< Hungry for Justice: Jubilee Debt Cancellation movement to Hold 40-Day National Fast September 6 to October 15
30.08.2007 08:26 Age: 5 yrs
Category: Media Releases
Rev. Jim Wallis, Rev. David Duncombe, Rabbi Michael Lerner, Dr. Tony Campolo, National and State Religious Leaders to Launch 40 Day Fast Urging Congress to Cancel the Debts of Impoverished Nations
Jubilee USA Network Leads “Cancel Debt Fast” 20,000 Americans to Participate
Media Advisory for September 6, 2007
Contact: Anne Singer at 202-271-4679
(Washington, DC) 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. David Duncombe as he fasts and lobbies on Capitol Hill.
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