Turn Up the Heat This Summer with Jubilee USA ...

Tell the White House, Treasury & Congress to Fully Cancel Poor Country Debt by October 1, 2004! 

It is a critical moment for our movement. At the G-8 summit in early June, world leaders considered for the first time a proposal that would provide 100% multilateral debt cancellation for impoverished nations. Debt cancellation is desperately needed—this year alone, 3 million people in Africa will die due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Yet countries on the African continent will send an estimated $15 billion in debt service to the IMF, World Bank, and wealthy creditor nations this year.

The next three months are critical in the struggle for freedom from debt. Though they failed to take action at the June summit, G-8 leaders directed their finance ministers (including the US Treasury Secretary) to consider additional measures in the coming months. Their next meeting will take place on October 1, 2004, just before the Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank in Washington, DC.

So, we have from now until early October to turn up the heat, pull out all the stops, and put the pressure on our government and other G-7 governments to announce 100% cancellation! Jubilee USA Network’s demand of the U.S. government and other G-7 nations is that they announce support for 100% cancellation of multilateral debt (IMF, World Bank, regional development banks) for all impoverished nations (not just those countries in the current HIPC Initiative), without harmful economic policy conditions attached. To achieve our demand, Jubilee USA Network has launched a three-month “Countdown to Freedom from Debt” campaign. Join with us!

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Take Action

Here are 5 easy and critical ways you can turn up the heat with Jubilee this summer. More information and talking points will be available on our website at http://www.jubileeusa.org/:

1. Get the Word Out in Your Community!
   We are asking Jubilee chapters and supporters across the country to redouble their efforts over the coming three months to get their communities to take action on debt. You can:
   • Make copies of this flyer and bring it and other Jubilee materials to your congregation or to meetings you attend;
   • Organize a screening of a movie such as Life and Debt (www.lifeanddebt.org) and ask people to take action afterwards (pass out flyers, or ask people to sign unhappy birthday cards);
   • Set up a Jubilee table or booth at a festival or conference. Display Jubilee materials and ask people to sign unhappy 60th birthday cards to the IMF/World Bank.
   • To order materials, unhappy birthday cards, or get updates/ideas, email neil@jubileeusa.org or coord@jubileeusa.org or call 202-783-0129 or 202-783-3566.
     
2. Call and Fax the White House & Treasury: We’re Counting Down to Freedom from Debt!
   Jubilee USA will hold call-in days and “fax the facts” days at key moments in the countdown! On July 14, visit the Jubilee website and send a fax with facts on debt to Treasury and the White House. On September 1, join us as we call in to Treasury and the White House to demand 100% cancellation.
   
3. Call Congress – Ask Your Representative to Co-Sponsor the JUBILEE Act.
   Beginning on July 26, we will be asking you to call your member of Congress and ask them to co-sponsor the JUBILEE Act, the new bi-partisan legislation which calls on international financial institutions to fully cancel the debts of impoverished nations. Check the Jubilee USA web site in late July for details and talking points.
   
4. Ask Presidential and Congressional Candidates to Support Debt Cancellation!
   When candidates are speaking – on the radio or in person – ask them their position on debt cancellation for impoverished nations. Jubilee USA will be partnering with organizations to hold educational events for voters on the need for debt cancellation to fight AIDS in Ohio and elsewhere in September. Contact the Jubilee office for sample questions for candidates and details on these events.
   
5. Demonstrate for Jubilee Justice and Ring In Freedom From Debt!
   We need your presence as the clock ticks down to October 1st! Plan to join us at events and demonstrations outside the US Treasury department on September 21st and October 1st. Work with your local group or congregation to organize a solidarity event to ring in Freedom from Debt on October 1st, the day of the G-7 Finance Ministers in Washington, DC.
   

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Calendar—Countdown to Freedom from Debt!

July
14 – 80 days to Freedom from Debt. Fax the facts on debt to Treasury and the White House.
26 – 67 days to Freedom from Debt. Call Congress / Ask Your Member to Sponsor the JUBILEE Act.

August
2 – 60 days to Freedom from Debt. Set up a meeting this month in your district with your member.

September
1 – 30 days to Freedom from Debt. Call in day to the White House and Treasury.
21 – 10 days to Freedom from Debt. Join Jubilee USA in Washington, DC outside US Treasury.

October
1 – Freedom from Debt Day! G-7 Finance ministers meet. Ring in debt freedom at picket outside G-7 Finance Ministers meeting in Washington. Ring in Debt Freedom solidarity actions across the country.

* More events/call or fax in days will be announced for August and September as needed to turn up the heat! *
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