tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90014829391049055102024-03-05T01:26:39.229-05:00Michelle in the AndesMichelle is working as a development worker for Progressio in Ecuador and PeruMichelle Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17399775092466018175noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001482939104905510.post-41480567213672231332008-06-17T10:39:00.005-05:002008-06-23T14:18:51.206-05:00Some recent photos...<strong>Come Sano Seguro y Soberano</strong><br /><br />I have been working with one of our partner organisations CEA (The Ecuadorian Agroecology Coordinator) on a campaign ' Eat healthily, securely and with sovereignty' which aims to promote food sovereignty and create links between small scale farmers and consumers. These pics are from the launch event - a great little fayre we held in the Botanic Garden in Quito.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212877338497676306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6oU-b5sawD4ZNkss8gEz9Q2Oo0ctJr0v23_g5aAZOw9sOgRBxXq577HplL-3H6c0oLJ1aQzqMhSA731zHrS3rks1nhmJEEcbj2oEvuo_rOjeeTaUvLlaPtu_8EYPfDJ_TUEYEzktJ9Xo/s320/P5243130.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXySAAw6J6ZNexBXqxQGaMOKvEZLM06RDYk0sTj_W0uAxmpDkED7r_KCB47tfggUYPFIr5lbxpu1Yrs4m04ql3_Ig7KO7vYUeh2f1mjdpL7VeoaeuUfZ1jL51dRrqiDsMh4orprHgiRS8/s1600-h/P5243141.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212878178686254962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXySAAw6J6ZNexBXqxQGaMOKvEZLM06RDYk0sTj_W0uAxmpDkED7r_KCB47tfggUYPFIr5lbxpu1Yrs4m04ql3_Ig7KO7vYUeh2f1mjdpL7VeoaeuUfZ1jL51dRrqiDsMh4orprHgiRS8/s320/P5243141.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgJxM7ufeYBxLDi7OXoLua1VFrngivbTZGhFjnGxAYmKuE9lKtmx-sXSa8GUnA-da6ZX6i_-PWw0vFiLsFowAsun6eXrMjuye_wNKoFdf_AJWENDun8TXyKKO8V0wzNajrj-beXqd5e4/s1600-h/P5243190.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212878177620740642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgJxM7ufeYBxLDi7OXoLua1VFrngivbTZGhFjnGxAYmKuE9lKtmx-sXSa8GUnA-da6ZX6i_-PWw0vFiLsFowAsun6eXrMjuye_wNKoFdf_AJWENDun8TXyKKO8V0wzNajrj-beXqd5e4/s320/P5243190.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cxLUgcJNrIiKFjZBqpw700u9aPTDjvsm3gCbU_gPvFYc3Q4C2MEuHC-_jCzOl5SE8BihoiTFpgzsffYvKFZXQvCURwAGS2AxN7B8VVeAjNiuhN8FI4IVNHqBzGaECAvxmi43g0pdIkE/s1600-h/P5243209.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212878187734941122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cxLUgcJNrIiKFjZBqpw700u9aPTDjvsm3gCbU_gPvFYc3Q4C2MEuHC-_jCzOl5SE8BihoiTFpgzsffYvKFZXQvCURwAGS2AxN7B8VVeAjNiuhN8FI4IVNHqBzGaECAvxmi43g0pdIkE/s320/P5243209.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZupy0LVvWogqZy8muSg_mYQfUcqxpszzKaiDVPDmH9qhKmKDw88Jaj2g0dKyy20i47bWNuI8m0kEnhANNbzeT6VJuJ4SWWWOjcKkdvAiqFh_xmJZCc3UboeSMkGwyS1eQasNCCaUnJ8/s1600-h/P5213082.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212877331563149794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZupy0LVvWogqZy8muSg_mYQfUcqxpszzKaiDVPDmH9qhKmKDw88Jaj2g0dKyy20i47bWNuI8m0kEnhANNbzeT6VJuJ4SWWWOjcKkdvAiqFh_xmJZCc3UboeSMkGwyS1eQasNCCaUnJ8/s320/P5213082.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisE1Rcsvc7AmeqhguJaxmnD9nIXJiQECqiNFUf0ifjgpOKVhmeULsT9AHQaCKNNLf31uTJmcdFh84RpyiAn3LREdCVI3-m2sbaom7LE14tTDNFhC2ERRoyoN6S-_dqRj90lHpK4baV6l4/s1600-h/P5213120.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212877336307314082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisE1Rcsvc7AmeqhguJaxmnD9nIXJiQECqiNFUf0ifjgpOKVhmeULsT9AHQaCKNNLf31uTJmcdFh84RpyiAn3LREdCVI3-m2sbaom7LE14tTDNFhC2ERRoyoN6S-_dqRj90lHpK4baV6l4/s320/P5213120.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3zrUHZREXgk7Kxsu0hI326MUlsZ85FdMHUxvs8P_rtlaQ5uFjNI0ATZ_gCJ2xlKS2xfsis7QRdLIIhs6-qU4qMS4b2w2yT76GgNUKBk8yET4CFSMtH55RWGNBowIfkY-Km7sOUPWcF4/s1600-h/P5213126.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212877336923722146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3zrUHZREXgk7Kxsu0hI326MUlsZ85FdMHUxvs8P_rtlaQ5uFjNI0ATZ_gCJ2xlKS2xfsis7QRdLIIhs6-qU4qMS4b2w2yT76GgNUKBk8yET4CFSMtH55RWGNBowIfkY-Km7sOUPWcF4/s320/P5213126.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><strong>Fifth National Water Meeting</strong></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212875997490544626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUZpgkGB8LP6oaLMkoZ_ULxnN0QWZhb90KNy9_ahSRPhKU3qMOKNzPCW0LH80OtUbk_HLHSuuYRKasdtVZHZyIc9gGKQANVXht-RQ7kX2qMcmk6-Z7yNjLul7OL0uG1PdUwMRBAtgI9g/s320/P5082868.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>I went to a meeting in June organised by our partner organisation El Foro de Recursos Hidricos (the Water Resources Forum). Over 2000 people representing diverse water users’ organisations, local governments, NGOs and communities were there for heated debates on a wide range of concerns related to water including irrigation, collective rights, mining and water, hydroelectric projects and dams. Many delegates presented their local experiences of abuses of water rights, inequality and pollution.</p><p><br />The main focus however was a proposal for a new water resources law and for text for the new Ecuadorian constitution. The Forum has been working on proposals to reform the country’s existing outdated water legislation for many years, but their work has been blocked by a lack of agreement in Congress. They are now taking advantage of the current process of constitutional reform in the country to lobby hard on this issue. These pics are of the delegates marching t the seat of the constitutional assembly to deliver their proposals:<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_-KD88bacOg5buT2EV-QuEpvi5L1RkiN6cXCldgn8Y7OJOcusyhRZyCMC43v54hwglZ0X-tIbwR-6XarWPYVvAB9Y26gsqSW4i2O5NHWYhDCkxI5IJPgZMDlyTI0zd__ilSzCA-CrGE/s1600-h/P5092943.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212876749061822034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_-KD88bacOg5buT2EV-QuEpvi5L1RkiN6cXCldgn8Y7OJOcusyhRZyCMC43v54hwglZ0X-tIbwR-6XarWPYVvAB9Y26gsqSW4i2O5NHWYhDCkxI5IJPgZMDlyTI0zd__ilSzCA-CrGE/s320/P5092943.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rZa9XRjUnvt2CxHXt6mz6X_VUAHa94snaxhLAqOZA3Hkv8ubLmW32vZHtyVPBmb_RkHd27qWz8PxYbQVRw96UQLmxbnb3-RYNzRdWGYV0QO31EH_0oudUDZ5UQEvqx45ieWbbaPgKLs/s1600-h/P5092968.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212876747293612050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rZa9XRjUnvt2CxHXt6mz6X_VUAHa94snaxhLAqOZA3Hkv8ubLmW32vZHtyVPBmb_RkHd27qWz8PxYbQVRw96UQLmxbnb3-RYNzRdWGYV0QO31EH_0oudUDZ5UQEvqx45ieWbbaPgKLs/s320/P5092968.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Sh-Z17yR8YyxHg8DRtBhjXMTqVNgbxU65Hnmb5RR0sXIRRx-XfY59s-PE0fibcBSn2fp5V_QdjN49BIhpV0Y8J8bZC1dTfCNGak1272z1876wegmnc-QGZTTFH2fKfGaDYldSnKnuUk/s1600-h/P5092970.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212876751155293602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Sh-Z17yR8YyxHg8DRtBhjXMTqVNgbxU65Hnmb5RR0sXIRRx-XfY59s-PE0fibcBSn2fp5V_QdjN49BIhpV0Y8J8bZC1dTfCNGak1272z1876wegmnc-QGZTTFH2fKfGaDYldSnKnuUk/s320/P5092970.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir65vJrbQjZzpA0yC_9VT_Lcudo6nerq4r7jg0xPhf8kiXOft14KbTzAoW6qj9qPZGKjpvZRpS_ezLRckxs3hOzl_xuJazk3du4-TqGYRymSaY-mXoWGOFqD0VPTk-ideezR_v1CUDWlk/s1600-h/P5092974.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212876758627318498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir65vJrbQjZzpA0yC_9VT_Lcudo6nerq4r7jg0xPhf8kiXOft14KbTzAoW6qj9qPZGKjpvZRpS_ezLRckxs3hOzl_xuJazk3du4-TqGYRymSaY-mXoWGOFqD0VPTk-ideezR_v1CUDWlk/s320/P5092974.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-E_yrK4-BxXaQatnExbZVbzn3Vs6Ta7oAhZ-XZinOsvaYTe1e1lW-psbbV5iBlT9RUeF2FOVpOC5F68Qp7Ku1w8WDs9vc1eqOzhyphenhyphenbeEDFboGhkNetois-r8Zc_HBhCvsyHq88Jzi2-QU/s1600-h/P5092911.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212876001770032034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-E_yrK4-BxXaQatnExbZVbzn3Vs6Ta7oAhZ-XZinOsvaYTe1e1lW-psbbV5iBlT9RUeF2FOVpOC5F68Qp7Ku1w8WDs9vc1eqOzhyphenhyphenbeEDFboGhkNetois-r8Zc_HBhCvsyHq88Jzi2-QU/s320/P5092911.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQcA9XB4QyPGYDpfABj3OTAw4GsKg3yB-jY4r-wamgUcFh-gTWbVui0LsJi592QmGwXruCJbVEsLei1-ko4NldeipsVq4c_MejCjQx7QblxaEOJLjOhzK0kq19xPhagQ37TZ8wqpUmlI/s1600-h/P5092912.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212876006507677474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQcA9XB4QyPGYDpfABj3OTAw4GsKg3yB-jY4r-wamgUcFh-gTWbVui0LsJi592QmGwXruCJbVEsLei1-ko4NldeipsVq4c_MejCjQx7QblxaEOJLjOhzK0kq19xPhagQ37TZ8wqpUmlI/s320/P5092912.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_NZ09w1PCnC0khg-FC_IO91ZZnHIiRsF_kHzD9BBkpprF48YWTCoTq_RQyEzjsBjuTRHQgUM9JKDhIoufIbC785uJz3aiZiSbR4rMR69JhNQCJgWpCp8dNbb9xUlVC-ZDIeMoZTM68h0/s1600-h/P5092921.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAddf9ucbwt1mz-lxt3rSJPoqE8rFPq8iMgBmdc2eYO5e2Q4uCVrERIWk4nFX11k1s35I16iju0pWQPRh5wU1auVXhMshcDV9HBloqMt7ouT6LK2IL7oPNB-2Rvbrh14RZeSHJhshelr8/s1600-h/P5092938.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212876016633233218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAddf9ucbwt1mz-lxt3rSJPoqE8rFPq8iMgBmdc2eYO5e2Q4uCVrERIWk4nFX11k1s35I16iju0pWQPRh5wU1auVXhMshcDV9HBloqMt7ouT6LK2IL7oPNB-2Rvbrh14RZeSHJhshelr8/s320/P5092938.JPG" border="0" /></a>Michelle Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17399775092466018175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001482939104905510.post-46860973130003277372008-06-17T10:03:00.011-05:002008-06-23T14:21:39.239-05:00Galapagos photosPhotos from a short unusual trip to the Galapagos with Mark last month. Instead of doing a tour of the animals and the park, we visited the rubbish dump and the route of a powerline which will link a new windproject Mark is involved in to the main town on Santa Cruz Island. Its part of a project to make the Galapagos self sufficient in energy from renewable sources.<br /><br />It was amazing to learn about the project and see some of the wildlife - you dont have to go far from town to see it as you practically trip over iguanas and birds in the street .<br /><br />I'm now looking forward lots to going back with Mum,Dad, Rachel and Mark in July for a more traditional tourist trip.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZVuBnw0q_SkG3_W42kPGbgcwgaD7HzOTfmyCSBj1zhSmK58HNrenUxBX-UztJp0_vUjlyyYVJQFGOnea16qMVIuYNvsYMlh8zdN_4L2l5Qioc853IicUdcY2NB49GwBHVGXXd21ZcNA/s1600-h/P5092938.JPG"></a>Some very interested customers at the fishmongers...<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212871118644426002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_LmDWHy-uJZx7UtCZx-KtonrvLjR4nsbmMO2w2MgRYobfDB-LQ3H3hLdR-JWaU1zufuob0cVqpcda-gQQxpwp8NV0v3V64C8uc0A_9sc5FODbFYe3LjQGXwN8mSa-wqQuBrVpfzLM14/s320/P5022362.JPG" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjdiagp1Tv3Xuy9h6UvWMbFm12bUtYUr_goeu6PbzPY_e5xPMxoUqscgDrB57n6F2kBzxPCaPIAVfz_cZ8cwR_AVKOd_kDabT_8I__n574TQq3dbnJA3U_NrolSd3NBDVLHX7tyNQAIo/s1600-h/P5092943.JPG"></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212872705799304130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0StG0rNRZbrj8aJTWOI-23tG42gu0ibqI4mfvl6Ox1cBxBC_gT50wE0faLt7ZdrunfhjhpRiXPwhNZ3w5N_-C8CO7cZXRAiDhONKoPKwoR2UCDGRGvIBRJUDCfOf1Q0WN9tadvTElOM/s320/P5022447.JPG" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhsuvR9YsjDFSzW3sy-6WJQho7RJm58aIblbAz0sOHuAhBzxLNaPaPScICsrdz3wwuf5CPWv9lrpD5MjmE6usNxWpY-pnP2XxMlz0WgWWbkLdE1X3WGRaXbakUojT7SyMjKK-7uhrWRc/s1600-h/P5022517.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212873280354351154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhsuvR9YsjDFSzW3sy-6WJQho7RJm58aIblbAz0sOHuAhBzxLNaPaPScICsrdz3wwuf5CPWv9lrpD5MjmE6usNxWpY-pnP2XxMlz0WgWWbkLdE1X3WGRaXbakUojT7SyMjKK-7uhrWRc/s320/P5022517.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212872715318943618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hvPj0SBeeGc100pCywxlNYQI6z4gw95NrUGFGJ51OhKNaLbj0sOMrXc_jKLDbFzQJUYuGjUt8iayAi2INq4HzQ2__7H7DYruzBgd8QtAKpIXn6n2gnUxKvHzabHJ1rIJU5aleI4QSb4/s320/P5022507.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212871123566752898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZtmH8K64t1lP2c69XcPOlOGC1a3_lQbrgz_j9h2RSXCOaX3jA1_PK-tj-c34AvI2QiKtDsg_1D83B2P-9A7TxbSqNQYvqoms6sMTkv3lGXPWJ7QgbVWf75mZgjTRf6DwcG1CmyyFG_Y/s320/P5022367.JPG" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZDSn-6aBRRU3UxlBUGKSp-ETGAQrt0_KISvhXYDL5hsyXjzR4apllkDXfTsHz_1h4Ou0VvRqZsIkvBQK7oTTfhLsJMxhPoAuTWiHpLLuPyVM6rruMcuXwOGzylsVCa9m-q7Fb4Fgk7UA/s1600-h/P5082868.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjVhzcoZ3MLWEYkY3HmqK4zrmHXYjft0CY8D-X5YFeqIyS5erciJiuya3QAVnlmIETyJEhMFV5FyCl44ApRtQVnLVXiCsT1ukxf8t9ZSfolOlams06S21bpreqdKn2U-hXxrVB-Z7Hm8/s1600-h/P5092911.JPG"></a>Giant tortoises at the Darwin Centre<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Ml2TTQCtggrYef1VA8sHJ0Ps9wns_3rL9eeKFrnevvNFpBnD7NiFGoACMTHbFAiL69bTN15JwnZdEMk6u1hn8a8euYvTUnmTgB19pieab9xi0i69mRhXL6nlS_FTWuWPEuCsm4Fbqzk/s1600-h/P5022379.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212872696166316946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Ml2TTQCtggrYef1VA8sHJ0Ps9wns_3rL9eeKFrnevvNFpBnD7NiFGoACMTHbFAiL69bTN15JwnZdEMk6u1hn8a8euYvTUnmTgB19pieab9xi0i69mRhXL6nlS_FTWuWPEuCsm4Fbqzk/s320/P5022379.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lOejgvBwXW1RAUbNO5wUTf88IwqT6YjniNljJNj1tyBxmWwmJ-cR8rMhMS-EbQB1lGtpUpT0pGBuWGuQlY90ZV-31h_dBYkNLyN7oCGsJNc2P874ceRErHE5B9r1wmfLxfTVaL0mA_o/s1600-h/P5022372.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212871126082605938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lOejgvBwXW1RAUbNO5wUTf88IwqT6YjniNljJNj1tyBxmWwmJ-cR8rMhMS-EbQB1lGtpUpT0pGBuWGuQlY90ZV-31h_dBYkNLyN7oCGsJNc2P874ceRErHE5B9r1wmfLxfTVaL0mA_o/s320/P5022372.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>A tiny baby turtle that Mark rescued from gulls who wanted it for dinner</div><br /><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212868489580969202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhol1i2VIoBk7i2otfAVybOE59xoVAysNcEh8zidBcuGtw2GT9GajY4WZ7j26_QpNYaaHXWSFiFAS1HqUV27dYC5vl-grBU0pP5lF1CcIPIUwpQ5MCSxiHOc6nB5hWWWxfYNvoVSdEpiTM/s320/P5012233.JPG" border="0" /><br />The angry gulls screaming at mark<br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtUW4_CzjXaljtoroHX1nCLHDmGElzyvPXjDfDu9t1NWdt3gweLk1A_1t0NfJpWDMswTUcHheqPNO25VtVPS8UYN7vizbz6h92IDrO_ObqUTRgzMjqX2hHs3vIqgjtFXw-5mkKK2tfzg/s1600-h/P5012244.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212870009225005842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtUW4_CzjXaljtoroHX1nCLHDmGElzyvPXjDfDu9t1NWdt3gweLk1A_1t0NfJpWDMswTUcHheqPNO25VtVPS8UYN7vizbz6h92IDrO_ObqUTRgzMjqX2hHs3vIqgjtFXw-5mkKK2tfzg/s320/P5012244.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>A bird<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTALBSsvhyphenhyphen-Cm1Ggg6D5SSheJxmIU8VrJb8GWx4-L7nXsRd_Po5N337qDHVPtbKR95Qo_iu-ZtdF-YmeHkb8DtpDbQN47g7AfWOMxfTgPm-FvM1oUh6rgaKWlgvNd6ATqHObzYdVOUDQo/s1600-h/P5022313.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212870018882566642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTALBSsvhyphenhyphen-Cm1Ggg6D5SSheJxmIU8VrJb8GWx4-L7nXsRd_Po5N337qDHVPtbKR95Qo_iu-ZtdF-YmeHkb8DtpDbQN47g7AfWOMxfTgPm-FvM1oUh6rgaKWlgvNd6ATqHObzYdVOUDQo/s320/P5022313.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>A ravine we snorkelled n<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrKo9U9X01eU3uLd8SYHvuBhfJzc6OKa-l1WbUSOYVnu2cbxM9LhJd-5B95PM5EcAPA6Izc2ZvdGw_oVH8egLQdiRCR4iWbBU878p-HEaRViA-K069SJM2m8tRR3KqGfCJVDXH94_kWc/s1600-h/P5022326.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212870022058056306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrKo9U9X01eU3uLd8SYHvuBhfJzc6OKa-l1WbUSOYVnu2cbxM9LhJd-5B95PM5EcAPA6Izc2ZvdGw_oVH8egLQdiRCR4iWbBU878p-HEaRViA-K069SJM2m8tRR3KqGfCJVDXH94_kWc/s320/P5022326.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212872703880620178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxp2IO_DGUp6TjYfyBK0ATBlUV9JYHsWzj6iIvG7qudAN4yY-0YGm8dHdRrKIoMa9Onm9FykqcYgYVDHvRiJ8YobALkSit_lg6pGpy0PpMm_duHRsr4r-cZxcFUswpHBXXCnR7UT5jwU4/s320/P5022398.JPG" border="0" />The Magnificent Frigget Bird (the ones that puff out the big red pouch bit at the front - but he didn't)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5fjHVeS0HYRFcEpEquUYBVaGUyG_o2vfqR1GewdMUH12R1f4exNT41eutcFs666BsRVQ_2poMZXU_eq2MWw81LGI1lwIbTC-GiuTNcY4FAzrM4TTPOr6TAYJ5jQeR_NCK6AsbYkyHN_g/s1600-h/P5022357.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212870032250273554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5fjHVeS0HYRFcEpEquUYBVaGUyG_o2vfqR1GewdMUH12R1f4exNT41eutcFs666BsRVQ_2poMZXU_eq2MWw81LGI1lwIbTC-GiuTNcY4FAzrM4TTPOr6TAYJ5jQeR_NCK6AsbYkyHN_g/s320/P5022357.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Pelican<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuews_nzZpTy0ZKTjtVoadaKKso9avYUTSOyhQtDdsWyr4LEnJ_hB_9xQVR2HKAczXo5WXRedzwsdPjsjevQXOhDzKj8JyilQ3Wj8XPKjcMOswh_km9ngoeH4XbizVdqvPGlnJcm2IJlo/s1600-h/P5012224.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212868486802369954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuews_nzZpTy0ZKTjtVoadaKKso9avYUTSOyhQtDdsWyr4LEnJ_hB_9xQVR2HKAczXo5WXRedzwsdPjsjevQXOhDzKj8JyilQ3Wj8XPKjcMOswh_km9ngoeH4XbizVdqvPGlnJcm2IJlo/s320/P5012224.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Mark at Tortuga Bay which we walked out to from the town<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIYWL0EIy7eFAvRQ7kQvKqZsQCMBToia3_Q3Ch-4aX9wmZWV7-FLXfwerclGUyxVA9fQB_4ZuWNLM-C2ayI8ai4lym-JCux-Msl2OJS3qc954NoXtGbvR22uTmbRZh2VaLUN1wJ6BjgM/s1600-h/P5012174.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212867182980685506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIYWL0EIy7eFAvRQ7kQvKqZsQCMBToia3_Q3Ch-4aX9wmZWV7-FLXfwerclGUyxVA9fQB_4ZuWNLM-C2ayI8ai4lym-JCux-Msl2OJS3qc954NoXtGbvR22uTmbRZh2VaLUN1wJ6BjgM/s320/P5012174.JPG" border="0" /></a> me (and very small pelican above)<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrjcWyG7A689ib1DY-DuYSBhv7ugaRD3kRjkjBmS2OrQaNEant7v4X2sXsY9wwFnRY2lYQIma8MhyOgZ9CRXqmajg3TEZd_XenrLCsXx2RApUOnfQOfwZK_NsQatlqkTicFqc74SMFk4/s1600-h/P5012178.