Edmund Rice Justice Bulletin

Another interesting response to the Asian tsunami tragedy has been the decision of some countries to cancel the debt owed by affected countries such as Indonesia, thereby enabling resources of that country to be directed to the desperate needs of its own people rather than western creditors. Why then have so many countries, Australia included, been so reluctant to support the call of the Jubilee campaign for a one-off cancellation of third world debt?

The meeting of G7 Finance Ministers in London on February 4-5th provides a real opportunity to encourage a fair deal on debt cancellation.

Jubilee Australia is asking its supporters to join the co-ordinated global campaign and to fax the ambassadors of the G7 countries about the upcoming meeting.

According to Jack Jones Zulu of Jubilee Zambia, "There will never be sustainable human development if the debt is not cancelled. We did not experience the tsunami but we live with these conditions every day. Our people are dying because of debt, because we do not have the money for hospitals and drugs. That is why we are joining with others to send out this message, we want to make a global impact."

Information about the campaign can be found at the Jubilee Australia website.