(Febraury 2, 2000) The early 1980’s financial crisis faced by many countries in the
South had unpayable debt service as the immediate cause that was
precipitated by the tight money policies in the rich countries that
drastically hiked international interest rates. The debt debate ignores
the fact that debts were contracted as a result of borrowing by
undemocratic governments that were not mandated by the people.
Probe Alert Winter 2000
News brief: Salween dams
Basic Facts and Economics: Nam Theun 2
(February 1, 2000) Basic Facts about the dam.
Dealing with Iraq’s foreign indebtedness
(February 1, 2000) Wajeeh Elali proposes a pragmatic debt-management strategy for Iraq. On the topic "Who is to blame?" Elali includes the "imprudent lending practices" of some western and Arab creditors.
Guardians of South American Rainforest Charge Canada with Destroying It
(February 1, 2000) In the last remaining tropical rainforest of Colombia’s Caribbean coast, the Embera Katio indigenous people are fighting for their survival and for compensation for the destruction of their rainforest. The Urrá dam, built in part with financing from Canada’s Export Development Corporation, is the cause of their woes.
Probe Alert February 2000
In the last remaining tropical rainforest of Colombia’s Caribean coast, te Embera Katio indigenous people are fighting for their survival and for compensation for the destruction of their rainforest. The Urra dam, built in part with financing from Canada’s Export Development Corporation, is the cause of their woes.
Who benefits?
This report is a first attempt to increase understanding of the social impacts of environmentally-driven trade.
500,000 people to be affected by Yunnan hydropower development in the next 15 years
(January 25, 2000) According to the 22nd meeting of the Standing Committee of Yunnan People’s Congress, starting from this year, Yunnan Province will have to move an average of 40,000 people every year to pave the way for hydropower development, which is equivalent to the total figure of dam migrants in the past 50 years.
PRESS RELEASE Chinese government orders farmers out of Three Gorges region
(January 18, 2000) In a desperate attempt to keep pace with construction of the Three Gorges dam, which will flood close to two million people out of their homes, China’s central government recently announced plans to move 125,000 rural people out of the project area.
China’s official media reports Three Gorges dam investment and resettlement figures
(January 18, 2000) China News Agency reported on January 12 that the Three Gorges dam has cost the Chinese government $5.65 billion (all figures in U.S. dollars) since construction began in 1993. The news agency also reports that this year the government plans to invest another $1.57 billion in the $30-billion dam, making 2000 the project’s peak investment year thus far. The $1.57-billion investment is assured according to a quote from a leader of China’s Three Gorges Project Corporation, the dam’s sole contractor.
“PUC broke the law” Senator Ambrose Tillett
(January 18, 2000) Opposition Senator, Ambrose Tillett, has written to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) challenging its decision to increase electricity rates and give the Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) an increase in revenues, purportedly to pay for electricity costs.
Laos issues new anti-corruption decree
(January 6, 2000) Laotian Prime Minister Sisavath Keobounphanh has issued a decree to combat corruption in the ruling Communist party, the civil service and military, diplomats said Thursday.
Plans call for energy efficiency
(January 3, 2000) Plans have been launched to make both residential and office buildings more energy efficient. In the first five months of the year, industrial policymakers announced three sets of new national standards. They are regulations on energy saving for civil buildings, standards for residential buildings and technical evaluations of residential constructions.
Nam Ngum 3 hydroelectric power station construction
(January 1, 2000) This project is for the construction and operation of a rockfill dam and hydroelectric power plant with 440MW maximum output on the Nam Ngum River, a tributary of the Mekong, on a 25-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis.
Odious debts
(January 1, 2000) There is “no (repeat, no) prospect for Zaire’s creditors to get their money back in the foreseeable future.” – Edwin Blumenthal, International Monetary Fund.
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
Lisa Peryman
Probe Media
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