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Central America Report Summer 2008

Central American
Food aid governments fight
or food food inflation
with support for
security? small farmers

Also in this issue:

Community radio in El Salvador, women threatened by EU
agreement, Honduran hunger strike against corruption
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Editorial

Small-scale farming Contents

back in fashion? Tune in to social justice
Mark Owens rediscovers the positive
3

power of radio in El Salvador.

HE DRAMATIC RISE in the cost of food over the past year – with
T wheat up 130 percent, soya 87 percent and rice 74 percent – has left
100 million more people in at least 37 countries facing food insecurity.
Women to lose out from
EU agreement 4–5
The Central America Women’s
Given the huge scale and urgency of the problem, June’s UN Food and Network warns that the planned
EU Association Agreement will hurt
Agricultural Organization (FAO) summit in Rome should have been women’s rights and livelihoods.
a logical place to come up with solutions to address the underlying
Regional update 6–7
causes of the crisis.
In his opening speech, FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf appealed High food prices to impoverish
for “urgent and coordinated action to combat the negative impacts millions more 8 – 10
Central American governments
of soaring food prices on the world's most vulnerable countries and bring in emergency measures to
populations”. He pointed out that, in 2006, the world had spent $1.2 curb the impact of soaring food
prices on the poorest.
trillion on arms, and asked: “Against that backdrop, how can we explain
to people of good sense and good faith that it was not possible to find $30 Book reviews 11
billion a year to enable 862 million hungry people to enjoy the most Fairtrade battles, and who killed
Bishop Gerardi?
fundamental of human rights: the right to food and thus the right to life?”
Despite this, the vested interests of Northern countries and Nicaraguan sugarcane workers
file complaint 12
transnational companies resulted in a final declaration best described A major company is accused of
as jumble of contradictions. On the one hand, it espoused support for harming health and water supplies
in the rush to produce biofuel.
“the world's smallholder farmers and fishers, including indigenous
people, particularly in vulnerable areas”. But on the other, it backed Honduran hunger strike 13
“efforts to liberalise trade in agriculture by reducing trade barriers”. Honduran prosecutors go hungry
to protest against corruption.
The declaration went on to point out that biofuels have contributed
to a 30 to 75 percent rise in the cost of food, but stopped short of Take action 14 – 16
proposing measures to address the problem. The problem of speculators
pouring money into commodity markets to make a quick buck wasn’t
even mentioned. Delegates from Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba, Ecuador,
Argentina and Bolivia criticised the declaration for its total lack of Published by Central America Report,
129 Seven Sisters Road, London N7 7QG
political will to address the roots of the problem and “put a definitive
end to world hunger”. Email: info@central-america-report.org.uk

At the same time, peasant organisations held an alternative forum, Editorial committee: Patrick Daniels,
Lian Harter, Shelagh Kavanagh,
where they denounced “the corporate industrial and energy-intensive Abbie Kempson, Megan Rowling
model of production and consumption that is the basis of continuing and Helen Yuill.

crises”. In its place, the forum called for support for local farming Cover photos: (Top) A World Food Programme
school feeding centre in Nicaragua, June 2004
systems, based on indigenous knowledge, the maintenance of healthy, Photo: WFP/Sabrina Quezada
fertile soil, and use of locally available biodiversity. It is to be hoped that (Bottom) Threshing red beans, El Porcal,
northern Nicaragua
the measures announced this year by Central American governments Photo: Karen Lawson
will contribute to strengthening this kind of small-scale production and Design: Jane Warring
reducing the impact of global food inflation on the poorest.
Our thanks to all the contributors for
helping to produce this issue of CAR.
The articles in this magazine should be
Central America Report has set up a website at: taken as having been written in a personal
capacity, unless otherwise stated. Any
www.central-america-report.org.uk views stated in the articles should not be
For information, magazine subscriptions and article submissions, taken to represent the policy of any of the
organisations that support the production
please contact us at: info@central-america-report.org.uk of Central America Report.

Central America Report: Summer 2008 2

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El Salvador

Tune in to the positive

power of community radio
From child labour to lead poisoning, Salvadoran radio
stations talk tough, writes Mark Owens.

ADIO HAS BEEN an important Radio Cadena Mi Gente and Radio well as hearing opinions from people

R part of my life for as long as I

can remember, in the UK and
the US. But in recent years, I’ve
Maya Vision, broadcast important
social messages and are supported by
a politically outspoken, socially aware
in the streets and villages. In a recent
show on child labour, YSUCA
presented a series of fascinating
struggled to find stations that made community of listeners. interviews with children, some
me want to stay tuned; I no longer felt This is no surprise given the working in the streets and fields, and
part of a listening community. It was important role radio played during some from a school in a wealthier
in this state of mind that I moved to the civil war, when the FMLN suburb of San Salvador. The contrast
El Salvador – a country that has broadcast their revolutionary message between the two sets of voices not
renewed my faith in the only emphasised the growing division
unique intimacy and social between the rich and the poor, but
power of the medium. also offered a glimpse of hope. The
In the wealthy parts of schoolchildren insisted it was unfair
the world, where most people have from high in the mountains on Radio their peers had to
daily domestic access to computers, Venceremos and Radio Farabundo. work while they had
broadband internet or digital These days, there are numerous the chance to learn,
radio, competition for a listening stations playing U.S. soft rock ballads and should be
community has become increasingly or aggressively sexist Reggaeton, given support.
fierce and fractured. Many listeners a proliferating group of extreme Many depressing
have turned to specialist and non- evangelical stations, and others with and apparently
local digital stations, or personalise a strong government voice. But even inexplicable things
their stations using websites such as now, despite 20 years of ARENA happen in El
Yahoo!’s LAUNCHcast radio and government, messages calling for social Salvador on a daily
Last.fm. The local has been replaced justice still permeate the airwaves. basis, but it’s
by the ‘global’, and radio has forfeited The strength of a station like YSUCA heartening to know
its special intimacy and power. – my favourite – is its ability to there is a well-informed community
connect with communities of people, of people all over the country
and to show rather than tell. Broadcast listening, discussing and searching for
from the University of Central explanations. Listening to YSUCA
America in San Salvador, its stated reminds me of what is unique and so
Photo: Radio YSUCA

mission is to foster a culture of powerful about radio: its ability to

democracy and human dignity, draw people together, to make people
emphasising the voice of ordinary think and, at its very best, to
citizens rather than the elite. Some encourage people to take action
of the most memorable and diverse to create a better world.
YSUCA opens up space for local people programmes include live interviews
to express themselves.
and debate with a community affected Listen online at:
In El Salvador, a country with an by lead poisoning from a local factory; www.radiocadenamigente.net
estimated average annual income literacy and social criticism from the www.radiomayavision.net
of $2,540 (according to UNICEF) – work of revolutionary writer Roque www.uca.edu.sv/virtual/ysuca/indice.
perhaps just over double the cost of a Dalton; and an interview with a San html
PC with broadband connection for a Salvador-based heavy metal band
UK home – the state of local radio is struggling to get a record deal. Mark is from the UK, and is currently
very different. Here, a small group of Listeners to alternative radio doing voluntary work and studying
stations, including Radio YSUCA, stations expect direct participation as Spanish in El Salvador.

