Fast FAQs

What is the Drop the Debt Fast?
A 36-day rolling fast will demand debt cancellation for 36 poor countries - countries that are still suffering under a huge debt burden while millions of their people live in extreme poverty. We’re asking you to sign up to fast for at least one day, in solidarity with people who urgently need debt cancellation to help tackle poverty, and in protest that the rich world must pick up the pace for further, faster debt cancellation.

How do I sign up?
Sign up here to let us know when you will be fasting. As a group you could commit to cover the whole 36 day period between you - please just let us know what you are doing and when.

When is the Drop the Debt Fast?
It will run from 12 April to 17 May 2008.  The fast will begin as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund hold their Spring Meetings in Washington DC. Despite the ongoing debt crisis, debt cancellation won’t be high on the agenda of these meetings. The fast will end on 17 May, the day before our Journey to Justice event, when we commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 70,000-strong Birmingham human chain that surrounded the G8 in 1998 and demanded they drop the debt.

Why do we need to drop the debt?
We are calling for an end to unpayable debt, where debt payments are an intolerable burden on poor countries, forcing them to repay debts rather than meet their people’s basic needs. We are also calling for cancellation of unjust, or 'illegitimate' debts, where the supposed 'debt' itself is simply unfair - such as where loans were knowingly made to oppressive and corrupt regimes that would not use them for the benefit of their people, or were granted for useless projects. To find out more about why we need to drop the debt, and fast, see the basics about debt.

Which countries are covered by the Fast and why?
Each day we will focus on one country that urgently needs the chains of unpayable and unjust debts to be broken. See the list of countries and dates.

These are 36 of the countries that have largely been left out of the debt cancellation so far, or which have faced lengthy delays in accessing debt cancellation. The current debt relief process unfairly excludes large numbers of countries by using an arbitrary financial measure – the level of a country’s debt-to-export ratio - to determine whether its debt is “sustainable”. These 36 countries all have high levels of poverty, and need debt cancellation in order simply to meet their people’s basic needs - such as for health, education and other essential services.

What about where these countries have corrupt or undemocratic regimes?
The existence of corruption is often presented as a reason not to grant debt cancellation. On the contrary, debt relief has had a demonstrable impact on tackling poverty and the existence of corruption has not undermined this. Moreover, efforts to improve governance and tackle corruption are intensifying and should be rewarded, not punished. The debt crisis must be solved in a way that minimises corruption and strengthens resources to fight it. Transparency and accountability are the keys to these efforts.

How do you make sure that the proceeds of debt relief get used properly?
There must be mechanisms in place to ensure that the proceeds of debt cancellation benefit the people and are not misused by the government. Campaigners in indebted countries demand this. These should include creditor and debtor governments publishing and making accessible all information about loans and debt cancellation. Where governments can't deliver this, debt payments could instead be diverted back towards, for instance, humanitarian projects in the country: the solution is not for the rich world to take the money.

What is the aim of the Fast?
The Drop the Debt Fast highlights the unfinished business of the debt campaign. It focuses on the ongoing plight of 36 countries still burdened with unpayable and unjust debts. It helps raise awareness of the debt crisis and gathers momentum towards the Journey to Justice event on 18 May. By registering for the Fast you show your support for the campaign, so we can tell the UK and other governments that many people are demanding they take action on debt.

What do I do to take part?
Sign up for a period of time, at least a day, when you will fast. You can choose a day linked to a country that you have a particular interest in, or just a convenient date, which might be when your local JDC or other social action group meets. Tell your friends, colleagues, local media and MP what you are doing and why, to encourage others to join in.

While you fast, please make a chain – on your own, with family, friends, a faith congregation, school or local group… and bring them to the Journey to Justice event on 18 May in Birmingham. 1998’s human chain was an image of the chains of debt that need to be broken. We will be creating a huge chain in Centenary Square to demand governments pick up the pace to drop all the debt! You will be able to download a template chain shortly. If you can’t come to Birmingham, please send your chains to us - to arrive by 16 May - at Jubilee Debt Campaign, The Grayston Centre, 28 Charles Square, London N1 6HT.

The fast is an opportunity to focus on the need to Pick Up the Pace for debt cancellation. Please use the 36 days to sign the campaign postcard, and get others in your group or local community to get involved. Tell your friends, colleagues, local media what you are doing and why to encourage others to join in.

What do you mean by fasting?
Not eating (drinking water is fine!) is a strict definition, but if you have medical or other reasons not to do this, why not consider giving something up for the duration of the fast, like chocolate or television? The purpose is to show solidarity with people in the global South and to make time to take action on debt. In addition, you could donate the money you save, or use it to boost the debt campaign locally.

This sounds like a great idea. How do I sign up?
Sign up for the Drop the Debt Fast here.