1,000 campaigners join Journey to Justice
Jubilee Debt Campaign's Nick Dearden reports on a memorable day.
It had been ten years since 70,000 people surrounded the G8 summit in Birmingham in 1998 as part of a ‘human chain’. They demanded debt cancellation and pushed the plight of the world’s poorest people to the top of the global agenda. Ten years later, we had returned to Birmingham.
The energy had been building all week, as the city looked back to recall one of its finest hours. Meetings had been organised throughout the week looking at debt and climate change, debt in Islam, debt and poverty reduction. Close to a hundred people had been discussing the issues at the University of Birmingham in a 2-day conference. And the Birmingham Post had published a souvenir supplement on the anniversary and the central library and museum had been holding exhibitions on the debt movement.
When Sunday morning dawned—a clear sunny day after many days of rain—thousands were anticipating the days events. Religious services across the city drew hundreds of people of all denominations – and packed religious centres heard speakers such as Archbishop Ndungane (former Archbishop of Cape Town).
By early afternoon, Centenary Square, just outside the International Conference Centre where the G8 leaders had met a decade ago, was filled with activity. From face-painters designing “drop the debt logos,” to lively drumming performances, the mood was celebratory, the message clear – that ordinary people can and do change the world.
10 years ago, we were told that dropping the debt was impossible. People would not understand the concept; governments would not entertain the idea. Ten years later, campaigners have forced it onto the agenda. $88 billion have been cancelled. As a result teacher numbers in Tanzania have doubled. In Ghana, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and rural areas in Benin have abolished school fees. Almost one million children have been vaccinated against disease in Mozambique. Healthcare clinics have abolished user fees in rural areas of Zambia. And much more besides.
This was the message conveyed inside the conference by video messages from world leaders and live speeches from politicians. Rock star Bono conveyed his thanks to those involved in the movement for “reintroducing the likes of me to positive activism”.
But speakers also made clear that this was a new beginning rather than an end to debt campaigning. Speakers from Jamaica, Zambia and South Africa explained that debt was re-accumulating in some countries, and we needed to work towards a permanent solution to the debt crisis. $400 million worth of debt keeps some of the poorest countries in the world – countries like Haiti and Bangladesh – in poverty. And, other than Norway, Northern governments have ignored those ‘odious debts’ which were lent irresponsibly and did nothing to benefit the people of the recipient countries.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu reminded us: “We are a family. We are all bound together. Because of this today we are still called to pray, boycott, and protest about the scourge of international debt.”
As we left the conference centre, activists made a human pie chart to show that although 20% of unpayable debt has been cancelled, there is still 80% to go if we’re serious about fighting poverty. The message to the G8 meeting in Japan was clear – “debt is still the issue: drop the debt now.”