3 Central America Report: Summer 2008

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Central America

Central American women at

risk from EU trade agreement
Women’s rights and livelihoods are under threat, reports Julie Porter, advocacy
coordinator with the Central America Women’s Network.

HE THIRD ROUND of from analysis of the

T negotiations for an Association

Agreement between Europe
and Central America took place in
Central America Free
Trade Agreement
(DR-CAFTA) – which
El Salvador in April. To mark the found that women’s
occasion, a broad coalition of livelihoods and their
women’s movements from across the struggle to defend and

Photo: Claudia Hasanbegovic

region joined the widespread protests promote their rights
highlighting the deterioration in would be severely
gender equality and poverty that the damaged by further
agreement would create. liberalisation in trade
Association Agreements govern and services as part
bilateral relations between the EU and of an Association
other countries, and cover several Agreement with
A protest demanding state action against femicide in Honduras
areas of cooperation, including Europe.
politics, economics and trade. The
EU demands that the Agreement with Increased unemployment Destruction of rural livelihoods
Central America should include a far- The small businesses that are likely to DR-CAFTA has already had a
reaching free trade agreement (FTA) suffer from trade liberalisation are devastating impact on agricultural
in goods and services, despite the important employers of women and smallholders, and this can only
huge difference in development are often led by women. Their worsen with further liberalisation
between the two regions. Trade collapse would seriously undermine under an Association Agreement.
liberalisation would see agricultural women’s economic independence. Many small farmers in Central
smallholders, fishermen and women, Cutbacks in the public sector due America engage in sustainable, low-
craftspeople and small businesses to privatisation would also technology production. In contrast,
compete “freely” with Europe’s disproportionately affect women. technology- and pesticide-intensive
transnational corporations. With increased global competition, European agro-industry receives high
Even more worrying is that the the already poor labour conditions in subsidies and internal support from
Agreement embraces issues and areas export processing zone (EPZ) factories the EU, which would enable it to flood
that developing countries have been are likely to worsen, leading to higher Central American markets with
successful in excluding from the latest production targets, compulsory produce at below production costs.
World Trade Organisation round. overtime, lower salaries and more Meanwhile strict sanitary standards
These include privatisation of services, labour rights violations. for imports will continue to exclude
government procurement and the Rising unemployment is likely to Central American products from the
removal of non-tariff barriers, including force women out of the formal labour European market.
labour and environmental regulations. market – a trend already seen in the
The EU plans to undertake a growing numbers of men employed in Increased burden of social
‘Sustainability Impact Assessment’, EPZ factories. Livelihoods of women reproductive work
but only after the Agreement is in place. in the informal sector are more The free market economic model –
This means its findings will not inform precarious. Many domestic workers which the Association Agreement
the negotiations but at best help do not have contracts, work extremely aims to further – fails to recognise or
mitigate the Agreement’s worst effects. long hours and some experience value the importance of people taking
The Central America Women’s abuse. Women may face danger care of each other and the environment.
Network (CAWN) commissioned a working in the sex industry to Much of this work is done by women
study (see below for details) – starting support themselves and their families. and girls in the home and community,

Central America Report: Summer 2008 4

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Central America
and is already burdensome enough to struggle to challenge gender inequality
damage their health. Lower public and rights violations. The increasing Economic Partnership
budgets and privatisation are likely to burden of women’s economic and Agreements ignore
result in a transfer of costs and labour social reproductive responsibilities
in public services such as health, resulting from the Agreement will
trade justice
education and water to the domestic mean they are less able to organise Global trade talks in the Doha
economy, adding to women’s and participate in public life and “development” round at the
responsibilities. At the same time, demand respect for their rights. World Trade Organisation
reduced employment opportunities As it stands the Association (WTO) have failed to deliver any
will increase the pressure to work Agreement between Europe and meaningful progress on trade
ever longer hours outside of the Central America will perpetuate and justice. Yet the WTO is not the
home. The cost of essential medicines deepen poverty and inequality in the only set of negotiations where
will rise as intellectual property laws region. Despite the risks, negotiations – trade justice is being blocked
introduced under the Agreement led by the narrow interests of the by rich country governments.
prohibit the production and import European Commission’s Directorate The UK, with its partners in
of generic drugs. General for Trade – are not subject to Europe, is pushing profoundly
significant MEP scrutiny, and have unfair trade deals on 76 former
Rising poverty and migration been marked by a lack of transparency colonies and regions of Latin
Violence against women is endemic in and failure to engage in meaningful America – some of the poorest
Central America amid an ingrained debate with civil society. countries in the world. The
culture of machismo. Femicide – deals, called Economic
murder of women because they are Call for moratorium Partnership Agreements (EPAs),
women, often by an unknown CAWN is calling for a moratorium on were meant to herald a new era
attacker – is a growing problem. the negotiations in order to establish of cooperation between the EU
Poverty and unemployment are democratic accountability in the and Asian, Caribbean, Pacific
recognised as important contributing agreement of trade relations that will and Latin American countries.
factors to male violence against have such a far-reaching impact on The lives of 750 million of the
women. Greater economic insecurity the lives of women and men in Central world's poorest people are in
and unemployment resulting from the America. There is an urgent need to: the balance as poor farmers
Association Agreement can only result • establish greater MEP scrutiny of and vulnerable producers
in family breakdown and an increase the negotiations will be forced into direct
in male violence against women. • establish greater transparency and competition with rich nations.
As people lose their livelihoods, access to information The EU’s aggressive trade
migration within Central American • assess fully the impact of the agenda, negotiating tactics and
countries and to other regions will proposed trade, investment and desperate desire to reach
rise. When men migrate, pressures service liberalisation, including agreements in late 2007 have
increase on women to provide for the differential impact on women sown the seeds for economic
their families and family cohesion is and men chaos in the long term. The
threatened. When women migrate, • engage in meaningful multi- main concerns surrounding
they suffer discrimination and abuse stakeholder discussion to ensure EPAs are that they will threaten
as migrant workers and the social that Europe’s trade and investment small industries and agriculture,
reproductive duties they leave behind agreements promote – and do not reduce spending on essential
fall to other women and girls, often undermine – economic justice, services like health and
damaging their own education and ecological sustainability, democratic education, undermine national
health. There is increasing concern accountability and the rights of plans for development, and
about trafficking of vulnerable girls women and girls increase environmental
and women for sexual exploitation. destruction in a bid to force
Visit www.cawn.org to join the call countries to open their markets.
Reduced political participation for a moratorium or to obtain a copy In response, campaigning
At a regional meeting of women to of the report, “The Association organisations in the North, such
discuss the Association Agreement Agreement between the European as the Trade Justice Movement,
negotiations in April, leaders Union and Central America: its are calling for a moratorium
identified the financial situation of potential impact on women’s lives in on EPAs.
their organisations and members – Central America” by Martha Yllescas
obliging them to focus primarily on Altamarino & Guadalupe Salinas, For more information:
survival – as a constraint in the in English and Spanish. www.tjm.org.uk