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212867186449985842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrjcWyG7A689ib1DY-DuYSBhv7ugaRD3kRjkjBmS2OrQaNEant7v4X2sXsY9wwFnRY2lYQIma8MhyOgZ9CRXqmajg3TEZd_XenrLCsXx2RApUOnfQOfwZK_NsQatlqkTicFqc74SMFk4/s320/P5012178.JPG" border="0" /></a> Me and igunana<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOys8YVQ-vByKamh-7A3owEYxZPzzlPJt2j9H0hPmDiU-q-4UU9bO7YB1fVX5O-DC9GaYYCjTz4GOlcmXGJTHtkwvNkKJdezdIf1tSbjuFhyphenhyphen21T-ZG4j_I1ZBl8L9o6_Hwa-Hj2ne3Dk/s1600-h/P5012183.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212867190841979362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOys8YVQ-vByKamh-7A3owEYxZPzzlPJt2j9H0hPmDiU-q-4UU9bO7YB1fVX5O-DC9GaYYCjTz4GOlcmXGJTHtkwvNkKJdezdIf1tSbjuFhyphenhyphen21T-ZG4j_I1ZBl8L9o6_Hwa-Hj2ne3Dk/s320/P5012183.JPG" border="0" /></a> More iguanas... (I got very carried away with Iguana photos)</div><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uRm2wnqsKJZ2SPchriBBkxyrvdnwfGjo4uPellm4DKdb-P2OaOoCSmwPMXhgHQVP6xuBfNK3ZjBv2Whs9o8FVQKopm0zbKx1NJKC0O_gYBE-cfStBzCB2VnZaeqKD4N226jOOAMJ8vw/s1600-h/P5012197.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212867194505910610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uRm2wnqsKJZ2SPchriBBkxyrvdnwfGjo4uPellm4DKdb-P2OaOoCSmwPMXhgHQVP6xuBfNK3ZjBv2Whs9o8FVQKopm0zbKx1NJKC0O_gYBE-cfStBzCB2VnZaeqKD4N226jOOAMJ8vw/s320/P5012197.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212868483942605074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwC62Y53x2X6KiS7FPLtr-wFRULu2omncbw5JdS_htkfe6GIZ-TksBWr-fHyQ527bqqrdvsp5c1ZnoAifVdkqFwGJ00j_9WtECemn_MuSAXkd47zNrGR2zlbgQemaM9OesQhOegLzFzY/s320/P5012215.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212868472615495810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiN63aeeXWQFlYgoXzEmMOi6fGrtId4qWIxPiGKfYQmTZe_biFjl8-Ax7jUtrdHzrNkekZwvi8FiPUVg9QGsy496OObXFNS1j5ATpOiYsFuAKBnOR9tz6uGp1cGF6sIASvdGquJ-a1Fc/s320/P5012200.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212868478613663330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHSDzTtD9O4pIMbN9yyxAStLL1Ldny8pf_QAqha54thNoQEVw-e3MCCbv4b0sWB2WUfuinUJrCOUWC1IfgnL9NjXGW4KVcsHDNrebBSdZ0OuvJWCGZBJ9n80cX3COxT6ZhHI06aCI_pA/s320/P5012201.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><br /><p>Beer after snorkelling<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212870027212203090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7HIkZ6I32HNeOq3X_1Q3g-ywV0AAk8UZuXE7WDwVb_OVG-O0yO5RpGM8oZIBSmmXwJUGYklDnCrxtmwci46l-EDuIC0KEEqoK2dak9zIOr4jCGQ5D2Zvp-5pAKfqMhiULNmUWlrQYUs/s320/P5022347.JPG" border="0" /></p><br /><p></p><br /><p>And a random photo of my flat - looking up from the Plaza in Guapulo. Its one of hte white ones high up beneath the skyscrapers.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212867174778137074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27X8vUKjZXrIzkgJdv0WlCz8s7MJ8QiAdogvZOsJ4bmBd1mK0D59S2PFuCWTA50QQRaVyxaSuzv0b4BPIP-epRHo-sXWbd-gdgv1a5wzcCbX3JfgZ3-rojMVZ3pUICm6mS8aFFiLiX5o/s320/P4272159.JPG" border="0" /></p>Michelle Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17399775092466018175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001482939104905510.post-30941326530337134092008-05-26T14:50:00.024-05:002008-05-26T17:03:34.901-05:00Some reflections on the summit<div align="left">I had meant to write up a summary of some of the responses to the summit just afterwards but as soon as I got back to Ecuador I got sucked into the hectic organisation for the launch of the campaign ‘Come Sano Seguro y Soberano’, which our partner organisation CEA is involved in along with a wide coalition of other organisations. Read more about the campaign <a href="http://www.infodesarrollo.ec/content/view/731/0/lang,spanish/">here</a> ( in Spanish).</br></br><br />The verdict of the organisers of the alternative summit, many civil society groups and NGOs and some sectors of the media is disappointment with the lack of concrete agreements in the final declaration from the summit and concern that negotiations for Association Agreements will continue.</br></br><br /><br />Whilst the document, ‘Addressing Our Peoples’ Priorities Together’ includes fine words about poverty eradication, social cohesion and climate change there are few clear targets or action plans. As one press article put it: the declaration is ‘a document that is notable mainly for its lack of clear objectives and the necessary resources to make words into action’.</br></br><strong>Trade agreements</strong></div><div align="left">In terms of the controversial association agreements (which include free trade agreements) , a subject of great debate at the alternative summit, the declaration, says that the parties agree to: ‘actively pursue the negotiations of Association Agreements as common strategic objectives of very high political priority’. This includes the controversial bi-regional agreement between Europe and the which the parties aim to conclude by 2009. </div><div align="left"><br />The idea is to improve on the draft framework at CAN-EU meetings in June, but the negotiations do not look like they will be smooth, with huge differences of opinion on opening up markets between the left wing presidents of Bolivia and Ecuador and the right wing presidents of Colombia and Peru. The Bolivian and Ecuadorian governments have blocked Peruvian requests to loosen an Andean Community decision (486) on intellectual property rights in order to modify Peruvian legislation to fit with the free trade agreement with the US (<a href="http://www.elcomercio.com.pe/edicionimpresa/Html/2008-05-21/bolivia-y-ecuador-rechazan-pedido-peruano-favor-tlc-eeuu.html">read more in Spanish</a>).</div><br /><div align="left"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204784369954440450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGaV8NIC14rtSzS7fNeVYgv1LsvTZLaezJmSP2YNjMubTdI_DV6WGW2sbpXTOx2OfFFJS3Ove__6u4V5_yixzIpe2WBW6KLEiKJNLLrKKXo6pmIpKscJJk5xrkoKa2-N3cx8YWwGKt3QY/s320/P5160196.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="left"></div><p><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204784357069538530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPU0cSsgX-RWimLkJMQ19TzQvY9PU6NPCRv3wYumM0PUgiyFWHx_oXpI91FYUv32W-E1TOLuoF-_Kd_RtxXrwLHBz8XiaGPiJnDcrFC58M24C8ntAXqI2kQPe0k9OsfWNu-wtJi8RPDyk/s320/P5140061.JPG" border="0" />Some protests against free trade agreements at the alternative summit</em><em> </em></p><p><strong>Climate change</strong></p><div align="left">On climate change the most concrete agreement was: ‘a joint EU-LA Environment program called “EUrocLIMA” will be launched to the benefit of Latin American countries with the main objectives of knowledge sharing, fostering structured and regular dialogue at all levels and<br />ensuring synergies and coordination of current and future actions in this field’. There is so far little detail available on this program accept that the European Commission has set aside $7.7 million for its first actions. </div><div align="left"><br /><strong>Other comments: </strong><br /><a href="http://aeperu.blogspot.com/2008/05/banderitas-y-duscursos.html">Banderitas y Discursos</a> ( in Spanish) A Response from Alejandra Alayza Moncloa of partner organiation CEPES, lamenting the fact that the flags and smiles the Peruvian Government put on for the cameras and foreign dignitaries mask the inconsistency in their actions on climate change and social cohesion and reflections on the future of the possible EU-CAN association agreement in view of the differences of opinion between Peru and Columbia and Eucador and Bolivia. </div><div align="left"><br /><a href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUKN1639908720080517">Biofuels, trade dominate EU-Latin American summit</a> (English) LIMA, May 16 (Reuters) - European and Latin American leaders called for action to tackle surging food prices and global warming at a summit in Peru on Friday, despite differences over biofuels and free trade. </div><div align="left"><br /><a href="http://www.larepublica.com.pe/content/view/221985/559/">Otra vez TLC sí o sí </a></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><a href="http://www.tni.org/detail_page.phtml?&act_id=18269">Permanent Peoples' Tribunal: Second Session on European transnational companies in Latin America and on neoliberal policies</a> (English) More detail on the Peoples' Tribunal<br /><br /><a href="http://www.enlazandoalternativas.org/spip.php?article219">Declaración de Lima sobre la Crisis Agro-Alimentaria</a> (Spanish)<br />Declaration of a group of organisations involved in agriculture and food sovreignity from both regions. </div><div align="left"><br /><a href="http://www.desco.org.pe/apc-aa-files/a6a416c52141cb33c452043a7d45ed0a/dec_redAdA_Valc_ue.pdf">Libre comercio a la europea: el desarrollo como retórica, la competencia entre desiguales como realidad</a><br />Esta semana en la V Cumbre de Jefes de Estado de América Latina, Caribe y Europa, celebrada<br />en Lima, la UE intentó convencer otra vez al mundo que un Acuerdo de Asociación (AdA) es<br />un acuerdo equilibrado (diálogo político, cooperación y comercio), que promueve la integración<br />y el desarrollo. Aunque la realidad de los acuerdos ya concluidos muestra realidades bien<br />diferentes. </div><div align="left"><br /><a href="http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/cumbre/Lima/queda/buenos/deseos/elpepuint/20080517elpepuint_4/Tes">La cumbre de Lima se queda en buenos deseos<br /></a>El encuentro concluye con una declaración de compromisos para combatir la pobreza y el cambio climático pero sin metas definidas ni cifras de inversión </div>Michelle Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17399775092466018175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001482939104905510.post-72597439911101642802008-05-26T12:57:00.006-05:002008-05-26T15:41:19.622-05:00Two more interesting responses<div>A couple of interesting responses to the summit (in Spanish) which came around in emails but aren't online so I've pasted them below</div><br /><div> </div><br /><div>RESUMEN SEMANAL<br />Lima, 14 - 20 de mayo de 2008<br />Año XXX - Nº 1488<br /><br /><br />La realización de la V Cumbre de Jefes de Estado y de Gobierno de América Latina, el<br />Caribe y la Unión Europea mantuvo de buen talante al presidente Alan García. Por tres<br />días todo funcionó como estaba planeado y el presidente cumplió gustosamente su función<br />de anfitrión de mandatarios de dos continentes. No sería exagerado afirmar que Alan<br />García vivía su propia cumbre de euforia. Y no era para menos. La Cumbre fue no<br />solamente para los visitantes un espacio rigurosamente resguardado de imponderables<br />externos, debajo una campana aislante, sino también fue, y sobre todo, para el gobierno un<br />lapso, un respiro, para desembarazarse de la incómoda agenda política nacional, poniendo<br />en stand by protestas de diverso pelaje. Con las calles cercadas, la gente en feriado largo,<br />desactivada cualquier manifestación, la Cumbre se desarrolló en un ambiente de<br />tranquilidad. Demasiada tranquilidad inclusive para quienes esperaban un exabrupto más<br />del presidente venezolano Hugo Chávez. Mediáticamente, la Cumbre fue friolenta.<br /><br />Cada sector obtuvo lo que quería en estos días de cumbres. Los empresarios tuvieron su<br />cumbre empresarial que, según el director ejecutivo de la Agencia de Promoción de la<br />Inversión Privada, David Lemor, permitirá que lleguen al Perú cerca de mil millones de<br />dólares en inversiones y dijo "esta es la verdadera cumbre de los pueblos, la que se<br />preocupa por el aspecto social". Jorge Del Castillo, presidente del Consejo de Ministros,<br />haciendo gala de su tolerancia y espíritu democrático, declaró: "aquí tenemos la cumbre de<br />los elegidos por el pueblo y allá la anticumbre, de los perdedores en todas las elecciones.<br />Esa es la verdad". En una de sus conclusiones, la menospreciada Cumbre Social de los<br />Pueblos resolvió rechazar totalmente el acuerdo de asociación que negocian los gobiernos<br />de la Comunidad Andina y la Unión Europea. El Tribunal de los Pueblos también emitió una<br />condena moral y simbólica contra 24 empresas transnacionales que violan los derechos de<br />sus trabajadores y de las comunidades aledañas a los territorios donde operan. Entre ellas,<br />la minera Río Blanco Cooper (ex Majaz), Camposol y Bayer, que operan en el Perú.<br /><br />Lo más significativo de la Declaración de Lima, producto de la V Cumbre ALC-UE, es que<br />fija posición sobre los mecanismos que deben implementarse para que se firme un Acuerdo<br />de Asociación entre la CAN y la UE que contribuya a un mayor desarrollo del proceso de<br />integración andino. "Acordamos que se dará una particular atención a las necesidades de<br />específicas de desarrollo de los Países Miembros de la Comunidad Andina, tomando en<br />cuenta las asimetrías entre y al interior de las regiones y la necesidad de flexibilidad, según<br />corresponda, por parte de la UE", dice el documento. Además del acostumbrado listado de<br />políticas sociales pendientes y acuerdos relegados al 2020 como los de erradicación de la<br />desnutrición infantil y del analfabetismo, en el tema de cambio climático hay poco que<br />destacar. Más allá de acuerdos para compartir conocimientos en el programa<br />medioambiental Euroclima, no hay compromisos concretos. El gobierno sí aprovechó la<br />cumbre para designar como primer ministro del Ambiente al ecólogo Antonio Brack, que fue<br />consultor de la minera Río Blanco (ex Majaz), acusada de generar contaminación ambiental<br /><br />En su discurso inaugural de la Cumbre, el presidente García dijo que no hay "ninguna ley<br />natural inevitable, ninguna fuerza diabólica que nos pueda expulsar de la tierra o condenar<br />al fracaso. Siempre la inteligencia, la ciencia, la tecnología y la organización humana<br />podrán más que los obstáculos que se presentan a nuestra especie". Se refería al<br />calentamiento global. Pero ahora, acabadas las ceremonias, le espera un calentamiento de<br />la protesta local. Es decir, un regreso a la realidad.<br /><br />Mayor información en: <a href="http://www.desco.org.pe/resumen-semanal.shtml">http://www.desco.org.pe/resumen-semanal.shtml</a></div><br /><div> </div><br /><div>---------------------------</div><br /><div> </div><br /><div>*Declaración del movimiento ambientalista*<br /><br />*Acuerdos de cooperación ALC-UE si, pero con equidad y responsabilidad<br />ambiental*<br /><br />* *<br /><br />Las diferentes organizaciones de la sociedad civil participantes en el *Foro<br />agenda ambiental y desarrollo sostenible en el marco de la cumbre<br />ALC-UE*realizado el 15 de mayo en el marco de la Cumbre Social de los<br />Pueblos,<br />consideramos que nuestro planeta tierra esta en peligro por los efectos<br />ambientales globales que viene generando el modelo de desarrollo sustentado<br />en la liberalización de la economía y la sobreexplotación de los recursos<br />naturales, en este contexto manifestamos lo siguiente:<br /><br /><br /><br />· El cambio climático que nuestro planeta viene experimentando es<br />producto del modelo de desarrollo económico y de vida que las naciones<br />industrializadas han aplicado para sustentar su desarrollo, que ahora pone<br />en grave riesgo la estabilidad de los ecosistemas y la vida de todos.<br /><br />· Las poblaciones empobrecidas son los más vulnerables a los<br />impactos que viene produciendo el cambio climático porque no disponen de los<br />medios necesarios para enfrentarlo y porque, entre otras cosas, afecta el<br />balance de las fuentes hídricas que es fundamental en la defensa de la<br />soberanía alimentaria y en la producción de alimentos. Esto a su vez pone en<br />peligro el patrimonio natural y la biodiversidad por la modificación de los<br />hábitats.<br /><br />· La falta de una política ambiental coherente y la debilidad de la<br />institucionalidad ambiental están facilitando que las inversiones para el<br />aprovechamiento de los recursos naturales no cumplan ni siquiera con las<br />normas nacionales establecidas en el sistema de gestión ambiental y mucho<br />menos con los estándares establecidos a nivel internacional, situación que<br />genera una serie de conflictos sociales entre empresas y poblaciones<br />locales.<br /><br />· Asimismo los acuerdos de cooperación económica como los Tratados de<br />Libre Comercio (TLCs), no priorizan la agenda ambiental, o en todo caso se<br />hacen anuncios mediáticos pero no existe la suficiente voluntad política<br />para destinar los recursos suficientes para proteger el ambiente y promover<br />el desarrollo sostenible.<br /><br />· El sistema político vigente no reconoce el rol de los diferentes<br />actores sociales en la vigilancia del cumplimiento de las obligaciones y<br />compromisos sociales y ambientales de las empresas que realizan inversiones<br />públicas y privadas, por el contrario a los que manifiestan su<br />disconformidad los criminalizan y sus preocupaciones y propuestas no son<br />atendidas.<br /><br />* *<br /><br />*Por lo expuesto demandamos:*<br /><br />· Para el proceso de adaptación y mitigación del cambio climático es<br />necesario que los mayores responsables de la emisión de gases de efecto<br />invernadero la disminuyan y paguen "la deuda ecológica generada" sin ningún<br />tipo de condiciones. Esos recursos deben ser utilizados en programas de<br />reforestación, conservación de la biodiversidad y en el desarrollo de<br />tecnologías ambientales.<br /><br /><br /><br />· Detener la aprobación de leyes como la "ley de la selva" porque<br />pueden facilitar el proceso de deforestación o el desplazamiento de las<br />comunidades locales de sus territorios. Si existe la voluntad para atraer<br />inversiones en las regiones es necesario realizar previamente el<br />ordenamiento territorial y la correspondiente zonificación económica y<br />ecológica, además de los estudios ambientales necesarios.<br /><br /><br /><br />· Es fundamental otorgarle los poderes políticos, económicos y<br />técnicos necesarios a la autoridad ambiental, para que pueda liderar el<br />proceso de gestión ambiental en todos los sectores productivos, desde una<br />visión transversal.