Jubilee 1999-Urgent Action Appeal

Urgent Action Appeal re Debt Cancellation - January 31, 2000

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This letter is being sent to the 190 congregations currently involved in Jubilee. It is intended to provide an update and to invite you to participate in an Urgent Action Appeal. Please share this letter with members of Session and with the committee in your congregation involved in Jubilee.

Debt Cancellation Campaign - Urgent Action Appeal:

Many of you wrote to the Canadian Government in the lead-up to the meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund at the end of September. Thank you.

Our efforts and those of Jubilee coalitions around the world are helping to ensure continuing public visibility of the debt cancellation issue. On Dec. 10, the Canadian Government cancelled the $600,000 debt owed to it by Bangladesh. Bangladesh is the first country to benefit from the newly established Canadian Debt Initiative. This is good news indeed.

In late February, the Federal Government will bring down its budget for 2000/2001. This pre-budget period is an opportunity to remind the Government of the commitments it has made on debt cancellation. Please write to the Minister of Finance, Paul Martin and briefly make the following points:

Note that you are involved in the Canadian Ecumenical Jubilee Initiative.
Acknowledge the Government's decision to cancel the debt owed by Bangladesh. In making this decision, the Canadian Government did not impose the harsh measures (Structural Adjustment Program - SAPs) which typically are part of a debt cancellation package. Jubilee coalitions around the world have called for the replacement of the SAPs with sustainable social and economic development policies. Commend the Government for this decision.
Urge the Government to follow through on the commitments it made in March 1999 of 100% debt cancellation for a number of poor countries.

Please address your letter to:

Hon. Paul Martin, M.P.
Minister of Finance,
House of Commons,
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6

No postage is required. Please copy the letter to your M.P. and to Justice Ministries.

You may like to hold a letter writing bee with members of Session or the committee involved in Jubilee. Doing this activity in a group setting is an opportunity to turn the activity into a social occasion. Our letters do have an impact. They remind the Government that we care deeply about this issue and that we are continuing to monitor their actions.

Redistribution of Wealth:

Here are some suggestions for participating in the second phase of Jubilee

1. A Jubilee Budget

The Canadian Ecumenical Jubilee Initiative made a formal submission to the federal budget consultation process in November 1999. An action kit has also been prepared for churches and groups who wish to support a "Jubilee" budget. The kit includes letter-writing as outlined above, and also materials to support visits with MPs and letters or op/ed columns to your local media. The Jubilee Budget Submission and Budget Action Kit can be ordered from the Jubilee office:

Canadian Ecumenical Jubilee Initiative
Box 772, Toronto
ON, M4Y 2N6

(416) 922-1592 ext. 30
jubilee@devp.org

www.web.ca/~jubilee

2. Becoming a Jubilee Community - The Jubilee Pledge

This is the principal action recommended for congregations and church groups to support Redistribution of Wealth. To plan this activity you will need:

The pledge insert "We are a Jubilee People" (available with the Poster and Leader's Guide).
A list of your congregation's current programs in the community.

It would also be useful to have on hand the material on the national and international Jubilee campaigns from Sharing the Wealth, the Leader's Guide for Year 2.

The pledge falls into three parts: the Declaration, the Community Commitment and the Global Commitment.

Examine the relevant scriptures and the Declaration portion of the pledge. If the Declaration fairly represents your vision of Jubilee, sign your congregation or group name.
Look at your ministry in the local community. Is there a first step, or a next step, you can take to express Jubilee living where you are?
Review the national and international campaigns Canadian churches are supporting. Which one or two or more will you become involved in?

Send completed pledges to your Member of Parliament, and copies to the Jubilee Office and to Justice Ministries. To see samples of pledges other groups have made visit the Jubilee web site, www.web.ca/~jubilee. Pledges may be sent anytime up to Pentecost 2000.

3. New Resource:

The Book Room now has in stock Jubilee, Wealth and the Market, the second volume of readings from the Theological Committee. This book will assist individuals, groups and church communities in deepening their understanding of the biblical roots of Jubilee. Cost is $8.00.

We are always pleased to answer any questions you may have about Jubilee and to hear stories and reports of your activities. Feel free to contact Stephen (ext. 256) or Gail (ext. 250) at any time.

Blessing and peace to you all

Stephen Allen
Associate Secretary
Justice Ministries