- Title: USA: PROTESTERS PREPARE FOR START OF INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF) MEETING
- Date: 28th September 2002
- Summary: (W8) WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 26, 2002)(REUTERS) 1. SLV ANTI-GLOBALISATION PROTESTERS PREPARING PUPPET OUTSIDE WORLD BANK; MV PROTESTERS PLAYING DRUM (3 SHOTS) 0.21 2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) WORLD BANK CHAIRMAN JAMES WOLFENSOHN TALKING ABOUT GROWTH IN THE WORLD ECONOMY "I think it's slow and I think that the outlook is uncertain. There is modest growth. But, as the International Monetary fund came out today, I think its reduced growth from what we thought twelve months ago." 0.36 3. MV WOLFENSOHN SPEAKING TO REPORTER 0.39 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) WOLFENSOHN SPEAKING ABOUT PROTESTERS, SAYING "I don't know that the protests should or maybe will ever cease. I think they are getting different in terms of their point. The protests that you see in the streets are not just about the World Bank and the fund. There's a general atmosphere of uncertainty created and I'm sure there will be protests against big business, the United States government about various policies as well as about the World Bank and the fund. What I'm finding with civil society, is that we are in fact having a much better dialogue, a much more comprehensive dialogue with them. Not only in the North, but very particularly in the countries that we serve. So I think that over the years, there has been a great improvement in the relationship between the bank and the voices of civil society." 1.26 5. SLV WASHINGTON DC POLICE CENTRAL COMMAND ROOM; MV/SCU OFFICERS WATCHING MONITORS OF STREET CAMERAS IN COMMAND ROOM (4 SHOTS) 1.58 6. SLV WASHINGTON POLICE CHIEF CHARLES RAMSEY SPEAKING AT NEWS CONFERENCE 2.04 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) RAMSEY SAYING "This group Friday, however, this anarchist group, the ACC that's planning this event, is the group that in the past has caused us problems and caused problems in other parts of the country. They do engage in more violent direct action. They're the ones that we are most concerned about. That's why Friday's activities are quite different from Saturday and Sunday's activities." 2.29 8. MV ZOOM OUT PROTESTERS IN PARK WITH GIANT TROJAN HORSE; MV POLICE OFFICERS WATCHING DEMONSTRATORS (4 SHOTS) 3.05 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 13th October 2002 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
- City:
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVA5JJUI5HKMZ6OMHNHJP6VMO62
- Story Text: Protesters have been preparing for the start of the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) meeting.
A group of demonstrators stood outside the World Bank
buildings in Washington D.C. on Thursday afternoon (September
26, 2002) to protest against the organisation's policy on forests
and the environment.
Thousands of anti-globalization protesters are expected
to come to Washington D.C. over the weekend to demonstrate
against the IMF and the World Bank as they get together for
the 2002 Boards of Governors meetings.
World Bank Chairman James Wolfensohn told Reuters after a
news conference that the outlook for growth in the global
economy is "slow."
He also told Reuters that he thinks the relationship
between the protesters and the IMF/World Bank has changed over
the years.
"I don't know that the protests should or maybe will ever
cease. I think they are getting different in terms of their
point. The protests that you see in the streets are not just
about the World Bank and the fund. There's a general
atmosphere of uncertainty created and I'm sure there will be
protests against big business, the United States government
about various policies as well as about the World Bank and the
fund. What I'm finding with civil society, is that we are in
fact having a much better dialogue, a much more comprehensive
dialogue with them. Not only in the North, but very
particularly in the countries that we serve. So I think that
over the years, there has been a great improvement in the
relationship between the bank and the voices of civil
society," Wolfensohn said.
Washington Police have opened up their central command
centre to monitor protester activity. Police officers can
monitor activity by watching cameras placed throughout the
city.
Police Chief Charles Ramsey told reporters that he expects
the most trouble on September 26 (Thursday). The protest group
Anti-Compliance and Convergence, has called for a "Day of
Non-Compliance and Resistance," with the stated goal of
shutting down the District of Columbia on Friday, September 27.
"They do engage in more violent direct action. They're the
ones that we are most concerned about. That's why Friday's
activities are quite different from Saturday and Sunday's
activities," said Ramsey.
On Wednesday, the IMF published its latest World Economic
Outlook, its gloomiest assessment of global economic
prospects in several years. The forecast for 2002 global
growth remained at 2.8 percent, but the 2003 forecast was cut
to 3.7 percent as the recoveries in the United States and
Europe have been weaker than originally expected.
Growth predictions for the United States, the engine for
global growth in recent years, were notched lower with the
outlook heavily clouded by dwindling equity prices.
European growth is flatter than previously thought and
reasons for optimism there are few and far between. Forecasts
for Japan, which is still in recession and highly fragile, are
better than in April but are hardly a cause for cheer.
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