wfn.org | April 9 rally to focus on debt relief

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

Feb. 10, 2000 News media contact: Linda Bloom·(212) 870-3803·New York
10-21-31-32-71B{055}

By United Methodist News Service

United Methodists are being encouraged to join others in a human chain
around the U.S. Capitol on April 9 to call for the cancellation of all debts
owed by poor countries.

The rally will be sponsored by Jubilee 2000/USA, a coalition of
environmental, religious and social justice groups advocating for the
lifting of the crushing burden of international debt, through a fair and
accountable process, by the end of this year. The United Methodist Board of
Global Ministries and United Methodist Board of Church and Society are among
the groups with representatives on the coalition's steering committee.

Also an international campaign, Jubilee 2000 is based on the biblical
concept of jubilee, through which God ordered the Israelites to forgive
debts, free slaves and return property every 50 years.

"I think a lot of people who are faith-based take very seriously the Jubilee
message," said Marilyn Clement, executive secretary for economic justice
with the Women's Division, Board of Global Ministries. She noted that a
peaceful Jubilee 2000 worship service and march in Seattle during the World
Trade Organization meetings there drew significant support and
participation.

Mark Harrison, a Board of Church and Society executive, said the fact that
coalition members were successful in lobbying Congress and the White House
to take action on debt relief "has been a great testament to the religious
community." But despite those accomplishments, he added, "We need to
continue our work to get the United States to totally fund debt relief."

As many as 45 countries have been identified as "highly indebted poor
countries." According to the U.S. General Accounting Office, those countries
owe a total of $6.8 billion to the United States, with 90 percent of the
debt coming from African countries.

Last June, the G7 nations - the seven leading industrialized nations, along
with Russia - reached a commitment to debt relief during an economic summit
in Cologne, Germany. President Clinton sent a request for $1 billion in
additional funds for debt relief ($370 million in 2000 and $600 million more
over the next three years) to Congress last September. The $1 billion would
cover the U.S. portion of the G7 commitment.

Although HR3194, a bill passed by Congress and signed by Clinton in
November, included $123 million for debt relief, it fell short of the $370
million requested. "It does not cover enough countries, and it does not
ensure that all the countries will experience debt relief," said Susie
Johnson, the Women's Division executive for public policy.

The goal of Jubilee 2000/USA is to convince Congress to approve $850 million
over the next three years to fulfill the U.S. commitment.

The United Methodist Women's Action Network -- noting "one out of every five
people on earth is suffering because of the unpayable debts owed by their
governments" -- is urging church members to write to their representatives
and senators in support of the funding.

Johnson hopes to draw a couple of hundred United Methodist Women to
Washington for the April 9-10 events. Other church members also are being
encouraged to participate in the actions during the "National Mobilization
for Debt Cancellation." The United Methodist Building on Capitol Hill will
provide a hospitality area for participants, according to Harrison.

Worship services will precede the April 9 rally, which will begin at noon.
Speakers and musicians will be featured for several hours and participants
are expected to move toward the Capitol building around 3:30 p.m. to begin
forming the chain. April 10 will serve as a lobbying day, with participants
visiting Congressional offices.

More information is available at the Jubilee 2000 Web site:
www.j2000usa.org.

# # #

*************************************
United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://www.umc.org/umns