 |
Kathmandu Monday November 20, 2000 Mangshir 05, 2057.
|
Poverty : The same mantra
again
Having read Diwaker Chand’s article
"New wine in old bottle" (TKP, Nov 11, 2000), I noticed a missing link. It is
true that people should be empowered. It is also true that the "development"
promoted by the World Bank (WB) and IMF is only increasing poverty. Poverty in Nepal is a
direct result of heavy debt to be paid to the World Bank and IMF. Thus people should be
empowered to resist the policies of these global institutions, and to creatively look and
build solutions within their communities.
The WB/IMF use the high debt to pressurize
poor developing countries to go for Structural Adjustment Plans (SAPs).
These plans are not for the benefit of the
people, they are to attract foreign investors, and look for their interests. These
interests include privatisation of public services at a time where increased government
budget is needed for education and health services.
In agriculture, instead of local production
for local consumption, using compost and traditional methods, the WB encourages the
growing of "cash crops". "Cash crops" are grown to be sold in order to
get foreign currency. This increases demand for fertilizer use that destroys the land,
destroys local small farmers, and harms the environment. The profits are going to cover
the debt owed to the World Bank.
On the 26th of September many people around
the world demonstrated against the World Bank and IMF. They denounced the debt of the poor
countries and the SAPs that follows them.
To get out of poverty, Nepal should declare
that it will not pay the immoral debt to WB/IMF. Nepal has local resources that it should
use for local development. Too much foreign investment endangers the local economy,
environment and culture.
Development means better health and
education, clean environment and drinking water for all the people of Nepal. The
development promoted by the WB/IMF agenda works in the opposite direction.
Rony Armon
Israel |
