Peoples Voice: Dispatches from the Field

2009-03-17T21:01:00.000-07:00

My sipping-coffee experience
by Diana Gultom

Friends, I want to share a bit of my ‘sipping-coffee’ experience… Prepare your nice favorite drink to read the rest of the writing…

Today, I decided to spend my time at The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf in Kemang, Jakarta. I bought a glass of iced coffee latte since I chose to stay outdoors. While sipping it bit by bit, I’ve thought about the process how they make it.

Many places like this keep on growing, especially here in Jakarta. Not to mention “Starbucks and friends.” In these shops, they sell several coffee variations from many areas in Indonesia. They sell Gayo Coffee from Aceh, Toraja Coffee from Sulawesi, Sidikalang Coffee from North Sumatera, and Lampung Coffee from Lampung in the Southern Sumatera, among others.

My coffee is half full now. And by this time, more people are now arriving; some with their laptops, accessing the internet in this Wi-Fi area. Others are talking about political bargain over their cups of coffee since soon will be election time.

Suddenly, something crossed my mind. What has been happening to the coffee farmers who produce the marvelous and even expensive coffee in the world? I am wondering if parliamentary candidates care about their livelihood. My heart would have wanted to answer this. But then again, I don’t think so.

The coffee farmers are only getting IDR13,000 to IDR14,000 (approximately USD1.1) per kilogram! While seller will gain even much more than that for a cup of coffee. The one that I bought now cost me IDR32,000 (USD3) per cup. Much more expensive than what the farmers get.

Well, you wouldn’t pour one kilogram per glass, will you? Mainly the coffee is being blended with other ingredients, such as water, milk, and sugar.

For the brand patent, the Netherlands has bought the patent for ‘Kopi Gayo’ and Japan has also bought the patent for ‘Kopi Toraja’. The farmers are left out with the cheap coffee which they can only sell without those names now without bargaining position.

For me, this is not merely about ‘robbing’ the brand, but also about ‘robbing’ their identity. Gayo and Toraja are supposedly the people’s exclusive rights. It’s their name, their area, their rights! No one have the right to take that away it from them, not even on behalf of ‘I have the money to buy it, I can buy the patent’. It’s their indigenous’ patent.

I think this is all I want to share for now while finishing my cup of coffee. Have a nice day friends.

Oops, by the way, please do rethink over if you plan to buy coffee from Starbucks and friends. For me, I will surely have second thoughts about doing so. They have lots and lots of bucks already.

*Diana is presently with Debtwatch.

2009-03-04T19:18:00.000-08:00

The National Imperative
by Red Constantino
Business Mirror
March 4, 2009

So, what do we do now?

For decades we were told not to mind the stink behind the altar, where pale clerics of the market faith congregated and preached the good word.

Year after year, behind the burnished marble slab, beneath the old wood cross beams of consumption, black coat and black tie delivered the liturgy of bling and the brass cross, and the sanctity of the system was upheld.

Year after year leaders chased away the phantoms of looming crises with ritual new liberalism and the prescribed brand of amen: our economic fundamentals are strong, our fundamentals are strong. Open the gates of the economy, open your heart. Peace be with you; everything is okay.

Year after year we believed, happy in our blinkered place in the constellation of dependencies.

Then came 2008, the year the valves that had been holding back the stench finally broke down, when venom too long contained rushed through the veins.

By 2009, the empire of belief had fallen apart and its pallid high priests were issuing regular missals that years ago would have been denounced by the bishops of Washington as satanic edicts.

Nationalization -- not as a question of 'if' but of 'when' and 'where'
and how much control, how much ownership, and how long the long-term intent. Re-regulation. Conservation instead of blind extraction. The cosseting of strategic domestic industries. Massive state spending to generate jobs. A green economy.

From his prison cell in 1977 the Filipino martyr Ninoy Aquino issued a national call of comparable subversion and pragmatism, but who remembers? "I believe," wrote Aquino, "that basic and strategic industries must be nationalized because it is too dangerous to leave the determination of national needs and priorities in the hands of a few. My primary concern is national interest and the general welfare, not nationalization."

How interesting the turn of events.

In 1988 in her book Unequal Alliance, Robin Broad observed the stagnation of world trade and the glut of international markets.
Transnational capital was "no longer moving to the Third World," Broad wrote; it had "already turned toward new arenas for short-term rewards at home -- consumer credit, corporate mergers, and the get-rich-quick gimmicks of financial speculation."

"As the world economy has become more integrated," Broad remarked, "effective sovereignty across the developing world has waned" while vulnerabilities have multiplied exponentially.

Yet everyone continued to be sold the idea of export-fueled growth, hinged on the magical power of the global bazaar where economic integration was the goal and the idea of "self-reliance" was considered an anachronism.

India bought and paid dearly.

Between 1997 and 2007, the journalist and Magsaysay awardee P. Sainath tells us, India recorded the "largest wave of suicides in history", which today "stands at a staggering 182,936" -- all of them ruined farmers.

"In the next five years after 2001," by the "time India was well down the WTO garden path in agriculture...." wrote Sainath, "one farmer [was taking] his or her life every 30 minutes on average." The horrific figure is probably underestimated, said Sainath, because the countless women farmers who took their own lives are recorded as mere suicide deaths because, though they do the bulk of work in agriculture, they are mere "farmers' wives." According to Sainath, "Those who killed themselves were overwhelmingly cash crop farmers – growers of cotton, coffee, sugarcane, groundnut, pepper, vanilla" while the "largest number of farm suicides [took place] in the state of Maharashtra, home to the Mumbai Stock Exchange and ... to 21 of India’s 51 dollar billionaires."
The same Mumbai of the movie Slumdog Millionaire.

All too many bought the theology of the holy market and all too readily traded away the rights of their citizens, the fields that once fed their children and the ecosystems that once sustained their very cultures.

In October 1979, a World Bank report counseled the Philippines "to take advantage of the fact that its wages had 'declined significantly relative to those in competing ... countries' such as Hong Kong and South Korea." And of course the Philippine government took advantage, not recognizing that beneath the basement is a cellar, and underneath that is another basement. An ad in the October 16, 1981 issue of Far Eastern Economic Review talked about such architecture: "Sri Lanka challenges you to match the advantages of its Free Trade Zone, against those being offered elsewhere.... Sri Lanka has the lowest labor rates in Asia."

In the midst of a global economic conflagration, autarky cannot be a solution. But neither can it be protracted national suicide based on the notion that we can only follow others because we have always had so little, and based on the childish hope that other countries will act in our interest.

Almost 47 years ago the revered senator Lorenzo Tañada reminded us of the wealth that we had always possessed but which we all too often ignored in our mad pursuit of alien promises.

"We have accepted without too much thought the oft-repeated characterization of the Philippines as a capital-poor country," said Tañada on March 10, 1962, "and that therefore we must vigorously attract foreign capital if we are to develop our country."

We paid him no attention and over the years we kept exporting what we already had. Our capital. The fruits of our soil. Our minerals. Our best and our brightest. Our dignity.

And the hemorrhage continues still. #

The article is the writer's own view and does not reflect any Forum position.

Notes:

1. Chip Ward, "The Department of Homegrown Security," Tomdispatch.com,
26 February 2009.
http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175039/chip_ward_the_department_of_homegrown_security
2. Binyamin Appelbaum, "What is 'nationalization'? Depends who you ask,"
Washington Post, 25 February 2009 .
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/24/AR2009022403473.html?wprss=rss_business.
See also Krishna Guha and Edward Luce, "Greenspan backs bank nationalisation," Financial Times, 18 February 2009.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/e310cbf6-fd4e-11dd-a103-000077b07658,dwp_uuid=c59753ec-d316-11db-829f-000b5df10621,print=yes.html
3. Paul Krugman, "Can this planet be saved?" New York Times, 1 August 2008.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/01/opinion/01krugman.html?_r=1&ex=1218340800&en=2ce1681c34752a3b&ei=5070&emc=eta1
4. Ninoy Aquino, Testament from a Prison Cell. (Philippine Journal,
Inc.: 1988)
5. Robin Broad, Unequal Alliance, 1979-1986: The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Philippines. (Ateneo de Manila University Press, QC: 1988) 6. Ibid.
7. Robin Broad and John Cavanagh, Development Redefined: How the Market Met its Match (Paradigm Publishers, 2009) 8. The Essential Tañada, ed. by Renato Constantino (Karrel, Inc., QC: 1989)

2009-02-26T21:17:00.000-08:00

Bajaj is no longer my favorite vehicle
by Ratna Yunita

It’s been 2 months that I biked to work and really enjoyed it. At first, I really doubt myself that I dare to make it since it's too risky to cycle among motorbikes in Jakarta. Even my parents didn’t allow me to bike to main roads since they were afraid it will endanger my life. So before I bike to work, I started to bike during weekends for short journey to a park nearby home.

Day after day, I felt so tired when I have to face traffic jam whenever I went home from work. As a background, 60% of total journey time on the street is in stuck post or move very slow with speed of 20 km per hour (Indonesian Transportation Society’ survey, 2007). Can u imagine what an enormous fuel deficiency and severe air pollution from total vehicle emission?

Afterwards, I decided to try a new mode of transportation to work and I choose cycling. Why? Because I concluded I have 4 benefits at the same time when I cycle, which are:

1. Faster than bajaj or private car, especially during peak hour

On my first day of cycling, I experienced that I arrived earlier than the building security officer; the building gate was still closed. After 10 minutes of waiting in front of the gate, a man approached me and said “it’s still too early, young lady.” I looked at my watch and the time was 6.30am Wow…!!! I cycled only for 20 minutes from home to the office while it took 45 minutes by bajaj or private car. So it’s not true when people said that cycling will slow down your rhythm of life and bring bad impact on your punctuality. I’ve proven it. By arriving earlier, I still have some time to wash myself and dress up.

2. Good for my health

Beside time, health is also something that really is related to my new habit: cycling. I felt fresher and healthier than before. According to Dietary Guideline Advisory Committee Report in 2005, cycling will burn more calories than walking, while the numbers of calories reduction really depends on the weight and the intensity of cycling. It can also help to protect me against a wide range of ill health effects. In fact, physically active people such as cyclists have up to a 50% reduced risk of coronary heart disease (Department of Health). Therefore, cycling is not only as my means of transportation but also as means of exercise.

3. Good for environment

Jakarta, a densely populated city of 8.5 million people, is well-known for its paralyzing traffic jams which choke the streets with cars and motorcycles and the air with severe pollution. A SITRAMP study estimates that traffic congestion in Jakarta costs around USD1.4 billion per year, excluding the costs from the impact on health from traffic air pollution. Cycling is an alternative mode of transportation which is good for the environment which is a so called no-emission vehicle. It offers a clean, sustainable and accessible form of transport which can help to combat traffic congestion and unlike a car, it produces no noise or atmospheric pollution.

4. Cheap and exciting

Cycling will help improve the environment as well as save money. It is cheaper than riding a car. I don’t have to pay vehicle tax, parking fee, and fuel cost. Even more, bicycle maintenance cost is also cheaper than a car or motorcycle. Moreover, cycling can also give me excitement. Once, on my way to office, I had a chat with another cyclist, he’s an apothecary. He cycles everyday from Kemayoran (central Jakarta) to Grogol (west Jakarta). He cycles due to economic reason; he is able to save more money for his 3 kids from his daily transportation allowance. He has just an ordinary and a bit old bicycle and has no helmet. Wish to give him a free helmet one day. It is an exciting part of cycling where I can socialize with other cyclists with any economical or educational background.

Things which need to be considered by cyclists are about the motorcyclist's behavior and naughty words from people along the road. I should admit cyclists are not taken into account by motorcyclists on road. They honk many times whenever they felt a cyclist blockade their way. It seems that cyclists are their competitors in terms of taking lane. It gets on my nerves sometimes. But as long as I’m on the right track, I just ignore their honks and keep on my way. Sometimes, I also heard men yell at me by saying naughty words, but I completely ignore them. As often as I cycle, I'll get used to it.

Let’s safe the world by cycling now ….!!!

Dispatch from the cold city of Poznan

2008-12-10T20:40:00.000-08:00

Cold weather and hot discussion on climate change
by Farjana Akter

“Stop harming, start helping.” December 9, the day has began with 0 degree temperature in Poznan. Who cares? People struggle for climate justice now! Oxfam International held a demonstration in front of the main entrance of the event's venue. It was excellent! They brought with them an ice statue, saying, "START HELPING."

During the first half of the day, two important contact group meetings were held. One is on delivering on technology and financing, including consideration of institutional arrangements. The second one is on enhanced action on mitigation and its associated means of implementation. Here are some of the things that were raised in the meetings:

In the discussion on technology transfer, Pakistan focused on the necessary flexible mechanism for technology transfer. Mexico demanded for creating cooperation on technology development and building capacity at the national and local levels.

Japan, on the other hand, urged to review the effectiveness of faster technology. The Turks demanded engaging with public-private sector on all technological development process and technological cooperation.

The Indians emphasized the importance of technology and building up a regional capacity building center where the government must lead the action in a global scale. The French emphasized the importance to establish a technology resource center, technology framework and national mitigation center.

In the mitigation discussion, the Indonesians emphasized a mid and long-term global goal which must be based on most recent findings. Developed countries should first fulfill their Kyoto commitment on the basis of established benchmarks.

There is a need in the improvement on the quality of data, especially in developing countries, said Japan. Australia asked for common responsibility of all parties to take on the challenges brought by climate change issues.

Developed and developing countries should have obligations to undertake mitigation actions consistent with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. Malaysia said that Annex-1 Parties must implement their commitments under Kyoto Protocol.

All for now.

2008-12-08T22:26:00.000-08:00

Let’s get the stand
by Farjana Akter

In the last two days, i.e. 7 and 8 December, the official negotiation was closed but there are still so many side events that have continuously been happening here in Poznan. Indigenous peoples community, business and industry sector, trade union, women, youth, environmental group and other network and civil society organizations organized many events to raise everyone's awareness on climate change and unite everybody’s voice to make a fair commitment in a common ground.

CSOs from northern countries stand side by side with groups from southern countries -- developing countries -- to make their voice meaningful and to make an immediate action from the climate change agenda. Delegates from a youth network from Europe, America and Southeast Asia, and from the rest of the globe, ask climate justice from the UNFCCC.

A press conference on ‘Climate Justice Now: Climate Justice at the UNFCC’ was held, urging developed countries to reduce their emission. Rich people have to compensate the vulnerable communities. At the press conference, people tackled the lack of political will and commitment. by countries in reducing their emissions. They even alleged that developed countries have been allotting more money for military operations and war than in resolving the issue on climate change. People have also pointed out and criticized the organizers for having more delegates from the corporate sector than those from the indigenous peoples’ community and CSOs.

The role of social movement groups in addressing climate change must be inclusive and fully owned by the people. Market-led mechanism should not be the center point to solve the climate change problem.

Diary from an activist on the COP 14

2008-12-07T08:45:00.000-08:00

The Tide of Talks
Farjana Akter
VOICE

DECEMBER 04

When I heard that I am going to join COP 14 it was amazing to me. I have never been to such a gigantic and important event. However, I am preparing for this climate meeting in Poland.

In Bangladesh there is no visa consulate of the Poland. I had to go to New Delhi for picking up my visa. Though there were many difficulties but the spirit inside me enabled to pass through these hassles and finally, I collected my visa.

