| Description | In the late 1990s, Jubilee 2000, an international coalition of 60 countries was established to call for third world debt to be cancelled by the year 2000. The Religious Society of Friends was one of the organisations taking part in this movement. In 1998, the Coalition decided to hold a demonstration in the form of a human chain around the venues of the G8 Summit which was being held in Birmingham city centre on 16 May 1998, and to present the assembled political leaders of the world's most powerful countries with a petition calling on them to cancel the debt of the poorest countries. As part of this, a number of events were held at Bull Street Meeting House and Friends were asked to support the demonstration. It is thought that between 50-70000 people took part in the demonstration, making headlines around the world and raising awareness about third world debt. The global campaign succeeded ultimately in cancelling more than $100 billion of debt by the 35 of the world's poorest countries. See also MS 4867 Jubilee Debt Campaign Birmingham.
2 copies. |