Reflections from the Hedge School

Reflections by Joe Murray, Afri’s co-ordinator

Every now and then, life throws up some extraordinary surprises!

Such a moment occurred during Afri’s annual Hedge School in IT Blancharstown in November in the context of Michael Doorly’s explanation of the origins of Concern. Concern was founded in response to the Biafran War, following a series of meetings in the kitchen of John and Kay O’ Loughlin Kennedy. The new organisation’s first act was to send three ships loaded with food to the beleaguered people, caught up in the war and the poverty and hunger, which it exacerbated. When Michael had finished his presentation, Philip Uzomo stood up and identified himself as a survivor of the Biafran war and said that he’d been a recipient of the food sent on those very ships!

From left to right: Michael Doorly (Concern, Joe Murray (Afri) and Claire Devlin (Christian Aid). Photo: RoJ Whelan

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Campaigners Call for Haiti’s Debt to be Cancelled

PRESS RELEASE, 21 January 2010

Issued by the Debt and Development Coalition Ireland and Christian Aid

Justice campaigners today criticised the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for offering a US$ 100 million loan to Haiti as emergency assistance.

Nessa Ní Chasaide of Debt and Development Coalition Ireland, said, “It is shocking that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has offered financial assistance to Haiti in the form of a loan when Haiti has over US$ 800 million of debts in urgent need of cancellation. The Irish government should ensure that Haiti receives debt cancellation and grant based financial support – not loans – at this difficult time.” Continue reading “Campaigners Call for Haiti’s Debt to be Cancelled”