Fawlty Powers: Sixty years of the World Bank and IMF

An alliance of eight UK-based development and environment NGOs are organising events throughout September and October to raise awareness of the vital role to be played by the UK government in reforming the Bank and the Fund. The NGOs highlight the fact that:

• Chancellor Gordon Brown chairs the IMFC;
• Development Secretary Hilary Benn is a governor of the World Bank;
• the UK is the fourth largest shareholder in the institutions;
• there is extensive staff exchange between the Bretton Woods institutions and the UK Treasury and Department for International Development; and
• in 2005 the UK will head the G8 and the EU.

The alliance is calling on the UK to use its influence to:

• end economic policy conditionality;
• implement the recommendations of the extractive industries review;
• reform the institutions' grossly unequal governance structures;
• and cancel unfair debts

More details of events.

Fawlty Powers: all twelve episodes! Don't miss them!

• Tues 7 Sept 8 pm: Indymedia film night on the Fawlty Powers, Upstairs at The Ritzy in Brixton.
• Wed 8 Sept 6 pm: Parliamentary briefing calling for MPs in borrowing countries to have a say in negotiations with the Bank and Fund, Westminster.
• Wed 15 Sept 12.30 pm: Privatisation - Who Can Afford It? Trade union speakers from Colombia, Canada, the UK - and the World Bank. Seasons Room, Belgrave Hotel, Brighton.
• Tues 21 Sept 5.30 pm: Argentina's debt - the case for justice, Mario Cafiero Argentine MP, Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, WC1
• Sun 26 Sept: The Trade Justice Movement will call on the UK government to use its influence at the World Bank and IMF to put an end to trade conditionality. Labour Party conference, Brighton.
• Wed 29 Sept 6.00 pm: Does the Third World need the Third Way? Speakers include Hilary Benn, MP The Grand Hotel, Brighton.
• 2-3 Oct: World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings, Washington D.C.
• Mon 4 Oct 6.30 pm: Book launch - I.O.U.: The debt threat and why we must defuse it, by Noreena Hertz. Kings College, The Franklin-Wilkins Building, SE1
• Wed 6 Oct 6.30 pm: Film night on the World Bank, IMF and Globalisation, The Other Cinema, Soho £5. Films: Yes Men - special preview, Suits and Savages - updated and Capital's Ill.
• Thurs 7 Oct 6.30 pm: Film night II, The Ritzy, Brixton. Films: Money, Washes Whiter and Choropampa: The Price of Gold
• Fri 15 Oct: Launch of web archive of videos on the Bank and Fund, Forum on Communication Rights, Camden Centre, King's Cross
• 14-17 Oct: European Social Forum: workshops on privatisation, energy, conditionality, debt and the decline of democracy. Alexandra Palace
• Tues 19 Oct 6.30pm: After sixty years, what have we learned? Debate at the London School of Economics, New School Theatre
• 20, 27 Oct: Parliamentary hearing on debt, Westminster

For more details on all events, see the IFIwatchnet calendar - and don't mention the poor!

Supporting organizations: ActionAid UK, Bretton Woods Project, Christian Aid, Friends of the Earth, Jubilee Debt Campaign, Oxfam GB, War on Want, World Development Movement.

Eyes on IFIs: the portal to independent video on the international financial institutions, pilot site launches in October 2004. Feedback, questions, and suggestions are welcome.

This text may be freely used providing the source is credited.

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Published: 17 September 2004 , last edited: 8 February 2010

Viewings since posted: 4416

Επίκεντρο η Ελλάδα (Articles in Greek)
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