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72 Members of Congress Urge World Bank to Cancel Haiti’s Debt February 27th, 2009
Debt Cancellation Will Help Haiti Avoid National Collapse, Give Fragile Democracy a Chance
A bipartisan group of 72 US Representatives called on World Bank President Robert Zoellick late yesterday 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 while thousands of Haitians starve and the nation struggles to fill a severe budget gap that threatens the struggling democracy’s stability.
The letter to President Zoellick was circulated by US Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA) as well as Representatives Barney Frank (D-MA) and Spencer Bachus (R-AL), Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee. The Representatives express deep concern about “the urgent humanitarian needs of the people of Haiti and the difficulties Haiti has faced in qualifying for the cancellation of its debts.” “We understand that Haiti is scheduled to send approximately $20 million to the World Bank in 2009,” the letter reads, “Clearly, this money would be better spent on basic infrastructure and poverty reduction for the Haitian people.” Signers include 72 US Representatives from across the political spectrum, including Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Donald Payne (D-NJ), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health, and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA).
Download a PDF of the letter from Members of Congress to World Bank President Zoellick
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“Philippines: Mining or Food?” – Report launched in London February 23rd, 2009
“Focus on rice production and not on mining” says new report on mining in the Philippines
L to R: Right Hon Clare Short; Clive Wicks; Robert Goodland; Bishop John Arnold auxiliary in the Catholic Diocese of Westminster; Anglican Bishop Michael Doe General Secretary of Anglicans in World Mission
Church opposition in the Philippines to destructive mining on its islands was supported by Church leaders in Britain on 9 February at the launch of a new report at Westminster titled, Philippines: Mining or Food? It was commissioned by the UK-based Working Group on Mining in the Philippines, which is chaired by Clare Short MP and involves Columban Faith and Justice, the Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility, and Philippine Indigenous Peoples Links. The Oblate JPIC Office is preparing a US launch in the coming weeks.
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Global Aids Fund faced with Critical Shortage February 20th, 2009
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria, a public-private partnership set up in 2001, is running out of funds. This shortage will negatively affect the upcoming round of grants. The Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria is the largest multilateral response to the three diseases. The Global Fund receives money from government, businesses and individuals to support large-scale prevention, treatment and care programs targeted at the three diseases. Since it was started, the fund has committed $14.9 billion in 140 countries with the largest percentage of money going to Sub Saharan Africa, hard-hit by HIV-AIDS.
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Zimbabwe Forms Unity Government February 12th, 2009
The leaders of Zimbabwe’s two main political parties have formed a unity government. Movement for the Democratic Change (MDC) agreed last week to form a unity movement with President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-party. Leader of the opposition MDC, Morgan Tsvangirai was sworn in as Prime Minister on February 11 in Harare while MDC secretary- general assumed the position of Finance Minister in the unity government.
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Blood Diamonds & Congo Beat January 23rd, 2009
Fr. Camille Piche, OMI – International JPIC Coordinator for the Oblates – recently returned from several weeks in DR Congo. Fr. Camille saw the conflict over Congo’s vast mineral wealth up close in a visit to Goma in the war-torn east. He reports on the conflict and reflects on the role of the church. Churches provide both basic services and vital moral support to the people. (Download PDF of Fr. Piche’s report)
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