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