(September 1, 2004) Thousands of Laotian farmers have been promised new livelihoods to make way for a World Bank-backed hydro dam in one of Asia’s poorest countries. But a review of the developers’ resettlement plans indicates a high risk of failure.
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Britain to give Iraq $90m in aid
(September 1, 2004) Britain yesterday committed £50 million ($90m) in specific bilateral aid projects for war-torn Iraq from a total 544 million package that London has pledged to spend by March 2006.
Criticism dominates first public debate on huge Laos dam
(August 31, 2004) “Don’t let this be a repetition of the Pak Moon dam”, say Thai opponents of World Bank-backed Lao dam.
U.S. diplomat wants more funds for Iraqi security
(August 30, 2004) The new U.S. ambassador to Iraq wants to shift more than $3 billion in U.S. aid away from reconstruction to security, and proposes the U.S. forgive $360 million of Iraq’s debt in the hope other countries will follow suit.
Edwards: Bush’s poor leadership has hurt U.S.
(August 30, 2004) Senator John Edwards said a Kerry-Edwards U.S. administration would bring other nations into the postwar effort by asking them to forgive Iraq’s debt and help rebuild the war-ravaged economy.
Statement on the World Bank-organised technical workshop on the Nam Theun 2 project
(August 30, 2004) On the occasion of this World Bank-organised technical workshop, NGO-COD is obliged to convey the following views and demands on behalf of the Thai civil society organizations involved.
Inquiry regarding Argentine sovereign debt bonds
(August 30, 2004) Considering the potentially grave consequences of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) authorizing the massive trading of a Mega-Swap of Argentine Sovereign Debt Bonds.
Lao Nam Theun dam project on global tour to convince opponents
(August 29, 2004) A long-delayed plan to build a gigantic dam in Laos comes under international scrutiny this week as the World Bank is hosting a series of consultations in a bid to win over a host of opponents of the controversial project.
Court ruling tightens net on Pinochet
(August 28, 2004) Former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet is a step closer to being tried for atrocities committed under his 1973-1990 regime after a court stripped him of immunity from prosecution.
Prosecute Pinochet
(August 27, 2004) Augusto Pinochet must have thought he was in the clear when he gave a television interview to a Cuban-American journalist last year. Chile’s Supreme Court had ruled him mentally unfit to stand trial in 2002, and it looked as if he would never have to face justice for the crimes of his reign from 1973 to 1990.
‘Dam is a threat to elephants’
(August 27, 2004) As the World Bank prepares to finalise its decision to support Laos’ controversial Nam Theun 2 project, opponents yesterday said the dam would "irreversibly" affect one of Southeast Asia’s largest wild elephants herds.
In Kenya, corruption fight sign of times
(August 27, 2004) Visitors arriving at Nairobi’s international airport are greeted with this sign at passport control: "No bribes should be given or accepted whether demanded or not.
World Bank Support for Big Dams Remains
(August 26, 2004) Groups like the U.S.-based International Rivers Network (IRN) have argued that the Bank cannot claim to have distanced itself from building large dams.
Mekong River at risk
(August 26, 2004) Drought, dam-building and over-fishing are suffocating the Mekong, one of Asia’s mighty, life-giving arteries. Can countries along its banks rally to save it?
Beijing’s clumsy manoeuvres
(August 26, 2004) Is the opening of the Mekong for large trading vessels an example of Beijing’s strong-arm tactics with it’s neighbours?
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
Lisa Peryman
Probe Media
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Probe International 