Welcome to the February 2000 On-Line Edition of

St George's News

Waterlooville's Parish Magazine

CHRISTIAN AID - LET THERE BE LIGHT

A date for your 2000 diary

G8 Summit - Drop the Debt

The year 2000 is now upon us - and with it the climax of the worldwide campaign to cancel poor countries' debt.

Since 1998, when 70,000 people formed a human chain in Birmingham, campaigning has focused on the annual G8 summit of the leaders of the world's richest nations. In 1999, G8 leaders meeting in Cologne announced a new deal on debt cancellation. But their proposals don't go far enough. Highly indebted poor countries are still expected to spend more on servicing their debts than on either health or education for their people.

The millennium G8 summit is in Japan next July, and we're calling the final day of the meeting - 23 July 2000 - Debt Decision Day. This is when world leaders will tell us whether or not they have agreed to cancel poor countries' unpayable debt.

Mark this date in your diary now and make it a focus for your prayers over the coming months.

If you would like to write to Tony Blair or Gordon Brown encouraging them to begin negotiations on debt for the summit now, Christian Aid has produced a letter you can use. Telephone 0171 523 2225 for a copy and for other information on ways you can help.

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page last updated 6 FEBRUARY 2000