Jubilee USA and Debt Cancellation

Many impoverished countries are unable to help their citizens because of heaping piles of debt. Jubilee USA is trying to help them. Here's a quote from their site:

"New Bill Urges Bush Administration to Keep
Its Promises to Impoverished Countries and Raises
the Bar on Responsible Lending Practices

June 7, 2007—Introduced by Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL), the Jubilee Act addresses the unfinished agenda on debt, and is introduced as the G8 meet in Germany, ignoring this unfinished agenda. With the re-introduction of this bill, we show the rest of the world that people in the U.S. still care and will continue to work for an end to the debt crisis. The Jubilee Act:

Calls on the Bush Administration, the IMF, and the World Bank to keep their promises on debt cancellation
Calls for expanded debt cancellation for impoverished countries that will use the freed resources well and require debt cancellation to meet the Millennium Development Goals
Calls for new standards for responsible lending and creditor transparency, by calling for measures to address the problem of vulture funds as well as audits of odious and illegal debts from the past"

To read more go to Jubilee USA's homepage: http://www.jubileeusa.org/

If you would like to support the Jubilee Act and help people in impoverished, debt- laden countries, talk to your local religious and political leaders and join me, my congregation and all the other people trying to make a difference. Visit Jubilee's site, learn more, sign up for the Cancel Debt Fast and spread awareness! Whether you are fasting for a day or 2 weeks, donating nothing or $100, going it alone or spreading the word to you local representatives, your contribution is highly valued! Here is a blog entry- written by our pastor, David Spollet, and used with permission- from my church's blog ( http://www.firstchurchfairfield.org/index.php?option=com_jd-wp&Itemid=20 ) about Jubilee USA:

"Fast for International Debt Relief
September 11th, 2007
by admin
During my trip to Kenya and Uganda in 2005 I saw first hand how terrible economic poverty that can grip people and hold them down. I also saw how the development of poor nations is retarded by old and often predatory lending by our own government and multilateral agencies like the World Bank and Interernational Monetary Fund (IMF), which are largely controlled by the US.

The 67 poorest nations of the world are crippled by this old international debt. These nations have paid back their debts to the World Bank, IMF and US Treasury time and again. The debt crisis set in when interest rates skyrocketed and compound interest made repayment impossible.

Last year, for every dollar African nations received in aid, they paid $2.30 in debt service.

Debt cancellation is a matter of human need, a matter of justice, and literally a matter of life and death for millions. The poorest nations are hamstrung in providing basic services like food, education and health care by this burden.

We know debt cancellation works. For example, when Burundi’s debt was cancelled, it eliminated school fees so that 300,000 additional children could attend school. Check out details and more information at www.jubileeusa.org.

I will be fasting on October 1st as part of Jubilee USA’s rolling fast to call our Congress to action on international debt relief.

On October 7, World Communion Sunday, we’ll have paper plates. Those who fast can write out a message onto to these empty plates to symbolize the crisis. Messages will collected and sent to Christoher Shays, our member of Congress, and Senators Dodd and Liberman, encouraging them to support the bi-partisan debt relief bill that is now moving through Congress.

I hope that you’ll join me in a fast to help end this crazy system and provide life saving relief to the poorest people in the world."

Once again, I urge you to visit http://www.jubileeusa.org/ and find out more about the Cancel Debt Fast and how you can make a difference in the world!