Suas are a newly arrived charity operating out of several Irish universities and sending volunteers to work in schools in India. Within two years they aim to have 20 groups in third level institutions around the country, and 7,000 members.

So far, so what? Well a while ago they were running their big publicity campaign to get overseas volunteers for the summer of 2005, and if you saw their green glossy posters decorating some colleges you might have noticed the words 'World Bank' on them. Part of the volunteer program includes 'development education' given by World Bank personnel.

Somewhat incongruous isn't it? I have limited knowledge of the world of charities and NGOs but those I am familiar with are more often found crying out against the World Bank.

This is a two part exploration. Firstly here is a backgrounder on the social causes of world hunger and on the devastating policies of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. Secondly here is an investigation into the Suas 'development education' course and the whole issue of World Bank window dressing.

Related Links on the World Bank:
Global Issues · Whirled Bank · Bretton Woods Project · New Green Order · World Bank Boycott

Other Related Links:
Suas · The Ecologist on Greenwash · Friends of the Earth on Greenwash · Globalisation and Poverty: Vandana Shiva

Map from the World Development Movement showing civil unrest against IMF policies 0.11 Mb IMF impact 0.04 Mb

Merry Christmas Minister McDowell...

Photo Series from Residents Against Racism's December 16th 2004 Protest at Dáil Éireann: • March to Dáil Éireann • Demo at Dáil Éireann • Merry Christmas Michael McDowell Also: Asylum Women Speak Out at Galway City Council Meeting

Background Links:
Minister Michael McDowell's revised arrangements for processing claims for permission to remain from parents of Irish born children.

Irish Times: Immigrants with Irish children may get reprieve

A Letter to Michael McDowell,

Tomso is an Irish citizen child. His non-Irish mother was forced to leave him behind when she was forcibly expelled from this country.

• Will Tomso's mother be allowed to return under these new procedures?
  
• Will other parents in similar situations be allowed return?
  
• What about Irish children who were forced into exile when their parents were expelled in the cloak and dagger midnight deportations that McDowell finds so appealling. Will they be allowed to return?

Under the proposed procedures parents must be of 'good character'.

• Who determines whether or not these parents are of 'good character'?
  
• Is it McDowell himself who decides?
  
• The ill informed GNIB interviewer?
  
• Or will it be the communities where the Parents live?

This issue is about the rights of the child. All Irish children are born equal, and as such all should be entitled to live in the safety of their own country with the protection of their Parents. This right should not be taken away on the basis of other people's judgements on the personality of their Parents.

Minister McDowell you have refused to allow these parents to work while their applications are processed, and yet you say they must be economically self-sufficient within 5 years. With the growing inequality in Irish society how do you think Parents will be successful?

The cost of housing in Ireland has skyrocketed many young Irish parents cannot become economically self-sufficient. How do you propose that these particular parents become self-sufficient while refusing them permission to work?