In those moments of bleak depression when campaigners wonder if politicians ever listen, I do debate  if its all a waste of time and then something like this from local MP Richard Burdon comes into my inbox and I give a huge cheer and my faith is restored. We are getting our message across to some.

Now we wait to see if another local MP for Dudley  - Ian Pearson will respond to the thousands of  petition signings and letters he has received via the Treasury to take  the final  steps necessary. to outlaw the  vulture fund process.

This Black Country MP  and Treasury Minister Ian Pearson is in charge of taking the  all important decision about whether to turn the proposed new law into a priority for the next parliamentary session, by putting it into the Queen’s Speech on 18 November.

I await to see if  they did get the message or will I be going back into  despair of politicians ability to  listen to the plea for justice.

Audrey Miller

Hilary Oliver, Fair Trader, Ombersley Rd Methodist Church, Worcester gives apersonal impression of the meeting in Worcester

A colourful, lively and good-humoured meeting took place at St Andrew’s Methodist Church, Worcester, on September 15^th, when Michael Foster (Minister for International Development and MP for Worcester) and Nick Dearden, (Director of the Jubilee Debt Campaign) gave key speeches on Forgiving Debts and Towards Responsibility in the Market Place.

Jubilee Debt Campaign supporters from Birmingham and Worcester were joined by local leaders and representatives from Christian Aid, Trade Justice and many denominations of other Worcester churches. Paul Jackson, (newly appointed to a Chair in Birmingham University’s International Dept,) was also present, as a member of Ombersley Rd Methodist, Worcester, as was another member, Dot Johnson, whose tireless and inspirational campaigning work has recently led to a Christian Aid award.   All combined to make a united, committed and very informed audience.

The meeting was ably chaired by the Revd John Johansen-Berg (International Director of Community for Reconciliation who interspersed stories, examples and particular situations, at relevant times, from his own years of experience.

Nick Dearden mesmerised his listeners with words that freely flowed both with passion and with detailed knowledge. While citing the predicaments of so many developing countries, he acknowledged gratefully his belief that our Government IS convinced of the necessity of Debt Cancellation of unpayable debts. He assured us of the enormous impact of the Debt Relief Scheme and that debt cancellation money has NOT been used to line the pockets of dictators but to increase, for example, the number of teachers and midwives and improve rural infrastructure.

Last January, the Vulture Fund Campaign began and by July, the Government had already consulted JDC on how these could be stopped. (DfID had put pressure on the Treasury.) Nick now wanted to see expansion to countries other than those who also benefit from debt relief.

The Jubilee Debt Campaign still exists, as it has just been a starting point to “address the iniquities of the global economy to the developing world”.

One hundred billion dollars of debt has been cancelled so far, but a further 400 hundred billion is still needed to allow developing countries to achieve the Millennium Development goals for their people. So many are still spending more on repaying debts than on their education budgets and so on.

(A wry note was added here that not so long ago, this would have seemed a colossal sum of money, but is now viewed somewhat differently since the credit crunch and staggering amounts seen re the banking market.  .  .  !!!)

The idea is that debtors and creditors should come together with neutral arbitrators to allow the debtors a voice to find a just, fair method and amount of repayment.

(Again, this last year of debts suddenly faced by ourselves, has clearly shown it’s not the debtors who have necessarily been the irresponsible ones, but those giving the loans in the first place!)

Loans will still continue to be a necessity of course, but with radical restructuring to ensure not ending up back in the first place. Nick cited Norway (with its shipping business) as an example to follow; it has started the ball rolling with 100 million dollars of debt cancellation.  Sustainable development must be the new way to go, he concluded.

Mike Foster picked up on this and agreed that the aim must be fair and sustainable development in the midst of global recession and climate change.  He outlined the Government’s and Department’s policies, targets and recent practices.   At Copenhagen, they will call for a global fund of 100 billion dollars per year to help developing countries through.

