So you couldn't make it to the Grassroots Conference in Columbus, OH? Stream the conference sessions or ownload the links below to your portable music player. Depending on the speed of your connection, it may take a few minutes for the download to complete.
PLEASE NOTE: This is raw unedited audio. Some of the downloads don't start until a minute or so into the recording.
Lidy Nacpil, Jubilee South, and Neil Watkins, Jubilee USA National Coordinator
Introducing participants to the history and breadth of Jubilee movement, as well as stories about what people are doing around the world to transform injustice.
Alex Baumgarten, Episcopal Church Washington Office; Jason Fileta, U.S. Micah Challenge; Kim Stietz, ELCA Washington Office; Blake Waggoner, ONE Vote ‘08
Join the discussion on the connections between the Jubilee debt movement and other major efforts to overcome global poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals, such as the U.S. Micah Challenge and the ONE Campaign. Specifically, this work- shop will explain why debt cancellation is critical to these efforts and how we can collaborate in meaningful ways to make poverty history.
Imani Countess, Jubilee USA Network Co-Chair; Mercedes Mack, Jubilee USA; Kristin Sundell, Jubilee USA
The final session of the conference, casting a vision for campaigns in the Fall and beyond. Includes an opportunity for conference participants to give feedback on campaigns and share their own plans for promoting the jubilee vision back home!
Sarah Anderson, Institute for Policy Studies; Karina Harty-Morrison, Community Refugee & Immigration Services All the immigration proposals being discussed in D.C. have on thing in common: They ignore the links between U.S. policies and the conditions that drive migration in the first place. This workshop will focus on ideas for promoting debt cancellation as one ele- ment of a broad agenda to address the economic pressures behind migration, as well as the needs and rights of immigrants in this country. To understand the impact of migration on refugees and immigrants within the Central Ohio community, this workshop will include a presentation by a local social service agency, Community Refugee & Immigration Services (CRIS).
Abbey Fisher, Jubilee York; Mercedes Mack, Jubilee USA National Field Organizer; Mara Vanderslice, Common Good Strategies; Blake Waggoner, ONE Vote ‘08; Neil Watkins, Jubilee USA
For attendees who live in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida. The purpose is to train Jubilee advocates in these states to promote Jubilee’s new advocacy campaign during the 2008 election season. The training will include basic plans for organizing house parties, petition drives, and visibility events, as well as allow participants to work in groups to plan their own activities for the campaign.
Sarah Anderson, Institute for Policy Studies; Aldo Caliari, Center of Concern; Karen Hansen, Ohio Conference on Fair Trade
Debt burdens are only one obstacle to economic justice in the Global South. Major changes are also needed in the international financial institutions and free trade rules that favor global corporations over the interests of small farmers, workers, and communities everywhere. The raging political debate over trade presents an important opportunity for Jubilee activists to join calls for a broad, pro-active global justice agenda that would include debt cancellation, along with more equitable trade and investment policies.
