(December 19, 2007) Criticism by Chinese citizens of the government’s relentless dam-building drive has emerged as one of the few legitimate subjects of public debate, slowing projects and testing the limits of the public’s role in shaping policy.
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First the mutiny, then the silver
(December 19, 2007) In the wake of a staff mutiny against former World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz, the U.K. edition of The Economist notes that the lending giant’s new head, Robert Zoellick, has raised a windfall in support from rich countries.
Banks see green in carbon projects: Investing directly adds to potential for profits In emissions trading
(December 18, 2007) For financial firms such as Barclays PLC; Allianz SE’s Dresdner Kleinwort and its carbon expert, Ingo Ramming; and Morgan Stanley, the decision to get their hands dirty with carbon-reduction projects is adding a new dimension to the emerging carbon-trading business. By getting directly involved, the firms are no longer simply acting as middlemen executing trades but are sometimes flexing their own financing muscle as well.
Strike-out interest payments on questionable loans: Philippine debt watchdog
(December 17, 2007) Debt watchdog wants $512.57 million worth of foreign debt-related funds reallocated to social services.
EGAT: Lao-Thai power deals approved
(December 14, 2007) Thailand’s National Energy Policy Council has signed an agreement to buy electricity from the Hongsa power plant in Laos, Bangkok Post reported.
Lao dam impact policies a ‘shambles’
(December 13, 2007) A report by the Nam Theun 2 Power Company’s panel of international experts warns of “significant impoverishment” in hundreds of villages affected by the World Bank’s model dam project, and says more donor aid is needed. Probe International’s Grainne Ryder argues instead that revenues from the Nam Theun 2 dam should go directly to villagers suffering losses caused by the dam’s operations.
World Bank continues Philippines loan freeze; officials talk back
(December 12, 2007) The World Bank has said it will not approve a $232 million loan to the Philippines until it is convinced anti-corruption measures have been put in place to protect the project the funds are intended for. The loan, due for approval on Dec. 13, was slated for a road building contract but was blocked by the Bank after the Chinese contractor was found to have been involved in bid rigging.
Nigeria suspends Siemens dealings
(December 12, 2007) The Nigerian government has cancelled a $1.1 million contract with Siemens pending an investigation into bribery allegations.
Governments need to do more: OECD’s Gurria
(December 12, 2007) Angel Gurria, the head of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), says governments need to do much more in the fight against international corruption. Speaking at a conference in Rome last month to mark the 10th anniversary of the OECD’s Anti-Bribery Convention, created to outlaw international bribery, Mr. Gurria expressed concern that "some countries are still holding back on implementing the Convention" and "have almost no investigations," and "have brought no cases to court."
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act gains ground as “powerful tool” in the fight against corruption
(December 12, 2007) Passed by U.S. Congress three decades ago in the wake of the Watergate scandal, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act has become a powerful tool in the last five years for prosecuting domestic and overseas companies suspected of bribing foreign officials to secure business.
‘By what right’ Fiji?
(December 12, 2007) Concerns about the status of Fiji’s current governing power have prompted some analysts to warn lenders they should beware of dealing with the country’s self-declared leader and his administration, who rule without having been democratically elected by the citizens of Fiji.
Reclaiming the Mekong
(December 10, 2007) When citizens groups recently denounced the Mekong River Commission as a failure, they were criticizing its member governments and international donors for failing to protect the Mekong River. And rightly so.
Three Gorges migrant victims decry corruption and abuse
(December 10, 2007) Residents forced to make way for the Three Gorges dam have been denied resettlement funds, The China Post (Taiwan’s leading English-language paper) reported on December 10th.
China’s Sinohydro in MDB-backed road-and-rail megaproject
(December 10, 2007) Eight countries have signed an agreement to spend $18.7 billion on roads and railways linking central Asia to China and Europe, Financial Times reports.
Four more mega-dams to harness Yangtze
(December 7, 2007) Another four mega-dams planned for the upper reaches of the Yangtze River will have the capacity to produce double the amount of hydropower created by the Three Gorges facility, a senior engineer of the project’s construction body told Shanghai Daily on December 7. .
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
Lisa Peryman
Probe Media
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Probe International 