“In the face of this massive destruction, northern and international creditors should not continue to hold South peoples in bondage for debts that have in large part, only contributed to their impoverishment and deprivation.”
We express our deepest sympathy and solidarity for the peoples of Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and many other South countries who are currently suffering from the devastation unleashed by the tsunami last December 26. We cannot overemphasize how profoundly saddened we are by the climbing death toll, numbering over 155,000 as of January 4, the many thousand others missing or injured, the destruction of property, the loss of livelihoods and the widespread dislocation of communities.
The Philippines was also severely hit by super-typhoons in the last few weeks, leading to the death of more than 1,000 people, the destruction of over 10,000 hectares of farmlands, and rendering 53,000 families homeless and without access to clean water.
Now, more than ever, at their hour of greatest need, the peoples of the South must be heeded in their long-standing demand for debt cancellation. In the face of this massive destruction, northern and international creditors should not continue to hold South peoples in bondage for debts that have in large part, only contributed to their impoverishment and deprivation.
If there is any measure of sincerity in the outpouring of compassion from North governments for the peoples of the South, let this be through concrete action. In addition to emergency relief operations and rehabilitation, what we need immediately is:
UNCONDITIONAL DEBT CANCELLATION NOW!
Southern governments should not continue to prioritize debt service, and squander much needed public funds:
STOP PAYING ONEROUS and ILLEGITIMATE DEBTS! Prioritize relief and rehabilitation, basic social services, clean and safe water, and other human development programs!
Signatories
AFRICA – Regional
Jubilee South
AMERICAS – Regional
Jubileo Sur Americas
ASIA – Regional
DAWN South East Asia, Gigi Francisco
International Gender and Trade Network – Asia, Gigi Francisco
ARENA, Jeannie Manipon, Executive Director
Focus on the Global South – India, Thailand and Philippines, Shalmali Guttal
ASIA/PACIFIC – Regional
Asia Pacific Environmental Exchange, David Batker, Director
Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD)
Coalition Against Trafficking in Women – Asia Pacific, Jean Enriquez, Dep. Director
JS – APMDD (Asia Pacific Movement on Debt and Development)
Network of Asia Pacific Youth (NAPY)
EUROPE
JADES group
European Network for the Recognition of Ecologica Debt – ENRED
Vittorio Agnoletto, Member of the European Parliament (Italy) – GEU/NGL Group
Feleknas Uca, Member of European Parliament
Gabi Zimmer, Germany, Member of European Parliament
Helmuth Markov, Germany, Member of European Parliament
INTERNATIONAL
International Rivers Network, Peter Bosshard
CADTM – Committee for the Abolition of the Third World Debt, Eric Toussaint
World Council of Churches (WCC)
Rogate Reuben Mshana, World Council of Churches
Southern Peoples Ecological Debt Creditors Alliance (SPEDCA)
Jubilee South
Instituto de Estudios Ecologistas del Tercer Mundo, Cecilia Cherrez
AFRICA African Network for Environment and Economic Justice
Ecowas Network for Debt and Development(ECONDAD)
Jubilee Campaign Nigeria
ANGOLA
Jubilee 2000 Angola-LiJua, Benjamin Castelo
AUSTRALIA
Aid/Watch
Australian Conservation Foundation
Friends of the Earth – Australia, Cam Walker
Sisters of Mercy, Brisbane, Australia
BANGLADESH
ActionAid Bangladesh
