in Mayaguez on Dec 10 with a delegation of 58 persons made up of 15 women, 38 men and eight officials and trainers.
A capital radio broadcast said that the Haitian athletes will be cared for in the Federal District for their preparations in the Mexican Olympic Sports Center and the High Performance Sports Center. — NNN-PRENSA LATINA
By NamNewsNetwork
Le soccer haïtien anéanti par le séisme
Des responsables du soccer caribéen ont laissé savoir qu’au moins 30 membres de la Fédération de soccer de Haïti, dont un nombre indéterminé de joueurs, ont péri dans le séisme de mardi dernier.
Dans un document envoyé mardi à la FIFA, l’union de soccer caribéen a indiqué que des joueurs, des arbitres, des entraîneurs, des dirigeants et des membres de l’équipe médicale de la fédération ont été tués.
Le quartier général de la fédération s’est effondré lors de la secousse mortelle de la semaine dernière.
Selon le document, le président de la fédération, Yves Jean Bart, a survécu. Celui-ci soutient qu’au moins 20 des 30 morts se trouvent toujours sous les gravats.
Le vice-président de la FIFA, Jack Warner, a annoncé que l’organisme allait verser 250 000 $ pour venir en aide aux sinistrés. Il a aussi mentionné qu’un autre vice-président, Chung Moon-jung, donnait 500 000 $ à titre personnel, alors que Warner offre 100 000 $ de sa poche.
Le président du Comité olympique dominicain, Luis Mejia, a mentionné que son homologue haïtien, Jean Edward Baker, lui avait confirmé le décès d’au moins sept athlètes olympiques.
Écrit par RueFrontenac.com
Haïti: vaste élan de solidarité financière en Allemagne
Les Allemands, qui mettent traditionnellement beaucoup la main au portefeuille pour les associations caritatives, se sont mobilisés en masse pour venir en aide à Haïti, avec notamment plus de 20 millions d’euros récoltés lors d’un téléthon lancé mardi soir.
Les Allemands, qui mettent traditionnellement beaucoup la main au portefeuille pour les associations caritatives, se sont mobilisés en masse pour venir en aide à Haïti, avec notamment plus de 20 millions d’euros récoltés lors d’un téléthon lancé mardi soir.
Le gouvernement d’Angela Merkel a débloqué 10 millions d’aide pour aider les Haïtiens frappés par un séisme meurtrier il y a huit jours, mais la population, les entreprises, le monde du spectacle et des sportifs du pays ont eux aussi massivement donné.
Une soirée de téléthon au profit d’Haïti retransmise en direct à la télévision allemande a ainsi permis de recueillir plus de 20 millions d’euros, a indiqué le journal Bild, co-organisateur de la soirée, alors que les dons par téléphone continuaient d’affluer sur les lignes d’appel, ouvertes jusqu’à 19H00 GMT mercredi.
La chancelière Angela Merkel a remercié dès mardi soir tous ses concitoyens, en soulignant que les dons étaient déductibles des impôts.
L’équipe nationale de football a donné 150.000 euros, le club de Borussia Mönchengladbach 250.000 euros. Celui de Schalke 04 a apporté 100.000 euros et un match de bienfaisance sera en outre organisé dans les six mois à venir entre le Bayern Munich et Wolfsburg, dont les recettes seront intégralement consacrées à la reconstruction d’Haïti. Il devrait permettre de lever au moins un million d’euros.
“Quand on voit à la télévision la misère dans laquelle vit Haïti ou quand on lit dans les journaux dans quelle situation se trouve le pays, on ne peut pas rester là sans rien faire”, a déclaré le capitaine de la Mannschaft, Michael Ballack, qui joue à Chelsea (D1 anglaise).
Nombre de grandes entreprises ont aussi versé au pot, comme Volkswagen et Audi (1 million d’euros), Siemens (1 million d’euros), Lidl (500.000 euros), Bayer (250.000 euros), les supermarchés Kaufland (500.000 euros) mais aussi l’industrie du lait (850.000 euros), du gaz ou de l’informatique.
“Les enfants d’Haïti disent Merci!”, titrait sur une page en Une mercredi le quotidien populaire Bild, en énumérant de nombreuses entreprises donatrices.
AFP
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