The below address was delivered on January 28, 2010 at the Dutchess County Democratic Committee meeting.
Two days ago, nearly a half-month after an earthquake devastated Haiti and its capital Port-Au-Prince, people in the vicinity of St. Gerard University heard a faint voice calling from beneath the rubble of a private home. These people called for and were assisted by a civil response team which worked quickly to free a 16 year old girl. Darlene Etienne was rescued, dirty and dehydrated but in stable condition to the delight of her family and has been given a 90% chance to fully recover.
Ladies and gentlemen I come tonight to the Dutchess County Democratic Committee to briefly discuss the Haitian earthquake disaster and what we can do as Americans to help the citizens of Haiti such as Darlene and the multitude of survivors of this human tragedy.
First let me introduce myself. My name is Martin Dubinski. I am a lifelong resident of Dutchess County and a current resident of the Town of East Fishkill. I am married, the father of three grown children and I have one grand daughter. I am a retired federal law enforcement officer, having retired in September 2008. I am a life long Democrat and currently sit on East Fishkill’s Democratic Committee and our Dutchess County Democratic Committee
Last week I attended the meeting of the Executive Committee of our County Democratic Committee at which time I gave a brief plea for our members to consider contributing money to Haitian Earthquake relief.
Our Executive Committee has authorized my speaking to you tonight to do the same. So it is here I will present a challenge to you, the members of the Dutchess County Democratic Committee, to make a commitment to support the efforts to assist the people of Haiti in their time of need.
As you may know President Obama has appointed former Presidents Clinton and Bush (W.) to lead our nation’s bipartisan efforts for immediate and long-term relief of the victims of this disaster. You may have heard President Clinton on NBC’s Meet the Press when he said, “a disaster like the earthquake in Haiti reminds us of our common humanity…it would be perverse in a time like this to let politics get in the way of helping”.
Not even five years ago Americans experienced our own natural disaster when hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans. The devastating effects this event had on that city and its’ population were of a magnitude seldom seen in our country. Even our great nation had difficulty in helping the victims of Katrina. At that time we Americans may have presumed there was adequate infrastructure and resources to solve the problems of a natural disaster of that nature but those assumptions were wrong and America has since taken measures to strengthen our disaster response plans and capabilities.
Following the events of September 11, 2001 I found myself assigned to work in recovery efforts at “ground zero” and saw the out pouring of concern and love from Americans around the country to support the citizens of New York City and the rescue workers on the scene. I remember, having finished a shift at ground zero, I walked north, away from the pile of concrete and steel that was once the World Trade Center, and I was approached by several residents of the city who hugged and thanked me for what I had done. I never thought I deserved their appreciation but I think I understand what they meant. I think these people were thanking me for caring and offering them a measure of hope. Hope that assured them they were not abandoned. I think this concept is well summarized by what ROBERT F. KENNEDY once said,
“EACH TIME SOMEONE STANDS UP FOR AN IDEAL OR ACTS TO IMPROVE THE LOT OF OTHERS OR STRIKES OUT AGAINST INJUSTICE HE SENDS FORTH AN TINY RIPPLE OF HOPE”.
Ladies and gentlemen tonight I am asking you to send forth a ripple of hope to the people of Haiti. This small Caribbean nation is the poorest nation in the western hemisphere and one of the poorest nations in the world. The Haitian government and the country’s infrastructure were struck such a devastating blow by the earthquake that the citizens of Haiti can expect little or no help from their own leadership. I ask you as members of the Dutchess County Democratic Committee to stand up and act to improve their lot and to help the Haitian people survive this catastrophe by giving money to the relief and recovery effort.
As you may know there is a large Haitian population in the New York Metropolitan area. Approximately 100,000 people of Haitian decent live in the area with the largest concentration of this population residing in Brooklyn.
Rajiv Shah, the newly appointed American administrator of USAID is responsible for the coordination of the US relief and recovery effort in Haiti. Mr. Shah’s office and news reports have estimated the number of deaths attributed to the Haitian earthquake to be approximately 100,000 to 200,000 and the effected population approximately 3.5 million people.