5 Central America Report: Summer 2008

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Central America

Regional update
CENTRAL AMERICA makers with scientists and expressing their concerns and sufficient documentation on
environmental experts, and to encourage participation internal structural changes,
Latin America rejects EU law alert the public. It also hopes by first-time voters. The which the MRS denies. Kerry
on illegal immigrants to stimulate debate over government claims the US is Max, on behalf of donor
Latin American countries have sustainable actions at a national targeting 17 key cities with countries, expressed concern
criticised a new EU immigration and regional level that must be FSLN-controlled councils. about the politicisation of
law that stipulates indiscriminate taken urgently. It is expected to Government advisor Orlando the CSE and called for the
deportation of illegal take around 15 months at a Núñez argues the US electoral law to be applied
immigrants. The European cost of around $1.8 million. agreement will “finance fairly. Noam Chomsky, Ariel
Parliament has approved the Sandinista adversaries”, using Dorfman, Salman Rushdie,
so-called “Return Directive”, media tactics to create Eduardo Galeano, Bianca
which is due to come into force NICARAGUA “ideological harassment”. But Jagger and others issued a
in 2010. Under the law, all civil society organisations – statement on June 16 urging
illegal immigrants living in EU Call to end ban on while acknowledging that dialogue and arguing that
member states will have to therapeutic abortion some NGOs are political fronts Dora María “represents a
leave within a period of seven The Strategic Group for the to further US interests – accuse broad spectrum of civil society
to 30 days. If they fail to do so Legalisation of Therapeutic the government of trying to that must be heard”. With her
they will be subject to up to six Abortion, representing discredit widely respected health deteriorating, Dora
months of detention, which women’s rights organisations groups such as the Nicaraguan María gave up her hunger
can be prolonged for another and medical associations, Centre for Human Rights strike in order to lead
12 months in exceptional cases. presented a second appeal to (CENIDH) and the Institute for further protests.
The governments of Venezuela, the Nicaraguan Supreme Court Democracy and Development
Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, for the ban on abortion to be (IPADE), which have done
Bolivia, Guatemala and declared unconstitutional. extensive voter education and EL SALVADOR
Colombia all issued statements If the court fails to rule, the election monitoring since 1990.
rejecting the law on the group will take the case to FMLN presidential candidate
grounds that it violates human international tribunals. Political leader goes on leads in polls
rights. Venezuelan President Organisations in Nicaragua hunger strike FMLN candidate Mauricio
Hugo Chávez threatened to have maintained pressure on Dora María Téllez, a former Funes is the favourite to win
cut off oil supplies to Europe the government through Sandinista guerrilla commander El Salvador’s 2009 presidential
should it be enacted. national and local actions to and leader of the Sandinista elections, according to recent
raise awareness. On March 8, Renewal Movement (MRS), opinion polls. A survey
Climate change European parliament went on hunger strike from conducted by CIG-Gallup
study launched members, including Michael June 3–16 outside the offices gives Funes a 21 percent lead
In late May, the Central Cashman, Glenys Kinnock and of the Supreme Electoral over ARENA presidential rival
American Commission on Jean Lambert, appealed to the Council (CSE) in protest at its Rodrigo Avila. The recent
Environment and Development FSLN’s National Assembly decision to cancel the legal economic crisis faced by the
(CCAD), the UN’s Economic bench to repeal the law. status of MRS as a political majority of El Salvador’s
Commission for Latin America party, as well as the population has led to a swing
and the Caribbean (ECLAC) US accused of interfering government’s handling of the towards Funes.
and the UK’s Department for in municipal elections economy. On June 6, three of The poll results were
International Development The US Agency for International the nine original members of released as the incumbent
(DfID) announced plans for Development (USAID) will the FSLN National Directorate president and leader of the
a study on “The Economics of provide $320,000 to 16 visited Téllez and demanded right-wing ARENA party
Climate Change in Central Nicaraguan NGOs for training that the government commemorated his fourth
America” to analyse the in citizen participation in the “immediately instigate a year in office on June 1.
challenges, benefits and costs run-up to November’s national dialogue to agree President Elías Antonio Saca
of mitigating and adapting to municipal elections. According policies to combat hunger and marked the anniversary by
a warmer world. The study to outgoing ambassador Paul unemployment and to highlighting his commitment
seeks to prompt discussion Trivelli, the funding is to help strengthen democracy”. to social justice in speeches.
over climate change, integrating reduce voter abstention, The CSE alleges that the However, according to
economic and social decision- support young people in MRS failed to present opinion polls, 80 percent of

