FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

10 YEARS ON: THE DEBT CRISIS IS FAR FROM OVER

World leaders need to finish the job on debt cancellation

Campaigners all over the world are calling for the cancellation of poor country debts are taking part in a Drop the Debt Fast and other activities on 16 May, 2008, the tenth anniversary of the Drop the Debt campaign. They are demanding debt cancellation for all those countries that need it – a decade after world leaders promised to drop the debt.

The debt crisis is far from over

GCAP supports World Debt Day

People from over a dozen countries have been taking part in a rolling fast since 12 April, focusing on countries that have not yet had their debts cancelled, and yet which still have to forego spending on essential services because of the debt repayments they have to make. Countries covered by the fast include Liberia, Bangladesh, Haiti, Kenya, Indonesia, Ecuador and Jamaica.

The fast culminates on 16 May, World Debt Day, which marks ten years since 70,000 people formed a human chain around the G8 meeting in Birmingham and demanded that rich countries drop the debt. Fasters on 16 May will include Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Laureate and formerly Archbishop of Cape Town and His Excellency Benjamin William Mkapa, formerly President of Tanzania.

“World leaders needs to pick up the pace as these countries are still suffering under a huge debt burden, while millions of their people, mainly women, live in extreme poverty. There have been great steps forward in the last ten years thanks to the efforts of campaigners worldwide, but only some of the debt has been dropped. We are calling on politicians to finish the job.” Said Sylvia Borren, Co-chair, GCAP.

On World Debt Day people will make paper chains representing both the solidarity of the debt campaign, and the chains of debt that still need to be broken. On Sunday 18 May many campaigners will travel to Birmingham, UK, to mark the 10th anniversary, and join together to call on world leaders to drop ALL unpayable and unjust debt.

A template chain is available at jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk/fast.

In a video message to be broadcast on 18 May, Archbishop Tutu says, “We have long called for the cancellation of crippling debt. Ten years ago in Birmingham you forged a powerful link in the chain of action for change. It was a significant step on the journey to justice. But it is a journey that we must continue together.”

Addressing Jubilee Debt Campaign’s conference in 2005, Benjamin Mkapa said, “Frankly, it is a scandal that we are forced to choose between basic health and education for our people and repaying historical debt.”

ENDS

Other special events planned around the tenth anniversary of the Jubilee 2000 human chain include:

1. Journey to Justice, Birmingham, UK, Sunday 18 May 2008, 2.30-4.30pm
A powerful mix of speakers, interviews, music and film to mark ten years since the 70,000-strong G8 human chain in 1998 that will be celebrate what the debt campaign has achieved so far, and demand that politicians finish the job. Find out more at journeytojustice.org

2. Unfinished busines – special report to be published
Ten years after 70,000 campaigners put debt on to the global agenda, three years after the debt deal in response to Make Poverty History, Jubilee Debt Campaign will publish a definitive report on what has been achieved and what still needs to be done. This can be downloaded after its launch on World Debt Day from jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk/unfinished

3. University of Birmingham Conference, 16-17 May 2008
AIDING THE POOREST: TEN YEARS ON FROM THE BIRMINGHAM G8
This academic conference has three aims: assess the impact of debt relief in poor countries; analyse problems in debt relief processes and their underlying causes; discuss reform priorities and innovations.

NOTES

The 36 countries featured in the Drop the Debt Fast are:
Liberia (12 April), Nepal (13 April), Bangladesh (14 April), Cambodia (15 April), Belize (16 April), Kenya (17 April), Panama (18 April), Moldova (19 April), Grenada (20 April), Papua New Guinea (21 April), Haiti (22 April), Ukraine (23 April), Yemen (24 April), Angola (25 April), Ecuador (26 April), Philippines (27 April), Egypt (28 April), Djibouti (29 April), Vietnam (30 April), Marshall Islands (1 May), Tajikistan (2 May), Peru (3 May), Armenia (4 May), Mongolia (5 May), Indonesia (6 May), Dominica (7 May), Pakistan (8 May), Morocco (9 May), Azerbaijan (10 May), Georgia (11 May), Tunisia (12 May), Lebanon (13 May), Paraguay (14 May), Lesotho (15 May), El Salvador (16 May), Jamaica (17 May).

Jubilee Debt Campaign spokespeople available for interview, analysis and comment:

• Stephen Rand, co chair 07889 158215
• Trisha Rogers, Director 020 7324 4724 and 0771 200 5666
• Sarah Williams, Senior Policy & Campaigns Officer 020 7324 4725

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