Current Events

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Past Events

Since its formation in 1997, the Jubilee Debt Action Network has campaigned continuously in New Zealand and internationally for the cancellation of the unjust and unpayable debts of poor countries. Actions have included national and international petitions, with NZ contributing some 63,847 NZ signatures for International Jubilee 2000 Petition in 1999, resourcing model UN Assemblies and a schools kit on Debt, actively lobbying parliamentarians and officials, raising awareness among the New Zealand public, and taking part in international campaign gatherings in Germany , Britain and Japan . Listed below are a few of the past actions of Jubilee Aotearoa.

Postcard Campaign

Let your views be known. Jubilee Aotearoa has produced a series of postcards linking debt cancellation to the Millennium Development Goals. Please contact us if you would like a set, or several sets, of postcards.

Thumbs up for Debt Cancellation

One of the very first actions of the campaign was facilitated by Trade Aid who coordinated the campaign during its initial year producing newsletters and campaign publicity. They produced a series of debt banners which hung in Trade Aid shops and were circulated to churches, schools, trade unions and other organisations throughout New Zealand . Campaign supporters put their thumb prints on the banners. Eventually several hundred banners were sewn together and displayed in parliament before being sent to New York to be used by the campaign outside the World Bank HQ!

Bursting the Debt Balloon!

On June 17 1998, Jubilee Aotearoa presented a petition to Marian Hobbs MP who later presented it to Parliament with over 10,000 signatures on, calling for the government to support debt cancellation. Surrounded by layers of debt banners, balloons were popped to symbolise the urgency of debt cancellation. The banners were originally intended to circle the Beehive but it was pouring with rain. Christian World Service later presented a written submission to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee in support of the petition.

Formation of the Debt Working Group

In March 2000, following discussions with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Phil Goff and Matt Robson, a Working Group was set up comprising officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Treasury, and Jubilee Aotearoa to work on policy issues related to international debt. This group has met quarterly since that time, exchanged information and analysis, position papers, and contributed to the policy of the New Zealand Government on debt.

Breaking the Chains of Debt!

In March 2000, a broad array of campaigners gathered outside the Anglican Cathedral in Wellington at which then Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Matt Robson, and Jubilee Coordinator Robert Reid symbolically cut through the chains of debt with a large pair of bolt cutters. Those present then left in teams to meet with the Ambassadors of the eight countries of the G8 to put the case for debt cancellation.

The Great CD Competition

Schools got active in the campaign during 2000 with the publication of a schools education kit on debt for Level 5 of the Social Studies curriculum, The Debt Burden. The kit has since been reprinted and is available for NZD$10. Copies available from Global Education Centre (part of the Development Resource Centre) and the holding by the United Nations Association of a series of UN model assemblies. This focus continued via a nationwide competition to produce a CD on debt. The competition was won by:

• St Mary's College, Ponsonby for its Robin Hood Song.
• Wellington Girl's College for the CD Cover design.
• Corran School , Remuera, for the cover blurb on debt.

The winners received New Internationalist Third World Guide, a professional recording of the song, and $500 worth of art supplies and books.

Archbishop Njongonkulu Visit

The highlight of 2001 was undoubtedly the August visit of Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane of Capetown, a prominent debt campaigner and once political prisoner of the former Apartheid regime in South Africa . While here he spoke at public meetings, met with the government and attended a rugby match between the All Blacks and the Springboks. Archbishop Ndungane's message was a clear one: Although the Millennium year had passed, the debt burden remained and it was vital that the campaign continue in order to build on the gains of its early years, and that the Bretton Woods Institutions which oversee the debt burden, simply must transform under pressure from the grassroots.