European Members of World Bank Spurn Changes to Family-Planning Policy

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The Wall Street Journal reports today that, in a closed meeting yesterday at the World Bank, European members objected to a Washington-supported proposal to change the bank’s family-planning policy, which would put in place age restrictions on family-planning assistance, including abortions. Cameron wrote a few weeks ago about Wolfowitz’ denial of any changes to its family-planning policy, one that has long been an integral part of the bank’s development strategy. The former Iraq war architect said, in response to accusations, “Let me make it very clear. Our policy hasn’t changed.” But the Government Accountability Project found documents that contradict his statement.

Wolfowitz’ transgressions, past and present, are not making him any friends. Aside from the European members who “revolted” against the family-planning policy amendment, “rank-and-file” employees are wearing blue ribbons (good-governance ribbons) to signify that they don’t trust him. Well, this is not news to us. Mother Jones hasn’t trusted Wolfowitz for awhile. Here are a few of our reasons why.

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DONALD TRUMP & DEMOCRACY

Mother Jones was founded to do journalism differently. We stand for justice and democracy. We reject false equivalence. We go after stories others don’t. We’re a nonprofit newsroom, because the kind of truth-telling investigations we do doesn’t happen under corporate ownership.

And we need your support like never before, to fight back against the existential threats American democracy faces. Fundraising for nonprofit media is always a challenge, and we need all hands on deck right now. We have no cushion; we leave it all on the field.

It’s reader support that enables Mother Jones to report the facts that are too difficult, expensive, or inconvenient for other news outlets to uncover. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

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