Peace and Justice  | |
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Debt Relief in the Poorest Nations
What Members and Friends Can Do to Follow Up
on the World Conference Action in Support of Campaigns to Reduce the
Debt of the Poorest Nations
At the April 2000 World Conference an overwhelming majority of
delegates voted for a resolution in support of the international
Jubilee 2000 campaign. This campaign is working to release the
poorest nations of the world from debts that are creating a crushing
load for the poor.
The resolution invites members and friends to study quality
resources on debt relief and to campaign for debt relief by writing
to government representatives and leaders, especially in wealthy
nations. Informed church members and friends can make a big
difference by writing a simple, personal letter expressing their
views. It has been said that when a member of congress or parliament
receives a letter, they believe one thousand other voters are
thinking the same way. We have an important opportunity to witness
on behalf of the poor and exercise our stewardship as citizens in
the nations in which we reside.
The following offer suggestions and helps:
We encourage you to take action by studying this issue and then,
if you feel so moved, to write to your member of Parliament or
Congress. (Remember that all it takes for evil to triumph is good
people to do nothing.)
Andrew Bolton
Peace and Justice Ministries
1001 W. Walnut, Independence MO 64050 USA
Tel. (+1 USA) 816/833-1000 ext. 1372 or
E-mail: abolton@CofChrist.org
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Background Notes on the Debt Problem
Biblical Background on Debt Release
The poor have always struggled, especially with debt. "Every
seventh year you shall grant a remission of debts" is the ancient
law amongst the Jewish people. (Deuteronomy 15:1) When we read that
Jesus said "You always have the poor with you" (Mark 14:7)
we sometimes use this as an excuse for complacency. But we need to go
on to read the rest of the scripture that Jesus was quoting from
Deuteronomy, "I therefore command you, 'Open your hand to the
poor and needy neighbor in your land.'" (Deuteronomy 15:11)
We are called this Jubilee year to open our hands to the poor and
needy neighbors in our world. Biblical Jubilee is a way of doing that.
Jubilee is the year after seven Sabbath years; seven times seven
equals 49 years. This is a super Sabbath year. In ancient Israel it
was a celebration for all, but especially for the poor: this was the
year they got their land and livelihood back. In the Restoration
movement we are a Jubilee people. In our beginnings we were a movement
of the poor for the poor. We were a people with a heart for the poor.
We believed in economic justice for the poor.
The Jubilee 2000 campaign is about supporting relief of the most
indebted nations from their external debts in a way that blesses the
poorest in those nations. The campaign is inspired by the biblical
principle of Jubilee.
Background on Third World Debt
The debts of the least developed nations were largely incurred in
the 1970s when there was an excess of oil-dollars. Many loans to Third
World nations were made irresponsibly by bankers from the West. Cold
war politics found Western governments supporting military governments
such as Indonesia, Brazil and the Philippines through loans. Western
governments continued to give loans, even though they knew that the
money was being siphoned off by corrupt dictators. Now many dictators
are gone, and democratic governments are in place. But the debts still
have to be paid. The democratic government of South Africa is still
paying the debts of the apartheid years. The democratic government of
Argentina is still paying the debts corruptly incurred from the West
by the former military government. The debts became worse through high
interest rates in the late 1970s and the collapse of commodity prices
in the 1980s. Debts became unpayable. A recent UNICEF study of 30
developing countries indicates that nearly two thirds of these nations
allocated more for debt payment than for basic human services. As
Hilde Johnson, Norwegian Minister of International Development and
Human Rights has said, "Breaking the vicious circle of poverty
also requires eliminating the unsustainable debt burden."
The rights of children throughout the world are not likely to be
realized as long as governments remain trapped in debt bondage. In
1996-1997, for example, 4% of Cameroon's central spending went toward
basic social services, while 36% went toward debt service. In the
United Republic of Tanzania, four times more is spent in repaying debt
than on primary education and nine times more than on basic health.
