In the year ahead the J2000 campaign will be back in force to get deeper funding for debt relief. Your voice, phone calls faxes and prayers will be an important part of that effort. Let's work to make the year 2000 that global economic priorities and policies take into account millions o people who are suffering the ravages of hunger, poverty and doses so that the next millenium is one free of debt. This excessive debt can stifle growth and drain resources needed to meet basic human needs such as food, clean water, and shelter. Simply put, unsustainable debt is helping to keep too many poor countries and poor people in poverty.
More work lies ahead, but it is an important first step.
Your faith and your leadership remind us of what we can do together to strengthen communities and expand the circle of opportunity around the world. DC Be part of a massive public witness. Demand that the World Bank, the IMF and the U.S. Congress act now for debt cancellation for the world's poorest countries. Some of our Oblate colleagues in Africa contacted us over the summer to request that we look at possible ways in which to alleviate the greater suffering and destruction which the AIDS .The epidemic has spread with phenomenal speed over much of Africa in the last few years. Today it presents the greatest threat to the region's development.