A lobby day to end African debt

Idea exchange
June 2006

A lobby day to end African debt
The American Friends Service Committee and Jubilee USA Network will host a "Life Over Debt" lobby day in Washington on June 26 seeking 100 percent debt cancellation for heavily indebted African nations. The event is designed to improve activists, advocates, and educators’ abilities to bring about U.S. policies that promote peace and justice in Africa.

One year after the Group of 8 (G-8) world leaders announced a plan for 100 percent debt cancellation for some impoverished countries, it is important to recognize that many countries and creditors were left out of the deal, according to organizers. It is also the case that harmful economic conditions mandated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank and the odious and illegitimate nature of debt were not addressed by this plan. The JUBILEE Act (H.R. 1130), which would legislate debt cancellation for impoverished countries without imposing harmful economic conditions, tackles these key concerns.

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