Roast Beef Sandwich

I had my taste of the 'Development Set' today, although instead of a steak I had an open mouth to a chunky roast beef sandwich (refer to 'Devt Set' below). Of course we weren't discussing hunger, but we did mention food security.

Attended a brownbag presentation at the World Bank and did a little self-tour of the building, a fascinating gallery in itself. Prestige mixed with luxury. At the entrance where all the member country flags hung it said

OUR DREAM
Is a world free of poverty

Within the billion-dollar glass building they would have to dream hard to imagine poverty. Again, I have dreamt before (and maybe I still do) of working on the World Bank team, so I don't excuse myself from this horrid irony. Development practitioners do not necessary live in tattered houses in developing countries- depending on where you position yourself within the industry, you could very well be striking it rich.

At the meeting, the World Agroforestry Center was more or less pitching the concept of Evergreen Agriculture to secure Bank investments in projects in West Africa. Present and listening was a roomful of World Bank staff.

Right before leaving for the Bank, I was in an international conference call (representing Amazon Watch) with civil society organizations and they were lashing out at the World Bank regarding the REDD program (refer to previous post); I myself did some of that in my presentation yesterday. Needless to say, I felt very conflicted within myself as I walked the (gorgeous) World Bank Group building. Repulsed, yet enamored.