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Hello campaigners,

We hope you're all having a great summer! Below are some updates to keep you in the loop about major news stories and goings-on with regards to debt, useful materials for communicating the message of debt justice, upcoming events, and further staffing changes here at the Jubilee Scotland office.  
UN Conference on Trade & Development, Nairobi

UNCTAD 14: Good News & Bad News

The month of July saw the 14th meeting of UNCTAD, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, take place in Nairobi, Kenya - an event that struggled to live up to its declared themeFrom Decisions to Actions.  

While we welcome the acknowledgement of the risk of a new debt trap facing many African countries, and the need for new thinking on how to avert it, sadly some of the decisions made in fact serve to avert desperately required actions. 

It may come as no surprise that wealthy countries including the UK once again acted against the interests of the Global South - not to mention their own populations - in blocking progress on tax avoidance, excluding poor countries from international decisions on tax. The continued promotion of Public-Private Partnerships, despite a dismal track record of failure and the creation of massive hidden debts, was another cause for concern.   

UNCTAD did, however, "receive a clear instruction" to move forward on "creating an effective mechanism to solve debt crises in a fair, speedy and sustainable manner", which is certainly a step in the right direction. The creation of such a mechanism is central to the struggle for global debt justice and so developments will be followed closely and with great interest.
 

Barroso, the European Commission President during the worst years of the Euro crises, is to become the chairman of Goldman Sachs International
Goldman Sachs was one of the most influential and damaging banks in the events that lead to the crises. The bank bailout policies in the Euro crises that Barroso has promoted saved Goldman Sachs billions of Euros, perhaps from bankruptcy. His lucrative new job is obviously an ex-post-reward for the help he gave them and other banks, on cost of the European citizens and taxpayers. This is simply not acceptable.

Sign and share the petition to show your agreement.
 

IMF Slammed By Own Watchdog On Greece

Last week the IMF's own watchdog published a scathing criticism of the organisation's handling of the eurozone crisis. Particular attention is of course paid to Greece, which this article in the Telegraph describes as having "endured the traditional IMF shock of austerity, without the offsetting IMF cure of debt relief", with Greeks being "repeatedly blamed for failures that stemmed from the policy itself".

The video below, recently produced by fellow debt justice campaigners CADTM, provides an excellent summary of the Greek crisis (in French with English subtitles), making the case for cancellation clear for all to see.

La dette grecque, une tragédie européenne (The Greek debt, a European tragedy) [HQ] (multi-sub)
'The Greek Debt: A European Tragedy'
Video by CADTMProduction du Pavé

Fossil Free Activists' Assembly

At the Jubilee Scotland AGM in June we renewed our commitment to collaboration with the climate justice movement in Scotland around divestment from fossil fuels, with climate debt a growing cause for concern. 

Following an Edinburgh meeting of campaigners earlier this year in response to the Paris climate talks, an Activists' Assembly on 24 September will build on plans laid for the transition towards a Fossil Free Scotland. Join us there - the event is open to all. For more information click here.



Mainstream Media Bias Discussion & Activist Media Training

On the evenings of 26th October and 27th October Real Media have journalists from the Glasgow Media Group, CommonSpace and then Jamie Kelsey-Fry (editor of the New Internationalist) to talk about mainstream media bias and train you up to be media savvy. We're going to be heading along but there's also space for a few of you to join us.

For more information on the event or to register click here
 
Thanks for reading, have a great day! 

A Word From Our Outgoing Staff:
Jamie, Fundraising & Comms. Officer

This month I will be leaving my post at Jubilee Scotland - one I was delighted to take up last year and have relished over the course of these past months. I was truly enthused to be given the opportunity to do my bit for such an important cause. 

The advocacy work of Jubilee Scotland and partner organisations around the world is so critical to tackling the root causes of global poverty and inequality and it has been a privilege to facilitate engagement from our wonderful supporters and members.

Looking ahead I hope to see even more lend their support to Scotland's campaign for debt justice. I am very confident that many more will, given the vision and know-how of Campaign Director Kirsty, who I would like to thank, along with Ashley (her predecessor), all on the CCG, and all of you for the invaluable experience. It will serve me well in my next role assisting one of Scotland's youngest MPs, internationalist Stuart Donaldson for Aberdeenshire West & Kincardine 



Edinburgh World Justice Festival Event

We can gladly announce that Jubilee Scotland will again be taking part in the fantastic Edinburgh World Justice Festival in 2016, following the success of our Better Economics, Better Planet workshop at last year's event. 

This year we're jointly hosting 'Private finance, global aid & collapsing schools' with Common Weal. The event will take place on Friday 14th October from 6:30 - 8 in the Sanctuary of Augustine United Church. 
 

PFI Schools Mess

If you follow us on Facebook or Twitter, you may have seen that we're looking for teachers and parents affected by the many issues with PFI-built schools in Edinburgh to get in touch with their experiences. 

If this describes you or a friend or family member, Campaign Director Kirsty can be reached on the email address below.


 
DONATE TODAY TO SUPPORT JUBILEE SCOTLAND
Calling all Lawyers! 

Advocates for International Development (A4ID) is holding a Law & Development Training Programme on the 23rd September and 21st October, Edinburgh
 
This 2-day course explores the role of the law in international development and how the law and legal institutions can be utilised in the dynamic field of Business & Human Rights
Module 1: Introduction to Law & Development
Module 2: Business & Human Rights
Module 3: Finance & Development
Module 4: Sustainable Development
 
We're going to be taking part but you will also hear from experts from the Scottish Government, DFID, the Scottish Human Rights Commission, law firms and research institutions.
 
For more information about the course content and pricing, please click here

Fancy writing for our website?

Is there a debt issue you're especially passionate about? Would you like to help spread the word, in your words?

How would you like to write a blog post for the Jubilee Scotland website? If you fancy covering a topical subject of concern to fellow debt justice campaigners, please get in touch by emailing:
 

kirsty@jubileescotland.org.uk.  
 

Copyright © 2016 Jubilee Scotland, All rights reserved.


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