Bankwatch recently hosted a discussion about the role of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in financing mining The EBRD has a mandate to promote democracy, market economies and sustainable development (in the debatable belief that these three are mutually compatible) in the former Communist countries. The EBRD is considering major funding for Rio Tinto’s Oyu Tolgoi mine, despite the many criticisms of the project.
See a video recording of the discussion at http://bankwatch.org/events/EBRDmining.