(June 27, 2000) The World Bank’s provisional decision last year to lend Beijing $40 million for the forced resettlement of tens of thousands of poor Chinese to the Tibetan plateau has been a source of controversy and embarrassment.
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Beijing suffers worst drought in 50 years
(June 23, 2000) China’s capital Beijing is suffering its worst drought in 50 years, with only 17 millimeters of rainfall reported this year, down 63 percent from the same period last year. The lack of rain is already challenging the city’s water supply, said experts at a meeting on flood control and drought prevention.
World Bank ‘broke rules’ in Tibet land plan
(June 23, 2000) The World Bank repeatedly violated its own rules when assessing the viability of a highly controversial project to resettle 57,750 Chinese farmers on what were traditionally Tibetan lands, according to a scathing independent report.
FBI raids British firm’s offices
(June 22, 2000) Balfour Beatty – which also has a contract for the controversial Ilusi dam in Turkey and may face prosecution in Lesotho over alleged corruption payments over a dam project – was raided this month by 40 FBI agents.
Ship lift problems at Yangtze tributary dam threaten Three Gorges project
Navigational difficulties on the Yangtze River heighten concerns over dam building projects.
More dams planned for Yangtze despite problems
(June 19, 2000) Official zeal for more hydro development on Yangtze tributaries remains undampened by the financial and technical problems plaguing China’s massive Three Gorges dam. According to Chinese news sources, the State Planning Commission has approved plans for a third hydro dam on Qingjiang River, a major Yangtze tributary that joins the mainstream 100 kilometres downstream of Three Gorges.
Haiti in life and debt struggle
(June 17, 2000) President René Préval signed a petition calling on international creditors to annul Haiti’s swelling $1.2bn (£800m) debt. Forty percent of Haiti’s debt was incurred under Duvalier family misrule, when loans were regularly skimmed by regime cronies.
Larry Summers, US Treasury secretary, breaks up creditor consensus on Nigeria
(June 16, 2000) US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers has reversed US government policy and broken the consensus of creditors, by agreeing that Nigeria should be granted “multilateral debt reduction ….by the international financial community”.
Letter to ADB from Probe International, Re: Klong Daan wastewater treatment project
(June 16, 2000) Probe International urges ADB to respond to concerns raised by Thai groups last month about ADB-financed projects and programs in Thailand.
Letter to ADB from Probe International,
(June 16, 2000) Probe International urges ADB to respond to concerns raised by Thai groups last month about ADB-financed projects and programs in Thailand.
Banyat rejects spillway suggestion, but agrees to set up a joint committee
(June 15, 2000) Interior Minister Banyat Bantadtan yesterday dismissed a proposal by the committee charged with resolving the Pak Moon dam crisis to open all the dam’s spillways until the end of August.
At long last, a way out of dam dispute
(June 14, 2000) The national committee set up by the government to resolve the protracted Pak Moon dam protest has come up with a proposal that it hopes will put an end to the months-long standoff.
UK firms paid a pounds 1.2M bribe to get dam contract
(June 14, 2000) British firms are among a dozen of the best known international construction companies involved in a trial in the remote South African kingdom of Lesotho.
Panel to push for opening of spillways: Deal proposed to end protracted protest
(June 14, 2000) The national committee charged with solving the Pak Moon dam crisis will meet Interior Minister Banyat Bantadtan today to discuss its plan to open the dam’s spillways for three months.
Jakarta Declaration for reform of Official Export Credit and Investment Insurance Agencies
(June 13, 2000) Over 50 representatives of Indonesian and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and social movements convened in Jakarta and South Sumatra 1-7 May, 2000 for a strategy meeting on official export credit and investment insurance agencies (ECAs). They agreed on the following Declaration, endorsed by 347 NGOs from 45 countries.
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
Lisa Peryman
Probe Media
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Probe International 