World Bank Authorization
• Our policy report Unmasking the IMF was delivered to key
members of Congress in relevant committees in July
– The report reveals the ongoing need to reform the IMF
lending practices that impede economic recovery and
long-term development in impoverished countries
– We urged Congress to consider the critical reforms as
part of the package of overall reforms before authorizing
the US contribution toward the negotiated capital
increase for the International Bank for Reconstruction
and Development (IBRD) and the International
Development Association (IDA) 16 replenishment
– We are still in touch with offices and are urging
members of Congress to include the changes that we
are suggesting in the World Bank Authorization process
Spotlight on Debt
• On June 23, 2011, Jubilee
USA worked with Americans
for Informed Democracy and
Oxfam America for a
ceremony crowning Christine
Lagarde as the new
managing director of the IMF
– Received news coverage by
Reuters, BBC, and EFE
• Eric LeCompte appeared on
Pacifica Radio to speak about
the recent appointment of
Christine Lagarde by the IMF
and what this means for debt
relief for the world's poor
Responsible Borrowing and Lending
• Jubilee USA Network will be reintroducing the Jubilee
Act with a new emphasis exclusively on responsible
borrowing and lending due to the current political
climate focused on U.S. financial solvency concerns
• We will be releasing a report in October 2011 on the
Principles of Responsible Borrowing and Lending
• Jubilee is working with our global partners UNCTAD
and AFRODAD to implement a responsible borrowing
and lending international treaty; Jubilee
served as an expert on theses issues
Voices of Esther Campaign
• Jubilee USA works to stand in solidarity with the world’s
poorest and raise our voices for economic justice
• In the Bible, the Book of Esther tells the story of a
woman who used her access to power to save her
people from certain death
– We urge activists to be an Esther in the global community and
call for change in partnership with those in the Global South
– Jubilee USA’s supporters around the US follow Esther’s example
by sending postcards to their representatives and to the
President to pursue debt cancellation and responsible finance
• Over 10,000 postcards have been sent to faith communities
• We will be sharing these postcards with members of
Congress and President Obama during lobbying meetings
Meeting at the White House
• Jubilee is organizing a meeting
with Vice President Biden and
high profile religious leaders to
heed the call of Jubilee USA
• When we meet with the
cabinet, we will urge President
Obama to encourage:
– The implementation of
responsible lending and
borrowing principles
– True solutions to the
international debt crisis by
closing tax havens and
corporate tax loop holes
1,000 Faith Leaders Campaign
• As of September 6, 1,340 Faith Leaders
signed on to an interfaith letter to the President
– Letter pushes our agenda with the President
– It builds support for the Jubilee movement in
Churches, Synagogues, and Mosques in the US
– It presents solutions that will end the international
debt crises by promoting responsible lending and
borrowing and ending corporate tax loop holes
Tax Justice Collaboration
• Jubilee USA is a member of Financial Accountability and
Corporate Transparency (FACT) Coalition
• Jubilee collaborates with Global Financial Integrity (GFI),
Global Witness, USPIRG, and others on tax justice issues
• Initiatives include:
– Lobbying with FACT Coalition members on Capitol Hill
about Incorporation Transparency and Law Enforcement
Act and the Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act
– Participating in the End Tax Haven Secrecy global
campaign and the global week of action in November
surrounding the G20 Finance Ministers meeting
One of the Root Causes of
Poverty: Tax Injustice
• In the year 2000, the richest 10% of the world’s
population held 85% of its total income and wealth.1
The current manner in which corporations and the
elite do ‘business as usual’ have contributed to vast
inequalities. Between 2000 and 2008, African
countries lost 6.5 trillion dollars in revenue due to
unfair tax dodging policies. If low-income countries
were able to benefit from their tax revenue, more
resources could be dedicated to providing people
with clean water, healthcare, and education
1 Field Guide to the U.S. Economy, 2008
Closing Corporate Tax Loop Holes
• Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
introduced S. 1483 The Incorporation Transparency and Law
Enforcement Act on August 2nd, 2011
– The bill would protect the United States from U.S.
corporations being misused to commit terrorism, money
laundering, tax evasion, or other misconduct
• Jubilee USA mobilized its grassroots network in
Oklahoma to encourage Senator Tom Coburn to
support this legislation
– Jubilee sent a letter with signatures of ten
faith leaders in Oklahoma to Senator Coburn
urging him to support S. 1483
Ending Tax Haven Secrecy
• Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) introduced the Stop Tax Haven
Abuse Act on July 12, 2011
– The bill would close offshore tax loopholes, raise revenue,
and keep profits and jobs in U.S.
– Jubilee is collaborating with FACT to push this bill forward
• Global End Tax Haven Secrecy Campaign
– Jubilee wrote a blog about tax havens and global poverty
– Jubilee will be sending out an eBlast to collect signatures
from our grassroots network for the international End Tax
Haven Secrecy petition; signatures collected worldwide will
be presented at the G20 meeting in November
– Jubilee is also a part of the global campaign and will be
participating in the End Tax Haven Secrecy week of action
in November during the G20 Finance Ministers meeting
ZIMCODD Partnership
• We are strengthening our partnership
with our colleagues at Zimbabwe
Coalition on Debt and Development
(ZIMCODD), an organization working
on debt relief in Harare, Zimbabwe
• Jubilee USA and ZIMCODD will be collaborating to:
- Promote a common analysis and advocacy to the US
Treasury, the G20, and the United Nations for debt
relief and the responsible lending and borrowing
- Engage in staff sharing with our counterparts in
Zimbabwe; we will work with our partners on their debt
audit, facilitate grassroots speaking events, and host
colleagues from Zimbabwe in DC for meetings with
Congress, the UN, the White House, and the Treasury
Illegitimate Debt Week
• Jubilee is planning for the worldwide Illegitimate
Debt Week with our global partners including
Jubilee South, CADTM, EURODAD, and others
– Actions will be implemented in 50 countries
– Jubilee is on the steering committee
• Jubilee will be facilitating
actions around the U.S. through
Jubilee Sunday (October 16th)
and other events organized by
our grassroots networks
nationwide
Jubilee Sunday and Jubilee Shabbat
• Jubilee Sunday will take place 10/16/2011 and
Jubilee Shabbat will take place in spring 2012
– During this time, members of the faith community can
dedicate part of their service to global poverty
– Services will take place around the country as
communities of faith stand up in solidarity with their
brothers and sisters in the Global South to bring
about greater economic justice for the world’s poorest
Jubilee's mission is to end
unjust debt and transform
the international financial
system to benefit and
ensure participation of the
most vulnerable.
Thank you for your support!