wfn.org | "Dialogue 2000" aims at cancellation of foreign debt

[FRANK_IMHOFF.parti@ecunet.org (FRANK IMHOFF)]

Latin American campaign addresses church groups, NGOs

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina/GENEVA, 16 April 1998 (lwi) - Campaign "Dialogue
2000: a dialogue toward the future of our America" is bringing together
representatives of churches and ecumenical groups, nongovernmental
organizations and labor unions in Latin America to reflect on the economic,
political and social consequences of foreign debt. The goal is to bring
about a cancellation of debts in the year 2000.

The participants in this initiative are convinced that the burden of the
foreign debt is directly related to the "violation of basic human rights,
such as the right to a dignified job and salary, food and health, housing
and a healthy environment", according to a report by the Latin American and
Caribbean Communication Agency (ALC).

A first interreligious working meeting on this theme will be held at the
end of this month in the Argentinian capital, Buenos Aires.

According to the World Bank's 1998 report on global development, Latin
America's long-term debts rose by 4 percent in the past year, to reach
approximately 538 billion US dollars.

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Lutheran World Information
Editorial Assistant: Janet Bond-Nash
E-mail: jbn@lutheranworld.org
http://www.lutheranworld.org/