Protect yourself from destructive development: Handbook on JBIC's New Environmental and Social Guidelines

Mekong Watch & Friends of the Earth Japan, 2004: In developing countries today, there are many dams, power plants, irrigation systems, roads, pipelines, and other large infrastructure projects being built. Unfortunately, these projects sometimes cause problems for people who live near them, or they destroy the environment. Sometimes people lose their homes and land and must move to other places. Sometimes people lose their traditional ways of life when their environments are destroyed. Sometimes the projects damage people's health. Some of these projects are financed by the Japanese government, and more specifically, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation ( JBIC). JBIC is the bank that the Japanese government uses to give loans to governments in developing countries. JBIC also helps Japanese companies that are involved in development projects. The purpose of this guide is to give you information about two tools you may want to use if you are worried about projects financed by JBIC, or projects that may be financed by JBIC in the future.