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JUBILEE DEBT CAMPAIGN NEWS AND ACTION UPDATE September 2007
In this issue:
LIFT THE LID MP LOBBY DAY - FRIDAY 19 OCTOBER
TAKE PART IN GLOBAL DEBT WEEK
ECUADOR LAUNCHES DEBT AUDIT
REMINDER: TELL DOUGLAS TO CUT THE STRINGS
THOMAS SANKARA ANNIVERSARY
GET MORE INVOLVED
LIFT THE LID MP LOBBY DAY - FRIDAY 19 OCTOBER
On Friday 19 October we are asking you to visit your MP in their constituency surgery, to urge them to support our campaign to identify and cancel illegitimate debts. So far the UK government is resisting the call to investigate its past lending, claiming that since it was not illegal to lend to dictators and for useless projects (there are no international checks on bad lending), these debts do not need to be cancelled. We need MPs to help increase the pressure, and with debt campaigners in constituencies across the country, we could potentially reach many MPs with the message that
illegitimate debts must be cancelled now.
MP Lobby Pack:
You can download our brand new MP lobby pack, which contains everything you need to make an impression on your MP, from our website, or order one from the office: http://www.jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk/lobby
If you can't visit your MP on the 19th, don't worry. The Lobby Day is part of activities for Global Debt Week (see below) so do try and see them at some point during this week. If you can't arrange a visit,
you could telephone them instead or write to them via:
http://voiceyourviews.net/eactivist/vyv.v?v=2121:562:13376:
GLOBAL DEBT WEEK: 14-21 OCTOBER 2007
Debt campaigners in over 30 countries are getting ready for the Global Week of Action against Debt next month. Running from 14-21 October ahead of the annual meetings of the World Bank and
International Monetary Fund, this is a key moment to call on political leaders to tackle the debt burden that still paralyses poor countries. The week of action was called for in a joint declaration at
the World Social Forum in Nairobi, Kenya, in January 2007.
You can download our Debt Week Action Guide to help you plan your activities for the week, as well as find out more about what's happening, at: http://www.jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk/debtweek
Do let us know what events you are planning by emailing info@jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk
ECUADOR LAUNCHES DEBT AUDIT
In a significant step for the global illegitimate debt campaign, Ecuador's Ministry of Finance has launched the world's first debt audit commission to have the full support and involvement of the
government. The commission has one year to investigate the individual loan agreements behind Ecuador's external debt burden of $10.6 billion. It will decide which debts are legitimate and which are illegitimate, based on social and environmental - as well as economic - considerations.
Full story: http://www.jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk/ecuador
REMINDER: TELL DOUGLAS TO CUT THE STRINGS
If you haven't taken action to ask Douglas Alexander to Cut the Strings at the World Bank yet, please do so now. It's crucial that he feels the pressure ahead of next month's annual meetings in Washington DC. Right now, poor countries are being denied debt cancellation because they must first implement damaging and undemocratic economic policy conditions.
Take action: http://www.jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk/strings
THOMAS SANKARA ANNIVERSARY
On Monday October 15, which falls during Debt Week, it will be 20 years since the assassination of Thomas Sankara, the President of Burkina Faso who was a leading campaigner on the issue of African debt. Jubilee Debt Campaign is planning a commemorative event, with Pan African groups, to explore Sankara's ideas and the continuing realities of debt for the African continent. Details will appear soon on the Events page of our website.
Meanwhile, read Ibrahim Hamani Souley from CAD-Mali's article on Sankara, an inspirational figure for Southern debt campaigners: http://www.jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk/sankara
GET MORE INVOLVED:
- Browse and order campaign materials: http://www.jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk/materials
- Become a Debt Activist: http://www.jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk/newsletter
- Registered your group, school or congregation: http://www.jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk/signup
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 | | Take urgent action for Liberia | | Request for people to write or email Alistair Darling to use his influence to break the deadlock among the IMF shareholders who have been discussing the issue for more than 18 months.
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| | That was the week that was | | Campaigners new and old have just finished taking part in a global week of action on debt, reminding politicians, the media and the public that despite progress in recent years, the daily injustice of poor country debt is far from resolved.
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| JUBILEE DEBT CAMPAIGN ACTION ALERT | | Last year your campaigning helped get Hilary Benn to take a stand at the World Bank. He withheld £50 million in protest over the conditions attached to aid and debt relief, which made the Bank sit up and take notice. We need to do it again.
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| JDC Updates | | Opportunity to lobby the UK government to put its money where its mouth is with regard to damaging conditions enforced by the World Bank when making loans.
Also the opportunity to lobby Donegal International and the "Vulture" funds and Zambian debt.
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