This summer has kicked off with an incredible series of actions and protests calling for an end to the debt crisis. From a mass lobby of parliament in London, to global demonstrations during a major United Nations meeting in Seville and a debt-themed giant-Jenga tower on the banks of the Thames, campaigners have been making their voices heard loud and clear, demanding urgent action on the debt crisis.
It is the biggest debt crisis in thirty years, and the strength of outrage from campaigners in lower-income countries was tangible when thousands arrived in Seville ahead of a key United Nations conference, Financing for Development (FfD), at the end of June. There are 54 countries in debt crisis around the world, but international processes are failing countries that need urgent debt cancellation.
The UK, EU, US and other wealthy nations tried to sabotage the proposal for a new global debt framework, and the US even walked out of pre-conference talks. Despite these efforts by wealthy countries, African and other lower-income countries forced the debt issue onto the agenda – and managed to get references to debt justice laws and reform of the debt system into the final text.
Ahead of the conference, we joined allies around the world who took to the streets to demand action on the debt crisis. In London, we built a giant-Jenga tower, to represent the scale of the debt crisis and the devastating impact on public services and climate action.
In Seville, we joined campaigners from around the globe taking action ahead of the Financing for Development conference, demanding world leaders Cancel Debt, Choose Hope.
We called out the government for their shameful behaviour – and joined allies in condemning the outrageous lack of engagement with civil society during the conference itself.
The fact that so many lower-income countries held the line on the urgent need for action, combined with the scale of these global protests, sends a powerful message our government can no longer ignore.
Your voice in Westminister
At the start of July, we made sure that message was hammered home when we joined The Climate Coalition mass lobby in Westminster. Thousands of people gathered in central London to speak to their MPs about the issues that matter. Many used the opportunity to speak face-to-face with MPs about the ways in which the debt crisis is fueling the climate crisis, and how a debt justice law here in the UK could help countries in crisis get debt cancelled.
It was an incredible day, with people arriving in Westminster from all across the UK to speak to their MPs. We heard passionate interventions on the twin crises of climate and debt throughout the day, including from our director Heidi Chow.
It’s been a hugely powerful few weeks with people around the globe forcing the debt crisis under the noses of politicians and political leaders everywhere. It’s the year for action. It’s the year we Cancel Debt, Choose Hope.
Join the campaign – sign the global petition today.
