The Jubilee Blog

From ONE organizer Katie Andrews in Ohio

The NAACP Convention allowed Jubilee USA to link up w/ our partner ONE. Katie Andrews, who was just an awesome presence throughout, sent us the blogs she posted on the ONE blog when she returned to the office. It was a long week, but it was an amazing time as we witnessed the Presidential Forum and had the opportunity to talk with so many people who are interested in getting involved in global social justice movements.

Live from the NAACP Presidential Forum

Update from the NAACP Presidential Forum

NAACP National Convention

I have images on my camera, but I have to buy a new USB cord to download the photos. Someone lost the original one. *clearing throat*

Strange Bedfellows

Vultures unlikely allies in anti-graft cause

By Alan Beattie
July 18 2007 03:00

 The sometimes secretive activities of those who make a business of suing bankrupt governments of developing countries are rarely associated with campaigns for transparency and openness.

Development campaigners such as Oxfam and the Jubilee Debt Campaign inveigh against so-called vulture funds that buy up defaulted sovereign debt cheaply and use high-powered lawyers and novel legal avenues to sue for full repayment. But when the government in question is mired in allegations of mismanagement and corruption, the issues can become blurred.

Such is the situation with the central African state of Congo-Brazzaville, rich in oil but one of the poorest nations on earth, where concern over a barrage of litigation from investors is tempered by criticism of mismanagement of oil revenues and the high-spending habits of the president's family.

Learning While Wet

Nicole Kahn, our intern from the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, wrote a blog entry for their website on what she's learned thus far in DC. I must say, this is the first time, I've seen Nicole with a frown.

The Democrats' Closing Statements

Biden: History is going to judge Bush harshly not just for the mistakes he’s made but for the opportunities he’s squandered. It will judge us the same way. He goes on to say that he called a meeting of the world’s major powers to meet in Europe this fall to discuss ways that the United States can be freed from the “axis of oil.” Closes with a quote from Irish poet Seamus Heaney.

Dodd: We’ll decide what kind of century we’ll live in. The issues we discuss today transcend any community. When I joined the Peace Corps, people asked me why. I said because my American president[(Kennedy] asked me to be a part of something larger than life. That’s what I offer you, together, let’s create one nation.

Obama: I do think it’s important to remind ourselves that words alone are not enough. Every two or four years politicians come to the NAACP and drive through impoverished neighborhoods, visit churches. But then, when they get elected, they fade and the promises are forgotten. They’re forgotten because poor people don’t make big contributions in Washington. Don’t look at sound bytes, but sound works. Who has devoted their lives to lifting people up out of poverty? If we do it together, we won’t just win an election, but transform a nation.

Richardson: I’m running for president to bring our country together again. We have momentous challenges: get healthcare to every American, make our schools better, end the war, tackle energy and environmental challenges. He lists his posts: worked at the UN and has experience dealing with international leaders. Closes with: We need to make the future better for our kids and fight to give America’s middle class, who has been forgotten a voice in the next administration.

Gravel: Would his colleagues support ending the war on drugs, a war on African Americans? It’s time to end it. On the war in Iraq, many of the people on the stage voted to start the war in Iraq. Finishes up by talking about ending the war in Iraq. References New York Times bestseller Where Have All the Leaders Gone? by Lee Iacocca.

Kucinich: Talks about healthcare and his work with Rep. John Conyers (D-Michigan) to create a not-for-profit healthcare system. Much of what we’re charged for in this country is advertising and marketing, payment to Congress, political allies for support. Lift up the health of our people! HR676. Deliver healthcare to the American people.

Edwards: If you believe we need to end the war in Iraq; that we need universal healthcare; equal rights and civil rights…what are you willing to do? What we know as the great movements in American history didn’t start in the Oval Office. It started in towns and communities, universities and college campuses. You gotta be the change you believe in. If you wanna live in a moral and just America, we have to do this together. This is not just going to be a political campaign, this is going to be a movement to change America.

Clinton: Thanks the organist at the NAACP, which connects to black faith traditions. If we’re going to win, we need to have faith. Creating millions of new good jobs for people; pre-school education; affordable college. I know America is ready for change and I believe we can bring those changes around the world, starting with ending the war in Iraq. It’s not just about who we elect as president, but we have to get back to believing in each other again. There is so much that awaits us and if you’re ready for that change, Clinton hopes you’ll see her as someone who can usher in and lead that change.

Democrats Answer Question 5: Healthcare Disparities

Edwards: Need truly universal healthcare in America. Everyone covered, eliminate cracks in our healthcare system by not allowing insurers to look at pre-existing health conditions. Treat mental healthcare the same way we do other kinds of healthcare. Allow people to take their healthcare with them when they change jobs.

Kucinich: It’s time we had a single payer system. No buying of private insurance. Premiums, co-pays and insurance are sinking family budgets. No more for-profit insurance. Alludes to making the government taking over healthcare.

Dodd: Every member of society should have as good a health plan as the members of Congress do. We should see that there’s also information given out about prevention and expand Medicaid and Medicare.

Biden: End the war in Iraq and take that money and use it to insure Americans. We need public financing. What stops healthcare? The public interest groups. We need a president who is strong enough to take on these groups. Who will have the nerve to take on these special interest groups?

Gravel: Follow the money. Biden is getting a lot of money from trial lawyers. Others are getting millions from the healthcare industry, do you think they’ll have your best interest at heart when they get in office? No! Advocates the use of a retail sales tax to pay for health care and not the American people.

Clinton: I’ve been down this road and have the scars to show for it. It is going to take everyone to be a part of a political coalition to get this done, specifically getting it passed in Congress. Trying to expand the children’s health insurance program. We want to cover all 9 million children. President Bush called it socialized medicine. If you think that what we’re doing is un-American, why don’t you leave office early?

Obama: To Gravel, I don’t take federal lobbyists money. If you’re poor in this country it’s hazardous to your health. If you’re poor and black, it’s downright deadly. We’ve got the Congressional Black Caucus and I working on a Healthcare Disparities bill. We will not close the gap until we create a universal system of healthcare. We can’t allow the drug companies to buy seats at the table and dominate the conversations.

Richardson: The life of your child shouldn’t depend on your station in life. We have to start early talking about prevention. Get rid of junk food in schools. More money to stem cell research to cure diabetes.

Democrats Answer Question 4: On Voting Rights

Richardson: We have to make sure that the Voting Rights Act remains. The key has been that the American people don’t feel their vote counts because of electronic votes. In New Mexico, where he is governor, he had paper ballots with optical scanners. See interview with The Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Obama: Folks are still being bamboozled. He wants his colleagues to join him in supporting legislation that he and other Senators have introduced, which would end discrimination at the polls and also empower the Justice Department to further to handle the matter.

Gravel: Must get paper ballots for the next election. Let’s have a federal process for voting for federal offices. That’s where we’ll get some fairness.

Dodd: He says he's proud to have stood with John Conyers and introduce the Help America Vote Act, which would improve voting in this country since the Voting Rights Act.

Biden: Not enough polling machines in black neighborhoods, voter intimidation and deceptive practices comes down to the racist attitudes of some people to deny others their rights. Advocates a federal standard alongside Gravel for voting.

Edwards: If our voting system actually worked we wouldn’t have George Bush as president. We have very important work to do.  We should allow same day registration and promises to be a president who vigorously prosecutes voter discrimination. Those who have been convicted of a crime and have served their time should be allowed to vote.

Clinton: Talks about the Count Every Vote Act, which she has worked to introduce alongside Hilary Shelton, who is director to the NAACP Washington Bureau. Begin holiday and weekend voting so people don’t have to worry about missing work.

Kucinich: Voted against certification of the last election because of the fraud that occurred in Ohio. Advocates paper ballots so there will be a paper trail. Only 38 percent of the people voted in the last election. We have to give people a reason to vote in the next election.

Democrats Answer Question 3: On global poverty and trade in Africa and the Caribbean

Edwards: Detroit understands very well what happens when manufacturers leave USA. We should have trade agreements that have real environmental and labor standards and have a government that enforces those standards. On Africa, we should lead the charge to provide public education to every child in Africa and clean drinking water. America should be standing up for those kids.

Kucinich: When NAFTA passed in 1994, worker’s rights were weakened and the stage was set for U.S. companies left. Cancel NAFTA and the WTO and go back to an economy that’s based on worker’s rights and human rights and environmental rights. Africa is being exploited by the same trade agreements.

Biden: We have the opportunity to assert America’s dominance and this means investing in health care. We need to have an energy policy that invests in the industry, particularly lithium ion batteries—create new modern technologies. Increase the amount of money invested in our infrastructure and roads

Clinton: If we enter into new trade agreements, there need to be worker and environmental rights with enforceable mechanisms. We must rebuild our manufacturing base. Michigan has lost 300,000 jobs under Bush. We must have a partnership between business and labor that’s good for the economy and morally as a rich nation who is charged with taking care of people.

