Fire Wolfowitz Rally Outside Bank, 1pm Tomorrow

Avaaz.org To Deliver Fire Wolfowitz Petition to Bank Board - Wednesday May 9, 2007 at 1:00pm

Avaaz.org will deliver a 50,000-person global petition to the World Bank Board of Executive Directors tomorrow, at 1pm. Members of Avaaz, a global online advocacy group with members in every country, will rally outside the Bank building, sporting flags from dozens of countries and a banner with "World to Bank - Fire Wolfowitz" written over thousands of signers' names and countries. They will join World Bank Staff in delivering their petition to the Bank's Board as its members deliberate on Wolfowitz's fate.

In April, Avaaz released popular YouTube video The Bank.
The Bank has been viewed more than 113,000 times.

A Message to Wolfowitz and the Board of Executive Directors from members of the World Bank Group’s Governance & Anticorruption Team

...We are deeply concerned by the impact of the current leadership crisis on the Bank’s credibility and authority to engage with governments, non-government stakeholders, and donor partners on the GAC agenda. As is known, there are reports from the field offices of concrete cases where the Bank’s policy dialogue and operational work on governance and anticorruption are being undermined. The credibility of our front line staff is eroding in the face of legitimate questions from our clients about the Bank’s ability to “practice what it preaches” on governance. In these circumstances, we cannot credibly implement the GAC strategy...

See comments for full message from Governance and Anticorruption Team

For more information please contact
Dan Kaufmann dkaufmann@worldbank.org tel: 202-458-9187, or
Sanjay Pradhan spradhan@worldbank.org tel: 202-458-9187, or
Sumir Lal slal@worldbank.org tel: 202-458-7635, or
Carolyn Reynolds Creynolds@worldbank.org tel: 202-473-0049.

See comments for Team Members

United States seeks to roll back reproductive health

Washington D.C., April 25 -- At a board meeting Tuesday to discuss the "The World Bank Strategy for Health, Nutrition and Population Results", the U.S. tried, single-handedly, to roll back internationally agreed language dating from the Cairo Population Conference of 1994, which is endorsed by the World Bank.

The language in the Cairo Conference's "Program of Action" was adopted in 1994 by 179 countries, including the United States.

Yesterday, the U.S. Executive Director, Eli Whitney Debevoise II, objected to the internationally agreed language of Cairo, specifically the words "reproductive health services" and "reproductive rights". The United States tried to introduce new language on "age appropriate" provision of services, which would curtail provision of services to adolescents.

See comments for full story and the statement of the World Bank Executive Directors

Consequences if he stays

What the Board of Governors said about Wolfowitz:

"We have to ensure that the Bank can effectively carry out its mandate and maintain its credibility and reputation as well as the motivation of its staff. The current situation is of great concern to all of us. We endorse the Board's actions in looking into this matter and we asked it to complete its work. We expect the Bank to adhere to a high standard of internal governance."

The following points summarize some of the most costly consequences if Wolfowitz is not forced to resign:

· Deterioration in Reputation... The tarnished reputation of the institution will not be restored without the closure that Wolfowitz's departure would bring. The brand of the World Bank has already been damaged under Wolfowitz's management style and his repeated difficulties with the Board and his managers. The Bank will find itself in a position where it has greater difficulty in attracting the high-quality staff needed to carry out the Bank's operations. It is highly likely that if Wolfowitz were to be retained, many long-serving Bank staff would leave the organization given the high levels of distrust and moral outrage at his behavior and leadership style.
· Loss of Credibility on Governance and Anti-Corruption...
· Breach of Staff's Trust...
· Diminished Ethical Standards of Top Management...
· Lost Confidence of Board of Directors...
· Department of Integrity...
· Double Standard of Ethics...
· Relationship with Development Partners...
· IDA 15 Replenishment...

What part of 'resign' don't you understand?

