The President of the World Bank, James Wolfensohn, visited Oxford on
Wednesday 19th February, in order to give a series of talks. His keynote
address was in the Sheldonian Theatre, where he gave a lecture on human
rights as part of the Amnesty International lecture series.

He was welcomed by over 50 protestors, several of whom were dressed as the
Grim Reaper (after all, Death follows the World Bank wherever it goes), and
all of whom were armed with pots, pans and drums. After leafletting the
audience members, those protestors who remained outside started a pots and
pans protest in solidarity with similar protests held in Argentina and other
Latin American countries in protest against the World Bank/IMF. The sound
was clearly audible in the lecture hall, along with chants of "el pueblo
unido, jamas sera vencido!"

Many anti-World Bank protestors were also present inside the lecture hall,
although unsurprisingly the majority of the presentation consisted of
Wolfensohn pontificating. Those who attended the lecture were left in no
doubt as to the unpopularity of the World Bank however, and when they
emerged into New College Lane they were confronted with an alternative film
screening by UNdercurrents and other local activists...showing the truth
about World Bank policies.

The President of the World Bank is now fully aware that wherever he goes,
people will point to his hypocrisy and continuing abuse of human rights. May
there be many more nights like this in Oxford....

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