Overseas Aid from rich countries to developing countries from 1992 to
1997 has dropped by 21% or more. During the same period the wealth of
developed countries has increased by 30%.
Even so, shouldn't people repay their debts? In 1997 1.3 million
U.S. citizens declared personal bankruptcy, erasing $40 billion in
debt. States in the USA have at times refused to pay their debts.
Britain after WWII was granted the right to not pay her debts. So was
Germany in the London Accord of 1953. The Allies remembered that huge
debts imposed on Germany after World War I brought Hitler to power.
There are, therefore, significant precedents for debt release, as well
as important pragmatic and humanitarian reasons.
The International Jubilee 2000 Campaign
The international Jubilee 2000 campaign has been very successful in
mobilizing common people to put pressure on their governments in rich
nations to cancel the debt of poor countries.
For instance, in Great Britain Chancellor Gordon Brown announced at
the beginning of this year a 100% cancellation of bilateral debt for
25 countries. France has committed itself to 100 % cancellation of its
bilateral debts, approximately $1 billion, to some of the poorest
countries. Action has also been taken in the USA. None of this would
have happened without support from common people, including those in
churches, lobbying their governmental representatives. But there is
still a long way to go, and continual pressure by ordinary citizens is
needed to help politicians follow through.
What would be the cost for U.S. citizens to forgive the debts of
poor nations owed to the USA? Just $2.41 for each U.S. resident.
Compare this with the debt of $1,200 owed by each Bolivian child.
However, the pressure needs to be maintained and the Jubilee 2000
Campaign is continuing. Meetings are being held in the early part of
2001 to reorganize the campaign on an ongoing basis.
From Debt to Human Rights
The proposed plans for debt relief recognize that human development
is crucial to ensuring human rights. Churches, trade unions, and other
non-government organizations make up what is sometimes called civil
society. When empowered, civil society becomes the force that can
demand human rights. The Debt Relief plans that are being discussed in
the US Congress, at the IMF and the World Bank, and in Jubilee 2000
make a direct link between debt relief and the human development that
must accompany it.
First, governments who are blatantly denying human rights will not
qualify for debt relief. Countries who do qualify will set up human
development funds. Money saved from the forgiven debts will go
directly to these transparent funds and will be used to fulfill human
development goals. The goals will be determined prior to debt relief
qualification and may vary based on each country's needs and history.
A Success Story
Since 1996 the people of Uganda have been able to use forgiven debt
money to establish a Poverty Action Fund. The money is being used for
rural feeder roads, agricultural extension, water supplies, primary
health care, and primary education. The universal primary education
program has doubled primary school enrollment. This has been
accomplished in just 2 years with a minimal debt reduction. A success
like this is a result of debtors and creditors working together with
in-put from civil society in an environment of transparent actions.
The Resolution Passed by World Conference
The Jubilee 2000 resolution was initially sponsored by the Council
of Twelve Apostles. It was also sponsored by the Human Rights
Committee and the Earth Stewardship Committee. The resolution calls
us, as a World Church, to join the Jubilee 2000 campaign for debt
relief. The full text of the resolution is given on the page 5. The
resolve asks us to study quality resources. These include resources
that educate and promote dialogue about debt and assist in a deeper
understanding of the gospel of Jesus. A list of such resources is
provided on page 7.
The resolve asks us, as members of civil society, particularly in
wealthy countries, to write to our governmental representatives and
leaders and to urge them to forgive the unpayable debts of the poorest
nations and to help these countries empower their civil societies with
human development. Suggestions on writing letters are given on pages 8
and 9. The resolution calls for our letters to request clear
conditions that ensure the improvement of economic and social
conditions in the debtor countries. An example of such legislation is
HR 1095, a piece of legislation that was before the USA Congress in
1999. It outlined the following clear conditions:
a) there are sound economic policies
b) a human development fund is established to direct savings from
debt relief into education and other basic services.
c) the development of civil society is encouraged - that churches,
trade unions and ordinary citizens hold government to account.
d) the loaners and borrowers are obliged to make what they are doing
public so that ordinary people in both rich and poor countries know
what is going on. (The IMF has already started doing this from June
1999.)
