Blog the Debt

Jubilee Groups Across the Country Hold STAND UPs Big & Small

By: Carly Pildis, Outreach Fellow, & Ashley Cook, Outreach Intern

Autumn has arrived and the weather was perfect for a Stand Up! I hosted one Friday night after work at the Brethren Volunteer Services House in Washington, DC with five of my friends. As we sat outside, sipping hot cider and admiring the changing leaves, we reflected on the difficult times our country is facing, and the importance of not letting poverty abroad slip from our radar. We then signed the Picture New Leadership Petition, and talked about how exciting it is that the question of who will be the next Treasury Secretary is suddenly, on everybody's mind. Lastly, we took photos for the Picture New Leadership Campaign under the Christmas tree lights strewn around the yard. Truly, all had a great time!!

Make sure you read the blog posted yesterday from Jubilee Oregon’s Bob Brown and friends.

Carline Emmons hosted a Stand Up at her church, but a sudden change in weather almost dampened their plans. St. Francis Xavier Parish planned to gather outside after morning mass to hold their Stand Up, but an unexpected visitor, the year’s first snowstorm, greeted them.  Nonetheless, they bundled up against the Montana cold, and moved their event inside. Amazingly, over 100 people braved the bad weather to attend! Now that's dedication.

Sister Sandra Lyons was determined to go all out this year, by hosting three separate events. She had sisters from the Bernadine Franciscan order stand at two different regional meetings. She also gathered clients and sisters from the Chester Bernadine Center, a food pantry. Here clients of the food pantry in Pennsylvania showed solidarity with impoverished people abroad.

Portland Artists Lead in Portland’s Standup Event

By Bob Brown, Jubilee Oregon & Havurah Shalom Jubilee Congregation
Photos by Robin Stephenson, Bread for the World
 
I knew we were going to have a special event when we got a bunch of artists together to talk about the Millennium Development goals. Everyone was really into understanding what this was all about. No apathy here!

The Standup and Take Action against Global Poverty and for the Millennium Development Goals! was the brainchild of Carrie Stiles – Jubilee Oregon Board member, a member of the Portland State University Model UN program and a PSU graduate student. Her idea was to engage with people about the MDGs and global poverty issues using art and entertainment to draw-in people.
 
The event was scheduled for October 17th and the venue was on the Park Blocks adjacent to the PSU campus. The concept was to create a beautiful venue with original murals painted by local artists. There would be speakers talking about each of the Goals. Interspersed with the speakers, Carrie found local performers who would create original performance art related to the MDGs. Late in the planning, we made contact with our Representatives and we were fortunate to get Congressman David Wu to kick-off the presentations.

Voices From the Global South: Vitalice Meja

Our third video of the series!

Vitalice Meja, of African Network on Debt and Development, talks about the role of the U.S. Treasury Secretary and why it's important for the world.

Getting Things Done on Illigitimate Debt in Norway

By Neil Watkins, Jubilee National Coordinator & World Traveler

I’m here in Oslo, Norway for an interesting gathering bringing together about 65 people from around the world to move towards a better understanding and more strategic approach to the issue of illegitimate debt and the need for responsible financing – especially in light of this current financial crisis.

We’re in Norway because of the Norwegian government’s historic decision in 2006 to cancel its debts to five countries on the basis of creditor co-responsibility for what they called “failed development policy.” The government has supported this gathering as a way to build international agreement and progress on the issue.

What’s most interesting about this meeting is not as much the topic, but the people who are here.  Amongst us, there are government ministers, senior UN officials, representatives from the World Bank, lawyers, academics, religious leaders, and civil society. It’s been really valuable to have such a diverse group of folks together, and frankly it’s a sign of how far the movement on illegitimate debt has come that there is a surprising amount of agreement. The conference was organized by the Lutheran World Federation, the Church of Sweden, and Norwegian Church Aid.

We heard some great and passionate presentations. I’ll share a few of my favorite moments.

• Dr. Ishmael Noko, the General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, welcomed us with these words: “Meeting here in Oslo, our purpose must be to try to ensure that never again will people be burdened with the repayment of debts that were not legitimately contracted pursuant to a democratic mandate, or for legitimate purposes in the people’s best interests….If we are not committed to rising to that moral challenge, our words and actions as leaders in the fields of government, law, policy, religion and ethics, are, frankly, hollow.”

