Last month, the government of Bolivia took a bold step and withdrew from the World Bank's undemocratic court for investment disputes. The International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes, or ICSID, is an undemocratic institution that allows the world's largest corporations to sue poor countries for millions of dollars. Can you send an email right now to World Bank officials, letting them know that you support Bolivia's bold decision to withdraw from this undemocractic court?
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In the 1990s the World Bank orchestrated a contract for Bechtel, the U.S. engineering corporation, to operate the water system in city of Cochabamba, Bolivia. Within weeks of taking over the water system, Bechtel raised rates as high as 200%, forcing poor families to choose between water and food. Citizens organized mass protests, leading the government to end the contract. Bechtel sued the government of Bolivia for $25 million dollars, despite having invested only $1 million in the water system. The court ruled in Bolivia's favor, but the government believes that the cards are stacked against poor countries.