The Jubilee 2000 resolution passed by World Conference encourages
you, as members of an international church, to work for the
forgiveness of debts of our brothers and sisters in the poorest
nations of the world and to advocate for economic development that
includes human rights.
Andrew Bolton
Peace and Justice Ministries
(last updated 9 February 2001)
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Jubilee 2000 Resolution
Approved April 5, 2000
World Conference Resolution 1266
Whereas, The theme of the 2000 World Conference is
"Jubilee!"; and
Whereas, Every seventh year Israel, a freed slave people, were
commanded to forgive debts and set slaves free (Deuteronomy 15:1-2,
12-13); and
Whereas, At the end of every seven times seven years a Jubilee was
celebrated with the proclamation of liberty throughout the land to all
its inhabitants and the return of family lands to the landless
(Leviticus 25:8-10); and
Whereas, Jesus of Nazareth announced a Jubilee at the beginning of
his public ministry by announcing good news to the poor, proclaiming
liberty to the captives, and declaring the year of the Lord's favor
(Luke 4:18-19); and
Whereas, Instruction which has been given in former years is
applicable in principle to the needs of today (D & C 147:7); and
Whereas, The world's poorest nations in Africa, Asia and Latin
America continue to struggle under a crushing burden of debt
repayments, a significant portion of which is owed to multilateral
development agencies and to governments of wealthy nations like
Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the USA;1
and
Whereas, Much of this results from borrowing that has benefited
primarily the rich while the burden of repaying the debt falls heavily
on the poor people, and cannot be paid without causing environmental
harm and great social suffering to the most impoverished members of
society, weakening civil society and inducing a downward spiral of
economic, social, political and environmental decline;2
and
Whereas, Past World Conferences have clearly expressed their
concern for the well being of all persons and especially the poor
globally (WCR 1148, WCR 1161, WCR 1151, and WCR 1184); Therefore be it
RESOLVED, That this 2000 World Conference challenges all of the
members, friends and congregations of the Reorganized Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints to join with others of good will in the
world-wide Jubilee 2000 Campaign, and invites them to take the
following specific actions:
- Study quality resources as individuals, groups and congregations
on the issues related to local, national and international
poverty, including the indebtedness of poor nations, in the
context of the imperatives of the gospel of Jesus; and
- Campaigning and writing to governmental representatives and
leaders, particularly in wealthy nations, urging the release of
these impoverished nations from their indebtedness by the end of
the year 2000, with clear conditions which ensure that the
economic and social conditions of the poor of these lands are
improved.
- Make a concerted effort to work for the cause of the oppressed
throughout the world by improving corporate and individual
commitment to organizations such as Outreach International, RLDS
Medical-Dental Association, the children's Peace Pavilion, World
Hunger Fund, GALA, Ethnic Ministries, Urban Ministries, World
Service Corps, and other organizations deemed worthy by members
that further the cause of peace and justice for the poor and
oppressed.
Notes
1. Based on figures taken from World Bank World
Development Indicators, 1999, Washington, DC ; World Bank
Global Development Finance, 1999, Washington, DC; 1999 World
Bank Data Base On-line, www.worldbank.org;
cited in The Jubilee 2000/USA World Debt Chart June 15, 1999,
Washington, DC.
2. New Internationalist Magazine, May 1999, summary pages 18-19
using World Bank sources.
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Resources on Debt Relief
Websites Regarding Third World Debt Relief
Books and Articles
Judd, Peter. Transformed by the Spirit: Reflections on Jesus'
Proclamation in the Synagogue at Nazareth. Independence, MO:
Herald House, 2000.
Kinsler, Ross and Gloria Kinsler. The Biblical Jubilee and the
Struggle for Life: An Invitation to Personal, Ecclesial, and Social
Transformation. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1999.
Mackender, Lisa and Martell, Brad Jubilee - A Cycle of Justice.
