Forgive us our debt: Jubilee USA finally gets its daily bread

Spectrum Staff | October 17, 2007

By Alexander Carpenter
While the Frost family dominated many conservative minds and Ann Coulter’s sans-Jew perfectionism offended everyone else, the folks at Jubilee USA drew a 40-day focus on debt relief to a close. Incredibly Rev. David Duncombe participated for the entire Cancel Debt Fast. That’s right, he fasted for 40 day and 40 nights.
Here’s video of Rev. Duncombe talking about the experience about sixteen days along.

Yesterday, due to Jubilee USA’s six week lobby efforts, Representatives Spencer Bachus (R-AL), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Emmanuel Cleaver (D-MO), also did a one day fast in support of debt canceling legislation. During the 40-day fast campaign the Jubilee Act for Expanded Debt Cancellation and Responsible Lending got 20 additional congressional sponsors to:
* Cancel the debts of up to 26 additional nations not currently eligible for debt cancellation, provided that they demonstrate plans to spend the money wisely on poverty reduction;

* Cut harmful requirements that are delaying access to life-saving debt relief for countries like Haiti and Liberia;

* Call on the Treasury Secretary to address the challenges presented by so-called vulture funds, one of which recently extracted $15 million from impoverished Zambia; and

* Establish policies for responsible lending to avoid odious and unjust debt accumulation in the future, beginning with an audit of past odious debts by the Government Accountability Office.

An Adventist, Brian Swarts, played a significant role in this campaign as the national organizer for Jubilee USA.

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