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Thanks to everyone who came to the film night last week – the discussion afterwards was really interesting and we learned a lot about what is happening locally to support food sovereignty.

 Activists from Kirklees Campaign against Climate Change and Bradford World Development movement were outside the ‘crime scene’ of Huddersfield HSBC on Saturday 19 October. HSBC provide massive investment to fossil fuel companies. This is causing climate change and destroying communities in countries like Indonesia. Members of the public signed cards to ask HSBC to stop bank rolling climate change and these were given to the bank manager on Saturday.

The people of Pakistan have suffered from a crippling national debt for 40 years. The global financial crisis, the horrific floods of 2010 and the so-called ‘war on terror’ have all made Pakistan’s debt spiral out of control.

This debt has done little for the majority of Pakistan’s people. It has increased inequality and deepened impoverishment. Today, 50 million people live below the poverty line. Over 20 percent of government revenue is spent on debt payments – more than on health and education combined.

In September, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreed the latest in a long-line of ‘bailout’ loans, paying off reckless lenders, whilst keeping Pakistan trapped in debt. As a condition of the loans, public spending will be cut and prices for food and fuel increased. Meanwhile, richer companies and individuals continue to pay too little in tax. The people of Pakistan must be free to decide upon their own economic future – a future without the crippling burden of inherited debts and IMF-imposed conditions.

Speakers

Abdul Khaliq from CADTM-Pakistan will tell us the stories from Pakistan we do not hear in the news – the impact of debt on people’s lives, the extreme economic policies pursued in the name of paying unjust debt, and how people are struggling for a fairer society.

Tim Jones from Jubilee Debt Campaign will show how Pakistan’s experience is replicated across the world, from Tunisia to Ireland, Jamaica to Greece. And how the inspiring struggles in these countries point towards a world which does not suffer from unjust debt.

Habib Malik from Islamic Relief UK, an international aid and development charity which aims to alleviate the suffering of the world’s poorest people. Islamic Relief is pushing for measures to tackle Pakistan’s debt crisis, including a public audit into the debt.

Event Details

Bradford: 31st October, 7pm – 9pm

Carlisle Business Centre, Carlisle Road, BD8 8BD

With Abdul Khaliq (CADTM-Pakistan), Tim Jones (Jubilee Debt Campaign) and Habib Malik (Islamic Relief UK).

Mela visitors signed action cards and petitions to ask Vince Cable to require companies declare the massive amount of carbon they emit from fossil fuel investments, not just the heating and lighting as proposed.  The public were offered dirty oil to drink and coal as bar snacks and showed great interest in the campaign.

Prof Paul Rogers from the Peace Studies Dept of Bradford University
gave a talk on ‘Chances for Peace in the Second Decade’ at the
Bradford World Development Group AGM on 4 Jan 2013.
In a concise and thought-provoking speech followed by questions and
discussion wth the 33 participants he underlined the need for measures
to reduce inequality and avoid the perils of climate disruption if
world development was going to take place effectively.
He regarded WDM as one of the agencies for social change in the UK
which would help the people to make the profound changes which are
immediately required for humans to survive the rest of this century.