Is the IMF backtracking on Haiti?

Amidst the outpouring of support for Haiti, one offer of assistance was met with suspicion by many debt cancellation advocates. The IMF announced an emergency $100 million loan to Haiti to aid in earthquake recovery and reconstruction. While funding for recovery and reconstruction is sorely needed, loans that create additional debt (rather than grants, which do not have to be repaid) are an unacceptable response to this humanitarian disaster. Read more about this situation and how you can take action with your member of Congress.

It's Time for Group Planning and Goal Setting

As part of your planning, consider applying for our REF Global Health Mini Grant Program. The Mini Grant Program will support groups to plan and carry out enhanced global health programming in your communities. Also see the new Grassroots Job Descriptions on the Grassroots Resource and Admin page. Some descriptions are still being updated, so check back for newer versions next week.

Schedule Face-to-Face Meetings with Your Members of Congress during an Upcoming Recess

We will ask your members of Congress to do many things in 2010. Now is the time to lay the groundwork with them and to deepen your relationship with them. Schedule face-to-face meetings now for recesses in January, February, and March. Don’t wait until key actions are upon us to schedule meetings. Do it now and prepare decision maker to support education legislation (to be released soon), submit appropriations requests, and feel moved to lead the way in ending poverty. Check out the January Action Sheet and January laser talk dialogue for tips on how to request and secure a meeting.

January: Group Planning

February 11, 2010: 9 pm ET. Training Call: Engaging Your Community to Create the Political Will for a Global Fund for Education. Call in at (712) 432-3100, 887871

February 13, 2010: Global Conference Call. 2:00 pm ET. Call in at (888) 409-6709