Friends of the Earth demands World Bank withdrawal from destructive projects and corporate welfare at upcoming annual meetings
Washington, DC, September 24, 2002 – Friends of the Earth International – the world’s largest grassroots environmental network – will challenge the World Bank’s ongoing support of fossil fuel and mining projects at the Annual Meetings this week.
Friends of the Earth is launching a sweeping strategy to stop World Bank support for these environmentally and socially damaging sectors. These and other World Bank investments in the extractive industries have benefited large multinational corporations but failed to help the poor, a violation of the Bank’s mission of poverty alleviation and sustainable development.
Friends of the Earth has brought representatives of communities – including Cameroon, Peru, Romania, El Salvador, Nigeria, and Colombia – who are directly affected by World Bank policies and projects to Washington D.C. We will be “inside and outside” the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, meeting with decision makers in the institutions while simultaneously making these issues known to the public through peaceful protest. Highlights include:
Press conference on Tuesday, September 24 at 12:30pmWillard Inter-Continental Hotel 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue, NWThe Taft Room, Second Floor |
World Bank’s Billions for Oil and Gold Enrich Corporations, Impoverish People. Speakers include: Samuel Nguiffo, Cameroon (on ExxonMobil’s Chad-Cameroon pipeline); Manana Kochladze, Georgia (on BP’s Baku-Ceyhan pipeline); Kodruta Nedelcu, Romania (on Gabriel Resources Gold Mine); Carol Welch, Friends of the Earth-US. |
Rally for Clean Energy at the World Bankon Thursday, September 26 at 11:00amMurrow Park – Across the street from the World Bank Headquarters1818 H Street, NW |
Activists from Around the World and Environmental Groups Protest World Bank Financing of Destructive Oil, Mining and Gas Projects: Activists will symbolically return a giant Trojan Horse to the World Bank, a “Corporate Giant” and 500+ people with signs. |
Teach-In ConferenceSeptember 25 through September 27 Main location: Presbyterian Church 1313 New York Ave., N.W. |
“End Corporate Rule” Teach-In in cooperation with the 50 Years is Enough Network, Jubilee 2000 USA and others. |
MEDIA CONTACTS
Jon Sohn(720) 308-7482
Colleen Freeman 202-257-0728
