[act-ma] A Moment of Silence for Haiti on this Day of Remembrance and Dedication to Haiti: Today at Noon

[Corr, Brian]

Today is the second anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010. The Cambridge City Council has declared today to be a "Day of Remembrance and Dedication to Haiti."  In response, the Cambridge Peace Commission is asking all to observe a time of quiet remembrance, reflection, and rededication to those who lost their lives in Haiti, and to those still affected by the earthquake and subsequent humanitarian crisis.

We hope that wherever you are and whatever you're doing today, you can take a moment to pause at noon for a moment of silence to remember Haiti and its people.

According to the Association of Haitian Women in Boston (http://www.afab-kafanm.org/), two years after the earthquake, "there still remain hundreds of new cholera cases daily, thousands of schools destroyed, hundreds of thousands of people displaced and lacking access to clean water, and millions of cubic meters of rubble that are obstructing the path to home, the market, school, and reconstruction." At the same time, today's Washington Post reports, "two years after the worst natural disaster in a generation, made worse by a paralyzing political crisis and an imported cholera epidemic, advances are visible everywhere, even if they are sometimes hard to see." And as the City Council noted in its resolution, numerous Cambridge residents, organizations, universities and colleges, hospitals, schools and City departments have responded to the disaster and its aftermath by supporting and assisting individuals and communities affected in Haiti and within Cambridge.

Below is the text of the resolution adopted on December 19, 2011 by the Cambridge City Council:

WHEREAS:         On January 12, 2010, an earthquake of more than 7.0 magnitude struck Haiti causing extraordinary devastation and loss of life; and

WHEREAS:         Cambridge is home to a large Haitian community and every individual in that community has family and friends who continue to be impacted by this momentous disaster two years later; and

WHEREAS:         Numerous Cambridge residents, organizations, universities and colleges, hospitals, schools and City departments have responded to the disaster and its aftermath by supporting and assisting individuals and communities affected in Haiti and within Cambridge; and

WHEREAS:         In the words of U.S. Senator John Kerry, "The Haitian people have faced this catastrophic earthquake with the same indomitable spirit that has characterized them throughout their history. The United States will help Haitians rebuild their vibrant country. It is encouraging to see the outpouring of aid to Haiti from the United States and around the world and we offer our full support to all involved in the relief process. Haiti will need our support today, tomorrow, and in the years to come"; now therefore be it

RESOLVED:       That the City Council declares January 12, 2012 to be a Day of Remembrance and Dedication to Haiti.

In Peace,
Brian Corr

Brian Corr
Executive Director, Cambridge Peace Commission
City of Cambridge, Massachusetts
51 Inman St., Cambridge, MA 02139
617.349.4694 voice * 617.349.4766 fax
bcorr at cambridgema.gov<mailto:bcorr at cambridgema.gov>
http://www.cambridgema.gov/peace<http://www.cambridgema.gov/peace/>


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