• Congressman Lorenzo Tanado from the Philippines said, “This conference brings us rays of hope for those of us who long to be free from the shackles of debt."

•  Tarnue Mawolo, the Deputy Finance Minister of Liberia explained that for him illegitimate debt is “not just legal, but also a moral, political, and ethical issue that needs to be solved in the realm of politics. The more we put out the call on illegitimate debt, the more we change the political landscape.”

Op-Ed: Forgive Poorer Nations' Debts

This op-ed is a reprint from the Columbus Dispatch.

By Tony Hall
October 18, 2008

The recent failures on Wall Street are clearly reflected in rising panic abroad, coupled with the steep rise in food prices that started more than a year ago. These are tough times everywhere, and incredibly, our national problems are having a devastating effect on the poorest of the poor globally.

It might seem crazy to advocate for debt relief abroad, when Congress is negotiating debt relief for our own country. However, since leaving Congress, I am more and more convinced that the value of our leadership in the world is not measured by how we deal with protecting the riches of our wealthy, but rather it is in how we address the needs of the most vulnerable.

I also know from my terms in Congress that Ohioans, at the very heart of America, are some of the most values-minded and compassionate people in the world. That is why I encourage the people of our state to pause for a moment from the media hype surrounding the financial bailout and think beyond ourselves.

What makes our country great, is that we subscribe to and act on the belief that by helping others, we also help ourselves. This has been true and remains true in all of our social and international policies. It's why we promote democracy and free markets around the world -- because these systems help set people free and promote their own prosperity. The easiest example is the Marshall Plan, under which the U.S. spent billions rebuilding post-war Germany and the same in Japan. Now these, the greatest economies in Europe and Asia, lead the way in promoting democracy and free markets to their continents.

In times of crisis, when we help the vanquished, we have greatly helped ourselves.

Dakarayi Matanga on the Impact of Treasury Secretary

Our second video in our series Voices from the Global South!

Dakarayi Matanga, Acting Executive Director of Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development, talks about the role of the U.S. Treasury Secretary and why it's important for the world.

Preparations for the Week of Global Action Against Debt and IFIs

Press Release
10 October 2008

Hundreds of networks and organizations around the world will mobilize during October 12-19 carrying out different activities for the Week of Global Action Against Debt and International Financial Institutions (IFIs).

Global hunger and the growing impact of climate change are dramatic symptoms of the persistent problem of debt domination. In this sense, the second edition of the Week of Action will place special attention to the following demands: Food and financial sovereignty and climate and economic justice. The debts used to implement harmful projects and policies that have led to the current food, climate and credit crises are illegitimate and should not be paid under any circumstances.

More than 200 global, continental and national networks, organizations and social movements from Asia and the Pacific, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America and Europe have joined the Call of Action demanding the immediate unconditional cancellation of illegitimate debts and an end to the conditionalities of the IFIs such as the IMF, World Bank and Regional Development Banks as well as the payment of the ecological debts owed to the South. The organizations summon everyone to mobilize and challenge the IFIs, transnational corporations, and governments (North and South) to acknowledge their responsibilities for the continuing problem of debt domination.

On October 13, dedicated to Climate Change and its relation to debt and the IFIs, movements and organizations in various countries have agreed to send letters to the World Bank and governments - as well as other activities – to express their opposition to the Climate Investment Funds proposed by the Bank. As well as demanding the cancellation of illegitimate debt of the Southern countries, the organizations demand the end of financing for projects and policies that exacerbate climate change. In this sense, in Jakarta, Indonesia, social movements will demonstrate in front of the World Bank office against the Bank’s role in climate change related projects.

Until now, around 200 actions in different parts of the world have been confirmed - from public demonstrations and events to demand the cancellation of all debts in more then 20 cities in India to a Peoples Rally Against Debt, IFIs and Privatization which various organizations in the Philippines will be holding. Similarly, in more then 35 districts of Bangladesh, discussions, seminars and workshops such as the workshop ‘Climate Change, the World Bank and the Multi Donor Trust Fund’ and the seminar ‘Trade & Development Finance: Inter-sectoral linkages on food, climate, debt and IFI’.

Making a safer world through elimination of poverty

This article is a reprint from The Patriot-News.

