In times like these more willingness to take risk is needed at the IMF and the World Bank.

Sir I entirely support Trevor Manuel´s “IMF needs reform to respond to changing mandates”, March 23, where he calls for much more diversity in the recruitment of staff so as to get more diversity of views. As a former Executive Director I would like that to extend to the World Bank too.

Having said that, there is tough little to be gained from more diversity of opinions if this is not welcomed and nurtured by the management. Currently, in the multilateral finance institutions, there is way too much risk-adverseness among their managers against anything that in the slightest way could upset their somewhat too comfy internal order. In times like these managers must also learn to scale up their willingness to take risk… on all fronts.

Europe, hand over two chairs, immediately, no discussions

Sir Trevor Manuel in his commendable, timely and important “Let fairness triumph over corporate profit” March 17, asks several “Can we…?” and to these our only answer can be “yes, we have no choice”. That is if we want to live in a reasonably peaceful world that is if we want to have a chance to adjust to the environmental and energy related dangers that lurk around the corner.

This article, like last week’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s “The future of human beings is what matters”, evidences clearly why Europe needs to surrender to the rest of the world at least two of the chairs it occupies at the World Bank and the IMF. Immediately! No discussions!

That said I would have preferred to see Trevor Manuel’s article titled as “Let reason triumph over corporate greed” and I have an inkling that so would he.