Monday, October 15, 2007

World vs. Bank



At 9:00 am Central European Time (5pm here and 3pm in Manila), those with precious free time and broadband connection might want to witness a public hearing of the World Bank's poverty alleviation policies in the developing world.

Lidy Nacpil of Jubilee South Philippines will be one of those who will give the opening address.

Hopefully we'll be able to access the live streaming of this rare event here or here.

From the Bank Information Centre:

The Tribunal's jury will analyze two policy ‘cases’ of the World Bank: economic conditionalities and the funding of extractive industry projects. As in the recently held Independent People's Tribunal on the World Bank in India, the European Tribunal will hear from witnesses from Southern continents who will give testimony of the impacts of World Bank policies and practices, especially in the areas of conditionalities and fossil fuel project funding. The hearing will also serve as a "forum for a debate on the future of the World Bank, the current development model and potential alternatives."

The Programme

9.15-9.45

Introduction

Overview of the history of the World Bank with reference to the Tribunals in 1988 and 1995, and the reasons for this Update Hearing

Lidy Nacpil (Jubilee South, Philippines), Antonio Tricarico (CRBM, Italy)

9.45-10.00

Artist presentation

10.00-16.00

Testimonies

Testimonies on the impact of privatisation, liberalisation and fossil fuel project funding with questions from the expert panel

Witnesses

Gonzalo Salgado, National Consumer Defence Network, Nicaragua

Miguel Palacin, CONACAMI Peru

Collins Magalasi, Action Aid Malawi

Temo Tamboura, CAD Mali

Svetlana Anosova, Berezovka Initiative Group, Kazakhstan

Michael Karikpo, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria

Expert Panel

Maartje van Putten, Former member of the World Bank Inspection Panel

Francesco Martone, Senator, Italy

Marcos Arruda, TNI and PACS Brazil

Medha Patkar, Founder of the National Alliance of People's Movements, India

Charles Abugre, Development Economist, Ghana

16.00-16.30

Video interview

Video interview with Bert Koenders, Dutch Development Minister

16.30-17.00

Concluding remarks

Concluding remarks and looking forward by the President of the Expert Panel

17.00-18:30

Reception

With music from the Philippines

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