The North Shore Colombia Solidarity Committee Blog

COLOMBIAN VICTIMS OF OUR ENERGY POLICIES HAVE ASKED FOR OUR HELP

A delegation of academics and labor/social justice activists recently participated in a Witness for Peace fact-finding trip to the coal-producing regions of Colombia.

Power plants in the United States and Canada are major importers of Colombian coal.
Now we have the chance to give something back to the people and communities
that are affected by the mines.

On October 31, 2006 several participants will return to the remote region of La Guajira with medical professionals to assess the health needs of the people affected by the coal mine and to deliver desperately needed medical supplies.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

The residents of La Guajira suffer from respiratory and skin ailments caused by dry soil and coal dust. We are hoping to fill 2 duffel bags with basic first aid supplies.

A doctor on this trip has made specific recommendations. Any of the following supplies would be greatly appreciated:

Vitamins for children and adults (particularly C), asthma inhalers,
pain killers for adults and children (tylenol, ibuprofen, aspirin), bandages/gauze,
medical tape, anti-bacterial ointment (polysporin, neosporin, bacitracin),
anti-parasitic medicine, Zantac

Collection boxes are located at:

Nona's Cafe
335 Lafayette Street (across from Salem State)
Salem, MA

The Bookstore of Gloucester
61 Main Street
Gloucester, MA

October 12 Colombian presentation by Avi Chomsky
First Church in Salem
316 Essex Street
7pm

October 25 migration presentation by Lois Martin
Salem State College
Sullivan Building 209
6pm

Tax-deductible checks may be made out to HealthLink with "coal/Colombia" on the memo line and sent to:
HealthLink
P.O. Box 301
Swampscott, MA 01907

The deadline for all donations will be Wednesday, October 25.

For more information, contact:
North Shore Colombia Solidarity Committee at achomsky@salemstate.edu or 978.542.6389

or

posted by Alan  # 8:25 PM