**<br /><br /> **<br /><br />· Para ello, la autoridad ambiental debe tener claramente establecido<br />su rol fiscalizador, controlador y sancionador de las actividades<br />productivas y de las empresas en el cumplimiento de sus compromisos y<br />obligaciones establecidos en el marco jurídico vigente en el país.**<br /><br /> **<br /><br />· Asimismo, esta instancia debe tener la función de aprobación de<br />estudios de impacto ambiental y de los estudios de evaluación estratégica de<br />todos los sectores productivos y de servicios.<br /><br /><br /><br />· Como estrategia para mitigar el cambio climático, no debe otorgarse<br />las autorizaciones a las empresas mineras que quieran explotar este recurso<br />en las cabeceras de cuenca de alta montaña, por cuanto es allí en donde<br />nacen las fuentes de agua.<br /><br /><br /><br />· El proceso de adaptación al cambio climático debe desarrollarse en<br />base a tecnologías apropiadas y tomando en cuenta los conocimientos<br />tradicionales como las obras hidráulicas y mecanismos de captura de aguas<br />sabiamente trabajados por nuestras antepasados.<br /><br /><br /><br />· Debe orientarse todos los esfuerzos para recuperar nuestra<br />soberanía y seguridad alimentaria, en base a una adecuada gestión de la<br />agrobiodiversidad y de los conocimientos locales.<br /><br /><br /><br />· En este sentido, se debe propiciar mecanismos para el pago por<br />conservación de la agrobiodiversidad como un mecanismo de servicio ambiental<br />para la humanidad.<br /><br /><br /><br />· De igual manera se debe promover la gestión integral de cuencas<br />como estrategia fundamental del manejo del territorio y se debe propiciar la<br />formación de autoridades de cuenca y recursos hídricos dirigidos por el<br />Ministerio del Ambiente.<br /><br /><br /><br />Firman<br /><br />Sociedad Nacional del Ambiente (SNA)<br /><br />Red Muqui<br /><br />Red Ambiental Peruana (RAP) y más de 300 participantes.<br /><br />--<br />Muqui "Red de Propuesta y Acción"<br />Página web: www.muqui.org<br />Email: prensaredmuqui@gmail.com</div>Michelle Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17399775092466018175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001482939104905510.post-39446642394942192072008-05-17T11:06:00.006-05:002008-05-17T12:17:35.027-05:00Lima Declaration, potato parade and partyThis will be a bit of a rushed entry as I’m in the airport on my way back to Quito. You can read the Lima Declaration published yesterday <a href="http://www.vcumbrealcue.org/website/downloads/declaracion/lima_declaration.pdf">here</a><br /><br />I'm watching the news on the Presidents summit. They are currently in a meeting on the possible EU-Andean Communty association agreement. Europe still wants to negotiate a block-block agreement but Peru and Columbia are trying to push for a separate agreement with them, or for a faster process for them, with Ecuador and Bolivia entering later. There are plans to continue discussions at further meetings in June and July.<br /><br /> The Bolivian President Morales (hero of the alternative summit) spoke out very strongly against free trade agreements yesterday at the summit but the European Chancellor says that they hope that in further meetings they will reach an agreement and that there is a lot of different between what people say to the press and what happens in concrete work meetings.<br /><br /><strong>Yesterday</strong><br />I never made it to the closing event in the Plaza yesterday. The traffic chaos and security restrictions involved in crossing the city were too daunting. It seems the ceremony went well with rousing speeched by Evo Morales, huge crowds and diverse cultural events.<br /><br />We stayed in Miraflores and enjoyed the cultural activities which had been put on in connection with the summit including a parade of traditional dancing and then a potato parade with surreal giant inflatable potato followed by people bearing placards with all Peru’s potato varieties, then music.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201381689197616434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijcOuLHpZ8CCd0MNeyaKPu4iZyWaWf4Cv532Fltqitv6hPSKExD62GmmarrV6rpaBfDt-Juv2UQxe9hGG63ibK5V9Usxz31ji_4V8ksYf5v7a26fiOS9LeUks1u06T05aphulJpc2ErBQ/s320/P5160217.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201382737169636834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFDlSk5VLcaScmnSOEoTaY78xv7AmINlb9LPNWjYpeYVdL0ozz5ebF2cczoAVHmdG0kJoUmYs27dElE66LyFvOYzPUk3rhB8aPAd9CROVYkEjL5496XgItV1A9Z0bKnWRHCt8vDyzSwg/s320/P5170242.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201382380687351138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHOsrBQEMuVYZ4H_VU6WD4DytYbf3dX8DN152MYAENizbg-D6HZlUYR3SxL4VKTd141qJADRR5u-2CWk60D1L39QwaD_CLjyykteimUixcgL7u51rnaOx_FIzoQIMXylLn553KPAf-hc/s320/P5160227.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201382389277285762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPuwHzcMHJAaVoWAqJuLk2cvasw5yFFQGZW3CApdqpibmucbLK_6EPWzF5pEuHOSafdZ_q-jFv4AmChllAZZZM6SZjUFXcnvSblyaox43Hi7k94aHYc8_V4iSVMAvIvmSLS4puyciKV1o/s320/P5160233.JPG" border="0" /><br /> There were also art installations throughout the city – my favorite was a piece involving printers spewing out sheets with jumbled information about the summits from the windows of a high-rise building and they drifted down into the street with people leaping up to grab them and read them.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201381680607681810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2HTal8w7Kps0hyphenhyphenxS3K-h6mtLin6u8UX9k9JlVZVb1l3f0D9_8frnFZwXcAg2OdJg5N3SBripdzgg-ggwXeanGReC822XB0KX2VeM0vEVXRocoJR8Xz1lYGTXRz3npoWHGuCojQxwzPs/s320/P5160213.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />There is also a great photo exhibition on display called ‘ The climate is changing, so is my life’ with portraits of people ranging from a gardener in the very same park to fishermen, farmers mountaineers etc, all with a comment about how climate change is already affecting their lives and livelihoods.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImUVoQFt2voV31oNrmGPMPS3z6lL6br9zX4Y5tUGohGg6k7mOedhRwMUlxNCc2-aJMhFnbwDa1x5oSFKCP0dSR8vfIW9hKbuJllmmk8it2gUnFV21ff5vn8GFPDWdOdceZQ2PXAmGbew/s1600-h/P5160200.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201381349895199938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImUVoQFt2voV31oNrmGPMPS3z6lL6br9zX4Y5tUGohGg6k7mOedhRwMUlxNCc2-aJMhFnbwDa1x5oSFKCP0dSR8vfIW9hKbuJllmmk8it2gUnFV21ff5vn8GFPDWdOdceZQ2PXAmGbew/s320/P5160200.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyVAA6DYFK5R5SVb-V3V8DghPV1hSdhAtWlMjoOvKwJgoGaCmXnvfZl9BV99WnE350h1EceSrG38eZN8xgEpEba_SqS-XL3dUahVJbgpc8MwgkgDdIgl25c1O2dVLAj5I4pS1GheGQQ0/s1600-h/P5160202.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDYDiDfk7HY2PCz1g1In-6_tpc5_gvyhp2RYAetwVX1h3el1YgAPTgdChotF3WQAWNYeHP5oewmqPCTztRedPWv9gUhJP1radqjeP6zQ4rL92kL-Q3c5vTqt11QIjO4oTpeR8XKape1c/s1600-h/P5160203.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201381362780101858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfDYDiDfk7HY2PCz1g1In-6_tpc5_gvyhp2RYAetwVX1h3el1YgAPTgdChotF3WQAWNYeHP5oewmqPCTztRedPWv9gUhJP1radqjeP6zQ4rL92kL-Q3c5vTqt11QIjO4oTpeR8XKape1c/s320/P5160203.JPG" border="0" /></a></div>Michelle Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17399775092466018175noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001482939104905510.post-58547287493228749642008-05-16T15:57:00.009-05:002008-05-16T17:43:06.757-05:00Declarations<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChdhyRj_40UDPDOX5uXrD_mJVAG8DsbxTmrrQSj_Hz2LOR2wzov6LG2W0wDLxMsSbQVDWacOZwTTY22rkxB34Coc9YlAxdywXJV8rnMQlKpsGjV9ubv0UYgfx-sGtyUAWN5SnRjcUDwg/s1600-h/P5160181.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201088351521234050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhChdhyRj_40UDPDOX5uXrD_mJVAG8DsbxTmrrQSj_Hz2LOR2wzov6LG2W0wDLxMsSbQVDWacOZwTTY22rkxB34Coc9YlAxdywXJV8rnMQlKpsGjV9ubv0UYgfx-sGtyUAWN5SnRjcUDwg/s320/P5160181.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"><em>Presenting the conclusions of the Women's summit</em></p><p></p><p>The declaration of the summit and the verdict of the People’s Tribunal were presented to a giant stadium bursting with people today. You can read the full documents ( in Spanish) at: <a href="http://www.enlazandoalternativas.org/IMG/doc/VEREDICTO_FINAL.doc">People’s Tribunal verdict</a>, the declaration of the <a href="http://www.enlazandoalternativas.org/spip.php?article194">Alternative Summit </a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMddsxO-25c5hirpKpJ0Rrcplt4vEbmKzCnb3Tk3AwDOhVVlYbs1RmxO_OcinV4Kx2mwWUEeaX95tVzaKD1FuXk1CuiRMvTwWosSAzlJK6DtwgPmGRWnMfRjAd7-b0T-Gi3ncdQi3M6A/s1600-h/P5160191.JPG"></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201087157520325554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHNyv0qa0fuBgT-bXlkHFGXi-KbucgIUfA60kUfjuUMqkgqbp5XVI-p8TgFPc1Gda8JJOXq2SHzOZqEx0nokztC6rfqME40WGwXqRs1K9fzUkVFaAsZT2mP2mOGJlEQP9E7D0EQLo11-o/s320/P5160160.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201087964974177394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7e-tKAWOmMIz0gmspiyt7bZ2fWF7dKd5wIswvTcasfRy51Ku6Z5mGMK3TZLR2nSVjAvgWSa9iOi3BqOiOYCdbF8BZb3_0QyuuwMBW9Z69nWlD3yg_OB_Sbz4b3AwCss9t_qe8WghM4Y/s320/P5160184.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201087153225358226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwA9PrIyTit6FvVhVPNdWpw_09Ec3CNR9xi31DYD_CZ9L0YGG1YkbLa-ZNzasU-81WrxcxMTmethcz3BMptdin3Ceyuk26RhykqR24UR9-XbQ2-CZ60bOJDrzaSV36kzdxePFLdOiXIGs/s320/P5160150.JPG" border="0" /></p><br /><p>Over the sounds of horns, conch shells and chanting from an excited crowd, the summit declaration which was presented to the Presidents summit yesterday was read out, followed by the conclusions of six panels which took place on each of the summit themes. Three motions were also passed through enthusiastic foot stamping and flagwaving: soildarity with the people of COlombia; solidarity with the people of Haiti; and the nominations of Bolivian President Evo Morales for a Nobel Peace Prize. The idea is that all of this will be synthesised into a final document for distribution. </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201087161815292866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfQAR5Q4fKGUT7-2xvpuEpongHyXXdT7P-7aUX31w5QroPoLYLK1rAdTnm2tYyJ8R-QDz9sgBJfEnF0ckGnOYZa6Kxkh2MnVLvLNiSoui1PTa-1pZWf1CHupdFtjWp7DnqgPAtwr_wWE/s320/P5160163.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201087479642872802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbaFS0NCx8sykmVCSrNXroE_ib8oefPdHaOUFj1XJrLRq9i-UcWw6q6ClF8Isj4sjoxnD0hClmnGPJbJvaW5-A0AU_CDwp_4BLaoDpRkio462Zx8ipeuleAB8LNbIlCsva5uuZWsfCO0/s320/P5160172.JPG" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIoXStOcnduQR3WNCK3Wnlc2TEVg6PcaFNlE9imu-d6_gDzaNo-hHO1WY5fBoZi9w1aY2lOTsPUrsR91FxsOnnm73VAKZQ2iEehHEaGvl9W1OWanyiJVvntZyHwDKTkBMCdy_6EF9zA8/s1600-h/P5160148.JPG"><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201086796743072642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIoXStOcnduQR3WNCK3Wnlc2TEVg6PcaFNlE9imu-d6_gDzaNo-hHO1WY5fBoZi9w1aY2lOTsPUrsR91FxsOnnm73VAKZQ2iEehHEaGvl9W1OWanyiJVvntZyHwDKTkBMCdy_6EF9zA8/s320/P5160148.JPG" border="0" /></strong></a><strong><br />The declaration</strong> states that: </p><p>- the primary objective of government policies should be building a system which prioritises people’s economic, political, social, cultural and environmental rights; </p><p>- the summit rejects the trade agreements the EU and some LAC countries want to sign because they will perpetuate the current system of domination, pillaging of natural resources and abuse of rights; </p><p>- the EU’s strategy "Global Europe: competing in the world” is incompatible with the discourse on climate change, poverty reduction and social cohesion.</p><p>- the summit rejects the Lisbon treaty for Europe which is a great threat to democracy, peace and the environment and is criminalizing migrants and social movements and violating the right to asylum whilst building ‘Fortress Europe’;</p><p>- when governments in Lima talk about social cohesion, climate change and poverty reduction, they should remember that the main cause of inequality, social polarization and environmental damage is the primacy of the market over people rights and the offering of every kind of guarantee to corporations which then undermine governments;</p><p>- the summit denounces the hypocrisy of the multilateral institutions in the face of the food crisis. </p><p><br />And then in response to this situation proposes a different kind of regional integration based on respect for the environment, human rights and democratic processes; a strengthening of cooperation and solidarity between people’s of the world; the end of discrimination and processes which violate countries’ sovereignty; reparations for the abuses perpetrated by European companies and the creation and the creation of a new type of relationship with these companies. </p><p><br />It calls on progressive governments to join them in this process of transformation; on all inhabitants of LAC and the EU to join in the struggle for a better world for all and to all social and popular organisations to start preparing for the next alternative Summit Enlazando Alternativas IV in Spain in 2010. </p><div><br /><strong>The Tribunal</strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201087960679210066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-0AgxN70F3iJXvwKT9XFXUnMuDUGYXuAJF444OTkrndWpImVciJtBU73sMETtlpA4XLoRHJ5mEajEN8_1IlG79_nzBotdzn0ZK1Nn10bJgNSHNxYPn1NtiW0jaqCbc8Ej6xnThe-j1Y/s320/P5160189.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>The Tribunal unsurprisingly found against the companies which it judged, in favour of the affected communities. All the companies were invited to take part, but equally unsurprisingly they all refused apart from one Peruvian company Camposol. </div><div><br />The judges gave powerful speeches issuing ‘moral and ethical sanctions’ against the 24 European- based transnationals which they had judged; against the states which allow companies to abuse rights with impunity; and then against the whole neoliberal system which is complicit in the abuses. They made recommendations for multinationals, International Financial Institutions, European and LAC governments and civil society organisations, including a resolution to lobby UNHCR to designate a Special Rapporteur to present a report to the general assembly to suggest the creation of an International Court to judge economic and environmental crimes. They committed to disseminate their findings and conclusions on the abuses to raise awareness and seek compensation and changes. </div><div></div><div>-----------------------------------------------</div><div></div><div>Meanwhile the official summit was underway but no time to write about that now as I'm off to the big closing ceremony for the alternative summit in a Plaza in central Lima. The organisers hope Evo Morales and Hugo Chavez will be present to accept a document with all of the above conclusions... </div>Michelle Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17399775092466018175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001482939104905510.post-78938569409938629562008-05-16T08:42:00.011-05:002008-05-16T09:04:18.739-05:00Two worlds, two parties<div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left"><strong>“Here at the summit, it is very obvious that people have a desperate need to express themselves. When the presentations finish, people don’t have questions, what they need is to be listened to. It makes you reflect on grave lack of opportunities to participate and have a voice when, as soon as there is an opportunity to speak people need to talk and talk and tell what is happening to them and how it is happening”.<br /></strong><br />Yesterday at the alternatives summit I spoke to Diana Torres, a Progressio Development Worker with Educa, The Institute for the Promotion of a Quality Education. She is working in the very deprived district of San Juan de Lurigancho on the outskirts of Lima, promoting participation in local development. She had some interesting reflections on the lack of real mechanisms for participation for marginalised groups in Peru and on people’s response to the summit:<br /><br />“This summit is a place where you can hear the voices which have ended up being silent because nobody listens to them. It is absolutely vital that NGOs including Progressio and its partner organisations should be here. I think these kinds of events are crucial for us to be able to continue re-thinking the work we do and improving it.<br /><br />“I think it is positive that talking about things with others who are living the same problems or with others who have a different perspective allows people to construct different narrative and make their discourses more flexible. But the problem is, what will happen when the summit is over? That is where you start to feel dissatisfied because there are these interesting conversations and processes, but then we are all going to disperse, which is just what the state wants.<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200974427513707314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1cQbtJSicz_vYKvH3QfIyWyDH66aNysEkrLugxu75SDMThVELHq3zoYPU1UjpuCrqUd0vBgvIPZbhnpJHQpC9hflS-cXLiUig1h7VfjZaLDF_Y594IdbP4H2nvG63zI5pcaiFmmFFLE/s320/P5150130.JPG" border="0" /><em> Self expression: a huge crowd watch theatre at the summit yesterday<br /></em><br />Diana says she feels a mix of great satisfaction at the summit (as an opportunity for people to talk and be heard and learn from each other), but also a deep dissatisfaction at the lack of real dialogue between the governments in the official summit and the people:<br /><br />“The position of the state in relation to all of this is interesting. You can see the fragmentation in which the state is acting in one sphere and the people are acting in another and you wonder where is the dialogue and space for conversation between the two. That’s what I feel is happening in Lima this week.