This is the month, folks. There will be much information on efforts to put pressure on the G8 leaders to keep their promises which they have made to assist Africa out of her current situation.
I can't express adequately in words just HOW IMPORTANT our pressure on these world leaders can really lead to an improvement in the lives of MILLIONS of the world's poorest people.
So, to get this month started, here are some things that YOU CAN DO to help:
Jubilee USA UPDATE
June 1, 2005
www.jubileeusa.org
With just five weeks to go before the G-8 summit begins on July 6 in
Gleneagles, Scotland, we need your help to make our final push to
achieve a
bold deal on debt this summer.
Though signs have been disappointing in recent months with IMF debt
cancellation looking less certain and fewer countries being considered,
we
must keep the pressure on our government and the rest of the G-8 in the
critical next 5 weeks, while we build our movement for the long-term to
achieve our full vision.
This edition of Jubilee USA Update is full of ways you can take action
with
your community, your congregation, your friends and co-workers in
support of
debt cancellation. Please forward this alert broadly to friends,
colleagues,
and listserves! Look for more frequent updates in the 5 weeks ahead and
check back at www.jubileeusa.org often!
BELOW:
1) 5 Ways to Take Action with 5 Weeks Left Before the G-8 Summit
2) News: World Council of Churches Calls for IMF & World Bank to Sell
Gold
Reserves to Balance World Debt
3) Jubilee USA Drop the Debt Newsletter Summer 2005 edition is out!
4) Donate Now to support Jubilee USA Network
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1) 5 Ways to Take Action with 5 Weeks Left Before the G-8 Summit
There are 5 ways you, your friends, and your co-workers can support
Jubilee
USA in our call for a bold deal on debt at the G-8 Summit:
1. CALL IN to the Treasury Department on June 7 and to the White House
on
June 29! Ask Treasury Secretary Snow and President Bush to support
100%
debt cancellation for all impoverished nations, including IMF debt. See
www.jubileeusa.org for more detail, phone numbers, and talking points.
Also join with Catholic Relief Services and others in a call-in day on
June
2. See http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/international/debt6205.htm for
information
on June 2.
2 . SEND A POSTCARD. Join in our “Wipe out Debt in 2005” postcard
campaign:
President Bush and Secretary Snow need to get your message on debt. You
can:
* Order colorful postcards to get signed. Email
coord@jubileeusa.org to
order.
* Sign a postcard on-line at www.jubileeusa.org.
* Download a pdf version of the cards and print them out yourself.
Please return the cards to our office by June 25th. We will deliver
them to
the White House on June 29!
* AFSC is also collecting signatures on an on-line petition to
Snow:
http://www.afsc.org/africa/new-africa/activism/Action-Snow-Letter.htm
3. WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR OR OP-ED. Writing a letter to the
editor is
easy, and letters are an effective tool to reach people in your
community as
well as decision-makers with our message. Visit www.jubileeusa.org for
tips
and samples of an effective Op-Ed or letter to the editor.
4. TELL NEWMONT MINING COMPANY TO STOP BLOCKING A DEAL ON DEBT.
Colorado-based Newmont along with other gold companies and trade
associations are using their influence in Congress and with the
administration to block a deal on limited use of IMF gold to finance
IMF
debt cancellation. See www.jubileeusa.org for links to resources to
take
action on Newmont beginning on June 2.
5. STAGE A LOCAL ACTION OR EDUCATIONAL EVENT. You could organize a
viewing
of Life and Debt, stage a teach-in, or organize kids in a community or
church summer camp to do street theatre and draw local attention to the
debt
and the G8 summit. Contact Jakeya Caruthers at jakeya@jubileeusa.org
for
more summer action ideas!
See www.jubileeusa.org for a flyer highlighting the top 5 ways you can
take
action in the 5 weeks before the G-8 Summit!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
2) News: World Council of Churches Calls for IMF & World Bank to Sell
Gold
Reserves to Balance World Debt
Christian Today, Saturday, May 28 , 2005,
The world’s largest ecumenical body of churches urged the G8 nations to
cancel debts for poor countries and help reduce poverty by promoting an
economy of sharing and justice, in a letter sent to UK Prime Minister
Tony
Blair ahead of the next G8 meeting in July.
