Berkeley, CA Supporting Debt Cancellation for Impoverished Countries

Type: Resolution
Status: Adopted on 11/6/07
Source File: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil/2007citycouncil/packet/110607/11-06s.htm
Text:
Resolution No. 63,883–N.S.
URGING UNITED STATES SUPPORT OF DEBT CANCELLATION FOR COUNTRIES IN AFRICA AND OTHER IMPOVERISHED COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD
WHEREAS, the Berkeley City Council adopted the Human Rights Ordinance in 1990;
and
WHEREAS, Chapter 3.68.010 of the Berkeley Municipal Code found that, “...The
residents of Berkeley have continually demonstrated their concern for peace and justice
based on equality among all peoples”, shown by passing a Resolution in support of
banning Apartheid in South Africa (Resolution No. 53,038–N.S.) as well as a resolution
in support of Debt Relief for Impoverished Countries (Resolution No. 60,323–N.S.) and
agreeing to not purchase bonds issued by the International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (the World Bank) (Resolution No. 60,479–N.S.); and
WHEREAS, many countries in Africa and elsewhere have foreign debts that were
incurred by dictatorships which did not use the funds in ways that benefited the
population of the country; and the people of these countries have been struggling under
the burden of international debts for many years; and
WHEREAS, the debts of all developing countries have a negative impact on
communities in the United States by contributing to mass migration and global poverty;
and
WHEREAS, in 2000, the United States government endorsed the United Nations
Millennium Development Goals, which include a commitment to provide debt relief and
other assistance necessary to cut global poverty in half by the year 2015, and the year
2007 is half way point towards that goal; and
WHEREAS, debt relief efforts to date are insufficient to help impoverished countries
meet the United Nations Millennium Development Goals; and
WHEREAS, on June 7th, 2007, Congresswoman Maxine Waters introduced the Jubilee
Act of 2007 (H.R. 2634) in Congress to provide for greater responsibility in lending and
expanded cancellation of debts owed to the United States and the international financial
institutions by impoverished countries, to remove economic conditionalities from such
cancellation, mandate transparency and accountability from governments and financial
institutions and proposes responsible future lending practices.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Berkeley, on
behalf of the citizens of the City, urges the United States government to pass the
Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation of 2007 (H.R.
2634 and S.2166), and commence efforts to obtain agreements from the international
financial institutions to cancel all debts owed to them by impoverished countries.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Berkeley, recognizing that
the welfare of citizens of the City is linked to the welfare of citizens in impoverished
countries, urges the United States government to ensure that debt cancellation is not
conditioned on any agreement to implement policies that deepen poverty or degrade the
environment or undermines human rights.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Berkeley calls on members
of the Greater Bay Area Congressional Delegation: Tom Lantos, Nancy Pelosi, Ellen
Tauscher, Anna Eshoo and Dianne Feinstein to join their colleagues, Representatives
Mike Honda, Barbara Lee, Zoe Lofgren, George Miller, Pete Stark, Lynn Woolsey and
Barbara Boxer in co-sponsoring H.R. 2634 and S.2166.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Berkeley directs the City
Manager to send copies of this Resolution to Senator Dianne Feinstein, and
Representatives Tom Lantos, Nancy Pelosi, Ellen Tauscher, and Anna Eshoo.
S
Category:California
Category:City Governments
Category:Economics
Category:Resolutions