<br /><br />“I think the official summit responds to the needs of a specific economic model and so the proposals for solutions and any achievements they make are going to respond to that model – and by that I mean that they are not going to resolve the gap between rich and poor. They are working within the perspective of an economic model which continues to fragment society, making the poorest poorer and the richest richer.<br /><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200972155476007714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyWz2WpxP1lpaUi_rcAl-ezW6GLqqaQ3v4X_e3fcMygHSIuJnEmH6pzbD2D_r3PRCzC7kf_Vqah6xxcPcZerKxHnQxTlER54K-OA7Ik9M8sQWunVbod4ssr411wXnPVKxn7GgKaJsk-8/s320/P5150124.JPG" border="0" /><em>Diana Torres</em></p><p><br />She sees the contrast between the lavish party to be laid on for delegates in Miraflores, one of the richest parts of Lima, and the ‘people’s party’ to be held miles away in another plaza, possibly with the presence of Evo Morles and Hugo Chavez, but no other leaders, as emblematic of the inequality and division in Peruvian society:<br /><br />“In Miraflores, there will be a big party – who will be at that party?, and here there is going to be a big party – who will be at this party? It shows how divided we are: the state is on one side and civil society is on another.<br /><br />“Alan Garcia can continue saying that we are in ‘a time of abundance’ and effectively we are, but abundance for who? I think that whatever is agreed at the summit will continue to sustain what is happening in Peru at the moment. I don’t think anything at all will change.<br /></p><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left"><strong>Criminalising protest</strong> </div><br /><div align="left">In Peru, civil society organisations are extremely concerned about the increasing repression of dissent. The government has introduced measures to try to increase control over NGOs and has openly attacked dissenting voices, calling them ‘terrorists’ and ‘traitors’ who are against development. He has also passed legislation which increases police impunity in cases of violence against protesters. Diana took part yesterday in some of the debates on this topic:</div><br /><div align="left">“It was interesting for me to understand the way protest is being criminalised here in Peru in relation to what is happening around the world – that protest and repression of protest is increasing at an alarming rate around the world”. </div><br /><div align="left">“One of the speakers said that protest and appears because it is so difficult to sustain the neoliberal model – it is almost a natural consequence of the unjust model – but then it becomes necessary to repress the protest so that it doesn’t have the impact that it should – changing the system. The repression is a symptom of an inability to sustain the system. I think that understanding that reflection might help us to find ways to act and respond. </div><br /><div align="left">“It was also interesting to hear that the same thing is going on in Europe – when supposedly we are developing countries and this shouldn’t be happening there…” </div><div align="left"><br /><strong>A learning opportunity<br /></strong><br />From her own perspective, having started relatively recently moved to Peru from her native Columbia to start work for Progressio, she says she found the summit a useful window on the reality in Peru:<br /><br />“As a Development Worker, I think it has helped me to open up my vision – I have learnt things here that I hadn’t even learnt yet in the context of the organisation where I am working.<br /><br />“It allows you to understand other aspects of the national reality which you cannot find out about through the media which don’t really represent these other worlds and other realities. It allows you to know what is happening for all the groups which are called ‘minorities’ but which are actually sustaining the country.<br /><br />“You feel like communities are tired – that there are small efforts in the communities but that they aren’t enough. Here in this summit you can see that there are people who are really fighting and achieving important things - and that's encouraging." </div><div align="left"><br />--------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Today the official summit gets underway properly and the alternative summit enters its last day. As Diana says, the two are worlds apart with the official summit talking about climate change in terms of carbon trading schemes and Garcia talking about the need to open Peru up to more investment, whilst the alternative summit talks of ecological debt and rejects all privatisation of natural resources.</div><br /><div align="left">I'm heading to the alternative summit now to hear the reading of the final declaration from the summit and the judgements of the People's Tribunal.</div>Michelle Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17399775092466018175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001482939104905510.post-75380099681430066402008-05-15T21:22:00.001-05:002008-05-15T21:23:39.724-05:00An interesting article on the People's Tribunal which will report its judgements tomorrow<br /><br />LATIN AMERICA: European Corporations on Trial - Milagros Salazar<br />LIMA - Twenty European corporations are being tried for human rights violations before an ethical tribunal at the Peoples? Summit, organised for the third time by the Bi-Regional Network "Enlazando Alternativas" (Linking Alternatives) in Lima. The organisers announced that they hope to take some of these cases to ordinary courts of justice in Peru.<br /><a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=42372" target="_blank">http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=42372</a>Michelle Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17399775092466018175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001482939104905510.post-64973806506662511182008-05-15T18:28:00.010-05:002008-05-16T07:02:48.040-05:00Water and football<strong>Presidents Summit begins<br /></strong><br />The LAC-EU summit started today. I’m watching the presidents arriving and the initial speeches on the TV as I type. According to the press, the Peruvian Government are saying that concrete agreements on climate change will be prioritised in the Lima Declaration to be signed by the parties, but that poverty reduction measures will probably appear as vaguer 'priorities' rather than set targets.<br /><br />The negotiations have begun with the Peruvian government emphasising that it would like to negotiate a separate free trade agreement with the EU, rather than in combination the Andean Community of Nations (CAN). CAN is divided because whilst the right-wing governments of Peru and Colombia are keen, left leaning presidents in Ecuador and Bolivia are against signing. Europe wants to negotiate with the whole block. At the alternative summit of course there is strong resistance to free trade agreements.<br /><br />This afternoon a delegation from the alternative summit took proposals gathered from the summit events up until now to present to representatives of each region at the official summit. As well as presenting some of the conclusions they also voiced disappointment at the ‘demonisation’ of the alternative summit as a violent ‘antisummit’ by the Peruvian government and the media and stressed that they sought dialogue and offered alternatives and proposals. They said it was wrong for such important discussion to take place in a closed meeting.<br /><br /><strong>Alternative summit</strong><br /><br /><p>The alternative summit today was even more packed than it has been up until now as today and tomorrow were declared impromptu public holidays to try to encourage people to leave the city. When we arrived an enormous queue of people were waiting to register for the summit and all day long, every workshop was bursting with people.<br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200754508008282770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7LRFHV3GOhUw9FfRGtx-GcIKYimBpT7IROyXbd-aAD3neL5lthgBVxbV2WKz8kJsNq0ZGnrswFRrUPwK-xI2BIlE8YaOkMaFm95RQJxRJgCLybfvxCiGVq6npilVhGVl12OIIzivrnM/s320/P5150115.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200754512303250098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCajzqKz1awEMJxBUIEgt6mYKzoOwUX6QD-WkMPXCaufyWaONLpKuCmWg4c2odDcBTKQURcHQBieg-eNwxXzmqPmEDFbFRvHh0UuI1Pl_dL6T8dt35T3GTzhwNchrckow11ySyFbnVvOM/s320/P5150120.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200753515870837266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzduBGxv2MR6RucDlR9UUwY5xp8zAh0yjGJpycUDvIrwFIyKqQpNEAiSkXfeWHYCUy0pqRGZCoB7WjT7Mackf5VwMR_ovSp6HVDOZsrRFpkLgMmaEwar-fWxLEeXMMkgm1syvBzUS9WSo/s320/P5140091.JPG" border="0" /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200754160115931746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRX9h6LwBvEXV3z4SaSiI2VvhEy-Dhz41odlGS0NBiRKJl1PiPLBRpArsMbe9dRC7s6f0OzUcMBA483-_XYHMzcPb3mvcxA1z_zzPZLEB7oreRVtqrq4E2LVZm6nTSdAyIkT-KrCiA0Y/s320/P5150103.JPG" border="0" /><em>People peering in to packed forum from outside the tent<br /></em><br /><strong>Water us a Human Right, An Ecological Good and a Public Service<br /></strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200754151525997090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOGMEYGy77bhoVZsovvdrTuuJqgupipcNcWIJPhxJ9XVr2ENdh_rgHzfPI0J25BgQ5yqxBX8HWVX2wxNYBkNY4EBQ_IiRpykQZaHKBYEsQHE8f3rjKPj5kIHWurbI0e-5P13spYdYQcI/s320/P5150092.JPG" border="0" /><br />I spent most of the day in a forum on water as a human right organised by a range of Peruvian organisations ( mostly trade union and campesino organizations) including <a href="http://www.fentap.org.pe/">FENTAP</a> The National Peruvian Federation of Drinking Water Workers, CGTP, CCP, CONACAMI, CAN, CxD, <a href="http://www.world-psi.org/">Public Services International</a>, CONAGUAYVIDA and FOS.<br /><br />I was keen to hear the key concerns and issues for people as it is one of the key issues Progressio is researching for our international advocacy work. It was also interesting to contrast the concerns and demands with those made at the Fifth National Water Meeting in Ecuador.<br /><br />It seemed to me that whilst the political context in Ecuador and Peru are very different, the concerns of the grassroots organisations are centred around the same issues and for both groups the issue of water is a vital issue – literally a life and death issue as people reiterated all day.<br /><br />The difference is that whilst in Ecuador our partner organisation Cameren and the Water Resources Forum has been working on proposals many of which look likely to be included in the new constitution; in Peru, small scale farmers face a new set of legislative proposals being put forward by Alan Garcia’s government including a new water law, which they see as a huge threat (seeking to further privatise water, favour big companies, and turn water into merchandise over which they will lose control).<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200754151525997106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolUSypTND0kJ2iSheSMllU6etvIN68JU-PMinOTVAbwOKjYETZ3tcLullXe5JK-X9vmJ3dKh_xW5JLLXYf6FAJMn2pjxkuOoSAAnPHbQzx1-RmPBd0s1liEBRPHfnCNqHzvMKoKArYcg/s320/P5150094.JPG" border="0" /><br />The issues which came up over and over again were: that water is a human right; that water should be managed by public institutions and that we should fight against privatisation and measures which seek to convert water into merchandise – with tradeable rights etc; that policies should favour the small scale farmers who are subsidising food production with their labour and not the agro-exportation industry which is environmentally and socially destructive; the need for policies which respect ancestral uses of water and cultural beliefs and management practices in relation to water; the need to resolve unfair water distribution in which transnational companies (extractive industries and agricultural) are awarded disproportionately large shares; the already frightening impacts of climate change on water supplies and fears for the future; the threat of agro-fuels; the impacts of deforestation; the inadequacy of social responsibility as a regulation model for industry.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200754503713315442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofVPZnrk2MMn6nYo_QrCbosM6ehFH6dJCxGUtJluXvB_uU32Lo-Q6wBwndktgycRzzCqPtDDETf1qKeoNbQ2Qk3CGEACqITs2oInoKjZAPAc5OdoNg2bj0hRg_m36CuoSzPYUhYUpOeg/s320/P5150104.JPG" border="0" /><em>A song about injustice and water rights in Tacna, Peru<br /></em><br />There was vehement consensus that water should not be included in any free trade negotiations at the LAC-EU summit As Carlos Franco from <a href="http://www.conaguayvida.blogspot.com/">CONAGUAyVIDA</a> said:<br />“Water should not enter into the LAC- EU negotiations. They are negotiating with our lives. They need to give campesinos back control over water”<br /><br />Miguel Jugo from <a href="http://www.aprodeh.org.pe/">APRODEH</a> , a human rights orgainsation talked about water as a fundamental human right for all - for urban populations and for agriculture. He emphasised the importance of the role of the state – “The state cannot pretend that water conflicts can be fairly resolved between the parties because the players are not equal – in a situation of transnational company versus communities, the company will win”. He argued that the government is failing in its responsibility to equitably distribute water resources: in Lima “some have no water at all whilst others have it in navigable quantities”.<br /><br />Mario Pallacios from <a href="http://www.conacami.org/">CONACAMI</a>, the Confederation of Communities Affected by Mining talked about the mining industry’s huge demand for water, saying that every metric tonne of soil, metal and rock removed requires 3,000 litres of water to process. In his community 80% of the water is used by mining industry who extract 8,000 metric tones a day. In Yanacocha the figure is even higher with the gold mine there extracting 600,000 metric tonnes a day. He gave powerful examples of the devastating effect this is having on the environment.</p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200754155820964434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOiAX8veFCGElZ0O1eD49nra3vlsV524ikK8L6nn3gMSt4sAfmVh05cFrxB0W301P7WCJ09ZtCMhsAcumPYQXsiOPZHJmkr0F2L2M3H1Kz2TfqwsGIHHKt3Hq5RhBf0PR7hsgpuIBo5U/s320/P5150102.JPG" border="0" /><br /><em>Mario Pallacios</em></p><em><p><br /></em></p>David Boys of PSI presented the global context and the failings of the privatisation strategy which has been promoted by the World Bank, IMF, Inter-american Development Bank motivated by: profit(“water is more valuable than oil”; the lack of public investment; market ideology; corruption in public companies; the incentives of cheap loans; international networks of academics; consultants and lobbyists.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200754503713315458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BWmHmAqhw4BfD4oAAgE9Nei9oMmObkcnxwc14GUOlgI_9ntXLBUcmtEWLVaDfOSPdGKe-nbieGvKkgiXKjP_GumJRoKWdcEp2B9w4mQ-T0o3Uf0MfNkKJiJjCVH4JJwBVusNi7xxMB8/s320/P5150109.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><br /><em>David Boys</em></p><em><p align="left"><br /></em></p>The forum's main points were summarised in a document which was added to the proposals presented to the official summit this afternoon.<p align="left">---------------------------------------------------</p><p align="left">Over the last few days, I had been thinking it was amazing to get over 3,000 people to attend an event like this, reflecting on how important the issues must be to so many people. But, after lunch I realised what could really draw a crowd. We were headed towards a climate change forum and were passed by a crowd of thousands heading in the other direction. Convinced I must be missing out on the most interesting talk of the summit, I asked where everyone was going: it turned out that the Bolivian President Evo Morales, had arrived for his football game against the Peruvian national team who played in the World Cup in Mexico in 1970. The stadium was soon packed out with hundreds clamouring outside the university gates being held back bypolice. As we left there were rumours that Chavez was shortly coming to join him.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200754920325143266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCT_nsIbbhVMSq-91C0EfNO4X4ms9OKl3N26BQvIy2mKOjjDaQbt0F9kZKDqGmOfTyrd3_WmdBgZqH7kgnO4phGla3IHxGhraF0AIvCBq55o0no0tebWbAEpW20ONBEhlLmyat-lUjeM/s320/P5150131.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200754920325143282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSowWdGAhq-3JSjbiGN7OzP9nkKDBIMRIoZ8jwVSBaGFL_bJcQ0utTM8tqlrHKUbR6LMYtEi4qtzA_yBMUUf5_zC7sy62pSvIiOn_XCj5_6gAqplWXuzfNx2x9ww3kJJcNUmppSwbIX8/s320/P5150132.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><em>Crowds and queues outside the Univeristy gates<br /></em></p><span style="font-size:0;"></span>Michelle Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17399775092466018175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001482939104905510.post-65305032796620635442008-05-14T19:09:00.012-05:002008-05-15T07:31:58.827-05:00Indigenous people uniting<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaOJkVwf5Pq5qmBNGJMWLpKgVTtCk99b04fF2xLCN27Q9h23LmJoNFm16XD9R1QbbEyPbQdykP4cibkx4F8tdnl5lrvV_JIfAMCfWpuMmSeyiTYEgoVFofXTGicu0kz654udt_UvRtqM/s1600-h/P5140051.JPG"></a>“I want the presidents at the summit this week to realise that the people are here – so that it is not just a small group of the biggest capitalists having a discussion and then doing whatever they want. I want them to hear the people”.<br /><br />So said Abraham Salazar, president of one of Progressio’s partner organisations in Ecuador, the Cotopaxi Indigenous and Campesino Movement (MICC - Movimiento Indígena y Campesino de Cotopaxi).