Re: [PEN-L] World Bank and transparency

[Patrick Bond]

(Michael L., I just sent this to my old buddy Alex and some WB warrior listserves. Is the logic wrong?)     Alex, what about those of us - I'm surely not the only one - who consider this appointment a delightful turn of events? There are plenty of us: * who would delegitimise the World Bank and will have a much much easier time of it now; * who have been worried about opportunistic NGO gameplaying with the Bank in the Joint Facilitation Committee, which will be far more difficult to justify now; * who would more explicitly link our critique of neoliberalism to that of imperialism (since there was every reason to do so under Wolfy 1 given Iraq, Afghanistan and many other dubious lending relationships); * who want to see the anti-war and global-justice movements unite in increasingly militant protests; and * who support a greatly reduced commercial lending role by the Bank (a la the Meltzer Commission). I don't know which if any of those objectives you would object to. Wolfowitz advances each rather well. I think it's important that those of us with the history and privileges of knowing and fighting the WB - as you have done so well - not abuse this excellent choice for WB president, to confuse people. I fear that's what your statement below does. Sorry, can't/won't sign! And I'm *really* sorry I can't be in Washington in a month, for what will be a really wonderful time. (And please, my old friend, don't tell us all what our 'duty' is if it involves giving the WB bogus legitimacy. Your statement b) is especially nauseating, given the WB's ongoing role in financing imperialism, as if you can't see that.) Cheers, Patrick ----- Original Message ----- > SIGN-ON STATEMENT ON WOLFOWITZ NOMINATION AS WORLD BANK PRESIDENT. > > You will have heard that on Wednesday George W. Bush nominated Paul > Wolfowitz for the World Bank presidency position. Wolfowitz, a key > architect and implementer of the current US foreign policy, is a very > controversial choice borne of a deeply flawed process. > > The World Bank is an important and powerful institution and we believe > it > is the duty of civil society groups and parliamentarians to express > themselves on this matter. To that end we have produced the below > sign-on > statement. This will be a public statement addressed to heads of state > who > have an opportunity to instruct their representatives to the Bank to > vote > against Wolfowitz. > > The statement is deliberately short, and calmly worded, to enable as > many > organisations and individuals as possible to sign. Text amendments will > not > be possible given the rapid deadline. European governments may be > forced to > take a position very soon (there is no official timetable). > > While the statement is targeted at European governments, who have the > most > responsibility and opportunity in this matter, people from all regions > are > welcome to sign. We would encourage them to do similar statements also > to > their own heads of state. > > Frequent updates on the situation, and an opportunity to log your > comments, > can be found at: www.worldbankpresident.org. > > Spanish and French versions of this statement will be available > shortly. > > Send endorsements of this statement to [EMAIL PROTECTED] by Friday > > 17th, 16.00. > > Alex Wilks > European Network on Debt and Development > www.eurodad.org > > ________________________________________________________________ > Public statement to European heads of state on the World Bank president > > nomination > > We the undersigned wish to register our strong concern about the > nomination > of Paul Wolfowitz for the World Bank president position. > a.      We consider Mr Wolfowitz's experience as US ambassador to > Indonesia > during the Suharto government insufficient qualification on development > > issues and economics. > > b.      We fear his appointment risks the Bank becoming seen as a tool > of > the current controversial US foreign policy, with aid flows becoming > more > dependent on strict adherence to US Administration priorities. > > c.      We reject the untransparent and undemocratic process by which > one > government nominates a single candidate for Bank president. > > d.      We call on European governments to challenge the current World > Bank > process and also to commit to a fully open process next time the IMF > Managing Director is appointed. > > e.      We urge European governments to follow the precedent set by the > USA > in 2000 when it rejected a European candidate for the IMF position. > European governments, if they act collectively, represent the largest > shareholder block in the Bank. You can take action to reject the > current > nominee and press for other candidates. > > f.      We call on all European governments to clearly and publicly > state > their position on this matter as a matter of urgency. > A challenge to the nomination would be in line with international > democratic norms and many European government policy statements. Who > runs > the World Bank is a vital question which affects the future of > international efforts towards poverty eradication. > > Signatories, > > Name: > Organisation: > Country: > > ____________________________________ > Coordinator > European Network on Debt and Development > +32 2 543 90 67 > www.eurodad.org > > To subscribe for free to our 2 regular e-bulletins, on debt and on > PRSPs, > visit: > http://www.eurodad.org/aboutus/default.aspx?id=227