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Central America
Salvadorans believe the clean water supply, was widely The aircraft went down in a police under Rivera’s direction
country is economically worse seen as a political favour by wooded area in the north, killing were killing suspected gang
off under Saca, and 63 percent Santa Ana’s mayor, whose all four people on board. The members, although he denied
believe ARENA is no longer Christian Democrat Party cause of the accident is not any wrongdoing.
capable of governing. is headed by the majority known, but the area had been
shareholder of PRESYS, the firm blanketed in fog and heavy rain. Five sentenced for
ARENA held to awarded the construction Río Negro massacre
electoral reform contract. A company Gunmen kill former After three years of bureaucratic
Faced with increasing popular representative denied it had govt adviser suspension and six months of
support for the opposition been forced to pull out of the Gunmen killed a former top hearings, five ex-civil patrollers
FLMN party, ARENA has scheme, insisting it was awaiting government security adviser were sentenced to 780 years
made an embarrassing climb- an evaluation by El Salvador’s in April while driving through in prison by the Sentencing
down in its attempts to derail environment ministry. Guatemala City, a week after Tribunal in the highland
a previous electoral reform he was fired by President county of Salamá on May 28.
agreement. The agreement, Alvaro Colom amid complaints The killing of 177 Río Negro
made in 2007 between El GUATEMALA he had become too powerful. women and children is one of
Salvador’s Supreme Electoral A Venezuelan citizen, Victor 626 documented massacres
Tribunal (TSE) and the Guatemalan official dies Rivera was hired by the perpetrated during the
Organisation of American in helicopter crash government in the 1990s to bloodiest of Latin America’s
States (OAS) delegated Guatemala's interior minister, help authorities confront a civil wars, in which 250,000
responsibilities for Vinicio Gomez, died in a wave of kidnappings. Human people were killed or
strengthening the integrity of helicopter crash on June 27. rights officials allege that disappeared.
El Salvador’s electoral process
to the OAS. In a stunning
move, the TSE – whose Americas Social Forum
president is an ARENA
representative – announced on The third Americas Social Forum will
May 22 it would limit the role be held in Guatemala from October
of OAS to an advisory capacity, 7–12. The event aims to strengthen
reducing its ability to promote connections between struggles,
transparency and fairness in experiences and critical perspectives
the 2009 elections. A week across the Americas, among those
later, amid widespread who are resisting the neoliberal order
denunciations and growing and bringing about change.
pressure from opposition
politicians and social The main themes include:
organisations, TSE president • Scope and challenges for
Walter Arujo reversed the change in the hemisphere
decision, saying he would from different ideological
honour the 2007 OAS perspectives
agreement.
• Defending a decent standard of
living in the face of capitalism
Community groups stop
landfill scheme • The challenges of diversity
and equality
A proposed landfill construction
scheme approved by local • Indigenous, Afro-descendant
government in Santa Ana has peoples and nationalities:
been halted thanks to the efforts wellbeing and living together
of more than 20 community for the future
groups. On May 27, after six
months of peaceful protest The deadline to register organisations
activities, their efforts were and delegates online is September 22.
rewarded with an agreement to The deadline to register events is
remove site machinery. The July 31.
scheme, which threatens the
More information: http://www.forosocialamericas.org/fsa-guatemala
affected communities’ only

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Central America

Food price rises threaten

poverty for millions more
Leaders have come up with a package of measures to boost food production.

OARING GLOBAL food prices A $660 million plan aims to stimulate

S have made it harder for

Central Americans to provide
their families with a decent diet. The
“Globally, we have estimated that
this crisis could push 100 million
people into poverty… This is not
a natural catastrophe. It is man-
production of grains, meat, dairy
products and other basic foods, and to
guarantee food supply in the region.
UN World Food Programme (WFP) It includes credit and technical
says the rises have been particularly made and can be fixed by us… support for small and medium
harsh in Central America. The price of We just need action and resources producers, and the creation of seed
maize – the staple food crop – nearly in real-time.” production centres and a regional
doubled in the year to May. The World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick food-distribution network.
price of beans has also reached According to Reuters news agency,
unprecedented levels, partly due to enough to sell on local markets aren’t Guatemala – where one in every two
poor weather, and international rice benefiting from higher prices because of children is already malnourished – is
prices have nearly tripled since the rising fertiliser and transportation costs. giving emergency money to thousands
beginning of the year. In May, Central American, Caribbean of women in the poorest areas to
In rural El Salvador, the same and Andean leaders gathered in buy food for their families. Over the
amount of money buys 50 percent less Managua for a “Food for Life” summit next year, 190,000 households in
food than 18 months ago, according to hosted by Nicaraguan President Guatemala’s 45 poorest areas will
the WFP. In principle, that means Daniel Ortega. They issued a receive between $40 and $80 a month.
people’s nutritional intake – already declaration promising joint action to El Salvador is distributing hybrid
inadequate – has been cut by half. Even reduce the devastating effects of the corn seeds to increase production, and
small farmers who are able to grow global food crisis across the region. Nicaragua is buying crops and selling
them cheaply to consumers. The
government is also providing small
What’s causing the rise in prices? farmers with zero-interest loans
(see page 10).
The WFP says several factors have combined in a “perfect storm” that
A recent UN study warned that, if
has pushed food prices up 54 percent over the last year on international
food prices continue to rise by double-
commodity markets. Cereal prices have soared 92 percent.
digit percentages and wages stay the
The causes include: same, over 30 million more people will
be pushed into poverty in Latin
• increased energy costs
America – half of those into extreme
• rising demand from economic growth in emerging economies
poverty. The WFP has set up a
• growth of biofuels, some of which use food crops like maize commission to monitor the impact of
• increasing climatic shocks such as droughts and floods rising food prices on the poorest Central
• decline in food reserves to their lowest level for 25 years Americans, and plans to support
• extreme volatility in commodity markets, which are subject to
sudden spikes and speculation
government efforts to help people cope.
Oil-rich Venezuela has called on
• falling value of the dollar, the currency in which all major
commodities are traded
Latin American energy-producing
countries to set up a fund for food aid
using windfall oil profits that could
• migration of food-producing peasant farmers to cities in
recent decades give poor nations some relief from
soaring prices. Nonetheless, aid
In a bid to protect their populations, many countries have imposed export agencies are concerned that Central
bans or restrictions on certain food types. The UN argues such measures America’s emergency measures may
should be minimised because they can drive prices up further as food not be enough to save millions more
becomes less available. from going hungry.
Megan Rowling

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Central America
scandal”, saying “private interests
World food summit: wrong have been imposed over the [global]
common interest. The decisions taken in
diagnosis, wrong solutions Rome may even provoke an increase in
levels of hunger around the world,” he
said. NGO representatives at a parallel
By Karla Jacobs forum,“Terra Preta” (fertile earth),
concluded that the Rome declaration
N JUNE, the UN Food and production between 1961 and 2007 has
I Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
held a summit in Rome entitled “Food
not reduced malnutrition significantly
in the poorest countries.
“will not fill even one empty plate”.
The loudest objections came from
Latin American countries. During the
security: the challenges of climate The summit’s pledge “to eliminate final plenary session, the Argentinian
change and bioenergy”. Its aim was hunger and to secure food for all today delegate criticised the lack of concrete
to address the severe problems faced and tomorrow” rang hollow given its measures, stating: “if one diagnoses
by the poorest countries as a result failure to call on rich countries to a problem incorrectly, one will not
of soaring food prices. The summit eliminate or even reduce multi-million prescribe a suitable remedy, which is
declaration, signed by 43 world dollar agricultural subsidies for export what has happened at this summit”.
leaders, called for urgent measures to crops. Nor did it contain concrete steps Venezuela, Nicaragua, Ecuador and
avoid further increases and guarantee towards mitigating the effects of climate Bolivia backed this view. For Cuba, the
food availability. However, six Latin change for which rich nations are declaration represented the “lack of
American countries rejected the mainly responsible. Nor did those political will from the North to put a
declaration, saying it failed to address countries undertake to suspend or limit definitive end to hunger in the world”.
the causes of the problem or come up biofuel production.
with real measures to end hunger. Jean Ziegler, former UN Special This is an edited version of an
World Bank President Robert Rapporteur on the Right to Food, article originally published on
Zoellick warned that, “without fast described the outcome as a “true www.tortillaconsal.com
action, this crisis will steal the potential
of a generation”. However, the summit
stopped far short of the drastic
solutions needed to address the
immense scale of the problem. Top

Photo: WFP/Oscar Rodas

UN officials, including the Secretary-
General, insisted that doubling global
food production over the next few
decades would help guarantee global
food security. However, according to
the FAO, the world already produces
enough food to feed itself twice over. In June, WFP organised marches around the world to raise awareness and funds to
Leaders also ignored the fact that the “end hunger”. In Guatemala, more than 20,000 people participated, highlighting the
three-fold increase in global food fact that almost half of children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition.