I passed long way and arrived the capital of Poland, Warsaw in the morning 10.35 am. From Warsaw, I took a train to the venue, Poznan. In the rail station when I was just looking around suddenly a TV crew surfaced and asked me tell something about Global Warming. I was so surprised that my first speech about Climate Change when I just arrived in Poland!

After 3 hours train journey I arrived Poznan. Some volunteers from COP 14 were there and they help me to get a taxi to join my team at the hotel.

The COP 14 started on 1 December 2008. I joined on 4 December that means 3 days have been passed and the complex negotiations. While I arrived at the venue I saw many colourful banners with picture where showing the danger of climate change.

On 4 December morning first I registered myself and entered to the COP 14 after security frisking by the UN blue beret. Outside the conference buildings there are so many stalls mainly from UN agencies, CSOs from different countries, but mostly they are talking about energy.

I joined a meeting organized by Oxfam international where Adaptation Fund was deliberated. Adaptation fund is now monetized. The mistrust is on the air between developed and developing countries. The criticism about Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) was mainly the entity run by developed countries’ company.

It is now demanded that adaptation fund should be managed by Government. So Government should make National Plan of Action for utilizing the fund. There is a need for strong political will. Bangladeshi delegates urged to change the whole process about the climate change adaptation negotiation. Bangladeshi delegates said we should develop adaptation fund in a separate manner.

There is a question that how do we define vulnerability and how do we address which project must vulnerable. Current fragmented approach should be changed immediately. The 0.07 percent contribution as ODA from developed countries should be mandatory not voluntary. Otherwise money will not come to the developing countries. There should have direct access in the Global Fund for adaptation as most developing countries are demanding for an example as G-77+ China. A mechanism should be developing to collect the money.

DECEMBER 05

A press conference was organized by Climate Action Network (CAN) said governments are explicitly needed to commit as they committed in the Bali conference. 2008 is almost end. It is a chance to sign to final compliance. In the Bali, the G 77 was disappointed. Australia said they will cut emission 5-15 per cent below 2000 level 2020. We need Australia this positive approach. They also said we can contribute beginning our traditional technology to adapt the climate change.

Indigenous people do not have access in the negotiation process and development plan. They urged that parties should engage the indigenous community in the process making effective. Also they stressed the Political will.

I also joined CAN adaptation working group meeting. They suggested as in Eco-article that eco system base adaptation program should be approaced. On the other hand they are scared about the global fund of adaptation. Because Global Fund on Adaptation is facing problem of unpredictability and also there is a question of effectiveness. Developing countries are demanding the direct access of Global Fund on Climate Change. Though there is a mechanism coming up to manage the Global Fund but still there has uncertainty. Around 50 countries from LDC get the Global fund and 38 countries are making National Plan of Action for using these funds.

They also discussed about the Clean Development Mechanism. Bilateral agreement is going on. Mitigating working group is thinking a meeting with the EU and developing countries push for government agreement on article 9.

DECEMBER 06

The whole world is now urging for adaptation program in the COP 14. Many funds have been raised so far to support the adaptation program and many technologies are coming out for the adaptation program. Global fund for the adaptation programmers have raised for helping LDC's countries. But here is also politics that China and India also part of so called LDC's country. But they are not vulnerable as like Bangladesh and many others small Island countries. The interesting thing is India and China the growing power of Asia are asking the equal distribution of money. The most vulnerable countries Bangladesh raised the question that India and China are not in vulnerable position and on the other hand as a neighbor country they are damaging Bangladesh and other neighbor countries environment.

Today I joined a participatory film show organized by IIED, CLACC on adaptation techniques from developing countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Senegal and Malawi. Among them Nepal and Malawi film were most interesting and appropriate for the country like Bangladesh.

Most of the land scape of Malawi is very low. So in the rainy season Malawi affects flooding problem very badly. Before coming flood they dig Ponds, Canals and drain very deeply surrounding the village area. However, when rain comes all water goes to the low area than high area.People get safe from water logging and also during the dry season they can use this water for irrigation in the agriculture fields.

And in the Nepal documentary was on soil erosion. In films they use mainly indigenous knowledge. People harvest that type of species and grasses which protect soil from erosion. Village people use this plant and grasses for goat foods. This indigenous technology is very cheaper and environment friendly as well.

So these are the people who can make change without any money and investment or so called technology transfer from developed countries. When developing countries are negotiating for the fund that who will manage and equal distribution of fund and so on, right now community people already trying to find out their own way to come over the curse of climate change.

In the afternoon a meeting was contact group on adaptation plan was held. Bangladesh, Australia, India, Gambia, Costarica, USA, South Africa delegates spoke at the meeting. Many of them said the Adaptation policy should be prepared with such a way which would be integrated with National Development Policy. They also urged to address the issue of adaptation at home. Some delegates said the capacity building of adaptation fund implementation and assessing the climate change migration as an adaptation strategy.
There are still growing criticism about the private sector engagement in development plan and policy but Bangladeshi delegates focused the private sector engagement in the adaptation plan. Among the other process CSOs are still left from the process. On the other hand India clearly pointed out the national leads and priority in the adaptation process. Adaptation plan should be included as a sector wise component. So climate change agenda should be introduced at the project level, programmatic level and policy level. Gambia delegated said that Adaptation Fund should be separate from ODA. It’s a good proposal from Gambia so that developed country cannot cut their ODA as part of adaptation fund. Finally all are urged to formulate an adaptation plan which would be integration with international policy.

The talks will resume on Monday……it’s a tough complex negotiations.

Photos by Circa Frankie.

Talks will go on next year as well!

2008-12-07T08:07:00.000-08:00

Perpetual hassles of Technology Transfer in climate talks
By Maya Eralieva

Since 1992 we have been witnessing the red line between developed and developing countries on the issue of technology transfer. Has the real technology transfer occurred? Or developing countries have a right to begging for this technology transfer now in COP-14 and till COP-100!

Let’s see this example of technology transfer from Australia to Kyrgyzstan during early 1990s. The project was to support the poverty reduction through sustained economic generation from cattle farming. Under this project, thousands of Australian sheep transferred through ship from Sydney harbour to Bishkek. Beginning of the project, the Australian sheep start falling in number as they couldn’t adopt to the Kyrgyz climate as well as culture. Kyrgyz people are generally nomadic and they have an intricate relationship with animals. On this suggested transfer of sheep has nothing to do with reduce poverty but toying with spending some amount of money from developed countries. The idea was outdated to transfer the sheep from Australia to Kyrgyz.

Now, during the COP -14 talks, government representatives are asking for technology transfer to combat the climate change. Are the developing member countries waiting for the outdated technology to be transferred to their country like the sheep? Even, the government delegates from developing countries are suggesting that technology transfer should not be only government to government but also private sector has an important role. Again, we hear that private sector has a major role in addressing climate change as we see in Asian Development Bank (ADB) Strategy 2020 which is absolutely to privatize the whole world.

The private sector is looking for dirty technology to be dumped in the poor developing countries for quick or smart result. Although countries will get the technology which is outdated, this can’t resolve the climate catastrophe unless the developed countries drastically reduce their dirty emissions.

The convergence on technology transfer has yet to come in this meeting as developed countries are running away from their responsibility. The talks are not moving in right direction. Although on this COP-14, world is expecting a lot, the leaders have failed to reach that expectations so far.

Interestingly, this COP is negotiated under a special time in our life. The economic crisis, food crisis and environmental crisis has led to eerie silence among the developed countries to commit anything beyond their parochial goal. The developed countries must come out from their hard shell by showing leadership as well as putting some mandatory obligation to private sectors.

The talks are not only complex but there is a gap between what is going on in UN at this moment and on the field.

Photos by Frankie Roul.

PERSPECTIVE ON CLIMATE TALKS

2008-12-07T01:06:00.000-08:00

Interesting process in Poznan
By Boris Gabrielyan

During last 4 days of UNFCCC, we have visited more than 10 meetings of side events and plenary sessions regarding different aspects of climate change problem. As a result of attending these meeting, it is becoming more clear the aims, objectives and approaches of the conference. As it is, the first Kyoto protocol is ending and there is necessity to work out new concepts and approaches for a second protocol, which will hopefully come into force in 2012. There is need to engage more countries to reduce their emissions, and mostly it relates to developed countries, which don’t seem to have any intention to reduce their CO2 emissions. There is impression that most of the countries try to avoid their responsibilities, create different causes, saying that to obey their obligations they need additional financial means from developed countries. For example, during of one of the plenary meetings, Russia has suggested to address individual approach to each country, taking into account physical – geographical features. In my opinion, it is correct, but this should not be the only principle without suggesting real measures to reduce own CO2 emissions, and relaying to the hope to receive help from developed countries.

Recently we had opportunity to meet government officials from Armenia and to discuss Armenian position on climate change at this stage. As it was mentioned by the head of the delegation, Mr. Aaram Gabrielyan, Armenia is suggesting new approach of problem solution - obliging countries to reduce the growth in temperatures, but not the economy growth.

During the discussion with Armenian government officials proposed to conduct a meeting of CIS governments with CIS civil society groups to talk over the possibilities of CSO engagement in decision-making process and negotiations on climate changes problems, and to discuss on more close interaction between governments and NGOs on this issue. Frankly saying, this kind of initiative was very surprising. Because, usually they avoid this kind of cooperation and release important and real information, but may be now is the time for more close engagement of CSOs and they need public awareness on this issue.

On December 5, we had a meeting with Oxfam GB representative – Kate Geary, Policy adviser – climate change/private sector and she explained the process happening in the conference and the problems at this stage of the UNFCCC and coming meeting in Copenhagen , where the second protocol will be approved or amendments will be done in the existing protocol.

Meeting on new technology transfer was very interesting on December 6, where we heard presentations prepared by Australia, Bangladesh, EU, etc. Mainly, the problems of competence and problem of new technology transfer between developed countries and developing countries have been raised. In the same day, the meeting with CIS government representatives was organized, the CACAM (Central Asia, Caucasus, Albania, Moldova) countries position and their role was discussed.

Photo by Avilash Roul.

(Un)Clean Development Mechanism in Poznan

2008-12-06T14:08:00.000-08:00

CDM is growing up but going out
by Avilash Roul

Whether you like it or not, Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) will be implemented as one of the tiny part solution to climate change. The mechanism, which has been brought into workable methods after a long bullying discussion since 1997, is going to be consolidated after the COP-14 talks. This is coming out from the discussion so far among the developing member countries in the Working Group Plenary as well as informal contact group meetings including all other official meetings.

A long discussion was kicked off by China’s presentation on CDM under the review of Kyoto Protocol. The government delegates have strongly recommended various ways and means to achieve the most number of CDM projects for their countries. Hopefully, they are unaware of severe oppositions to CDM projects back home. A section of civil society groups have been vehemently opposing the procedures and non-transparency of the CDM mechanisms, including the Secretariat who controls the fund- the UNFCCC Secretariat. And some sections are very critical about the success of the CDMs in overall GHG emission reduction issues.

During the COP-14, a clear mistrust among the developing countries is present in all negotiations on the amount of CDM and ‘who-will-get-what’ issues. It seems that countries are well prepared (only) on the issue of CDM. Also in a typical fashion of inter-governmental environmental negotiations, the country representatives are posting their strong argument to the chair of all official/informal negotiations.

Most propositions are against the countries which have received a large number of CDM projects, mainly India and China. The African member countries are not satisfied with the geographical distribution of the CDM projects so far. The delegates of Tanzania, Zambia and Senegal have registered their reservations about the procedures the DOE played so far and the difficulties to receive the project. The procedures are long and transaction costs are high for getting a nod for a CDM project. Colombia has suggested for a better channel for CDM projects rather the existing one. The Colombian delegate said, “The procedure to get a CDM project is very complex. A new methodology should be placed for smooth execution of CDM projects.” The African delegate has proposed for a certain percentage for all African countries for CDM projects.

The indigenous people group has offered a strong suggestion for CDM projects that said projects should be in free, prior, informed consent (FPIC) with the communities if they are going to be implemented in their area. The indigenous peoples have strongly conveyed their oppositions against any CDM project in forest areas; specifically if the project is destroying or altering the forest and their livelihood.

The World Bank representatives suggested for transparency in the process of CDM projects and recommended addressing the delay in the process. This is interesting to note that the Bank’s suggestions on CDM have various connotations. It seems that the Bank is going to lead in managing a climate fund for most vulnerable countries and it is in competition with the UNFCCC CDM secretariat. Is the Bank transparent enough on its Bio-Carbon Fund in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa?

Many CDM projects are waiting to be placed under the Kyoto Protocol in all developing countries. But whether the emission reduction will actually happen or not, only time can tell.

Next on Shared Vision...

2008-12-05T09:31:00.001-08:00

DIFFERENTIATING IMPACTS
Who gets hit most and hardest? Poland questions...
By Redster

Well, yes, there is really a difference when it comes to climate impacts and issues dealing with responsibility and accountability. And it's a bit more complex - and simple - than we think.

Here are a few things to ponder on as we confront the global menace of our rapidly changing global climate:

1. Climate impacts will affect everyone. For now, a few may benefit. But very soon everyone will be hit badly - we live in one planet and the logic of physics - and the mystics - is still true: everything is connected, believe it.

2. The impact of climate change will fall disproportionately on those who are least responsible for it.

3. The developed world, which sometimes is called the North, is historically responsible for the problem. What the North needs to do is not just to cut their emissions drastically, the North also needs to pay reparations to the poor people who are now unjustly paying for their greed.

4. But the climate issue cannot just be about North versus South (which is another term used to refer to developing countries). It is also - it is really about the rich and the poor. Because in rich countries and poor nations, elites are the ones most responsible for the humongous majority of global greenhouse gas emissions. And in poor countries as well as rich nations, poor working people are the ones who end up shouldering the burden of the gluttonous ways of their respective elites.

5. But it will be extremely foolish to believe the world is divided into the rich and the poor - because we need to differentiate as well among the vulnerable. In the end, as study after study after study has shown, women end up carrying the burden of climatic impacts.

To call for climate justice is not enough. As a wise group reminds us, "There can be no climate justice without gender justice!"

The last pic is a photo taken from the parallel event "Women and Climate Justice" held at a venue just beside the Poznan convention place. The event was packed! And the free cookies were nice...

CREATURE STORIES

2008-12-05T09:06:00.001-08:00

Strange days at the Poland Negotiations
By Redster

Well, it's been an interesting week so far. Move around the massive sprawl of the Poznan convention center and you'll come across uncommon things. Creatures even... More and more are feeling more and more anxious about the slow pace of the negotiations here, with delegates acting as if the world was not facing its most formidable crisis in recent memory. We're confronting a real countdown, as the young folks today remind us. And it's high time for climate justice.

Right after the building security, with its x-rays and so on, you'll come across this poor polar bear with a very smart plea - "No coins. It's change I need..." But no one seems to be sharing with the lonely animal any change - not even small change if the exchanges taking place in various plenaries are any indication.

There's a lot of anger generated by the indifference largely coming from countries such as Canada and Japan and the US (it's still Bush who's calling the shots, and who knows whether Obama's "Yes we can!" slogan will become "Yes we can screw things up further!" if US big business interests will continue to hold sway in Washington).

"The CDM is a lose-lose proposition that has become a corrupt and cheap way for the rich North to avoid making real emission reductions," said Tom Goldtooth today in a press event organized by the organized he heads, the Indigenous Environment Network (IEN). Goldtooth called on delegates not to expand the Clean Development Mechanism CDM), and to dump it instead.

Yuyun Ismawati of Balifokus echoed IEN's call, saying "CDM projects only create illusions and false hope for local governments." In our experience, Ismawati said, CDM "procedures and all activities related to the project application mostly beneifted only consultants, auditors and investors."

Much is expected of official delegates here in Poznan, though the international goal should be quite simple: agree on measures that will keep global temperature increase as far below 2 degrees Celsius as possible. We need to make representatives of our governments know and feel that we are watching them!

This will require massive cuts in emissions, beginning in the developed world. It will also require massive amounts of money for adaptation flowing towards those who need it most - because climate change is already taking place and there are impacts that are already unavoidable. The fight we confront, however, is the fight to prevent irreversible damage to the Earth's climate. The thin red line is called 2 degrees. We must not pass it.

Life as we know it - the future of all creatures (humans, animals, plants and delegates) is at stake.

That's Abigail by the way, smiling from beneath the Orangutan costume. I caught her walking by her lonesome, along the corridor reserved for humans, swinging her arms to and fro and doing a very good impression of Senyor Long Arms.

It's fun here at the convention center of Poznan, but it's also quite bleak. Humans need to be protected from the failures of... who else? More humans. #

Message from Kalia Moldogazieva

2008-12-05T07:48:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

Though here in Poland the weather is cold, at the UNFCCC conference there are hot discussions, many events, very busy agenda.

There were very interesting workshops of Green Cross International about reneable energy capacities in different countries. We took part in the different plenary sessions on several issues, such as mitigation and adaptation measures on climate changes in different countries, the responsibilities on reduction of greenhouse gases of developed and developing countries, transfering of technologies to developing countries. We visited exibition , organized by EU on new technologies on reneable energy, construction materials, wind energy, etc.

Many discussions and questions rised Clean Development Mechanism that was suggested as assistance to developing countries to achieve mitigation of global climate changes. I participated in seminar, where even small business copmanies experessed their concerns that there is created some barriers for participation of SME in this program. One women from national project on CDM related, as I understood, to East Europe said that there the requirement to monitor GHE during three years before project starts. So, CDM so complicated and creates many difficulties for implementing countries and this mechanism should be reconsidered.

Red, Savio, Avilash and Kite from Oxfam GB helping us to explain some procedures and policies in the framework of UNFCCC, that allow us to understand some realtions between cointries positions on main points of UNFCCC.

There are every day some actions from GreenPeace, Oxfam, Polska Zelena Scies on the street. Yesterday we also join to action "Stop harming, Strat helping"", and weared special glasses with such words.

Today we will have meeting with our governmental representatives at this conference, organized by Armenian government representatives after Boris spoke with him.

Best wishes,

Kalia Moldogazieva
HDC Tree of Life (Kyrgyz Republic)

Poznan Talks: Who is flying?

2008-12-05T01:16:00.000-08:00

The Stork takes its flight...

By Avilash Roul

The Poznan climate talks began last December 1 here in Poznan-historical city of Poland. This 14 Conference of Parties (COP-14) considers to be the bridge from last year's Bali talks to next year's Copenhagen. Is it really a bridge? The beginning of the discussion shows many bumpy roads ahead to reach the Copenhagen on Dec 1, 2009. The "shared vision," as it is accepted during this climate talks, has many fissures within two days of dialogue. This COP is being considered by large number of delegates and participants a test case for the political will of many countries to look beyond individual commitments. The caution in this climate change issue is being discussed under the global economic crisis right now.

During the last couple of days, the clear battleground has been identified and the warriors are ready to take on the open-ended battle. The major contentious issue is, as usual, the greenhouse gas emission reduction target from the developed countries (Annex-1) after 2012. The developed countries have already created the fraction in the talks by showing many scientific modules of economic growth and emission reduction.

The typical climate lingo, such as Myth, slow progress, incoherent, disjointed, lack of seriousness, differentiated responsibility, historical responsibility, fractured mandate, confusion and so on, has been hurling against each other in this expensive talk shows. In the typical fashion of complex climate talks, the presentations and arguments-counter arguments and clarifications and comments have already started among the most visible actors in the negotiations. However, this is as usual in the climate talks. Media has switched off their laptop, pen and mind to write all these time and again as annual rituals.

The visibility of the US in this talk is minimal so far. The European Union has been coming up with new commitments and ideas to the negotiation so far. As usual, Saudi Arab is trying to create hurdles in any developed countries-suggested path. Kuwait is complaining the financial assistance for and as the most climate change affected country in the world! Japan is fixed with sectoral approach to the emission reduction. Russian Federation is convincing the world that the linkages of economic growth and emissions are different from country to country. China is impatient about the Annex-1 Countries’ slow progress on second commitment period and targets. India has been toying and arguing carefully to avoid any inclusion of its commitment to reduce the GHG emissions. African countries are arguing for more funds and projects under Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Colombia has been arguing for more CDM projects like Belarus. Other small countries are just taking participation to leave the battleground for the world Kaisers.

Similarly, parallel NGO meetings (closed door, as well as open door) are being strategized endlessly. The environmental NGOs from developed countries are spearheading the strategy to tackle or mold the Poznan talks by gathering intelligence and by making bridge among the major official players. Most participants are looking forward to fly to Copenhagen in 2009.

Does this mean less focus is given on Poznan? Is it going to be a talk show again? Let’s hope not. Although affected people-climate orphans around the world are not visible in this high profile conference, the world leaders must not wait or waste any time till Copenhagen.

Let’s see...

Dispatch from Poland

2008-12-04T08:15:00.001-08:00

SEEING WITH TWO EYES
red constantino

December 4, Poznan -- That's what the world needs to do. Look at the problem with two eyes.

The picture here is from this morning - the fourth day of the climate talks in Poznan, Poland. The morning was cold and when the Forum delegation got off bus C26, and we walked right into a beautiful peaceful action by Oxfam International.

That's Maya and myself having a funny moment, wearing OI's groovy glasses. One lens says "Stop harming!" Another says "Start helping!". We need both. In the incredibly complex world of the climate negotiations, the words "harm" and "help" seem so simplistic. But our world is so riven in terribly fundamental ways. The failures of our governments - and our failures as well - are so basic.

Solidarity is the only debt that people should owe one another, and unfortunately too few seem willing to understand this.

Here in the climate negotiations, it seems "Shared Vision" mostly means the big people's sense of sharing: "This is mine and that tiny thing is yours, and tomorrow I'll take some more of what you have." Ironic that it's all taking place under one sky, a cloudy one. A disfigured canopy.

At a session called "Adhoc Working Group on Long-Term Cooperative Action" a resource person referred to an interesting figure -- over the last decade, at least $600 billion is the cost incurred due to damage from natural disasters (which are often human-induced), adversely affecting 2.6 billion people. You need not have a colleage degree to know that most of the billions come from developing countries - the peoples who did not create the problem.

In Poznan, official delegates are talking about a real, equitable deal that can bring all players into one single agreement. It's hard to see any agreement deserving the title "equitable" if this conference avoids the word "reparations". Those responsible for damaging countless lives and the planet's ecosystems must pay. And our task - those who say they stand on the side of the oppressed - must be to continue to bring closer and closer those who harm and those who suffer. To stop the harm. And to help the marginalized not just by standing clearly on their side but also by taking action to achieve real wins. We have two eyes and we need to use them. #

That's part of the Forum team in Poland by the way: Kalia (hidden, from the left), Svetlana, Boris, Redster, Farjana and Maya. Circa took the photo... haha.

2008-11-25T00:03:00.000-08:00

Ode to Safeguards
by Joanna Levitt

Why do safeguard policies matter, you ask?
You want to know why so many people across Asia are calling out
protesting this roll-back of hard-won policy protections?
Taking a stand to demand that we guard
the safety
of their rights
and environments?

Because they know the Earth aches
They can feel it.

They know that so few people remember how to live in balance upon her.
And the few who do are actively threatened.
The inequality, injustice, imbalance builds upon itself
Until the sky itself groans
It cannot bear it
It cannot hold on to its age-old patterns of seasons, rains, winds, currents
The climate changes, slowly but surely
And the sky fears that these unknown changes will hit hardest among those who can least afford it.

Ceaseless demand in the North and the teaming centers
causes endless gaping wounds in the South and quiet fringes
The Earth's lifeblood and bones, her oil, water, minerals and forests
are extracted and pillaged
Her beloved inhabitants who live closest to her with humility and care,
are displaced, dispossessed, dispersed, disintegrated.

Today money travels with the speed of light
from an ivory tower investment account
to a distant corner of resource-rich earth
to fund its stripping and depletion
in the name of Development

But how slowly the voice of protest travels
of a farmer on that plot
of an indigenous woman
a child
an elder council
a neighborhood association
anyone who cries out:
"We do not want this.
You cannot force this upon us.
This is not what "development" ever meant to us, or ever will.
This is our land, our soul, our history, our future.
This is not just."

In the face of such forces
At this tipping-point time on our earth
Each tool we have won, each chance we have built
for healing and restoring balance
Must be cherished
Must be strengthened
Must be given life by the full backing of our collective wills and resources

To undo any such tool, at this time of breathtaking need on our earth
Is to condone harm to faraway families and plots of earth
It is also turning your back on your own, not just your grandchild but your self
You too have a birthright
to live on a healthy planet
to benefit from all the knowledge and knowings
of our planet's incredible array of peoples and places
To know that your own resources and convenience
do not come at the cost of others' death and dispossession

In the set of tools we need
To make a turn at this time of tipping
Safeguards are a simple—but vital—tool in this set
Or perhaps a keystone for the floor of what we are building
That ensures we shall do our utmost
To do no harm
—which, as we all know in our bones, is the bare minimum that we owe
to those with whom we share this planet.
We aspire to move far beyond this, beyond do-no-harm,
to opportunity and well-being for all

But this is a start,
this safeguard stone,
quarried from our long struggles for voice, land and livelihood.

Do not crack or file down or remove this stone in our floor
We are working hard
to build a house
for all of us
You shall not topple it

Instead,
Join us

There is work to do
For all who have come to build.

The sky knows it is not too late.

2008-10-23T01:26:00.000-07:00

Prodigy of the Butterfly and the Cat
by Patty Rodulfa

Have you visited the Forum office lately?

The gate have a “new look.” Many people who pass by the office are usually amazed. Sometimes they will pose in front of it and have their picture taken. Thanks to our officemate, Heidi, who found a good painter. Even though we are busy working, the gate gives joy to our neighbors, especially to kids who pass by the office.

So what’s with the cat and the butterfly? What’s the connection to our NGO work?

Each and every art can be interpreted in many ways. For some people, they only see what are visible to the naked eye. I will attempt to explain briefly why we chose to paint a cat and a butterfly on our gate’s office.

The butterfly symbolizes the “free” people living in a “free” country. People who have no problems. Those who have no worries and are not struggling. The cat symbolizes an “institution” full of power.

Nowadays, every country is a member of such kind of an “institution.” An institution that manipulates a country’s policy, and provides grants and loans which are supposed to benefit the “free” people. However, their funded projects lead to displacements, climate change and environmental rape.

You all know how these destructive projects affect people. That’s why the Forum is around – to monitor such institutions, hoping to minimize the harm that their policies and projects could cause the people who used to be free from abuses.

So, what is your interpretation?

2008-10-22T23:55:00.000-07:00

SOS FROM ARMENIA! LAKE SEVAN IS IN DANGER!
Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment

We call to the international community to speak for the protection of the unique highland Lake Sevan in Armenia.

Lake Sevan is a strategic stock of fresh water not only for Armenia, but also for the whole Caucasus region. The lake is situated at an altitude of 2000 m above sea level. The stock of water with volume of 33 billion m3, owing to the drop of heights, without any costs, allows providing the whole Caucasus region with fresh water.

The basin of Sevan Lake is also a unique ecosystem of a dozens of plants and animals that are included in the Red Data Book. Sevan is rich in food fish and crawfish. Sevan is the only recreational zone in Armenia.

At present the “Geopromining” Company has an intention to construct a gold recovery factory with the tailing dump at a distance of 20 km from Lake Sevan, near Sotq gold mine.

If this happens, this strategic fresh water stock will be severally threatened from pollution of the ore waste, which, in fact, is considered to be poison – cyanides, arsenic, antimony and pyrite. Oxides of pyrite under the influence of atmospheric precipitation generate sulphuric acid which corrodes all living bodies and nonliving materials, all mining rocks that account tens- and hundreds of thousands tons. This means that for years 10 mln.m3 toxic waste will change into 100 mln.

In case of Sevan this may turn into catastrophe, as far as Sotk field is located in an active seismic zone, where, according to the conclusion of consultants from BFP (1998), an earthquake measuring more than 6 on the Richter scale can be expected.

We are very concerned about the possible ecological and human catastrophe in case the ecosystem of Lake Sevan is destroyed including the main components: fresh water, biodiversity and soil.

We call to
• Consider the alternative projects of the construction of the enterprise out of 50 km zone of Sevan
• Insist that an environmental impact and health risk assessment is carried out by independent experts not on account of the “Geopromining” Company
• Present the results of environmental impact and health risk assessment to the public
• Guarantee public participation in the decision making on the Geopromining Lake Sevan plans
• Provide transparency on the entire process, including financial transactions between Geopromining and involved parties from the Armenian side.

“EcoLur” Informational NGO
Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment (AWHHE)

Contacts:

Inga Zarafyan : info@ecolur.org
Elena Manvelyan: office@awhhe.am

2008-09-01T02:56:00.000-07:00

Independence Day in Indonesia’s most famous Tin Mine
By Ratna Yunita

On 16 August 2008, I departed to Bangka Island with a group. Bangka is one of the islands belonging to Bangka-Belitung Province that lies just east of Sumatra. The population is approximately 600 thousand people which is consisted of different ethnic groups coming from all parts of Indonesia. There are a large number of Chinese inhabitants especially in the northern part around Belinyu. According to my tour guide, people here live in harmony, there’s very rare conflict among race. The name Bangka is actually derived from the Sanskrit word ''Wangka'' which means ''tin.'' This word was also written in Sriwijaya inscription dated 686 AD and discovered near Kota Kapur in West Bangka. That’s why tin from Bangka has a well-known worldwide reputation or grade “A” tin since the 18th century. The other important products of the island are rubber and pepper. During the Dutch occupation in Indonesia, the Muntok white pepper became very famous and continues to be one of the best export commodities of Indonesia.

The group members and I took a boat trip and landed in Muntok, the principal port in Bangka. Not far from the port, I saw a lighthouse which was built in 1862. It’s located nearby Tanjung Kelian beach. In the beach, we can see the hull of an Australian ship which sunk during the Second World War. There is a statue with the name of the ship -- Vyner Brooke -- and it was bombed and sunk by Japanese aircraft on 14 February 1942. It was really astonishing! I was planning to touch the hull but I didn’t do that since I was afraid that it will ruin the valuable fossil. Then, I just took pictures.

After half an hour staring at the ship hull, the group and I went back to the bus that brought us to the hotel which is located nearby Tanjung Pesona beach. When we arrived, the sun had almost set so that I was only able to take one nice shot. I got the water color degradation from dark blue to ivory. It’s so lovely. After dinner, we continued with night sessions. I was entitled to be a facilitator of team building and time management sessions. All the participants paid attention enthusiastically to the games and competition during the sessions. Then we sang and danced all night long. We were all happy and ended the night with a smile.