<br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200462398692546978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCW5X_lHeX8JfGjtarNLkIUmo00Axb0T7TOcaYkjboLw-sP31RI_uUT3hvrjgg6GVXrxnYkcg-diJoGRNvCGog7irAq-7OiRe5JsflN2hFRDzVt4IbdgkreygsVf1wRe8FWkr_wvdGtuc/s320/P5140053.JPG" border="0" /><br />“This summit is a crucial opportunity for us, the indigenous peoples and nations to make the presidents realise that we are also meeting. We also have a summit and we are demanding our rights: we want them to respect our rights, our opinions and our territories. I hope that there can be a dialogue between the two summits and that they will hear our proposals”.</p><p>I spoke to him this afternoon just after he spoke on a panel alongside indigenous leaders from Columbia, Bolivia and Peru at a big meeting on Mining, Natural Resources and Indigenous Communities at the alternative summit. He emphasised how important it is for indigenous peoples to unite in their struggles:</p><p>“I think this summit here today is a very important space and a great opportunity to be able to exchange our experiences of our struggles for our land, our natural resources, our indigenous identity and rights.</p><p>“Today’s event has been an important forum for debate where we can see the perspectives of different indigenous peoples. I think this has helped to bring us closer together and see how much we have in common: we have the same problems. The way that we are treated by multinationals, how they cheat indigenous peoples, and the multinationals’ policies and practices are the same in all of our countries. </p><p>“The issues of mining, water, hydroelectricity and oil are very important issues for all of us. I believe that for a long time the oligarchic powers and the transnationals have just been taking from us – taking our resources, from our territory – in Columbia, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador and in Chile and Argentina and other poor countries”.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200460251208898850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMyIQjorpx3Kzc1cuinBEMu_4vC72RpTEiaDgpC1NhM7NJlan4oC5pOA45Snja32jArnDB-0UfsrpsQ2n9KRu9XO0SqWdeDHSnwdNuiiYmqH2GiE0ER5_nVwCFEg-q8mlls0W1xoWaZc/s320/P5140037.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200459881841711298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuSD_fHtn0wmMxFahDZ6Kjdw40UWlkdKNND8Rdk7W6hLmD2ATw5zMXGgu1hysmhVS5qDJwhBWYfrY-tCGS6-aawXA54WHowAnC7dprgwiIgVwNSCEiKRghAK0VIB5Lvnrk6xamovB2l5o/s320/P5140009.JPG" border="0" /><br />Abraham is working with Fernando Ruiz, a Progressio Development Worker on a project to protect and manage paramos (high altitude scubland that looks like Scotland). Natural Resource management is an issue close to his heart:</p><p>“We, the indigenous peoples live in the paramos and in the mountains, in the highest places where there is water. That water is life and without it we will not be able to live. We need to conserve our ways of life – living in harmony between human beings and nature , together in pachamama [the mother earth]. We feel that capitalism and other processes are trying to extinguish all these cultures that we have: our indigenous plurinationality. It is like they are trying to force us all out.</p><p>“In Cotopaxi, Since when I first started on the governing council of MICC, I have been trying to work on and promote natural resource conservation. So together with Fernando, I have been working through workshops, and awareness raising in communities and people are starting to be more aware of the issues. Now that I’m a provincial leader I am working on the issues even more.</p><p>“As MICC we are putting more and more emphasis on the topic on natural resources and we are not going to drop that work – we are very involved in water, mining, the struggles against hydroelectric plants. Indigenous peoples are resisting . For example they want to give 50 year water concessions to big hydroelectric plants and mines and we are saying “No way, that is not going to happen when we can see that in other places, people are dying of thirst or hunger”.</p><p>“The government needs to start thinking about water by first of all prioritizing everybody having water. And looking at it from the perspective of Food Sovereignty – we are being turned into consumers – consumers who consume products imported from elsewhere. And what are we doing with our local produce, our native seeds?”</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200460251208898834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjfHwtKN64SbPG__OmRykVQRBwfLPfbzd8tNqML_ijfv2hsi2oco_P_ivJVvpxix8lW8Pz-A-B7MlvM7X2__Lmk71CeJ8jnr_C0ZEiKhnkfD-VsBpAA3YEGKPRxdvIGWAgHFLImc_MSE/s320/P5140030.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>Abraham came to the summit with a small delegation from Ecuador to participate in the full week’s activities including an indigenous nations summit which took place on Monday. He believes the summit has helped to strengthen the movement at a regional level and strengthen MICC’s work in Cotopaxi:</p><p>“I think we will leave this summit at the end of the week with much more information and much stronger. In Ecuador I think we will be able to act in a much stronger way. I am seeing that Rafael Correa, the president in Ecuador has an internal position which is neoliberal and then an external one which is supposedly in favour of the poor but really it isn’t. He is cheating us and we cannot let that happen – behind what he is saying, he is pushing forward mining and hydroelectric power stations.</p><p>“We need to push for a total change in our countries so that they respect our culture, our forms of governance, our natural resources and our autonomy as indigenous peoples. I think that the summit has really helped us and now we need to keep in touch, keep strengthening our links and supporting each other, because the only way we are going to live well as is through our own struggles for indigenous rights”. </p><p>______________________________</p><p><br />Elsewhere at the summit, the activities continued with a packed day of workshops, fringe meetings and discussions. I went to a couple of interesting sessions on climate change, which is an important theme at the summit, interestingly, being addressed not just by environmental organisations but also by women’s organisations, human right groups and indigenous groups. The emphasis is on the issue as something which will have wide-ranging ramifications and which we all need to adapt to and tackle.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200459881841711314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf37q67mc0bT-l-6ge1OfNQzlayls_LM5xVOCZNCJ9G_rT8z95WRxiI77ihElChDlpnKXHwZH6vsdfYFAP4ah4-jZrDYyS8FUaSfPMhgu15EaJSah0rCgaiaVMip_qaIyzPe1v3mwi-XE/s320/P5140013.JPG" border="0" /> <p>Outside the summit, preparations continued for the LAC-EU summit which starts on Friday. The chaos on the roads is impressive with extensive sections of road shut down and police ID checks on many streets; the international delegations are arriving; labour unions are threatening to strike during the summit to highlight their concerns; and Garcia, the President, created Peru’s first <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN1343881920080514">environment ministry</a> and spoke on his proposal for a global fund to finance reforestation which could reforest ten million hectares could be reforested annually.<br /></p><p>A few shots of the other activities at the summit: art for change, dancing and cultural displays, stalls, and the women's tent<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISUTKtcnmHEwg-qP6xscj3t02BAb6Lad2MjJMk5fKGI3OSaUuT9H0fX2yoAJDBE_ZkcUkqOelk0thHhUEInJauxzOVXnC0KBJLdEoc1_UTivBPVaRpS6P5WY7hs7QLBZP0bTClqOQ9RY/s1600-h/P5140070.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200462407282481586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISUTKtcnmHEwg-qP6xscj3t02BAb6Lad2MjJMk5fKGI3OSaUuT9H0fX2yoAJDBE_ZkcUkqOelk0thHhUEInJauxzOVXnC0KBJLdEoc1_UTivBPVaRpS6P5WY7hs7QLBZP0bTClqOQ9RY/s320/P5140070.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpkk9Eb__NKZbK73IZqAfZm3G3ilX5w8-WUhIaQcaPsl6ZUGaysS-LVticrc8kV_-rjgfo963WLvKw3cYZUntZZpp7jyoLUngqTV4ewSG7x53vf-vKYQFrcNAoogGPXZ1VwNR8jHZ_6g/s1600-h/P5140071.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200462411577448898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpkk9Eb__NKZbK73IZqAfZm3G3ilX5w8-WUhIaQcaPsl6ZUGaysS-LVticrc8kV_-rjgfo963WLvKw3cYZUntZZpp7jyoLUngqTV4ewSG7x53vf-vKYQFrcNAoogGPXZ1VwNR8jHZ_6g/s320/P5140071.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmzCdrMfrT72LTPbYSB_obrdG16ygwfoK308hA4CQXb-Eezagi_7BMlMCszMyNfGdOkW5lxzxud8EUIRvvjCLr4e6n2E7yzkMQgE5IL6s_X11gr20HqlUtnC3LGTqQLkh-9MsECLFIME/s1600-h/P5140055.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200460753720072546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmzCdrMfrT72LTPbYSB_obrdG16ygwfoK308hA4CQXb-Eezagi_7BMlMCszMyNfGdOkW5lxzxud8EUIRvvjCLr4e6n2E7yzkMQgE5IL6s_X11gr20HqlUtnC3LGTqQLkh-9MsECLFIME/s320/P5140055.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0et9hss0ywkFnYE_Vno8u5bVhMRHERFIZYRVjQGZ8E72xHtS2dxzGiuMlLJ4a-2Ax-Am3OYwrTIqPcK2u8DqAMKgJWM47vUiVI7OmncmmPg4lnjmqn1fix6MsVCd28Wn1hBUinnVII10/s1600-h/P5140019.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200460242618964210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0et9hss0ywkFnYE_Vno8u5bVhMRHERFIZYRVjQGZ8E72xHtS2dxzGiuMlLJ4a-2Ax-Am3OYwrTIqPcK2u8DqAMKgJWM47vUiVI7OmncmmPg4lnjmqn1fix6MsVCd28Wn1hBUinnVII10/s320/P5140019.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtrLiEKIxxdMpEtzqmUwPkf2vK4nzXPUhDZPuEtYhyphenhyphenEEpsFbYz4A-dBlQqtpSA1TDO8IAacY_n_wk56qospL9GPIinKWuN84SkoknEX9J9DBiM1_HDwWqiPBHwIQSCaPHLrjQ8h07dI80/s1600-h/P5140022.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200460246913931522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtrLiEKIxxdMpEtzqmUwPkf2vK4nzXPUhDZPuEtYhyphenhyphenEEpsFbYz4A-dBlQqtpSA1TDO8IAacY_n_wk56qospL9GPIinKWuN84SkoknEX9J9DBiM1_HDwWqiPBHwIQSCaPHLrjQ8h07dI80/s320/P5140022.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNowRywRhE9QsXwJ0Qg2Q5a6x57po46NjEvgw3numSOoW5xi2Mbdxb1VomNRlW4BM-6-oBID6kDn-jmstHD25Dn7uvVttLqizOJBq1w-P-jeEwLHKe5JIwd4ucgvAfUmvMSVoPeGITLY/s1600-h/P5140001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200459860366874786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNowRywRhE9QsXwJ0Qg2Q5a6x57po46NjEvgw3numSOoW5xi2Mbdxb1VomNRlW4BM-6-oBID6kDn-jmstHD25Dn7uvVttLqizOJBq1w-P-jeEwLHKe5JIwd4ucgvAfUmvMSVoPeGITLY/s320/P5140001.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrd6IXb53CaH6_uIsoXVeaSWslfDuR-KTStGef5ZrtUFtycKeOUfNzqK4xPirfEMi2GbFWgv-BcRXZzyK-IhGunyw88Bc6R7sevdAkjlPecL6LGjQL670SoYCsNEhAIAWVhYW4LaF1NCo/s1600-h/P5140002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200459877546743986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrd6IXb53CaH6_uIsoXVeaSWslfDuR-KTStGef5ZrtUFtycKeOUfNzqK4xPirfEMi2GbFWgv-BcRXZzyK-IhGunyw88Bc6R7sevdAkjlPecL6LGjQL670SoYCsNEhAIAWVhYW4LaF1NCo/s320/P5140002.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdFGsYVywPZvriBUzEHTyvulJA88tJEF2oRW3nnrdKYZje6By6dIlWbsM6o4iYJXSWOhwBx88adZLiiakjU7KHNbGrBIx96n2P1C_UMoDKabTIa6_a4f8jBSjKZ-u03NVa0UqL-C5UCQ/s1600-h/P5140016.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200459886136678626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdFGsYVywPZvriBUzEHTyvulJA88tJEF2oRW3nnrdKYZje6By6dIlWbsM6o4iYJXSWOhwBx88adZLiiakjU7KHNbGrBIx96n2P1C_UMoDKabTIa6_a4f8jBSjKZ-u03NVa0UqL-C5UCQ/s320/P5140016.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Michelle Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17399775092466018175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001482939104905510.post-34853399046107927742008-05-13T20:13:00.006-05:002008-05-13T21:35:36.712-05:00El pueblo unido nunca sera vencidoThe People's Summit started today. It is being held in a Lima University in the north of the city. Arriving at the campus we were greeted by a crazy colourful mix of lots of people and lots of causes…participants and organisers, setting up stalls, waving banners, registering, conducting interviews and flyering each other.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200037033721485218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh733sl-Lgu2IPi9SD22zNgqMOnZ4LUgqN8QXBXvsLKWuVMYKqQo-MTJLya8khDbP5Wn2oswpQ4pTKJLhzofWGWbZNBf_jt2gzGNFstl33fLcvmwiFkphYYybu8VoietnenKhIxZQhEixQ/s320/P5132995.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200037729506187314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ87kjbRw_zOnSwn4SLiHe8j6AMxOnk0MG7K8DW6h3CwvhMfp_fhiZC3MBF_FGpmQd8kGI3P7gedCO4EZiTAUUuZTq3jjZgN9Spg37MD8QOJ9OVD2y3_DrsWdBSyPO0fs0jk5kmA5x2KA/s320/P5133033.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200037046606387154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqXi6hWCwoftskHvm-akYkrle_2lrcSWTHJ6qPC47BNPqI-kEQ9SDtsTVjuMzwlmhRHGZfF9lS3m0K1rGE2qR5uhiKaWYChDUFMRbcGWPKYVUrqW2Q-QhZEeGeCuV98RtQZD_IYCWBl0/s320/P5133001.JPG" border="0" /><br /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200037042311419842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh6phe2rv0jCGOTibMaHOeSa9Q-FQt0U8_wd9m2XQRyG7KmmBNxl27pfvCSISsqgLXnBjI5vOblGWnojdmHaJRJDaMM5Kc0Ysu2aBJVB-6H4m1w6kfo8gqaFyXmONFGV_UoYe9fBKjbkg/s320/P5133000.JPG" border="0" /><br />Once things got going, the morning was taken up with a long inauguration ceremony with lots of thank-yous and welcomes and a general scene setting. All the presenters were in agreement about the inequality and suffering caused by neoliberal polices and free trade agreements and gave impassioned speeches about the need for alternatives and the urgency to unite to fight for ‘other possible worlds’. They were also adamant that the summit was not an ‘anti-summit’ or counter summit as it has been labeled in the press, but a positive gathering to allow repressed voices to be heard and offer alternatives and solutions.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200037720916252658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNUSN1XOFE1cC4uDUqKhc7Ctzdp3nONUHNAxyT-3C-1wS_JY9a71kAaH3FHymrL78sgcJ6IcMJVCsOGX58dbwsglVpkM5vIvn_qEJOown5fJnIYw03P_gsDFpMW0ax7UUT3GJVr1xrpg/s320/P5133015.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />The speeches were followed by a ceremony by indigenous ceremony by people from different indigenous nations – including our partner Abrahan Salazar from MICC, the indigenous movement in Cotopaxi, Ecuador. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200037725211219986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfoM-C35vKo_jiKIp9H_VybT8UXd2TyNulldGpsCNJkeskUJfLARCpG3ISE82VO2aVS6Zw_cBPdRios_Kro4QCy-x7vgPPJ5MNb2cMzO_cry9eaqe2LDB58CnDH6ym2gidNNIhW_AIMUU/s320/P5133024.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />The audience was lively and passionate, frequently bursting out with chants and waving flags and banners: ‘ La Selva no se vende, la selva se defiende’ ( The jungle’s not for sale, the jungle should be defended’, ‘El pueblo unido nunca sera vencido’, (united we will never be defeated).<br /><br />After the long complicated process of feeding over 2000 people, the real summit began with 10 simultaneous sessions taking place every 2 hours throughout the university with a bewildering range of topics including climate change, tools for women’s inclusion in social change, sexual and reproductive rights, migration and human rights, agro industries investment in free trade agreements, and workers rights. I went to the Permanent People’s Tribunal to hear Progressio partner organisation Accion Ecologica present the case against Repsol.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200038867672520850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBV12BPnPnJxZUyJoNcqHBoyp93pqxvH0dlWHmwjC7pA9jIO06W_SLtBvdJhAG8jA9yA_-xVbMiUCLtXG24MXJvO1USPBFrkK4kTRLE6nwL1yapLnUSn7hxz2ugN78sUHlo7822j3NNzw/s320/tpp.JPG" border="0" />The Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal was apparently set up in 1979 as an international opinion tribunal, to examine and judge complaints of human rights violations submitted by the victims themselves or groups representing them. This session of the tribunal is focused on the actions of European multinationals in Latin America.<br /><br />Today in the afternoon the panel of judges from 8 countries in LAC/ EU and two indigenous nationalities heard testimonies on the extractive industries including against the British mining company Majaz Monterrico Metals because of their activities in Peru. Members of communities presented their accusations of lack of transparency, illegal presence on community land without the populations consent, repression of protest and dissent (leading to two deaths and many injuries), defamation of critics and the creation of a climate of fear.<br /><br />The government, they said, is complicit in backing the company “the government does not listen to us. We ask the judges to hear us and find the company guilty,” one witness said. The case is well known in Peru and our partner organisations Guarango and Peru Support group have both worked on it – Peru Support Group’s recent <a href="http://www.perusupportgroup.org.uk/pdfs/Mining%20and%20Development%20in%20Peru.pdf">report</a> gives more information on the issue.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200038511190235202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIvtl5Td3N9Ju42n1RWc_PEkftW6men1T7rpzKbkSkmgrISoDhOE-w-OHRb3jUYVfFPorv70aZ-tSm-uxfheZQsciuZ7NUJc2rPt7Vrwg4i9SYuFEd1o1XGkccE1aNiTsFA4c1R579BI/s320/P5133039.JPG" border="0" /><br /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200038515485202514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmMmTiknkdq15Rz7CSzjVXGmYNp1C8PW3Zgspj63nls1o4q6AOI-0hqRqYJQYuzvL5mns-iYfHWha0T0rOire7pSzMJPtAi5gGWUGUC30G6iTzsH4CfkNIg64K7OG2C26OED-sPEb15Q0/s320/P5133053.JPG" border="0" /><br />There were then testimonies from Argentina, Bolivia and Ecuador against the Spanish multinational oil company Repsol. Alejandra Almeida from Acción Ecológica (an envirnonmental organization from Ecuador who we are working with on illegal logging) presented the environmental, cultural and social damage caused by the company in the Yasuní national park including water and soil pollution, biodiversity loss, soil erosion, displacement of communities, cultural destruction, dividing communities with conflicts, health impacts and the militarization of communities.