Concert to keep relief effort for Haiti alive

By Aitor Zabalegui

In the case of whether the majority of human beings are inherently good or evil, it appears that the best defense for the former comes in the wake of tragedy. According to The Guardian, since the earthquake that ravished the Republic of Haiti on Jan. 12, an estimated $2.4 billion has been pledged worldwide to fund relief efforts. This aid helps provide food, water, shelter and rebuilding materials for the near one million citizens left homeless.

There have been some notable arranged contributions that highlight our ability to rally around a prevalent cause. The "Text Haiti Campaign" raised $32 million from baseline $10 donations, a system set up a mere three hours after the earthquake. In one night, art-rock pioneers Radiohead performed a benefit concert raising more than $500,000 with all proceeds going to Oxfam International.

Yet despite these positives, there have also been some questionable miscommunications that have left people wondering, can there be a place for ulterior motives in this cause?

The American Red Cross, who is responsible for a large portion of unallocated relief funds, recently issued a statement saying that they "spent or committed $80 million" to relief efforts. This figure was alarming considering that the organization reported to have received $225 million in donations. When this discrepancy was exposed by a blogger for the SF Gate, the Red Cross quickly issued a follow-up statement saying that they intend to allocate "every donated dollar on relief in Haiti." Interestingly enough, any donation on the Red Cross' Web site that is not explicitly specified for Haiti goes into their International Response Fund. Feigned negligence is always grounds for conspiracy.

On top of it all, media attention for Haiti has been rapidly declining, an understandable occurrence given the initial 24-hour coverage and the plain fact that the world has continued to turn. Realistically, some may have just discovered that Haitians are black. But reduced attention should not translate from the television to the minds of the public. The damage is still vividly apparent and has been at a steady plateau for those living in Haiti.

It wouldn't be so bold to imagine that the citizens of Haiti have become anesthetized to these violent tremors, considering the routine, sixty-plus aftershocks all measuring over 4.5 or greater that have continued to cripple the island since the original quake; the latest a magnitude 4.7 on Tuesday.

Thankfully, a group of Santa Clara students are heading a relief effort on campus that SCU EMS righteously ignited with their $5,000 collection. At 8:30 p.m. tonight, Broncos for Haiti (Relief Jam) will commence in the Bronco, a five-act micro-festival featuring student and alumni musicians. All optionally donated proceeds from the otherwise free benefit concert will go to Partners in Health, a long-running humanitarian effort in Haiti. Peter Miller, a pre-med junior and EMT, planned the event during a series of personal reflections that were accentuated after the events in Haiti.

Speaking frankly, Miller commented, "I'm over-privileged. Haiti was already an impoverished country before the earthquake. People didn't have clean water, shelter or a bathroom. Obviously, the world is unfair, but it made me come to grips with that and become aware of what I can do to help."

Miller further mentioned that he had an easy time filling the bill, which includes Austin Pidgeon and the Reggae Rascals, Sneakatak, Tara Priya Ft. Jason Cirimele, Project Blue Book and Miller's own, Peter Miller Trio. All the acts steadfastly agreed to play free of charge, and if confirmed guests on Facebook can be remotely relied upon, the Bronco should be claustrophobic with a supposed 733 people attending and 487 maybes.

Apik Zorian, an electrical engineering senior and member of the Peter Miller Trio, also helped plan the concert and finds it to be a more genuine and productive reaction to the tragedy.

"It seemed that at first, it was just a topic of conversation. You know, 'How crazy is it that the earthquake happened?' But nobody did anything about it." Miller interjected, bringing up an encounter with a friend asking him, "So, you're having a Haiti benefit concert on the 25th? That's so late." Miller told his puzzled friend, "The problem can't be fixed in a month."

Zorian stated that, "The only concern is how we are going to fit everybody into the Bronco." There will be a table of EMTs accepting donations of all amounts. FLEX donations are also conveniently accepted, so come contribute to the relief effort while supporting local bands and reaching maximal capacity in the Bronco.

Contact Aitor Zabalegui at azabalegui@scu.edu or at (408) 554-1918.