MCC Washington Memo

Sample Letter on Debt Relief

Dear [Member of Congress],

Debt costs lives. In the world’s most impoverished countries, resources are diverted away from citizens’ basic needs—shelter, education, health care—and used to pay debt service to rich countries and institutions.

Even after the life-saving debt relief provided to date, the poorest countries still send $100 million every day out to our government and international institutions in debt payments. Meanwhile, 30,000 children die every day of easily preventable diseases.

The Jubilee Act will help. It calls for expanded debt cancellation without harmful economic policy conditions to help all the poor countries that need it to reach the Millennium Development Goals. It also urges responsible lending in the future to avoid a new debt crisis and policies to create a more just global economic system.

It would cost only 40 cents per U.S. resident to cancel the debt owed to the U.S. by 24 impoverished countries. Our pocket change can make global systemic change!

Sincerely,

Name and address

For a more detailed letter, visit washingtonmemo.org/newsletter/fall09.

Stories of Congressional Advocacy

And many were healed: Health care for all

Shalom Mennonite (North Newton, Kan.) hosted a learning/listening session on health care reform on August 8, 2009. They used MCC Washington’s Abundant Life resources, as well as the DVD Health, Money and Fear (available at ourailinghealthcare.com). “Our presentation went very well to a group of 35,” said Marilyn Wolgemuth. “The information you sent me was shared with the group and it was well received. Our Health and Wellness Task Force continues to go forward in an attempt to inform our congregations of their options.”

At Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship (New York), the theme of the worship service on August 16 was “Health Care forAll.” Pastor Sylvia Shirk Charles used the Washington Memo resources for her sermon prep (including the additional sermon ideas online), as well as the sample letter. Everyone was offered a letter to sign that would be sent to their senators and a discussion circle was held after the service. The discussion group began by sharing their experiences of health care in places where they lived—including Honduras, New Jersey, and Canada. The discussion not only helped to spur discussion about health care in general, but also helped to inform the congregation’s decision about joining the Corinthian Plan. According to Pastor Shirk Charles, “People in our congregation are interested in these economic justice concerns and they want to see the church speak to current issues.”

Cluster Bomb Postcards Sent

Evelyn Kreider and Ethel Umble of College Mennonite Church (Goshen, Ind.) recently hosted two events to raise awareness about cluster bombs. Kreider, 94, and Umble set up a table with cluster bomb resources outside of a Ten Thousand Villages shop. Despite sporadic rain, they managed to get 141 individuals to sign postcards urging their senator to co-sponsor S. 416, The Cluster Munitions Civilian ProtectionAct. Kreider and Umble also provided the same resources after their church service, where 260 postcards were signed. Visit mcc.org/clusterbombs to learn more about these weapons and how you can advocate against them.

Upcoming Conferences

International Debt Relief: A Tool to Fight Global Poverty

You are invited to join Jubilee USANetwork for a day of inspiring speakers, educational workshops, and advocacy training sessions on international debt relief as a tool to fight global poverty. The conference will feature a leadingAfrican civil society advocate along with national and local experts and advocates on global hunger and poverty issues. For more information, visit jubileeusa.org

Ecumenical Advocacy Days
A Place to Call Home: Immigrants, Refugees, and Displaced Peoples

And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ —Luke 9:58

Jesus had no place to lay his head. Neither do tens of millions of migrants, refugees and displaced persons. Be a part of an action weekend addressing this global injustice. Join hundreds of faith-based advocates in taking action on U.S. legislation that will welcome immigrants, protect refugees, and prevent displacement. For more information about Ecumenical Advocacy Days, please visit advocacydays.org.