Nicaraguan families go without meat and dairy products

Shopping at a market in Managua, with plantains. “It’s nothing but gallo constant companion of families that
sewing machine operator Maria pinto (beans and rice) for breakfast, scavenge a living among Managua’s
Concepcion Ramos says she hopes lunch and dinner,” she sighs. She rubbish. Milton Baquedano, five, has
relief will come soon. She and her describes what’s happening in her grown up next to this smouldering
husband, a house painter, earn a neighbourhood: “Families are serving mountain of waste. He was
combined $220 a month. Rising food up half-empty plates or skipping meals hospitalised last year for complications
prices are making finances tight for altogether. Hard lives have become stemming from severe malnutrition.
them and their three children. Maria even harder.” He’s better now, thanks to a feeding
crosses out a list of products the With two incomes and three meals programme at a community clinic. But
family can no longer afford to eat: a day, the Ramos family is more his body still bears telltale signs of his
meat (including chicken), butter, coffee fortunate than many. Over at La ordeal: many of his teeth are missing
and the thick cream Nicaraguans eat Chureca rubbish dump, hunger is the or rotted.
Source: www.nicanet.org

9 Central America Report: Summer 2008

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Nicaragua

Credit and livestock for

Photo: Karen Lawson

Nicaraguan producers
CCORDING TO the FAO, production. The government has also
A 27 percent of Nicaraguans suffer
some degree of malnutrition, which is
reduced or eliminated import tariffs
on a number of basic food products,
Maize field, El Porcal, northern Nicaragua

making cooking gas from animal dung,

particularly damaging for children’s including beans, oats, barley and eliminating the damaging health and
health. This is not caused by scarcity cooking oil. Nicaragua has a large environmental effects of firewood
of basic food, but by unemployment amount of land and rural labour, and a usage). Low-interest credit, technical
and lack of opportunities. People traditional agrarian culture. President support and training are also provided.
simply can’t afford to buy food. World Daniel Ortega said that, if it exploits The immediate aim is to dramatically
Bank figures show that 45 percent of these opportunities, the country could improve family nutrition, while
Nicaragua’s population survives increase production, ensure national regenerating rural economies in the
on less than $2 a day and nearly 15 food sovereignty and even supply food medium term.
percent on just $1 or less. to the whole of Central America. The government aims to integrate
The combination of long-standing 75,000 smallholder families into this
malnutrition, food price rises and “Food for the People” programme before 2012. In 2007, it
general inflation (over 15 percent last The government has reactivated provided 13,000 packages, and plans
year) are making it impossible for a ENABAS (National Basic Food another 14,500 during 2008. According
growing number of people to eat three Company) warehouses as part of its to Minister Ariel Bucardo, 19,300
times a day. Besides global factors, “Food for the People” programme. direct jobs and 60,000 indirect jobs
successive governments have left In November, it was reported that have been created in the first 15
peasant farmers, the countryside and ENABAS had signed agreements months. The programme was
agricultural production to their fate. with over 50,000 farmers and 72 inaugurated in May 2007 in Raiti in
While no land dedicated to maize or agricultural cooperatives to buy basic northwest Nicaragua, an area of
other grains is being converted to grains and other food products at Miskitu, Mayangna and Mestizo
biofuel production in Nicaragua, there fixed rates. ENABAS then distributes communities living in extreme
has been a notable rise in the price the produce directly to points of sale poverty. The main desire of the local
of bread – as much a part of poor in impoverished neighbourhoods and people is to “save the Río Coco”, on
Nicaraguans’ diet as tortillas. This is communities across the country. Here, whose shores they have historically
because Nicaragua doesn’t produce the food is sold at affordable prices. built their communities, but which is
wheat, and wheat farmers in the US now shrinking due to deforestation.
and other countries have switched to “Zero Hunger” programme What contribution will these
biofuel crops. A third government food security initiatives make to reversing poverty
The Sandinista government came initiative is the “Zero Hunger” and malnutrition in Nicaragua? Critics
to office in January 2007 with a programme, coordinated by MAGFOR point out that the programmes only
commitment to implementing reforms and based on a model pioneered by benefit those who already have
in education, health, infrastructure and the Nicaraguan NGO CIPRES over property, not the two-in-five landless
rural development to address acute the last decade. It constitutes an families who are trapped in deepest
poverty, particularly in rural areas. Here environmentally friendly, integrated poverty. The majority of these can’t
are some of the main programmes: way of reviving the productive become producers – not only because
capacity of impoverished campesino they have no land but also because
Credit for small producers families, so they can become self- they are often single mothers who will
In 2008, the government promised to sufficient in food and sell the surplus find it harder to buy food as prices
provide zero-interest loans for seeds locally. The model is adjusted to the rise. Others argue that national and
and fertilisers for over 177,000 economic, social and environmental regional initiatives must be backed up
smallholder farmers to produce basic realities of rural Nicaragua and by much stronger political will on the
grains. These will be repayable with focuses on women producers. part of rich countries and transnational
produce at harvest time. According Participating families receive a corporations if the world is to prevent
to the Ministry of Agriculture and package including a pregnant cow, the global food crisis harming the
Forestry (MAGFOR), this is part of a pregnant sow, chickens, a cockerel, prospects of a generation.
a package worth $230 million in seeds, fruit trees, a grey water filter
government and private funds to (which recycles soapy or dirty water Sources: www.nicanet.org and
provide incentives for food for irrigation), a bio-digestor (for www.tortillaconsal.com