Obama: The Bush administration has ignored China’s manipulation of our currency to make imports more expensive and their exports less expensive. We shouldn’t provide tax breaks to companies who are moving jobs overseas. We must make investments in infrastructure and worker training. If we’re spending $10b to $12b in Iraq, we can take that money and invest it here.

Richardson: When we make policy decisions, Africa is often overlooked. I will care about aid and refugees and notes his time as ambassador to the UN has helped shape is purview of what needs to be done in Africa. Get rid of tax incentive that is given to companies when they go overseas. Will invest in new technologies and bring that innovation to minority communities.

Dodd: "Pro-growth strategy." Providing access to mainstream financial institutions for minorities and applauds NAACP’s stance on payday loans.

Gravel: Where do you think NAFTA came from? It came from the Democrats. We need to examine ourselves. We’re facing a $50 trillion fiscal gap. We can’t do squat.

Democrats Answer Question 2: Gun Control, Violence, the Prison Industry

Gravel: “Decrease the military culture in this country that’s been created over the last 50 years. When you take Americans and you teach them to solve problems with violence,” then that’s what they’ll do. Talks about a man in Florida who was sentenced for doing the same thing Rush Limbaugh did, which was take pain pills. Except he didn't use any Viagra.

Russ Mitchell gives him a long stare.

Richardson: Eliminate poverty and hate. Expand the minimum wage. "Gun violence is a scourge, but we have to attack the core, and that is poverty."

Edwards: I believe in the 2nd Amendment, but I don't believe you need an AK-47 to hunt. We should renew the assault weapons ban. Talks about the need for bringing good jobs into the inner city and bridging the gap in the public school system and making it easier for students to go and pay for college.

Dodd: Begins by talking about having two young children. One is 5 and the other is 2. "There's a lot of snow on the mountain top" [referring to his white hair and young children after the audience rumbles a bit when he mentions the ages of his children], but don't under estimate me. Wants "our country and our society to do a better job" tackling the issue.

Obama: Begins with Virginia Tech shooting. In Chicago, 34 public school students have been gunned down in 2007 thus far in school. We need to make sure unscrupulous gun dealers aren't selling guns in our communities, but also we need to change our politics so we care just as much about those 30-something children who have been shot as the Virginia Tech students.

Kucinich: Just as many people have been killed by hand guns as many people died in 9/11. We have to ban hand guns and take the position that the 14th Amendment (the right to life, liberty) is just as [valued] as the 2nd Amendment (the right to bear arms).

Biden: The number of gun deaths in his state are almost all related to drugs. Instead of incarcerating these juveniles by themselves, we put them with hardened criminals who teach them the trade. If we want to take drugs off the corner, we should take these juveniles out of the prison system.

Clinton: Increase police  presence on the street, take assault rifles off the street, and make the economy better, which is the formula she says worked in the 90s. The police shouldn't be outgunned. Give juveniles a second chance when they're caught in the criminal justice system.

Dems Answer Question 1: Supreme Court, Judge Appointments and Public Education Disparity

It’s Q&A time. The first question is about U.S. Supreme Court decision on integration, ensuring the Court hands down balanced opinions, and America ends racial and academic disparity in our schools.

Gravel: The heart of the matter is civil rights.

Kucinich: Talks about application of the law. He says he will appoint people to the Supreme Court who stand for the Constitution and if we appoint those people, then it’s time to impeach Dick Cheney.

Edwards: It's important to have judges who will stand up in the face of injustice. Those are the kind of people he will appoint to the Federal bench.

Obama: "The Supreme Court was wrong," he begins. Voted against Alito and Roberts, the newest Supreme Court appointees. Must fix public schools, make teachers accountable and credible in the classroom, must have parents who parent, ensuring that their children are doing their homework

Dodd: We should be investing in those failed schools instead of only criticizing and closing them. Investing early in children.

Richardson: Would take Supreme Court justices to schools and look at what they've done to our schools. Advocates math and science academies, getting rid of No Child Left Behind, which he says is not helping "at risk kids, disabled kids, [or] minority kids."

Biden: Invest money and time in our schools and our children.

Clinton: September marks the 50th Anniversary of Central High School's integration in Little Rock, Arkansas. Our parents must be our child's first school. Started and expanded Head Start as first lady. Work with schools to reflect the way in which people live and work. Many parents can't get there between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to be with their children.

