In a week when the spectre of famine raised its ugly head again in Guatemala, the Programa Mundial de Alimentos (PMA) and the Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL) presented in Guatemala the study: "El Costo del Hambre, Impacto Económico y social de la Desnutrición Infantil" [The Cost of Hunger, Economic and Social Impact of Child Malnutrition].

The report spelled out in black and white just how pronounced the problem of famine and malnutrition has been in Guatemala. Relative to other countries in Central America, Guatemalans have suffered the worst malnutrition consistently since 1965.

This is a great episode of the incredibly valuable Guatemalan series "Entremosle a Guate" on the subject of alternative sources of energy in Guatemala. Our recent post on biofuels got a clutch of comments- and it's worth broadening the debate beyond just biofuels in Guatemala. It's a land of all sorts of renewable sources of power such as geothermal and hydro electric explored in this episode.

This episode looks at the example of the use of geothermal power in the production of dried fruit by Agroindustrias La Laguna. It also looks at the construction of a micro hydroelectric plant in Chel, Quiche, by the Asociación Hidroeléctrica Chelense (AHC), founded in 2001 with the support of the Fundación Solar.

It's worth adding another powerful film 'Mayan Territories' made by Victoria Tai that provides an interesting insight into the work going on in the development of appropriate technology around and in Guatemala. The film's available to download from the AIDG website for a limited period.

Both videos point to the technological innovation currently taking place in Guatemala, and hint at the potential for change given the much needed investment and support.

This excellent weekly report can't be found on the web- we publish it here with kind permission from CDHG on this blog.

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INFORME SEMANAL SOBRE DERECHOS HUMANOS
Comision de Derechos Humanos de Guatemala
No. 32/07 Del 17 al 23 de agosto de 2007

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Fuentes directas CDHG, Prensa Libre, Siglo Veintiuno, El Periódico, Guatemala Hoy
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CDHG
2 Av. 4-66, apto. C-4, zona 1.
Tel/Fax: (502) 22203576 /22534285
E-mail: cdhg@intelnett.com
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These are the headlines- for the full report click on 'more':

- Organizaciones: legislación laboral no se cumple
- Denuncian amenazas contra delegados del TSE; unos 65 alcaldes y candidatos han sido amenazados
- Presentan ante CIDH demanda contra el Estado de Guatemala, por detención ilegal
- PDH confirma crisis en hospitales nacionales
- San Marcos, preocupa contaminación de agua por minera
- Diputada presenta informe que señala poca ejecución en temas sociales
   more »