SJC Seeks Help for "Drop the Debt – Scrap the SAPs!" Campaign
The Social Justice Committee announces the launch of the "Drop the Debt – Scrap the SAPs!" action campaign against Third World debt. We are looking for help to bring this campaign to the wider community.The Campaign
"Drop the Debt – Scrap the SAPs!" is an education and action campaign calling for the unconditional cancellation of the debts of the world's poorest countries. Aimed at the general public and at Members of Parliament, it offers popular education presentations explaining the problem of Third World debt to interested groups. Groups are asked to send their MP a set of 29 cartoon postcards detailing the history and impacts of debt. After sending the cards, groups meet with their MP to discuss how to carry the campaign further within the federal government and have the debts cancelled.Why Debt is a Problem
One of the root causes of Third World poverty and hunger is the demand that those countries use all their resources to repay enormous foreign debts. Those debts were often contracted by repressive dictatorships which stole all the borrowed money for their own use. To repay their debts, countries are forced by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to adopt structural adjustment programmes (SAPs). These involve privatizing such essential public services as water distribution, and opening up economies to transnational corporations and free trade, actions with a devastating impact on people's lives. While many countries in Africa and the Americas are currently facing drought and famine, the IMF and the World Bank continue to insist on debt repayments and SAPs, preventing governments from helping their people.In 2000, after pressure from the Jubilee 2000 campaign, the Canadian federal government promised to cancel many debts owed to Canada, but it has done little to cancel the debts owed to the IMF and the World Bank, although Canada is a member of both. Nor has it called for an end to SAPs. The impact of debt and SAPs has been severe:
- In 2001, the IMF insisted Ghana privatize its water systems, doubling water rates and cutting off 35 per cent of the population from access to water.
- In 2000, Zambia was forced to sell off the copper mines that provide 90 per cent of its foreign exchange earnings, only to see the private company that bought them close them down. Zambia cannot afford grain to feed its people but must still pay $150 million a year in debt service.
- Although one in three Nicaraguans is malnourished, the IMF withdrew debt relief in 2001 because the country had failed to adequately cut spending and privatize utilities.
What you can Do
The SJC is asking individuals and groups to help with this campaign in any of several ways:
- Arrange an SJC presentation for a group in your area, for example, a school, church, community, or women's group. At these presentations, we use our popular education tools to explain debt and global economics in a simple, accessible way. After the presentation, we will explain the advocacy part of the campaign and give people a chance to get involved.
- Spread the word to people in other areas. Word–of–mouth has brought us our best contacts.
- Let us know of key people you think we should contact in your area or in other organizations.