[Dialogue] If you served overseas....

[icabombay@igc.org]

Jim & Colleagues,

We are quite familiar with the development scene in India and to some extent with the World Bank's role in some of the major infrastructure changes (dams, urban systems, etc.).  My own reaction to the article is that although it has a lot of truth to it, I don't see the future being made through WB policy.  It is easy to set up these giant "boogie men" and then paint a picture of hopelessness because of their ignorance or "malice".  I feel that there are just too many other forces working on viable, sustainable development to be stopped by these kinds of people.  They have been on the scene for decades and will be in the future, but the work of empowerment, interchange, movement building etc. goes on.  Great things are happening, there are possibilities for change that just were not imagined when we did our work 30 years ago.  So I feel the despair expressed about WB, Religious Right, the Pope etc. etc. are finally not very helpful.  Local people are on the march and it will not be stopped; impeeded, yes, misunderstood, yes frustrated, yes, but what's new?  We must keep our eyes on the contradictions, and these large entities are not it.

Regards,

Jack