World Bank: Reaping A Grim Harvest

The World Bank's Revolving Door: Share Program Exchanges World Bank and Corporate Employees

by Charlie Cray

Just weeks after tens of thousands of demonstrators surrounded the World Bank's headquarters in Washington, D.C. to protest the Bank's role in corporate-led globalization, the Bank opened its doors to the first conference of its Staff Exchange Program, or "Share" -- a program enabling employee sharing between multinational corporations and the World Bank. MORE>>

Warning: World Bank Policies Destroy Forests. Internal Report Documents Bank Contribution to Deforestation

By Korinna Horta

Destruction of tropical forests as well as of the world's temperate and boreal forests has continued unabated over the past decade, with consequences no longer seriously in dispute: Hundreds of millions of people who rely wholly or in part on the use of forests for their livelihoods are put at risk. Agriculture is suffering as local climates are changing with the advance of savannas and deserts. The world's terrestrial biodiversity, predominantly found in tropical forests, is increasingly at risk. In addition, deforestation worldwide is estimated to contribute about 20 percent of the greenhouse gases now released into the atmosphere.

Virtually all tropical forests are located in developing countries, and no single global institution plays a bigger role in developing countries than the World Bank. MORE>>

The Fight for Water and Democracy

An Interview with Oscar Olivera

Oscar R. Olivera, 45, is the executive secretary of the Federation of Factory Workers in Cochabamba, Bolivia. He is also one of the spokespersons for the Coordinator for the Defense of Water and Life -- a coalition of workers, environmentalists, artisans, peasants, market vendors, neighborhood organizations, local governments and others struggling against the privatization of Bolivia's water system. MORE>>

Damming Laos, Damning the Poor

An Interview with Witoon Permpongsacharoen

Witoon Permpongsacharoen is the director of Towards Ecological Recovery and Regional Alliance (TERRA), a Bangkok-based mainland Southeast Asia regional network which works on land, forest, water and energy issues. He is also editor of TERRA's magazine, Watershed. MORE>>

Unhealthy Policies from the World Bank

An Interview with Dr. Vineeta Gupta

Dr. Vineeta Gupta is the general secretary of Insaaf International, a Punjab, India-based organization working for economic, social and political rights, in particular for the marginalized and vulnerable sectors of society, especially women. A medical doctor by training, Dr. Gupta's active involvement in human rights started as a volunteer in 1986 with the People's Union for Civil Liberties. Dr. Gupta has investigated and reported numerous cases of corruption in government and World Bank-funded projects, custodial deaths and torture, and other human rights violations. MORE>>