Heat on Wolfowitz as World Bank directors meet
Jitendra Joshi April 19 2007

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Embattled president Paul Wolfowitz looked more isolated than ever Thursday as directors met to debate his fate amid the rumblings of a civil war among senior staff...

..."It's not about management style. It's not about interaction with staff," the source said on condition of anonymity.

"There was an exasperation that was conveyed to Wolfowitz: what part of 'resign' don't you understand?"

Click Here for full story

Bank Executive Directors Widen Investigation

April 20, 2007—The Executive Directors met on April 19 to address the current situation in the Bank, which is of great concern. Based on the clear guidance of the Development Committee, the Executive Directors agreed on a process to deal with the situation urgently, effectively, and in an orderly manner.

Having reviewed the April 11 report of the Executive Directors’ ad hoc group and the associated documents, the Executive Directors discussed questions related to conflicts of interest and possible violations of Staff Rules. They identified a number of issues requiring further consideration.

See Comments for Full Communication

Blue Ribbon - Testimonial for Good Governance

World Bank Staff Association Broadcast Message
April 19 2007 - 5:24 pm

Dear Colleagues,

The Staff Association has been distributing blue ribbons as a symbol for our continuing struggle for improved governance in the World Bank Group. More will be available on Friday afternoon. You may collect them from the following places: Main entrances -- MC, J, H, I and IFC buildings. Staff who are in satellite buildings may pick one up at these entrances or in the SA Office, Room. MC-1-700.

Let us continue to wear them until a satisfactory solution is found to this crisis.

Best,

Alison
___________________________
Alison Cave
Chair
World Bank Group Staff Association

Shaha, Paul and Iraq - Tell What You Know

New York Times, Apr 17 2007
Unusual Trip to Iraq in ‘03 for Wolfowitz Companion

While he was Deputy Secretary of Defense, Wolfowitz ordered a private contractor, SAIC, to hire Shaha Riza to go to Iraq from April 25 to May 31, 2003. On her return, Shaha briefed the board about what she had seen in Baghdad, which raised concerns among some bank staff and board members about the capacity in which she had traveled to Iraq. At the time it was against bank policy for its officials to go there. It was not clear why the Pentagon specifically asked for Shaha to travel to Iraq. It is against staff rules for an employee to be paid by an external company like SAIC while on Bank payroll. Shaha’s lawyer, Victoria Toensing, says Shaha went as a volunteer and took a leave of absence from the World Bank, paying for her own benefits while she was on leave. Who has more on this? Where is the human resources paperwork?

Williams & Connolly and Ana Palacio – Tell What You Know

Apr 16 2007
What do Ana Palacio, Robert Barnett, and Jonathan Kravis all have in common?

Washington, D.C., April 16 - The answer to the question is that they all work for Paul Wolfowitz. Ana Palacio is the Bank's Chief General Counsel. On April 9 she announced to staff that she was hiring law firm Williams & Connolly LLP to investigate the leak of Bank documents to Fox News. The attorney on the case is Jonathan Kravis.

On April 12 staff learned that Robert Barnett, a lawyer at Williams & Connolly LLP, is Paul Wolfowitz's personal lawyer. Staff learned this as they waded through over 100 pages of documents outlining Wolfowitz's role in a sleaze and corruption scandal that has rocked the Bank. World Bank staff are said to be baffled that Palacio is not aware that there is more than one law firm in Washington. Could this be a conflict of interest? The following process should have been required of Williams & Connolly. Was it? Who has more on this? Is Kravis supervised by Barnett?

Ana Palacio, World Bank General Counsel - Tell What You Know

Inter Press Service News Agency - Apr 13 2007
Top Wolfowitz Postings Went to Iraq War Backers

Ana is alleged to have acted improperly when she worked for the Bank as a consultant while still being a member of the Spanish government. The Ethics Officer who brought Ana’s attention to the conflict has been forced out of the Bank. Ana is also accused of causing a conflict of interest by taking control of the Office of Ethics and Business Conduct and the Mediation Office. The conflict lies in the fact that in a dispute the General Counsel represents the interests of the Bank, while the Office of Ethics and Business Conduct, and the Mediation Office, represent staff. There are also allegations around the process by which Ana was hired See Irregular Recruitments and she is in the headlines as hers was one of the three Jobs for the Coalition of the Willing. Who has more on Ana? It’s time to speak up.

