Take advantage of the extra day this Leap Year to advocate for Debt Relief!

Building upon the legislative victories that you helped achieve last October, AID will be working with Jubilee USA in order to pass the Jubilee Act. In 2008 we have an historic opportunity to break the chains of debt and change the lives of millions. The Jubilee Act is the single most important piece of debt legislation in the past seven years and it is one of the most widely supported anti-poverty bills in Congress. Together, we can make history by passing the Jubilee Act this year!

To achieve this historic goal, AID is working with Jubilee USA in launching the Measure Up! Rule out Debt! campaign, calling on Congress to measure up to our national commitment to address extreme poverty by ruling out debt as a contributing factor.

When: February 28-29 are “Leap into Action Days.”

What: AID will be providing $40 mini-grants in order to host film screenings of  “Debt of the Dictators,” or an advocacy party in support of the Jubilee Act (HR 2634 and S 2166).  The Jubilee Act provides debt cancellation for countries that need debt relief to eradicate extreme poverty.

Why: Even with the progress that has been made on debt cancellation, impoverished countries are still sending our government, the IMF, and World Bank $100 million in debt service payments each day. Moreover, poor people in Liberia, Haiti, and the Democratic Republic of Congo are facing unacceptable delays and conditions on debt cancellation.

2007 was the halfway point for the UN Millennium Development Goals to cut extreme poverty in half by 2015.  While progress was made in 2007, we can take this movement even further for 2008. Your lobbying efforts will help to build the movement for Jubilee and possibly change the lives of millions. 

How to get involved:

• Please click here to register for the mini-grant to host an advocacy party and/or film screening.
• Click here to download a factsheet about debt, debt relief, and the Jubilee Act.
• You can more information, download advocacy postcards and a full action toolkit, and find contact info for your respective Senators and Representatives by clicking here.
• Stay tuned for a video toolkit that will train you how to set up a meeting and advocate at the legislative office in your home state. This in-district lobbying video will be coming soon!

FOR CAMPAIGN MATERIALS OR INFO CONTACT

Sam Schabacker, Development Campaigns Coordinator, AIDemocracy
sam@aidemocracy.org or 410-962-8770
Or

Brian Swarts, National Field Organizer, Jubilee USA
brian@jubileeusa.org or 202-441-6763

Jubilee USA is a network of local congregations and more than 80 religious denominations, faith-based networks, development, and community organizations in the U.S., including Sojourners, Action Aid International, and World Vision. Jubilee USA also partners on efforts to fight global poverty as a member of the ONE Campaign and the global Jubilee network, with grassroots networks in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe.

AID is an organization of young people working to create the world of tomorrow through awareness, advocacy, and action.
•Awareness: AID strives to work across the political spectrum, with people from all backgrounds and identities, by facilitating educational dialogue through conferences, workshops, film screenings, video conferences, and op-eds.
•Advocacy: Building on awareness, AID provides toolkits and trainings to empower young people to talk to their peers and policy makers in order to advocate for a sustainable, equitable world.
•Action: AID supports young people in organizing local campaigns and initiatives that have positive global impact.