(May 16, 2004) James Wolfensohn, president of the World Bank, is to take on the board of the finance giant in order to force developing countries to improve their human rights records.
Poorest pay for World Bank corruption: US senator
The World Bank has lost about 100 billion dollars slated for development in the world’s poorest nations to corruption since 1946, nearly 20 percent of its total lending portfolio, according to a U.S. Senate committee.
Lugar: Corruption cost World Bank $130B
(May 13, 2004) As much as $130 billion may have been lost due to corruption in World Bank loans, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said Thursday.
World Bank should get out of oil and mining, says Dutch government
(April 27, 2004) A statement made for years by non-governmental organisations has been adopted by Dutch Development Minister Agnes Van Ardenne at the recent annual meetings of the World Bank in Washington.
Activists say World Bank dam projects detrimental
(April 22, 2004) The World Bank is accelerating its funding for large dam projects to the detriment of the environment and locals in the countries where the projects are built, a report released on Thursday said.
Bitter Brew
(April 8, 2004) Fair trade advocates mislead Western consumers as to the cause of the Third World farmer’s plight. In doing so, they attribute guilt to the guiltless, absolve the guilty of responsibility, and, most seriously, perpetuate the plight of the people they hope to help.
New ECGD procedures on bribery and corruption
(April 1, 2004) Strengthened procedures to minimise the risk of bribery and corruption on business deals supported by the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) will come into force on 1 May 2004.
Letter to the presidents of Argentina and Paraguay regarding the Yacyreta and Corpus dam projects
(March 17, 2004) We ask you, in the light of the damages which have been identified in both projects, "How do you think it will be possible for you to legitimize your political decision to move forward with them?"
Impacts of the Nam Theun 2 Hydroelectric Project
(March 16, 2004) An in-depth analysis of the impacts of the Nam Theun 2 Hydroelectric Project on the 150,000 civilians who wil be affected by the dam, as well as the social and political consequences of the dam’s construction.
World Bank financing Nam Theun 2
(February 18, 2004) World Bank financing for Nam Theun 2 clearly contradicts the Bank’s energy policy advice dispensed to Thailand and other developing countries over the past decade.
Divisive dam likely to go ahead
(February 8, 2004) Mired in controversy for a decade, the Nam Theun 2 hydroelectric project is likely to get the green light from the World Bank after its executive directors from Washington visit the dam site in Laos this weekend for their final appraisal of the plant.
Nam Theun 2 dam – Fighting corruption World Bank style
(February 1, 2004) Last year, presumably in an attempt to clean up its tarnished image, the World Bank produced a glossy brochure: “10 things you never knew about the World Bank”.
US Probe Releases Kaijuka Case Files
(December 30, 2003) The US Justice Department has released files of the Bujagali bribery investigation.
World Bank inflated costs of Karuma hydropower
(December 16, 2003) Canadian consulting firm Acres International prepared a secret report the World Bank relied on to select which Ugandan hydro project (Karuma/Bujagali) to bankroll.
Canada: “Export Agency must stiffen bribery sanctions,” report
(December 16, 2003) The Canadian agency that underwrites large-scale export projects must adopt tougher rules against bribery by client companies, says a report by a trade union anti-corruption group.
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