A national grassroots campaign mounted by Jubilee USA, the international humanitarian agency, Church World Service (the ecumenical Christian relief network) and allied organizations is urging Americans to send Valentine's Day wishes to US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, asking him to have a heart and cancel Liberia's 3.5 billion dollar debt.

While ‘culture wars' in the United States absorb much media attention, a campaigning coalition which brings together religious and secular groups is working to ensure that January 2007 marks not only the beginning of a new year but also a fresh push to eliminate the debt crippling impoverished nations.

The new head of the US Episcopal Church, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, has made tackling global poverty her 2007 resolution. In a message sent to local congregations and other church and public leaders, the ECUSA Primate highlights the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as a practical Christian priority.

Operation Noah, the churches' campaign to avert catastrophic climate change, has appointed Ann Pettifor, one of the architects of the widely-praised Jubilee 2000 anti-debt initiative, as its new Campaign Director.

As Christmas approaches, Australian families are turning to church financial counsellors in increasing numbers who say that a new set of families has emerged who need help: those with steady income, but unmanageable debts.

A church-based campaign has picketed a retail chain for charging 'pernicious' prices for consumer goods, from home entertainment systems to kitchen appliances.

Christian charity Credit Action has launched a free self-help guide to personal debt management.

Debt help resources