But how best to do this?  And how best to empower those on the ground to force a more enlightened and transparent government where needed? Questions from the audience prompted further discussion and comments from both speakers.

Some of the points raised included:

• What about aid delivered via general budget support to corrupt systems?             What happens when it is via the Food Programme instead?

-  Sector-based budget support can direct more specific funding but the problem is, it’s the donors then holding Governments to account, rather than their own people. Except that, of course, the provision of schools, clinics etc may enlighten people and thus lead to more control over the economic and financial workings of their country.)

• Can we have some good news to convince the man on the street and encourage all us “little me”s in the battle to win hearts and minds?

-                     Haiti’s debt relief at last; Ecuador and Bolivia’s participatory budgeting;

-                     The Bank of the South as an alternative to the World Bank

-                     Public attitude to Fair Trade has changed; where once seen as a charity it is now viewed as smart business sense (about 70% of households now make a conscious decision to buy Fair Trade and the F/T label has reached £1 billion of certified income.

-                     All the “little me”s banded together DO make a difference; especially at events like G8 Birmingham human chain and Gleneagles Summit.

-                      The postcard campaigns DO work but individual, personal letters are far more effective. It is much better, for example, to ask your MP to ask the relevant Minister about your concerns, rather than simply demand an Early Day Motion on . . .  (and beware of circular e-mails, especially with “fill in your name here” un-deleted!!)

And so, finally, what now?

Well, we will be watching with anxious interest the outcomes at Copenhagen, the progress of the Government’s stated policies and yes, Mr Foster, we will still be flying the flag with our rainbow scarves (despite another of the MP’s tips, that these would pre-alert any otherwise unsuspecting politician as to the issue with which they’re about to be confronted!!)

Jubilee Debt Campaign once again had a small stall at the Greenbelt Festival over the Bank holiday. I volunteered for a short spell and had some amusing experiences to share with other campaigners.

My main task was to engage with members of the public who were browsing the dozens of charity stalls in the marquee, and persuade them to sign a postcard to their MP about Vulture funds.

It was really encouraging that no one actually refused to sign! In fact one Anglican clergy signed two cards –

One for the MP she lobbies on behalf of her parish community in which the church is situated and a second MP in whose constituency she actually lives. The two MP’s are members of different parties, which again provides for interesting opportunity to play off one political party against the other.

I wonder how many other clergy with several churches to care for might have the same interesting campaigning opportunity. Any advance of two MP’s?

I was also encouraged to see that so many people actually knew their MP. Those who didn’t were able to give their postcode so that I could use the web

and add the name of their MP to the postcard  at a latter stage.

Everyone was keen to take advantage of our free postal service and offer to deliver them by hand to the House of Commons. This set me thinking that we should be given free postal service when we write to our MP. Given the high cost of stamps it is yet another way that the poor are denied democratic rights to let their views be known.

Greenbelt is very much a Christian Festival and many of the festival goers have been committed to the debt campaign for over a decade. It was certainly not surprising to see so many Jubilee rainbow scarves amongst the twenty one thousand  attending. There was a huge range of music, talks, workshops and programme activities.

One new idea, which is taking hold, is the idea of using facebook to promote the campaign and sale of scarves to supporters.

John who is a new JDC worker changed his Facebook profile picture to one wearing his Rainbow JDC scarf and changed his status to recommend his friends to buy one and directed them to me to make a purchase: -

In one week five new sales! It will be fun to see how many rainbow scarves we can get onto Facebook?

The experience of collecting hundreds of postcards over the weekend was really encouraging to all the volunteers. To speak with the supporters face to face and have that feeling of solidarity is very helpful. Campaigners do need to be nurtured and encouraged in their endeavours either by talking to each other or via comments on the blog so do make your comments now!

It is clear  that we all need to share our passion and anger so that we can be re energergised to fight the injustices we have exposed in Vulture funds.

