Peter Bosshard's blog

World Bank President Zoellick with a Friend (World Bank)

A new report entitled, Directions in Hydropower, summarizes the World Bank’s current approach to hydropower projects. The report says that the Bank will scale up its support for hydropower, and claims that it will respect the triple bottom line of social, environmental and economic sustainability in doing so. If we look at the World Bank’s report and practice in more detail, the social and environmental bottom lines still mainly seem to be meant for public consumption.

See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil

In a major departure from the past, World Bank President James Wolfensohn in 1996 identified corruption as the “cancer” of development. Wolfensohn promised to take vigorous action to combat bribery, and launched various strategies and action plans. A new book argues that behind the rhetoric of good governance, nothing has changed. In The World Bank and the Gods of Lending, the Bank insider and corruption fighter Steve Berkman explains in stunning detail how government officials milk billions of dollars from Bank loans and credits every year. The World Bank management, still mainly concerned with pushing money out the door, meanwhile looks the other way.

Three Gorges Dam construction (Chris De Bode)

On his eight-day visit to China, Nepal’s Prime Minister Prachanda planned to visit the Three Gorges Dam this week. He would have followed in the footsteps of dignitaries from South Africa, Congo, Switzerland and many other countries. China is aggressively marketing the Three Gorges Project to the rest of the world. As it happened, Nepal’s Prime Minister resigned just before leaving for China. Yet the propaganda efforts around the Yangtze reservoir beg the question: Is the Three Gorges Dam still China’s model for the world?

Che Guevara on bike

Barack Obama has proposed to invest $150 billion in renewable energy and energy efficiency over the next ten years. He need look no further than La Havana for inspiration. Cuba has successfully greened its energy sector over the last few years, and is now exporting its energy revolution. Will we soon benefit from Cuban expertise in cleaning up the US energy sector?

Marc Ona with the Goldman Prize

Marc Ona Essangui, one of our most inspiring partners from Africa, will receive the Goldman Environmental Prize in San Francisco today. The Prize recognizes Marc’s personal courage and perseverance, and gives a boost to our network.

The Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Forum (HSAF), a task force led by the dam industry, is currently preparing a new protocol to assess the sustainability of hydropower projects. A recent consultation found that the HSAF protocol will be “toothless” unless it incorporates clear minimum standards. The Forum says that it is seeking “broad endorsement” for its new assessment tool. So how did it respond to the key finding of its consultation?

I did not feel well through much of the World Water Forum, which concluded in Istanbul today. To be sure, there are many things that can make you feel sick at the Forum after a few days: The omnipresence of 8,000 police men and women – in the meeting halls, the corridors and even the toilets. The deportation of my two colleagues for a simple banner drop. Or the constant talk of corporate managers and bureaucrats about the needs of the poor for large dams and private water supply.

Protest against WWF5

Bridging the global water divide, courtesy of the Turkish police

  There was a time when we were all expected to follow the law. There was a time when we had to respect clear social and environmental standards if we wanted to build a dam with international funding. These days may soon be over if the hydropower industry has its way. A new initiative called the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Forum puts social and environmental rights and standards at risk.

Sichuan earthquake of May 2008 (mike at bloggin-ads.com)

Last year's devastating Sichuan earthquake, which took at least 69,000 lives, may have been unleashed by the huge Zipingpu Dam. New scientific evidence links the impoundment of the Zipingpu reservoir to the activation of a fault line near the dam site. A thorough scientific assessment is needed before China builds more dams in earthquake-prone areas.