Press Release

NGOs Demand Independent Review and Moratorium on World Bank Support of Large DamsForty–nine non–governmental organizations (NGOs) from 21 countries have today written to World Bank President Mr James D. Wolfensohn demanding the World Bank reject the conclusions of an internal review of its large–dam building record.1 The NGOs urge the commissioning of "a comprehensive, unbiased and authoritative review of past World Bank lending for large dams".The confidential internal review was completed by the World Bank’s Operations Evaluation Department (OED) in August 1996. The conclusions of th

Environment and Human Rights Activists today occupied the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany For images from the occupation of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, contact Kai Schäfer, kai.schaefer@weed-online.org, 0160 - 252 8942 Berlin -- "We have occupied the Brandenburg Gate to show the people here in Germany what their government is currently planning in Turkey," explains activist Matthias Dittmer. "We have a couple of hundred years of history here in Berlin -- the submergence of Hasankeyf would destroy a 9,000 year-old history." The direct action was called by envir

Singapore -- The World Bank’s promise to seriously support alternative energy sources remains unfulfilled, according to a new report published today to coincide with the World Bank’s annual meeting. The report, published by international environment and development organizations, concludes that the World Bank’s new Investment Framework on Clean Energy and Development will not be effective at combating climate change and expanding energy access for the poor. The World Bank’s Investment Framework presented in Singapore today proposes raising $10 billion for conventional e

Civil society groups worldwide have reacted angrily to the Singaporean government’s ban on up to 20 delegates who plan to attend Bank/Fund annual meetings there next week. They have also condemned the pressure apparently brought by Singapore’s government on the administration of neighboring Batam, Indonesia,where a major civil society conference will be held next week. Yesterday it appeared that permission would not be granted for the conference, but today, following an international outcry, official sources in Jakarta confirmed it could go ahead. Three years ago when the IMF & World B

On September 6–7, the OECD governments are expected to take a decision on whether to allow special financial terms to take effect for hydropower projects that are financed with official export credits. They are also expected to decide whether the current environmental guidelines of Export Credit Agencies are sufficient to mitigate the negative impacts of large hydro projects. Non–governmental organizations have for many years advocated that Export Credit Agencies offer favorable financial terms for sustainable energy technologies like wind, solar, and geothermal. In April 2005, OECD gove

Six large international banks are currently arranging a $1 billion bond for China Exim Bank, the world’s third largest export credit agency. China Exim Bank is financing several environmentally and socially destructive projects in countries with abysmal human rights records. International Rivers and Friends of the Earth/US warn that given China Exim Bank’s track record, the pending bond issue will undermine the environmental standards of private banks and result in environmental money laundering. BNP Paribas, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, Merrill Lynch and Bank of China International ar

According to US Treasury officials and Reuters News, the Bush administration has put forward Paul Wolfowitz as its candidate for World Bank President. International Rivers is shocked about this choice. The Deputy Defense Secretary’s strong support for the Iraq war reflects a disdain for international law and a multilateral approach to conflict resolution that disqualifies Wolfowitz from leading a multilateral institution. Peter Bosshard, the Policy Director of International Rivers, comments: "In his career, Wolfowitz has so far not shown any interest in poverty reduction, environmen

HSBC, one of the world’s largest banks, announced a new freshwater policy at their Annual General Meeting in London today. The policy prohibits lending for dams that do not comply with the recommendations of the World Commission on Dams. "HSBC’s announcement is excellent news for everyone who wants to see socially just and ecologically sustainable solutions to the world’s water and energy needs. Now its time for other financial institutions to step up to the plate and follow HSBC’s example," says Patrick McCully, Executive Director of International Rivers. The World Commission on Dams