"Life in dignity for all in just and sustainable communities is the
framework that has determined the ecumenical vision," the World Council
of
Churches (WCC)’s General Secretary, Samuel Kobia, wrote. "We are
convinced
that such a vision can become a reality only when economic, financial
and
ecological justice is addressed holistically, with democratic
participation
of all, at all levels."
The letter, sent in late May, encouraged G8 members to "cancel 100% of
illegitimate debts for poor countries," and suggested the IMF and World
Bank
could sell their gold reserves to help balance out the debt. The letter
also
said the banks in the North should return "stolen wealth" from the
global
South.
On trade, Kobia said poor countries should be given the right to
protect
their agricultural sector and encouraged developed countries to
eliminate
trade subsidies to even out the competitive field.
The following is the full text of Kobia’s statement, as released by the
WCC:
http://www2.wcc-coe.org/pressreleasesen.nsf/index/pr-05-31.html
Other recent news on debt includes:
Mark Engler, “Debt Cancellation: Historic Victories, New Challenges,”
Foreign Policy in Focus, May 2005
http://www.fpif.org/papers/0505debt.html
Gumisai Mutume, “New Urgency for Cancelling Africa’s Debt,” Africa
Renewal
(UN), April 2005
http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/afrec/vol19no1/191debt.htm
New Jubilee USA Fact Sheet on Debt Cancellation, the IMF, and Gold
Sales
http://www.jubileeusa.org/press_room/g8factsheet.pdf
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
3) Summer 2005 Jubilee USA Newsletter is out!
This month’s edition features in-depth reports and analysis on the
current
status of debt cancellation efforts within the G-8, a report from the
April-May 2005 Global Connections Tour, an update on the JUBILEE Act,
reports from Jubilee’s efforts in March and April at the spring
meetings of
the IMF/World Bank, and news article on the status of debt and debt
cancellation initiatives in Nigeria.
See www.jubileeusa.org for a downloadable, PDF version of the
newsletter.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
4) Donate today to Jubilee USA Network
We are on the threshold of a significant step forward on debt. For the
first
time, the Group of Eight (G-8) wealthy nations has agreed in principle
to
100% debt cancellation for a number of
impoverished countries. And Jubilee continues to work toward this and
other
victories!
I can't express adequately in words just HOW IMPORTANT our pressure on these world leaders can really lead to an improvement in the lives of MILLIONS of the world's poorest people.
So, to get this month started, here are some things that YOU CAN DO to help:
Jubilee USA UPDATE
June 1, 2005
www.jubileeusa.org
With just five weeks to go before the G-8 summit begins on July 6 in
Gleneagles, Scotland, we need your help to make our final push to
achieve a
bold deal on debt this summer.
Though signs have been disappointing in recent months with IMF debt
cancellation looking less certain and fewer countries being considered,
we
must keep the pressure on our government and the rest of the G-8 in the
critical next 5 weeks, while we build our movement for the long-term to
achieve our full vision.
This edition of Jubilee USA Update is full of ways you can take action
with
your community, your congregation, your friends and co-workers in
support of
debt cancellation. Please forward this alert broadly to friends,
colleagues,
and listserves! Look for more frequent updates in the 5 weeks ahead and
check back at www.jubileeusa.org often!
BELOW:
1) 5 Ways to Take Action with 5 Weeks Left Before the G-8 Summit
2) News: World Council of Churches Calls for IMF & World Bank to Sell
Gold
Reserves to Balance World Debt
3) Jubilee USA Drop the Debt Newsletter Summer 2005 edition is out!
4) Donate Now to support Jubilee USA Network
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1) 5 Ways to Take Action with 5 Weeks Left Before the G-8 Summit
There are 5 ways you, your friends, and your co-workers can support
Jubilee
USA in our call for a bold deal on debt at the G-8 Summit:
1. CALL IN to the Treasury Department on June 7 and to the White House
on
June 29! Ask Treasury Secretary Snow and President Bush to support
100%
debt cancellation for all impoverished nations, including IMF debt. See
www.jubileeusa.org for more detail, phone numbers, and talking points.
Also join with Catholic Relief Services and others in a call-in day on
June
2. See http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/international/debt6205.htm for
information
on June 2.
