Pi Capital, through its unique partnership with the James Martin 21^st Century, is delighted to announce a special lecture and panel discussion on the ‘The Plundered Planet’.  In this special event, Paul Collier, Oxford Professor and author of The Bottom Billion, will launch a discussion based on his latest publication, The Plundered Planet: Why we must - and how we can - manage the world’s natural resources to ensure global prosperity.  Building on his work in developing countries and the poorest populations, Collier will argue for proper stewardship of natural assets as a matter of planetary urgency. His arguments will chart a course between unchecked profiteering on the one hand, and environmental romanticism on the other, to offer realistic and sustainable solutions to these dauntingly complex issues.  The ensuing discussion among some of the world's leading experts on poverty and development issues will be opened to the audience for an exciting and dynamic debate on what's needed to reconcile poverty with nature. 

Professor Paul Collier CBE, Professor of Economics and Director of the Center for the Study of African Economies at Oxford University.   From 1998 – 2003 he was the director of the Development Research Group of the World Bank.  He is the author of two books, “The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries are Failing and What Can Be Done About It”, published in 2007, and his most recent book, entitled "Wars, Guns and Votes: Democracy in Dangerous Places", was published in March 2009.  His research covers the causes and consequences of civil war; the effects of aid and the problems of democracy in low-income and natural-resources rich societies. 

Other speakers include:

Mr Charles Badenoch, Chief Executive of World Vision UK.  World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice.

Mr Jamie Drummond, Executive Director of ONE, a grassroots campaign of more than 2 million people committed to the fight against extreme poverty and preventable diseases.

Mr Gideon Rachman, Chief Foreign Affairs Editor of the Financial Times

www.21school.ox.ac.uk 

If you would like to attend please RSVP to Sara Nori

sn@picapital.co.uk 

020 7529 5656