Since the occurrence of this disaster I have received ideas and recommendations from fellow Democrats and members of our committee as to how to assist. Some suggest we conduct food and clothing drives and ask people to donate tents and other temporary sheltering methods. While these ideas may be effective in some venues they may not be appropriate under these international circumstances.
USAID has provided guidelines for appropriate COMMODITY CONTRIBUTIONS. Donations of commodities should be coordinated with guidelines that can be found on their web site, www.usaid.gov . For instance:
- A humanitarian organization with staff in the affected area (Haiti) should request the commodities being offered.
- The request should be specific and the organization should approve the commodities after reviewing technical specifications.
- The commodities offered should not be available for purchase in the affected region. This can help promote sustainability and self-reliance.
- The commodities offered must be useable and sustainable. They must be adaptable to local technical and environmental conditions. Local language must be used in all instructions for these commodities. And supplies and service must be available for any commodity distributed.
Under the circumstances listed above and defined by USAID commodities can be donated but may not be the most effective way for us to help the Haitian people.
Contributions of money can help and help immediately. Money can go toward purchasing to food, water, clothing, shelter, and medical supplies needed by the citizens of Haiti.
The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has appealed to the international community to support their efforts to raise money for food for the people of Haiti. Thus far the WFP has delivered approximately 3.6 million food rations to approximately 450,000 people with the help of local and international organizations such as the Red Cross. Disaster response experts have said that the scale of this disaster coupled with Haiti’s poor infrastructure present unprecedented challenges that will require a massive and long term relief and development effort.
There are numerous methods by which Americans can contribute toward this relief effort but the choice to move on this issue is yours to make. Please remember, that our friends, neighbors and colleagues watch us and look to us for leadership, direction and inspiration.
In the words of the late and former Congresswoman from Texas, Barbara Jordan,
“WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT IS VERY SIMPLE. THEY WANT AN AMERICA AS GOOD AS ITS PROMISE.”
The Executive Committee of the Dutchess County Democratic Committee has already accepted this challenge and approved a motion authorizing me to ask you to donate money tonight to this worthy cause. Any money received through tonight’s donations has been authorized and directed to be given to the Haitian relief and recovery effort through the Dutchess County Chapter of the American Red Cross. Please give and if you donate by using a check make it payable to, “The American Red Cross International Disaster Relief, Haitian Earthquake”.
Here are some of the ways in which the Red Cross is addressing the needs of the victims of the Haitian Earthquake disaster;
- There are more than 400 Red Cross workers from around the world in Haiti who are assisting in this relief and helping to train Haitians to support themselves in the recovery efforts.
- The Red Cross is donating 2.9 million pre-packaged meals from its stock in the United States to the World Food Program.
- The Red Cross is providing temporary shelters to more than 20,000 Haitian families.
- There are over 100 American Red Cross Creole-speaking volunteers aboard the USNS Comfort to translate for patients.
- To date more than 500 tons of Red Cross aid has been mobilized and designated for Haitian relief.
- Since the earthquake struck the Red Cross has raised nearly $112 million, nearly two-thirds of this total through on-line giving and one-third through direct donations by people such as you.
Following tonight’s meeting I urge you to return to your town committees and consider adopting a plan to help the Haitian people, show other Americans that we Democrats from Dutchess County New York are here and care for our brothers and sisters in Haiti. Demonstrate through your acts of kindness and generosity that WE Americans are as good as our promise.
Baskets are being circulated in the room for you to deposit your donations. These donations will be counted, the total announced and entered into the minutes of this meeting and I will personally give the contributions to the Dutchess County Chapter of the American Red Cross and ensure they are designated to International Disaster Relief – Haitian Earthquake.
One last thought…During the State of the Union address last night, President Obama spoke of the spirit within Americans, a spirit that is determined, optimistic and decent. The President said this spirit was exemplified in the actions of an 8 year old boy from Louisiana who recently sent the President his allowance and asked if he would give it to the people of Haiti. Ladies and gentlemen this is the spirit that lives within each of us.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Martin Dubinski
East Fishkill Democratic Committee
