World Bank Accused of Promoting Land Grabbing

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Friends of the Earth

April 27, 2010
8:14 AM
World Bank Accused of Promoting Land Grabbing

WASHINGTON - April 27 - Friends of the Earth International warned today that voluntary principles on land acquisitions announced by the World Bank and supported by the UN will legitimize and promote land grabbing in Asia, Africa and Latin America. <1>

The warning was issued as the World Bank released at an April 26-27 Washington meeting its voluntary principles to protect rights, livelihoods and resources during large scale land acquisitions by foreign investors in these continents.


These principles have been supported by the United Nations Food and Agriculture organization, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the International Fund for Agricultural Development .

Millions of people's livelihoods are being destroyed by land grabbing, especially those of peasant farmers, indigenous peoples and fisherfolk. Land grabbing takes place when states and the private sector buy up millions of hectares of land in Asia, Africa and Latin America to produce food and fuel mainly for export.

Read more: http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2010/04/27

[Turbineguy]

1. See under "Snatch"

You see, it can be done!

[Speciesamused]

2. A Major Cause of Poverty across the globe

Cutbacks in health, education and other vital social services around the world have resulted from structural adjustment policies prescribed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank as conditions for loans and repayment. In addition, developing nation governments are required to open their economies to compete with each other and with more powerful and established industrialized nations. To attract investment, poor countries enter a spiraling race to the bottom to see who can provide lower standards, reduced wages and cheaper resources. This has increased poverty and inequality for most people. It also forms a backbone to what we today call globalization. As a result, it maintains the historic unequal rules of trade.

[conspirator]

3. I am sure Monsanto is involved nt

[Wilms]

4. They wouldn't!

:sarcasm: