News in English

30.03.2004 During his visit to Washington, Colombian president Álvaro Uribe is seeking continued U.S. investment in Plan Colombia and assurances of U.S.-backing for "Plan Colombia II." President Uribe is promoting his controversial plan to demobilize illegal paramilitary groups and highlighting recent reductions in the cultivation of coca.

29.03.2004 The cabinet ministers of Luis Inacio "Lula" da Silva's government who have kept the Brazilian economy in a neo- liberal economic straight-jacket are coming under sustained attack from the more popular sectors of the governing Workers Party. Even Lula himself has given signs he is moving away from the budgetary and financial prescriptions imposed by the International Monetary Fund that he has adhered to during his first fifteen months in office.

26.03.2004 On 21 March, interim Prime Minister, Gerard Latortue, addressed a large crowd gathered at the Plaza of Independence, in the city of Gonaives. Latortue began by requesting a moment of silence for Amiot Metayer, the local leader who was assassinated - his followers charge on orders from Aristide - on 22
September 2003.

25.03.2004 If Mexican President Vicente Fox stands behind his promise, he will sign regulations this March enabling mandatory, public reporting of industrial toxic discharges. His signature will be the long-awaited result of the efforts by environmental right-to-know (RTK) activists in all three North American countries to bring Mexico’s Pollution Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) up to par with those in the United States and Canada.

24.03.2004 There are moments in American foreign policy that run a déjà vu chill down one's spine. Just such a moment was the recent talk to a group of Cali businessmen by William Wood, U.S. Ambassador to Colombia. In his remarks, Wood endorsed efforts by the present government of President Alvaro Uribe to overturn that country's constitution to permit himself a second term.

23.03.2004 Ana Maria Pizarro, gynecologist and Nicaraguan women's health activist, writes that public policies toward women's quality of life, health, and education have veered away from rights and empowerment due in large part to the erosion of the secular state.

22.03.2004 The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists, calls on the Haitian National Police to protect journalists after gunmen fired on the residence of Radio Vision 2000 journalist Elysée Sincère.

18.03.2004 The Haitian organisations that are members of the Assembly of Caribbean People express their concern and indignation at the announced visit of Mr Jean-Bertrand Aristide to Jamaica over the next few weeks.

15.03.2004 Thanks to the thousands of emails sent by trade unionists and progressive activists from all over the world, the Grupo M management was obliged to respond to the First of May-Batay Ouvriye union federation's request for an urgent meeting to discuss the violent union-busting at the Ouanaminthe factory that occurred on 1-2 March 2004.

14.03.2004 Those who have any concern for Haiti will naturally want to understand how its most recent tragedy has been unfolding. And for those who have had the privilege of any contact with the people of this tortured land, it is not just natural but inescapable. Nevertheless, we make a serious error if we focus too narrowly on the events of the recent past, or even on Haiti alone. By Noam Chomsky.