<br /><br />She said the company had turned the Huarani people who were once proud owners of a rich biodiverse forest into practically being beggars, dependent on food handouts, and concluded by asking the judges to find Repsol guilty of creating an enormous ecological and social debt.<br /><br />The tribunal moved on to testimonies against the company Botnia and abuses and environmental damage caused by their plantation/paper factory in Uruguay. When the tribunal closed for the day, the evenings cultural activities began. I decided to face the maze of road diversions and road works and try to get home.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FTkEMZF1QDlR9L4nZg77eQhu4oVyFAQBNdvSwCFf_SxYN6YxEVMPpAhok-kZFLBXlSJc5H0d1kzr68PMey6fv04ritHq6kDYd1zv72OmUp4Zi3gQUEUYcNdXykglOu3aFLiZn2FgWxw/s1600-h/P5132998.JPG"></a>Michelle Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17399775092466018175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001482939104905510.post-17767447737814201602008-05-12T12:05:00.002-05:002008-05-12T12:10:36.171-05:00In the Lima FogI’m in Lima. The buzz and chaos in the city, caused by the official and alternative conference were immediately obvious on arriving last night.<br /><br />The airport, hotels and roads are full. As my driver from the airport pointed out, half the roads are shut off for security reasons and the other half, were dug up in advance of the summit, but “in true Peruvian style, haven’t quite been repaired just yet”. There were frantic road works going on as we drove through the city at midnight.<br /><br />Reading the papers this morning, the main topics of interest related to the summit are the road blocks and inconvenience of the security measures, the 6,000 police that have been transferred into the city and the public holiday that’s been declared during the official summit.<br /><br />But its great also see that civil society groups are already achieving some of their aims by publicising some of their concerns. The summit doesn’t start till tomorrow, but the demands and themes of the alternative summit are in the press.<br /><br />La Primera newspaper for example, carries an articles setting out the accusations against some of the companies which are to be judged in the People's Tribunal, including Majaz, a mining company which is accused of not respecting community’s right to consultation and operating illegally in various location. <a href="http://www.guarango.org/">Guarango</a>, a Progressio Partner organisation supported the community in Piura to publicise their problems and their community referendum in which an enormous majority voted against the mine last year in September. You can see some of the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-erwlAsXLs">videos</a> they produced on You TubeMichelle Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17399775092466018175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001482939104905510.post-11212984515741832452008-05-11T14:31:00.002-05:002008-05-11T14:40:44.374-05:00Summits<div>I’m in my flat packing to head to Lima tonight. I’ll be one of thousands from across Latin American, the Caribbean and Europe making my way to the Peruvian capital for a packed week of activities and meetings next week.<br /><br />On May 16th and 17th leaders from nearly 60 Latin American and European countries will take part in the 5th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean.<br /><br />In advance of the meeting, from May 13th-16th, an alternative ‘People’s Summit’, the third ‘Enlazando Alternativos’ (Linking Alternatives) meeting will take place.<br /><br /><a href="http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/lac/index_en.htm">The Official Summit</a><br /><br />The EU-LAC summits are the highest political meeting of the governments of the two regions. The EU-LAC strategic partnership began with the first summit in Rio in 1999 and was consolidated at further summits in Madrid (2002), Guadalajara (2004) and Vienna (2006).<br /><br />The official summit in Lima has two topics on the agenda, both key themes for Progressio and our partner organisations :<br /><br />(1) Poverty, inequality, inclusion - According to the EU’s official statement: “The Lima Summit will present the opportunity for a fruitful and open dialogue between both regions on the topic of social cohesion policies, including poverty alleviation measures to eliminate discrimination and the recognition of fundamental social rights. The objective is to share experiences, promote best practices and policies, and thereby contribute to more inclusive societies and more equal opportunities for all”.<br /><br />(2) Sustainable development: climate change; environment; energy<br />The EU and LAC countries agreed at the 2006 Vienna Summit to launch a policy dialogue on environment. They intend to give special attention to cooperation in areas such as climate change, energy and other environment-related issues.<br /><br />The EU is likely to try to advance trade negotiations with regional trade blocs such as Mercosur and the Andean Community.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.enlazandoalternativas.org/">The Alternative Summit</a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199207267514734482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCifkVF4-jIFawnswy5JnlP36EEBv5cgcW23P5Jo4BK1Adh1bivA3Aw7kDXwZt6czUdmcW-px7_Bu8I5IKVKYo6rlL1Zms_aEYYSylb0s5Uzv1Uw7i4UhR4njFWnT7Wqz9TsPdNs_dZI/s320/arton75-e5e7b.jpg" border="0" /><br />Enlazando Alternativas 3 is organised by a coalition of social movements and non-governmental organisations from Europe and LAC. The organisers are in opposition to the negotiations of free trade bilateral agreements and very critical of the EU’s trade strategy “Global Europe: Competing in the World” because it promotes greater social, labour and environmental deregulation.<br /><br />They state that: “The peoples of Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean are being affected by so-called global capitalism, which is especially reflected in the proliferation of free trade agreements and the liberalisation of investments, which are tools for expanding the privileges of capital over the rights of the people. The Europe of capital and its governments thus foster a policy aimed at the reconquest of Latin America, just when the countries of the region are marking two centuries since the beginning of their struggles for independence.”<br /><br />Through the alternative summit they aim to create an agenda of common plans and alternatives based on the proposals presented by social movements:<br /><br />“In Lima in May 2008, we will not only create opportunities for critical analysis of relationships between the EU and ALC, including the association agreements, the behaviour of multinationals, militarism and the criminalisation of social movements on both continents, but there will also be a People’s Tribunal to judge the power system of the European transnationals, both in Latin America and the Caribbean and in the EU”.<br /><br />The organisers expect more than 2,000 delegates from the different regions, to attend hundreds of <a href="http://www.enlazandoalternativas.org/IMG/pdf/EA3_-_Programa_FINAL.pdf">workshops and meetings</a>. The topics of the workshops and the perspectives represented are diverse with events linked to six broad themes: Neoliberalism in LAC and the EU; integration and trade agreements; extractive industries, climate change and its impact on natural resources and public services; campesinos and indigenous peoples, natural resources, agro-fuels, food sovereignty, and economic, social and cultural rights; labour trade union rights, housing and migration; and social movements and human rights.<br /><br />Related activities have already started - yesterday a young people’s meeting took place, as well as an ‘Alternative Media and Radios Forum’, and the ‘Sao Paulo Forum’ of various leftwing parties from LAC. Tomorrow the International Forum of Indigenous Agendas and Decolonization from Power and Knowledge begins, as well as the 2nd National Summit of Indigenous Peoples and Communities of Peru. On May 14th, there’s a preparatory meeting towards the 1st Continental Summit of Indigenous Women, to be held next year. And as part of the summit there will be a tribunal to try transnational companies.<br /><br />Progressio partner organisations will be taking part in a range of events: for example at the airport tonight I’m expecting to meet Abrahan Salazar one of the leaders of MICC, the indigenous movement of Cotopaxi in Ecuador who is travelling to take part, Accion Ecologica, another Ecuadorian partner is also participating and will be running a session on the privatisation of public services, public goods and local resistances to global threats, CEPES a Peruvian partner is part of a workshop on Democratising Communications and a colleague from the network of Canastas Solidarias (food coops) in Ecuador who is working with our partner CEA on a campaign for healthy, secure, sovereign food will be presenting on their experiences.<br /><br />At the ‘Permanent People’s Tribunal’ over 20 European corporations will be ‘tried’ over human rights and labour rights violations and environmental and social damage in Latin America. The corporations to be tried include: Majaz-Monterrico Metals and Vale do Rio Doce from the mining sector; as well as Roche and Boehringer from the pharmaceutical industry; Shell and Repsol YPF from the oil sector; Botnia and ENCE from the forestry-pulp industry; Syngenta in the agribusiness sector; Skanska and Thyssen Krupp in the infrastructure sector; ETI-Telecom in the telecom sector; Unión Fenosa and Suez in the electricity sector; Aguas de Barcelona and Proactiva (Veolia-FCC) in the water sector, Unilever, Camposol, Cermaq Mainstream and Marine Harvest in the agrifood sector, Bayer in the agrochemical sector, and BBVA, HSBC and Santander in the banking sector.<br /><br />Demands and proposals from Linking Alternatives 3, the Peoples’ Permanent Tribunal and the other events will be delivered to the presidents and head of state attending the official summit. The closing event is planned for the 16th. The Presidents of Bolivia and Ecuador, Evo Morales and Rafael Correa are expected to attend the closing event.<br /><br />I’m going to try and write something each day on what’s happening at the summits so watch this space!</div>Michelle Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17399775092466018175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001482939104905510.post-51511898518759514372008-04-11T15:22:00.013-05:002008-04-11T18:14:09.643-05:00Holidaying with Matt and ClaireMatt and Claire arrived at the end of March for a holiday. In the last week of March we went with Mark on a trip to the rainforest and stayed in Bataburo lodge, an ecotourism project in Huarani ( indigenous group) territory. It is deep in the rainforest: after flying to Coca we took a bumpy 3 hour bus ride along a road built for oil extraction and then met the river Tinguino.<br /><br />The road... <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188124831925895954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PXMoo1d8m_1COjomCVPVoS7ZQ_KAHaVGCH4_BAuOlJa9LMG_kFQDNUSthbeJXyIU3WKlFt2I34c8yG7iy0qYTAiwatiqhAjEnf1Mflcm8vcMhwLMqMcYTqYHbPwK6bulWiQowRwyjqo/s320/P3241218.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188125982977131458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcv-0157CnwIHxGjv5Uj1raAS3kWHJc7wcMr8iQjnvEq5ltv10HYnZhV3AdIRh-Cpx8dJl6Izdo0DjJtpXb92IhhI6gVs2GybIcws-7GOAnUx5BDi2EO_9XViDWJDzaLBPHdXPT88EXuY/s320/P3271751.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188125991567066098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqLEw-1EEFg1i53EeQaPPcfcOO_4Lo2914dPA4gG6XMTpk2aZlGfaMH5Hvz4IG3R1hq-Au1htiTGGDTrV2WVGDVsUDspBW5-3zrf_ypX4Lys_M1MarLfzigUUv42jbQhBpXKbQfEnj0E/s320/P3271804.JPG" border="0" />Drying washing on oil pipeline<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188126283624842258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwur4ObLktMWcF7Kci6jjyNaK6nPnubbCVW-56qP4s9KrejiqBOcgAiW0XgTRnSnULfxY37bflMIXCjN2Z02HJTKpOxGBWmeHxU2DrLf9Bq7MY8OmQr0gf3PLm2T0UExPOggrvLKb_dIo/s320/P3271829.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188126283624842242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0Cf7FX-1zJtBzsnIWQphiJkLaOdZLAMpvh_z8tjmtLJfQOt37CKIXIvB0Ta8dja6ze_85vGdmm68EIyfOZGw6SJZaQUao74pwUanFc6qP34LmfhtEHE4LOZQETTdWHIgXfvGfZe84Yk/s320/P3271798.JPG" border="0" />The river...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188124836220863266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHurupXl8jZGDV7-aeqzxqfHYnNX01HCLuufVMQslC4mhaj2KiAFLD47-hCP8MxfnbFeiHBgZ7YQleSiFMQc_jr7uYPRDvx2nYk6Xyy25bJjJ6mQzD9x7DX8cxwnUjDJbrCqAcBz5pVCo/s320/P3241223.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188086241644741074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQu1tw93b_GVQvJwxv-JZ8utbereIotSsrp6lRiEeLY5kHWGfMnXYEke16NJW358a59rrDNPmd8vDzBSa25ohy5D7aZJDG0DzUU3cLVdkBk8ki5KeBV7JP8OWT82N6W_UA0VryknGF5Y/s320/P3241227.JPG" border="0" /><br />After waiting for a rainstorm (and arguing about the lack of life jackets and veggie food...) we set off in a canoe with outboard motor. The river is amazingly meandering - bending back on itself lots and narrow so we could see the plants and wildlife from the boat.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188125209883018130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36FJMlQxBgGW95KI_sV5DY8sOAUVtWL35ZJElh5QFmOYF9hF89n8Eggo1JU3SWnvZrOPSgjh_sp93yIZbcKIzhPL_dPiKvPrDQ8oESX4w0Ag4JoZfDvRvxf20-bp1MsVwtuYfOx8magk/s320/P3261383.JPG" border="0" /><br />We arrived at the lodge just as it was getting dark after three hours in the canoe. We stayed for 3 nights and spent the days walking in the rainforest and taking tours on the river and of an oxbow lake in the boat.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188125209883018114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mNTce46JFtL-0KunPJQs7aXuWm8fJdJE0YXwIMcdsTuZYRgSr8kzoHX-brbUC02lmIVdtIcruEddAclTxqeotr-kCIeKpVE1yM4WcyXcGvujqsgRO_eb9ug4Q2qBB9MjVKCl3-wSTik/s320/P3261366.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />It was amazing to see the rainforest and learn about all the weird and wonderful survival/competition strategies - like a palm tree that walks to get to the light, a lemon something tree that has a symbiotic relationship with little ants that taste of lemon if you eat them - they live in little hollows in its branches and help the tree by secreting an acidy lemon substance that kills off other plants and big strangler vines that climb up trees to get to the light, killing them in the process.<br /><br />Lemon ants...<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188124840515830594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlp2fIKh5GDPyGLzKz7_QJ4c03RY52MF835IKjFtKkD9lmyRezqFOF2psOGpaU1IJH-igjxPXqoU6S-Dgm_0Y3G8fnFLIImvy7nNvjU7i8IY2rZqVFKHbvn9Z9qG9zQhcY73m9bKUhdI/s320/P3251256.JPG" border="0" />strangler vine<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188125205588050802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9t1m9sknR1GHeeSUkKK1psZezO1pJfOeDTm426bp9JhXTamEslnCx_mg7_Ifm5oeINB6Fx-sj6zE-aW-job3ezY3AyKJJTdbCJBoMMP_288sU59RxUfzXyTGhZl0baXJmlUHB7RoBxXw/s320/P3261364.JPG" border="0" />walking tree<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188124840515830610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQTlFNTDGSzvUrHG4eEja3fieG1KJttfCrXMmYydWOFuAV2i4op3xY6xyUys3rV7oQeixF0aMrBjwPcghYiKB8GCnxCmu5DYKDjm-wYvXZ9l-0V5q8oEGCEAYC8ibFiZQrRvnW_R-MGB8/s320/P3261330.JPG" border="0" />big tree...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188125201293083490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXcM5q78oGBd4ASTW7I9L45umR9zgoSNbiUKQvx19pHuCZ3BoNa7kKmU2tgZvoaAlX2Q4cHdIsFcTiIma0jNRVUxlYxf95Kbw7VYSNglf0ULo6_s_gpDcRQOgr_ptolMETfsMeRSKgpg/s320/P3261354.JPG" border="0" /><br />We saw monkeys, lots of birds including toucans and macaws, caiman, lots of turtles basking in the sun, a snake, lizards and lots of bugs.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxH_FZ2SL4uTiOICWNV-28eey2WPFoHRd2ZlXOC7W2CdaTovSQK703acglW3CI6-uZEXhsNBPLk8HOY1MEcb0sZiuH9jlLT1J1JsSZGYOJbXshUlm2lCPjlxi7GnwkZ462ZyrgytlW5E/s1600-h/P3261470.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188125214177985442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxH_FZ2SL4uTiOICWNV-28eey2WPFoHRd2ZlXOC7W2CdaTovSQK703acglW3CI6-uZEXhsNBPLk8HOY1MEcb0sZiuH9jlLT1J1JsSZGYOJbXshUlm2lCPjlxi7GnwkZ462ZyrgytlW5E/s320/P3261470.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-Nb6FERZYGv28H0IAsCPR7GwrfhpLrrX46ooXHFrh3jy9ZxfCrXGG_8Nj2f_o9efRHPQ5CaWUKhP50XWRCTL-_nxgpnWJm6FwkdQOFnBkFR8w_8DsGSpBh7AiZ2G5xSwHXkYkfDeXHc/s1600-h/P3251247.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188124840515830578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-Nb6FERZYGv28H0IAsCPR7GwrfhpLrrX46ooXHFrh3jy9ZxfCrXGG_8Nj2f_o9efRHPQ5CaWUKhP50XWRCTL-_nxgpnWJm6FwkdQOFnBkFR8w_8DsGSpBh7AiZ2G5xSwHXkYkfDeXHc/s320/P3251247.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-kx72g8AYsfW2hC11byXxJJr7Xhx9-LAe5UyA72rDc2M7JPw8Z1WtniM8OoO1JU-LwW_-nVir41btcRg_dWWxda228H4Q5HMFkFoHGDoUWHxJuybZLaORbtMchQN_vvshbzTTHrLvAc/s1600-h/P3271562.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188087508660093458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-kx72g8AYsfW2hC11byXxJJr7Xhx9-LAe5UyA72rDc2M7JPw8Z1WtniM8OoO1JU-LwW_-nVir41btcRg_dWWxda228H4Q5HMFkFoHGDoUWHxJuybZLaORbtMchQN_vvshbzTTHrLvAc/s320/P3271562.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyjF1IY0zkupyz7zCUiZ30a2Z1fHxnmbIPiAmt_GlI0iLhAE4OQo2QVnVMI3ihGvnfSF6hHmJ1nyQmS73qRYtDV9xS377oJKdwwOtvN0lykBJq1Y2hBSV-Puuric1kBPmjWam16plFaE/s1600-h/P3271579.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188087517250028066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyjF1IY0zkupyz7zCUiZ30a2Z1fHxnmbIPiAmt_GlI0iLhAE4OQo2QVnVMI3ihGvnfSF6hHmJ1nyQmS73qRYtDV9xS377oJKdwwOtvN0lykBJq1Y2hBSV-Puuric1kBPmjWam16plFaE/s320/P3271579.