The
Campaign in 2002
Edinburgh
Book Festival Authors say 'write-off poor country debt'
Sir Bob says All Hands on Debt
Canada G8 Summit - world's poor failed by rich country
leaders
All
Hands on Debt
Jubilee
Relay Article Series
Early
Day Motion on Debt Gains Support of a Majority of MPs
Glimmers
of hope?
Calendar of International Events in 2002
Early Day Motion on Debt Gains Support of a Majority of MPs
All
Stars on Debt
Campaigners Forum
Early
Day Motion on Debt Gains Support of a Majority of MPs
EDM 736 on Third World Debt initiated by World
Development Movement and Jubilee
Debt Campaign was signed by an incredible 345 MPs (as of 12 June). That's
the third highest number of signatures of any other EDM currently before the
House of Commons, and all supporters who encouraged MPs deserve a big thanks.
All
Stars on Debt
Film star Robert Carlyle, American rock band Weezer, footballer Mark Hateley
and Popstar's Darius Danesh were just some of the big names contributing artworks
to the celebrity arts exhibition and auction taking place at The Arches Theatre,
Glasgow on the 30 April. Organised by event management students from Glasgow
College of Food and Technology, the event was a great opportunity to raise
funds and awareness for our campaign. Bishop Bernardino Mandlate of Mozambique
spoke of the debt crisis' impact of his country and appealed to the people
of Scotland to use their power as voters force politicians to drop the debt.
Campaigners
Forum
In March and September, campaigners got together to hear about the latest
on debt, get to grips with the campaigns and to share ideas with fellow debt
campaigners. MPs Mark Lazarowicz and Iain Luke were among some of the
contributors. Charlotte Mwesigye of Uganda Debt Network was the Forum's
guest speaker in September - click here
to read more about Charlotte and the challenges her country faces. A
full report is also available from the Spring Forum.
Edinburgh Book Festival authors say 'write-off poor
country debt'
Top
authors Iain Banks, Ian Ranking and Noreena Hertz gave their backing to the
Jubilee Scotland campaign. While appearing at the Edinburgh International
Book Festival they added their hand prints to the All Hands on Debt petition
for debt cancellation. For pictures click here.
Sir Bob says All Hands on Debt
Bob
Geldof made his mark on the All Hands on Debt handprint petition during a
visit to Dundee. There to receive an honorary degree from Dundee University,
Sir Bob made time to join Jubilee Scotland supporters in Dundee City Square.
He described the recent G8 Summit as a 'disaster', and stressed the importance
of continuing action on debt. Local politicians John McAllion, Shona Robison,
Kate McLean (MSPs) and Ian Luke MP were also there to add their hand-prints.
Canada G8 - World's poor failed by rich country leaders
Despite
grand rhetoric G8 leaders once again failed the world's poor at their annual
Summit in Kananaskis, Canada. Leading up to the Summit the G8 were presented
by the World Bank with an damning admission that the Highly Indebted Poor
Countries programme had failed to offer developing countries an escape from
strangling debts. The G8 response was to 'top-up' HIPC by a mere $1 billion
- a sticking plaster approach that does nothing to address fundemental flaws
in the programme.
Hopes had been high that progress might be made. Discussion of Africa's problems, including debt, was a key agenda item and four African leaders attended to appeal for G8 support for NEPAD (New Economic Partnership for Africa's Development) - their plan for African regeneration. NEPAD calls for $15-$20 billion additional debt relief for Africa as a matter of urgency - a call that has been ignored.
The G8 also announced that half of the extra $12 billion US/EU aid agreed earlier in 2002 might go to Africa. This figure must be contrasted with the the $15 billion sub-Saharan Africa spends each year on debt repayments. It is clear that the G8 have yet to understand the futility of aid that comes back through the revolving door of debt.
All Hands on Debt
Under
Jubilee Scotland's campaign theme for 2002 - All
Hands on Debt - the message was that Tony Blair and Gordon Brown needed
to back up their fine words about global poverty by getting more hands on
in dealing with the global debt crisis. MPs and MSPs joined thousands of Scots
and added their support to the national hand-print petition. All Hands on
Debt events took place across Scotland - download
a free campaign pack to see how we ran the campaign last year!