Advancing Public Interest Trust
Bangladesh Krishok Federation, Badrul Alam, President
BanglaPraxis – Dhaka, Bangladesh, Zakir Kibria
Community Development Library – Dhaka, Mohiuddin Ahmad
LOKOJ
Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD)
Unnayan Onneshan/The Innovators
BELGIUM
11.11.11 Coalition – Belgium, Pol Vandevoort
Proyekto Gato, Jan Capelle
BURMA/THAILAND
Shan Women’s Action Network (SWAN)
CANADA
Blue Planet Project, Anil Naidoo
KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives, Mary Corkery,Executive Director
Sammy Gamboa, Asia Program Officer, Canadian Human Rights Foundation,Canada
The Council of Canadians, Maude Barlow
COLOMBIA
Censat Agua Viva (Friends of the Earth)
CONGO
GRAPR et NAD, CATDM et Jubile/RDC, Victor Nzuzi
ECUADOR
Accion Ecologica – Equador, Aurora Donosa
FIJI
Ecumenical Center for Research Education and Advocacy (ECREA)
FINLAND
Finnish Asiatic Society, Tove Selin, Chairperson
GERMANY
ATTAC – Germany, Philipp Hersel and Angelika Shams
Bread for the World, Campaign on the Human Right to Water
Dorothee Menzner, German Socialist Party, PDS
Dr. Hans-Ulrich Hofmann, Minister, Lutherian Congregation, Gnodstadt
Freya Pausewang, Sangita Pausewang, Anil Pausewang, Lora Pausewang
German Peace Council, Hans-Peter Richter
Lilo Lottermoser, PDS Hamburg
Natalie Hilgendorff, Member, ATTAC and PDS Wkg. Grp
Peter Silbereisen, Germany
PROYDE – Germany, Javier Sanchez, Director
Socialist Youth, Victor Perli, Speaker
URGEWALD – Germany
GREECE
Campaign Genoa 2001 – Greece, Petros Constantinou
HONGKONG
Documentation for Action Groups in Asia (DAGA)
The Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism
INDIA
Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti (BGVS), Vinod Raina
Center for Organization Research and Education (CORE), Roy Laifungbam
Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF)
Insaaf Internationa, Vineeta Gupta
Women’s Centre, Bombay
INDONESIA
HEKS – Indonesia, Anna Marsiana
InsistPress
Involvement
Koalisi Anti Utang (KAU) – Indonesia
Praxis, Ayi Bunyamin
WALHI – Friends of the Earth Indonesia, Longena Ginting, Executive Director
IRAQ
Jubilee Iraq, Justin Alexander
ISRAEL/PALESTINE
Alternative Information Center – Connie Hackbarth, Director and Michael Warschawski, Co-Chair
ITALY
Observatorio Independiente sobre la Region Andina SELVAS.ORG, Cristiano Morsolin
World March of Women – Italy, Paola Manduca
JAPAN
ATTAC – Japan, Yoko Akimoto
JORDAN & PALESTINE
Arab Group for the Protection of Nature, Razan Zuayter
KOREA
All Together, South Korea
Globalize from Below, South Korea
Korean People’s Action Against FTAs and WTO (KoPA)
KYRGYZTAN
Bureau on Human Rights and Rule of Law, Natalia Ablova,Director
MALAYSIA
Group of Concerned Citizens, Malaysia
Monitoring Sustainability of Globalization – Malaysia, Charles Santiago
Socialist Party of Malaysia, S.Arutchelvan, Secretary-General
NEPAL
Rural Reconstruction Nepal, Dr. Arjun Kharki, President
Water and Energy Users Federation – Nepal
NETHERLANDS
Bank Track, Johan Frijns, Coordinator
Transnational Institute, Brid Brennan, Pietje Vervest
XminusY Solidarity Fund, Peter Custers
NICARAGUA
Centro de Estudios Internacionales
NIGER
RNDD – Niger, Oubandoma Salissou
PACIFIC
Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific Movement/Pacific Concerns Resource Centre
Pacific Network on Globalization (PANG), Shelly Emalin Rao, Director
PAKISTAN
ActionAid Pakistan
Creed Alliance Pakistan, Aly Ercelawn and M. Nauman
Sarah Siddiqi, Karachi, Pakistan
PERU
Ecovida, Nilton Deza
PHILIPPINES
AKBAYAN Party List, Loreta Ann Rosales, Representative
Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL)
Confederation of Independent Unions in the Public Sector (CIU), Emako Naldoza
Cynthia Estrada
FDC-Dipolog, Tito Fiel
Fr. Briggs Odtohan, SVD
GITIB, Inc.-Ozamiz City, Allan Ramirez
Institute for Popular Democracy
Jasmin Nario-Galace
Jemima O. Munez
KAALAGAD Katipunang Kristiyano
MAKABAYAN
MAKALAYA, Manggagawang Kababaihang Mithi ay Paglaya
Maria Lourdes Quisumbing-Baybay
PHILNET-RDI Visayas, Ramon Kahulugan
Reynaldo Enales
Sylvia Estrada-Claudio
Transparency and Accountability Network – Gensan
Young Moro Professionals Network
Philippine Global Exchange
Resource Center for People’s Development
Freedom from Debt Coalition – Philippines
SENEGAL
Forum for African Alternatives – Dakar, Senegal, Demba Moussa Dembele
SOUTH AFRICA
Dennis Brutus, Jubilee South Africa
AIDC – Alternative Information and Development Center, Brian Ashley
Charles Abrahams, South Africa
SOUTH ASIA
South Asian Solidarity for Rivers and Peoples (SARP), Nepal
SPAIN
Observatorio dela Deuda enla Globalizacion, Barcelona, Spain
Red Ciudadana por la Abolicion, Spain
Joan Martinez-Alier, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona
Comite de Apoyo al MST de Barcelona
Moviementos Sociales de Esquerra, Antonio Arnau Carillo de Albornoz
Unida del Pais Valencia
Monitors Cooperants d’Olot
SRI LANKA
Center for Environmental Justice, Hemantha Withanage, Executive Director
MONLAR, Sri Lanka
SWITZERLAND
Hans Brintzinger
UK
Bishop Bernardino Mandlate, UK
Bretton Woods Project – UK, Jeff Powell, Coordinator
One World Action, Andy Rutherford
Padre Jacinto Pio Wacussanga
Interconnect, Peter and Gail Mott, Co-Editors
Roger Moody
Down to Earth – The International Campaign for Ecological Justice in Indonesia
USA
50 years is Enough
Africa Action – USA, Salih Booker, Executive Director
African Services Committee, Kim Nichols, Executive Director
Alliance for Justice, Medical Mission Sisters – North America, Janet Gottschalk
American Jewish World Service, Washington, DC, Jacob Fain
April M. Hurley, MD
Asia Pacific Environmental Exchange
Bay Area Jubilee Debt Cancellation Coalition
Center for Economc Justice, Beverly Bell
Citizens’ Network on Essential Services (CNES), Nancy Alexander
Holy Cross International Justice Office, Mary Turgi, CSC, Director
Jubilee USA Network, Neil Watkins, Co-Coordinator
Jubilee Virgina Chapter – USA, Cheryl Duckworth
Jubilee York – PA, USA, Abbey Fisher
JW Smith – The Institute for Economic democracy
Leadership Conference of Women Religious (USA)
Nicaragua Center for Community Action
Nigaragua Network, Katherine Hoyt, National Co-Coordinator
NY Cispes – Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador
PDHRE, Peoples Movement for Human Rights Learning, Minar Pimple, Executive Director
Sisters of the Holy Cross – Congregation Justice Committee, Notre Dame
Stephen Kretzmann
Sustainable Energy & Economy Network – USA, Daphne Wysham
Sustainable Energy and Economy Network, Daphne Wysham
United Church of Christ (USA) Network for Environmental & Economic Responsibility, Rev. Douglas B. Hunt
US Network for Global Economic Justice
Washington Office on Africa – USA, Jennifer Davis, Interim Executive Director
Water for All Campaign, Public Citizen, Sara Grusky
Nicaragua-US Friendship Office, Rita Clark
ZIMBABWE
Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development – Zimbabwe, David Malungisa, Nancy S. Lovejoy
Jubilee South/Jubilee South – APMDD/Freedom from Debt Coalition of the Philippines, December 28, 2004
Categories: Debt Relief, Odious Debts