By Abbey Fisher, local organizer for Jubilee USA
October17, 2008

As Congress and the presidential candidates address the financial crisis that faces the country, we must not lose sight of the world beyond our borders. The recent failures on Wall Street are clearly reflected in rising panic abroad, coupled with the steep rise in food prices that started over a year ago.
There are tough times everywhere -- and our national problems are having a devastating effect on the poorest of the poor globally.

This weekend, Pennsylvanians will join with millions of people around the world as they participate in the United Nations Millennium Campaign's STAND UP Against Poverty, the largest international mobilization against poverty in history. Eight events will take place in the Keystone State, including Harrisburg at 2 p.m. Saturday in front of the library on Penn State Harrisburg Campus.

One of the best ways to fight poverty worldwide is through debt relief. It may seem odd to advocate for debt relief abroad while we have so much economic turmoil here at home, but the value of our leadership in the world is not measured by how we deal with protecting the riches of our wealthy, but rather how we address the needs of the most vulnerable.

Pennsylvanians are some of the most decent and compassionate people in the world. That is why I am confident that the people of our state have the ability to reflect on our role in the world, even though we face tough financial times at home.

In times of crisis and instability, we must keep in mind that the greatest impacts are always borne by the least powerful and least fortunate. Debt cancellation is a critical part of the equation when considering ways to end hunger and extreme poverty around the world. Canceling the debts of the most impoverished nations around the world is crucial so these countries can redirect funds to desperately needed investments in education, health care and clean water for their citizens.

Fast Track for Wall Street Debt Relief, Slow Lane for Liberia, Haiti

By Neil Watkins, Jubilee USA; Nick Dearden, Jubilee UK

WASHINGTON, DC and LONDON -- International debt campaigners have today called on rich country finance ministers meeting at the World Bank and International Monetary Fund annual meetings in Washington DC to end the outrageous delays to debt relief for Haiti and Liberia – two of the poorest countries in the world.

They are calling for rich country governments to act with the same urgency in tackling the food crisis and global poverty as they have the banking crisis in recent weeks. Campaigners are pointing out that the ‘emergency bailout’ for big banks has been fast-tracked, while two countries on the receiving end of the impacts of the food and financial crises – Haiti and Liberia –  are facing new delays to debt relief they have long been promised.

A new report on the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries debt relief initiative produced for the annual meetings has announced that the likely date for Haiti to receive debt relief has been put back six months from ‘last quarter 2008’ to ‘first half 2009’ [1]. Meanwhile Liberia, which spent two years while recovering from civil war waiting for donors to agree how to clear its arrears so it could even ‘qualify’ for debt relief, is being told not to expect any until 2010.

Neil Watkins, National Coordinator of Jubilee USA Network, said: “After four hurricanes in a month and an escalating food crisis it is outrageous that Haiti is being told it must wait six more months for debt relief. This is like Hank Paulson telling Wall Street he will get back to them in the New Year.”

Make an Impact on Campus: Join the ONE Campus Challenge

By Maisie Pigeon, ONE Student Coordinator

The ONE Campus Challenge is storming college campuses across the country for the second year as students work to earn the right to declare themselves the most effective poverty-fighting student body in the country. The rallying cry of this year's ONE Campus Challenge (OCC) is "GAME ON(e)!", encouraging students to win victories for the world's poorest people. ONE has joined forces with key NGO partners, such as Oxfam America, Jubilee USA and YouthAIDS, to strengthen the capacity of the student movement to end global poverty and disease.

The 2008-2009 OCC kicks off with a video message from New England Patriots Quarterback and ONE supporter Tom Brady, who had something to say about addressing extreme poverty and preventable disease: "Winning a game is about the score, winning in life is about making the world a better place… The ONE Campus Challenge is one way to make a difference in the lives of others and 'Game On' is the rallying cry for students to get involved.” You can view the entire video message here.

Here’s the deal: When you sign up, you will receive emails announcing new weekly challenges. Weekly challenges are one way to win points and earn a place as one of the top poverty-fighting campuses in the U.S. Points are awarded as you find original ways to involve your school and community to address the problems of extreme poverty and preventable disease. In the past, students have held educational debates on campus, created original videos and rallied their campus to support key legislation with letters and phone calls to members of Congress. This year, OCC will award points for hosting an Oxfam America Hunger Banquet on campus to raise awareness about the global food crisis.