High Noon - Wolfowitz Pack Your Bags!

Today, Wednesday, outside the World Bank.

Missed the opportunity to participate in last Saturday's action in front of the World Bank, calling for the dismissal of Iraq war architect Paul Wolfowitz? Feel up to another fun event, connecting US interests to the policies of the World Bank?

Then read on...

Code Pink, the 50 Years Is Enough Network and other local organizers will be doing an action in front of the World Bank tomorrow at noon. Organized at the last minute, this action will take advantage of Wolfowitz's current scandal to call for his resignation, greater transparency, and reparations for damage done.

What: Join us for guerrilla theater, singing, in front of the World Bank Building.
Theme: "Wolfowitz Pack Your Bags!" We will be rolling around suitcases. Enlarged bagage tags will hold slogans.
When: TODAY, April 18 @ noon.
Where: Gather at Murrow Park opposite the Bank's Main Complex (18th and H)

PS. If you have a suitcase, please roll it along to the action!
For questions, feel free to contact Ruth Castel-Branco at 202 IMF BANK (463 2265).

Editorials call for Wolfowitz to resign, cite need for good governance at Bank

Washington D.C., April 15, 2007 -- The editorial pages of newspapers across the world today called for Wolfowitz to resign, adding pressure to the World Bank's Board of Governors as they meet in Washington this weekend.

Facing a rising tide of public outrage at the sleaze and corruption scandal engulfing the Bank's President, Governors must decide whether to call for his resignation or risk leaving the institution severely compromised with Wolfowitz at the helm. Editorial pages in the UK, Kenya, France, Pakistan, and Turkey carried calls for Wolfowitz to go.

The International Herald Tribune said: What might Wolfowitz himself say if he discovered that a government receiving World Bank loans was making similar sweet arrangements for the personal friends of its president?

Governors are being challenged by public opinion in their respective capitals to demonstrate that they are practicing good governance at the Bank, and promoting transparency and accountability in the Wolfowitz matter.

Wolfowitz appears unrepentant and unclear that he has done wrong. An email to all staff late Saturday was a step back from his position of Thursday when he apologized for his "mistake". On Saturday, he did not apologize for the damage done to the Bank or offer further explanation but said that "misleading information was circulating".

Staff are said to be angry at the lack of action by the Bank's board, saying that the damage to the Bank's ability to fulfill its mandate in developing countries is enormous.

World Bank Staff sick of sleaze and corruption, begin letter campaign to Board

World Bank Staff reacted with disgust today to revelations that a staff blog was being censored and that references to a planned demonstration, calling for Wolfowitz' resignation were deleted.

The blog, located on the World Bank intranet, was established on Thursday, April 12, after Executive Directors forced the full disclosure of documents in the Wolfowitz sleaze scandal. The article entitled "Executive Directors Review Report, Release Documents" led to a blog of staff response and comments that had reached 259 individual postings on Saturday evening.

Today staff learned that not all blog postings were being posted in entirety and that any postings that referred to a planned demonstration were disappearing or not being posted.

The revelation cast frightening doubt on the anonymity of staff contributions to the blog, leaving hundreds of staff who have blogged anonymously fearing reprisals from the Wolfowitz team.

In response, staff have begun a letter writing campaign to their Executive Directors asking that the Board of the Bank call for Wolfowitz' resignation. The Executive Directors are the sitting chairs of the World Bank board, representing around 180 countries, and are responsible for its governance.

Staff are now blogging at http://wolfowitzmustresign.blogspot.com/