Report

The feasibility study for the proposed Epupa Dam in Namibia is so riddled with incorrect conclusions, false assumptions and missing data that it cannot be used as a basis for a well–informed decision on the project, according to a group of outside experts who reviewed the massive report. The reviews, which were filed on Monday with the Namibian government, clearly indicate that the Epupa project has not been justified on economic, social, environmental or power supply grounds. The seven reviewers looked at sections of the report relevant to their field of expertise, on behalf of the people w

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Given the importance of the debate over the development effectiveness and social and environmental impacts of large dams, a comprehensive, unbiased and competent review of World Bank lending for large dams is essential. This review must be based on the actual performance and impacts of the projects. The evaluation by the World Bank Operations Evaluation Department (OED), entitled ‘The World Bank’s Experience of Large Dams: A Preliminary Review of Impacts’, fails to fulfil the need for this type of review. The OED review does not assess the actual performance of the proj

The growing importance of China Exim Bank In China, approximately one fifth of humanity lives on only 7% of the world’s cultivable land. The country does not have sufficient reserves of oil, timber or mineral resources to sustain its rapid economic growth. Foreign investment and trade contracts help to secure the resources which China lacks at home. Exports also help to overcome the permanent employment crisis which China’s rapid rural transformation has created.1 In line with the country’s "going out" strategy, China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001. Since th

A Critique of the World Bank’s Progress Report on InfrastructureIntroduction In July 2003, the World Bank launched an Infrastructure Action Plan in order to massively increase its lending for the infrastructure sectors, and to middle–income countries more generally. In August 2005, the Bank prepared a progress report on the implementation of this plan.1 The Development Committee will discuss this report at the World Bank’s Annual Meeting on September 25. According to the progress report, the World Bank’s infrastructure lending has increased by approximately $1 billion p

Executive Summary Representatives of Western banks and export credit agencies frequently argue that their environmental policies are being undercut by financial institutions from middle–income countries, and particularly from China. It is ironic that the same banks miss no opportunity to provide finance to their competitors from China and other countries. Chinese civil society and institutions such as China’s State Environmental Protection Agency have achieved impressive environmental progress in recent months. China’s Export–Import Bank has so far not been part of this progress. T

Volume 1: Exectutive Summary: Consequential Damages and Reparations: Recommendations for Remedy. Volume 2: Document Review and Chronology of Relevant Actions and Events. Volume 3: Consequential Damage Assessment of Chixoy River Basin Communities. Volume 4 (chapters 1-3): Social Investigation of the Communities Affected by the Chixoy Dam. Chapters 1-3: Backround | Methodology | ResultsChapter 4: Community of Agua BlancaChapter 5: Community of La CampanaChapter 6: Chicruz VillageChapter 7: Colony el NaranjoChapter 8: Resettlement of PacuxChapter 9: Panquix VillageChapter 10: Río Negro VillageCh