The Committee for the Abolition of Third World Debt www.cadtm.org has decided to downgrade the IMF's rating due to this institution's heavy share of responsibility for the deterioration of people's living standards in countries subjected to austerity policies it has openly imposed or dictated from behind the scenes. The resulting high levels of unemployment, aggravation of the crisis and the increase in public debt of the States following its counter productive and unjust recommendations justify downgrading the IMF's rating from NNN to NO- with a further very negative outlook. - IV445 - February 2012 / Economy, Debt

We, representatives of movements and activists from across the world, met in Athens to discuss the lessons of previous international economic crises, to challenge illegitimate debt and mobilise for its cancellation, to offer our solidarity to the European people struggling against unjust austerity programmes imposed by governments, the EU and the IMF, exemplified by the “Memoranda of Understanding”, as well as to formulate a plan of economic action which meets the needs of people instead of serving a tiny social elite. - IV437 - June 2011 / Greece, Economy, Global Justice, Economic crisis

On Thursday 30 September an attempted coup took place in Ecuador. Rebel units of the national police abducted president Rafael Correa after he urged policemen to accept the law on public services which had been adopted at its first reading by the national assembly on 29 September 2010. The aim of this law is to end certain financial benefits enjoyed by police and armed forces - IV429 - October 2010 / Latin America, Ecuador, Indigenous struggles