Central America Report: Summer 2008 10

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Reviews

Book reviews
Fighting the the eventual trial and literary prize. In London to
prosecution of a number launch the publication of the
Banana Wars and
of army officers. This is a English translation in May this
Other Fairtrade gripping and disturbing look year, he recounted the story of
Battles at Guatemala’s justice system how he had met Monteforte
and the lives of people who Toledo at the prize-giving
By Harriet Lamb
paid the price for telling ceremony, stuck out his hand
Ebury, February 2008, the truth. and received a puzzled look in
£10.99 Shelagh Kavanagh response. “I thought you were
older,” explained Monteforte
www.fairtrade.org.uk Toledo. “Maybe you were
thinking of my main character?”
This book does not do what it
Final Silence
suggested Flores in response.
says on the label. It is a cheery By Ronald Flores, Final Silence follows a
story in a readable, clear style Guatemalan psychologist’s
translated by
about the human faces of return to his homeland as he
Fairtrade production and
Gavin O’Toole
The Art of Political rediscovers the psychological
consumption, and their 108 pp, Aflame Books, fallout from years of conflict.
inspiring small-scale
Murder – Who
£7.50 It offers an intimate look at
successes. It is also a well- Killed Bishop
the Guatemalan civil war one
deserved testament to the Gerardi? Ronald Flores shot to step removed. Flores succeeds
soaring numbers of consumers prominence as a writer in in offering readers the
choosing Fairtrade. Yet there
By Francisco Goldman
Guatemala in 2001 at the age counterpoise of distance to
is almost nothing about how 396 pp, Atlantic, of 28, when Final Silence, his catch their breath, as they
Fairtrade could play a role £16.99 first novel, won the prestigious discover the all-consuming
in addressing trading Mario Monteforte Toledo drama of a life and death
inequalities by redistributing In his first non-fiction book, conflict in
profits from big business to Guatemalan-American Guatemala
producers. So unfortunately author Francisco Goldman played out
the book is not about “how we reveals the complex story time and again.
took on the corporate giants to behind the brutal murder of Patrick Daniels
change the world”. Every time Bishop Juan Gerardi. The
the issue looms, the author human rights defender was
swerves away from analysing killed two days after making
it more deeply. public the findings of a Aflame Books
Harriet Lamb, director of report documenting is a UK-based
the Fairtrade Foundation, thousands of testimonies of independent
writes entertainingly, murders carried out, mostly publisher which
informatively and passionately by the military, during the publishes,
about the vision for Fairtrade country’s 30-year civil war. in English
and the mechanics of A number of bizarre leads translation,
implementing it. The big gap followed in what was works from
is the absence of big-picture described as Guatemala’s Africa, Latin
politics and strategies for “crime of the century”. Was America and
placing Fairtrade within the it a gay crime of passion? the Middle East.
wider Trade Justice Movement Was he mauled by a dog? In 2007 it also
Photo: Stephanie Falla

(which gets mentioned only Was it a robbery gone published From

twice). As Harriet points out, wrong? Despite official the Darkness
“Fairtrade cannot change mishandling, a courageous by Guatemalan
world trade… on its own – it is and committed team from novelist
just one small part of the many the bishop’s own Oswaldo
solutions needed.” organisation pursued the Salazar.
Ronald Flores in Housman’s
Gay Lee case in parallel, leading to bookshop, London, May 2008 www.aflamebooks.com

11 Central America Report: Summer 2008

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Nicaragua
needed to process the sugarcane. They
Bitter aftertaste for accuse NSEL of harassing those who
have attempted to establish a trade
union or raised concerns about the
sugarcane workers company’s operations.
NSEL received a $55 million loan
from the IFC in 2006 to increase its
A major Nicaraguan biofuel company is blamed for sugarcane production and to fund the
construction of an ethanol plant. The
ill-health and water contamination. community complaint was submitted
to the Office of the Compliance
ORE THAN 700 community the environment and people. The

M members and ex-sugarcane

workers filed a complaint in
April with the International Finance
Nicaraguan complaint highlights the
need to consider the wider impacts.
Communities report respiratory
Advisor Ombudsman, the mechanism
established to hold the IFC accountable
for violations of environmental and
social standards. The documents
Corporation (IFC) for injuries to their problems caused by clouds of smoke present evidence that NSEL activities
health and the environment which and ash created when the sugarcane have violated these standards.
they say are caused by the operations fields are burned before harvesting. “The IFC must ensure that it does
of Nicaragua Sugar Estates Limited. And many believe the chemicals used not trade one environmental problem
on the sugarcane are the cause of for another,” said Kris Genovese,
widespread chronic renal insufficiency attorney for the Center for International
(CRI) – particularly prevalent among Environmental Law, which helped
workers in NSEL fields. Up to January 8, with the preparation of the complaint.
2,677 people had died of renal failure “These communities represent the
resulting from pesticide poisoning, thousands of unseen victims of biofuel
according to an association for projects that fail to account for their
those affected. impact on human health and
Communities and sugar workers natural resources.”
Photo: Mike Elliott

have also complained of contaminated

water and threats to their water Sources: www.ciel.org
supply because of the large quantities www.nicanet.org

Worker cuts cane in a burned field in about it. They never gave us protective
Rufino Benito Somarriba, 53,
western Nicaragua.
worked at the San Antonio equipment, only a useless facemask.
NSEL is a subsidiary of Grupo sugarcane fields from I also had to get into the artificial
Pellas, one of the largest and most 1975 to 1984. ponds of black, extremely contaminated
diversified corporations in Central “I worked as a temporary labourer, water (a by-product of the industrial
America, with stakes in energy, sugar, spraying herbicide for several years process), in order to release this foul
Flor de Caña rum, ethanol, cars, before I was hired as a permanent smelling water onto the fields. I would get
banking and credit card companies. worker. I used to carry a knap sack totally soaked and had an intense itch
The towns of Chichigalpa, Goyena sprayer on my back. Poison would leak all over my body. Once I came out and
and Abangasca in northwest Nicaragua all over my body. realized I was bleeding from my penis.
are surrounded by thousands of I had to work from 9 in the morning In 2002, my blood pressure shot up
hectares of NSEL sugarcane. The till 3 to 4 in the afternoon, with no and my whole body was aching, but
company has brought much needed breaks. I used to sweat a lot and specially the nape of my neck. I was not
employment to the region, but this has the water I took with me did not last working on the sugarcane fields then, I
come at a cost to the workers’ health. long, so I had to drink from the river had been transferred to the liquor-making
Much of the sugarcane produced or from the water used for spraying. plants. I had medical tests done with very
here will be used for biofuels – as I never thought the water would be bad results, my creatinine* was 5.2. Now
with a growing percentage of the 145 contaminated and the fluid wetting my it is 16, but at times my values were 24.”
million tons of sugar produced each body would lead to my present *Creatinine is tested to determine kidney
year worldwide. While biofuels have condition. Maybe it was because we function and its normal level is below 1.
been touted as an alternative to fossil are not educated, but they took Interview by Giorgio Trucchi, republished from:
fuels, some large-scale projects are advantage and didn’t say a word www.rel-uita.org
producing negative consequences for

Central America Report: Summer 2008 12

Summer 08 artwork x16pp 15/7/08 11:54 Page 13

Honduras

Honduran prosecutors go
hungry in corruption protest
OR 38 DAYS from April 7, the it will create a legal precedent that that we have started – the social

