(August 23, 2004) If Nam Theun 2 is built, the developers themselves predict "a collapse in the aquatic food chain," along the Xe Bangfai, a large Mekong tributary in central Laos. This would affect more than 40,000 people.
Lesotho remains firm against corruption despite lack of funding help from EU or World Bank
(August 2, 2004) Various promises of assistance made but little follow-through, especially from countries whose companies were involved in the criminal proceedings.
Poor countries, rich resources
(August 1, 2004) The World Bank has helped finance exploitation of oil, gas, coal and other minerals in the developing world, mainly through its private sector lending arm, even though this has rarely advanced the institution’s mission of reducing poverty.
World Bank sanctions Acres International Limited
(July 23, 2004) The World Bank has sanctioned Acres International Limited (Acres), a Canadian company, as a result of corrupt activities related to its Bank-financed contract associated with the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.
Landmark decision will lead to other debarments: analyst
(July 23, 2004)Canadian-based foreign aid watchdog Probe International welcomed the World Bank’s decision today to blacklist Canadian engineering company Acres International from receiving World Bank contracts for the next three years and predicts the Bank’s blacklisting of Acres will lead to more debarments of other companies convicted in the Lesotho corruption trials.
Acres accused of still owing $2-million in fines
(July 19, 2004) Convicted of bribing an African official, company says it’s paying penalty in stages.
U.S. asks Lesotho bribe prosecutor to attend inquiry
(July 18, 2004) Guido Penzhorn who has been successfully prosecuting mutinationals for corruption in Lesotho, has been invited to appear before the U.S. foreign relations committee in its hearings on corruption in World Bank-funded projects.
French-led hydro venture in Lao PDR is uncompetitive and obsolete, says new report
(July 1, 2004) Power consumers, rural poor would be better served by smaller projects.
Stealing from the poor
(June 29, 2004) Of the billions of dollars the World Bank lends, the corrupt always seem to get their share. The bank says it’s making progress; critics, given new voice in the U.S. Congress, say more could be done.
Human rights as World Bank loan condition?
(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.
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
Lisa Peryman
Probe Media
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