[stop-imf] Jubilee Update: Bush's Development Compact Lacks Debt

[Robert Weissman]

Jubilee News and Updates
March 14, 2002

Did you know that only 24 countries are scheduled to get debt relief?
Want to know how much money Congress has given for debt relief so far?
Wondering how you and your local group can get involved with Jubilee?

All these answers and more can be found on our new website at
www.jubileeusa.org  Visit our website for regular campaign and policy
updates.  Come see what everyone is talking about!

This update includes:

1.) Contact your Representatives and Senators now about Debt Legislation!
2.) President Bush's New Compact for Development Lacks Debt Cancellation-
TAKE ACTION
3.) Upcoming UN Summit on Financing for Development
4.) Jubilee Congregations Initiative is Taking Off

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1.) Contact your Representatives and Senators about debt cancellation!

The World Bank will come before Congress this year and ask for funding to
continue lending to the poorest countries, this part of the World Bank is
called the International Development Association or IDA. Since it is the
thirteenth time they have asked Congress for money we call it "IDA-13."

This only happens every few years, so it is an excellent and rare
opportunity to ask members of Congress to pass legislation that requires the
World Bank to provide deeper debt cancellation and end harmful economic
policies known as "structural adjustment."

Start writing letters now to prepare the way!  Your members of Congress know
that IDA-13 is coming and they are looking for your input.  Please do not
wait for a bill number, just mention IDA-13 by name.

To learn more and get talking points for your letters, please visit
www.jubileeusa.org or contact the Jubilee USA office at 202-783-0129.


2.)	No Debt Cancellation, No Development

Jubilee USA Criticizes Inaction in President Bush's Compact on Global
Development

Washington- March 14, 2002
The President presented his agenda for the upcoming UN Summit on Financing
for Development today before he heads to the international event in
Monterrey, Mexico, March 18th-22nd.  In his speech on Global Development
issues, President Bush boldly declared that “Many have rallied to drop the
debt, I say rally to stop the debt.”

This was the President’s only reference to the debt crisis that
continues to
drain more than $13 billion out of the African continent every year in his
new Compact for Development.  Half of African nations currently spend more
on debt than health for their citizens.

“It is technically impossible to stop the debt without dropping the debt,”
said Marie Clarke, National Coordinator of Jubilee USA, in response to Bush’
s one-liner.  “Even if countries from this day forward accrue no new debt,
interest rates on existing debt alone will swamp the development boat before
it leaves port.”

Read more of Jubilee USA's press release on Bush's speech and learn how you
can respond at www.jubileeusa.org


3.)  Upcoming UN Summit on Financing for Development Leaves Debt in the Cold

World leaders will gather in Monterrey, Mexico next week for the UN
Financing for Development (FFD) summit to tackle the issue of how to
mobilize
resources for global development.  International debt-cancellation advocates
are disappointed by the lack of commitment to pursue deeper and broader debt
cancellation for the world’s most impoverished countries as a means to free
up resources for development.

We are shocked and disappointed to see that there will be no significant
action
taken on debt in Monterrey.

In the preparatory committees over the last several months, many developing
nations and debt-cancellation activists have made proposals to further
reduce the debt burden for the world’s most heavily indebted poor countries,
but none were included in the final document agreed to for the summit.


**TAKE ACTION- Speak Out on Bush's speech and the FFD and get Debt in the
News!
There is guaranteed to be some news coverage of this event, so it is a great
opportunity to get debt cancellation in the news!

Here is what you do:

- Become a media sleuth.  Watch your local papers and radio stations
for coverage of Bush's speech and news stories on the FFD conference.

- When you read or hear something- act quickly!
Send off a letter to the editor immediately or call the radio station
to give a response.

For letter to the editor ideas and more information visit:
http://www.jubileeusa.org/jubilee.cgi?path=/take_action&page=ffd.html


4.)	Jubilee Congregations Initiative Takes Off
"Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." - Mat. 6:9-13

Please join us in bearing witness to the Jubilee call to restore right
relationships with global neighbors through debt cancellation. Your church
or house of worship can become a Jubilee Congregation!

Jubilee Congregations commit to:

- Pray for Jubilee justice for the world’s poorest communities
- Provide a contact person to facilitate education and action in your faith
community on debt
- Raise one dollar per member to support the mission of Jubilee USA Network
- Contribute one letter per member to elected officials on debt cancellation

Jubilee Congregations are provided with faith reflection and worship
resources on Jubilee, educational materials on debt, quarterly newsletters,
action alerts and a Jubilee banner to hang in your congregation’s halls.

The Jubilee Congregations program will put people in touch with each other
across the country.  We will be a forum for sharing ideas, reflections and
reports on Jubilee worship and activism.

Brochures and further information coming soon.  Contact the Jubilee USA
office to order your brochures today.  Send an email to coord@j2000usa.org
and tell us how many brochures you need.


**Jubilee USA has posted our monthly actions for grassroots activists and
local coalitions on our website.  Check it out and start making plans for
every month:
http://www.jubileeusa.org/jubilee.cgi?path=/take_action/action_of_the_month


THANK YOU FOR MAKING DEBT CANCELLATION POSSIBLE!

If you do not have access to the web, but would like more information about
the news and updates in this email, please contact coord@j2000usa.org.