On the 16th May 1998 70,000 people took to the streets of Birmingham and formed a “human chain” around the city which was then hosting a global summit with world leaders. The crowds of ordinary people were calling for debt cancellation for the world’s most indebted countries.
Were you there? Do you have any photos or memories of the day? This spring we will celebrate and reflect on the 20-year anniversary of the action described as ‘a tremendous inspiration.. a defining moment in history’ by the ex- President of Guyana Bharrat Jagdeo, who was in attendance.
How did it feel to be there? Who did you travel with or meet? Did the event have an impact on you? If you’d like to share your experience of the day, or the campaign in general, we’d love to hear from you! Please email jenny@jubileedebt.org.uk
How the Jubilee Debt Campaign was born
Standing on the shoulders of decades of debt-justice activism in the Global South, the late 90s saw the issue of debt injustice – particularly that owed from the global south to the global north, become one of the most significant political issues of the era because of the Jubilee debt movement. Between 2000-2015 the global Jubilee campaign won $130 billion of debt cancellation for developing countries.
Jubilee Debt Campaign was borne out of this activism. In the last decade the debt crisis has “come home” to Europe, and today we understand that debt cancellation is just one part of the complex picture of debt justice for countries around the world. We continue to work in heavily indebted countries in the Global South, including Mozambique and Ghana, alongside our allies in countries, as well as now also working with Greek allies and on the issue of personal debts here in the UK.