Editors letter continued...
On the account of this observation, the congregation recommends to Father General that a study be made regarding the following issues:
As a follow up to these recommendations, the Superior General of the Society of Jesus issued an address on "Our Responsibility for God's Creation" at the official opening of Arrupe College, Harare - Zimbabwe last year. This has been seen as a beginning of Father General's response to the request from his brother Jesuits to address the issue of Jesuit concern for ecology. For instance, Jesuit Centre for Social Faith and Justice we publish in this issue of the Bulletin some excerpts from the General's address. We also publish the responses from a few people who have expertise in ecological issues.
In the run up to the G8 meeting in Cologne, Germany in June 1999, where the motion on debt cancellation is going to be tabled, the campaigns for debt cancellation in Zambia and Malawi and in other countries in the region are heating up. In Zambia, the Jubilee 2000 is organising the national event scheduled for 22 May 1999, under the theme "Freedom from Debt." People from different walks of life will partake in marching in the streets in all the provincial headquarters as an expression of their concern on the debt problem and its consequences on the poor. We would like to invite you all to contribute to the debate on the debt issue and to partake in debt relief campaign in search for equitable and sustainable debt relief.
In our campaign against poverty, JCTR was delighted to hear the President of Zambia agree for the first time with the findings of our cost of living study that every salary in Zambia that falls below K200, 000 is to low to sustain lives of Zambians. He made this statement recently at State House at the swearing-in ceremony of newly-appointed ministers and permanent secretaries. We were encouraged that the President made a direct reference to the ever rising breadline which is now pegged at over K250, 000.
While there is a need to question the President's motives behind making this statement, it is our hope that he will go beyond his usual politicking to making a commitment to improve the living standards of the majority (80%) of the Zambian population who are below the poverty datum line. The promised salary increase will bring back dignity to the Zambian worker, hence boost the morale and productivity and not fuel inflation.
Alex Muyebe, S.J.
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