Like so many other individuals and organizations, Future of Music Coalition is saddened beyond words at the devastation visited upon Haiti by the recent earthquake. Events like the Asian tsunami and Hurricane Katrina make us realize just how precarious our place on this planet is. But it also presents an opportunity for humanity to come together to help alleviate any amount of suffering that we possibly can.

Our friends at Air Traffic Control — who have worked with us in improving the lives of New Orleans artists struggling in the wake of Katrina — just sent this very useful roundup of ways to help. Musicians are especially encouraged to spread the word through their websites and social networks. Let people know what they can do to aid Haiti in this tremendous time of need.

IMMEDIATE SUPPORT: Established disaster recovery organizations and national governments have been mobilized. These organizations are also raising funds for relief efforts:

Oxfam | Doctors Without Borders | Wyclef Jean?s Yele Foundation

LONG-TERM SUPPORT: Crucial recovery and rebuilding efforts are always underfunded in comparison to immediate relief efforts. ATC will continue to research and resource the music community with organizations and projects working on long-term recovery efforts that have a long-standing, grassroots presence in Haiti. Here are three that have distributed staff in the country now and are well positioned to aid in the long-term recovery effort.

Partners in Health | Fonkoze | The Lambi Fund of Haiti

QUICK WAYS ARTISTS + THEIR FANS CAN HELP:

1. Donate and let your fans know how they can donate:
Spread the word via band website/email/text/twitter/social networks etc. Feel free to rewrite the below suggested text or post as is.

2. Suggested Twitter text:
Please RT: Support the Earthquake Relief Efforts in Haiti by making a donation to Oxfam?s Response Fund http://rev.ms/303

3. Suggested text for band websites + social network pages:
On January 12, 2010, at 4:53pm local time, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, approximately 10 miles from Port-au-Prince. Tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of people are feared dead, as the capital city has been devastated. You can help. Make a donation to one of these incredible and long-standing organizations in Haiti. They have distributed staff in country now, but most importantly, they are well positioned to aid in the long-term recovery effort.

Partners in Health: http://www.pih.org/inforesources/news/Haiti_Earthquake.html>
Fonkoze: http://fonkoze.org/
The Lambi Fund of Haiti: http://www.lambifund.org/