DECEMBER
2002
Lack of Transparency a Major Controversy
in Cambodian Logging Dispute
About
40 villagers from several provinces vowed to sleep on
the sidewalk in front of the World Bank Monday until they
received copies of logging plans for the areas in which
they lived. More >>
22
NOVEMBER 2002
Cutting Plans Criticized; Global
Witness Seeks Halt to Logging
Three
years ago, a major study commissioned by the Asian Development
Bank found forests here so depleted, and cutting rates
so rapid, that logging was only viable for a few more
years on most concessions. More
>>
22
NOVEMBER 2002
Ugandan Judge Orders Release of
Key Document on Bujagali Dam
Relying
on the open government clause of the Ugandan constitution,
a top Ugandan judge Nov. 12 ordered the release of a key
document about a controversial dam project that the Ugandan
government and the World Bank declined to disclose. More
>>
7
NOVEMBER 2002
European Investment Bank Issues
New Transparency Policy
The
European Investment Bank has written a new transparency
policy.The new rule continues to emphasize the EIB's willingness
to honor requests for confidentiality by third parties.
It indicates that the EIB will follow the disclosure practices
of the banking industry. More
>>
NOVEMBER
2002
Environmental Group Analysis PPA
The International Rivers Network (IRN) commissioned the
Prayas Energy Group, a policy analysis organization based
in Pune, India, to review the PPA. More
>>
NOVEMBER
2002
EBRD
Announces Proposal to Modify Public Information Policy
The
European Bank of Reconstruction and Development Bank Oct.
23 proposed revisions to its Public Information Policy
and invited public comment by Dec. 6. More
>>
17
OCTOBER 2002
Top World Bank Official Supports
More Disclosure of Oil Revenue Payments
Oil,
gas and mineral companies should fully disclose their
payments to governments of developing nations, the head
of the World Bank's private sector lending arm said recently,
adding another voice to a steadily growing campaign for
such disclosures. More
>>
OCTOBER
2002
Disclosure or Deception?
Multilateral Development Banks and Access to Information
Multilateral institutions such as the Asian Development
Band (ADB) and the World Bank pride themselves on their
information disclosure policies. Especially since the
Asian economic crisis, they have held their policies up
as evidence of their commitment to transparency, accountability
and participation. More
>>
16
SEPTEMBER 2002
Groups Suggest Changes in EBRD
Public Information Policy
The
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
is preparing a new draft of their Public Information Policy
(PIP) that may be presented to the EBRD Board for first
review sometime in the Fall. More
>>
SEPTEMBER
2002
Lack of Clarity in the Process
for Rewriting the EIB Disclosure Policy
On
June 28, 2002, at a EIB consultation with NGOs in Copenhagen,
Martin Koehler, a staff member with the Campaign to Reform
the World Bank, demanded "a formalization of the
disclosure policy review process, with clear timelines
regarding the publication of drafts, the status of such
drafts within the institutional decision-making process,
and the period of public consultations."
More >>
SEPTEMBER
2002
Analysis of Transparency Issues
at the World Bank
Despite
changes made in the World Bank's disclosure policies,
more transparency is still possible. A summary of current
transparency issues. More
>>
SEPTEMBER
2002
WTO: US Proposes More Open Dispute
Resolution Process, Other Countries Disagree
The United States has proposed that the World Trade Organization
expand public access to WTO dispute settlement proceedings,
now conducted in near complete secrecy, but other countries
have voiced strong disagreement. More
>>
26
JULY 2002
Ugandan High Court to Consider
Releasing Key Document on Dam Project
The
Ugandan High Court will listen to arguments Aug. 22 to
decide whether a contract document for the proposed Bujagali
Dam should be released to the public. More
>>
JULY
2002
UNDP Report: 'Serious Gaps in Transparency
Remain'
The need for greater transparency by governments and multilateral
institutions is a thread running through a report on democracy
internationally prepared by the United Nations Development
Programme. More >>
JULY
2002
EBRD Reviewing Information Disclosure
Policy
The
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
is preparing a new draft of their Public Information Policy
(PIP) that will be presented to the EBRD Board for first
review sometime in the Fall, Bank officials confirmed.
More >>
JUNE
2002
EIB Expects No New Disclosure
Policy Soon
The
European Investment Bank has been working on modifications
to its information policy for about a year, with the EIB's
critics scratching their heads over when a revised policy
will finally emerge. More
>>
JUNE
2002
World Bank Begins Pilot Programs
on Disclosure
Some
20 countries are about to embark on pilot programs with
the World Bank in which they will disclose and disseminate
more information than they have in the past - that is,
more than what Bank policy currently requires.
More >>
JUNE
2002
Angola Oil Revenues: A Hidden
Report
It
doesn't look as though the World Bank will be releasing
a $2-million "diagnostic" study by the KPMG
accounting firm about where Angolan oil revenues have
gone. The Bank shouldered 30 percent of the cost of the
report, but it says the study is an Angolan government
document, which means that disclosure of the findings
is all up to authorities in Luanda. More
>>
JUNE
2002
NGO Reveals What Documents Governments
Could Release
The
Bank Information Center, a Washington-based NGO, is attempting
to monitor compliance with the World Bank's new disclosure
policy. More >>
JUNE
2002
WTO Establishes New Rules on Declassifying
Documents
The World Trade Organization has set new policies to hasten
the public release of many documents, although there will
still be significant delays. More
>>
