UK withholds World Bank donation

[maddezmom]

The UK is withholding £50m it had pledged to the World Bank in protest at the way it fights corruption.
International Development Secretary Hilary Benn voiced concerns that the Bank is forcing too many conditions on aid given to poorer countries.

In an effort to tackle corruption, the Bank has been demanding significant reforms in developing countries.

Mr Benn said the Bank should not refuse to help those in poverty despite the actions of their governments.

Since taking over as head of the Bank last year, Paul Wolfowitz has made it his mission to tackle corruption in poorer countries.

His campaign has led to hundreds of thousands of dollars of loans and contracts to countries like Chad, Congo, Ethiopia and Bangladesh being suspended.

more;http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5344752.stm

[acmavm]

1. World Bank. Isn't that Wolfie's outfit? I wouldn't give that maniac a dime

either.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. You mean like how the U.S. has been withholding millions of dollars

for years of its U.N. dues because of allegations of corruption?

[maddezmom]

3. I think the UK is correct for withholding donations

the poorer countries aren't getting the aide they need while Wolfie does his corruption investigations.

[Oggy]

5. Hilary Benn is one of our better MPs IMHO

Mind you his Dad is Tony Benn, who is a a bit of hero to me and my Wife.

[ShortnFiery]

4. Good! Here Here Britain!

:yourock:

[Vidar]

6. Britain's right on this one. Too bad about that Blair barnacle on

the ship of state.

[MsMagnificent]

7. Privatisation not in this article

is mentioned in this one:

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article1582923.ece

Government to withhold World Bank contribution


The Government will today withhold a £50 million contribution to the World Bank in protest at the conditions it attaches to aid for developing countries.

The decision reflects concern that the world's richest nations should not be telling poor countries how to run their economic affairs.

International Development Secretary Hilary Benn said that conditions should be attached in areas such as tackling corruption and good governance.

However, it was "not right" to impose them on economic policy choices like privatisation and trade liberalisation.

<snip>


Read G. Palast regarding the World Bank and privatisation -- horrendous!

[rman]

8. Isn't Wolfy purging the WB under the veil of 'fighting corruption'?

World Bank employees paranoid about cabal cobbled together by Wolfowitz
Village Voice
http://villagevoice.com/blogs/bushbeat

Wolfie Does Some Trust-Busting at the World Bank
Paranoia about Wolfowitz's new cabal courses through the staff


World Bank employees are acting paranoid about the cabal cobbled together by new boss Paul Wolfowitz. But is it paranoia if they're really out to get you?

Suspicion of Wolfowitz's motives are running rampant among the 10,000 employees of the world's most powerful bank, according to fresh internal memos I obtained. The topic is the 2005 Staff Survey, a huge annual undertaking that depends upon anonymity and confidentiality.

Gee, why should anyone be suspicious of the genial architect of the Iraq debacle? Because the guy is setting up his own little cabal http://villagevoice.com/blogs/bushbeat/archive/002061.php to run the World Bank — recruiting from the White House and Pentagon, naturally.

Sparked by what some bank employees tell me is an unprecedented level of employee suspicion toward a bank president, Xavier Coll, the bank's personnel chief, issued a memo late Wednesday afternoon that said:

The Bank Group's management team is aware of concerns expressed by some staff about the anonymity and confidentiality of responses to the 2005 Staff Survey.

"Concerns"? That's putting it mildly. Coll's memo was an attempt to assure employees that their anonymity would be protected as they filled out the survey. Alison Cave, chair of the World Bank Group Staff Association, which formally represents employees in the bureaucracy of the bank, tried to offer the same encouragement, while noting that "staff are not required to fill in the demographic data, nor answer any specific questions if they are concerned about repercussions. However, the survey results are more useful if this information is filled in." She added:

It helps the Staff Association know which groups in the Bank are particularly happy or unhappy, and tells us where we need to focus our efforts and hold management accountable. In addition, the aggregated information is available to anyone in the Bank — ensuring both transparency and accountability.

But her memo acknowledged some chilling realities, including this:

I am also concerned by reports that managers are pressuring staff to respond positively to the survey, and not be honest and candid about any negatives. I would ask that you let me know which managers are doing this.

[ronnie624]

9. This statement

is straight out of "Bizarro World":

In addition, since taking over as head of the Bank last year, World Bank chief Paul Wolfowitz has made it his mission to tackle corruption in poorer countries.

I'm more inclined to believe Paul Wolfowitz's mission is to make it easier for corporate imperialist like Wal Mart to plunder the economies of "third world" countries:


"That is the reality for many poor countries and they can't just switch accounts."

Christian Aid points to the example of Ghana where the World Bank's demand for a ban on tariffs and subsidies for the poultry market has led to an influx of cheap European imports and seen many thousands of Ghanaians lose their jobs and livelihoods.



(As I ran the spell check function, it suggested I change "Wolfowitz" to "Halfwits". Lol.)