‘WORLD vs BANK’

THE HAGUE, THE NETHERLANDS, 4 October 2007 -- Crucial findings on the impact of World Bank policies and key recommendations will be delivered during a Public Hearing in The Hague (The Netherlands) on 15 October, just five days before the World Bank's 2007 annual meetings in Washington DC.

The World Bank Campaign Europe in cooperation with the Permanent Peoples' Tribunal is organising the 'Public Hearing on the World Bank' in The Hague.

Witnesses will bring forward cases relating to the World Bank's support of privatisation and liberalisation of basic services, as well as for fossil fuel projects in developing countries.

“People around the world have been criticising the World Bank for decades but so far the institution did not reform in any purposefull way ,” said Janneke Bruil of Friends of the Earth International. ”The push for the harmful privatisation of basic services like water supply simply goes on unchanged . And despite the Bank's talk on the importance of fighting climate change, it continues to finance oil and gas extraction, fuelling global warming. .”

Six witnesses from Peru, Nigeria, Malawi, Mali, Nicaragua and Kazakhstan will argue that World Bank policies have increased rather than reduced poverty, and have in many cases led to environmental devastation and failed to respect local peoples’ rights.

“We chose The Hague because it is considered the city of international justice,” said Alex Wilks, Coordinator of Eurodad. “This Hearing is our answer to the need for a public debate, informed by people at the sharp end of World Bank decision-making”. It follows former Permanent Peoples’ Tribunals on the World Bank in 1988 and 1994 and the Independent People’s Tribunal in India that was held in New Delhi last month .

A renowned panel of experts including Medha Patkar, Founder of the National Alliance of People's Movements in India, and Maartje van Putten, former member of the World Bank's Inspection Panel, will question the witnesses.

At a press conference on October 16, the experts will present a declaration directed towards the European governments who will meet World Bank President Zoellick on October 20 to discuss their contributions to the Bank’s development funds (IDA) for the next three years.

The event is open to journalists and the public. It will also be streamed live on www.worldbankcampaigneurope.org
The programme of the hearing is also available there.

Interviews with witnesses and panel members can be arranged.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

In Belgium:

Juliane Westphal, Eurodad, +32 2 543 90 60, mobile +32 487 224 115, (German, English)

In the Netherlands:
Janneke Bruil, Friends of the Earth International, +31 20 622 1369
mobile +31 652 11 89 98, (Dutch, English, Spanish)

Overview of the events related to the Public Hearing:

1. Public Hearing on the World Bank
Time: 15 October 2007, 9-5 pm
Venue: Nutshuis, Riviervismarkt 5, The Hague

2. Press conference
Time: 16 October 2007, 10h
Venue: Nutshuis, Riviervismarkt 5, The Hague
The speakers will be available for interviews after the press conference

3. Public presentation of the results from the Hearing
Time: 16 October 2007, 19.00
Venue: The CREA, Turfdraagsterpad 17, Amsterdam (Muziekzaal)