On 17 August 2008, I woke up very early just to see the sun rising and luckily I saw it. That’s remarkable. I enjoyed the beauty of nature, the splash of the waves, and felt the fresh unpolluted air touching my cheek as if whispering, “do you like the rhythm?” Yes… indeed, life is all rhythm. Wished to stay longer and didn’t want to lose any seconds of enjoying the nature. “Ratna, we have to catch up the 11am boat, hurry up!” Suddenly my friend came and stopped my contentment. Then I moved quickly to pack all my baggage and had a quick breakfast since it’s almost 6.30am and should take 4-hour distance from the hotel to the port.

63 years ago, the President and the Vice President of my country declared our Independence Day. Then people commemorate it every 17 August by having national flag-raising ceremony, traditional games, and music entertainment, among others. On my way to the port, I saw colorful banners along the road, red-white flags in front of every resident’s house, and people gathering in some places having traditional games, such as lomba makan kerupuk (cracker eating contest), tarik tambang (tug-of-war) and panjat pinang contest (climbing race to get prizes at the top of an areca palm tree). This scene is rarely found in big cities, such as Jakarta nowadays. I don’t know why, but according to my friend, communal tradition is fading away since people are becoming more individualists. Unfortunately I was hardly to take pictures of those moments. I was only able to take a picture of elementary school students’ parade. Ahh… I was also part of parades when I was in elementary school. Sometimes my parents dressed me up as a teacher (my dream when I was still very young) or a nurse who helped the national heroes. I’m proud to have the memory. Hmmm… finally I arrived at the port; I heard the song of Indonesia Raya, Indonesian anthem. While my friend asked me, “Are we really independent now?” I only replied, “It’s up to the matter of your point of view”. For me, stop complaining and start contributing good things for my beloved country. MERDEKA !!!

2008-08-29T00:57:00.000-07:00

Questioning Aid : Bangladesh Perspective
By Ahmed Swapan Mahmud

Since its independence, Bangladesh has been facing serious crisis to be a self-reliant country, free from conditions, policy prescriptions and dependency imposed by the donors. For more than three and a half decades, international financial institutions (IFIs) and corporate agencies of rich countries determine the economic policy for a county's development in the name of development. It has been observed that policies are framed in such a way so that the institutions that prescribe mainly get the benefit out of policy impositions and aid conditionalities instead of improving the socio-economic status of a country. In fact, the poverty reduction rate is not satisfactory which is around one per cent. The question is then, where does the money given by the donors go? The recent trend shows that though the aid flow is decreasing, interestingly, aid conditionalities are increasing.

In this age of capitalist globalization, the marginalization is increasing. The people's struggle for life and livelihood is also dangerously aggravating the interventions of donors in national development policy framework as well as in the political sphere. Some of the major reasons for not changing the poverty situation in Bangladesh are the policy impositions and interference by the donors. For more than 36 years, development history has clearly indicated that foreign aid can't solve the problems, rather in most cases, creates a market for the companies of the rich countries, leads public service sector to privatization, and forces developing countries adopt policy decisions of the donors which mainly keep the interest of the rich countries. With this point of view, it is clear that lending policies, together with strategic documents such as the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP) which have been produced without the participaton of the people, will not reduce the poverty situation at all.

Foreign aid must be condition-free to be effective and help countries to become self-reliant. Foreign aid to Bangladesh's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) dipped in the last 20 years. Foreign assistance constitutes 10% of the GDP in the 80s, which now stands at 2.4 per cent. It is also observed that the donors' money returned to them in a raft of ways. A study shows that 75% of the aid money have been returned back to the donor agencies or countries. Such aid money is comprised of 13% for consultancy and 12% for equipment and suppliers' fees, among others. Besides, various vested interest groups plundered the money including bureaucrats and politicians of the country who took 7% of the total amount. And most of the remaining amount gobbled up by their local mediators. And the conditionalities also cripple the process and aid hardly puts any effective impact on the ground for which it is designed for.

IFIs like the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) play dominant role and put conditions even in granting loans that is crippling the political decision-making process of the government. Donor agencies and rich countries play a double-standard role in granting loans and aid to developing countries.

In formulating a national policy or even for any national issue, there is a need for healthy debate bringing together politicians, NGOs, professional experts, academics, researchers, activists, citizens' groups and local communities. But hardly, any meaningful participation by different stakeholders takes place in the formulation of policy decisions. Any formulation of a national policy must provide space for participation, where people from all walks of life, including geographical variances, can voice out their opinion which must be respected.

But decisions are usually being made in closed-door meetings where people don't have access to and do not, at the least, provide a venue for sharing people's views and opinion. Donors and bureaucrats define guidelines and formulate policies for national development. Foreign aid has made the country indebted and burdened with huge foreign debt liabilities instead of benefiting the people.

Besides, people demand from the donors -- in the spirit of honesty, transparency, and good governance -- to provide the public of Bangladesh with information about each project they fund, such as: the percentage of project funds which are believed to have been lost due to corruption at different levels, a breakdown of which groups are the immediate recipients of the funds (e.g. donor country citizens, local consultants, different income groups in Bangladesh), an independently conducted benefit incidence analysis giving a breakdown of who are the ultimate beneficiaries of the project, a clear statement of the specific conditionalities for the project, and a signed declaration stating whether disbursement of the project funds may be used as leverage for other concessions or favors from the Government of Bangladesh.

Aid, in the neo-liberal framework, can't be effective, and can rarely provide positive impacts on the ground for which it is supposed to work for, the development of the poor people in particular.

How governments of developing countries can maximize the utilization of aid, effectively denouncing imposed conditions is important. Holding donors and recipient country accountable to the people is also important. And for an aid to be effective, there must be real commitments to realize ownership, harmonization, alignment, managing for results and mutual accountability that have been emphasized in the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness.

2008-08-25T19:37:00.000-07:00

One step closer to me
By Shaggy

How far is a journey of a thousand miles? Mathematicians compute the distance at 1,609 kilometers. Astronomers calculate it to be roughly the radius of the moon. Poets bewail that it is the unbridgeable chasm between two lovers' hurting hearts. While lovers on the other hand swear by all that is holy that it is but a short distance to walk to be beside their one true love. I don't know . . . I never was one for direct answers.

If you were to ask me, I'd say a journey of a thousand miles is a thousand AND one things. It is the firm but warm handshake of a village elder as he welcomes you to his home. It is the smile on children's faces while they wave goodbye to you as your rickety bus passes them by.

It is the sound of laughter and song around a blazing campfire. It is the deafening silence deep inside the bowels of a cave. It is the bone-rattling cold that stabs you at dawn high atop a forbidding mountain peak. It is the balmy wind that gently brushes your face at dusk along an isolated strip of beach. It is a sumptuous feast laid out before you at a town fiesta. It is a small piece of moldy bread you and your companions must share for the rest of the trip. It is the exhilaration of effortlessly climbing up a towering limestone wall. It is the cold sweat that breaks out when you realize that it is indeed a long way to fall should you lose your grip. It is the coppery taste of blood mixed with dirt as one's face unceremoniously kisses the earth on a screaming downhill descent. It is the soothing balm of friendship as your buddies try to patch you up with bandages and with words of comfort. It is an intimate secret shared by two underneath a blanket of stars on a night both wish would never end. It is the aching emptiness that gnaws at one's insides as friends and lovers go their own separate ways at journey's end.

AND then another journey begins . . .

So just exactly how far is a journey of a thousand miles? I don't know.

If you want exact answers, ask the mathematician, astronomer, poet & lover. They have all the answers. As for me, I'm just a traveler rambling down the same road as you - dazed and confused but loving every minute of it. I have been fortunate enough to shake the hands of princes and paupers. I have been doubly blessed to dine with sinners and saints.
I have seen countless faces and places, the memories of which I all hold dear. I have sleepwalked through endless days and daydreamed through sleepless nights, all these on my journey of a thousand miles. Though admittedly I may not know much, of this one thing I am sure; with each and every step I take, I find myself one step farther from where I once was. But then again, with each and every step I make, I find myself one step closer to me.

REBORN AT 2,700 METERS

2008-08-12T01:56:00.000-07:00

High note from Kazakhstan

We were already at the foot of the mountains early in the morning. We sped out of Almaty and from a higher vantage point we could see Medeu, the famed Soviet-era ice skating arena.

There were high places in front of us, built of stone and soil and wood and living things. We were supposed to climb it, and we did, though not everything turned out the way they were supposed to, at least in our minds.

It was a curious troupe. An Indian nature lover and a Filipino asthmatic, with a group of determined but largely fit folks. Later on we would be called the Ketchup Boys by Clara the bubbly Czech. I would call myself Old Man after the long slog, and not even my daughter would disagree. On the trek down, each step felt like a metal kebab skewer was being stuck half way through my knees. Each step, and it felt like I made a bazillion steps. I could only laugh insanely, since my left ankle -- sprained badly a week before I arrived in Astana -- got injured again on the way up. So "Old Man" is fitting, though "Turtle" sounds a little more dignified -- slow though swollen knees are obvious.

Ketchup-2 - he would acquire another name after a week. He became Circa once he hurtled beyond the outskirts of Dushanbe in Tajikistan. It means goat, which he loves dearly. On his plate with knife and fork. Or his hands.

A day after the climbing ordeal, Circa and I would pretend, as many boys do, that it was actually nothing even though our joints were still revolting against any movement a week after the event. We pretended that what we did was both as difficult and happy as a joyful opera song. And I think it was. The soil beneath our fingernails added to the sense of communion, and it was a shame that the dirt was too easily cleaned.

They say campaigning together is like climbing a mountain together, and it's true. But climbing a mountain together is also like campaigning - you need traction virtually 60 seconds each minute along with a disinterested ear to hear your complaints or your words marveling at this or that scenery.

And so up we went, Circa and Ketchup-1 with the gang of CEE-Bankwatch -- great company each one of them, even though the sense of humor was rather different to our ears occasionally. Up, up the Kazakh mountain traversing the great Tian Shan range.

It was funny at first while I started stretching my muscles in preparation for the hike. In my mind it was going to be fine. I could see the snow-laden tips and wherever I looked, I looked mostly upwards. It was not going to be one of those mountains in the Philippines, which, to anyone from Central Asia, would look like a furry hill.

With a grunt and a smile, the group started lurching forward and I caught Circa looking at me in a rather panicked way. And I returned his look with one that said "Yep. We're screwed."

After the first ten steps, while no one else was looking, Circa walks by my side and whispers to me what was already on my mind.

"We will not make it," Circa hisses. "You and I are huffing and puffing sir and we haven't even begun."

Of course. I nod in agreement. Gravity for the flatlander is really a drag. Even nodding feels tiring.

Twenty steps later, I slow down and Circa catches up. He points ahead and whispers another thing that has also crossed my mind.

"Sir, you notice that there are now three kids who have joined us? One is pre-teen and the two others seem to be four years old and three years old. Look," he whispers, nodding to the front subtly with his head, "the kids are hopping and skipping. I will be ashamed if we stop..."

He let's the sentence trail off long enough. Before I could blink, it became clear that the fear of shame was stronger than the fear of cliffs and suddenly Circa is twenty, thirty paces ahead of me.

I catch my breath under an immense pine. After a swig of water, I am looking up again and I am scrambling at weeds, leaves, branches, tiny mushrooms, pebbles, soil, worms, cacti -- anything that I can grab -- to keep from crashing downwards.

The feeling of an asthma attack creeping up, which hilariously sometimes induces in me an asthma attack, stopped recurring after an hour. Apart from the brain, which can sometimes be unreliable depending on air and fluid intake, I think the lungs are organs of the body that learn quite fast.

I remember how I fell behind from time to time, but I don't think I was ever last. Not that it mattered. Sometimes I'd see Circa in front with his camera in his hands but obviously not taking any photos. I asked him a number of times if he was winded, just for the sake of asking, and he always replied -- his chest heaving, his eyes wide open -- that he was just taking pictures.

Above me, I could hear the kids talking to their mother, who from time to time would carry her smallest child in order to avoid the thorny plants and tall, cutting blades of grass. But the kids were nimble as goats and they ran across think trails with no rails except for ankle-high shrubs. They laughed their hearts out at the flowers or insects they came across. I related to their joy completely.

It was an enchanting place filled with amazing vistas. There were places where the horizon was split into hues -- deep blue sky, a long and thick horizontal swath of lavender blooms and the dark green of pine. In my mind I remember clicking "save as screensaver," so I could conjure again the different scenes during the most trying and boring conferences in the future.

Onwards we trodded the uneven ground.

Thanks to winsome Sveta, who was carrying two mattresses on her back-pack -- a knapsack that appeared to be taller than her (and which contained a stove, gas, water, liquids, fruits, among other supplies) -- there were no mishaps. There were only smiling faces in the end.

Circa and I eventually made it to the mountaintop, which is a nice term. "Top" is what we call the place where we all finally stopped and made camp, which was three hours after we first started our ascent. I want to use "peak" but it sounds too melodramatic.

Have you ever celebrated the discovery of oxygen? We did, at the 'top'.

We broke bread beneath a small cluster of pine trees as rain began to fall. The sun disappeared and temperatures plummeted a bit. Everyone passed around pastries grabbed from the breakfast table in Hotel Kazzhol. Tea was brewing and people huddled together closer.

Stories about everything and nothing began to flow, mostly in Russian. Circa and I kept a small fire going while we played with the kids nestled inside a fabulous hollowed out trunk of a tree.

From out of a bag came a bottle of Ukrainian brandy, which went quite well with the bread and cheese and sausage (and oxygen). It became my winter coat. I was not cold.

I was told we were about 2,700 meters above sea level and my knees answered in the affirmative.

Below me, the sound of a river, alive and flowing and coursing ice water like a swollen vein of the mountain, fed by the region's immense glaciers.

A waterfall and a few hours later, we decided it was time to go down. And it was downhill from that point for the turtle, who was the last to arrive.

Circa laughed at the old man. But the next day Circa noticed that he had left behind the joints of his legs in the mountain. For three days he walked around as if he had no knees. Like a stiff goat zombie.

P.s. Actually, Circa was almost nimble as a goat. He was performing strange push-ups above flowing water and he even carried one of the kids on his shoulder down a steep cliff to get water from a nearby stream. Anatomically, it was the old man who had a knee problem, but since he is the one who wrote the piece, he took a few liberties with his writing. Circa's problem were his thighs, which just froze the next day. For three days his legs did not follow his orders despite all his attempts to defrost himself.

2008-08-07T18:55:00.000-07:00

Aid effectiveness, the Chinese factor and democratic development
By Hemantha Withanage

“Some aid agencies come with US$50 million and give an hour lecture. While others give US$500 million without lectures,” the Minister of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion of the Sri Lankan government said during the Multi-stakeholder dialogue on aid effectiveness (MSDAE) held recently in Colombo. I supposed this was an hour of lecture about aid conditionalities and perhaps how to follow the multilateral development bank (MDB) policy framework.

So now we have new money. And there was no lecture. China, Iran and India are the emerging big donors in our country which provide loans for coal power plants, oil exploration and oil refinery renovation, and harbor construction. China even comes with its own workforce.

I’m wondering why China is so generous. The minister said that China has many factories to relocate in Sri Lanka. To me it’s clear. China wants a 900-MW coal power plant and even a new harbor to cater to those polluting factories that will soon relocate in Sri Lanka, many of them owned or co-financed by Chinese companies.

According to some NGOs, borrowing from China and India creates another issue: implementation of the Safeguard policies. However the minister only said, “We are dealing with all these issues. We have an elected parliament with opposition parties. We can solve the issues democratically in the parliament. Who has elected the NGOs? It doesn’t matter if a few people shout. You know how China relocated thousands of people from the Three Gorges Dam.”

