NGO Watch

In June 2003, the American Enterprise Institute and Federalist Society launched ngowatch, because “recent years have seen an unprecedented growth in the power and influence of non-governmental organizations (NGOs). While it is true that many NGOs remain true to grassroots authenticity conjured up in images of protest and sacrifice, it is also true that nongovernmental organizations are now serious business�. Because of this NGOwatch argues that it wants to bring clarity and accountability to NGOs[1]. The initiative is well financed and already has 160 NGO’s listed.

To coincide with the launch of NGOWatch, the AEI co-hosted a conference called “We're Not from the Government, But We're Here to Help You - Nongovernmental Organizations: The Growing Power of an Unelected Few,� with the right-wing think tank, the Institute of Public Affairs in Australia.

The list of speakers shows some of the interconnections of key individuals working against the environmental movement and other progressive NGOs across the globe. Speakers from other right-wing think tanks included: John Fonte from the Hudson Institute (see below), Gary Johns and Mike Nahan, from the Institute of Public Affairs (see below), Fred Smith, from the Competitive Enterprise Institute (see below), and David Riggs from the Capital Research Center that runs www.greenwatch (see below). Others of note were Jeremy Rabkin, from Cornell University, and AEI academic, Roger Bate, an AEI fellow and Jon Entine an AEI Fellow.

The conference and IPA’s activities are obviously having an effect. In September 2003, the Christian Science Monitor reported how “Spurred by conservative rumblings over the growing clout of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), the Australian government is taking a closer look at such groups' activities at home and abroad�. The article noted how the investigation “could potentially cut off some charities from further government access, funding, or tax breaks, experts say�[2].

The month before, in July 2003, the Australian Treasurer, Peter Costello released draft legislation threatening to remove tax exemption status from NGOs if they were deemed to be more involved in political lobbying and advocacy than in community work. It was a move widely condemned as a bid by the Government to silence its most strident critics[3].

The result is that suddenly the two primary sources of funding for NGOs - tax deductible donations and government grants or payments for carrying out consultative work - are under simultaneous attack (see separate section).

References

[1] NGOWatch – Mission Statement [2] J. Kremmer (2003) “Australia Scrutinizes Influence of Nongovernmental Groups�, Christian Science Monitor, 5 September, p7 [3] [1]