The Great Hall of the University of Zimbabwe will be locked up tight this afternoon by a
chain with a difference.
Young people at the assembly plan to organise a human chain and encircle the plenary hall
to draw attention to the chains of debt which bind many of the world’s countries.
They issued an "urgent plea" to all assembly participants to unite in concern
for indebted countries. "We, the youth, call on all at assembly to join us in a sign
of our visible unity and stand together in solidarity and concern," said their
statement.
"Join us to make a statement to the world, saying that the time of injustice and
exploitation is over and that we will walk together towards a new system of world economy,
trade and power."
Jenny Hale, a youth delegate from the United Reformed Church in Great Britain, wrote to
the business committee on behalf of other young people at the Assembly, and asked for
"approval and blessing" for the young people’s proposal.
She told the committee the Pre-Assembly Youth Event had discussed the topic of unpayable
international debt "with great concern". "Since then we have been working
together to raise awareness and action on something that we believe cannot be
ignored".
The result, which the business committee has backed, will be a human chain formed just
before the beginning of the plenary session on Africa.
"We see this as a first step," said Alison Wilkins, a British Methodist delegate
who is a lay chaplain to international students in central London. The next step, she
said, included recognition of responsibility for the indebtedness of many countries.
"We need a more responsible system of lending."
In her letter to the business committee, Hale told the business committee the timing had
been chosen to focus people’s minds on "the plight of not only Africans but
millions of people around the world (and to) encourage them not only to talk but to take
action".
"We must act now," she said. "As young people we cannot just sit down and
do nothing and I believe many people in the assembly would support us.
"Jesus commands us to love one another so we must speak out and make a difference.
What a great start of new hope and life this could mean for millions in a new
millennium".
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