Worldwide distribution via the APC networks. The aim is to collect 10 million signatures beseeching the industrialised North and multilateral lending institutions to totally or partially forgive the debt held by the world's poorest nations. World-famous musicians like Britain's David Bowie, Puerto Rico's Willie Col n and Ireland's Bono, meanwhile, announced a plan to ask Pope John Paul II to deliver to the World Bank and wealthy countries their request for debt relief for poor countries.
People are tired of political and diplomatic talk.
I believe we artists can help win time'' in the search for solutions to this serious problem, he added. Money was never lent to help the people, but rather to tie them to interest payments for life,'' said the popular salsa singer. The group of singers and songwriters, which includes U. S. show business personality Quincy Jones, proposes that highly indebted governments invest the amount owed in social services, said Col n. He did not specify, however, when the group's request would be delivered to the Pope. Mexico, a country ''which is not considered poor, but which nevertheless has areas where people live in the same conditions as in the world's most marginalised regions,'' has joined the efforts for a partial or total writing off of debt, said Catholic priest Alberto Athi .