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International | Global Justice and Anti-Capitalism

From New York to Liberia, Investigative Journalist Greg Palast Tracks Vulture Funds Preying on African Debt
by via Democracy Now
Wednesday Mar 3rd, 2010 7:31 AM
Wednesday, March 3, 2010 :Over the last five years Britain, the United States, and other countries have written off billions of dollars in loans to the world's poorest countries. But a small group of vulture funds have been trying to divert that money into their own pockets. Investigative journalist Greg Palast traveled to the West African country of Liberia to investigate how vulture funds have been operating there and why Liberia lost a $20 million dollar case against two vulture funds in a British court.
In Britain, lawmakers have voted in favor of a bill to restrict so-called vulture funds—that is, financiers that buy up poor country debts cheaply and then sue for massive profits. The Debt Relief Bill would pave the way for banning private investors from pursuing the world’s poorest countries for debts in British courts.

Over the last five years the Britian, the United States, and other countries have written off billions of dollars in loans to the world’s poorest countries. But a small group of vulture funds have been trying to divert that money into their own pockets.

Investigative journalist Greg Palast traveled to the West African country of Liberia to investigate how vulture funds have been operating there and why Liberia lost a $20 million dollar case against two vulture funds in a British court. He filed this report for the BBC.

Greg Palast, investigative report for BBC America.

Greg Palast, investigative reporter with the BBC and author of the books “Armed Madhouse”, “The Best Democracy Money Can Buy”, and “Democracy and Regulation.”

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Greg Palast at Left Forum 2010!JoeFriday Mar 5th, 2010 10:13 AM