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Annual review for 2005
Download the Annual review as a pdf2005 was a successful year for the World Development Movement with tackling global poverty high on the media and political agenda. The MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY campaign’s focus on justice brought new urgency to our campaigns on aid, debt and trade justice. It also provided a great moment for the launch of a new campaign Dirty Aid, Dirty Water which proved to be both popular and effective.
Dirty Aid, Dirty Water campaign
Launched in January 2005 the Dirty Aid, Dirty Water campaign calls on the UK Government to stop misusing aid money to fund a corporate takeover of the world's water, and instead to start supporting real solutions to the world water crisis.
Following pressure from WDM supporters Biwater, a major international water company, withdrew from a bid for Ghana's water. The UK Government also backed down in the face of our demands that it stop using aid money to fund a pro-privatisation public relations campaign in Sierra Leone, the world's second poorest country.
Colludo Campaign
This year, as a direct result of years of campaigning by WDM supporters, the UK Government abandoned one of the key means by which it imposes free market economic polices on developing countries. In a review of aid policy the Department for International Development (DfID) announced, in March, that it would no longer make trade liberalisation and the privatisation of key utilities and public services a condition of poor countries receiving UK aid.
In June WDM launched a report exploring the democratic deficit in the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In September a WDM report revealed that the majority of World Bank and IMF loans and aid to the poorest countries continue to be conditional on privatisation measures, strict fiscal policy and trade liberalisation. WDM staff attended the spring and autumn annual meeting of the World Bank/IMF to lobby for increased democratic oversight of these institutions.
Trade Justice
We believe that everyone has the right to feed their families, make a decent living and protect their environment.
WDM played a leading role in the Trade Justice Movement. We were instrumental in originating and organising the Wake up to Trade Justice event in April and played a significant role in the Mass Lobby in November. Supporters also signed over 20,000 Vote for Trade Justice Cards.
MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY
WDM was elected to the MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY coalition coordination team. Our supporters participated in numerous MPH activities including the G8 Rally in Edinburgh.
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