Independence: Herald, 2000
Synder, Robert, "Proclaiming Jubilee - for whom?" Christian
Century June 30-July 7, 1999 pp 682-684, with "Letters - Debt
Relief", follow-up to article Christian Century August
11-18, 1999 pp. 786-787
Education Packet
Contact the office in your area to order an Education Packet. In the
U.S. it costs $5.00 and is available in English and Spanish.
Australia
Contact: Grant Hill, TEAR Australia, PO Box
289, Hawthorn, 3122 Victoria, Australia
Phone: (03) 9819 1900 Fax: (03) 9818 3586.
(International Code +61 3)
Email: grant@tear.org.au
Website: www.jubilee2000.org.au
Canada
Contact: Canadian Ecumenical Jubilee
Initiative, P.O. Box 772, Toronto, ON Canada,
M4Y 2N6 Tel: 416 922 1592 Fax: 416 922 0957
E-mail: jubilee@devp.org;
stratton@web.net
Website: www.web.net/~jubilee
United Kingdom
Jubilee 2000 Coalition, 1 Rivington Street,
London EC2A 3DT
Tel: +44 (0)171 739 1000 Fax: +44 (0)171 739
2300
E-mail: mail@jubilee2000uk.org
Website: www.jubilee2000uk.org
USA
Contact: Jubilee 2000/USA, 222 East Capitol
Street, NE
Washington DC 20003-1036
Phone: (202) 783-3566, Fax: (202) 546-4468
Email: coord@j2000usa.org
Website: www.j2000usa.org
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Writing Letters to Members of Congress
Writing a letter is one of the most effective ways we can communicate
with our elected officials. Since most representatives and senators
tally public opinion to help them make decisions, think of the impact
we can achieve flooding congress with thousands of letters!
Contrary to popular belief, it doesn't take an expert to write a
good letter. Just a few sentences can convey a need and motivate our
leaders to specific action.
Letter-Writing Tips
You can write a letter in 90 seconds! Just follow this simple
outline:
1. Be personal
A mailed handwritten letter receives much greater attention than a
preprinted card or letter. In whatever form, include your postal
address.
2. State something specific and be concise
Express clearly and briefly what action you would like. One or two
paragraphs should be enough.
"Please make the needs of hungry people a priority during your
term."
3. Name the Action
Whether it is Jubilee 2000/USA legislation, World Bank reform or
other issues, it is always good to be specific. Bread For the World
provides background on action issues as well as on specific
legislation moving through Congress.
"Now is the time to provide debt relief for poverty reduction
in the world's poorest countries."
4.Tell why this is important.
Put the situation in concrete terms.
"More than one in four U.S. children is hungry or at risk of
hunger."
"The United States has the highest child poverty rate of any
industrial country, mainly because our government does less for poor
children than the governments of other industrial countries."
"Nutrition programs save money by preventing future medical,
education and welfare costs."
"Food programs are only 2.5 percent of federal spending. We don't
have to balance the budget on the backs of our most vulnerable
citizens."
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Send your letters to: |
Senator ____________
U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510 |
Representative ____________
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515 |
You can also call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202)
224-3121 for the fax number
of your members of Congress.
© 1999 Bread for the World, 1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1000
/ Silver Spring, MD 20910 USA
Tel. 800-82-BREAD / Fax 301-608-2401 http://www.bread.org/issues/lettertips.html
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A Sample Letter to Congress or Parliament
Regarding Third World Debt
(Today's Date)
Dear Representative/Member of Parliament (Insert Name):
At the recent World Conference of the Reorganized Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints, we, as a body, voted to support the
Jubilee 2000 campaign for Third World Debt Relief. We urge you to make
Third World Debt reduction a priority, secure what the G7 promised in
Cologne, and sponsor legislation that contains clear conditions for
human development as a result of debt relief.
We thank you for your attention to this very important matter. It is
time for the (Insert your nation here) government to forgive debt and
encourage human development and the respect for human rights in the
Third World.
Sincerely,
(Insert Your Name)
(Insert Your Address)
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