Jubilee USA Network Leads 'Cancel Debt Fast;' 20,000 Americans to
Participate
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On September 6, Rev.
David Duncombe begins 40 days of fasting and lobbying on Capitol Hill to
win support for the Jubilee Act, a bill that would cancel the debts of 67
of the poorest countries and establish responsible lending practices for
the future. Currently, indebted nations spend an average of $100 million
each day to service their debts -- money they cannot spend on food,
education, health services and other necessities.
Forty major religious and other leaders including Rev. Jim Wallis of
Sojourners/Call to Renewal; Argentinean Nobel Laureate Adolfo Perez
Esquivel; John Thomas, President, United Church of Christ; Ron Sider,
Founder, Evangelicals for Social Action; and Rabbi Michael Lerner of Tikkun
will participate in day-long fasts during the same time. Up to 20,000
Americans are expected to participate, according to Jubilee USA Network.
2007 is a Sabbath Year, a time when the Hebrew Texts and the New
Testament call for an end to debt and slavery. The goal of the fast is to
secure a hearing on the Jubilee Act in the House of Representatives and the
introduction of a companion bill in the Senate. 2007 also marks the halfway
point to the G-8 Millennium Development Goal of cutting worldwide poverty
in half by 2015, a goal to which the U.S. committed in 2000.
Please visit http://www.jubileeusa.org/cdfpressroom0.html for a
complete list of fast leaders, upcoming events in Washington, DC, and
nationwide and background materials on international debt relief.
WHO: Among those endorsing the fast:
Jim Wallis, CEO, Sojourners/Call to Renewal
Rabbi Michael Lerner, Editor, Tikkun Magazine
Ron Sider, Founder, Evangelicals for Social Action
John Thomas, President, United Church of Christ
Rev. David Duncombe, Minister from White Salmon, WA
Adolfo Perez Esquivel, Argentinean Nobel Laureate
Tony Campolo, Founder, Evangelical Association for the Promotion
of Education
Hilary O. Shelton, Director, NAACP Washington Bureau
Dr. Paul Farmer, Author and Founder of Partners in Health
WHAT: Nationwide, rolling fast with up to 20,000 participants
WHEN: September 6 to October 15, 2007
WHERE: Reporters are invited to walk with Rev. Duncombe as he fasts and
lobbies on Capitol Hill.
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