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14 August, 2005ICEM news release No. 07/2004
T he 20-million-member ICEM welcomed comments made last week by World Bank President James Wolfensohn that further dialogue is necessary to reach consensus over recommendations contained in the Extractive Industries Review (EIR). The EIR on 15 January issued its Bank-commissioned report entitled Striking a Better Balance intended to define the future role the World Bank should undertake in extractive industry sectors such as oil, gas and coal.
"Although there is much in the report that has had full input from the ICEM and which we embrace totally, we cannot endorse the EIR report's recommendation that the Bank phase out all involvement in oil and coal projects in the developing world over the next four years," stated ICEM General Secretary Fred Higgs.
"Such elimination is directly opposite the stated goals of both the Bank and EIR for sustainable development and eliminating poverty," added Higgs. "The ICEM stands ready as a key stakeholder representing workers and communities to continue this dialogue with the World Bank. We're convinced labour's steadying voice within the process will help shape consensus."
The World Bank president made his comments that further public consultation is necessary on the EIR at a meeting of community development and environmental groups 12 February in Melbourne, Australia.
The ICEM and its global energy and mining affiliates have been key components to the two-year-long EIR process starting from a planning workshop, through region-by-region consultations, participation on the EIR's Advisory Board, and to the global stakeholder forum held in Lisbon late last year.
The ICEM has embraced many of the recommendations in the EIR report including the adherence of core labour and human rights principles as a mandatory lending requirement by the Bank on all development projects, full transparency in all revenue flows, and a priority that sustainable development be a major emphasis in all World Bank programmes.
The ICEM also has endorsed EIR recommendations that transition monies for community development, retraining and social safety nets be built into World Bank funding because of continual trends to privatise a nation's resources. Further, the ICEM supports an EIR recommendation that the Bank promote small-scale mining initiatives that will enhance the livelihoods of some 100 million people worldwide.
In a 5 February letter to the World Bank's James Wolfensohn, Higgs said of the EIR report: "We find (the recommended phase-out of oil and coal projects) inconsistent with existing intergovernmental conventions regarding global warming, and we also believe it would undermine efforts to eradicate poverty and pose a clear threat to developing economies."
"Although there is much in the report that has had full input from the ICEM and which we embrace totally, we cannot endorse the EIR report's recommendation that the Bank phase out all involvement in oil and coal projects in the developing world over the next four years," stated ICEM General Secretary Fred Higgs.
"Such elimination is directly opposite the stated goals of both the Bank and EIR for sustainable development and eliminating poverty," added Higgs. "The ICEM stands ready as a key stakeholder representing workers and communities to continue this dialogue with the World Bank. We're convinced labour's steadying voice within the process will help shape consensus."
The World Bank president made his comments that further public consultation is necessary on the EIR at a meeting of community development and environmental groups 12 February in Melbourne, Australia.
The ICEM and its global energy and mining affiliates have been key components to the two-year-long EIR process starting from a planning workshop, through region-by-region consultations, participation on the EIR's Advisory Board, and to the global stakeholder forum held in Lisbon late last year.
The ICEM has embraced many of the recommendations in the EIR report including the adherence of core labour and human rights principles as a mandatory lending requirement by the Bank on all development projects, full transparency in all revenue flows, and a priority that sustainable development be a major emphasis in all World Bank programmes.
The ICEM also has endorsed EIR recommendations that transition monies for community development, retraining and social safety nets be built into World Bank funding because of continual trends to privatise a nation's resources. Further, the ICEM supports an EIR recommendation that the Bank promote small-scale mining initiatives that will enhance the livelihoods of some 100 million people worldwide.
In a 5 February letter to the World Bank's James Wolfensohn, Higgs said of the EIR report: "We find (the recommended phase-out of oil and coal projects) inconsistent with existing intergovernmental conventions regarding global warming, and we also believe it would undermine efforts to eradicate poverty and pose a clear threat to developing economies."