F large square outside the congress

building in the Honduran capital
of Tegucigalpa became a campsite and
will stop corruption in the way these
cases are taken to court.”
The head of the Catholic and
organisations, the popular and
indigenous organisations, the
Evangelical and Catholic churches
the scene of constant protests as Protestant churches also declared their and NGOs that have generously
supporters backed eight public support. Evelio Reyes, leader of the opened themselves to the call of
prosecutors on hunger strike against Evangelical church Vida Abundante, dignity and justice for all Honduras”.
corruption. said: “This struggle is not just social and Despite commitments to investigate
According to international watchdog political, it is religious too. If we believe and suspend the Attorney General
Transparency International, Honduras in God, we must oppose any injustice and his deputy, they vowed to
is level with countries such as Liberia and help weak and the oppressed.” continue their struggle “until
and Burundi in terms of corruption – The hunger strike ended on May 15, Honduras is free from the corrupt
which costs the country $894 million and was described by the prosecutors political class and all those who
annually. A coalition of humanitarian as the first phase of “peaceful and civic protect and bless them”.
organisations, trade unions, church resistance struggle”. They issued a
groups and human rights statement emphasising the involvement Sources: www.danchurchaid.org
organisations supported the strike as of thousands of people who “have www.alboan.org
part of the fight for democracy and the individually made theirs the fight www.hondurasthisweek.com
rights of the poor. They also called for
an independent press to replace the
government-owned media, which is Corruption Perceptions Index 2007
subject to manipulation and censorship.
The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), published by
The prosecutors had been threatened
Transparency International, ranks 180 countries in terms of the
with the sack by the Attorney General
degree to which corruption is perceived to exist among public
because of an investigation they were
officials and politicians. The 2007 CPI score ranges between
carrying out into 16 corruption cases
10 (highly clean) and 0 (highly corrupt).
involving high-ranking politicians
and businessmen. The main demands
of the hunger strikers were the 1 Denmark: 9.4 Juan Carlos Griffin Raminez sits in
dismissal of the Attorney General and Finland a white plastic chair at the edge of the
his deputy, as well the creation of a
New Zealand square. He was one of the first prosecutors
commission to investigate and tackle 12 UK: 8.4
to go on hunger strike. On the 34th day,
corruption in general. he can talk only for a few minutes before
20 US: 7.2 he has to rest. His body is worn out by
The well-known Honduran singer
Karla Lara and other artists were 46 Costa Rica: 5.0 lack of food. “We started the hunger strike
among the 50 people who joined because our constitution states that all are
67 El Salvador: 4.0 equal before the law. But in the current
the strike for shorter periods.
“Corruption destroys our country. 111 Guatemala 2.8 state, this doesn’t hold true for people
This strike is a historic opportunity without wealth or power,” he says.
123 Nicaragua 2.6
to fight corruption and make a He explains there is a doctor on 24-hour
change,” Lara said. “It’s tough. My
131 Honduras: 2.5 watch and that four prosecutors have
Burundi already been admitted to hospital. “We risk
children call me up and ask me why Honduras
I’m not coming home, why it’s our lives for justice,” he says, gazing at his
Iran
taking so long… However each one Libya seven-year-old son, sitting quietly beside
of the hunger strikers is willing Nepal him. “I continue the strike for the children.
to give their all, so that the situation
Philippines We must win our demands if we want them
Yemen to grow up in a fair and just society.”
in Honduras changes regarding
impunity about corruption, because
we feel that, if we win the struggle,

13 Central America Report: Summer 2008

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Take action

Solidarity and campaign news

NICARAGUA for teachers of children with special are unreliable or non-existent. The
needs. FEDH brings together ANDEN project is run by the Association for
■ Bristol footballers raise funds
(the teachers’ union), universities, Integrated Rural Development (ADIC)
for women’s shrimp co-operative
social movements such as the with funding from Network for Social
Following on from the hotly contested
Nicaraguan Community Movement, Change, Appletree Fund, Places for
COPA Sandino football tournament
and about 20 NGOs working with People and individual donations.
in May, Bristol Link with Nicaragua
children, women, education and Following the successful installation
(BLINC) held a women’s football
disabled people. Before the 2006 of 20 kits in 2005, the plan is to equip
tournament that raised £571 for the
elections, FEDH agreed a New Agenda 22 more houses, with a final target of
Lucrecia Lindo women’s co-operative
for Education, which was endorsed by around 150 installations.
in Bristol’s twin town of Puerto
all parties and is now being integrated The project was set up with a
Morazan. According to twinning
into government education policy. ‘revolving fund’ and repayments from
officer Alix Hughes, “the women had
NSC is providing financial support families should enable 20 new kits to be
a great time apart from the goalie who
to FEDH to publish internal installed per year. The kits can power
had her nose broken by a Spanish
newsletters and technical support to two to three special light bulbs, as well
striker”. The Pink Panthers emerged
set up a website: www.fedh-ipn.org. as providing one socket outlets to run
victorious, and received a bottle of Flor
NSC also received a grant from the a radio or TV for up to three hours at
de Caña rum as well as a trophy.
AMICUS Foundation to produce a a cost of £400 per household. Families
leaflet on education in Nicaragua and repay the money over a maximum of
■ From oil dependency to
for a series of workshops to train seven years at £5 per month, which is
renewable energy
teachers of children with special needs. a similar cost to mains electricity. Many
The Leicester-Masaya Link group has
hope to pay sooner, allowing the
been involved in a multi-disciplinary
■ Visit by Nicaraguan women’s money to be recycled more quickly.
project funded by the EU and British
rights activists
government aimed at increasing www.adicmasaya.org
The Central America Women’s
renewable energy in Central America
Network (CAWN) organised a speaker
by developing networks of local
tour in March by Sandra Ramos and ■ Environmental expeditions
authorities, universities, businesses,
Gladys Urtecho from the Maria Elena for young people
national institutions, NGOs and
Cuadra Working and Unemployed Between 2000 and 2006, Somerset-based
community groups. A delegation from
Women's Movement (MEC), taking in K2 Adventures organised expeditions
Leicester, including the council leader,
the UK, Brussels and Ireland. The aim to Nicaragua for 400 young people and
will travel to Nicaragua and Guatemala
was to share experiences with civil 70 adults. Most were hosted and linked
to participate in an international
society in Europe and to influence with communities in Ocotal and Puerto
symposium to disseminate and take
policy makers whose decisions impact Morazan through the Swindon and
forward the findings of the project.
on the lives of Nicaraguan women. Bristol twinning links. All the trips
The MEC representatives met MPs, the focused on supporting local community
www.leicestermasayalink.org
European Commission, civil society and environmental projects. K2 is
organisations and the public to planning more trips in late 2008-09,
■ Meeting of towns with
highlight attacks on women’s sexual and is interested in working through
twinning links
and reproductive rights and the schools, twinning links and youth
On April 26, representatives of some
potential impact on women of the services. Further information: Matt
of the 12 towns and communities with
Association Agreement currently being Cambridge – 0845 612 2005
twinning links in Nicaragua met in
negotiated between Central America
Bristol to discuss the wealth of ideas
and the European Union. ■ NSC raises £29,000 for
and initiatives across the UK. In
Hurricane Felix survivors
particular, the meeting discussed how www.cawn.org Tel: 020 7833 4175 Part of the £29,000 raised has gone to
NSC could develop ways to share
a project led by the University of the
information relating to its education
■ Solar panels bring electricity Autonomous Regions of the Caribbean
campaign.
to farming communities Coast of Nicaragua (URACCAN) to
‘Proyecto Sol’ in Masaya installs solar restore the production of beans and
■ Support for Education Forum
panel electricity kits in farming maize to guarantee food supplies for
NSC supports the Nicaraguan
communities where power supplies the inhabitants of the communities of
Education Forum (FEDH) and training

