[stop-imf] April conf on World Bank

[Robert Weissman]

YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN
A PUBLIC FORUM ON CITIZENS' CHALLENGES TO THE WORLD BANK

"FROM ENGAGEMENT TO PROTEST"

Organized by
The Structural Adjustment Participatory Review 
International Network (SAPRIN)
The Development GAP	
The 50 Years Is Enough Network 	
International Rivers Network
  
with the support of
  SAPRIN and the Heinrich Boell Foundation

Please join more than two dozen activists from the South 
and North as they demonstrate, 
through case analysis, the intransigence of the World Bank 
-- and the governments that 
control it -- on the most critical economic and 
development policies facing the global 
community. 

Over the course of the past year, the Bank's leadership 
has sought to debunk street protests 
against its policies and corporate globalization generally 
by calling on protesters to join 
with organizations that have "constructively engaged" the 
Bank in an effort to create change.  
The intent has obviously been to divide and discredit 
popular movements for economic justice.

The reality is that the Bank's engagement with civil 
society has not been constructive.  
In major initiatives such as the Structural Adjustment 
Participatory Review, the World 
Commission on Dams, and "Poverty Reduction Strategy 
Papers" (PRSPs: the new vehicle for 
structural adjustment programs), civil-society 
participants have found the Bank's pledge 
of cooperation disingenuous.  In these much-publicized 
programs, the World Bank has 
consistently failed to honor its commitments.

"From Engagement to Protest" will be a unique forum 
featuring speakers from around the 
world who represent organizations and networks that have 
sought to effect change both by 
engaging the Bank and through more direct challenges. 
 While their methods have been varied, 
the different groups are united in calling for continued 
pressure on the Bank and the other 
global financial institutions and their government and 
corporate constituencies through 
activism, citizen mobilization and public protest in both 
the South and North.

The forum will open at 2:00pm on Thursday, 18 April, at a 
comfortable and conveniently 
located new conference site, with a provocative BBC film 
on structural adjustment in Ghana.  
It will be followed by presentations by SAPRIN 
representatives from five continents of the 
results of the on-the-ground joint assessment with the 
World Bank of the devastating 
consequences of Bank-promoted adjustment policies - and 
the Bank's attempts to disown those 
findings.  Thursday's program will end with a reception, 
and Friday's will feature the 
presentation of a full array of citizens' initiatives and 
ample opportunity for audience 
participation and discussion.  The forum will conclude 
with presentations from the South and 
North on mobilization and protest and a public discussion 
of strategies for meaningful change.  
Please see the accompanying program for details.

Location:  	The Rosslyn Spectrum, 1611 North Kent Street, 
Rosslyn
A 3-min. walk (follow the signs) from the Rosslyn Metro 
(one stop from Foggy Bottom) on the 
Blue and Orange Lines

Dates:  Thursday, 18 April, 2:00pm - 5:30pm, followed by a 
Reception
	Friday, 19 April, 8:45am - 5:30pm

To reserve an English-Spanish interpretation headset: 
 rsvp@saprin.org
For answers to general questions about the forum: 
 secretariat@saprin.org
For info and updates: www.saprin.org; 
www.developmentgap.org; www.50years.org; www.irn.org


"From Engagement to Protest"
A Public Forum on Citizens' Challenges to the World Bank
Washington, DC, 18-19 April 2002

PROGRAM

Thursday, 18 April	

1:30 - Registration
	
2:00 - Opening Remarks 
Steve Hellinger (The Development GAP/SAPRIN)
Hellen Wangusa (African Women's Economic Policy 
Network/SAPRIN)

2:10  - BBC Film, "Profits of Doom," on Structural 
Adjustment in Ghana
Discussion Led by Hellen Wangusa 

3:15 - "The Structural Adjustment Roots of Economic Crisis 
and Poverty: SAPRI Findings & World 
Bank Response"
Chair: Lidy Nacpil (SAPRIN Executive Committee/FDC - 
Philippines)
Doug Hellinger (SAPRIN Global Coordinator/The Development 
GAP) - Global Findings
Ivan Cisneros (SAPRIN-Ecuador/IEDECA) - Ecuador Findings
Godfrey Kanyenze (SAPRIN-Zimbabwe/ZCTU) - Zimbabwe 
Findings
Mahbubul Karim (SAPRIN-Bangladesh/PROSHIKA) - Bangladesh 
Findings
Karoly Lorant (SAPRIN-Hungary) - Hungary Findings
Questions Regarding SAPRI Findings
Doug Hellinger - SAPRIN's Experience with the World Bank
			Discussion

5:30 - 7:00 - Reception

Friday, 19 April

8:45 - "The Role of the IFIs in Shaping Poverty Reduction 
Strategies: Civil Society Experience 
with PRSPs"
Chair: Fantu Cheru (American University/Former Special 
Rapporteur, UN High Commission on 
Human Rights)
Warren Nyamugasria (Uganda National NGO 
Forum/SAPRIN-Uganda)
Irungu Houghton (ActionAid)
Joy Chavez (FOCUS on the Global South/SAPRIN-Asia) 
Alejandro Bendana (CEI-Nicaragua/Jubilee South)
Discussion

10:15 - Break
	
  
10:30 - "Challenge from Within: Other Direct Engagements 
with the World Bank"
Chair: Peter Riggs (Rockefeller Brothers Fund)
Patrick McCully (International Rivers Network) - World 
Commission on Dams
Steve Kretzmann (SEEN/IPS) - Extractive Industries Review
Graham Saul (Bank Information Center) - Information 
Disclosure Policy
MST Representative (Brazil) - World Bank Inspection Panel 
(Land Reform)
Discussion

12:00 - Lunch

1:15 - "Public Challenges to the Bank: Vehicles for Change 
and Accountability"
Chair: Liane Schalatek (Heinrich Boell Foundation)
Hellen Wangusa (AWEPON/SAPRIN/Jubilee South) -  UN System 
(FfD)
Sameer Dossani (Globalization Challenge Initiative) - 
World Bank Board (Private Sector 
Development)
Dennis Brutus (Center for Economic Justice/Jubilee South 
Africa) - Public Campaigns 
(World Bank Bonds Boycott)
Joanne Carter (RESULTS) - Legislative Action (User Fees)
Soren Ambrose (50 Years Is Enough Network/New Voices) - 
Media
Discussion

2:45 - Break
											
3:00 - "Challenge from the Street: Mobilization to 
Confront the IFIs"
Chair: Njoki Njehu (50 Years Is Enough Network)
Ivan Cisneros (IEDECA/SAPRIN-Ecuador)
Jorge Carpio (FOCO/SAPRIN-Argentina)
Lidy Nacpil (Freedom from Debt 
Coalition/SAPRIN-Philippines/Jubilee South)
Robert Weissman (Essential Action)
Discussion

4:30 -  "Implications for Action: From Engagement to 
Protest" 
Strategy Session Led by Forum Organizers

5:30 - Adjournment
	 
The forum will be held at the Rosslyn Spectrum, 1611 North 
Kent Street, a three-minute walk 
from the Rosslyn Metro on the Blue and Orange Lines. 
 Those who do not understand both English 
and Spanish can reserve an interpretation headset at 
rsvp@saprin.org.  General questions about 
the event should be addressed to secretariat@saprin.org .