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World AIDS Day 2009 – Focus on Universal Access and Human Rights November 24th, 2009

December 1st each year is World AIDS Day. It is a day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV. The global HIV/AIDS pandemic is a major health and development issue. AIDS also continues to present pastoral challenges to the Church. Missionary Oblates in South Africa are regularly working directly with and supporting people living with HIV/AIDS.

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Lift the Debt Burden on Poor Countries September 21st, 2009

Without debt relief, the developing world has little hope of economic progress, say the Rev. John Welch* and Ruth Messinger*.

The two members of Jubilee USA argue for debt cancellation in the poorest countries in a compelling article published in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette on the eve of the G-20, the international financial summit being hosted by President Obama.

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September JPIC Action Alert! September 21st, 2009

Take action now on these important issues:

• Tamils Languish in Sri Lanka Camps – Ask your Representative to Sign onto House Resolution 711 Calling for their Release
• “Stop Vulture Funds” Act needs your support
• Amendment Needed to Prevent Public Funding for Abortion in the Health Care Legislation – Write Your Representatives!

Please click here for our Action Alert.

Thank you for taking action.

Stop Vulture Funds Bill Supported by Broad Array of Faith Groups and NGOs August 21st, 2009

The Oblate JPIC Office joined a broad array of faith groups and Non-Governmental Organizations in sending a letter to US Congressional Representatives asking for their support for the Stop Vulture Funds Act. This is newly introduced legislation that would prevent vulture funds (often a type of hedge fund) from making this excessive profit at the expense of poor countries struggling under the burden of debt.

Read the letter here.

‘Vulture fund’ is a name given to a company that seeks to make profit by buying up debt that is in default on the secondary market for pennies on the dollar, then sues the country in US or European courts once creditor countries forgive the debts owed them by a struggling country. As the value of the remaining debt rises, the Vulture Fund can often recover up to ten times the purchase price.

Some vulture funds target failing companies, but the ‘vulture fund’ campaign is focused on those that target the sovereign debts of impoverished countries.

Learn more about the vulture funds campaign

Zambia: International Mining Companies Threaten Legal Action February 15th, 2008

International Mining companies in Zambia have rejected new royalty and tax regimes and have threatened to take international legal action against the Government of Zambia for these proposals, according to the Times of Zambia, February 12.

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Vulture Fund Wins $15 million from Zambia April 25th, 2007

Jubilee USA Debt campaign urges Congress, President Bush to Take Immediate Action

Tuesday, April 24, 2007 — Today at the UK Royal Court of Justice in London, a judge ruled that Zambia must pay $15.4 million plus a yet to be determined share of legal costs to Donegal International, a vulture fund that had sued Zambia for more than $50 million.

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