Africa Action
February 28, 2008
Dear Friend,
Leap Into Action TODAY and TOMORROW – February 28th and 29th — to support the Jubilee Act!
Africa Action joins Jubilee USA to encourage you to use your “extra” day this Leap Year to call your member of Congress and urge them to support the Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation (HR 2634/S2166). You can reach the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.
The Jubilee Act promise to unshackle a lot of poor countries from the chocking york of debt and create opportunities for development and poverty eradication.
Africa is ground zero in the debt crisis – the continent’s over $200 billion debt burden is the single biggest obstacle to development. Most of this debt is illegitimate, having been incurred by despotic and unrepresentative regimes. African countries spend almost $14 billion annually on debt service, diverting resources from HIV/AIDS programs, education and other important needs. This makes the Jubilee Act the most important piece of legislation in the past seven years for the continent’s fights against poverty and disease.
Globally, everyday over $100 million flows out of impoverished countries in the form of debt payments, rendering millions of people destitute. Debt cancellation provides a ray of hope to affected communities.
Since the days of Jubilee 2000, we have seen 23 countries receive near 100% cancellation of their debts to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. In countries like Zambia and Tanzania, debt relief has produced great results – eliminating fees that had blocked access to primary education and rural health clinics for the poorest, helping millions of children return to school and providing access to basic medical care.
Yet, despite the remarkable track record of debt cancellation, more than 40 poor countries, such as Haiti and Lesotho, are still waiting to see their debts canceled.
The Jubilee Act (HR 2634 / S 2166) builds on past debt cancellation successes, by calling for expanded debt cancellation to all countries that need it to reach the UN Millennium Development Goals to cut extreme poverty in half by 2015.
We are asking you to Leap Into Action TODAY! Call your Representative and Senators and ask them to support the Jubilee Act
The Jubilee Act is one of the most widely supported anti-poverty bills in Congress, but it can only pass with our support. We have a historic opportunity to address the debt crisis in impoverished countries around the world and LEAP forward in the fight against poverty.
PLEASE CALL TODAY – Click here for phone number and call script
To learn more about Africa Action’s Campaign to Cancel Africa’s Debt please visit http://africaaction.org/campaign_new/debt.php.
Please, also visit www.jubileeusa.org/measureup to learn more about the Jubilee Act and its progress through Congress and to order postcards to send to your Representative and Senator.
Sincerely,
Staff @ Africa Action