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YVJN2-Lfq_-exCK32p_YHEHq-LVcQpCRd8678qAEXJyYABaSigR3ZJm_kYJQfUk0dNc022QsGsz9wCvxbrYvX8nvGW9c9sFIKD7nSwTW3Cr-NkcV5s0dQDWlXwYk_eFfyEdUxO4tsRM/s1600-h/P3271594.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188087534429897282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YVJN2-Lfq_-exCK32p_YHEHq-LVcQpCRd8678qAEXJyYABaSigR3ZJm_kYJQfUk0dNc022QsGsz9wCvxbrYvX8nvGW9c9sFIKD7nSwTW3Cr-NkcV5s0dQDWlXwYk_eFfyEdUxO4tsRM/s320/P3271594.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsiYn9Br7gEmdv-VhgoKQkbvc5Fb3jGvFfj6paQwwyihoPqac_u7srF5Z04xHAkUxmcl4trXkmf8dP3RwAZeA-u_RPsgdObu4aQxN0eSKLbm1twtYqyW__dFpO732NyVkXaBQM7xprwz4/s1600-h/P3251296.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188086245939708386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsiYn9Br7gEmdv-VhgoKQkbvc5Fb3jGvFfj6paQwwyihoPqac_u7srF5Z04xHAkUxmcl4trXkmf8dP3RwAZeA-u_RPsgdObu4aQxN0eSKLbm1twtYqyW__dFpO732NyVkXaBQM7xprwz4/s320/P3251296.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSYVaI1vTsqfVbkqVeRpwKbDSuiblxE4i-P_MaDwM-2TTdXoDA4MSny3eZWPAzzOD67FHlaTx7fkU-otZs4c2iV5VjKNCW21pfSkGVnTZE_9nCpOf4UjnI_OWcPlpHRr4_zU_353l9KM/s1600-h/P3261436.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188086250234675698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXSYVaI1vTsqfVbkqVeRpwKbDSuiblxE4i-P_MaDwM-2TTdXoDA4MSny3eZWPAzzOD67FHlaTx7fkU-otZs4c2iV5VjKNCW21pfSkGVnTZE_9nCpOf4UjnI_OWcPlpHRr4_zU_353l9KM/s320/P3261436.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20LTH1oFZ7vjetXhOnIn8edQ3yiSQ1d3jxIhUgQCbuQLjNh5IITLT78Fz2-Kfqlds07YPfGACURjqkas1qm9mGXZCK6j9rdajM1BMSgbNcNKnxoBdpx2dgGiXKZh68aXUz-3L7PGS86w/s1600-h/P3271552.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188086250234675714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20LTH1oFZ7vjetXhOnIn8edQ3yiSQ1d3jxIhUgQCbuQLjNh5IITLT78Fz2-Kfqlds07YPfGACURjqkas1qm9mGXZCK6j9rdajM1BMSgbNcNKnxoBdpx2dgGiXKZh68aXUz-3L7PGS86w/s320/P3271552.JPG" border="0" /></a> <strong>Otavalo</strong></div><br /><br /><div>We got back to Quito on the Thursday night, all with various degrees of food poisoning and celebrated my birthday on the Friday in a very subdued fashion - lying around drinking herbal teas! I was delighted to get lots of cards and gifts from the UK - thanks to everyone who sent them!<br /></div><div>Then on Saturday when we had recovered a bit we went to Otovalo, a town about 2 hours north of Quito. We shopped at the tourist/indigenous market, ate lots, tried in vain to order 'a nice cup of tea' (British style) and on the Sunday went to the volcanic crater lake Cuicocha.</div><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188087530134929970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNS6FiXwf5wAh3qbCj6r0rF3lBdwgnTF1y4Y84l8vTUevL05y40PCC5OtgMwP9BSuFeZ4grE5Jv53pwZAdw1KKnakzCVpbzsUkU0CTCDqM3SaRox2uvcxC-vEClif2UCFE2OiwwWZhuY/s320/P3301881.JPG" border="0" /><strong>Cotopaxi</strong> </div><br /><div>Then Matt and Claire went to Peru and Mark and I went back to work. But they came back the next weekend and we went to Cotopaxi for some high altitude walking and cycling<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188091073482949378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4cI4arW9WimvhsZlb6Konqq_Nvq2ZeYlJf5ARJfy3KXb6i7vwA2mvnncBtNoOn68Kr0looZawt9gak6mj6z5QQI4H9yQTwTox044bKuwvKgc7MBb3TkBgUygRiHE1GTYNPX1Wc_CzEus/s320/P4051988.JPG" border="0" />Sinchilagua volcano<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188088264574337618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9dDW_mC6Y3FRn7uz9i8PZ6HdOaVgVt6omzbzVVQGCh-E9hCDD6x3VFCxBHuvcHQtnk70lKdVmeBWkxfDK_-PgsL9fWRezQwkoGmuIdf-tr48VLQ38l-IRkV8jxLojgl2sul2br0XmHw/s320/P4051991.JPG" border="0" />The cosy cabin we stayed in<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188088273164272226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzFjibwv8Gmldl2N_0-IgsQwiXb0WQ5wE-ozU-E6s6MYHSbz51jHoZH-T9sAmZNuj8mzk-tfEUc0L9wyFvw1j_2TrGkOZhKFShoe3ibsEqERMC_pnMiHdK3kRkbQGTjcn-2ShJ673ZDw/s320/P4061993.JPG" border="0" /> You can just see Cotopaxi through the clouds ( you have to use some imagination)</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188088844394922674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHdRVU0JyvmKE_22ydZoyA0OEmMMIXPyBqPJJpswA5vKAp_76aM1WPRTaY1GajdKC3qEicQEA44asiWBH_KIMi8oWdkiyT3ZCEAbcUPfbR01cypcpfwzbuxoy_q6miimeBya02-Hj5I0/s320/P4062011.JPG" border="0" />Climbing up to the refugee<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188088840099955362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEDyGV1bvY19ChWOwju_66M6wC2nmNq33uw5o66u535gf4T8bSQFJdQUvdwZK6oWNoyPQHZ4U70R2o3oVF_vFjSTw9UHZkNtSsSDYkfYat-6heYDR7WXmBCGK2L5qoQpz4RFuzJLXgEM/s320/P4062006.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188088286049174162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmsB4NQjzDPwp0Zkc_ljPD6_-WlnyNrpsrcIidlXB_d0WByc-mhLToIbF5Ll0Pqb-iSw8N4mV3zm4QjXYwj2PzMJCpB7CKIxzASbLuhxMIGML_uvWT2ymIL16NFUpU5rCTGebQikZvH7M/s320/P4062014.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188088281754206834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpI9z7G19KiV7A6E95yY5a1HWkmFlIFjvEXhJR3tcBrntGLL5gHfrSMPQCouda0BFocABYh13HwpdXuEfDvH169MDSVwFIU8V2Zm2AhuuooxhoX5vkIkOBRMlhoKQ71bY288R_RkgGuak/s320/P4062001.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188088286049174146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqV6YUxl3vEZt9cRNzYvdFR8UXCOk7vGtNn3Ik-DpmPdT9d4vBrE51uejQdAqX03kt_Blj4Ke8Rfye7ULpQi_zwYJL4oLec6UeuQiib09Vr1uAXfTkEL48G_dtF7xvv_o6B-FqVok_3g0/s320/P4062003.JPG" border="0" />Cycling down (the best bit)<br /><div> </div></div></div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188088848689889986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrm2QspDkxmOCeVy8R3LfuGGF94YwEkF4Khs4qf7tPBcPBrnh_J0HjLOKYaR3eP7BAP31TDtjheJdMlcWowsmCG3tivcANVWHIEvnoed4HXv46UKIzWRkEO9TacZmhyphenhyphenFIPk43qevpIpt4/s320/P4062025.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188088852984857298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihS72YQBWgT3Le_SfsA5XmwafScDVMPgE6v2x6r7FqYTaHoetBre4jhUeuOc-wcReEItAH3HQ1PVpXEIfDE7RH9e_eTCdi52vAJpSZn0I_fHPSDvepBBuLeyfAqHrrTAY2NOhKIYg6TFI/s320/P4062030.JPG" border="0" />Now back at work and Matt and Claire have gone, and Mark has gone, and I'm wishing I was still on holiday...</p></div></div></div>Michelle Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17399775092466018175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001482939104905510.post-73562758278025548552008-03-19T09:58:00.008-05:002008-03-19T16:34:04.280-05:00Churches, HIV and Climbing in CuencaI got back to Ecuador last Weds (after spending 2 and a half weeks in Peru) and early on Thurs morning left Quito again for Cuenca to attend ´The First Latin American Ecumenical Meeting on HIV and AIDS'.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLZMokgZT-MaTVTJLaLoz1552y_CpqNbgAzNaCNMaSBX_Eq8L6OQ9VG1WveLMwjW1_BB8Mz8KTlsOsIQ7TZvILmIVwjJbWJXYFQnE6k46S1cNACnjlFQUVfbbGzYwcZL8iWPf_SzKt6A/s1600-h/P3131074+Press+conference.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179560692452871618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLZMokgZT-MaTVTJLaLoz1552y_CpqNbgAzNaCNMaSBX_Eq8L6OQ9VG1WveLMwjW1_BB8Mz8KTlsOsIQ7TZvILmIVwjJbWJXYFQnE6k46S1cNACnjlFQUVfbbGzYwcZL8iWPf_SzKt6A/s320/P3131074+Press+conference.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>It was a new experience for me to be at an event where everythign is discusssed based on faith - I'm used to a very secular way of looking at the world. It was good to meet some religious leaders who are doing very progressive work on the issue, but depressing to hear some of the more conservative views of the past and present church hierarchies and some of the barriers priests and nuns and social pastorals on the ground face.</div><div> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179561126244568530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4O9ayCqbV4FvD109Z9kJOl7ubXUHox8NikF09j_5w2xwG5zd1xhzGDpDo2IA7GVWswc-ergKPCF552uvJb1KTfaVv8FRkCOANzSe44t89N6y7SruOLhlg5MHPxvkSEcPTHVm7yHYVFDk/s320/P3141091+Delegates+and+speakers.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179561126244568546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazXDmO0Suxy7Zhd2-5Xo0qcj1b_PvMbprhcaZV2fDKyA52RnIJRGxw3iPnRFfnRGtYcp-QBh1xRO1D2KDLxh065GNWKiFl-aJwz0jCEM7GCQqxBYdXtRRfdjtaV0jpZVtpAFGn5IpPxY/s320/P3141097+Sister+Carmen+Cavraso+(right)+and+another+sister+whose+name+i+have+to+find+out+from+Madres+Adoratrices.JPG" border="0" /> Two nuns who are doing great HIV prevention work with sex workers in Ecuador ( From Madres Adoratrices.<br /><br /><div>Have pasted below a short article I wrote on the event:<br /></div><div>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div><strong>Latin American Churches meet to discuss responses to HIV and AIDS</strong> </div><div><br />“Know the truth and it will set you free” (John 8:32) is the title and the thinking behind an event in the Ecuadorian city of Cuenca which brought together diverse faith communities from across Latin America to discuss experiences and perspectives on HIV and AIDS.<br /><br />The conference, which is the first of its kind in the country, was organised by the Social Pastoral of the Cuenca Archdiocese (a Progressio partner organisation) with the support of the Catholic Relief Service and Progressio.<br /><br />On March 14-15th, Religious leaders working on HIV and AIDS in eight countries in Latin America presented their experiences to an audience of around 60 representatives from churches, faith-based organisations and social organisations including Anglican, Jewish, Methodist, Baptist, Evangelical, and Catholic churches. Development workers and staff from Progressio also took part.<br /><br />The event was an opportunity for churches to share experiences and positions. The organisers were keen to open up an ecumenical dialogue on the topic because they recognise that whilst many churches have been very active in prevention, training and care of people living with HIV, others have been silent or indifferent to the problem.<br /><br />The varied presentations and discussions at the event allowed participants to analyse HIV not just as a medical problem, but as an issue which causes rights violations, poverty, emotional trauma and damage to bodies and souls through discrimination and isolation.<br /><br />The topics discussed included: churches’ responses to HIV and AIDS; experiences of working on sexuality and HIV AIDS; methods of working on HIV and AIDS; and how to work with vulnerable groups including LGBT, sex workers, drug users, prison populations, street children, teenagers, women and children. The event ended with an ecumenical celebration in the city cathedral<br /><br />At the end of the event a joint declaration was drafted which is to be circulated to all the groups present to sign. The document affirms Christians’ and churches’ support, love and solidarity for all people living with HIV and AIDS and commitment to work on the theme. It takes a stand against moralistic or simplistic responses and the idea that HIV AIDS is a ‘punishment’ inflicted by God.<br /><br />The Pastoral Social of Cuenca hopes that this first event will be the beginning of a process of joint learning amongst churches that will lead to further meetings and ecumenical working.</div><div>------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><br /><br /><div>Mark came down to join me in Cuenca so on Saturday we went to a big rocky outcrop called Cojitambo with Javier a climbing friend of his. He showed us all the climbing routes that he, his brother and friends have set up and we had a go at climbing and rapelling (my first time). <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179562273000836594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP749H96CR4OdziopHejS6Uvm_SOBOVeJYnlYjEOmbzHsqJF1w0_eAqsaq4Olgr5oz9e25S7ydA3Slzyc3t2DkkiGlTEXCeXMdmOU0xZiIQzc_7nv7fdEgn3bEc-d7hjYGb32lkE_JjCA/s320/P3151101.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179565631665262114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxYm4utCH4nQOKt8_zdDyA1_j792RrRs8K3xJpdEgfJ2KIbUMtAGYX-4sDprhdHWDF6xycVBMAVx719PmlPD8UQYFx1FQryyrZQC2jbnSyEmQispSFamBgNqzWAKRlkEY8i19ljzm70w/s320/P3151107.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179565640255196722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJMItczBwkwvKhz7THN1xklZC7qVz6y0ODTqO4dd0XFAYWbEBIYUdIzDJHvoiOSrr053GGPiMpojXiTBQmbIrXNxRg2UT_nS4yytCpIFrOzvR0FtlhOv_gJBpMXSL2AuxlK2YEamP0rqQ/s320/P3151115.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179565644550164034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_VgJLhGk_nIJ923utgVQQugzsi1uW7TMkFZvJ3XOI2cCuPjvWXzZ6GA3t9l-_anLMpgNoFmuujXk2Fs98WEGJS7WGCCAMg3vFOOsIZ01TvMGTISIv5apC-eUq9fjg461X8osWJ2wCV4/s320/P3151116.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179565648845131346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMaESA9M7efjtYbKcVPMEjmMGzpJmG0FQZwx0mg-G8kACtx_oZJiENvPq_4uAvsxX0ZUhPccDTLXe8_A-om3ridrVcp9gI-1sRuP5-muiJvZPljAIXMnxtOzqX7hyo4tURfkSPt7hNNI/s320/P3151123.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179566679637282418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzw3E4a1jHtPvI-RVQuVGvUFv41UE9zDWeL-wlxWZ9VQtjlWeYcAmQ-KPlK5DZe41OHSTeh8UI1q1cZaFjUh0Yd3JrzW5EaDuc6-Yigjyqe6QFsmMQtoWA908teG3lWinfsNNfbqUkuc/s320/P3151138.JPG" border="0" />I am climbing not lying down but I can't turn the photo over...Michelle Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17399775092466018175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001482939104905510.post-30563466570830660212008-03-09T18:49:00.065-05:002008-03-10T23:26:56.188-05:00Catching up - some photosAfter a prolonged silence, some photos. In a slightly jumbled order...<br /><div><div><br /><strong>Chimborazo</strong><br />Mark at Chimborazo a few weekends ago. Chimborazo is behind him in the fog. We did a hard cold wet cycle from 4000m up to 4900m to the refuge. (Although I did more walking and complaining than cycling...)<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176325931055341810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHcz5twE0FHwcE1kRvUKrYt5t9DU19vtBnqEtWpIzL5WQmsdxSP3uumwOukQs9Nk7OYqVW5H4swdVgJ3YxAGix51sjUu0wwnexT9PjPfN8OS7d39cf5Zv2pILULZORFokznvoSjg_P0k/s320/P2160640.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><div><strong>Illegal logging and trip to Esmeraldas</strong></div><br /><div>I went with Luis to check out the location for a new development worker in Esmeraldas in the north west of Ecuador. I wanted to do some interviews with communites affected by illegal logging, but people were too scared to be seen talking to a strange foreigner and preferred to come to our office in Quito to talk. Took some photos of logging activites though...</div><br /><div><em>Esmeraldas - the city:</em><br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176318410567606178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ecrUxYMOnUTbaUP0jKhS5VcHSP3rWrLjApSujl4ZohdAz7f9GHiXnNgaoVM8LEBzFwMfRpZwMOPDcKCa36148aYV-fyODVOLhp2NMcos92qBy4Tfou137VDAECVcaMwn8QGAiyQFOgI/s320/P2120500.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><em>Unplanned invasion housing:</em></div><br /><div><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176318419157540786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5S4kwzdst_BkerZS3BArYgdQRuJRu3E0gT0C0PA19TpGmjmRHOgHj0_BD6FikKioS22HuoCi9zTIKlG9Qc2oOxQwsd9hyphenhyphenSwIIWkEkDUDiZ45NX9oIqfHz0VF4RODBxa-E4_B77JBs4Hs/s320/P2120507.JPG" border="0" /></em><br /></div><div><em>Borbon:</em></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xThIFWF48G4-Hl21LMtrmfIPfQnVgKIyNKXacY2KMkPEcpE0GZ29X_Iqku6G347Fg5CKxwflO0XUboOgHek73YQ0V8ksnzsu6yM9YJWUGBbT0ZdhuHtR3mGgOICLQcC0eccOTV7ernk/s1600-h/P2130593.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176320291763282050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xThIFWF48G4-Hl21LMtrmfIPfQnVgKIyNKXacY2KMkPEcpE0GZ29X_Iqku6G347Fg5CKxwflO0XUboOgHek73YQ0V8ksnzsu6yM9YJWUGBbT0ZdhuHtR3mGgOICLQcC0eccOTV7ernk/s320/P2130593.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176319746302435426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ftxyr_XgoICvAqE6wAvd8VFo2sJMdt62D9yLLWw8cwFrKCfD1wI1nN1uO5ImAYtXw7a1-Bk2Fxyhy2HLUo4Fct4V5gNB-ZjC_gznyGKdbHkL3GBw9LaYDRQhZSp8TSbhr_y9CAPk2_w/s320/P2130584.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><em>San Lorenzo:</em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176318822884466658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CJk4p2at6FjK0X2ZvEHaXHi38V4ICn5wMjnuLdBZa0cuZUKniF4U0_pVSoaPuoR0nw2TTAxBZlN9I5bjBnGPPgX_XQOnJHJAWJUlD-YNyD07WZoklUzbOG_cuD7q5bhF4HhxTB9q5AI/s320/P2130531.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176318423452508098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNmE4hTWHxyR8vWyWFOGORNP0nPgv4zm_SnWPbM36jbeZCTQ7M7-01nwsY4hOR4qajtyVJZLHELed-GCwSC6ORaxVqrPlsKTUJejgjy6wrywv_inA1DFbaypJoE8pex60DM77MokNdAwQ/s320/P2130529.JPG" border="0" /></div><p><em>African palm plantations:</em></p><p>Huge areas of forest are being cut down and replaced with monoculture palm plantations</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_k4X-yLqnswS3i1MBedHTkB4yN0bOdLXcB9iJv_VIraJdGScohqMjwF_jDFyMwPNqVUJi1kmvy28E_V3L2upBW6yIO86YDwaBcbinHtXbh770BbFrxzidpknhvtdbcnZGyiAMGYp_x-g/s1600-h/P2130608.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176320300353216658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_k4X-yLqnswS3i1MBedHTkB4yN0bOdLXcB9iJv_VIraJdGScohqMjwF_jDFyMwPNqVUJi1kmvy28E_V3L2upBW6yIO86YDwaBcbinHtXbh770BbFrxzidpknhvtdbcnZGyiAMGYp_x-g/s320/P2130608.JPG" border="0" /></a><em> Logging<br /></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioB_8re-HlxyMHi9ajmhjLFJC4iJ4lwRT-CJv7M9GUdQ-59G-DkgStVD2LvqLeOewh-3l4vMYmd3HNK0kSp3HFgMGJzDmoKtMB6Mb7qoTmIizR6UqpHWRTqi7XU-UzXSpxgMMX_OQhup0/s1600-h/P2130625.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176320308943151266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioB_8re-HlxyMHi9ajmhjLFJC4iJ4lwRT-CJv7M9GUdQ-59G-DkgStVD2LvqLeOewh-3l4vMYmd3HNK0kSp3HFgMGJzDmoKtMB6Mb7qoTmIizR6UqpHWRTqi7XU-UzXSpxgMMX_OQhup0/s320/P2130625.