[stop-imf] Tell the IMF: Keep the Promise on Debt Cancellation

[Robert Weissman]

<http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=3D64114467&url_num=3D1&=
url=3Dhttp://www.jubileeusa.org/jubilee.cgi>




December 15, 2005

Dear friend of Jubilee USA,

It has been a good year for Jubilee USA Network and our partners across
the globe. Our work together helped lead to the promise by world leaders
of debt cancellation for 18 nations in Africa and Latin America. When
implemented, this debt cancellation will save lives.

*As the year draws to a close, I write to you with two special requests.*

*First, we need you to _take action
<http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=3D64114467&url_num=3D2&=
url=3Dhttp://www.jubileeusa.org/jubilee.cgi?path=3D/take_action&page=3Dimf1=
205.html>_*
one last time in 2005. Last week, the IMF released details on how it
will implement the debt cancellation plan agreed by world leaders in
2005. Under the IMF=E2=80=99s proposal, six of the 18 countries promised
immediate debt cancellation =E2=80=93 Nicaragua, Mauritania, Rwanda, Senega=
l,
Madagascar, and Ethiopia =E2=80=93 will face delays because the IMF has add=
ed
new economic hurdles for them to meet. We need you to *_send an e-mail
and call members of the IMF Executive Board
<http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=3D64114467&url_num=3D3&=
url=3Dhttp://www.jubileeusa.org/jubilee.cgi?path=3D/take_action&page=3Dimf1=
205.html>_*
before they meet on December 21 and demand that they /keep their
promises to the world=E2=80=99s poorest countries/. Further delays for thes=
e
countries are unacceptable. _You can do this via our partner Africa
Action online today!
<http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=3D64114467&url_num=3D4&=
url=3Dhttp://www.jubileeusa.org/jubilee.cgi?path=3D/take_action&page=3Dimf1=
205.html>_

*Second, I hope that you will consider making an _end-of-the-year
contribution to support the work of Jubilee USA Network
<http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=3D64114467&url_num=3D5&=
url=3Dhttp://www.jubileeusa.org/jubilee.cgi?path=3D/donate>_.*
If you find our updates valuable; if you are inspired by the successes
we have had; if you believe in the Jubilee vision; please consider
making an end of the year investment in the future of Jubilee USA =E2=80=93=
 so
that we can ensure the promises made by President Bush and the G-8
nations in 2005 become a reality. _You can donate online today.
<http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=3D64114467&url_num=3D6&=
url=3Dhttp://www.jubileeusa.org/jubilee.cgi?path=3D/donate>_

In 2005, with your support and commitment, we:

=E2=80=A2 *Mobilized thousands of Americans to call for life-saving debt
cancellation*. We delivered more than 13,000 =E2=80=9CWipe Out Debt in 2005=
=E2=80=9D
postcards to the administration, organized several call-in days and
mobilizations outside of the US Treasury department, and generated more
than 75 co-sponsors on the JUBILEE Act in Congress.

=E2=80=A2 *Set new organizational records for media coverage of debt and gl=
obal
poverty*. Together, Jubilee staff, member organizations, and grassroots
leaders generated dozens of articles, editorials, and op-eds on debt in
publications across the country including the /New York Times/, the
/Wall St. Journal/, the /Financial Times/. See some examples
<http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=3D64114467&url_num=3D7&=
url=3Dhttp://www.jubileeusa.org/jubilee.cgi?path=3D/press_room>
of our coverage this year.

=E2=80=A2 *Built our grassroots base and congregational network across the
country*. We invested in our Jubilee Congregations program, published a
70-page education and worship guide for the program
<http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=3D64114467&url_num=3D8&=
url=3Dhttp://www.jubileeusa.org/jubilee.cgi?path=3D/jubilee_congregations>,
and hired a new staff coordinator. We took 6 leading civil society
leaders from Africa, Asia, and Latin America on tours to 10 U.S. cities
in April and October, bringing the message of hope and Jubilee justice
to thousands of people in dozens of churches, campuses, and communities.

=E2=80=A2 *Helped create the political will for the G-8 debt agreement anno=
unced
in June and **assure its approval by the IMF in September*. The deal
will provide $40 billion in debt cancellation for 18 impoverished
nations in Africa and Latin America. When the IMF/World Bank threatened
to weaken the deal in August and September, we mobilized with our global
partners and developed a successful media strategy to help challenge
threats to the deal. With the new challenge at the IMF this month, we
are again responding and holding world leaders to their word.

_But we are not resting on our laurels_. On November 10-11, Jubilee
members and leaders from across the country gathered in Washington, DC
to celebrate our victories and plan for the challenges ahead. As we met
in November, we focused most of our attention on the real tasks ahead of
us: How to build on our considerable successes, and break through to the
bold Jubilee cancellation of debt that we seek. I am happy to report
that following months of gathering input, consultations, and drafting
work, we have developed a *three-year strategic plan
<http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=3D64114467&url_num=3D9&=
url=3Dhttp://www.jubileeusa.org/jubileeplan.pdf>*
for Jubilee USA Network.