This blog is by Nick Dearden, of Jubilee Debt Campaign

Recent events in Iceland may have completed that countries transformation from free market, credit-fuelled billionaire playground to champion underdog. The Icelandic Parliament’s offer to the UK and Dutch governments earlier this week that it will pay back its debts but only at a level it can afford, could provide an invaluable model for how indebted nations can start putting the needs of their people ahead of the desires of the global financial markets.

Iceland has become synonymous with the financial crisis after nearly a decade of drinking neo-liberal kool aid. Around 2000 Iceland went on a deregulation and privatisation binge, totally reforming its financial sector, dropping bank reserve requirements, raising interest rates sharply, sucking in foreign capital and encouraging massive borrowing. It lived the dream being promoted by most European capitals at the time. So many millionaires flew into tiny Rejavik that a local politician demanded limitations on planes coming into the country.

Such a highly indebted financial system was, unsurprisingly, an early victim of the credit crunch, even though Iceland was not invested in sub-prime loans. Their situation was certainly not helped by Gordon Brown – proponent of the very policies Iceland had slavishly followed – who designated the country a terrorist state last October in order to seize Iceland’s banking assets in the UK. His attempt to derive popularity amongst investors at home neatly side-stepped the failure of UK authorities to adequately regulate UK investment.

The enormous anger that followed in Iceland toppled the government, and since then has radically reduced support in Iceland for the country’s membership of the EU. Most recently ordinary citizens have pushed members of the ruling coalition and opposition parties into opposing the enormous repayments being demanded by the British and Dutch governments.

That is the background to the decision earlier in the week of the Icelandic Parliament – the Althing –that it would repay its debts, but only at a rate it could afford. That is defined as spending no more than 4% growth in GDP to repay UK debts (and 2% for Dutch debts).

This decision, if implemented, is historical. Michael Hudson, Professor of Economics at the University of Missouri, has said that it is the first agreement “since the 1920s to subordinate foreign debt to the country’s ability to pay”. Hudson is referring to the 1920s debate that raged over capping Germany’s First World War reparations repayments. Keynes argued at the time that insisting on debt repayments beyond a level which also allowed the country to grow would inevitably mean forcing Germany to sell its assets or alternatively to borrow more money. He predicted the subsequent  anger and discontent caused in Germany, which led straight into World War II.

But the situation which Iceland is trying to deal with is one which has faced scores of developing countries for decades – countries with less responsibility for the current mess than Iceland. Many countries still have to pay unreasonable levels of debt by selling off assets, skewing their economy towards unsustainable export trade and foregoing their right to development.

Iceland is correct to assert that states in debt have rights that trump the rights of creditors to bleed their economies dry. When companies and municipalities become insolvent, they are protected by work-out laws – but no such work-out mechanism exists when it comes to countries.

If limiting Iceland’s debt repayments is right, the same must apply, to an even greater extent, to poorer countries. Lebanon spends over 50% of government expenditure in servicing debts, Uruguay 32% and the Philippines 31%. These states top a much longer list of developing countries who understand from experience the injustice of indebtedness better than any European government.

Iceland has led the way in standing up for the rights of debtors. It may be followed by a range of indebted Eastern European countries who are also currently having their economic policies dictated to them by the International Monetary Fund.

Jubilee Debt Campaign is a part of the Put People First platform.

For more background details read Michael Hudson’s article here.

In my last post to you I asked you to take action and get in touch with your MP. JDC supporters all across the  country have been doing just that and now I have some great news to share.

Last week, the British government announced a consultation on whether it should pass legislation to Stop Vulture Fund profiteering from poor country debt in UK courts.  And, we also have indication from US congressional committee leaders that they are interested in moving forward with the Stop Vulture Funds in America.

At long last it would seem that the British Government is listening to moral arguments and may even take on board that this practice is outrageous to take funds from poor countries which was intended for those in need.  Then to give the money to rich and powerful companies many of whom operate from tax havens.

