Britain has made a bold stand by banning vulture funds – the insidious hedge funds who buy up bad debt and drag developing countries through the courts until they pay it back. But now we need to go further by trying to get other countries to do the same! There is currently an Early Day Motion (no 666) in Parliament calling for this to happen, so we need as many MPs as possible to sign. Can you write to your MP asking them to sign the motion?
June 11th, 6.30
Augustine United Church, Edinburgh
On March 8 and 9 over 100 campaigners joined us for Rich Man's World? Challenging the Status Quo of Crisis and Cuts. It was a really inspiring two days where we all learnt more about the economic crisis, and found out about some great campaigns which are working for positive solutions.
Check out some photos from the weekend below!
The devastation caused to the Philippines as a result of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) has shocked us all, and people have responded to the overwhelming crisis with incredible generosity.
Jubilee Scotland welcomes the Scottish Government's commitment to global debt justice released today in 'Scotland's Future', the white paper on independence. In this, debt relief is highlighted as a priority for international development, with the statement:
“The Scottish Government will give careful consideration to the question of "unjust" debts; will work to ensure that Scottish export policies do not create new unjust debts; and support moves to establish Scotland as an international centre for debt arbitration”
While remaining neutral on the issue of Scottish independence, Jubilee Scotland congratulates the Government on its recognition of sovereign debt as a key issue for Scotland's international development policy.
The UK government is currently owed over ￡2 billion in debt, and if the Scottish people vote for independence in 2014, Scotland will inherit a share of this. Much of this debt is owed by extremely vulnerable countries including Angola, Peru and Pakistan, and in many cases originates from arms deals with dictators or 'white elephant' projects which do not benefit the citizens of the country in question.
It is now less than a year until the people of Scotland decide on their constitutional future. The debate presents an exciting opportunity for charities and campaigning organisations to reassert the importance of the issues they campaign on and put these at the forefront of parties' concerns as the parties, politicians, and referendum campaigns themselves look to present their visions of a post-referendum Scotland. Jubilee Scotland has been thinking a lot about what the implications for international debt will be in either outcome and how its campaigns can move forward post-2014 be it in an independent Scotland or one which remains part of the United Kingdom.
The principal aims of Jubilee Scotland remain the same. This year, we launched our Debt Justice Pledge which presents four key ways in which Scotland can become a nation of debt justice, a Scotland which:
Members of Jubilee Scotland and the World Development Movement gathered outside the Liberal Democrat conference on Glasgow on Tuesday dressed as skeletons to call on Vince Cable to implement the party’s policy to audit debts owed by developing countries to the UK, and cancel those which are from unjust loans to dictators. The spooky protestors will be asking what skeletons are lurking in the government's cupboard as a result of deals with repressive regimes
We are sad to share the news of the sudden and unexpected death of John Blair-Fish. Many of you, particularly those from Edinburgh, will have met John as he has been a strong supporter of Jubilee Scotland since it began and frequently attended our events.
He had also just been accepted on to our Campaign Co-ordinating Group, and was looking forward to becoming more involved in guiding our work.
As well as his involvement in Jubilee Scotland, and the Jubilee 2000 campaign before that, John was also a very active campaigner with the World Development Movement, Christain Aid and many other groups. Recently, he had been offering his expertise to redevelop the website of the Edinburgh World Justice Festival, a cause he was passionate about.