NAACP Presidential Forum: The Dems' Opening Speeches

And we're back. Each Dem will give a 3-minute opening statement.

Sen. Hillary Clinton walks out first. Then Sen. John Edwards. Then Congressman Dennis Kucinich from Ohio. Followed by Congressman Mike Gravel. Gov. Bill Richardson from Mexico. From Illinois Sen. Barak Obama. The noise is deafening for Obama. At least a good 20-seconds of clapping. Sen. Christopher Dodd. And Sen. Joseph Biden.

Sen. Hillary Clinton speaks first. She thanks the NAACP for hosting the forum and thanks a few supporters by name such as Hazel Dukes, an NAACP leader from New York. She begins by thanking and remembering Lady Bird Johnson, wife of the 36th U.S. President Lyndon Johnson. "We're falling behind." Clinton starts. "That's because our president [Bush] doesn't see what you and I see." "He refuses to see the...families still living in FEMA trailers...the 9 million children without an adequate education...Their problems are not invisible to us and they will not be available to the next president of the U.S."

Sen. John Edwards: Thanks the chairman, and mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, Detroit's young black mayor. Begins by talking about "two Americas." "We see it all over this country," he says. At the beginning of next week, he says, he will be creating a "spotlight" on the poverty that exists in the U.S. He's starting in New Orleans and traveling through Kentucky, Pennsylvania and other states. America should understand what's happening here and working toward solutions. Talks about the "two public school systems in America" and the two healthcare systems and the two voting systems. "We can do what's necessary..." He goes over a little and Russ interjects. Edwards wraps up quickly.

Next is Rep. Dennis Kucinich. "What happens to a dream deferred," he asks repeating the words Langston Hughes wrote during the Harlem Renaissance. He begins talking about the fast that he lives in the same home he purchased in 1971, referencing home ownership. He talks about ending the war in Iraq. "I'm talking about a shift in thinking here...a shift in policy." "We need to be talking about a domestic agenda here, not war." He says one of his first orders of business when he gets in office is to cancel NAFTA and the WTO. He's about universal health care for all.

Sen. Mike Gravel is next. He begins by saying, "I am not much of a cheerleader for the Democratic Party or the NAACP Convention..." "I am not here to tell you what you want to hear, I'm here to tell you what you need to know!" He talks about the legislation he's introduced and how he believes it's helped the American people. His theme seems to rest on putting power back in the hands of the people. Ends by encouraging attendees to go to thenationalinitiative.us.

Gov. Bill Richardson. Lists the accomplishments of the NAACP: dismantling Jim Crow, rallying against racism and disparity. Says we're divided by "race, immigration, Iraq, incarceration."  "Polarization is not going to bring universal health care." He goes local and talks about the public school woes in Detroit, then to the Iraq War "I believe the U.S. Congress should go back and have no more timetables or resolutions...De-authorize this war and bring them home."

Sen. Barak Obama. People stand and cheer. Acknowledges Rep. John Conyers, who was given one of the NAACP's highest honors -- the Spingarn Medal -- at this convention. Begins telling about a riot in Springfield, Illinois, that served as the  ground through which the NAACP was formed. It's the same place where he began his work as a politician. "Despite all the progress that has been made, we still have more work to do...We have more work to do when more black men are in prison than are in college...when Scooter Libby doesn't get jail time." He talks about being inspired by the civil rights movement to become a community organizer and a state rep and now a Senator. closes with soliciting the help of Americans to transform the country.

Sen. Christopher Dodd. Starts with a joke thanking the NAACP for allowing him to follow Obama. "Politics is local as well." Thanks the Connecticut delegation for their leadership in leading the NAACP to bury the "N-word". But let's bury other words he continues; words like neglect. "When someone tells me where we're going to go, I have more confidence when they tell me where they're going as well." He talks about how his father prosecuted KKK members in the South. He learned his "civil rights  while growing up as a child." He talks about passing the Family & Medical Leave Act, reforming the disparity in voter's rights with John Conyers. He goes over and is also interrupted by Russ Mitchell, who calls him a "bad boy," which gets some chuckles from the crowd.

Last Sen. Joseph Biden. "This is the most critical election that any of you will ever vote in." He talks about ending the war; the Supreme Court. "This is a vicious self-sustaining war," he says, and says there's a need for immediate withdrawal from Iraq and points out that he is the only Dem candidate that has laid out a detailed plan for withdrawal. He is interrupted as well and quickly finishes.

Next up, Q&As.