The minister also shared how the Indian Finance Minister responded to the issue of the affected people of Narmada, who are not willing to leave the project site. This is what the latter said, “Give them a swimming lesson.” He later said he was teasing us. I still find it disturbing. We are not in China but in democratic Sri Lanka.

Ironically, the minister was the chairperson of the Paris Declaration meeting in 2005. According to him, he was chosen not because he was special but because it was held right after the Tsunami. A number of NGOs are signatory to the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, which recognizes the importance of CSO participation.

Not many knew that aid effectiveness will be discussed and reviewed in Accra, Ghana in September 2008. Sri Lanka has volunteered to study its compliance with the Paris Declaration and to discuss its plans with the CSOs before presenting it in Accra. But, as the minister has asked, who are the CSOs?

At the MSDAE event, we discussed the principle of ownership, policy on harmonization, alignment, results management and mutual accountability. The role of the legislature and the judiciary were also discussed. I found out that the project success rate last year was only 53 percent for the ADB and only 43 percent for the World Bank. How sad to learn that only 32 cents of each aid dollar has actually gone to Sri Lanka, while the remaining 68 cents went to consultants, management costs, refugees and scholarships for students, among others.

According to one speaker in the MSDAE, 700 aid agency consultants in Cambodia have been receiving salaries equivalent to 160,000 government servants, emphasizing that the poor pay more debts than those stated on paper. Another speaker said international financial institutions, or IFIs, prefer foreign consultants. But of course!

IFI funds are usually provided in different lending windows. But new money from new sources always knocks on the door. Forget about the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Trade is now the name of the game. We fight for better safeguard policies of IFIs. However, there aren’t any for emerging bilateral aid. I thought Sri Lanka is a good place to introduce the country safeguards system which means operations and lending related to IFI projects will be subjected to the host country’s laws, and IFI policies will be subordinated. However, based on the recent pronouncements of our minister, such a system wouldn’t work in Sri Lanka. Worse, it could lead to further violation of people’s rights.

Here’s what the minister would say: “Never mind the safeguards. The government need money not policy lectures. Forget the MDBs. We have emerging donors. Forget the environment and the low carbon economies. We need development.” Social and environmental justice! – a few people will shout. But that can be handled, the minister will likely retort. We have democracy! Let’s just do business!

2008-07-29T20:35:00.000-07:00

"Earth to America" -- The Blue Man Group

2008-07-24T02:03:00.000-07:00

My favorite Bajaj
By Ratna Yunita

Every morning I take Bajaj (read: Bajai) from home to the nearest TransJakarta’s stop. TransJakarta is a Bus-Rapid-Transit(BRT) that takes me to the office. I’m not going to make a story of TransJakarta this time, since Bajaj is much more interesting to talk about.

Bajaj is a three-wheeled passenger vehicle. Some people called it as autorickshaw. It originated from India. All passengers (2-3 people) sit behind the driver. Due to its size, Bajaj is one of the good alternative vehicles in crowded places, like Jakarta.

On my way this morning, I had an interesting chit-chat with the Bajaj’s driver. He is actually a father of three kids; 8, 6 and 3 years of age. He said that if the Fortuna Gods is with him, he might earn approximately 150,000 rupiah (US$16) per day. 50,000 rupiah (US$5) goes to the Bajaj’s owner and 60,000 rupiah for gasoline (US$7). In short, he’s only left with 40,000 rupiah (US$4) per day which he brings home for his family. According to the World Bank’s standard, this man is actually not poor. But the question is, can we still use the standard of US$1 per day to indicate poverty while prices of goods continue to increase?

While I was figuring out what he had just said, the driver kept talking about his daily expenses which go beyond his daily income due to inflation. He should spend for the daily transportation of his kids going to school, milk for the baby, and food, among others. He said that sometimes he can’t afford to pay the monthly mortgage, electricity and water bill so that he has to borrow from his neighbors. So, can we still consider the driver and his family above the poverty line, considering he is indebted? How can he and his family survive the days when he earns lesser? He can’t definitely be lucky all the time. These questions popped in my head.

Along the way, I saw another Bajaj with a logo of BBG (auto gas). I asked my Bajaj’s driver, “Why don’t you drive a BBG-run Bajaj? I just thought that gas is much cheaper than gasoline and it’s good for environment.” He replied, “Oh... Mam, those were just slogans! They don’t use gas. They still use gasoline, the same as mine.” To my surprise, I asked, “Really? How come?!” He replied, “The gas stations are very rare. BBG drivers prefer to use gasoline since they easily find reloading stations.”

Hmm... This reality dragged me into an interesting question, “Is protecting the environment just a slogan?”

Oops... the Bajaj just stopped. I had to get off. Bye for now...

2008-07-23T00:41:00.000-07:00

The futureless children
By Khalida Brohi

I checked my stuff once again to make sure I wasn’t missing anything. When all was set, our car slowly made its way out of Karachi.

This is one of our Project Manager’s usual visits to the field areas where our organization -- Participatory Development Initiatives -- is working on Corporate Social Responsibilities of Oil and Gas Companies. Hmmm… well may be this visit was a bit different, as I was going along too!

I could hardly hold the excitement I had and was smiling at the thought of seeing through the beautiful Sindh.

Sindh is Pakistan’s second beautiful province. It is blessed with natural resources, great people and their wonderful cultures. There are about 12 corporate companies working in Sindh at the time. Six of them, which we are presently monitoring, are in oil and gas business in 5 districts.

As our car headed its way towards the interiors of Sindh, I barely moved my eyes off the window. I wanted to absorb the beauty of the vast greenery.

I saw women bent over on God’s blessed lands, cutting the grass; men herding their cows; girls with water pots; and children playing and shouting.

I wanted to run barefoot on the dirt path towards the fields leading to those lovely people… to their simple lives. As our car roared past the huge trees, I could see them dancing in the wind. I wanted to forget the AC in our car and open my window to inhale the cool breeze of nature.

As we got closer to our field areas, the picture began to change. I suddenly felt nature becoming sad. I saw no trees dancing, no green grass. Children ran about, trying to look for a place to spare themselves from the scourging heat of the sun.

My visit to the communities was a clear proof that those massive corporations are standing tall and proud in the very heart of the poorest communities, killing their environment, heating their climate, poisoning their water, destroying their lands, and causing various diseases!

I walked with “seema” to the nearby house to meet the women. My feet made sad foot prints on the dry land which had refused to give out anything. The hot wind pricked my skin, burning through it. I looked around and found the most famous beauty of Sindh almost dying.

At the last of our three-day visit, we had a chance to visit RBOD and LBOD, the disastrous gifts of the World Bank and the ADB.

Our car stopped at the main point where the LBOD’s drain water meets with the sea. The area looked more like a desert. Hot weather made the houses invisible in the dust where they stood near the black pool of drain dumped in sea. We climbed out of the car. I met with the hideous aroma of the drain. Some kids came along and I found them the best to talk to.

Innocent children. Their answers were only, “oh yes we live here, and we go fishing in the sea. But sometimes the water becomes very hot, and our skins are burned. Even dogs that take a dip in the water suddenly run for their lives,” they said and laughed. I was overwhelmed!

They showed the red dots all around their feet and hands. It was like skin peeled off and their condition was getting worse. I couldn’t believe my eyes. They were so innocent. They didn’t even know its cause.

I wanted to yell at them, “That’s not the sea anymore! It is a huge drain! The wrong failed project of some unearthly organizations that don’t care if you die or live!”

These big corporations don’t care if people get skin cancer or even worse.

I suddenly felt tears in my eyes as our car moved further, leaving the futureless children waving goodbye.

2008-07-17T20:07:00.000-07:00

The night at Alibaba
by Red Constantino

If you were there, you will not forget the night of July 16. It was the night friends possessed of fine minds and stout hearts broke bread and forged ties that, it is hoped, would outlast any concrete structure designed to hold back the mightiest river. I had the honor of giving the first toast, and after two days of intense debate and dialogue during the Water Forum in Astana, Kazakhstan, I had only one poem in mind to share, a prayer, actually, from good buddy Anabanana. I had it translated to pinyin Russian, and I read it in Russian. And afterwards, it was time for horse meat, salad, vodka and endless laughter.

We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity...

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.

We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.

attributed to Sir Francis Drake, 1577

2008-07-08T21:25:00.000-07:00

Struggling for rights to water
By Ratna Yunita

“When I was expecting my second baby, I got hernia. Every morning I have to walk 2km away from my house to get clean water,” said Ibu Ratih. I met her after she gave her testimony in the Women Tribunal: Women against Impoverishment. It was my second time to meet the inspiring lady. Our first encounter was when KRuHA -- the organization where I am working at -- invited her to give testimony in our documentary movie, “Jakarta Water Privatization.”

She had been working at a fishery company since 1990. But her employer filed for bankruptcy in 2006. At present, Ibu is a housewife. Her husband, on the other hand, has no permanent job. Sometimes he works as a coolie. Other times as a garbage collector. He has tried every kind of job to survive the hard life in Jakarta. He has no regular monthly income. There are even times when he doesn’t earn at all.

Ibu Ratih’s family has difficulties in fulfilling their basic needs not only because of unpredictable income but because of higher prices of basic goods nowadays. She should pay Rp270.000 (US$29) up to Rp360.000 (US$39) a month for clean water that she buys from a small-scale water enterprise that is located 2km away from her house. While during summer, the price is exorbitantly higher amounting to Rp540.000 (US$58) per month. She has no choice but to rely to it because the piped water in her house is not always available. There are even times when the quality of water from the pipes is so bad, not fit for consumption. But the worst part is that she has been paying for a basic charge in spite of the irregular supply and very bad quality of water for almost two years.

I was surprised to know when she said that all of these problems have begun to occur when Lyonnaise and Thames, which is now taken over by Aquatico, took over the drinking water resource management in Jakarta since 1997. She realized that privatization is not the answer to fulfill people’s rights to water. Privatization or corpocracy is a matter of bigger role that’s played by giant corporations in as many as people’s daily needs (Alvaro J. de Regil). Privatization tends to abolish the role of the government as the guard of “bonum commune”; transferring the public control into shareholder’s interest/control including pricing. In the end, gaining higher profits will become the priority instead of improving services. By mid-June 2008, the Governor of Jakarta has announced that the tariff on drinking water will increase as part of the automatic tariff adjustment scheme.

“How dare the government increase the water tariff! Every morning when all people hardly need water, it does not come out,” said Ibu Ratih.

The poor gets marginalized by privatization scheme. Only those who can pay get access to clean water. This situation also happened in other countries, such as Bolivia, Pakistan and Argentina. The UN Covenant stated that access to clean water is a human right. Hence, giving a price to water as a tradable good is clearly paradoxical.

I think the Government of Indonesia doesn’t realize that developed countries that occupied Jakarta’s water resource management is actually “kicking away the ladder” (Friedrich List), so that as a developing country, it will never be able to step the ladder that they used before to become at part with them in terms of managing water resources. They manipulate the government by saying privatization is the most promising medicine to resolve the ongoing water crisis.

Ratna is a campaign coordinator of KRuHA (People's Coalition for Rights to Water)

2008-07-02T19:24:00.000-07:00

Mountains, musings and the ADB
by Rustam

When you look at these gorgeous mountains, inhale the fresh air, I am sure you will fall in love with Uzbekistan’s nature. Needless to say, when you are visiting a bazaar, tasting delicious traditional dishes, or seeing well-wishing faces, you will surely fall in love with its people.

Sometimes I think that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is in love with the government of Uzbekistan. It has continued to provide huge amount of loans to my country. This is contrary to the recent moves by other development banks.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development declared its intentions to stop its public sector projects for Uzbekistan because its political environment has not improved. The World Bank stopped giving new loans because, according to their statement, "resources are spent on projects that deliver tangible development outcomes, and we have some concerns whether in the present environment in Uzbekistan this is guaranteed." Though it recently approved a new country assistance strategy.

Despite everything, the ADB stays faithful to Uzbekistan, making it the largest project loan borrower among its member countries from Central Asia and Caucasus.

Visit Uzbekistan! And probably you will find why the ADB is in love with this country.

2008-06-30T20:16:00.000-07:00

Our daily trip
By Patricia Rodulfa

Vrooomm… I hear the roaring engine of our neighbor’s motorcycle. Then comes the yelling of our friendly fish vendor, “Tilapia, Galunggong…” This is the daily scene in our community that marks the start of our day.

As my husband and I prepare for work, our “kabayo” -- our tough motorcycle -- waits in the garage. Kabayo is the Filipino term for horse. We call it kabayo because it has endured us for almost four years given our combined weight!

It’s now time to leave. A simple prayer before heading to our respective offices, requesting for safe travel. We don’t say goodbye to our parents. We just say, “Alis na kami. Balik kami maya.” (We’ll go ahead. We’ll be back safely.)

As we approach the highway, we see lots of people, mostly students, waiting for public vehicles. It’s rush hour again. People are now crowding the streets to get to their destinations early. Upon reaching one of the busiest towns in our place, traffic is very heavy. My hubby tries to look for alternative roads to take, avoiding the growing number of vehicles. However, traffic is more terrible in the side streets. He maneuvers our kabayo, cutting through vehicles, trying to make use of every available inch to move forward. This is the hardest thing to do since we may end up in an accident.

At last, our feet land in front of the office! We surpass another grueling trip. We say a silent, short prayer, thanking our Creator that we arrived safe and sound. We pat our kabayo, well done... Well done.

From our daily routine in the highway, we’ve learned that one has to be patient and able to mingle and play along with the rest of the drivers on the road, regardless of the type of vehicle you’re driving if you want to avoid an accident. Not to let the inconsiderate drivers get into your head. Defensive driving is indeed important if you want to survive the dangerous roads. And of course, a genuine smile for traffic enforcers will also help you ease your way out of crowded roads and will help you get to your destination a lot faster.

And this is our daily trip.

2008-06-02T16:20:00.000-07:00

Tackling the winds of power
By Gururaja Budhya

“My village has big fans that will provide all our people with nice breeze,” a kid said referring to the windmills across the hills surrounding his village, Kanavehalli, in Harapanahalli taluq, Davanagere district, Karnataka, India. The kid and many other villagers do not know that the cities, malls, and other industries have no problem with the electricity supply. However, they wonder why they cannot get their share.

Children are unable to study due to low voltage electricity at night, which restricts their education and growth. This is the situation in most rural areas in India.
“Our village used to have peacocks roaming around. We had strict rules to protect them along with other flora and fauna visiting our village,” said a woman from the community. She has been cursing the installation of the wind mills surrounding their village and has been blaming it for the disappearance of peacocks. She lamented that the installation of the windmills surrounding the hills was done without any consultation with them.

The woman narrated that the hills have been chopped, causing soil erosion and has affected the flora and fauna in the region. Hundreds of windmills in Karnataka have caused the alteration of geography, affected the topography, greenery and the endangered species of flora and fauna.

Lopsided Corporate Social Responsibility

The proponents of development want the villagers living near the resources to “sacrifice for the development of the nation.” For years, the same people who sacrificed their resources have been denied to get a fair share of the “fruits” of development. They ended up only as contributors. At the same time, they have suffered due to the impact brought by development. The mining case in Orissa, as explained by Joanna, is another example of such development devastating the forest lands and forest dwellers.

The promoters of windmills in Davanagere district have begun community development initiatives as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), resulting in the formation of women's self help groups and construction of toilets, to name a few. I find these initiatives, which are part of the CSR of these so-called corporate houses, totally misguiding.

