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Moseley Chimes
April 2008
Any amount of personal debt we might have, would pale compared to the US $440 billion owed by ‘poor’ countries to the ‘rich’ ones. So what happened to all our efforts to ‘Drop the Debt’? Many from our benefice will have been amongst the 70,000 people forming the famous chain we made during the G8 meeting in Birmingham in 1998. And some of us went on to campaign at Cologne, Genoa and London.
So far some US $88 billion in debt has been cancelled for 25 poor countries, and this has been put to good use. A recent World Bank study showed increased social spending across the board after debt cancellation, with the impact on education being particularly marked. In Ghana, abolishing primary school fees increased enrolment by 16 percent in one year. In Benin it has been possible to recruit staff for rural health clinics and improve access to clean water.
But is it not a scandal that people are still dying needlessly because their governments are unable to provide public services as the money has to go to service their debts? The Jubilee Debt Campaign (JDC) is marking this key anniversary year of the Birmingham G8 Summit by putting increased pressure on our Government to finish the job on debt. This would involve delivering the UK multilateral debt relief scheme to all the poorest 65 countries, and cancelling all developing countries’ un-payable and unjust debts.
Many special events are planned. There will be JDC exhibitions in Birmingham Central Library and in the museum and art gallery from 1 May to 31 May. To help with stewarding, please contact Rachel Stevens on 0121 472 1379.
From 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday 18 May, there will be a core event ‘Journey to Justice’ at the ICC. Tickets £10 (Concessions £5) Ticket Hotline: 0560 150 7359.
A ‘Drop the Debt Fast’ runs from 12 April to 17 May with the focus each day on one country urgently needing debt relief. To register to join the fast for one or more days and to get full details, visit www.jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk.
Many faith events will be held in May, including 12 Christian services of the main denominations and more are in the planning. JDC anticipate that all Birmingham schools will have a collective act of worship on Friday 16 May with the focus on the debt issue. Please check the May issue of Moseley Chimes for further information.