...., s ....,.. ~ .ij ~ ~ ~IAPPEAL· On the 50th Anniversary of Bretton Woods Over the last 50 years, the policies promoted by the World Bank and IMF have widened the gulf between rich and poor, between men and women, and between the powerful and the powerless. The same policies have led to the rapid devastation of the natural environment, the undermining and destruction of cultures, and the alienation and impoverishment of large sections of societies. Despite their sophisticated rhetoric in which they claim to alleviate poverty and protect the environment, these institutions do the exact opposite. Similarly, while the World Bank and IMF claim to promote "good governance" and democracy they are themselves secre- tive and unaccountable. They consistently fail to listen to those people they are supposed to benefit. On the fiftieth anniversary of the creation of these institutions it is time for change. People throughout the world are resisting these policies and calling for sustainable lifestyles for all. There are alternatives. We need structures which enable people to take control over, and improve, their own lives, without destroying the environment. With political commit- ment, this can be achieved. July 1994: A Call to Action July 1994 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Bretton WOOds Institutions: the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). During this month, organisations from around the world will be expressing their concern over the destructive economic, social and envi- ronmental impact of these institutions. We are encouraging other groups 71
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College of Social Work,(Nirmala Niketan)Congress of PeopleDialogue GroupDishaEkjoot SanghatanaHarit Vasai SangathanHind Swaraj MandalHuman Rights Law NetworkIndian Institute ofPublic AdministrationKalpavrikshKashtakari SanghatanaLokayanNarmada Bachao AndolanPatriotic ad People-Oriented Science& Technology FoundationRajaji Support GroupSachetanSanctuary MagazineSocleenSpareVikalpYoung Christian Workers
Suresh BalrajHarish NarayandasIra RoyBittu SahgalDr T R SaranathanRajesh WankhadeAshok ChoudharyWilma Quadros
Plus 80 individuals and organisations (names and addresses obtainablefrom the IPT, 602 Maker Chambers V, Narirnan Point, Bombay 400021).
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~.ij~~~IAPPEAL·
On the 50th Anniversaryof Bretton Woods
Over the last 50 years, the policies promoted by the World Bank and IMFhave widened the gulf between rich and poor, between men and women,and between the powerful and the powerless. The same policies have ledto the rapid devastation of the natural environment, the undermining anddestruction of cultures, and the alienation and impoverishment of largesections of societies. Despite their sophisticated rhetoric in which theyclaim to alleviate poverty and protect the environment, these institutionsdo the exact opposite. Similarly, while the World Bank and IMF claim topromote "good governance" and democracy they are themselves secre-tive and unaccountable. They consistently fail to listen to those peoplethey are supposed to benefit.
On the fiftieth anniversary of the creation of these institutions it is time forchange. People throughout the world are resisting these policies andcalling for sustainable lifestyles for all. There are alternatives. We needstructures which enable people to take control over, and improve, theirown lives, without destroying the environment. With political commit-ment, this can be achieved.
July 1994: A Call to ActionJuly 1994 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the BrettonWOOds Institutions: the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund(IMF). During this month, organisations from around the world will beexpressing their concern over the destructive economic, social and envi-ronmental impact of these institutions. We are encouraging other groups
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who share our concerns to take action as part of this international move-ment. Activities could include street demonstrations, conferences, a letterwriting campaign, media work, lobbying politicians or even an edition ofyour newsletter. Each 'action will be part of an organisation's or network'sown campaign, with its own demands. What unites us is our commonconcern. NGOs in India, the USA and parts of Europe and Africa havealready begun organising for July.
If you want to be part of this international month of action, organise someactivity to take place in the month of July. Then send details of your plansto International Month of Action, clo Eurodad, PO Box 100, London •SEl 7RT, UK or e-mail caid @ gn.apc.org.
--Information on your and others' activities will be placed on an electronicmail conference on the APC networks (Greennet, Peacenet, Chasque,Alternex, etc.).'
--This information will also be forwarded to the Bank Information Centrein Washington which will produce a regularly updated calendar of events(see address below).
--The quarterly publication Bank Check will include this calendar andfurther information on NGO activities (see address below).
--In May 1994 a full list of all the activities being planned for July 1994will be available. Eurodad, Third World Network and other networks andNGOs will distribute the details to their mailing lists or include them inthe publications.
--When you take action in July make sure that every one knows that youare one of hundreds of groups around the world who are concerned aboutthenegative impact of the World Bank and IMF.
--All of those involved are encouraged to use information about others'activities in their media work.
The more organisations that take part in this movement, the greater theimpact will be. Please publicise this initiative as widely as possible.
Contact addresses:Eurodad clo Christian Aid, Contact Judith KnightPO Box 100, London SEl 7RT, United Kingdom Tel: 44-71 6204444,Fax: 44-71 6200719e-mail: [email protected].
Bank Information Centre, Contact Rob Wright 2025 I Street, NW, Suite522, Washington, DC 20006, USA Tel: 202-466-8191, Fax: 202-466-8189 e-mail: [email protected] 1847 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA 94703, USATel: 510-848-1155, Fax: 510-848-1008e-mail: [email protected].
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~~ ISTRUGGLE NOTES
500,000 Farmers RallyAgainst GATT Proposals
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About half a million Indian farmers took part in a day-long procession andrally at Bangalore on October 2 to protest against proposals in the multi-lateral Uruguay Round that they claimed would have devastating effectson their livelihoods in general and on their ancestral control of seeds inparticular. The Indian farmers' huge rally in Bangalore is by far -he mostsignificant public protest to date in the Third World against the presentcontroversial GATT proposals.
The procession and rally was organised by the Kamataka Rajya RyotSangh (KRRS) led by ProfM D Nanjudaswamy, a farmer and an electedmember of the state legislative assembly. Leaders of farmers' organisa-tions in nine of India's 25 states made speeches during the rally supportingthe KRRS initiative.
According to ProfNanjudaswamy, the farmers want Cargill to quit fromits seed operations in India. They also want to prevent the involvement ofmultinations in general in the Indian agricultural sector, a process theyfear is inevitable if the current proposals in the GATT negotiations areapproved.
Scientists, representatives of farmers' organisations and groups involvedwith agriculture and the environment from several Third World countries,including Ethiopia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nicaragua,Thailand and South Korea participated in a two-day seminar on sustainableagriculture.