Corporations have social responsibility – to be sensitive to the nature of their investments and be able to boldly address the issues of social development. As a part of this responsibility, corporations must spend on mitigation measures and environmental impacts assessments, for example. This means said measures must be part of the investment allocated to address the negative impacts of the project. Additionally, a part of the annual profits have to be ploughed back into the development of the community. For me, this is part of fulfilling their Corporate Social Responsibility.

But cleverly, many companies do not address the negative impacts of their projects. They spend a small project allocation for their so-called community development activities – claiming it as Corporate Social Responsibility. No ethics, no sensitivity, no social responsibility – all at the cost of people for high profits.

Many corporate bigwigs are joining in an Asia-Pacific Corporate Social Responsibility Conference in July 2008 in Singapore to share their crooked stories, pat each other at the back and redefine the rule for sustainable development.

So enjoy the Corporate Shock Recipe!!!

2008-05-30T01:04:00.000-07:00

Pondering non-violent development in India*
by Joanna Levitt

The eastern Indian state of Orissa is often dismissed as an impoverished backwater of the country, notable only for its recently-discovered mineral wealth of coal, iron ore and bauxite. The Orissa I encountered, however, was a place of extraordinary cultural and biological diversity, of visionary philosopher-activists, and—far from a backwater—home to movements and currents that seem to form an important epicenter of the global struggle to envision and fight for alternative models of development and human life on earth.

Last Monday I flew to Bhubaneshwar, the capital of Orissa, where I met up with my colleague Madhu, and her crew of fellow human rights advocates and activists (I should say "sister advocates and activists" as once again I was with a crew of all women!) From Bhubaneshwar, we traveled by van to the village of Dhinkia to spend the night. Dhinkia is one of the many farming communities fighting to stop the massive open-pit iron ore mine and steel processing plant proposed by the Korean company POSCO. The project is a particularly striking case of the kind of aggressive industrial, private-sector-led development in India that is taking place largely on prime agricultural lands. Farmers and farmlands are displaced and destroyed to make way for industrial parks and chemical plants, which are established as "Special Economic Zones"--the controversial new system here by which foreign companies can operate in virtually tax-free enclaves, outside of many labor and environmental laws. It's quite stark.

Madhu commented at one point with exasperation, "When will people wake up?", as we looked out over the vast rice fields surrounding Dhinkia village. The entire expanse of lushly green rice fields, dotted with palm trees and graceful white egrets, is slated for destruction, to make way for the Posco steel processing plant. And all while more headlines are appearing each day about the global food crisis. "At what point will everyone open their eyes and realize that this 'development' is destroying the basis of all of our survival?"

This past week in Orissa was indeed an awakening for me, in many ways.

We joined with the people of Dhinkia and thousands of villagers from the region for an incredible march against POSCO and in defense of their lands and livelihoods. Walking along with the marchers, ahead and behind me thousands of women and men from the villages, marching peacefully down the raised narrow dirt road that traverses their rice fields, marching towards the rally point, I looked over my shoulder and the line of people stretched back to the horizon as far as I could see. Bright saris. Blue sky. A sea of rice fields all around. One of the more powerful days of my life.

The next day, I traveled to the town of Rayagada, in the mountainous interior of Orissa. High in the mountains above Rayagada, I visited the adivasi community of Kuchiepadar, which has been leading a nationally-renowned struggle against an open-pit bauxite mine on their ancestral lands. Interestingly, Kucheipadar--like Sarayaku, my adopted community in the Ecuadorian Amazon--has been the only community left standing, as all around them fell. I seem to have a soft spot for such places. A very moving interview with a young community leader and elder woman leader there. "They want to take from us something that is worth more than gold--our land," said Ambai, the elder woman. "And in return they offer us things worth far less than silver. We know that our land is our life, it is our future. We act together--always together--to defend our lives on this land."

Kuchiepadar and their struggle will be featured in the People's Guide as a case study. The folks I met in Rayagada who have been supporting the struggle are very interested to use the guide to do trainings with surrounding communities who are now facing the life-threatening impacts of displacement, and who are struggling to find ways to hold the mining company accountable to its promises of compensation and rehabilitation.

Finally, during my evening in Rayagada after visiting Kuchiepadar, I had the immense privilege of having tea and a long conversation with Professor B.P. Rath, a Ghandian scholar, and former professor of English literature at the local university, who has amassed a personal library in his humble home in this small interior town of Orissa, that felt like something out of another time. I left our talk with many new thoughts. Particularly about non-violence. And about the need to bring back to life and full-force this incredible movement and tradition brought into being by Gandhi, and his greatest disciple, Martin Luther King. On this weekend, which marks the 40th anniversary of MLK's assassination (I know this weekend is the anniversary because my younger sister is at a conference in Memphis, Tennessee that is being held in honor of this date--a conference called The Dream Reborn. She sent me an email from there that moved me to tears), I wonder, could we build a movement for non-violent development? Non-violent to the environment, to the people who live at the source, to those who work along its assembly lines and construction sites? Like achieving independence, or gaining civil rights, it will require a transformation and strength of spirit, a joyful willingness to make sacrifices for something far beyond ourselves, a different way of living, a sea-change in our societies the likes of which I do not think we have seen since Gandhi and MLK. Since speaking with Professor Rath, I have been pondering what it might look like for such a movement to be midwived into being...

But as I sit here this afternoon in a loud internet cafe in Bangalore, with wealthy teenage kids yelling in designer clothes as they play shockingly violent video games, suddenly it seems hopelessly naive to even think such a transformation could be possible. Well, who knows. I suppose history and humanity constantly surprise us and offer up paradoxes, so I will not presume to think it impossible.

*Joanna wrote this piece during her visit in Orissa in April 2008

A Light in the Mind

2008-05-20T03:25:00.000-07:00

Vesak Koodu

By Avilash Roul

The beautiful and majestic lanterns add to the pious essence of particular occasions. In Sri Lanka they are called lantons, and where they go the surroundings glow with unfurling colors.

On May 18, 2008 the Sri Lankan Embassy in the Philippines acquired just that pious look when big lantons were hung around the building it was housed in, looking like fire flies from a distance. The Embassy had invited dignitaries, Sri Lanka nationals and other friends of the country to celebrate the Lord Buddha’s birth anniversary. Fortunately, I was there to accompany my colleague, Hemantha, and to join the celebration of Lord Buddha’s 2,552nd birth anniversary in the Embassy.

The day is called Vesak Poya in Sri Lanka or Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti in India. In Thailand, the event is named Visakha Bucha. The religious holiday marks the full moon of the fifth lunar month, and is the day the Lord Gautam Buddha was born, reached enlightenment and died.

On this day monks recite verses uttered by the Buddha twenty-five centuries ago, to invoke peace and happiness for the Government and the people. Buddhists are reminded to live in harmony with people of other faiths and to respect the beliefs of other people as the Buddha has taught. I was engrossed with a couple of chants from revered Monks, who were chanting blessings of the Lord Buddha. One chant was for good amount of rain for better harvests. I am wondering now about the intriguing effects this blessing is facing today. Rainfall has not been similar as it was earlier, with its onset time and duration. Now, the rain is erratic, unexpected and beyond imagination. The greatest wandering Monk, the Lord himself, might today be wondering how this has occurred! Would he be wondering whether this is all due to climate change?

These thoughts reminded me of the day in 2006 when I visited Colombo to Matara to evaluate the ADB-funded Southern Transport Development Project (STDP). The entire Island was decorated with lantons big and small. Interestingly, I also got a glimpse of lantons in five resettlement places in Sri Lanka. The families and the people, who were displaced by the STDP, were also as engrossed in lighting small lantons despite fluctuating electricity. Colourful lanterns called Vesak koodu are hung along streets and in front of homes, and they signify the light of the Buddha, Dhamma and the Sangha.

‘Vesak’ is celebrated as a religious and a cultural festival in Sri Lanka on the full moon of the month of May for a week. Electrically-lit pandols (altar or podium) that illustrate stories from the 550 Jathaka Katha, or the 550 Past Life Stories of the Buddha, are erected in various locations in the Island. Buddhists celebrate this day by observing religious activities observing sila, a human virtue of goodness.

The Vesak Koodu illuminates the values of non-violence, compassion and brotherhood.

That simply means save the world!

The Stages of Economy!

2008-05-13T02:36:00.000-07:00

by Maya Eralieva

When this interactive FORUM blog re-activated, I was thrilled to write something. Despite my humble experience of putting things together in an article, I decided to write a short message which makes me upset.

In Kyrgyz Republic, unfortunately, everything from family to happiness comes with a price tag. The elected President, surprisingly, says that government is a bad manager. Thus, as far his wisdom concerned he motivates everything should be handed over to the private sector. The question remains, then why the government should continue? Government officials are keen to privatize all strategic state-owned entities in line with capitalistic model of economy (while neighboring Kazakhstan is under the process of nationalizing all major sectors).

Unfortunately, I must say that market guided civilization developed in West, has brought our world society to dead end. Due to the profit motive structure of the world economy, out green planet has increasingly becoming brown planet devoid of natural surroundings. Because of unrestrained unmindful exploitation of earth resources, we are facing new challenges of survival like the impact of climate change.

The reforms and restructuring pushed by the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) through our government have no social and ethical values. These reforms lead to an impoverishment of the majority of the population and enrichment of minority, that trampling on moral ideals - duty, validity, truth, sincerity, patriotism, national pride, honesty and so on.

Moreover, absolutism of the market and its identification with capitalism of industrial type brought to crisis too. The market and capitalism is not the same. It was perfectly explained by the popular historian Fernan Brodel. While Europe and the US are promoting the concept of mixed economy or so-called ‘market socialism’, Kyrgyz Republic is promoting the concept of ‘market capitalism’. Here is the difference!

It is beyond our imagination to expect that an economic miracle will be happening from this market capitalism in our country. I wonder if it would happen in this Millennium! We must not be carrying memory lapses. History speaks in volume and loud and clear! The Western countries colonized the third world and exploit as well as extract the resources from the colonies to maintain their capitalism. Thanks to the Invisible Hand! Notwithstanding W. W Rustow’s 1960 famous theory “The Stages of Economic Growth: A Non-Communist Manifesto”, this exploitation is still continuing through new formats-neo-colonialism!

What a hell!

2008-05-07T23:10:00.000-07:00

By Hemantha Withanage

AsDB, World Bank, AfDB, IDA, EBRD…… What a hell!

LTSF, ADF, OCR, Private Equity Funds, Framework Approach, Multitranch Finance Facility………what a hell!

Food crisis, ecological crisis, climate crisis, energy crisis, land crisis, water crisis, debt crisis, human crisis! …….. What a hell!

Safeguard policy, Energy policy, Water policy, Disclosure policy, Accountability, Gender policy, anticorruption……….What a mess!

Isn’t there any place under the sky for my kids and your kids to live?

I wish if I could go back to the era before the world colonised by Spaniard, Dutch, Portuguese and British.

Fooling fools

2008-05-07T22:16:00.000-07:00

By Gururaja Budhya

The world is full of people. What kind of people? Humans. Humans are ´social animals´, says one of my old colleagues in India. Social animals like humans are always doing certain things - are not the types who are quiet and remain silent. So people are the social animals.

Another old colleague explains - Human beings always engaged in doing something. The question is for what? One is for living, the other is for satisfaction. There is another who said more - there are people who are engaged in making profits. Nothing is more important than making fast bucks for these. At any cost!

Here fits the bunch of people that run the ADB, raising profits for ADB, dancing the tune of ´poverty´. The people in there talk sweet language, project a rosy world, convince the rest of the world and fill profits at the cost of poor.

Here are some expressions that you get to hear from them often,

¨The development helps everyone, so we are funding projects¨

¨There has to be a sacrifice by a few - as many will benefit¨

¨Of course, poor want to pay for services¨

¨You cannot tell everything to people, better you do it and they will appreciate it¨

¨People must welcome that we are making available money for their development, they should not oppose¨

¨No one is asking information about the project in their language, so why waste time and energy¨

¨We are getting project from ADB, so we are obligated to give them reports in English. We cannot give information in local language¨

¨What will people do with information¨

¨We are learning from our experiences, we will do better next time -We are a learning institution¨

The people in ADB (and also our own governments) are happy to interact with bureaucrats (as they are also on deputation from other governments) and are happy to avoid people all the time. They are comfortable to talk in air conditioned rooms (all the time) and are scared to meet people in project locations (in open air).

Often they avoid a process that can explain people, make people understand, plan things in the speed that fits the people. Instead, total secrecy, non communication and avoidance is followed. They think things will be easily pushed through because of ´dynamics of project implementation´. The people are only told in the last minute, they oppose as they have not been part of decision-making.

What is the result?

The planning and implementation is delayed. These further results in delays and cost over runs, which the ADB will be happy to raise the loan amount. All at the cost of people.

This is because of ´no learning attitude´. So, what do you call people who ´fool´all the time, and in turn being ´fooled´- Fooling fools!!

I am sure you are all familiar with some of such responses like above.

Why don’t you share what you have been hearing? Let us hear more!!!

2008-05-07T06:58:00.000-07:00

Is Earth in Balance!

by Avilash Roul

During the ADB's 41st annual Jamboree extravaganza, a super cyclone killed at least 22,000 people in Myanmar. Nearly 30,000 are still missing. As Daniel witnessed the ADB climate hypocrisy near ground zero, I will take Daniel’s anguish, and mine, a little further.

I say, welcome to the ADB’s Asia-Pacific region where it plunked $ 10 billion in 2007, a large part of it into fossil fuels! I witnessed the Orissa (India) super cyclone in 1999 where 13,000 people died. The poor state of Orissa in India has been reeling under contrasting extreme weather conditions for some time. Out of the last 100 years, the state has been disaster-affected for 90 years. Seasons in Orissa have been reduced from six in general to two in some places or three. Since the 1960s, calamities have visited with Orissa with regularity and affected areas that never had a previous vulnerability record.

A massive heat wave in 1998 killed around 2,300 people mostly in coastal Orissa, which is known for its moderate temperatures. Not long after, Bangladesh was devastated by a severe cyclone. Unprecedented recurring floods, droughts, cyclones and heat waves have become signature calendar dates in most part of Asia-Pacific.

There is a strong link to climate change. Yet, not to link directly the increase in extreme weather events with human-induced emissions is part of politics in today's climate science. Actually, I should not talk about the increasing frequency of natural disasters in the US and Europe only! To a certain extent it is not only ADB's climate hypocrisy as Daniel rightly pointed out but all our hypocrisy.

Although, Myanmar is the pivot of ADB’s Mekong Sub-regional strategy, ADB stopped direct lending to Myanmar since 1987. I am wondering whether this devastating cyclone might push the ADB to rethink its so-called isolation of Myanmar?

ADB may hav been awarded the best in energy efficiency prize in 2000 by the host Philippine government, but it still sanctions huge loans for thermal power plants all over Asia. It makes me wonder if there are any ADB-funded energy projects that have also received the best energy efficiency award? I doubt it!

Daniel, this is another feather to add to the ADB's climate hypocrisy! But this is not to single out only coal-fired thermal plants but ADB’s over all infrastructure and transport communication projects as well, which account for around 50 percent of its total activities. I wonder what are the virtual carbon emissions of the ADB?

The ADB will continue with its fuzzy concerns on eradicating poverty in one hand and will go ahead with large carbon emitting infrastructure construction in its other hand. ADB has just established a climate change fund to slow down the climate change and to help the region adapt to the devastating impact. But, it also funds the Mundra Ultra Mega power project. So I expect more natural disasters to visit Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, China and other vulnerable countries with regularity. Is our planet in balance?

