(September 28, 2007) Chinese power companies are investing in large-scale hydropower projects in Burma, without adequate transparency or democratic oversight.
Chinese admit that Three Gorges dam is an ecological disaster
(September 27, 2007) Probe International Fellow Dai Qing told The Times “We have never stopped talking about the problems but our voice was too weak. The system does not listen to the voices of civic activists or dissidents. But now, at last, they are starting to hear. … The Government knows it has made a mistake. Now they are afraid that the environmental catastrophe that they cannot prevent will spark civil unrest. So they want to go public before the troubles start.
Three Gorges: China is warned of ‘catastrophe’
(September 27, 2007) For environmental activists such as the journalist Dai Qing, whose book Yangtze! Yangtze! earned her 10 months in a maximum security prison and the threat of the death sentence, the official admission that the Three Gorges dam is a potential environmental disaster was received with bitter irony. (The Independent UK)
Experts warn of Three Gorges dam 'catastrophe'
"We absolutely cannot sacrifice our environment in exchange for temporary economic prosperity." (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
China warns of ‘catastrophe’ from gigantic dam
(September 26, 2007) Chinese officials and experts have admitted the Three Gorges Dam project has caused an array of ecological ills, including more frequent landslides and pollution, and if preventive measures are not taken, there could be an environmental "catastrophe"
Meanwhile The Trail Of Corruption Deepens At World Bank
(September 25, 2007) Despite wide news coverage of the Volcker-led inquiry to assess the World Bank’s Department of Institutional Integrity (INT), coverage of one of INT’s more effective internal anti-corruption investigations almost passed unnoticed. If not for recent editorial interest from the Wall Street Journal, an insightful glimpse of World Bank conflict of interest might have been lost. In "World Bank Corruption" and "Mind the GAP," editorial writers for the Wall Street Journal highlight an INT investigation they argue senior Bank officials are eager to discredit, even deep six.
Volcker Damns World Bank As Lax On Graft
(September 25, 2007) An investigation by former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker into the World Bank’s internal anti-graft watchdog – the Department of Institutional Integrity (or INT) – blames World Bank staff and directors for failing to take corruption sufficiently seriously, says The Financial Times. Moreover, this institutional resistance has been the root cause of strife over the watchdog’s operations.
Thank Goodness For U.S. Law Makers
(September 25, 2007) The U.S. Senate is, once again, demanding more anti-corruption reforms at the World Bank before it hands over American tax dollars to keep the institution afloat.
Negotiate, Don’t Litigate, World Bank Urges Debtors
(September 25, 2007) The World Bank has issued a discussion paper [PDF] in which its unnamed authors dismiss the concept of odious debts as “controversial” and attempts to define it as having met with “insurmountable difficulties.”
Lawyers And Activists Set To Develop Odious Debts Strategy
(September 25, 2007) In the first of its kind, top legal scholars and Third World debt activists will meet next week to develop ways that will allow public international and private law to assess outstanding loans for their legitimacy and ultimate cancellation.
Ecuador Launches Historic Debt Audit Commission
(September 25, 2007) The Ecuadorian Ministry of Economy and Finance announced on July 23 that it was launching the world’s first debt audit commission.
Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand: Thailand signs Laos power purchase
(September 8, 2007) http://www.bangkokpost.com/
Thai company warned of more violence at Salween hydrodam site
(September 7, 2007) http://www.irrawaddy.org
1948: How Peaceful was the Liberation of Beiping?
(September 5, 2007) In June 1966, at the start of the Cultural Revolution, Red Guards set about ransacking houses all over Beijing. One of their targets was the philosopher and former political activist Zhang Dongsun.
Europe sees high fences around China energy
(September 5, 2007) A strong bias toward local producers and rigid price controls hinder European investors from making significant inroads into China’s vast energy sector.
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
Lisa Peryman
Probe Media
Other News Sources
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