2 . SEND A POSTCARD. Join in our “Wipe out Debt in 2005” postcard
campaign:
President Bush and Secretary Snow need to get your message on debt. You
can:
* Order colorful postcards to get signed. Email
coord@jubileeusa.org to
order.
* Sign a postcard on-line at www.jubileeusa.org.
* Download a pdf version of the cards and print them out yourself.
Please return the cards to our office by June 25th. We will deliver
them to
the White House on June 29!
* AFSC is also collecting signatures on an on-line petition to
Snow:
http://www.afsc.org/africa/new-africa/activism/Action-Snow-Letter.htm
3. WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR OR OP-ED. Writing a letter to the
editor is
easy, and letters are an effective tool to reach people in your
community as
well as decision-makers with our message. Visit www.jubileeusa.org for
tips
and samples of an effective Op-Ed or letter to the editor.
4. TELL NEWMONT MINING COMPANY TO STOP BLOCKING A DEAL ON DEBT.
Colorado-based Newmont along with other gold companies and trade
associations are using their influence in Congress and with the
administration to block a deal on limited use of IMF gold to finance
IMF
debt cancellation. See www.jubileeusa.org for links to resources to
take
action on Newmont beginning on June 2.
5. STAGE A LOCAL ACTION OR EDUCATIONAL EVENT. You could organize a
viewing
of Life and Debt, stage a teach-in, or organize kids in a community or
church summer camp to do street theatre and draw local attention to the
debt
and the G8 summit. Contact Jakeya Caruthers at jakeya@jubileeusa.org
for
more summer action ideas!
See www.jubileeusa.org for a flyer highlighting the top 5 ways you can
take
action in the 5 weeks before the G-8 Summit!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
2) News: World Council of Churches Calls for IMF & World Bank to Sell
Gold
Reserves to Balance World Debt
Christian Today, Saturday, May 28 , 2005,
The world’s largest ecumenical body of churches urged the G8 nations to
cancel debts for poor countries and help reduce poverty by promoting an
economy of sharing and justice, in a letter sent to UK Prime Minister
Tony
Blair ahead of the next G8 meeting in July.
"Life in dignity for all in just and sustainable communities is the
framework that has determined the ecumenical vision," the World Council
of
Churches (WCC)’s General Secretary, Samuel Kobia, wrote. "We are
convinced
that such a vision can become a reality only when economic, financial
and
ecological justice is addressed holistically, with democratic
participation
of all, at all levels."
The letter, sent in late May, encouraged G8 members to "cancel 100% of
illegitimate debts for poor countries," and suggested the IMF and World
Bank
could sell their gold reserves to help balance out the debt. The letter
also
said the banks in the North should return "stolen wealth" from the
global
South.
On trade, Kobia said poor countries should be given the right to
protect
their agricultural sector and encouraged developed countries to
eliminate
trade subsidies to even out the competitive field.
The following is the full text of Kobia’s statement, as released by the
WCC:
http://www2.wcc-coe.org/pressreleasesen.nsf/index/pr-05-31.html
Other recent news on debt includes:
Mark Engler, “Debt Cancellation: Historic Victories, New Challenges,”
Foreign Policy in Focus, May 2005
http://www.fpif.org/papers/0505debt.html
Gumisai Mutume, “New Urgency for Cancelling Africa’s Debt,” Africa
Renewal
(UN), April 2005
http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/afrec/vol19no1/191debt.htm
New Jubilee USA Fact Sheet on Debt Cancellation, the IMF, and Gold
Sales
http://www.jubileeusa.org/press_room/g8factsheet.pdf
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
3) Summer 2005 Jubilee USA Newsletter is out!
This month’s edition features in-depth reports and analysis on the
current
status of debt cancellation efforts within the G-8, a report from the
April-May 2005 Global Connections Tour, an update on the JUBILEE Act,
reports from Jubilee’s efforts in March and April at the spring
meetings of
the IMF/World Bank, and news article on the status of debt and debt
cancellation initiatives in Nigeria.
See www.jubileeusa.org for a downloadable, PDF version of the
newsletter.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
4) Donate today to Jubilee USA Network
We are on the threshold of a significant step forward on debt. For the
first
time, the Group of Eight (G-8) wealthy nations has agreed in principle
to
100% debt cancellation for a number of
impoverished countries. And Jubilee continues to work toward this and
other
victories!