http://www.halifaxinitiative.org Halifax Initiative is a Canadian coalition of development, environment, faith, rights and labour groups. Our goal is to contribute to the fundamental transformation of the international financial system and its institutions to achieve poverty eradication, environmental sustainability and the equitable re-distribution of wealth hourly 1 2002-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://www.halifaxinitiative.org http://www.halifaxinitiative.org/images/BE/BE_logo-100x34.png http://www.halifaxinitiative.org/index.php/Issue_Update/1087 Every month, the Halifax Initiative produces a monthly update on various issues related to the international financial system and its institutions. This month: *Global food crisis, Bank and IMF respond *US Congress passes new bill on debt cancellation *Ruggie focuses spotlight on export credit agencies *Notice Board, new publications and upcoming events JUST THE FACTS: The new IMF quota deal – much ado about nothing? http://www.halifaxinitiative.org/index.php/EDCECA_correspond/1088 The Mining Contract Review Commission, an inter-ministerial body established by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to review numerous contracts that were awarded to mining companies between 1996 and 2005, recently released its assessment. The Commission concludes that the mining contract governing the Tenke Fungurume project is illegal and calls for its annulment. EDC is currently considering backing the project. This letter calls on EDC to immediately dismiss the application for support. http://www.halifaxinitiative.org/index.php/Reports_Analysis/1086 This Final Report on "The Changing Face of Global Development Finance - Impacts and implications for aid, development, the South and the Bretton Woods Institutions", includes a summary of the presentations and discussions from the Halifax Initiative conference on February 1st and 2nd, 2008. Background reading, glossary of terms, the final agenda, speaker biographies, participants' list, and presentations and speeches for the meeting are also available on the conference web site . http://www.halifaxinitiative.org/index.php/canada_and_the_ifis/1085 For the past four years the Halifax Initiative Coalition has produced report cards on the annual reports to Parliament on the World Bank and IMF. In general, the 2007 Annual Report marks a substantial improvement over the 2005 and 2006 annual reports, both in format and in particular, in content. In all, the new medium term framework does a much better job of articulating a more coherent and consistent government strategy for the Bank and Fund, and providing benchmarks against which to evaluate the government's performance in the coming years. Next year's annual report would do well to include indicators against which to measure, more clearly, success in meeting these goals. Grade: B+ http://www.halifaxinitiative.org/index.php/Issue_Update/1083 Every month, the Halifax Initiative produces a monthly update on various issues related to the international financial system and its institutions. This month: *Innovative financing for development gets boost *EDC must reject Tenke *IMF begins drafting code for sovereign wealth funds * Notice Board, new publications and upcoming events JUST THE FACTS: What are sovereign wealth funds? http://www.halifaxinitiative.org/index.php/EDCECA_correspond/1082 This letter urges Minister Flaherty to support the adoption, by the OECD Export Credit Group, of a peer review system regarding implementation of the 2007 OECD Revised Council Recommendation on Common Approaches on the Environment and Officially Supported Export Credits. The letter includes a proposal for a peer review system developed by ECA-Watch. http://www.halifaxinitiative.org/index.php/Issue_Update/1078 Every month, the Halifax Initiative produces a monthly update on various issues related to the international financial system and its institutions. This month: *The changing face of global development finance *DRC government calls for contract renegotiation *"Responsible lending" key theme for 2008 *Notice Board, new publications and upcoming events JUST THE FACTS: Responsible lending – responsible to whom and for what? http://www.halifaxinitiative.org/index.php/CNCA_Media/1079 At home and abroad, Canadian companies should have the same human-rights and environmental standards Our mining and oil and gas interests shouldn't act like a foreign fox in an overseas hen house (Globe & Mail) http://www.halifaxinitiative.org/index.php/TobinFfD_correspond/1080 At the end of this year, governments of the world will meet in Doha, Qatar to evaluate progress in implementing the Monterrey Consensus. One of the critical elements of this consensus is the issue of external debt and its role in financing for development. This letter highlights the critical policy issues around external debt today. http://www.halifaxinitiative.org/index.php/Issue_Update/1077 Every month, the Halifax Initiative produces a monthly update on various issues related to the international financial system and its institutions. This month: *Corruption back on the Bank's agenda? *Halt Canadian mining project, says National Ombudsman *Conditionality prevails at IMF, despite "streamlining" *Financing for Development discussion en route *Notice Board, new publications and upcoming events JUST THE FACTS: Draft Financing for Development (FfD) Calendar http://www.halifaxinitiative.org/index.php/Human_Rights/1074 This paper was prepared to inform the mandate of the Special Representative of the United National Secretary-General on Business and Human Rights. The paper argues that currently, state obligations under international law are not being met in the provision of officially-supported export credit and investment insurance services. The paper provides recommendations for home states regarding export credit agencies and international human rights. http://www.halifaxinitiative.org/index.php/Issue_Update/1073 Every month, the Halifax Initiative produces a monthly update on various issues related to the international financial system and its institutions. This month:*Increased donor funding boosts Bank, ignores bad policies *Notice Board, new publications and upcoming events HAPPY HOLIDAYS! http://www.halifaxinitiative.org/index.php/canada_and_the_ifis/1081 This letter from the Minister - the first response that the Halifax Initiative has received from the Department of Finance in almost two years - provides an overview of the changes that the Department has made to the Annual Report to Parliament on the Bretton Woods [World Bank and IMF] and Related Agreements Act. http://www.halifaxinitiative.org/index.php/Issue_Update/1072 Every month, the Halifax Initiative produces a monthly update on various issues related to the international financial system and its institutions. This month:*MPs, CSOs demand government response to Consensus Report on Extractives *Canada and the Congolese El Dorado *Debt relief finally for Liberia *Canada set to join ICSID, controversial investment dispute body *Notice Board, new publications and upcoming events JUST THE FACTS: ICSID 101 – The World Bank's Investment Tribunal http://www.halifaxinitiative.org/index.php/PR_HI/1064 International Appeal for the Publication of the Final Report of the Ministerial Commission on the Review of Mining Contracts in the Democratic Republic of Congo Search the archives of Halifax Initiative query http://www.halifaxinitiative.org/search.php