Week of Action: Against Illegitimate Debt and International Financial Institutions

This year, Alliance for Global Justice is participating in the Global Week of Action Against Illegitimate Debt and International Financial Institutions with Jubilee USA network, an alliance of over 80 humanitarian, faith, and labor organizations. We would love for you to join us as part of this worldwide movement to achieve greater economic and social justice.

In this critical time when the economic crisis has pushed over 50 million more people into extreme poverty, this year’s call to action invites activists to come together in support of confronting and solving:

* Climate Justice
* Food Sovereignty
* Poverty Eradication

The Week of Global Action against Debt and International Financial Institutions arose out of the World Social Forum in Nairobi in 2007.

Get Involved! Join Us During the Week’s Activities:

IMF/World Bank Teach In
When: Thursday, October 7th, 7pm
Where: Lutheran Church of the Reformation 212 East Capitol Street, Washington DC
The IMF/World Bank Teach in will cover the issues that keep impoverished countries trapped in cycles of debt, such as IMF and World Bank policies that put profits over people:

* The IMF and Harsh Conditionalities – Bhumika Muchala, Third World Network
* Climate Justice and the World Bank – Janet Redman, Institute for Policy Studies

“Break the Chains! Transform the System! ” A March for Economic Justice

When: Friday, October 8th, 12pm
Where: Edward Murrow Park (Across from the World Bank), 18th and H Street NW
The Time to Break the Chains of Economic Injustice is Now!
This year holds significance in many ways: it is the 10th anniversary of the first deal to relieve poor countries of their debt – the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, and we only have five years left to achieve the Millennium Development Goals to cut global poverty in half. It is time, once again, to mobilize for economic justice and the fight against poverty.

The rally begins at Murrow Park, followed by a march to the White House. We will carry paper chains from around the country and globe, asking President Obama break the chains of debt once and for all.

Our Call to Action Includes:
* An End to Harmful Conditionalities. IMF and World Bank conditions forced Zambia to limit public spending by freezing new hires and employee wages. This left the country short 9,000 desperately needed teachers. The IMF’s requirement to lower trade barriers also resulted in the loss of 30,000 jobs in their textile industry.
* Transparency and Accountability in Lending Practices. Today the majority of Congolese citizens live on less than a dollar a day. Yet, the Congolese government must pay hundreds of millions of dollars to the IMF and World Bank every year to cover interest fees and loans recklessly borrowed by former dictator Mobutu for personal gain and oppression of the Congolese people.
* An End to Financing Projects that Harm the Environment. This year the World Bank approved a $3 billion dollar loan to fund a coal power plant in South Africa.

We hope that you will be able to join Jubilee USA, Africa Action, Pax Christi, School of the America’s Watch and many others as we learn and march together against economic injustice. To RSVP for the march click here. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Brooke Harper at 202-783-3566 ext. 103 or [email protected].

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