Fighting back

Throughout the developing world, movements are gathering to arrest the tide of national resources being stolen by Western multinationals. Take the example of Nigeria:

"Militants behind attacks aimed at disrupting Nigeria's oil exports said they will target all producers in the country, in a message singling out U.S.-based Chevron.

"The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, which has caused major disruption at Royal Dutch Shell and kidnapped four foreign oil workers, said it has also attacked installations run by France's Total and Italy's Agip, a unit of ENI.

"So far, Shell is the only major operator to have said it suffered at the hands of the ethnic Ijaw militants, who are demanding greater control for the impoverished local people over the delta's enormous oil wealth."

Bolivia is also aiming to lessen Western influence:

"Evo Morales takes office as Bolivia's president today after promising to help the poor and seize control of the nation's energy reserves from multinational companies such as Repsol YPF SA of Spain and France's Total SA.

"Morales, an activist for indigenous rights, said one of his first acts as president will be to sign an agreement with state- owned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA to help develop Bolivia's gas reserves, the second-largest in South America, according to Venezuelan Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez."

Such struggles - connected by a desire to not prostitute an economy to US-led international monetary funds - suggest a growing awareness of successfully tackling Washington-led policies.