What ideas do you want the participants to take away?
Creative and informed ways to take action for debt cancellation as a means of fighting poverty and injustice.
How does your event connect to the USSF Crosscutting Themes?
Debt in the Global South is linked to many other pressing issues in the U.S. and the world such as immigration, HIV/AIDS, and even militarism. For example, in many cases, irresponsible loans made by the IMF/World Bank to brutal dictators in impoverished countries sink the countries into long-term debt without the money from the loans ever going toward desperately needed health care resources or access to education. This prevents healthy relationships between nations and increases the number of people leaving their countries to make money for their families' survival.
How will the participants be engaged?
An interactive icebreaker game will test their current knowledge on debt. Participants will get a chance to raise questions before the presentation so that they can be addressed within the presentation. The talk will focus on do's and don't's of campaigning for debt cancellation with examples from Jubilee and other organizations and will conclude with an interactive discussion.
What language will your activity be conducted in?
English
Will you provide oral interpretation? Will you provide equipment (headset and transmitter) for interpretation?
Can USSF help me work this out?
Will you provide handouts for attendees? In Spanish? In English? In another language (if so, state the language)? USSF will not copy handouts for you.
Most handouts will be in English, but I will bring as much in Spanish as I can.
What is the biggest challenge/adversary your movement/organization faces?
Debt cancellation not being a high enough priority in Congress and Treasury.
What concrete alternative(s) do you propose?
We ask supporters nation-wide to contact their Congress members and urge them to sponsor the Jubilee Act which calls for debt cancellation for all 67 countries that need it to meet the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and for cutting the harmful strings that have come attached to debt cancellation given thus far.
What strategies do you propose to achieve these alternatives?
The workshop will talk about some of our strategies such as: helping people organize their own local Jubilee groups or joining the Jubilee Congregations Program; holding a major grassroots training and organizing conference; and launching a nation-wide rolling fast from September 6-October 15 that will conclude with a national lobby day on debt.
Any other special needs?