Jubilee debt campaigning conference
Were you inspired by Make Poverty History in campaigning to drop the debt? Huge steps foward were made last year in cancelling poor country debt. But, is it enough? Can we really address poverty and debt without addressing power imbalances? How can you work for an end to debt domination?
Head to the Jubilee Debt conference 2006 and find out how you can answer these questions. It's on Saturday 8 April 2006 from 11.00 till 17.00 at South Camden Community School, London. Featuring Susan George, author of 'A Fate Worse Than Debt' and 'Another World is Possible If...' , and free! Book now - email events@jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk
What's happening at the moment?
The big issue for the Jubilee Debt campaign right now is to put pressure on the UK government to re-pay the £1.7 billion debt payment they are about to recieve from Nigeria. You can act now by writing a letter to Gordon Brown. What would you do if you were him? Tell us what you think below.
posted at 9:28 AM
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4 comments
Comments:
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Rather than repaying it to Nigeria, it should enter the Department for International Development's budget. Returning it to Nigeria would just be a reward for getting inot huge debt. It should benefit all poor countries.
By Edd,
February 28, 2006 4:30 PM
Good point Edd but in this case I think you might be overstating the level of responsibility we can reasonably expect to be shouldered by Nigeria. I'm no expert but as I understand it, this debt repayment represents interest accrued on old commercial loans taken out by previous 'dictators' in Nigeria. I'm taking Oxfam's word for it but they make a convincing case that the UK isn't actually able to provide evidence of the original terms of many of these loans (some of which are nearly 30 years old) and that the total being demanded in loan repayments is actually more than Nigeria will receive under the terms agreed in Gleneagles. Given all that, would it really be reasonable to ask the Nigerian people to sacrifice money to the DFID 'pot'and potentially see none of it? Complex stuff, are there any Oxfam people reading this who could give more detail?
By ,
February 28, 2006 4:52 PM
The Nigerians certainly shouldn't have to keep paying for this debt, but why should Nigeria be rewarded for its old debts when a poor country with no large debts isn't? It's a very complicated situation, definitely. I think we can safely say it shouldn't go to the rich countries though!
By ,
February 28, 2006 5:57 PM
Actually, come to think of it that's not fair because Nigeria has already paid many times over for the debt and is not really being rewarded at all, just relieved of a burden. My mistake.
By Edd,
March 01, 2006 4:41 PM
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