[xico]

MAKE POVERTY HISTORYToday is World Debt DayHi

Today is World Debt Day. And today - as on every day - the rich world will demand $100 million from poor countries in debt repayments while poverty is killing 50,000 people every day. What's the point of giving aid with one hand yet taking so much away with the other.

Seven years ago today, 70,000 people formed a human chain around the G8 summit in Birmingham to demand the cancellation of unfair debt. They didn't only make headlines - but made a difference. 12 months later, the same world leaders agreed to cancel $100 million of debts owed by the world's poorest countries. It was a triumph of people power.

In seven weeks the G8 returns to the UK for the first time since they were in Birmingham. Thousands will gather in Edinburgh on July 2nd to call on the leaders of the world's richest nations to Make Poverty History. You can be one of them.

The message is clear:
Enough is enough. There needs to be trade justice, debt cancellation, and more and better aid for the world's poorest countries.

I was moved when Mr Mandela said "Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that generation". It feels like these chances don't come often but this is a real opportunity to make changes in the world.

To find out how you can be involved in the Edinburgh Rally, click here.

Thank you

Dido

P.S. Movie director Anthony Minghella made this film to highlight the craziness of Africans giving us in debt repayments MORE than we give them in aid. Watch it, and if you can, send it to a friend and urge them to join us.

unsubscribe



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.11.11 - Release Date: 5/16/05

[linskyjack]

Forgiving the debt sounds good. The question I have, is what happens after that.

[Mulderator]

Originally Posted by linskyjack

Forgiving the debt sounds good. The question I have, is what happens after that.

They need more money and then more money and then more money--and so on. Their oppresive governments do not allow them to institute free markets or improve their conditions and if America or ther other industrial nations attempt to address that--we are accused of being imperialists! This is another of Xico's rants without any reasonable solution.

[linskyjack]

Mulder is right---maybe debt relief only occurs when a democratically elected government is put in power. I suspect that most of the petty tyrants who run the countries who are in great debt would hate debt relief----Liquidity would dry up and these people would have no more money to steal. One thing is for sure---their "subjects" would remain in poverty.

[GoneForNow]

Originally Posted by linskyjack

Mulder is right---maybe debt relief only occurs when a democratically elected government is put in power. I suspect that most of the petty tyrants who run the countries who are in great debt would hate debt relief----Liquidity would dry up and these people would have no more money to steal. One thing is for sure---their "subjects" would remain in poverty.

You're really scaring me. You sure its not your brother posting.

[linskyjack]

I told you, I am a moderate.

[Guyzer]

Originally Posted by xico

the cancellation of unfair debt.

I read this and decided to visit my banker. I said " Mr. Banker please forgive my unfair debt". I borrowed the money with the intent of paying it back, really I did. I also borrowed the money to put an addition on my house so my 15 children had somewhere to sleep other than the cold basement but on the way to the lumberyard I spotted a real nice car that I just had to buy. Shortly after taking possession of the car I lost my job and now I can't pay you. The banker put his head in his hands and sat there for what seemed like an eternity. Finally he looked up at me and with a tear in his eye said " Ok Wimpy, the debt is forgiven and you can keep the car. Celebrating by doing the happy dance on the way out I heard him add ... " don't forget to come and see us if you ever need help again." Little did he know I was on my way to see his competition just around the corner. Man did I have a story cooked up for them.

Originally Posted by xico

What's the point of giving aid with one hand yet taking so much away with the other.

Aid is a gift and no one is asking for it to be paid back. A loan is just that and MUST be paid back.

Stop handing out my tax $$ to those that don't want to help themselves. If my gubment ( thanks Mulder ) wants to assist by way of training these poor countries to be self sufficient I'm all for it. Slip them a few bucks to get them on their way, monitor where it's going and how it's being spent, train them for the future and that will be the last time you have to empty your coffers.

[lighthouse]

The idea of debt cancellation is a good one, and let's just remember something about these "oppressive" regimes. They are only in a position to be "oppressive" because the rich northern hemisphere sell them the weaponry to be so - which of course means even less money for the countries concerned to feed, educate and medically treat their populations. This is another one of those duplicitous situations the more vulnerable in the world have to contend with. At least the fair trade movement attempts to redress this, but the moneys generated are nowhere near enough to put the imbalance of resources right. This is why the idea was mooted in the first place, and it's all very well expecting others to live up to your standards - it's another entirely to ensure that they have the resources to do so.

The idea of personal debt in this country is a complex one, and should a person be put in a situation where they can't work, then their creditors should suspend the debt until that situation has been rectified. If that debt was incurred through thoroughly unfair circumstances - where the creditor has conducted their affairs like some common crook either by undue intrusiveness or bully boy/girl tactics then legislation needs to be introduced that brings the creditor and not the debtor to justice.