Not really! Simple geography says it tilts 2 and ½ degree towards the Sun. Al Gore uses this weighing machine in his argument in his book Earth in the Balance in 1991, as well as his presentation in the documentary An Inconvenient Truth. Interestingly, the ADB also used this image in its May 2008 report on soaring food prices. So let me pose a straight question to ADB: would you like to see Earth in the Balance?

The only answer seems to be "No."

2008-05-06T04:15:00.000-07:00

Scary? Cool yourself with Beer or Sangria!
by Gururaja Budhya

Two days since the ADB AGM is on in Madrid. It is quite an experience to move in the Metro from point to point in Madrid. But it's good walking between the tunnels and climbing the stairs! The food and the walking remind me what I am missing from India. It is the tea, idli, vada, dosa, uppma,….. the list is long.

Dragon and the Elephant – Don't wonder what these are to do with Spain. It is the session (in the AGM) that talked about the studies carried out by the Indian and Chinese 'think tanks' (?). The studies are carried out with 'technical assistance' (actually under RETA) from ADB. The 'think tanks' are the most worrying part of the whole exercise. What the ADB is doing is to throw money into the 'think tanks' to 'find out' things that are 'interesting' to be learnt and put back into their own country. It means ADB actually make the 'think tank' say or propagate what it wants to say. So it is legitimisation process where your country's 'think tanks' will sing the 'reform' tune of ADB. Things like this scare me!

It was another wonderful day for me to enjoy the dinner at 'Antonio' on 3rd evening. The evening began with 'chilled beer and sangria'. And then the food – squid, fish, potatoes, rice, and whole lot of stuff that filled me up to the neck.

Who is it for? – This is the question I asked Nessim Ahmed in-charge of Safeguard Policy Review Process in ADB. I made it clear that it's a straight question when I asked this question in the panel discussion on 4th. The answer was also straight – 'it is to safeguard the poor'. Wow! The ADB and those working in ADB always tend to project what they do not intend to do. That has been their style to 'eradicate the poor in the name of eradicating poverty'.

Mushrooms and Tomatoes – After the 4th day long moving around the meetings with the Executive Directors of the Bank, again it was time for relaxing. It was a long drive in the bus to the 'Castle' outskirts of the city. After we got out of the city, it was the 'security' personnel through out the route. All the delegates from the Forum relaxed in the spacious lawns and enjoyed the fountains. It was business as usual, eating, chatting and plotting! There were enough 'exclusive' corners for the delicacies on mushrooms, tomatos, fruits, rice, the liquor ….whatever you name it. Enough energy for the Energy panel the next day!!!

Vroom vroommm!

2008-05-06T02:49:00.000-07:00

Hypocrisy, hypocrisy ...
by Daniel Mitller

It is warm in Madrid. And if you arrive by Metro, the north entrance of the IFEMA centre, where the ADB meeting is taking place, is not all that obvious to find. So, I - Daniel Mittler of Greenpeace International - was wondering around the IFEMA yesterday morning - hot and sweaty and thinking about climate change... And the first thing I saw of the ADB meeting was a fleet of heavy, fuel-guzzling Audi cars. Ready to drive delegations anywhere. And all with their engines running even though they were not going anywhere. The drivers were simply keen on enjoying a cool, air-conditioned working/waiting environment ...

Somehow, this image of 30-40 idle limousines spewing out fumes while doing nothing, seemed to be a fitting image of the ADB's climate hypocrisy. The ADB says it takes climate change seriously. It talks about it a lot. But at the same time the ADB funds climate change - e.g. by paying for coal fired power plants in Vietnam and India. At an event here yesterday, an ADB representative called their continued support for fossil fuels "pragmatic". May be it's just me. But I fail to see what is pragmatic about using taxpayers money to tie developing countries into a fossil-fuel dependent development path - when we know that we need to reduce emissions rapidly and globally if we want to prevent the poor being hit hardest by climate change. Pragmatism is to face up to reality and deal with it. Not to sit around spewing fumes while it gets hotter and hotter!

Audi pictures to follow! Technical glitches...

2008-05-05T15:55:00.000-07:00

Clouds Over Negros
By Isagani Serrano

From the maddening city
of gringos and Mercedes
popeyed and potbellied kids
across acres and acres of grass
where once grew only juicy canes
up, up we climbed to a blessed
nestled village by the mountainside
a mirage amid abandoned land.

Over us hovered the clouds
velvety and soft against
the blue skies, not in the least
like the high cloudless blue skies
of Madrid which you said
you’d never ever come to like.

In the heat of the sun
gingerly, we snaked through
meandering dikes of red earth
mindful of the little erosions
our heavy steps might trigger.

We thought of the hands
that worked them hours on end
the precious labor of so many
who care enough about giving life
to more lives. And as we traced
the canal to its source
we held hands, gently at first
then gradually in a tight squeeze
as if to help the water out
into the arms of the cracking
wasteland.

Meanwhile the sun
played games with the clouds
sometimes succeeding to shake off
the clouds, but they would always
be there where you needed them to be
whenever you wanted them to shut off
the harsh glow of sunlight
and give us the best shots
of you and me, of me and them
of you and them, of you and
the little creatures who kept on
following you like people would come
to look for America they’d never find.

Or, just maybe, to get from you
a piece of that old American story
they long ago wanted to hear
yet perhaps would never understand.

In the starless evening
and long into the night
with the clouds still there
sailing, dancing with the half moon
we told each other’s stories
shared kindred cares and dreams
as we gladly allowed ourselves
to be lost in soulful songs
and deja vu.

Little did we
notice the clouds already breaking
into April showers, into myriad
drops of crystals against
the yellow streaks of night bulbs.

We wondered how nice things
could be gone in a flash.

Yet the clouds would be there
ever to stir us, to turn us on
endlessly, whenever we think
of flying, floating, of turning
our eyes away from where
we stand. Even in parting
we never ceased to wonder:

Aren’t they the same clouds
you see in California? Or the ones
you’d see tenderly hugging the Alps?

The fluffy, cottonlike stuff
together we saw in Divina Colonia?
They seem everywhere the same--
those clouds over Negros.

Like bubbles, one day they’ll burst.

December 1987

Amsterdam

PAY ATTENTION TO SIGNS

2008-05-05T00:57:00.000-07:00

TELL ME PLEASE...

Well well...

I wonder what a Spanish staff member was saying when she placed this rubbish bin right next to that CSO-ADB Dialogue sign...

What do you think?#

FUZZY ANSWERS DAY

2008-05-05T00:45:00.000-07:00

SORTING OUT KURODA
By Red Constantino

Yesterday the articulate president of the ADB, Mr. Haruhiko Kuroda, met with representatives of civil society organizations who grilled him about the serious problems that the ADB has been creating among the working people and poor communities of Asia. Mr. Kuroda answered the questions thrown his way with great clarity. Here are some of Mr. Kuroda's gems:

Activist from Bangladesh: "Mr Kuroda, an ADB official recently said that the ADB was definitley withdrawing from the Phulbari coal project. But another said they were not. This question is answerable by yes or no actually -- will the ADB finance the Phulbari project?

Kuroda: "Aboslutely not! No, no, no. Sort of…"

IFI activist: "Can you give us a full list of all the offshore private equity funds that the ADB has invested in and can you explain the relevance of the Bank's involvement in private equity funds in relation to poverty alleviation efforts?"

Kuroda: "Of course. Sort of… Next question?"

Activist from the Philippines: "Mr. Kuroda, can you explain to us why agriculture has been from the ADB's Long-Term Strategy Framework in the midst of the global food crisis"

Kuroda: "That is not true. We did not drop agriculture from the LTSF. There is actually one really tiny paragraph there on agriculture. Sort of…"

Activist from Central Asia: "Mr. Kuroda, please tell us why are you supporting child labor in cotton production industries in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan?"

Kuroda: "Well! No, we are not involved in cotton industries in Central Asia. Therefore how can we be even involved in child labor there?!"

Central Asia activist responds: "But how do you explain Project Number 38603-01 dated August 2006, subtitled "ADB Sustainable Cotton Subsector Project page 2 of which talks about child labor!?"

Kuroda: "Oh, that one. Ya. Well, we are not really concretly involved. We're just sort of involved? Sort of."

Activist from Australia: "Mr Kuroda, you said last year that the ADB's Safeguards Policy will not be weakened. You assured everyone exactly a year ago that you would even strengthen it. But a month after you spoke your staff immediately weakened the bank's safeguard policy! Why should we believe whatever you'll say to us now?"

Kuroda: "Because I value my integrity and because the ADB's credibility is important. Sort of. Like, a little bit. A little bit sort of actually. Unambigious. Like seriously. Sort of."

Already in Madrid

2008-05-04T21:29:00.000-07:00

When the evening spread against the sky
by Ahmed Swapan

On the fine morning on 3rd May 2008, the beginning of the first day of the ADB annual meeting, CSOs met ADB President Kuroda and expressed concerns to know some direct and clear responses from the president of its policies and future directions. CSOs met the president in a pre-scheduled meeting in IFEMA centre.

President came in, closely looked around standing some time and then sat on a chair and started speaking very slowly. As observed, he does this always as a strategy to meet up his tactful strategy to finish up his allocated time for one hour discussion with NGOs, he repeated this again. He was very cold and timid, he was very calm and quite, uncaring and irresristable to his biased spirit and mind which may be appreciated among his colleagues inside the Bank, as he is successful being able to left over CSOs concerns, but one can logically argued how a President should look like in an institution like ADB whose mission is to reduce poverty of the world poorest region. A president should look like dynamic, very warm and young in spirit, quick but logical to honour the concerns. How could a very cold and slow Head run an institution aiming at helping world’s most of the poor countries? Only eight questions on behalf of CSOs for an hour, he responded, not satisfactorily, rather leaving into despair, into confusion, as he appeared strongly biased to the corporations neglecting people’s concerns. He could have taken twenty questions from the CSOs and could answer them all very directly. But all along confusions! All along misleading! And it reflects the nature, also symbolically signifies the core heartlessness of the agency towards people.

So the fine sunny morning became pale and gloomy and spiritless, thus the clouds were spreading the sky, the blue, the colours of the sky turned down, a very confused and despair sense of mind winding around the IFEMA centre in Madird, a drowsy numbness pains the senses all day long.

Clouds are still floating in the sky. How long we desire for for a bright sunny morning!

2008-05-03T08:49:00.000-07:00

Life can be simpler!

by Gururaja Budhya

I never thought life would be so difficult. Difficulties arise due to the rigid procedures and complicated systems. If it is anything to do with the ADB, one can assume that simple can be complex – whether it is accountability and transparency. I was not sure to get my visa to Spain to attend the ADB-AGM till the last minute. Irrespective of years of experience in organizing AGMs, the ADB cannot foresee this (or may be they are aware, but do not want to address). Willy could not make it to Madrid precisely for the bureaucratic way the 'visa procedures' ask for bundles of documents, follow a rigid procedure to apply and wait. Is it the ADB way to restrict the 'participation' in AGMs?

I wonder why one has to come all the way from their countries to Madrid to meet the 'decision-makers' and the 'officials' of the bank? I do agree with Avilash when he says that money is burnt in air travel that also produces green house gases. But the point is can't the ADB develop a national annual procedure that gives the citizens more opportunity within the country to interact with the ADB resident missions, the Executive Directors and the Governor?

Thinking all these, it was the afternoon of May day that I reached Madrid. It was exhaustive travel from Bangalore – Frankfurt – Madrid that I slept the rest of the day without having the dinner. I missed the May Day celebrations of the Madrid.

2nd of May some of got early to the AGM venue, which we had to take metro and reach the IFEMA (the convention center). Registration, the materials, the coupons, the bags – it took a long time for us to find the place. The ADB is known to organize AGMs in places where it is difficult for people to reach – first the countries and then the locations within the countries.

Then we moved on to the solidarity evening with friends across the globe at Paraiso del Jamon at Noviciado, it was amazing to see the pork museum in the hotel (port hung all over the restaurant). It was a few mugs of beer, mushroom fry, potato+egg cakes with the bread that relaxed the evening. Paulina the sweet colleague was ensuring that all of us were attended. I enjoyed the atmosphere and relaxed.

Not to forget to mention the experience of metro. Deep feet below under layers of tracks that one has to constantly look for blue, pink, … lanes and keep looking at map for not missing the way. It's an experience of Madrid.

I keep coming back to the question of why the high officials are comfortable to meet or hear the CSOs or the lobbyists only in AGMs or only in their headquarters and not in the field where they implement the projects! The huge empty buildings that the ADB creates, hosts the bureaucracy that runs the show – is also empty of not knowing what and how to do? But then comes up another question – Whether the life is simpler?

2008-05-03T06:01:00.000-07:00

Poor are left unconsidered by Asian Development Bank
by Ahmed Swapan
Madrid, Spain

Asian Development Bank's Annual General Meeting has been held from 3rd – 6th May 2008 in Madrid, Spain leaving the millions of poor of the developing countries left behind the scene. The mission of the Bank is of poverty reduction though it fails fulfilling the targets of its mission over more than four decades.

Bank is emphasizing private sector development while it will spend of its 50 per cent budget without considering the social protection and human security of the world largest poor Asians. Economic growth, environmental sustainability growth and regional integration are now the priority areas alongside while the lending agency has continuously been ignoring public service support.

ADB's strategy for 2020 determines private sector to be in the driving seat to control over a country leaving mainly public services open or the multinational corporations. Also Bank put pressure on the governments cutting down the spending from public services, and advocating for blanket privatization and commercialization while poor become worst sufferer due to cut down the state responsibility. Whom does the ADB serve? The corporate bias of ADB ensures private sector making profit over life, while millions of poor starve daily lack of food, children suffer from malnutrition, and people don't have access to land and water and to the common resources?

ADB's strategy for 2020 and its policies do not guarantee serving for the poor, but guaranteed private sector as their ally in business. Private sector led development though can promote growth, it doesn't ensure poverty reduction, rather help widening gaps between rich and poor and create social injustice and insecurity.

What will be role of the developing countries governments in Madrid? Should they think of the poor of their own countries and feel responsibility toward the poor, they must questions on Bank's policies and strategy.

Governments of the developing countries should hold the policy 'ownership' and should account the Bank for their actions

2008-05-02T22:40:00.000-07:00

How long is the way towards the end?
by Ahmed Swapan Mahmud

It was a long long-day of sixteen hours with funs and drinks having friends and colleagues together. The whole last night and some parts the day around 13 hours spent on the air flying from Bangkok to Madrid. Such a long flight, one could become too tired to move further.

But the irresistible mindset and the spirit lead us to go far away form the Hotel Los Coronales.
The morning was exuberantly lovely-- fine, sunny and cloudless—one could really enjoy the full extent of the bright sunny and lovely day in Madrid. A clear and vivid blue sky, not much yet affected by climate change that was unlike Asia and some other parts of the world.

How long is the way towards the end? To reach a restaurant being too hungry in Madrid is so difficult? When hunger hits, who does think quite or work except the Poor. The food crisis in Asia and non-Asia countries leaves more people in permanent hunger. But we are to have food soon, and we are to work, we are to think! So, better ending the way, if it is now too short, better it is with and faster to sit on a table with food and drinks.

