Pretest Of Basic Life Support

The guerrilla, Mining

Published La Estrella de Panama and Otramérica .

Under the shadow of Victoriano Lorenzo died and rose a homeland myth. Months after his murder was resolved that "independence was absolutely essential to achieve the goal of happiness." It claimed that the "great and incessant insults ... instead of being treated ... are compounded by persistent and blindness" and in response to centralism decided it was "time to loose ties" producing unhappiness, "contradicting and making completely invalidating the purposes of political society."

is not believe in political discourse, but there is, showing that the proposed social organization implemented since then have very different consequences for such diverse groups of the Panamanian population, the speech to some extent could be replicated by those still in the struggle against conservatism dressed liberal, nationalist or progressive, ignored by all governments, used by all opposition.

As more than a century, the human group which was part Victoriano Lorenzo and classes related to him, still aspiring to the goal of happiness, that grievances are addressed and not blindly and persistently aggravated. Is felt in the defense of the lands and waters that are life snatched away, fighting for decent working conditions and a fair distribution of effort and welfare of its descendants, is mobilizing for lifelong learning and quality, walking among still seeking autonomy to exist as peoples.

The final rebel warns of the need for autonomy in the organization of indigenous and peasant communities, as well as the popular sectors affected by policies of plunder. Because no one can better represent the interests of the directly interested in its relationship with governments and other sectors such as civil society, social movements and political parties, representatives of the wealthy city that never save the countryside, the county and the suburbs, and if today is considered to the extent that have already expressed an opening force and require opportunities for participation in defense of their rights.

This autonomy should extend to the political struggle, from the local, and the transformation of the regional value against the central power within the organization and administration of the territory of the State. Although it seems a necessity for get some immediate results, should not join the political struggle subordinate to traditional political forces, centralized around Panama City and functional areas to the country is drifting, with no alternatives that do not understand the need to transform the fundamental structure of the state as in a liberating process.

In the first case, such structures absorb and reflect claims, but as part of the power system have no interest or ability to respond appropriately, curtailing opportunities for medium and long term. In the second case, the necessary changes are not just names and acronyms, or the theft is more or less acceptable according to ideological orientation, declared or actual, denied or accepted, or who claims to practice. The discourse around the idea of \u200b\u200ba powerful state, so far shared by all these actors in the political system serves as an articulator of the current policies of dispossession on cyclically deprived sectors since 1903, since 1821, since 1501.

Second, die in the fight, fighting is cause to remember the partisan and seek guidance from their example. For years now in this country, political practice is conducted between a denial of transcendent purposes and the negotiation of principles-when they have had, and is limited to obtaining of governmental power for the benefit of close circles, preferring to indulge embassies and business associations before consulting communities and citizenship. Victoriano gives us the honor of having in our ranks one of those rare examples of leadership that only serves one-sided and committed to death with his people and their aspirations.

freedom and pride of a nation is not built by subjecting those who have different views, and who today still struggling and aspiring to their happiness. It is time to demolish a myth and build a homeland, which is not only economic growth, but also humanity.

Can I Make Slamon Patties Without Egg

today in Mesoamerica: the direction of 'change' in Panama

Posted in Otramérica

(Disclaimer: the time of writing the article, the government of Ricardo Martinelli had introduced reforms to the mining law, which were repealed result of popular pressure, mainly indigenous mobilizations. To date maintaining a "dialogue" between a legislative subcommittee and mining reform opponents, but the government's intention to exploit the metal mining and therefore the essence of the article remains intact)

I.

change

If for a moment we choose to appeal to the naive the entry into force of the reforms the Code of Mineral Resources in Panama shows lack of regional experiences in the field. If we leave aside the naivete, specific interests are in evidence, and not "the people's interests first," repeated insistently formula from the days of the campaign today by President of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli, and his followers.

Governments of El Salvador and Costa Rica have said or acted in opposition to mining. Along with Guatemala, are involved in litigation flagship with Canadian multinationals and international courts.

In Costa Rica, after long hours of mobilization and public debate on the subject, is in effect an indefinite moratorium to metallic mining open pit gold, and in general to the extractive industry, reiterating an environmental agenda and development model. The decree was signed by the current president a few hours after taking office in May 2010.