Jubilee
Relay Articles Series
Between March 11th and 6th June a baton containing a message from the Queen
was carried across 23 Commonwealth countries in the run up to the Manchester
‘Golden Jubilee’ Commonwealth games. Jubilee Scotland commissioned
writer Hester Ross to pen a series of articles profiling how debt affects
poor countries which the baton passed through. Join Hester on her journey
in the following articles:
Jubilee
Relay Article #1 'A Race for Commonwealth'
Jubilee Relay Article #2 'Time
to abandon the watchtowers' - Caribbean
Jubilee
Relay Article #3 'What price clean water?' - Ghana
Jubilee
Relay Article #4 The baton visits Nigeria
Jubilee
Relay Article #5 'So much to learn' - Uganda and Tanzania
Jubilee Relay Article #6 'Still
paying for apartheid' - South Africa
Jubilee Relay Article #7 'Down to
earth down under' - Australia
Jubilee Relay Article #8 'Fragile
dreams, delicate economies' - Fiji
Jubilee Relay Article #9 The baton
visists Brunei
Jubilee Relay Article #10 'Will
the G8 listen to Africa?' - back in the UK
Early
Day Motion on Debt Gains Support of a Majority of MPs
EDM 736 on Third World Debt initiated by World
Development Movement and Jubilee
Debt Campaign was signed by an incredible 345 MPs. That's the third highest
number of signatures of any other EDM currently before the House of Commons,
and all supporters who have encouraged MPs deserve a big thanks. This proved
that our elected representatives are concerned about debt they now need a
further encouragement to write directly to Tony Blair before he heads off
for the G8 summit.
Glimmers
of hope?
The
Jubilee campaign has long called for an international insolvency process to
draw a line under countries debts when these become unpayable. Now the International
Monetary Fund has indicated a willingness to take this more seriously. Click
here for coverage of their announcement in the Financial Times.
Calendar
of International Events in 2002
Click
here for a calendar of international events in 2002, many of which were
Jubilee Scotland's campaign focus.
The
Campaign in 2001
Beyond
Twinning Conference
World Aids Day 1 December
Westminster Debates the Debt
Debt
Motion in Scottish Parliament
Pizza Reaction
Day of Action
Puppetmasters behind debt crisis unmasked
Giant Egg laid on Consulate doorstep
Beyond
Twinning conference
On November 17th 2001 Jubilee Scotland joined forces with key voluntary sector
organisations to hold a national 'Beyond Twinning' conference in Edinburgh.
150 participants were set the task of identifying how more and better links
can be established between Scottish and overseas civil society groups. In
the morning plenary session George Reid MSP invited social activists to make
use of their MSPs and the Scottish Parliament in building links. Broadcaster
Lesley Riddoch spoke of how the World Woman project was developing monitoring
relationships between UK and African women journalists as part of a drive
to get womens' perspectives into the mainstream news agenda. Students from
Alva Academy shared their experiences of participating in overseas links through
the school, in particular with two schools from the Northern Cape in South
Africa. The main speaker during the afternoon plenary was Francisco Pascual
from the Philippines representing Jubilee Movement International. Francisco
identified North/South links as vital to the campaign for debt cancellation,
with partners in rich and poor countries able to make a unique contribution.
Click to read Francisco's talk
Existing links were showcased in four zones, covering 'campaigning', 'education',
'practical projects' and 'ethical business'. Participants views and ideas
about linking were added to an on-line discussion website launched on the
day. Jubilee Scotland is grateful to conference partners Scottish Civic Forum,
the Big Issue in Scotland and Volunteer Development Scotland, and to Scottish
Co-op for financial support.
World
Aids Day 1 December
Jubilee
Scotland and World Development Movement Scotland joined forces to send a clear
message to Gordon Brown that the HIV/Aids crisis in developing countries cannot
be halted without further substantial debt cancellation. 7000 postcards to
Gordon Brown were distributed at stall and events across Scotland, with debt
campaigners able to make use of the opportunity to tell the public that the
debt issue is not dead.
