By Katherine Marshall World Bank director, in Washington

When the demonstrators arrive, the barriers often go up

Whenever the world's top bankers and leaders meet to discuss debt relief for poorer nations, they attract the attention of demonstrators. But are these protestors becoming a force to be reckoned with?

A motley group held a vigil outside the World Bank in Washington last week.

They were subdued, not riotous or noisy, but their banners proclaimed their message clearly enough - they were demanding that all the debts of the world's poorest countries be cancelled.

Protestors are an expected feature of meetings today, but they are a vital part of an important global transformation.

These protestors are members of an unlikely coalition; ordinary people from all over the world, from different walks of life, who are raising their voice to make a moral case about a financial argument.

Poor choice

At the core is the question - how best to help very poor countries with large debts?

A company which cannot pay its debts may simply disappear. A person mired deep in debt may seek a fresh start through bankruptcy.

But countries cannot so easily put history behind them. The rules that govern their debts are far from clear.

You can have a social conscience, care about world poverty and support globalisation. Philippe Legrain, former special advisor to the WTO Click here to read more

The anti-debt coalition says forgiveness is the only way forward. Poor countries have to choose between repaying debts or hiring teachers or vaccinating children. Without a well-educated and healthy population, the poor country remains trapped in debt and poverty.

But there are other angles, other facts, to debt.

For example, if a debt is owed, someone must pay when a debt is forgiven. And this can mean billions of dollars. Who will shoulder the loss? Western taxpayers or other poor countries?

Sadly, fair and moral solutions are not simple.

Broader solutions

Is it right that a corrupt state is let off the hook, its debts forgiven while its well-managed neighbour next door must pay up? And how can we be sure that countries will invest in schools and health if their debts are forgiven?

Protestors are a common sight at global finance meetings

And then, of course, will cancelling debt really help - or are deeper and broader solutions necessary?

In a world dominated by bankers and politicians there are people - like those who gathered in Washington - who are determined to mix compassion with economics, and make it an essential part of the debate - and possibly the solution.

This protest movement has already brought change.

Many, if not most, poor countries are receiving real help. Creative new ideas are under active debate in the financial meeting rooms.

The moral argument is bringing secretive negotiations out from behind closed doors and laying it out for all to see.