1998 General Assembly, Nov. 9-13, Chicago

NCC General Assembly Adopts ‘Jubilee 2000' Resolution
Asks Immediate Cancellation of Honduras, Nicaragua Debt

Chicago, Nov. 12 --- General Assembly delegates of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) voted unanimously to adopt a resolution to "cancel the unsustainable international debt of highly indebted poor countries," adding wording to ask immediate cancellation of the debt being carried by hurricane-ravaged Honduras and Nicaragua.

The Rev. Sandra L. Pierce, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), a member of the Church World Service and Witness Committee, presented the resolution. She told the assembly "the countries of sub-Saharan Africa spend more each year repaying debt, than on all primary education and health care."

"In Tanzania where forty-percent of the population dies before the age of 35, the government spends nine times more on foreign debt servicing than on health care. In Mozambique one in four children dies before age five due to infectious disease. Their government spends four times as much servicing its debt -- making payments on interest and principal -- than it does on health care," Pierce said.

"While infant mortality rates rise in Zambia, and 100,000 children die each year from diarrhea in Ethiopia, those two governments spend four dollars on debt servicing for every dollar spent on health care."

The resolution:

• "Endorses Jubilee 2000/USA’s call for a time of Jubilee and debt cancellation that benefits ordinary people and facilitates their participation in determining the scope, timing and conditions of debt relief as well as the future direction and priorities of their national and local economies;
• Urges the United States government to use its leadership in the international community to support and promote debt cancellation for impoverished countries that reduces poverty, and restores economic and environmental justice for people who have borne the major burden of their countries’ indebtedness;
• Calls on member communions of the NCCCUSA to join millions of people around the world in advocating for economic justice for people living in poverty that cannot meet their basic needs, economic reform that fosters more equitable distribution of power and wealth within and among nations, debt cancellation for impoverished countries that relieves poor people of the burden of debt repayment, and promotes sustainable development;
• Requests the Council to engage ecumenical partners in joint advocacy for cancellation of the unsustainable debt of impoverished countries; and
• Calls on member communions to educate their constituencies about the global problem of debt and engage them in the Jubilee 2000 Campaign."

In response to Hurricane Mitch, Mary Weathers, United Methodist Church, presented an amendment to the resolution that "calls on the U.S. Government to cancel the debt owed to it by Honduras and Nicaragua and to support the immediate cancellation of their international debt in order to alleviate the acute crisis and long-term recovery currently facing these nations." The amendment was unanimously accepted.

"We are all aware of the ravages of Hurricane Mitch and this makes a remarkably clear and compelling case for debt cancellation," said Weathers.

"Honduras, which we see so visibly devastated each night on your television screens has been ravaged by debt for many years. It carries a $4.45 billion debt which forces it to expend 63 percent of its national revenues each year for debt repayment -- rather than for schools, hospitals, teachers, wells and safe housing. The clock is ticking for Honduras. During the days we have met here in Chicago -- Monday through Friday -- Honduras will owe $7.7 million to the World Bank and the United States," Weathers said.

Pierce told the assembly "we know that debt not only enslaves, but actually kills. The most heavily indebted countries spend 40 to 80 percent of their government’s revenues for debt payments."

"We believe that without the heavy burden of debt that nations could meet the needs of their citizens and progress in the future," she said.

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