The Evil World Bank

I recently received an award for outstanding contribution to eradicating Poverty in our country. A local news paper wanted to interview me for it. Although I was thankful for the recognition, however, I had to respectfully decline citing I didn’t do it for the fame. Further to my previous post (See: Modern Money Mechanics or Modern day Slavery), I decided to raise awareness of the Evil that is the World Bank.

Of all the elements of the Bretton Woods systems perhaps the most enduring has been the World Bank and its associated institutions. Although regarded in some circles, the bank has been a significant failure helping the residents of the poor in developing nations. Like many bureaucracies, the World Bank has constantly trying to reinvent itself and redefining its mission. Some critics have referred to this as mission creep. It is the reactions of self interested bureaucrats who are intent to saving their own jobs at all cost. The non-institutional elements of the Bretton Woods, such as the gold back dollar standard have gone by the way side but the World Bank and the IMF (International Monetary Fund) soldier on.

What's most annoying about the World Bank are the criticism alleging that the bank and its action demonstrate the negative side of free market capitalism. Nothing could be further from the truth. The World Bank is not an organization that is devoted to capitalism or to the free market but rather to the state run corporate capitalism. It is established and managed by a multitude of governments, the World Bank promotes managed trade which politically connected individuals and corporations enrich themselves at the expense of the poor and the middle class. Western Governments tax their citizen to fund the World Bank. Then they lend this money to corrupt third world dictators who abscond with the fund then demand repayment which is extracted through taxation from the poor third world citizens rather than the officials who are responsible for the embezzlement in the first place. This is in essence, a global transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich. Tax payers around the world are force to subsidize the lavish life styles of these third world dictators and highly paid World Bank bureaucrats who don’t have to pay income taxes.

The World Bank has outlived its intended purposes. Capital markets are flush with money and well develop enough to lend money not just to national governments but to local and regional government’s projects at competitive market rates.

When the appointments of Paul Wolfowitz as President of the World Bank was made, many criticized it. Nobel Laureate in Economics and former chief economist for the World Bank Joseph Stiglitz said: “The World Bank will once again become a hate figure. This could bring street protests and violence across the developing world.” In a speech at the U.N. Economic and Social Council, economist Jeffrey Sachs also opposed Wolfowitz said: "It's time for other candidates to come forward that have experience in development. This is a position on which hundreds of millions of people depend for their lives ... Lets have a proper leadership of professionalism."

The aftermaths of Mr. Wolfowitz departure, much was made of the question of his successor. However, the questioning should’ve been instead directed towards the phasing out of the organization.

The face of love

There’s a life-giving nature inherent in the power of intention is an irrefutable conclusion. What would we name this quality that encourages, enhances, and supports all of life, if not love? It’s the prime moving power of the Universal Spirit of intent. As Ralph Waldo Emerson put it: “Love is our highest word and the synonym for god.”

The energy field of intention is pure love resulting in a nurturing and totally cooperative environment. Judgment, anger, hate, fear or prejudice won’t thrive here. So, were we able to actually see this field, we’d see creativity and kindness in an endless field of love. We entered the physical world of boundaries and beginning through the universal force field of pure love. This face of intention and weakened our ability to activate intention through the expression of love. For example, if you aren’t doing what you love and loving what you do, your power of intention is weakened. You attract into your life more of the dissatisfaction that isn’t the face of love. Consequently, more of what you don’t love will appear in your life.

Thoughts and emotions are pure energy; some higher and faster than others. When higher energies occupy the same field as lower energies, the lower energies convert to higher energies. A simple example of this is a darkened room that has lower energy than a room bathed in light. Since light moves faster than non-light, when a candle is brought into a dark room, the darkness not only dissolves and disappears, but it seems magically converted into light. The same is true of love, which is a higher/faster energy than the energy of hate.

St. Francis, in his famous prayer, beseeches God: “Where there is hatred, let me sow love.” What he is seeking is the power to dissolve and ultimately convert hate to the energy of love. Hate converts to love when the energy of love is in its presence. This is true for everyone. Hate, directed towards yourself or others, can be converted to the life-giving, love-granting life force of intention. Pierre Teihard de Chardin put it this way: “The conclusion is always the same: Love is the most powerful and still the most unknown energy of the world.”

Lending a helping hand

Last Sunday I initiated and led a cleaning campaign on one of the poverty family’s house. But before that day, I made a courtesy call to the village head (Ketua Kampung) regarding our intention. He was certainly on board. But we also discuss a few other ideas and initiative that we will be having later on. He was certainly open to that as well. He has good intention; he genuinely shows that he wants to help. It certainly wouldn’t hurt his reputation either. Afterwards I went to seek the permission of the targeted house occupant’s permission. They weren’t all there but those that were gave us the thumbs up and all is good to go.

That Sunday we all gathered at a mosque opposite the house. Unfortunately only 11 volunteers turn up. But we weren’t about to give up. We decided to go ahead and do what we can. I split the team into 3 groups. One group would clean the kitchen and toilet, another would clean the living room and the rest would clean the common areas. We decided not to touch any of the bed rooms because it’s a private area. They could also have personal and private belongings.

Beside the labour intensive activities, we actually had a good time. My partner in crime was the one of the youngest son in the house. He helps me sort out a lot of the stuff. I also made him carryout chores that he otherwise wouldn’t do. But what’s amazing of all was he did it with a smile. I think we brighten his life on that particular day. The other volunteers had a blast with the baby in the house. She always wanted to be picked up. Her big eyes would light up every time.

We came out of that experience with a good sense of accomplishment. We vow to come back one day during raya and see how they manage to keep up with the cleanliness. We would also be bringing hampers and other raya goods for them.

One particular question that was asked why I had picked that house was because we manage to get one of a major building contractor’s wife who is interested in doing something to help. She was the one that chose that house. So after assessing it, I think she has a pretty good idea of what to do now. I will try to follow up on it.

You can read more about it at the following urls:

http://www.borneobulletin.com.bn/mon/sep7h15.htm

http://www.borneobulletin.com.bn/mon/sep7h14.htm

http://www.bt.com.bn/en/home-news/2009/09/07/volunteers-lend-helping-hand-poor-family

The Plug....

SOUNDS OF HOPE CHARITY GALA NIGHT

The Women Business Council is hosting a Charity Gala Night on 3 October 2009 at 7:30 p.m. at the Jerudong Amphitheater. The Charity Gala Night is organised for the purpose of raising funds for Families in Poverty in Brunei. The theme for the event is “Sounds of Hope” featuring popular local artists who will be performing a variety of song and dance numbers. We aim to give a ray of hope to families who live in poverty by helping them help themselves.

A group of young team of volunteers, known informally as SOH Youth Volunteer Network Against Poverty, came forward to help families in poverty in Brunei. Women Business Council is supporting their advocacy through this fund-raising campaign. They are operating under the auspices of WBC and are registered volunteers under the volunteering program of Department of Community Development, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

WBC-SOH Families in Poverty Fund project

Any funds raised during the Charity Gala Night will be given to the WBC-SOH Families in Poverty Fund. This is a special fund for projects directly related to activities helping families in poverty. A special committee has been formed, composed of WBC representatives and SOH Volunteers representatives, to oversee the proper use of the fund and will be subject to audit for official reports to donors on how their contributions were utilised. Women Business Council has its own separate account for its association’s activities and administrative affairs.

So please come enjoy the night away all the while contributing to a worthy cause. We need all the support anyone can give. Although I'm part of the committee but I'm also purchasing tickets myself.