The “Africa Peace with Justice Tour” Community Discussion – entitled “Economic Justice Beyond Borders: Debt, Poverty, Immigration” held on Sunday evening was sponsored by American Friends Service Committee, along with JubileeUSA and the Network of Spiritual Progressives of Miami. It provided a unique and timely opportunity to hear first hand stories from leaders from Africa and Haiti on their work to support the Jubilee Act,( HR 1130), which our US House of Representatives will vote on today.

Many people do express valid concern regarding why debt cancellation→ why should we not expect borrowers to repay their debt?

We talked about “Odious Debt”, a legal principle that regards debts as illegitimate when the creditor is aware that loans to governments are made without the consent of the people and not spent in their interests. Much of the suffering and unfair debt burdens have grown out of corrupt deals made between lenders and former dictators.

You can learn more about the origin of the Jubilee movement for debt cancellation, the ONE Campaign, which followed and the current legislation and proposal in Congress by visiting the following websites:

Debt Cancellation:
www.jubileeusa.org
www.jubileeresearch.org
www.jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk
www.one.org
http://www.jubileeusa.org/jubilee-act.html
http://www.one.org/takeaction/the_jubile_act.html
eatingdirt.htm

Global Marshall Plan:
www.tikkun.org
www.networkofspiritualprogressives.org

I hope this is helpful to shed a bit of light on the history→

In Peace,

Nancy Parker

FUMC - ONE Campaign Volunteer & Jubilee USA Volunteer