Just Arrived in Madrid

Déjà vu Madrid

by Gani Serrano / PRRM, Philippines

One side says 50 years is too much, the other says 50 years is not enough. There was nothing, *nada*, in between, only the clash of polarized voices.

On one side of the divide was a huge gathering of reds, greens, black—NGOs and activists--as the *Foro* *Alternativo* or the Other Voices of the Planet. They came from different parts of Spain, from around the world, to condemn the World Bank/IMF duo and say 'enough' of these institutions.

On the opposite end were the World Bank and the IMF and their owners and managers. The speeches---more than 200 in all---seemed endless, taxing the sympathy of even the most patient. WB president Lewis Preston and IMF managing director Michel Camdessus led the chorus of finance ministers, central bankers, advisers and technical assistants, favored private bankers and investors, carpetbaggers and guests of all stripes in celebrating half a century of world development. They all seemed happy and wanted to carry on into the next millennium.

Then Greenpeace just popped out of nowhere. At the opening ceremonies, two of its activists broke through tight security, scaled the walls of the IFEMA auditorium right above the heads of the King and Queen of Spain, unfurled the banner* "World Bank: no $ for Ozone Destruction"* and dropped mock dollar bills with messages *"Dollars for Destruction,"*and *"This note is redeemable for ozone destruction, climate change, deforestation,".* WB president Preston just went on reading his prepared speech while everyone, including the royal couple, amusingly looked the other way.

The debate, pitting social activist-scientist Vandana Shiva and WB veep Serageldin, was attended by over 1,000 people at the jam-packed UGT auditorium in the heart of Madrid. The two fired at each other so intensely that finding a common ground seemed hopeless.

This was Madrid in the fall of 1994, the 50th anniversary of the WB/IMF. Might this as well have been now, also in Madrid, on ADB's 41st annual?