Cancel Latin America's Debt!

The next step on debt is to make sure that Latin American countries get a fair deal. From April 3-5, the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), the regional development bank for Latin America, will hold its annual meeting in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Four of the 18 countries whose debts were cancelled by world leaders this summer continue to pay millions to the IDB each year instead of on health and education. Other nations like Haiti, Peru, and Ecuador with extreme poverty also require debt cancellation. Now is an opportune time to be doing advocacy work around IDB debt cancellation ahead of these annual meetings.

We ask that you take action on this issue by getting educated and then writing to US Treasury using our automated e-mail form.

Get educated!Article: Cancel Haiti's Debt, Now!This article by Mark Schuller gives an overview of the urgent need to cancel Haiti's debt, from Jubilee USA's Summer 2006 newsletter.Factsheet on Cancelling Latin America's Debt (.pdf) [en español]Please share this factsheet in the Inter-American Development Bank with your local Jubilee chapter, your local congregation, with friends, family, and interested colleagues.

Justice for Latin America on IDB Debts (.pdf) [en español]
This joint report from Eurodad, Latindad, Fundacion Jubileo, and the Institute for Nicraguan Studies details the case for cancelling Inter-American Development Bank debt NOW!

Take action!Write to US Treasury asking the Bush administration to support cancellation of debt in Latin America.

Host a screening of the film "Deadly Embrace." This film examines the impact of debt and harmful economic policies on Nicaragua. You can organize a screening in your home, at a meeting of your organization, during your congregation’s council meeting, at a potluck supper, or while tabling at other social justice events.

Policy UpdatesInter-American Development Bank meetings conclude without a deal on debtCongressional Hispanic Caucus calls for “definitive cancellation” of impoverished Latin American country debts