The other good news story is that Minister for Development Mike Foster MP for Worcester has agreed to speak at a meeting in Worcester on September 15^th. Also speaking on that night will be  The Director of Jubilee Debt Campain, Nick Deardon  who will able to voice our concerns about this and other aspect of forgiving debts.

Download a flyer here

Ps If anybody can explain trackback to me please get in touch

I hate the word vulture, it immediatly  paints a picture of death, picking over dry bones and ugly preying beings. Not surprising then that I am taking up the campaign to stop vulture funds being activiated by JDC.

Vulture funds are private companies that try to scavenge profit from the debts of some of the world’s poorest countries.

The evil deed is that by buying up the debts of heavily indebted poor countries at a cheap price,  they then try to recover the full amount, often by suing through the courts in UK or US.

Another part of the evil is that the  companies are often based in tax havens so compounding the injustice for the poorest countries. When the vultures strike and go in for the kill it often means that money given as debt relief is going into the pockets of wealthy investors, not spent on health and education in the poor countries.
At the moment thousands of campaigners across the world are working  on the issue. In UK we  are asking  MPs to bring an end to the vulture culture.

The Developing Country Debt (Restriction of Recovery) bill, introduced in Parliament by backbench MPs in May 2009, is our best hope of putting an end to the vulture funds in UK

Please write to your MP and ask them to:

• Sign Early Day Motion 1440 on Regulating Vulture Funds
• Write to the International Development Minister to ask the Government to introduce the provisions covered in the Bill
• Support international measures to end the vulture culture and clean up global finance

Go our main website and down load campaign materials and network this information to all your contacts.

Thanks for reading this I feel much better after  blogging about the issue and can only hope you will take action.

This blog has been written by Christian activist  John Johansen – Berg who draws on his experience in campaigning against the evil of apartheid and how  this can link with  the Jubilee Debt Campaign of today. John  also tells of his own  action in India  and call for fundamental reform of financial institutions.

The experience of South Africa and the international movement in breaking the chains of oppression is a useful reminder that bringing about change may take decades and require huge efforts by many people, but the gain in a just and fair economic system is worth the effort.

The Jubilee Campaign was another step in the right direction in calling for the cancellation of the debts of the poorest nations. It is based on the biblical concept of Jubilee, forgiveness of debts, and brought in the note of celebration by circling the representatives of the international market in its meeting in Birmingham. It achieved great success in a short period of time. The weakness of this strategy is in the danger that the process begins again; new loans can be made with rising interest rates; the flow of wealth from poorer to richer countries has a nasty habit of reappearing.

Fundamental change is needed in the system. It is as basic as loving your neighbour, even your enemies, as Jesus taught. India is an example of loans made with strings attached. In the case of Indian agriculture it was a demand that farmers changed from the self-sustaining agriculture, which had proved successful for generations, to the production of cash crops. Companies in richer nations benefited by sales of patented seeds and fertiliser; the small farmer for whom the change was inappropriate ended in debt and this resulted in the suicide of tens of thousands of farmers. The response to this has to be the reform of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization. It has yet to be achieved though Gordon Brown says that he is committed to such reform. It needs an international alliance and a level of commitment akin to that which liberated the people of Southern Africa. My response was to initiate VIA (Village India Aid) which helps practically with support of projects which benefit the poorest sections of society and also makes representations for fundamental changes in the international economic system. Not months, but years, perhaps even decades of combined effort are needed to “Redeem the Markets” but the prize is well worth the effort. I suggest that this is the background for our shared concerns today and that it calls each one of us to urgent action.

John Johansen-Berg.  May 2009.

The recent  March through London  brought together campaigners on a range of issues all united in asking for all  G20 governments to “Put People First”.

A coach load of JDC supporters went from Birmingham to add their voices with 35000 others.

I agree with Glen Tarman who described the day as the “start of an exciting alliance”. Never have so many unions, charities, faithgroups and others taken part together in a demonstration.

