Jubilee 2000 USA supporters begin a 100 day rolling fast

Campaigners in the USA are marking the 100 days left to the start of the new millennium with a 100 day rolling fast, in solidarity with those made hungry by poverty caused by the debt burden in their countries.

Already 10,000 people have made a commitment to take part in the fast which begins on 21^st September. Just as everyone should take responsibility for the crushing global debt burden, no single person or community is being asked to shoulder the burden of a 100 day fast. Instead, the burden of fast will be shared by supporters around the country. Each individual or community will sign up for a day or more of fasting and action, using their fast to spread awareness about the debt crisis and the need for debt cancellation for the year 2000.

Inspiration for the rolling fast has already been initiated by David Duncombe, a retired medical school chaplain who began his own continuous fast on 7 September. He chose to station himself on Capitol Hill, and began his fast on the day Congress reconvened, in an effort to move Congress to approve significant debt relief measures. Dr Duncombe, a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, has been a long-standing campaigner for peace particularly in Central America. He explained his fast for debt cancellation: “Until the burden of debt is lifted from the poor, I am morally constrained to stand with them in their hunger.”

The fast has highlighted the growing groundswell of support for debt cancellation in the USA. It is taking place just two days before a Jubilee 2000 delegation of high-profile supporters meets with the Pope on September 23^rd. The delegation includes prominent Americans such as Jeffrey Sachs, well-known Harvard Economist, Quincy Jones, Randall Robinson, Director of Trans Africa and Willie Colon, the legendary salsa musician. It will dramatically increase political pressure on the world's leaders in the run-up to the World Bank and IMF meetings that are held in Washington from the 25^th to 29^th September.

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