The World Bank announced on Saturday that it was cancelling its Annual Bank Conference on Development Economics, due to be held in Barcelona in late June. It has chosen to do this rather than face large,well-organized protests and a counter-summit being organized by Spanish/Catalonian anti-globalization activists. Below are 1) an article from Reuters; 2) A statement from the Barcelona organizers; and 3) a statement from the World Bank.
Soren Ambrose 50 Years Is Enough Network - Washington DC USA
Saturday May 19 1:45 PM ET
World Bank, Fearing Violence, Scraps Spain Meeting
MADRID (Reuters) - The World Bank on Saturday said it had canceled a
conference on how to fight poverty due to take place in Spain next month
because of concerns anti-globalization groups would try to disrupt the
event.
"Despite our efforts to approach some of the groups that plan to demonstrate
and include them in the conference, the intention of many of these
groups...is to interrupt it," the World Bank said in a statement.
"A conference on reducing poverty should take place in an atmosphere of
peace, without provocation, violence or intimidation," the statement said.
The World Bank had planned to hold the conference on development between
June 25 and 27 in Barcelona.
Spain's Economy Ministry said the meeting would now take place via the
Internet.
Previous meetings by international organizations like the World Bank,
International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization have been
marred by violent clashes between police and anti-capitalism protesters.
>From the Barcelona organizers:
PRESS RELEASE IN RESPONSE TO THE CANCELLATION OF THE WORLD BANK CONFERENCE
IN BARCELONA
THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING, A DIFFERENT WORLD WILL BE POSSIBLE
In view of the cancellation of the World Bank's Conference on Development
Economics, the co-ordination commission of the Campaign Against the World
Bank BCN2001, states:
· that the cancellation of the Conference is an unprecedented success
of the movement against capitalist globalisation.
· that this cancellation constitutes a clear proof that citizen
mobilisation can be decisive to change the current neoliberal model.
· that the objectives of the World Bank with this failed Conference
were simply an image-washing operation which would have been impossible
because of the strength and wide extent of the expected mobilisations.
· that the reasons given by the World Bank's spokespersons in order to
justify its retreat show the void in democratic culture of that institution
and its ineptitude to understand the reality of a number of movements much
more socially representative than those institutions.
· that the motives which had inspired the protests still exist, and
therefore that the mobilisations will carry on as expected, despite the
cancellation of the official meeting.
· that the success of the preparation for mobilisations against the
World Bank, as well as the renaissance of the struggles in Catalunya and the
Spanish State (Sintel, Plan Hidrológico Nacional national plan on water the
struggle against the Bill on Immigration, and so on), constitute another
setback for the policies of the PP (Popular Party) and CiU (governing party
in Catalunya).
· that the representatives of the globalised capitalism feel
threatened by the popular movements against globalisation. They, who meet in
towers surrounded by walls and soldiers in order to stay apart from the
people whom they oppress, wish to appear as victims. They, who have at their
disposal the resources of the planet, complain that those who have nothing
wanted to have their voice heard.
· that next Tuesday, 22 May, at 19:30pm, we will meet in assembly in
order to assess the new situation, and we will call a press conference next
Wednesday, 23 May (venue and other details will be announced in due time)
Co-ordination Commission
Campaign Against the World Bank, Barcelona 2001
>From the World Bank:
PARIS, May 19, 2001. The World Bank announced today the cancellation of its 2001 Annual Bank Conference on Development Economics (ABCDE) in Europe, originally slated to be held in Barcelona on June 25-27.
Explaining the decision, World Bank spokeswoman Caroline Anstey said, "A conference on poverty reduction should take place in a peaceful atmosphere free from heckling, violence and intimidation. Despite our efforts to reach out to some of the groups planning demonstrations, and to include them in the conference, the intention of many of the groups who plan to converge on Barcelona is not to join the debate or to contribute constructively to the discussion, but to disrupt it. We do not want to expose academics from around the world and our hosts in Spain to such a situation." Particularly, she said, "It is time to take a stand against this kind of threat to free discussion."
Ms. Anstey said that the Bank had full confidence in the ability and commitment of the Spanish authorities to ensure the logistics of the conference and the safety of the participants. However, the disruption for the people of Barcelona and the risks and hazards involved, were too high a price for this exchange, which could instead be conducted by other means, she said.
" Years ago people used to burn books to try and clamp down on academic freedom - now they try to prevent academics from reaching debating halls. This is hardly progress. Fortunately the internet means that academic debates can now take place on line." Papers prepared for the conference will be posted on the conference web site and plans are being made for an on-line discussion, she said.
Nicholas Stern, World Bank Chief Economist and Senior Vice President for Development Economics, said that the Bank had tried to include many of the groups working against the conference in its discussions. "The subjects reflect our concern that globalization should be managed so that poor people can participate and benefit. The speakers and participants all have extensive experience and understanding to share on these topics. It is a pity that our more outspoken critics chose not to engage in a dialogue" he said.
The World Bank conveyed its gratitude to the Spanish Ministry of Economy for supporting the event, and to the Generalitat of Catalunya and the City of Barcelona for welcoming it.
Although the ABCDE Europe is a small conference of a few hundred academics, it has also drawn representatives from civil society and government. The previous two ABCDE Europe conferences were hosted by the French Government in Paris. An ABCDE conference is also held annually in Washington. Last month's Washington conference, which focused on health and poverty, proceeded without incident.
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