It was also an all age  event. One of the inspiring sights for me was  to  see three generations of the same family taking part Tony Dumper former Bishop of Dudley was stepping out along side his son and grand daughter. I was amused to see my son twittering ” marching on Downing street with mum and dad” It was  certainly a family friendly day not the  mob predicted by the media.

A contribution from Ray Collier committed activist for World Debt Cancellation and Climate Change.

The World debt crisis has destroyed the lives of millions of people, animals and the environment. The education, health care systems and social services virtually collapsed as money was drawn off to service the foreign debt. This was caused by irresponsible lending policies of the Minority World Banks. Economic policies were forced on the Majority World by the Minority World countries, ably abetted by multilateral agencies such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. It is only now in 2009, in the light of the dubious financial products, which has produced the credit crunch, that people are willing to point the finger of blame primary at the banks for causing World Debt.

The ecological damage caused by Majority World debt is extensive and is weakening the biosphere from all future creatures of the planet, including humankind. The impact of paying Majority World debt, has diminished dramatically social spending, leading to a fall in life expectancy and rampant malnutrition among children, while millions of people eat less than the minimum required.

In her book, The Debt Boomerang, the political economist, Susan George details how intensified environmental destruction was having a “boomerang” effect on poor countries trying to make repayments on their debts. The vicious circle began when countries, often facilitated by the World Bank, borrowed money to build massive projects, such as dams, which caused immense environmental destruction. Then, in orde to generate foreign currency to pay off the debt, they further damaged the environment through massive logging programmes, mineral extraction or clearing huge areas of primal forests to grow, export-oriented crops, such as soya.

The relationship between debt and tropical deforestation is striking. Major debtors such as Indonesia and Brazil increased their rate of deforestation by 82% and 245% respectively between 1980 and 1993. The bulk of the Indonesian forest, apart from New Guinea, is already gone and deforestation has continued apace in Brazil, impoverishing not just these countries, but the biosphere as a whole.

Climate Change is a serious concern and an inescapable responsibility fro scientists and other experts, political and government leaders, local administrators and international organisations, as well as every sector of human society and each human being. It is a moral imperative for all, without exception.

No country alone can solve the problems related to our common environment and Majority World debt, we need to overcome self-interest through collective action. This was highlighted recently by the worst-case scenarios on climate change envisaged by the UN at an international meeting of more then 2,500 researchers, economists and scientists in Copenhagen.

In a statement outlining their six key messages to political leaders they say there is an increasing risk of abrupt or irreversible climate shifts.

Even modest temperatures will effect millions of people, particularly in the developing world. Lord Stern, the economists, said that if the world was to warm by 5C over the next century there would be dramatic consequences for millions of people leading to mass migrations and inevitable violent conflict.

The Danish Prime Minister said “Business as usual is dead – green growth is the answer to both our climate and economic problems.”

All this presupposes that the international community will adopt a coordinated, effective and prompt international political strategy capable of responding to Majority World debt and Climate change. It would identify ways and means of mitigation and adaptation which are economically accessible to most, enhance sustainable development and fostering a healthy environment. The economic aspect of such ways and means should seriously take into account, that poor nations and sectors of society are particularly vulnerable to adverse consequences of climate change, due to lesser resources and capacity to mitigate their effects and adapt to altered surroundings.

March is a busy month for debt campaigners!  Please pass on information within your networks where possible.

The next planning meeting of the Birmingham JDC group will be at Selly Oak Methodist Church on 18th March at 10.30am.  All are welcome to come and help plan the next few months of events and campaigning.

Also on 18th March, join us for the Department for International Development’s White Paper consultation 6.30pm at the Centennial Centre, Icknield Port Road, Edgbaston, B16 0AA. (More details in Noticeboard – you will need to register in advance).

28th March – “Put People First” march in London.  The Birmingham coach leaves at 8am from
Carrs Lane.

Full details of these and more is given in our Noticeboard.