Arcade Fire And Coldplay's Chris Martin Issue A Plea For Donations On Behalf Of Haiti's Earthquake Victims
Hati
Arcade Fire and Coldplay's Chris Martin join a long list of musicians, most notably Wyclef Jean, asking fans to please donate to charities like Partners in Health and Oxfam UK, groups that are actively on the frontline of the calamity, aiding the Haitian people.
Win Butler and Regine Chassagne of Arcade Fire have posted a message on the band's website asking fans to help Haiti "in her darkest hour" by contributing to Partners In Health which provides global medical care to the poor. Chassagne's family is originally from Haiti and later emigrated to Canada.
"Since Partners in Health's clinics are in situated the surrounding areas and haven't been damaged," write Butler and Chassagne, "they are mobilizing their resources towards the capital, setting-up field hospitals to treat the injured on the ground."
The message goes on to redirect readers to Partners In Health's donation page for Haiti's earthquake victims.
And Chris Martin of Coldplay and Glastonbury Festival organizer Emily Eavis are asking for donations to Oxfam UK to help that non-profit's efforts in Haiti. In 2002, both Martin and Eavis traveled to Haiti with Oxfam, an experience which Martin says left an indelible impression on him.
"It's a country of extreme poverty and brutal living conditions," writes Martin on Coldplay's website. "Most people in Port-au-Prince live in tin shacks. The earthquake that has struck Haiti will have turned the city into an unimaginable hell. The people of Haiti will be desperate for help and assistance."
Over the last few days via texting alone, Wyclef Jean's organization Yéle Haiti has netted over $400,000 for Haitian earthquake relief. Folks who send a text message of "Haiti" to 501501 will be charged $5 on their next cell phone bill; the proceeds will go to Yéle Haiti.
(photo courtesy of Reuters/Eduardo Munoz)
