House of Representatives Passes Jubilee Act!
[The Nicaragua Network has received this important press release from the Jubilee USA Network, of which we are a member.]
Jubilee USA Network
www.jubileeusa.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Contact: Eleiza Braun, Massey Media, 415-420-4059
Neil Watkins, Jubilee USA, 202-783-0129, 202-421-1023 (c)
Churches, Development Advocates Praise Congress’ Passage of Legislation for Expanded International Debt Cancellation
Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation Passes House of Representatives with Bi-Partisan Support; Senate Panel to Consider Issue April 24
WASHINGTON – Leaders of churches, development agencies, civil rights, labor, and human rights groups today praised the passage by the US House of Representatives by a vote of 285-132 of the Jubilee Act (HR 2634). The legislation calls the US Treasury Department to negotiate a multilateral agreement for debt cancellation for up to 24 additional poor countries that need cancellation to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Jubilee USA Network is an alliance of 80 organizations that has been leading the advocacy for the legislation. “We commend the US Congress for its bold step in passing the Jubilee Act and listening to the people of the impoverished nations who have borne the burden of unjust debt for far too long,” said Patricia Rumer, co-chair of the Board of Jubilee USA Network. “We hope that House passage will inspire the US Senate to move quickly to also pass the Jubilee Act and send it to the President for immediate action.”
Read more…
Volunteer to Plant Trees in Nicaragua!
One Month to Deadline for Applications!
Deadline is May 1st!
Decide now to learn and contribute all on one trip!
Reforestation Brigade Sponsored by the Nicaragua Network
June 15-29, 2008
Cost: $850 for everything except airfare to Nicaragua
Plant trees in post-Felix Nicaragua to help prevent further natural disasters!
Learn about the work being done to solve Nicaragua’s environmental problems!
Visit scenic areas in Estelí and Madriz!
Meet with environmentalists and governmental officials in Managua!
Download PDF File About The Reforestation Brigade Here!
Read more…
Los Angeles Jury Punishes Dole Foods Company–Total for Workers Now Exceeds $6 million!
PRESS RELEASE
From the Law Offices of Juan J. Dominguez, APLC
November 16, 2007
Contact: Ivonne Rodriguez at Juan J. Dominguez, APLC 800-818-1818
Los Angeles Jury Punishes Dole Foods Company, Inc. for Maliciously Sterilizing 5 Poor Nicaraguan Plantation Workers
On November 15, 2007 a Los Angeles jury rendered a punitive damages verdict in the amount of $2,500,000.00 on a finding of malice to punish corporate giant Dole Foods Company, Inc. (“Dole”) in sterilizing 5 Nicaraguan banana plantation workers with the pesticide Dibromochloropropane (“DBCP”) in the 1970s. [Tellez, et. al. v Dole Foods Company, Inc, et. al Los Angeles Superior Court Case #: BC 312852]. Malice in these sterilizations was found by the jury at the higher corporate decision making level of Dole. The Jury also found that Dole fraudulently concealed from these plantation workers the toxic sterilization dangers of the DBCP pesticide. The recovery for the Tellez, et al workers now totals over $6,000,000.00 against Dole and manufacturers The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) and Amvac Chemical Corporation.
Nicaragua Network and Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign Send Letter to Nicaraguan Officials on Abortion Ban
With the advice of our partners in human rights and women’s organizations in Nicaragua, the Nicaragua Network, joined by the Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign of Great Britain, on December 4, 2007, sent a letter with the signatures of over 300 solidarity activists and others to key Nicaraguan officials asking them to do what they can to reverse the criminalization of therapeutic abortion.
Read more…
No More CAFTAs Pledge for Trade Justice!
The process of negotiating, ratifying, and implementing so-called “free” trade agreements like the DR-CAFTA is out of control, and the time has come to say “enough is enough!” Congress and all elected officials must demand a new approach and should be required to make their positions on trade clear and unambiguous so that people in the United States will know where they stand. With the Pledge for Trade Justice, we are demanding that our public officials start working toward a more just and equitable system. And there is an alternative. Public officials such as the representatives who have already signed the Pledge are vowing to press this administration and future ones for just agreements that support sustainable development goals and equity for all.
