Join Us in Fasting for Debt Relief

The School Sisters of Notre Dame Global Justice & Peace Commission would like to invite you to join us in a day of fasting, prayer and action on behalf of the millions around the globe who remain locked in poverty and suffer under a crushing and unjust burden of debt. This nationwide effort is called the "Cancel Debt Fast" – organized by Jubilee USA and endorsed by the Leadership Conference of Women Religious.

Individuals, congregations, and local organizations can participate in the Cancel Debt Fast by committing to fast for a day or more and on the same day to contact or meet with their Member of Congress, asking the congressperson to support the JUBILEE Act. On any given day during the 40-day Cancel Debt Fast, debt cancellation advocates across the United States and around the world will be engaging in this powerful act of solidarity with those who are bound by the chains of unjust and oppressive debts.

Many of us have chosen September 17 as our day for fasting and action – you choose the day that works best for you! (September 6 - October 15)

Action

In conjunction with the fast, we are urging advocates to write a note to your Senators and Representative on an empty paper plate with some version of the following simple message:

Dear Senator__________________/Representative______________________

I am hungry for justice.
I plan to participate in this fall's "Cancel Debt Fast!"
Please support the Jubilee Act (HR 2634)

*Be sure to include your name, address and phone number to prove that you
are a constituent and so that your member of Congress can respond to you!

You can send your paper plates to the SSND GJP Office (by the end of September) and Tim will forward them on to Jubilee USA. If you need more time, you can send your plates and any others you collect directly to Jubilee USA (212 East Capitol Street NE, Washington DC 20003) by October 15. Your plates will be combined with thousands of others from around the country and hand delivered to your Senators and Representative by Rev. David Duncombe as he walks the halls of Congress as part of this fall's 40-day Cancel Debt Fast prior to the IMF/World Bank annual meetings on October 20.

Background

2007 is the Sabbath Year – seven years after the historic Jubilee 2000 campaign brought the issue of crushing international debt onto the agenda of world leaders. The Sabbath Year is an opportunity to reflect on the life-saving impacts of debt cancellation provided in 1999 and again in 2005 while addressing the unfinished agenda on international debt. As part of the Sabbath Year, Jubilee USA Network is calling on Congress to pass the Jubilee Act H.R.2634.

The Jubilee Act is designed to direct the US to do its part to address the debt of poor countries in a most significant way. It also helps us take a leadership role in promoting achievement of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. More debt relief and more responsible government actions result in more children (particularly girls) attending school and less children dieing from preventable disease. We know this because we've seen the results that limited debt relief has already had.

Did You Know...

Sub-Saharan Africa has repaid 90 percent of the $294 billion received in loans between 1970 and 2002. However, high interest rates and unjust lending practices have left $201 billion in debt remaining, totaling $14 billion of annual debt service for all Sub-Saharan nations combined.

Even with the small steps taken to cancel debt so far, Uganda has been able to double its school enrollment and Mozambique has vaccinated 500,000 children.

Burundi was able to eliminate school fees in 2005, allowing an additional 300,000 children to gain access to education. In Zambia, 4,500 new teachers have been hired and fees for rural healthcare have been abolished since 2006.

Yet despite these and other successes to date for every dollar Africa receives in aid, it pays out $2.30 in debt service.

Visit
http://www.ssnd-milw.org/shalom_ci_int_debt.htm
or www.canceldebtfast.org
or www.jubileeusa.org/jubilee-act.html
for more information and additional resources.

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The dignity of the human person is the foundation and center of the Catholic Social Tradition. Current immigration and border control policies do not uphold this value nor do they adequately provide security.

In June 2004, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Migration and The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, INC. (CLINIC) Board of Directors resolved to make comprehensive immigration reform, with special emphasis on legalization, a public policy priority within the Church. Many other national Catholic institutions have also made legalization a policy priority.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Justice for Immigrants: A Journey of Hope campaign is designed to unite and mobilize a growing network of Catholic institutions, individuals, and other persons of good faith in support of a broad legalization program and comprehensive immigration reform.

The Campaign's primary objectives are:

• To educate the public, especially the Catholic community, including Catholic public officials,
  about Church teaching on migration and immigrants;
• To create political will for positive immigration reform;
• To enact legislative and administrative reforms based on the principles articulated by the bishops; and
• To organize Catholic networks to assist qualified immigrants obtain the benefits of the reforms.

Take Action—Let Your Voice be Heard! Our nation needs workable and just comprehensive immigration reform - not just stronger border control policies. Ideally, new immigration reform legislation will:

1. provide some possible path to legalization,
2. support family reunification,
3. include worker protections, and
4. address security concerns with an effective, humane, border policy.

Now is the time to share your views on this issue! Go to http://www.justiceforimmigrants.org/action.html or http://capwiz.com/networklobby/home/ for sample letters and easy email advocacy options for contacting your elected representatives.

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