Jubilee Oregon E-Newsletter

March 15, 2009

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ACTION ALERT: Cancel Haiti’s Debt by Bob Brown

Haiti is a country in crisis and cannot afford to wait for debt cancellation any longer – in the next six months Haiti will pay more than $10 million to the World Bank in debt service. The InterAmerican Development Bank has reached an agreement to suspend most of Haiti’s debt payments in this time of crisis. The World Bank needs to do the same.

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL) and Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) have written a letter to World Bank President Robert Zoellick, urging him to suspend all further debt service payments from Haiti and grant the nation complete debt cancellation. Rep. Waters is asking her colleagues in the House of Representatives to join her by signing the letter. The more Representatives who sign on to the letter, the stronger the message to World Bank President Zoellick – cancel Haiti’s debt and allow the Haitian government to focus on the needs of its people.

Earl Blumenauer is the only Oregon Representative that has signed the letter.

Call your Representative to urge them to sign on to this letter. For instructions and a call script, go to http://www.jubileeusa.org.

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ADVOCACY NEWS:

Congress to Zoellick: Forgive Haiti ’s Debt!

Oregon Rep. Blumenauer joins 71 Representatives in a Bipartisan Call to End Haiti’s World Bank Debt

On February 26, A bipartisan group of 72 US Representatives including Oregon ’s Earl Blumenauer called on World Bank President Robert Zoellick to immediately suspend all scheduled debt repayments from Haiti and grant complete debt cancellation to the impoverished nation. Haiti currently sends $1.6 million to the World Bank every month. Meanwhile, thousands of Haitians are starving and the nation is struggling to fill a severe budget gap that threatens the struggling democracy’s stability. If you live in his district, please call or e-mail Representative Blumenauer to thank him for his leadership. The text of the letter and a full list of signatories can be found here.

♥ Have a Heart Campaign Update ♥

Grassroots Campaign Asks Geithner – Deadline Extended to March 15

Thanks to all those who have made homemade “hearts” and sent them to Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, asking him to “have a heart” for the world’s poorest people who deal with the realities of unfair debt every day. Over eight thousand hearts have arrived thus far at Jubilee USA’s headquarters. Religious leaders are asking for a meeting with Secretary Geithner where they will deliver the hearts and ask him “what’s on your heart?” For more information and how to get involved, click here.

Frank Lists Debt Cancellation as a Top Priority

At a February Press Conference, House Banking Chair Barney Frank (D-MA) listed debt cancellation as a key priority he hopes to tackle in 2009. This is especially heartening considering the tall tasks the Banking Committee has in dealing with oversight of domestic banks. Congressman Frank and Ranking Member Spencer Bachus (R-AL) have been key allies of Jubilee USA for over a decade.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

JUBILEE OREGON GENERAL MEETING

Sunday, April 5

4-5:30PM

Westminster Presbyterian Church

NE 16th and Hancock Streets

Jubilee Oregon normally meets the second Sunday of every month except for in June and July. Due to Easter, we have changed the meeting to the first Sunday.  We hope to see you there!

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World Water Day | March 22, 2009

Join Jubilee OR members for the walk-a-thon at 1PM on Sunday, March 22!

Cost:  $20 for adults, free for children under 12

Wear your Jubilee OR t-shirt and join other Jubilee folks who will be walking the esplanade. Stop by the Water Education/Action Center at the World Trade Center Plaza, at SW 1st and Taylor Streets, and see the Jubilee display as well as other non-profits working on global issues. There will be two showings of the movie FLOW, a documentary on the impact of water privatization.

Fore more information, visit www.worldwaterdaypdx.com or Portland Roasting Coffee’s World Water Day 2009 site.

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Muslims and Christians: ANYTHING IN COMMON?

March 13 & 14, 2009

The Portland-based Institute for Christian Muslim Understanding will present a free, two-day program at PSU featuring two prominent Muslim and Christian scholars on mutual understanding through faith. See this link for details: http://icmuoregon.org/upcoming.htm

-OTHER IMPORTANT DATES AND EVENTS WITH JUBILEE

Hold the Date:  MAY 4, 2009/ Bishop Desmond Tutu, father of the Jubilee movement, will speak at the Chiles Center, University of Portland on Monday, May 4, 2009.  Cost:  $20-order thru Ticketmaster or purchase directly at the Chiles Center.  Visit www.emoregon.org for more information.  Jubilee OR representative will participate in a workshop on the economic crisis that afternoon.

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Visit the Jubilee OR website at www.jubileeoregon.wordpress.com for updates on local activities, photos and blogs!