First, *we will hold the Bush administration and the G-8 nations
accountable for their promises*. Debt cancellation still remains a
promise =E2=80=93 as seen by the latest equivocations at the IMF. World Ban=
k
debt cancellation will not come for the 18 qualifying nations until June
2006 at the earliest. We will continue to hold our government and the
IMF/World Bank accountable, and we will be working with civil society in
the beneficiary countries to assure funds get to those who need it the
most. We will build pressure to expand the deal to include the
InterAmerican Development Bank.

Second, we will be *building our movement for a much broader Jubilee
cancellation of debt for global poverty eradication*. 9 out of 10 people
in developing countries will see no benefit from the G-8 debt deal and
more than 60 nations as a minimum require immediate 100% debt
cancellation if they are to have any hope of meeting the Millennium
Development Goals by 2015.

Finally and importantly, we will be strengthening our partnership with
debt campaigners in Africa, Asia, and Latin America who are demanding
*cancellation of odious and illegitimate debts*. We are committed to
building a broader constituency for debt cancellation and global justice
by increasingly linking debt with related issues including the
environment, trade, HIV/AIDS, and immigration.

How will we face these challenges and achieve our goals?

We have developed some exciting and powerful plans, including:

=E2=80=A2 *A call for a Sabbath Jubilee Year in 2007, seven years after Jub=
ilee
2000*. The Jubilee scriptures call for a Jubilee year every 50 years,
but every seventh year is the Sabbath, and debts are to be cancelled at
the Sabbath as well. We plan to strengthen our capacity and build a
nation-wide mobilization in 2007 for a much bolder cancellation of debts.

*2006 will be a year of capacity and movement building to assure our
ability to place our prophetic demands on the global agenda again in
2007*. In 2006, we will focus our energies on expanding the Jubilee
Congregations program and grassroots capacity. We are planning to:

=E2=80=A2 Bring a delegation of Jubilee congregations leaders to Ecumenical
Advocacy Days in Washington in March;

=E2=80=A2 Organize a regional grassroots training conference in Portland, O=
regon
in May;

=E2=80=A2 Jointly organize lobby days in June in Washington with American
Friends Service Committee to build support for a re-introduced and
strengthened JUBILEE Act; and

=E2=80=A2 Continue our successful monthly action program which provides
congregations, local chapters, and individual supporters a concrete way
to take action with Jubilee every month.

=E2=80=A2 At the spring meetings of the IMF/World Bank, we=E2=80=99ll also =
highlight the
fact that 2006 is the 10th Anniversary of the Heavily Indebted Poor
Countries (HIPC) Initiative with a new report and creative action.

This is only the tip of the iceberg. We are planning new reports,
materials, a much-needed updated Jubilee DVD for release in late 2006,
briefings for Congress, a targeted media strategy, close partnership
with global South campaigns, and new materials and resources on the
links between debt, the Millennium Development Goals, the environment,
and trade. Click on *_www.jubileeusa.org/jubileeplan.pdf
<http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=3D64114467&url_num=3D10=
&url=3Dhttp://hq.democracyinaction.org/dia/hq/www.jubileeusa.org/jubileepla=
n.pdf>_*
for a more detailed presentation on our plans for 2006-2008.

We have set an ambitious agenda for ourselves. But given the crisis of
poverty and debt that continues to impact people and the environment in
Africa, Asia, Latin America, we feel that we cannot afford to rest on
our laurels. So long as millions must go without education or clean
water in order to service their debts, we cannot rest. So long as more
than 2 million Africans die each year because their governments service
illegitimate debts rather than providing HIV/AIDS treatment, we cannot
rest. Can you rest, or be inactive, in the face of these challenges? We
have seen that debt relief works =E2=80=93 according to the World Bank, soc=
ial
spending has increased by 75% in countries that have received relief.

**

*Will you _invest in Jubilee USA
<http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=3D64114467&url_num=3D11=
&url=3Dhttp://www.jubileeusa.org/jubilee.cgi?path=3D/donate>_
at this critical time =E2=80=93 so that we will have the capacity to lock i=
n our
victories, and build on them? Will you help us to build the capacity we
need in 2006 so that we can be ready for the Sabbath year in 2007?
Please consider a _year-end online contribution of $75 or $100
<http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=3D64114467&url_num=3D12=
&url=3Dhttp://www.jubileeusa.org/jubilee.cgi?path=3D/donate>_
to enable us to build on our successes in the coming year.*

Sincerely,

Neil Watkins
National Coordinator

PS- You can _donate online by clicking here
<http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=3D64114467&url_num=3D13=
&url=3Dhttp://www.jubileeusa.org/jubilee.cgi?path=3D/donate>_,
or you can mail your tax-deductible contribution to Jubilee USA Network,
222 East Capitol St., NE, Washington, DC, 20003.

PPS - Don't forget to tell the IMF to keep its promise today! Take
action now!
<http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=3D64114467&url_num=3D14=
&url=3Dhttp://www.jubileeusa.org/jubilee.cgi?path=3D/take_action&page=3Dimf=
1205.html>
Neil Watkins
National Coordinator
Jubilee USA Network
(202) 783-0129
www.jubileeusa.org
<http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=3D64114467&url_num=3D15=
&url=3Dhttp://www.jubileeusa.org/>


<mailto:coord@j2000usa.org>

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