[stop-imf] Celebrate and Take Action before the G-8 Meet!

[robert weissman]

From: Neil Watkins <neil@jubileeusa.org>

Dear Jubilee,

Thanks to your efforts and campaigning, G-8 Finance Ministers announced
plans to provide 100% debt cancellation to the IMF, the World Bank, and the
African Development Fund for 18 countries this past weekend.  Our work
together helped to make this step forward possible. Thank you!!! This is an
important victory for our movement.

But we also know that what the G-8 have announced is only the first step
towards our broader Jubilee vision of freedom from debt and right
relationships between nations.

While we celebrate the progress, we need your help to urge President Bush,
Treasury Secretary Snow, and the G-8 to EXPAND THE LIST and CUT THE
CONDITIONS. 62 nations require 100% debt cancellation to meet the Millenniu=
m
Development Goals, and 50 nations are covered by the bi-partisan JUBILEE
Act. Debt cancellation for additional countries must come without harmful
economic conditions attached.

The summit of the G-8 will take place in Scotland from July 6-8. We need to
keep the pressure on the G-8 to EXPAND THE LIST and CUT THE CONDITIONS.

Please take two actions with Jubilee USA in the coming weeks:

1) PLEASE CONTINUE TO SIGN AND RETURN YOUR =93WIPE OUT DEBT=94 POSTCARDS TO
PRESIDENT BUSH AND SECRETARY SNOW
2) JOIN WITH US IN A CALL-IN DAY ON JUNE 29 TO THE WHITE HOUSE

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

1) Sign Your =93Wipe Out Debt=94 Postcards

Jubilee USA Network has been running a =93Wipe Out Debt in 2005=94 postcard
campaign for several months =96 we have already received thousands of cards=
 on
our office =96 but if you haven=92t already sent yours in, please get them
signed and sent in by June 25th. You can still sign one online at
www.jubileeusa.org.

On June 29th, one week before President Bush leaves for the G-8 Summit in
Scotland, Jubilee USA Network will join with American Friends Service
Committee, Africa Action, and 50 Years is Enough Network and political and
religious leaders outside the White House in Lafayette Park to deliver
thousands of your postcards to the White House/Treasury Department.

We will celebrate 100% cancellation for 18 nations at our event on June 29
while we call on President Bush and the G-8 to EXPAND THE LIST and CUT THE
CONDITIONS. Far too many countries are left out of the G-8 proposal, and
countries beyond the initial 18 must adhere to devastating economic policy
conditions in order to get debt cancellation.

RETURN YOUR POSTCARDS TO JUBILEE USA (222 E. Capitol St.NE, Washington, DC,
20003) BY JUNE 25TH in time for them to be included in the delivery to the
White House/US Treasury!

2)  CALL THE WHITE HOUSE ON JUNE 29 -- ONE WEEK BEFORE THE G-8 SUMMIT
While Jubilee USA leaders and religious and political leaders deliver your
cards, we are asking Jubilee and debt cancellation supporters should flood
the White House phone lines.

On June 29, call the White House at 202-456-1414 (switchboard) or
202-456-1111 (comment line)
When you call say:

=95 I=92d like to thank President Bush for announcing 100% debt cancellatio=
n for
18 countries to the IMF, World Bank, and African Development Fund; this is
an important first step.
=95 I urge the President to EXPAND THE LIST of countries to receive debt
cancellation to at least the 50 nations included in the bi-partisan JUBILEE
Act. 62 nations require debt cancellation to meet development goals
supported by the US government.
=95 I ask that the President CUT THE CONDITIONS -- Debt cancellation must n=
ot
be conditioned on nations meeting harmful economic conditions imposed by th=
e
IMF and World Bank.