RTÉ, Ireland’s national broadcaster, recently presented a radio programme from their Worlds Apart series on ‘Guatemala: The Indians and the Multinationals’. The presenter, Rodney Rice travelled to El Estor to find out the story behind the video posted on YouTube, of evictions held in the area of El Estor (in Izabal) in Guatemala. The video was posted in an effort to raise awareness and promote global support for the Quechi people who claim they are being ousted by nickel mining company CGN. He attends meetings with Defensoria Quechi and talks with the CGN, a member of Skye Resources, the Canadian natural resource extractor.

You can listen to the broadcast here.

There is a brief introduction with some pictures here. The broadcast, itself, begins about three minutes in, and you will have the pleasure of listening to some Irish language broadcasting prior to the programme starting. The programme itself lasts a little under thirty minutes and is well worth listening to.

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

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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':

- ODHAG denuncia la situación de la niñez y juventud
- En vista pública, AJR solicita rechazar amparo solicitado por Ríos Montt
- Usuarios protestan por aumento al pasaje en servicio extraurbano
- Minería amenaza bosque nuboso en Baja Verapaz
- Congreso electo estableció posible distribución de junta directiva
   more »

We just received this information from our colleagues at the Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign. We're cross posting it as it's a great opportunity to find out more about Fairtrade in Nicaragua:

Fair trade and community tourism study tour to Nicaragua (28 June-13 July 2008).


The trip will give you a unique opportunity to:

* Get to know the people who produce the coffee you drink every morning
* Gain an understanding of fair trade from the perspective of producers particularly women and the young people
* Learn about the coffee chain and how small producers confront the problems they face
* Enjoy the beautiful forested mountains of northern Nicaragua, where there are trails, waterfalls, rare birds, animals, and flowers
* Understand the importance of community based rural tourism as a means of diversifying the income of small scale farmers, protecting the environment and providing tourists with a unique opportunity for cultural exchange and interaction with a community.
* Learn how fair trade has empowered producers, opened up opportunities for community organisation and development and how tourism is part of that
* Use the experience to promote the Nicaraguan producers’ perspective on fair trade on your return

What will the programme include?

* Visits and talks to enable you to gain an understanding of the impact of globalisation on Nicaragua and the effects of trade injustice and global warming on small scale farmers particularly women
* A six day stay with the families of fair trade producers an opportunity to participate in the daily life of the community and a community based tourism project
* Visits to other rural development projects, part of the Sandinista government zero hunger program.
* Trips to some of Nicaragua’s historic towns and the spectacularly beautiful coast and countryside
* Other visits and talks will be organised depending on the particular interests of the group.


How much will it cost?

Ground and admin costs: £640 including UK/Nicaragua preparation and all costs in Nicaragua except insurance and airport taxes. Flight costs approximately £650. It is advisable to book as early as possible. Maximum size of group: 10

Further information: NSC, campaigns@nicaraguasc.org.uk tel: 020 7272 9619
Registered office: NSC, 129 Seven Sisters Rd, London N7 7QG
020 7272 9619   nsc@nicaraguasc.org.uk   www.nicaraguasc.org.uk