It took some time, rather a bit more, to be fresh and go out for a Buffet lunch after long drives— up and down from the metro time and again. From the hotel Los Coronales to Barajas to Metro 8 toward Metro 10 and another metro turn with a few minutes walking really make some one tired enough to enjoy food. But it all of loves and joys with colleagues from the Forum, for the common cause we are here and enjoyed the late buffet lunch with much enthusiastic and full of joy.

The prawn fry, pork and beef, grill chicken with various salad full of colours and fruits and more known and unknown items, make the lunch long and heavily enjoyable. It’s always great to eat together, to share and learn, to have wines and funs and dances. We left dancing, it was not appropriate except we were in fromt of the musical bands while Titi’s legs move around unknowingly, but didn’t leave the chance of beers, full of taste with nuts.

On the zero point of the Great city Madrid, the center Sol is fully crowded unlike many places of Europe. The boys and girls, teens and aged, having smiles and joys in the faces running after passing through buildings and palaces, cathedrals and parks, shops and of course people behind.
The musical rhythms in the park make us feeling dances, and Titi was nursing her legs, while Raingsey was too tired who even kept away having drinks. My feet were unfit also to walk more, but Red and Hemantha were full of energy. Gani has the historical bent of mind who was eager to look around to know more about, was willing to visit the Muslim heritage and did with all, Romil and Khai and Ronald whom we lost for some time, were in laughs having good shots with pictures. And all of us passed such a good day with friendly funs and humours.

Time makes differences, differences between day and night, of colours and shadows, of minds and inanimate, thoughts and practices and knowledge.Also places make Time advantageous and make the difference! So, the lands and people in Asia or Africa are not the same, so poor lives in Asia and Africa, and the riches of Europe or America or…really get differences. Who could do much to bring up the North and the South to the same rhetoric and practices? Are the South properly recognized by the North?

Our travel towards the restaurant ended, but still we have to go far to end the poverty. The North also suffers from many undesired odds and evils, and poverty also does exist in Europe, in America, in every parts of the world. And the Madrid also couldn’t free from the existence of the poor, as one can observe passing through the ways in the city that the street artists, mock girls, the mock-gents, street musicians, painters, singers etc, are on the street for money attracting people, and many passers-by extended hands of cents to the street-bounders and of course beggars though you find but not too many. Interestingly, the painters in the streets, the musicians could earn your respect through their eloquent and artistic deliberation, except some mocks and extravagancies.

What a world we look for? It doesn’t always meet up the expectations a world of human vibrant, having justice and equity while democracy would be the source of human rights standard. But reality doesn’t go always towards aspirations, because the powers, authorities, dominance, the arms and wars and invasions and killings and profit over people all around, unfortunate!
The May day gathered people in the city that reminds how people unite and sacrificed for justice, and people around the park, cathedral, streets, fields, the nature, greens, the sculpture and symbols of the buildings, reflections of the historical coexistence of different sects and religion and cultures, and the boys and girls, men and women and all loves not pains come over together to the race to win against unjust and undemocratic giants.

So meeting of ADB-AGM soon to be started from 3rd of May shaping it policies and strategies for the developing countries. But it reminds how it dominates the poor countries imposing conditionalities and interfering the political process even. The growing resistance from the mass around world is increasingly hold a power of building alternatives to make a just and democratic poverty free world while agency like ADB utterly fails to maintain as it says in rhetorically, far away from practicing.

We came to the hotel back, the journey took an end. But still ‘miles to go before I sleep’ and the journey must take an end for a fairer world.Human struggle for existence continues. Better days will surely shine like the cloudless bright blue sky of Madrid and spread around the worlds.

Just Arrived in Madrid

2008-05-02T06:09:00.000-07:00

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?

2008-05-01T16:19:00.000-07:00

Taste of summer!
by Avilash Roul

Somewhere in Batangas, Philippines. The crowded narrow sea beach has suddenly turned calm. The tide is receding and exposing the rocks. A few kingfishers are trying to settle their bodies with the help of their wings and focusing on agonized little fish trapped in the tide pools.

“Mango, mango, Indian mango….sweet…Indian mango”, sounds come from the private land adjacent to the beach. An elderly woman carrying a full mango basket made up of bamboo approaches us to sell her fruits.

Does she know that Asian Development Bank is having its annual general meeting (AGM) in Madrid, which will decide her future?

Like the mango-seller, there are millions who don’t know what the ADB is and what it's doing. I wonder what comes into the woman's mind after a day’s sale, when she can’t buy rice for her children? The rice is too costly for her nowadays. Even the primitive barter system can’t rescue her from her family's plight with mangos alone. But she is eager to sell her mangos to us. We're the only folks left in the coast, basking in the beach.

I was with my colleague Hemantha and we ate all the mangos we bought for two reasons. Undoubtedly, mangos are sweet and a little bit of sour. (Of course, it’s Indian!) We also knew that the woman had to sell all her mangos so that she will get the money for her rice without having to roam around the rest of the afternoon.

The mango is the apple of the tropics. This is the commonly eaten fruit in all tropical countries around the world. This is also called Maharaja (King) of fruit in India. The mango exists in two races, one from India and the other from the Philippines and Southeast Asia.

Unfortunately, mango trees are in deep trouble today, distressed just like the livelihood systems that depend on the fruit. The reason is the early flowering of mango trees. More and more, it seems that the mango trees' yellowish flowers are unable to sustain their annual rhythm due to increasingly erratic climatic patterns, which puts at risk the life support system that depends on the tree.

I am thinking how much we are contributing to climate change by flying to AGMs. Those who are attending most AGMs are officials from the US - today the largest emitter of green house gas (GHG) emissions. I am sure our friends will write in this space about their experiences in all those AGMs. But, I am leaving the issue to them to decide who is the largest emitter of criticizing ADB or GHGs in AGMs. I am just calculating that from Manila to Madrid to Manila via Bangkok - a person will emit 3.137 tons of CO2. Our Secretariat will emit 12.538 tons of CO2! So, we should be cautious in talking about the emissions by the large entourage of ADB for this AGM.

The Forum gang has already left for Madrid. And other friends are flocking together one by one in the venue in Madrid. Things will roll one after another till somebody toasts a sparkling wine glass to the President of ADB! Here is something to think about: if there is no flower, there will be no fruit. There will be no livelihood. Can we remember the face of the woman when we eat mango next time? Can we remember the face of the woman when a new fossil-fueled power plant is proposed?

Rain or shine, a mango is mine. And yours. We are eating mango, we will continue to eat mango. But the taste will not be the same!

The flowers of May

2008-05-01T16:07:00.000-07:00

LOOKING AT THE LEFT FROM THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVE
by Red Constantino

By the time the Secretariat gang will arrive in Madrid, it will be May 1. This is certainly a day to remember. It is a special day, a day to mark less as a holiday and more in order to honor those who fought for things that they knew they would probably not see or taste in their lifetime. We take these things for granted, as we take for granted so much of what we have today. Basic stuff. Fundamental things. Things that are daily and that are so commonplace that we hardly speak of them.

We did not always have the eight-hour working day. Same with maternity leave. And paternity leave. Especially workplace health and safety. And while there is still so much that has to be accomplished, especially with regard to the aim of bringing greater meaning and deeper purpose to the work and lives of so many today, it's so vital that we remember May 1 for what it symbolizes. We need May 1 to remind us of the fact that we are able to greet each working day today with far less trepidation because a few brave souls dared to fight for a future that was not exactly theirs to enjoy.

To a large extent, it is this same purpose that animates many civil society members who will be in Spain on the first week of May to push public interest issues during the 41st annual meeting of the ADB in Madrid. To honor the fight that others led in the past, we must use the liberties that they won for the generation today in order to win bigger and greater freedoms for the generation that will come after us. The ADB has given the working people of Asia little reason to expect a brighter future for Asia, but we will arrive in Madrid with optimism. We have before us the chance to break bread with colleagues and comrads in Spain and Europe, to share knowledge and to plan and scheme together, and to search for opportunities to take action jointly. All the while keeping in mind, hopefully, a wise reminder from the fine writer by the name of Rebecca Solnit.

The activists of today have a unique responsibility, she said. A responsibility - a duty - to generate a type of activism that moves beyond the culture of diagnosis and into prescription and grounded vision, of crafting strategies that involve less of descriptions about what is wrong with them and more about what is possible for us. Today, we thank our good friend Gandhi for this nice image, and also Jeng for the gorgeous flowers collage that seems to symbolize May. Tomorrow, though, we'll a few pictures hopefully from the May Day celebrations of Madrid's working class together with adventure stories from the Forum. #

Pre-Madrid post!

2008-04-29T05:59:00.000-07:00

BEFORE HASTA LA VISTA
by Red Constantino

There is surely more to life than profit margins. There is solidarity and joy -- and, yes, there is also mutton curry, which is something that Avilash can make in a splendid way. It's actually what five of us from the Forum Secretariat had for dinner the other night, as we tried to slow down a bit and talk about plans for the upcoming 41st Annual Meeting of the ADB in Madrid, Spain.

A lot of spice was served that night, and not all of it came from the pot of Avilash.

I wonder what's in store for the rest of developing Asia, now that the ADB has decided to be open and explicit about its main goal? The ADB calls it its "Long-Term Strategy Framework", or LTSF in the ever-expanding universe of acronyms. I think of it as one among many other plans drawn up in pursuit of the privatization of development.

Whether one considers the ADB's plans an obscenity or opportunity depends on which side of the fence one is standing on, given the rapid growth of great wealth and grinding poverty in Asia.

Over four decades after its founding, it seems all that the ADB has to offer is more misery and more avarice. So I'll take joy and solidarity anytime. And mutton curry.

By the way, don't you think that huge, empty building at the back deserves a sign that says "ADB Headquarters"? That's what the ADB is probably like to many communities hit by ADB projects -- a monstrous, skeletal structure filled with shadows and fuzzy figures and things that thrive in the dark.

Hey! Why don't you send us some pictures of things or buildings that remind you of the ADB or which you think deserve the sign "ADB Headquarters" …

ADB’s 2020 Strategy Confirms Corporate Bias

2008-04-10T05:43:00.000-07:00

Civil society groups criticized the new strategic framework of the Asian Development Bank, saying it is moving towards private sector-led development, which is anti-poor and vulnerable to corruption.

The strategic framework suggests expanding the Bank’s activities with the private sector to boost market-led economic growth in Asia and the Pacific region. This will result in a more “business-friendly” environment and could suggest disabling what’s perceived as a corrupt public sector in favor of a less accountable private sector.

According to the LTSF, ADB will increase its support for private sector by 50% in 2020 which is presently only about 12% of its total operation. Basic need such as health, education, water and other infrastructure---sectors now largely being privatized anyway--- will gradually be increased to only 20%.

“It’s a shame that the ADB is targeting poverty alleviation through its corporate friends but not through legitimate governments,” said Hemantha Withanage, Executive Director of NGO Forum on ADB.
The LTSF recognizes that poverty remains the central challenge facing Asia and the Pacific region. Likewise, it states that rapid economic growth is putting severe strains on the environment. However, increasing private sector’s leverage in development projects would be dangerous due to their profit-oriented activities and strong disregard of the existing Bank’s policies safeguarding local communities and the environment from disastrous impacts.

“The private sector does not respect social and environmental safeguards of local communities. They are only interested about making profits. Corruption goes side-by-side with private sector operations,” Withanage added.
According to the ADB, private sector is the engine of growth. However, Asian communities still believe that growth could still be best led by the public sector. In many occasions, citizens have opposed to private sector development projects due to corruption and violations of human rights. Recently, villagers from the Pulbari village in Bangladesh staged a mass action against a proposed private lending by the ADB for coal power project. The protest has forced the Bank to pull out from the project.

“ADB seems to miss out on a costly lesson that the most recent troubles of the global economy (as in the 1997 Asian crisis) were triggered and caused by the private sector aided by negligent governments,” said Gani Serrano of PRRM, a founding member of the NGO Forum on ADB. He adds, “In any case, the private corporations can very well take care of themselves, it’s Asia’s poor millions that need ADB’s undivided attention.”

NGOs Cease Talks with ADB on Crucial Environmental and Social Issues

2008-02-07T22:36:00.000-08:00

NEWS RELEASE February 8, 2007

Contact Persons: Hemantha Withanage / Romil Hernandez

NGOs Cease Talks with ADB on Crucial Environmental and Social Issues

8 February, Manila – Non-governmental organizations from different parts of the world have halted their on-going consultative talks with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) over the latter’s egregiously prepared consultation paper on its environment, involuntary resettlement and Indigenous peoples policies.

The NGO Forum on ADB is asking the institution to stop its public consultations and revise the draft document known as the Safeguards Policy Statement (SPS) released in October 2007 because the SPS is an “unacceptable and unsuitable basis for public review and consultation.” The coalition of civil society organizations from Asia, Europe, Australia and the United States urged ADB to resume public consultations only after it has issued a re-written SPS that no longer promotes “weak protective measures” for the environment and people affected by its operations.

FULL STORY

ADB’s Carbon Market Initiative: A Low Hanging Fruit?

2008-02-03T02:18:00.001-08:00

Hemantha Withanage, NGO Forum on ADB

Over the years, it has proven that greenhouse gases have contributed to climate change. And yet, the Asian Development Bank still supports fossil fuel-dependent projects, such as coal and gas, which are known sources of greenhouse gases. The Bank’s measure that intends to offset carbon emissions by its funded gas and coal projects has only destroyed natural forests and grasslands as in the case of its oil palm and industrial timber plantation projects. Said promotion of monoculture has only harmed biodiversity rather than its intended purpose – reduction of greenhouse gases.

Meanwhile, ADB’s Board Chair, Japanese Finance Minister Koji Omi, foresees nuclear power as a solution to the present crisis on climate change. This was strongly criticized by environmental groups during the 40^th AGM that was held in May 2007 in Kyoto, Japan.

FULL STORY

End 40 years of debt, poverty & ecological plunder. ADB told

2008-02-03T02:06:00.000-08:00

May 7, 2007, Kyoto—-At the conclusion of the 40th Annual Governors Meeting (AGM) of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Japan, civil society organisations from more than 20 countries once again reiterated their collective rejection of the institution and its destructive operations and activities in Asia and the Pacific. They called on the Bank to put an end to the vicious cycle of debt, poverty and ecological plunder brought about by its practices over the last four decades.

FULL STORY

The NGOS’ Struggles Vs. the ADB: Past, Present and Future

2008-02-02T16:53:00.000-08:00

Hemantha Withanage

This is a very special year for the Asian Development Bank as it commemorates a very important milestone: its 40th founding anniversary. And it’s quite symbolic to celebrate it in the heart of Japan, arguably the country with the biggest stake in the ADB in terms of “ownership and influence.” Japan (together with the United States) is the biggest shareholder of the Bank. Japan enjoys 15 percent of the capital subscription and casts 12 votes during important Board decisions. Contrast this with most countries in Asia and the Pacific that only have less than one vote. Japan also controls a number of the Bank’s Special Funds. And historically, Japan has always been given the choice position of ADB presidency; no other member-country has had this privilege.

FULL STORY

Development Debacles

2008-02-02T04:41:00.000-08:00

Development Debacles

Published by NGO Forum on ADB, September 2006

A look into ADB’s involvement in environmental degradation, involuntary resettlement and violation of indigenous people’s rights

Contributors:
Hemantha Withanage
Ronald Masayda
Romil Hernandez
Arturo Nuera

NGO Forum on ADB thank the following for their inputs:

Chris Lang, Jasper Inventor, Jessica Rosien, Lia Kent, Prabin Singh and Isagani Serrano.

FULL STORY