A Coalition of Regional & National Organisations                            

 

 

JUBILEE DEBT CAMPAIGN (U.K.) – CHESTER

-------------------------------------------------------------

NEWSLETTER No. 2006/1 SPRING 2006

---------------------------------------------------

Please note Change of Address & Contact Details

at the end of this notice.

 

The Debt Campaign during last year was very much a constituent part of the Make Poverty History Campaign. Just because the central Make Poverty History Campaign has disbanded (the logo can still be used locally), there is no reason to think that the movement for More and Better Aid, Trade Justice and Debt Cancellation has finished its work.  Debt Cancellation is still of primary importance in the overall campaign.  If the rich nations cannot be forced, cajoled, shamed into fulfilling the promises they have already made on Debt and going much further to respond to the well documented and affordable totals of Debt Cancellation which are desperately needed, then there is little chance that the Millennium Development Goals can be met and the many millions of people given a chance to work their way out of poverty.   So, the Jubilee Debt Campaign, nationally, internationally and locally has work to do.

 

Campaign News – National and International Update:-  

 

Last Saturday, 8th April, the Jubilee Debt Campaign nationally held it’s AGM and Annual Conference.

We are very pleased to say that one of our Chester campaigners, Linda Manning, was elected to the Board of J.D.C. as one of 8 representatives from local groups.  There are also representatives from National Organisations such as CAFOD, Christian Aid, Islamic Relief, MPH Jewish Coalition, Oxfam, U.R.C., W.D.M. and World Vision.

The Jubilee Debt Campaign will continue to operate as a live campaigning organisation focussing on this important first step in the fight against World Poverty.  It will operate in conjunction with our International Jubilee Debt coalition partners.

At the Conference, after the A.G.M., there was a very challenging address by Susan George, who is a very well known author, academic and activist on Debt and Justice issues.  She called us to redouble our efforts in holding governments to account and reminded us that behind the comfortable words and figures of debt cancellation there was the reality that of the debt cancellation recently promised of some $28 Billion much would be going to Iraq.  Lidy Nacpil was another speaker.  She is from the Philippines and is the International co-ordinator for Jubilee South.  She spoke about and gave details of, the amount of Debt which the poor countries were now campaigning on, not as a matter of charity but of justice.  She stated that more and more countries were considering "debt repudiation", especially of those debts which could be described as "odious debts", debts forced upon the poor of the debtor countries by Dictators and/or multi-national organisations. They would just repudiate the debts and refuse to remit interest on them.   

                                                                                    [Cont'd]

 

It was good to have contributors from J.D.C. in the developing countries. (It was considered that a more appropriate term for these countries was "exploited countries").   The theme of the conference was "Debt and Power; towards an end of Debt Domination".  Time and time again the statement was made that the debt crisis had been created and used as a means of maintaining colonial style domination of the debtor countries by the rich and powerful.  Susan George repeated the charge on a number of occasions, that the control of primary producing countries by the developed nations and their agencies was a very efficient way of maintaining colonial type of control - without the need of an army or an expensive administration.  She stressed her view that the moral argument was not enough.  The rich countries and organisations would not respond to this alone.  It would be a matter of "Power" also.

Campaign News:- Local Update

 

So what does this all mean for the local campaign.   It means that we have to rekindle our own enthusiasm and efforts and make known the up-to-date situation to our supporters and the general public.  There is general support in the country for Debt Cancellation and the other aspects of the campaign for the ending of World Poverty.  We need to ensure that people locally are engaged in this struggle.

 

Firstly, There is a new petition which we are being asked to sign and obtain the signatures of our friends and acquaintances.  A copy of this petition is enclosed.  This can be photocopied, if you have access to a facility. If you haven't please make contact as given below and further copies will be sent on.   When completed, the petitions should go via JDC in London.

 

Secondly, Enclosed is also a card addressed to Hilary Benn.  Please send this off as soon as possible.   Both the petition and the card can be sent at any time over the next 4 months, but, if they can be sent in the next few days they may be in time for an important meeting this month.  Otherwise, another important meeting is at the end of September.

 

Thirdly, An A.G.M. of Jubilee Debt Campaign has been called for Friday 5th May at 7.30 p.m.  There will be a short "administrative" meeting to begin with followed by a talk by our Chairman Romy Tiongco.  Romy has recently been to the Philippines (his original home) and seen for himself the effects of the Debt Crisis and the injustice in World Trade and will have much to share with us.  There will be some refreshment provided and then we are hoping to have someone, either from London or locally, to tell us the up-to-date situation on Debt.   Please do put this in your diary.   The meeting will be held at the hall of St. Columba's Roman Catholic Church in Newton Lane, Chester. - 7.30p.m.

 

Fourthly, We have been asked to support the Jubilee Debt Campaign at Birmingham on Tuesday 16th May.  This is to mark World Debt Day and the anniversary of the Birmingham G8 Human Chain.  It will centre on St. Philip's Cathedral from 12.30 to 1.50 p.m.  - Chaired by Michael Taylor and addressed by HE Dr, Christopher Kolade, Nigerian High Commissioner, and Ann Pettifor, former Director of Jubilee 2000.  The timing has been arranged to enable people to get back for any activity they have on that evening in Christian Aid Week.

 

Fifthly, We have been invited to take part in the Lord Mayor's Parade again this year.  It is on Saturday 22nd July.   There will be time to make arrangements for our entry, but please put it in your diary if you are able to support.

 

Finally, I am enclosing a copy of the latest leaflet from J.D.C. entitled "Cut the Strings".  This is part of our campaigning this year.  Debt Cancellation, but without the onerous conditions which so often are attached to any relief which make the poverty of the poorest countries worse.

 

Peter Linsey, Executive Secretary, 1st Floor Flat, Victoria House, 5 Grey Friars, Chester. CH1 2NW.   Tel:- 01244-383877   Email:- plinsey@fish.co.uk