The process of the Cry of the Excluded and the Plebiscite on the External
Debt began several years ago, when church social workers, together with other
social movements, initiated the "Brazilian Social Weeks" as part of the
National Conference of Bishops (CNBB). The first, in 1991, had as its
theme "A World of Work, Challenges, and Perspectives." The next two,
held in 1993 and 1994, dealt with "Brazil - Alternatives and
Protagonists". Since that time, the Movement Without Land (MST), the
Popular Movements Central (CMP), the Consolidated Workers' Central (CUT),
the National Council of Christian Churches (CONIC), and the Ecumenical
Services Coordinator have all participated. Relations have been
solidifying for several years, or rather, for nearly a decade. It is not
only an ecumenical movement, but a pluralistic and democratic one, in
which the committed parties work for a common cause.

At the end of the Second Brazilian Social Week, in the church social
workers' evaluations, the question came up as to how we could maintain
the strong connections and relationships which had developed. Someone
suggested that we form the Cry of the Excluded. In 1995 we had our first
gathering, with the theme "Life in First Place".

From 1997 to 2000 we held the third Brazilian Social Week, with the theme
"Pay off the Debts of Society, Justice, and Solidarity through the
Construction of a Democratic Society." The basis for this theme is found
in Leviticus 25. In the Jubilee celebration, held every fifty years, one
of the concrete actions taken was the pardoning of debts. In 1994 Pope
John Paul II wrote the Apostolic Letter "Tertio Milenio Adveniente" and,
in section 51, said that the turn of the millenium would be an apt
occasion to think about pardoning the debts which weigh on the shoulders
of the poor countries. From this time forward, the Jubilee 2000 campaign
gathered strength. In Brazil the Campaign established itself with the
Symposium and the Tribunal on the External Debt, held in 1998 and 1999,
respectively.

In this process, we realized that the social debts had historical and
cultural roots, such as slavery and political and cultural domination.
We also saw that there are present-day roots which intensify the social
debts. The external debt revealed itself as the main root of the current
aggravation of social debts. From this realization came the proposal of
a Plebiscite, in order to stir up discussion about the debt and demand
that it be audited.

Popular protagonism

At first, the Government tried to ignore the issue; later, through
Minister Malan, it tried to delegitimize it labeling it as a partisan
issue, pretending not to know that the organization included the National
Conference of Brazilian Bishops (CNBB in its initials in Portuguese), the
CONIC, the MST, and the CMP: in other words, a vast range of social
organizations. The minister's criticism only served to further stimulate
discussion on the social debt. Therefore, in our opinion, our goal of
stirring up discussion on the theme was achieved.

Faced with the repercussions the Plebiscite provoked - 5.5 million voters
at the ballot boxes, the Cry's articulation in 1,700 locations, 1,300,000
people gathered in the streets - the Government could no longer ignore
the facts. The entire process of the plebiscite, which unleashed a
unified and articulate movement, had one objective, and it was realized
by the Brazilian people. It was a true collective endeavor; an exercise
in overcoming rigid visions and parochial attitudes. Popular protagonism
prevailed, because the movement integrated organizations, urban and rural
workers, students, unions and professors, lawyers, jurists, journalists,
diverse churches, communities, and parishes, health workers, municipal
governments, politicians, economists, children, youth, women, and black
and indigenous people.

Both the Plebiscite and the Cry profoundly question the government of
Fernando Henrique Cardoso and its policies of exclusion, submission to
the IMF and to international capital, which serve to increase
unemployment and inequality. They are concerned with a change of course,
in the sense of prioritizing the repayment of social debts and in
debating, throughout the nation, the problem of indebtedness. In the
end, it is necessary to say no to the current neoliberal policies and
construct our own sovereignty. It will be very difficult for the
Government to continue ignoring the clamor of the people after the
expressive vote of more than 5.5 million, since more than 90% said no to
the IMF and to the external and internal debts.

The Plebiscite will continue to demand that the National Congress approve
the proposal of convoking an Official Plebiscite, which will define with
the force of national sovereignty the debt policy our country ought to
follow, and hold a Public Audit on the External and Internal Debt with
the participation of the entities who organized the Plebiscite.

Toward a Hemispheric Cry

The Cry points out the necessity of continuing to support the Common
Calendar of Mobilizations which has been active in the past few years.
On an international level, this includes increasing our involvement with
the Jubilee 2000 campaign, with the World Women's March, and with the
fight for immigrants' rights through the Coalition of Undocumented
Immigrants in the US; helping in the struggle against racism and
xenophobia; and, primarily, working with the Hemispheric Cry of the
Excluded 2000 - For Work, Justice, and Life, which will be held in New
York on the 12th of October, as well as in the other countries of the
Americas. The objectives of the Hemispheric Cry are to denounce the
exclusive and perverse neoliberal model; to fight against social
exclusion; to strengthen the sovereignty of peoples and to defend life;
to seek repayment of the social debts; to fight against the payment of
the external debt; and to oppose the World Trade Organization (WTO) and
the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).

Father Luiz Bassegio
Secretary of the Cry of the Excluded