Central America Report: Summer 2008 14

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Take action

Young trade unionists inspired by Nicaraguan visit

In February, five young “It was really inspiring to see
members from CWU, the excellent work Nicaraguan
UNISON, UNITE/Amicus trade unions are carrying out in
and UNITE/TGWU visited extremely difficult circumstances
Nicaragua with the Nicaragua and with very limited resources.
Solidarity Campaign Action We met activists from a wide
Group (NSCAG). They were range of backgrounds and I'm
hosted by the National Workers looking forward to sharing these
Front (FNT), as part of the experiences with British trade
Photo: Anna Cooper

NSCAG Linking Young Trade unionists and to maintaining

Unionists project, which solidarity links of mutual co-
builds links between young operation with our Nicaraguan
trade union members in the brothers and sisters,” said
UK and Nicaragua. The aim UNISON member Heenal Rajani.
was to learn about how UNISON and UNITE delegates with local government
unions in Nicaragua are workers in Jinotepe NSCAG is supporting the
involving young people, to delegates to strengthen their
exchange experiences and develop in health, education, communication, solidarity links. An International
ideas for solidarity projects. law, industry, manufacturing and the Youth Solidarity Seminar will
The delegates met with young informal sector. The group also met take place in London on July 12.
members from five of the FNT’s civil society and women’s rights For project details:
affiliated union federations, organisations to learn more about http://www.nicaraguasc.org.uk/NSC
representing a wide range of workers the political and social situation. AG/youth_unionists.htm

Breñas Central and Ombila in the Volunteers will receive observation States. Every penny donated goes
northern part of the Atlantic Coast. training, local orientation and directly to the community leaders in
Funds are also supporting another information on the situation in the Dimas Rodriguez who select young
URACCAN project to improve the country from human rights officials, people to receive the support. In return,
quality of life for agricultural as well as representatives of civil the students agree to undertake regular
producers in the Wasakin community. society and political parties. Spanish community work, ensuring that the
The rest of the money has been is not a requirement as interpreters whole community benefits from the
allocated to rebuild the Maureen will accompany the observers. There scholarship fund. Details of past and
Courtney special needs school. A recent are also opportunities for longer-term current beneficiaries are available at:
message from the school read: “Thank voluntary positions of between three www.educationforthefuture.blogspot.
you so much to everyone in NSC for and six months to help organise the com
helping us in this difficult time in the observer mission. If you are able to pay £40 a month
life of the school and its 309 pupils.” (or any other amount) to support a
www.cis-elsalvador.org young person to go to university, please
set up a standing order: Account name:
EL SALVADOR ■ Scholarship scheme benefits Education for the Future / Account
community number: 20162520 / Sort code: 08 60 01
■ Electoral observers wanted
Young people from Dimas Rodriguez
The Centro de Intercambio y
(a small village north of San Salvador,
Solidaridad (CIS) is organising two
election observer missions in 2009.
created at the end of the war by a group GUATEMALA
of FMLN guerillas and their families)
The first will be from January 12-20 to ■ Workers’ Beer Company
are being offered the chance to go to
observe the mayoral and legislative fundraising
university through a scholarship
elections, and the second from March There were many more volunteers than
scheme. Work prospects are limited and
9-17 for the presidential elections. places, with 17 volunteers scheduled to
a lack of funds has prevented many
CIS is looking for volunteers to help work at five different events, including
young people from accessing higher
contribute to free and fair elections Glastonbury. Thanks to everyone who
education – one of the main reasons
and generate a safe environment has volunteered and helped raised
why so many migrate to the United
for democratic participation. much needed funds for GSN.

15 Central America Report: Summer 2008

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Take action
■ GSN ‘Women and Violence’ While the government attributes the Elimination of Violence Against
Speaker Tour the murders to gang violence, the Women. The goal is to raise awareness
Women throughout the Americas are Organization of American States of women and violence in Guatemala,
calling for an end to rising violence has noted that their aim may be including domestic violence, gang
against them. In Guatemala alone, to terrorise Guatemala’s women, violence and impunity. If you are
more than 3,000 women have been reversing the gains they have made in interested in hosting or getting
murdered since 2000. Family the last 10 years and forcing them out involved in meetings with GSN
members, witnesses and leaders of of the public sphere and back into regional and other solidarity groups,
women’s rights organisations continue their homes. please contact: gsn_mail@yahoo.com
to work under threat to halt the In the face of violence and
violence and seek justice for the victims. discrimination, women have formed GET IN TOUCH
The Guatemalan government has survivors’ associations, mental health Wales NSC: Betws, Fford Haern
done next to nothing to stem the groups, and regional coalitions. Others Bach, Pen Y Groes LL54 6NY
violence. The low priority it gives have worked tirelessly to improve Tel: 01286 882359
the issue of femicide is reflected in access to land, comprehensive health Email: benica@gn.apc.org
the scant resources it allocates care, and education, particularly for www.walesnsc.wordpress.com
to investigations and the almost women living in rural indigenous NSC, local links and ENCA:
complete absence of prosecution. communities. Some have spoken out 129 Seven Sisters Rd, London N7 7QG
There have been rulings in only 20 against discriminatory laws and a Tel: 020 7272 9619
femicide cases since 2000. The state justice system plagued by impunity. www.nicaraguasc.org.uk
has also failed in its efforts to prevent Guatemala Solidarity Network is GSN: Flat 9, 71 Hornsey Lane,
these murders, and few cases of preparing for a speaker tour in London, N6 5LE. Tel: 020 8340 3731
domestic violence or sexual assault November, to coincide with the Email: gsn_mail@yahoo.com
are taken seriously. November 25 International Day for www.guatemalasolidarity.org.uk

Central America Report: Summer 2008 16