In the case of Panama, the axis of "Natural Resources" of the government plan Ricardo Martinelli, and Juan Carlos Varela noted that

"The deforestation is a major environmental problems facing the country (...) resulting in soil degradation, erosion and sedimentation in streams and rivers, loss of biodiversity, reduced water flows, increased temperatures and emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to c climate hange (...) the main cause of deforestation is cattle ranching and the change of use of land for subsistence production, as well as other colonization, port development, industrial, urban, tourist and open-pit metal mining. Action is necessary to promote conservation and sustainable management of our natural forests and their livelihood depends on water supply, biodiversity, climate and others. "

At first sight it seems that the change was so that he changed himself. Thinking better, it is confirmed that nothing has changed.

II. Where?

Recent experience in the mining sector are not positive at the regional level. In Costa Rica, continues the judicial debate over the mining project Crucitas, concession near San Juan River on the border with Nicaragua to the company Industrias Infinito SA (subsidiary of the Canadian Infinito Gold Ltd. ) and activated by a decree of "public interest and national convenience" by the government of Oscar Arias.

Until last year there was talk of the possibility of terminating the contract, based on a ruling by the Constitutional Court and subject to payment of compensation estimated at $ 1,700,000,000 (the investment declared by the company is $ 127 million).

works are paralyzed after a ruling in late 2010 by the Administrative Court to cancel the award and decree glaring illegalities in the granting of permits and ordered the company and the State to repair environmental damage, ruling an appeal to the Supreme Court by the company (January 17, 2011), employees, public institutions, private organizations and concerned alleged .

El Salvador is located in an arbitration process before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes , World Bank institution, brought by the Canadian mining company Pacific Rim Mining Corp. by the alleged failure of the rating in the exploration permits for the mining project El Dorado, after the Salvadoran state as unsatisfactory assess the environmental impact study.

The company's stock, amounting to $ 77 million, is covered in terms of foreign investment incentives of the Free Trade Agreement between United States and the Dominican Republic (CAFTA-DR). The company is headquartered in Vancouver and the subsidiary that operates the El Dorado mine was based in Cayman Islands, but moved to Nevada with the sole intent to sue to El Salvador under the terms of the treaty.

words, the fate of a considerable amount of resources the Salvadoran population is decided in Washington and not in El Salvador as a result of mixing mining, free trade agreements and other legal fictions, in a country where 20% of the population is literate, 30% live below the ( highly questionable) indices of poverty and 7 out of 10 families survive on remittances from millions of migrants.

In Guatemala, the company Montana de Guatemala (Goldcorp SA ) , also Canadian, is illegally occupying the land of Mayan communities and exploitation continues to exist despite a request to the Guatemalan State precautionary measures (MC 260-07), granted on May 20, 2010 of the Human Rights Commission for 18 Mayan communities affected in their lives, safety, property and environment, ordering the suspension of operations Marlin Mine, actions aimed at preventing environmental pollution, clean water sources, ensuring access to safe water in sufficient quantity and quality, health programs and provide against the consequences of pollution on people and the environment, among other measures.

The arguments in favor of mining taking advantage of the inequality, exclusion, poverty, unemployment and worker exploitation weighing on indigenous and rural areas within the States of the region. They base their campaigns speeches of progress, development, quality of life and responsible mining, but it is impossible to find examples of local communities in which mining activity has generated well-being and sustainable. Abound, yes, the new conflicts during and after the lifetime of the projects that paid to existing before them. What was that change?

The discussion on reforms to the mining law in Panama focused on environmental issues, the rights of peoples originating and (ironically) the sovereignty of the Panamanian land and mineral resources by the opposition to the project, and the economic approach of increasing revenue fees, fines, royalties and criteria of "competitiveness" by promoters: the Chamber of Mines, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and generally throughout the executive branch through the bank on the National Assembly. Other approaches to conflict were used superficially or not taken into consideration, at least in public debate.

Whereas the conflict over the mining issue is a manifestation of contradictions in Panamanian society that goes beyond short-term, the arguments and economic and ecological implications, the focus of human rights and the political and ideological, in the debate or implied in it, will be treated in future deliveries, compared with other experiences the mining industry in Latin America.