Jump for Jubilee
Check out this partner post on the debt relief and the Jubilee Act from our friends at Jubilee USA Network.
Imagine that your family has barely enough money to scrape by. A school sits down the street, but fees make it too expensive for you and your siblings to attend—so you’ve never been able to go to school.
But then imagine that one day the government announces that it has cancelled those school fees. You can go to school. You finally have the chance to learn everything you wanted to know.
This is the reality in Tanzania. Thanks to debt relief savings in 2001, three million more children have enrolled in school, 2,500 new schools have been built and 28,000 new teachers have been recruited.
Today we have an opportunity to extend these benefits to millions more around the world.
After months of anticipation, the Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation was introduced late yesterday by Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA), along with Finance Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-VT), Ranking Member Spencer Bachus (R-AL), and seven more Republican and Democrat members of Congress. This encouraging bi-partisan effort by Congressional leaders was an important step in continuing the fight to end global poverty.
This bill would give much-needed debt cancellation to 22 additional impoverished countries left out of previous debt relief deals. It would also help put an end to harmful economic conditions and allow for an audit of past illegitimate debts.
Last year, while the Jubilee Act passed in the House of Representatives and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, it didn’t pass the full Senate in time. But today, passage of the Jubilee Act is more urgent than ever—this year, 100 million people were pushed back into poverty due to the economic crisis.
Let’s pass the Jubilee Act in 2010 and help millions more enjoy school for the very first time.
-Hayley Hathaway, Operations and Communications Coordinator, Jubilee USA Network
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December 17, 2009 at 4:32 pm
it is awesome to see the launch of the 2009 legislation for Jubilee USA here, thank you ONE! it’s a longer legislative calendar year than 2008, we don’t have federal elections this year, so my optimism is high that this could be the year it passes both the house and the senate.
Jubilee is also calling for house parities in January to educate folks in the regions about the need for having debts relieved in a responsible manner, and legislative visits in February. many people are surprised to hear it would cost .only 40 cents per U.S. resident to cancel the debt of up to 24 additional impoverished countries’ debts to the U.S., and less than a $1 on top of that to cancel the debts of these countries to the World Bank & IMF. they have everything you need to do it. but forty cents . . . . . i pay more than that when i tip my barista!
i love when ONE works with our partners. thank you. happy holidays.
December 18, 2009 at 11:43 am
This is so exciting! This legislation could really make a positive change in many, many countries. It is unfathomable that we can bail out huge banks and yet there are people around the world needlessly dying for lack of access to clean water and health care. This important piece of legislation could be the push that is needed for many countries who desperately need to get back on their feet. Everyone needs to email their Representative and demand change, not chains!!!
December 18, 2009 at 12:33 pm
This is great and I am so excited. I am so proud of the Jubilee USA staff, members and individuals who have worked and helped the Jubilee Act go forward! I really hope that Jubilee USA will reach their big goal 2010.
All human beings are worth to have their basic needs filled.
Let’s pass the Jubilee Act in 2010
Trevlig helg – Happy holidays,
Martina
December 18, 2009 at 10:46 pm
Great work! I hope for success! Thank you!