The faith-based community is invited to:

Fly-
Fly-A-Kite Against BNPP! Enough of Immoral Debts!
Organized by: Faith-based Congress Against Immoral Debts (FCAID)
13 April 2009 (Monday), 2-6 p.m., Pinaglabanan Shrine, Pinaglabanan Street, Brgy. Corazon De Jesus, San Juan City

THE CONCEPT

A. Kite-flying as a tradition and an art form

Kite-flying is one of the oldest traditions all across Asia, including in the Philippines. Historically, kites were first
developed around 2,800 years ago in Weifang, China. Likewise, popular legend has it that farmers attached a
string to their hats to keep them from being blown away by the wind while farming. In fact, there are a lot of
folktales and myths on kites, which have narrated the various purposes of kites in healthcare, agriculture and
even in warfare.

In the Philippines, kite-flying became a major past time of both the young and old alike at a time long before the
existence of any computers, the internet, videogames, and cellphones. In fact, the act of flying kites became in
itself a bonding moment between parents and their children and grandparents and their grandchildren. And for
those who eventually developed a passion for it, kite-flying is already considered a form of art. Furthermore, with
today’s global climate change-sensitive generation kite-flying is now considered as one of the most ecologically-
friendly sports.

B. The Symbol of Kite-flying

For the event, “Fly-A-Kite Against BNPP! Enough of Immoral Debts!” kite-flying becomes the symbol of the
collective hopes and dreams of today’s youth. However, with the long unresolved debt problem of the Philippines,
this national issue has now become a major burden for the younger generation (and the next) as they are
immorally forced to pay for the debts that they do not owe and even for projects which never benefited them.
This is quite similar to a kite getting stuck in a wire mesh thus preventing it from soaring high.

The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) is a concrete and classic example of an illegitimate debt – a burden
passed on to our people by the former Marcos dictatorship and its cronies. Even with the proven findings that it is
dangerously unsafe to operate for both environmental and health reasons, the dictator still pushed for its
construction so that he and his cronies could collect their share from the overpriced project of Westinghouse.
Safety, bribery, cronyism and DEBT (which was contracted on behalf of the Filipino people), are just some of the
major issues related to this case. The debts contracted deprived the next generation of quality education,
healthcare, agricultural support, infrastructure, and jobs because all the post-Marcos administrations prioritized
debt servicing over and above the basic economic and social needs of our people.

DEBT becomes a burden and a major stumbling block for the next generation to fulfill their hopes and dreams for
a far better future. As such, it only severely cripples our nation’s capacity towards any sustainable development
for the progress of all.
C. The Immorality of Debts

Here are some concepts and paradigms which have now become the basis of FCAID’s position on debt and
morality:

1. “Wealth exists to be shared.”

2. The charging of usurious interest rates is morally condemned.
• Debts for productive endeavors (e.g., business) can be charged minimal interest rates only.
• Debts for basic social purposes (e.g., hospital bills, etc.) should not be charged any interests at all.
3. Debts contracted on behalf of the people by the government (Third Party/Institutional Debts).
4. Debt is a social/structural sin (i.e., apartheid, racism, slavery, patriarchy, anti-semitism, etc.).
5. The North and South Concept or the historical “unequal power relations” of nations.

In summary, debt becomes immoral when: there is greed, it becomes a source of conflict, it creates war and
division, it enslaves people, it becomes burdensome, there is fraud, and powerful countries use their influence
and money to exploit vulnerable countries.

D. The Importance of Fly-A-Kite Against BNPP and Sponsor-A-Kite Activity

In general:
1. The activity is in solidarity with the people of Morong and Bataan.
2. It helps strengthen the unity between the faith-based groups, advocates and the people of Morong.
3. Since the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant falls under the category of immoral debts, the faith-based
sector has the moral capacity to play a critical role in the resolution of the massive debt problem of
this country. Likewise, the debt issue is more than just an economic issue because it also has moral
and ethical dimensions.

Specific for Sponsor-A-Kite:

(Part of the proceeds will be donated to the people of Morong, Bataan to finance their campaign against
BNPP including the kite as a symbol of solidarity.)
1. Since this is A MEDIA EVENT, the activity will play an important role in pressuring our legislators
because it will show that many from the faith-based sector oppose the operation of the BNPP. It will
not only send a signal to the legislators that the people are closely watching them, but that also the
faith-based sector is now making a very crucial intervention in the national decision-making process
concerning the BNPP’s possible reactivation.

E. Highlight of the Event

The main highlight of this event will be the mass ascension of kites with the slogan, “CHOOSE LIFE OVER
DEBT!” together with a slogan protesting against the activation of the BNPP (to be written by the faith-
based sponsoring organizations). There will also be learning opportunities on the BNPP issue available
for those attending. As such, various educational booths will be set-up for this purpose.