The
debt crisis and AIDS crisis are inextricably linked: debt payments are diverting
funds from health and education services, assisting the spread of HIV/AIDS
in the world's poorest countries. Meanwhile AIDS is reducing countries' work
force, productivity and economic growth rates, making the debt burden even
heavier to bear. In Malawi, where 16% of adults are HIV positive and there
is 1 doctor per 50,000 people, more is spent on debt than on a condition of
debt relief is that health spending must remain 15% lower than its 1997/98
peak.
To
find out more visit the following sites:
HIV/AIDS
background note for campaigners
WDM: 'The vicious
circle: AIDS and third world debt
Westminster debates the debt
November
1st saw the Westminster Hall debate on Debt. The debate was a postive on that
it heard all speakers supporting debt cancellation and the extension of the
scope of the current HIPC agreement (even by the Treasury spokesman!). Both
the UK contribution and the contribution of the Jubilee campaign were congratulated.
For the full Hansard text visit the Parliament's
website. To take part in a new drive to get MPs to back the debt campaign,
see Take Action.
Debt
Motion in Scottish Parliament
A
motion tabled by Des McNulty MSP in the Scottish Parliament calling for more
to be done about poor country debts attracted the support of 48 MSPs from
across the political spectrum. An additional 16 Conservative MSPs signed up
to the motion in slightly amended form.
Pizza Reaction
On Saturday 7 July a special Jubilee Pizza was launched in Pizza Express restaurants
across Scotland. Events were well supported by MSPs and MPs and made the local
press in several areas. The Edinburgh launch included the formal hand-over
by MSP Des McNulty of his Scottish Parliamentary motion on debt which was
supported by 48 MSPs. Many thanks to all the Jubilee Scotland supporters who
have helped with the promotion.
Day of Action 23 June
Jubilee
campaigns groups across Scotland took to the streets on Saturday 23 June to
highlight the debt issue and encourage the public to sign our Big Debt letter
to Tony Blair. The letter asks that he champions further debt cancellation
at the G7 Genoa Summit. In Edinburgh a band of intrepid Jubilee Cyclists departed
from West Parliament Square for Genoa. Green MSP Robin Harper gave the official
send off with Capioera Dancers adding a festival feel to the occasion. Jubilee
Edinburgh group ran Big Debt Letter sign up, fair trade and Debt Cutters Pizza
stalls. In Dundee a stilt walker was let loose to draw attention to the Big
Debt Letter, wearing the colours of the Italian flag and wearing large spectacles
to 'focus' on Genoa. In Clarkston local clergy from the main churches joined
forces to sign up to the Big Debt Letter, while in Milngavie and Bearsden
supermarket shoppers were also invited to add their names. Street stalls also
took place in Perth, Cupar, Banchory and Fortrose.
Puppetmasters behind debt crisis unmasked
On
26 April debt campaigners across the UK joined in calling Italy, host of the
summit of the Group of 8 (G8) leaders in Genoa this July, to 'pull the strings'
of the IMF and World Bank and achieve debt cancellation in the world's poorest
countries. Campaigners from Jubilee Scotland worked puppets representing the
World Bank and IMF outside the Italian Consulate in Edinburgh. Puppeteers
wore masks painted with the flags of the Group of 8 most powerful economies
to highlight how these countries pull the strings of the institutions of global
finance. A letter to the Italian Prime Minister Amato was hand delivered to
Mr Serangeli, representing the Consul General.
Giant Egg laid on Consulate doorstep
Campaigners
called for Italy and the G8 (the elite club of the richest states) to use
their influence to force the World Bank and IMF to write off the debt on 12
April. A giant Easter Egg was delivered to the Italian Consulate in Edinburgh
by campaigners from Jubilee Scotland. A string was wrapped around the Egg,
and Italy was invited to ‘pull strings’ to crack the debt. Gift
wrapped Easter boxes were also delivered to the Consulate, each containing
a letter for Italian Prime Minister Amato and an Easter Gift to encourage
Italy to act.