GOOD POST XICO!!!!!

[Dude044]

Originally Posted by linskyjack

Mulder is right---maybe debt relief only occurs when a democratically elected government is put in power. I suspect that most of the petty tyrants who run the countries who are in great debt would hate debt relief----Liquidity would dry up and these people would have no more money to steal. One thing is for sure---their "subjects" would remain in poverty.

spot on.

[dugq]

If these countries are petty tyranies who are unable to spend money given to them to efficiently help their people (and I don't disagree that many are) why were they loaned money in the first place?

[lighthouse]

It does suggest a certain cynicism on the part of the finance community in that a large part of those countries revenue is spent on Arms (and not just ARVs, Planes or Firearms - it also includes Baton rounds, Water Cannon, Riot Shields etc). So the people have to endure both the poverty of having their resources misdirected and the physical pain of being clobbered by the purchases of that misdirection if they decide to question the regime (Ouch!!!!).

What effectively happens is these countries are mortgaged to the finance institutions and it gives those institutions conciderable leverage when it comes to procuring that countries natural resources. This means that the institutions - who also have clients in manufacturing - have shackled millions of people to the system. The continuing debt ensures that dictators stay in charge because the people are so impoverished they are very dependent on that state and have very little contact with the outside world. The worst thing that can happen to a regime is its people get to travel and therefore have the same independence of international contact that we have.

[linskyjack]

Originally Posted by lighthouse

The idea of debt cancellation is a good one, and let's just remember something about these "oppressive" regimes. They are only in a position to be "oppressive" because the rich northern hemisphere sell them the weaponry to be so - which of course means even less money for the countries concerned to feed, educate and medically treat their populations. This is another one of those duplicitous situations the more vulnerable in the world have to contend with. At least the fair trade movement attempts to redress this, but the moneys generated are nowhere near enough to put the imbalance of resources right. This is why the idea was mooted in the first place, and it's all very well expecting others to live up to your standards - it's another entirely to ensure that they have the resources to do so.

The idea of personal debt in this country is a complex one, and should a person be put in a situation where they can't work, then their creditors should suspend the debt until that situation has been rectified. If that debt was incurred through thoroughly unfair circumstances - where the creditor has conducted their affairs like some common crook either by undue intrusiveness or bully boy/girl tactics then legislation needs to be introduced that brings the creditor and not the debtor to justice.

GOOD POST XICO!!!!!

The weapon of choice in Rwanda was the machette, hardly a hi-tech---I am not quite sure what your point is---

[lighthouse]

Originally posted by LJ

"I am not quite sure what your point is---"


I think I might have outlined that one in Post 11 LJ!

[brite750]

Originally Posted by xico

MAKE POVERTY HISTORYToday is World Debt DayHi

Today is World Debt Day. And today - as on every day - the rich world will demand $100 million from poor countries in debt repayments while poverty is killing 50,000 people every day. What's the point of giving aid with one hand yet taking so much away with the other.

Seven years ago today, 70,000 people formed a human chain around the G8 summit in Birmingham to demand the cancellation of unfair debt. They didn't only make headlines - but made a difference. 12 months later, the same world leaders agreed to cancel $100 million of debts owed by the world's poorest countries. It was a triumph of people power.

In seven weeks the G8 returns to the UK for the first time since they were in Birmingham. Thousands will gather in Edinburgh on July 2nd to call on the leaders of the world's richest nations to Make Poverty History. You can be one of them.

The message is clear:
Enough is enough. There needs to be trade justice, debt cancellation, and more and better aid for the world's poorest countries.

I was moved when Mr Mandela said "Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that generation". It feels like these chances don't come often but this is a real opportunity to make changes in the world.

To find out how you can be involved in the Edinburgh Rally, click here.

Thank you

Dido

P.S. Movie director Anthony Minghella made this film to highlight the craziness of Africans giving us in debt repayments MORE than we give them in aid. Watch it, and if you can, send it to a friend and urge them to join us.

unsubscribe



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.11.11 - Release Date: 5/16/05

why dont you take this party to Red china, they are doing really well right now economically, ie they have lots of $$$. All the years of your leftist aggengas have pretty much picked the US clean, I liked to see how you leftist's do convincing your commie pals to give up their wealth for the worlds poor, have fun

[linskyjack]

Originally Posted by brite750

why dont you take this party to Red china, they are doing really well right now economically, ie they have lots of $$$. All the years of your leftist aggengas have pretty much picked the US clean, I liked to see how you leftist's do convincing your commie pals to give up their wealth for the worlds poor, have fun

First time I've heard that China has picked the US clean---usually its the US doing the picking. By the way, China is a place where we have good mfgr at slave labor wages. That allows people like Brite to shop at Walmarts with a big smile on their faces!