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJV_lxom0dxqqu_oQ4ZLWfUpto1flgUuFp996nbQOpCoN76XJA1fk3COtxTO_hUxBhrCpKGr35U8LXr3ex5AnhTXqdx1ny7tysyncMdNQzNBXlHOL-ZAuNfhyphenhypheniBn1EOLPabSaSWiOE-k8/s1600-h/P2130555.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176319733417533490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJV_lxom0dxqqu_oQ4ZLWfUpto1flgUuFp996nbQOpCoN76XJA1fk3COtxTO_hUxBhrCpKGr35U8LXr3ex5AnhTXqdx1ny7tysyncMdNQzNBXlHOL-ZAuNfhyphenhypheniBn1EOLPabSaSWiOE-k8/s320/P2130555.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_U6gpW9IL4Y0oEPGSLc7xFAJlzHBiAX8HhMTUjE3jAwMLp6sX8XirEfNAO4cbZVsVlcs5qZxfVuvumZeKZGxXBXCuYZG50VR_ugelnvJeiseOFtcQMg5urXEMjVjnXwmclsl-EclezJg/s1600-h/P2130537.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176318857244205058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_U6gpW9IL4Y0oEPGSLc7xFAJlzHBiAX8HhMTUjE3jAwMLp6sX8XirEfNAO4cbZVsVlcs5qZxfVuvumZeKZGxXBXCuYZG50VR_ugelnvJeiseOFtcQMg5urXEMjVjnXwmclsl-EclezJg/s320/P2130537.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgy0DrTbjuserihTnrJx-jiRX3F56EDb-NeMa9tjMKcIO7glN-pFMKHn1f_-vGCzOi55HdPpVLW89wzKisJriWrrUd15kRxl55fMqx26uSy-WJWwTk6XzYmxVrX61ykdyiTQDkDECpfmM/s1600-h/P2130547.JPG"></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176323439974310082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGV9T21LKzrrcOfCErM7mdHkF3lwgqXFIbhVU7Gm9MDuUh5cb_GrTW59omsagyKFEXmW2LUfugbldjVLQMM15FKUcscHqop9AW6Y9C80iRGglkQOGJS3StQw7lGaH59a_ok5s0lBhHrJo/s320/P2130569.JPG" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHeUwgR6hKU8UQawnzkpYEgpxO-hHn33HjJdMHr4arWXtJbO3ff2m0FGGw-0GIhTgzh0sjZrJiREmB2fGgo6PEU4WAPKc79l-zu3cV-RC4YrqQlYE7ggpjdQrjy36dOgxJt4YqpcoLrY/s1600-h/P2130551.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176318870129106978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHeUwgR6hKU8UQawnzkpYEgpxO-hHn33HjJdMHr4arWXtJbO3ff2m0FGGw-0GIhTgzh0sjZrJiREmB2fGgo6PEU4WAPKc79l-zu3cV-RC4YrqQlYE7ggpjdQrjy36dOgxJt4YqpcoLrY/s320/P2130551.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>Bananas:<br /></em><br /><div><strong></strong></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176319742007468114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhbKkeYR0vOU_H02ua4CB822dmrXexnz5IKzq6kwCgnwaAfhSOYZLyuvkVnzg0kh5KCY1ReEtLqchpNd2cscOw8Due2Uh0uRrss2BwLVGtMxWB6oMnpqwa3ua3uVFuLwzQhkakOsnlO4/s320/P2130573.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><strong>Photography class</strong><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176317500034539314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3FJWaUWEr1Tl3R3B42hdWbfA5DGriswMcebkhaTr-rVNihcNOywHtnUTgbNGtdANoh2ImIc-PlMJylnr3toG__yRUDocVm88O0g8s53ogfoIT0SCfrgVr1EELaZQfjpxBrJfvz2q66gk/s320/P1280228.JPG" border="0" />Trip out to Plaza Foch: night photography</div><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176317852221857618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoi2YWz-rCHe36ltcXLqVO53xTKoRduRiDPS1_nn3nJEnLvPW5d_HCQK1ZJRGhTX1g38HJ1VzZ9twRn8ZEmeMjJc9B29b28YcnuOD3cv8xzgGOtneS7m6m2ITeWNgVADYB6oqLxn7WyVk/s320/P2110394.JPG" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYzLVKFA3ogmkLzbyVAhSmcmYSG7Z2cNnX2iZyia9O2ZoaS_JEMnL6Ud1K6QMfxCi8TZJs6CEpVuUNU0dRcrLOGGDscDAPbfVAQ0udJG34GmytICmlV1_Ll7UirS8SX64AM4lAWtL9s8/s1600-h/P2130529.JPG"></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176318380502835090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFSsSbmbOiurZ3wC3Y5KQNaRsG6JmU2uU_2Y2uYR-_6AoadDHEOcDaB4OpsH294nZzAWiwnfbaxhIPeCiou4sv9LYqDMcPOVWATxYkuu3y440Dph_7SOrI8-9QLZvS6koJr38eJR2xFw/s320/P2110463.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176324694104760546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjTQSP7QbkKpGpRaPTu2bh11T8MPARh4B13qoE0A3U054sEzNTlOAwwMrRUqQQCPCwxWXbz_SyIGu-cx-FYrLF3eTf9AvB2YzIZ1jeKC2gEUL3KTCy0qdOp27WnDVvMAQ8xlF5mZcnxw/s320/P2110494.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjSDCcrEIODj-DNG77iY8fp2NnB40sQvEiODcFrkUSALvoj4FnQnL_p5MrlmQ3mYIZlavvQtpGWHDx1IDfBckdB1jXs0HmN5Dj1Yg8ARebZZHyu6bg6Vz1cpxEgMzE_9J1X6SP2XxyYk/s1600-h/P2110391.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176317847926890306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjSDCcrEIODj-DNG77iY8fp2NnB40sQvEiODcFrkUSALvoj4FnQnL_p5MrlmQ3mYIZlavvQtpGWHDx1IDfBckdB1jXs0HmN5Dj1Yg8ARebZZHyu6bg6Vz1cpxEgMzE_9J1X6SP2XxyYk/s320/P2110391.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuc9OQkxpsHh2EL8_6QaO6hc2zwxtUqxI5-U_aBHbpCWrSyx61LPqyeMMpKvrlspff_pOJ4DMUjImbRxnlgEpnO02tvd-mFxtIc5QgW0llcYXjytVsXANfN731KjmYnRZgJQtuPyGhkLI/s1600-h/P2110418.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176317856516824930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuc9OQkxpsHh2EL8_6QaO6hc2zwxtUqxI5-U_aBHbpCWrSyx61LPqyeMMpKvrlspff_pOJ4DMUjImbRxnlgEpnO02tvd-mFxtIc5QgW0llcYXjytVsXANfN731KjmYnRZgJQtuPyGhkLI/s320/P2110418.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><strong>Mindo</strong></div><strong></strong></div><br /><div>Amazing lush leafyness and lots of rain<br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbllIHf61pSXLdpFwiMExO_tBoMnmJ2V3ThBtqeWaq_qcXwuZ1NG_sNVCeYh9iqd1AGAVvmtXV8ggWQ_zCrAMUy4IjQ74MFgNUKJpe7he_b-ldGIt6Mlo_dnOQcyx-LyD682ijljvLoA/s1600-h/P1200084.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176317482854670066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbllIHf61pSXLdpFwiMExO_tBoMnmJ2V3ThBtqeWaq_qcXwuZ1NG_sNVCeYh9iqd1AGAVvmtXV8ggWQ_zCrAMUy4IjQ74MFgNUKJpe7he_b-ldGIt6Mlo_dnOQcyx-LyD682ijljvLoA/s320/P1200084.JPG" border="0" /></a> Mark climbing up very steep ladder (sideways - cant seem to turn it over)</div><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzs0sWIwG2p5Pe6IIvQ0lZBJnO0Va_lYr7QdDZw8Pw3Nk-Cj3TtKB-FAfaJm9aOg-UHO-hTtwAjrmEG6WONmMPUb2Xl3UT4O3gctfECqf7yQTM3WCjZjkZX0Rp4-5r_S4JAJbTPS7UKU/s1600-h/P1200089.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176317491444604674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzs0sWIwG2p5Pe6IIvQ0lZBJnO0Va_lYr7QdDZw8Pw3Nk-Cj3TtKB-FAfaJm9aOg-UHO-hTtwAjrmEG6WONmMPUb2Xl3UT4O3gctfECqf7yQTM3WCjZjkZX0Rp4-5r_S4JAJbTPS7UKU/s320/P1200089.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglaNnj5eO-8-al-mSm100_0DkxkZDflOvEJ1EWu1Tii42Tx5maW1Sv0dIgpo7ZI9bkWg-k-UFfMAC4V1HmXTSvP7nEUkz0OLqNec2CCqvYZ3kkTp2oQpXMZDkbw8kFhT8KAHaTBQf7AA8/s1600-h/P1200099.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176317495739571986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglaNnj5eO-8-al-mSm100_0DkxkZDflOvEJ1EWu1Tii42Tx5maW1Sv0dIgpo7ZI9bkWg-k-UFfMAC4V1HmXTSvP7nEUkz0OLqNec2CCqvYZ3kkTp2oQpXMZDkbw8kFhT8KAHaTBQf7AA8/s320/P1200099.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><strong>Peru Development workers meeting on the beach<br /></strong></div><br /><div>Last week was the DW meeting on a beautiful beach Punto Rocas about an hour south of Lima(It's a hard life)<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCxaovAu4Orm_RK3lhqDMbCOMfJY-VNf9mybMd_NZh1w_T-Dcno6hmANEzKGj-5BPl4YW8dp0y7ZwO_Yxyisp9gtb1obzusdX63SaWjG_b8JdAa1f2yy0dsi110tyXqDYCSCBozYSp3Q/s1600-h/P3060946.JPG"></a><em>The house:<br /></div></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEomMytp_1yXQXIWUxsp7HPf19rO7L6t8O8qMqRV7nGR1swUeshbKNEF7IsoAP-Vu2ufWsSQ5n-e3uLiJqZOMxXXdYBxvOZrTs9bA6XGRYdXIiloh9nVK5Kpz-Sk0jUVxZvCoHRGK5a4w/s1600-h/P3060948.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176314540802072130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEomMytp_1yXQXIWUxsp7HPf19rO7L6t8O8qMqRV7nGR1swUeshbKNEF7IsoAP-Vu2ufWsSQ5n-e3uLiJqZOMxXXdYBxvOZrTs9bA6XGRYdXIiloh9nVK5Kpz-Sk0jUVxZvCoHRGK5a4w/s320/P3060948.JPG" border="0" /></a><em> The beach:<br /></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbv1_Nf7_NLLGy8MRODVlzq6k1fHsT5WYKCAc6E8Xl2n70edJ36PO2orGe5wR5MmtmHNStReRIulgX7Wl8n3CgYdmTmOETvhA5j6sS1vBpHVfU98d8POlMmhi3Voo6uMPgGF-rBN-3TMM/s1600-h/P3060950.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176314545097039442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbv1_Nf7_NLLGy8MRODVlzq6k1fHsT5WYKCAc6E8Xl2n70edJ36PO2orGe5wR5MmtmHNStReRIulgX7Wl8n3CgYdmTmOETvhA5j6sS1vBpHVfU98d8POlMmhi3Voo6uMPgGF-rBN-3TMM/s320/P3060950.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZf6objakzzZoelnMM1OkloCBjRmq7ubQpgCrUacTtdL8lvpIRU5j776ylwvA4atEWCO4xDd4V1YwwRds9DgXoP-hQ_IUqeAp0h96GlFdltKq47ARV-ES9_j5anQ9xpdGPE3BL13Nix4/s1600-h/P3070981.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176314549392006754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZf6objakzzZoelnMM1OkloCBjRmq7ubQpgCrUacTtdL8lvpIRU5j776ylwvA4atEWCO4xDd4V1YwwRds9DgXoP-hQ_IUqeAp0h96GlFdltKq47ARV-ES9_j5anQ9xpdGPE3BL13Nix4/s320/P3070981.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>The meeting:<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176313875082141154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdZEckSGPHhmTBWZJoEPQyn2YnDheCYMDIZKcHQg6wtuqqWNemJ9zBCNhPuehMgnSSJY8agGJw8dUFojqklTdkEvwg52iKts8KR60-XGtfVeaNoLIry0jhvop4em2BTaG8CtaGKVPRDI/s320/P3050893.JPG" border="0" /><br /></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEat-GyOuBPe4lSw59altJO1MKfDRinwulYe1jQY-36Y6weliEAtjjzIkI0Wk6KKaXANWoXPoodb9l18jxf7xakJ4SJUg4uvpSonh7WCzDaVud7prj_CNWg5x9ATGhYUE62M1rhKoWxb0/s1600-h/P3071009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176314557981941362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEat-GyOuBPe4lSw59altJO1MKfDRinwulYe1jQY-36Y6weliEAtjjzIkI0Wk6KKaXANWoXPoodb9l18jxf7xakJ4SJUg4uvpSonh7WCzDaVud7prj_CNWg5x9ATGhYUE62M1rhKoWxb0/s320/P3071009.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176314901579325058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxOzifguDoqRUtrr4TFbB0Joj0rbfIZS58DG3NoKJcAYBYHow3ZJA27pNo7NpwIBuSFYDSASPQzMPuWXSjp4UTyZZleQmzElMCOsnkHmfNCXIkMSkBl5TNeW7IFWPnQWo5TXpt9n1_FI/s320/P3071022.JPG" border="0" /><em>The sunsets:<br /></em><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJyevNgK5ODxAQaceone7oJbHB3qwQ0zDKqLgLgd_ZXe47a3rH3IxfOKqXeHnC15amtxiv9RYAFi5NJ7fsY3JhiVWlcoNRhFif24GJ8N8PIUPMAOt316x5jqHpSUGAfMm-h1kC4hdp9s/s1600-h/P3050911.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176314171434884610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJyevNgK5ODxAQaceone7oJbHB3qwQ0zDKqLgLgd_ZXe47a3rH3IxfOKqXeHnC15amtxiv9RYAFi5NJ7fsY3JhiVWlcoNRhFif24GJ8N8PIUPMAOt316x5jqHpSUGAfMm-h1kC4hdp9s/s320/P3050911.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2v14y7XFSldeyeGRqhbklpSUcriNVGCNVyeS7k5k6rQ5MmNN0XOyt_GA1_AmQy1d0_ooYbAu-X3D7zpDCSBL8d8Eiywq3b6TTavDC65fgCNSOWgFgzfXOiDs_X6MyGQmR3I230EWxYqc/s1600-h/P3050933.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176314180024819218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2v14y7XFSldeyeGRqhbklpSUcriNVGCNVyeS7k5k6rQ5MmNN0XOyt_GA1_AmQy1d0_ooYbAu-X3D7zpDCSBL8d8Eiywq3b6TTavDC65fgCNSOWgFgzfXOiDs_X6MyGQmR3I230EWxYqc/s320/P3050933.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4N4PYlmLH6Apz985QAqsTup5NSnwRYc7a9r-E_46pLNqo6fhdeosbCRbEkXwxwuWOQ8j-Zc0XLTQekvQKEpliQGxjxrBJBXzDBZXsES2ZUiSaW1nT15VQMiMVISGPykve8oXOhNkNwmk/s1600-h/P3050936.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176314184319786530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4N4PYlmLH6Apz985QAqsTup5NSnwRYc7a9r-E_46pLNqo6fhdeosbCRbEkXwxwuWOQ8j-Zc0XLTQekvQKEpliQGxjxrBJBXzDBZXsES2ZUiSaW1nT15VQMiMVISGPykve8oXOhNkNwmk/s320/P3050936.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEO_F4AAjJXbQZkOEc8Rv14UEfH918MFrVB_d8G9HYdPNsJj9MjbTbVdGQd6bWwli8e7ha0DJLrOSotCUQnB8Qxp1WUjKTzFJvJfXwUY67I3mDsVYLigFAA7evGZGQxDbvlpjrWHH2u4g/s1600-h/P3050894.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176313995341225458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEO_F4AAjJXbQZkOEc8Rv14UEfH918MFrVB_d8G9HYdPNsJj9MjbTbVdGQd6bWwli8e7ha0DJLrOSotCUQnB8Qxp1WUjKTzFJvJfXwUY67I3mDsVYLigFAA7evGZGQxDbvlpjrWHH2u4g/s320/P3050894.JPG" border="0" /></a> <strong>Interviewing farmers in Huaral</strong><br /><div><br /><div>I went to Huaral, a bizarre lush river valley in the middle of the desert to the north of Lima. A new Progressio development worker, Bruno started work there this month with our partner organisation Cepes. He'll be doing environmental work with the small scale farmers there.</div><br /><div><em>Some of the ad-hoc housing in the desert (communities established through invasion/squatting of land with no planning and no services):</em></div><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176097743737871826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzVDNfvPHgBFyf4mweNzHaeQY-BO0v1Q6VESDTESTvA9P-yqGljV0mVH0NRWk1FyT1qHKWCA-rue1jzPOwct9hDIDgY5Y2eVsP1Ou7kJDag9t4L8VTV4tQFeLC0dfcQAHh8KLc8RojLg/s320/P2280693.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsJCXHpellqqaa1Rxc8PzdAf8mbvsiRmpgDZEE9kZdtMJBa0slUsHtLKf1FJK9mQQFaDkIR7fiKja2oJq08gHbHzx33FO1PfuwfjEflFJZDOtv2wdyItgzuvBrz_hvfSqXUwmjvz7_oY/s1600-h/P2280690.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176095871132130674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsJCXHpellqqaa1Rxc8PzdAf8mbvsiRmpgDZEE9kZdtMJBa0slUsHtLKf1FJK9mQQFaDkIR7fiKja2oJq08gHbHzx33FO1PfuwfjEflFJZDOtv2wdyItgzuvBrz_hvfSqXUwmjvz7_oY/s320/P2280690.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><em>A tall white gringa with some farmers: </em>(I was interviewing them about terminator technology, GM seeds and their own seedsaving or buying habits). None of them had heard of GM technology, some thought it sounded dangerous, others thought they would like to try it...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_dygLByJFTdnb8Bel_ID1S7W_xqGS704VNd2elymGCQDlUo65TnHScXEKG_Y_-25PRu69gARHt4JaU2XiFY44oHQY7eGEwpTNuPB23gxaJRmX5O_Pu359DUsKGCd1wxYxuLahnWiEuw/s1600-h/P2280658+Yuri+Castillo+and+his+wife+and+Michelle.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176094445202988370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_dygLByJFTdnb8Bel_ID1S7W_xqGS704VNd2elymGCQDlUo65TnHScXEKG_Y_-25PRu69gARHt4JaU2XiFY44oHQY7eGEwpTNuPB23gxaJRmX5O_Pu359DUsKGCd1wxYxuLahnWiEuw/s320/P2280658+Yuri+Castillo+and+his+wife+and+Michelle.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><strong>The view from my flat in Quito</strong><br /></div><div><div><em>by day...</em><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176093079403388210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jU6GJaFdngb55N38-D2WdqzpxzBw-oXC9g_Okkp9GyZN4z2M-ZX9C5oiKGBfUh9kHywnWzhpztPcIRfBALeojoC-kg0xJL7Dc50L7_7NvAg0qIzX3ZW3uXYdrXhPksauS5bMWoPrzcs/s320/P2080383.JPG" border="0" /> <em>and night:<br /></em><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176317495739572002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLqyh1htqJOb1PioF1FBG_ff9-NgLH9uCIjaTq7E5wVZQx7tvWMc9cc7TCaao3Zh6OMgVoyoTGyQ0cuvhu2FcQoVrEHMMfsoox15iw2gSM8blY0y0xDwQkW_cwH8P0c1WnMkVmsUFOJo/s320/P1220143.JPG" border="0" /><br /><strong>Playa Escondida<br /></strong><br /><div>For Carnaval, we went with the South American Explorers club to a beach in the north of Ecuador near Atacames. Beautiful with lots of cycling, eating, drinking and scrabble and not nearly as much rain as there might have been.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5tVdmwvo1ZDKY54jlSHV6AHaAE1Px65igqiA-WLwGIOOkydBpSZLLz00xbokVdNo70-FFgULk84yHcbIn6_N_JN75IYnWFA0dzfjO6HXBSn-IegNZWhOAZqCA0PgCNmjziz4EPOazU8/s1600-h/P2020347.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176092173165288738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS5tVdmwvo1ZDKY54jlSHV6AHaAE1Px65igqiA-WLwGIOOkydBpSZLLz00xbokVdNo70-FFgULk84yHcbIn6_N_JN75IYnWFA0dzfjO6HXBSn-IegNZWhOAZqCA0PgCNmjziz4EPOazU8/s320/P2020347.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpY1IkWPfiW4yZS2FAFRLtiXdtfaT3E09qv86D7VCPx5PrvCeEg-xKqSjB5ofBOVv0Go2fBD9xJyreIZIxiLWyT_8Qpgvd6k4Zs2w-d0ptcjWe-9Z2YaHgTHfmno-qQwY9kiIYKSs6kAQ/s1600-h/P2020345.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176091803798101266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpY1IkWPfiW4yZS2FAFRLtiXdtfaT3E09qv86D7VCPx5PrvCeEg-xKqSjB5ofBOVv0Go2fBD9xJyreIZIxiLWyT_8Qpgvd6k4Zs2w-d0ptcjWe-9Z2YaHgTHfmno-qQwY9kiIYKSs6kAQ/s320/P2020345.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTE0tp3Y_IjUq2Mnb0kzJqm2ypEDE1d63fl760GkID6ThOLRrRM4TWXSlSXo2CIvGkZyc4gRLblzESr1aH7SrQEYXDNOnl54CyoooeXi9OkLbl8DKyyyi6JpHIQbnAnr_Au1-4OVhDVM/s1600-h/P2020321.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176091232567450866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTE0tp3Y_IjUq2Mnb0kzJqm2ypEDE1d63fl760GkID6ThOLRrRM4TWXSlSXo2CIvGkZyc4gRLblzESr1aH7SrQEYXDNOnl54CyoooeXi9OkLbl8DKyyyi6JpHIQbnAnr_Au1-4OVhDVM/s320/P2020321.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div><strong>Paracas</strong></div><br /><div>Last weekend I went to Pisco to go and visit the nearby Paracas National Park and the Ballestras Islands. They are wierd desert islands totally covered in birds - in colonial times one of the main sources of Peru's income because the hot dry conditions mean that the bird dropping - guano - are preserved perfectly. It was collected in huge quantities and exported as fertiliser.</div><br /><div>(The tiny black spots on top of the hill are thousands of birds and the white is all guano. Below on the beach are loads of sealions. The mother sealions were swimming around teaching the babies to swim. )<br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYKskXcDse-6yVHkK1Uw_JUxRD9J26Xx2hOK1Yq8r3YdHVZNsmQyVm5aX7zGf98lQ-6fhx95eoiGufYVNaQqSkrwK2dAj53mD4Qr1QVUSDnMIoGcgg3f44Q7AdSSZjhiwsHmQ_04pheM/s1600-h/P3020868.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175943451332729986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYKskXcDse-6yVHkK1Uw_JUxRD9J26Xx2hOK1Yq8r3YdHVZNsmQyVm5aX7zGf98lQ-6fhx95eoiGufYVNaQqSkrwK2dAj53mD4Qr1QVUSDnMIoGcgg3f44Q7AdSSZjhiwsHmQ_04pheM/s320/P3020868.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Lots of birds. Even though it is desert and really hot there are penguins because the humbolt current makes the sea very cold.</div><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1O944xNuc9-rfAS4DfJoukrWv95pc7XP-0paAa3vzVV0FR3mKCgIng60pRos00rjZyN7C3o40MDDkCDemMMTcRFb2cfaWz6v7M5LMDNY46ei86bBOop_Qsx4_7CgVSnLLZTWaf6j8W0c/s1600-h/P3020836.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175943154979986546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1O944xNuc9-rfAS4DfJoukrWv95pc7XP-0paAa3vzVV0FR3mKCgIng60pRos00rjZyN7C3o40MDDkCDemMMTcRFb2cfaWz6v7M5LMDNY46ei86bBOop_Qsx4_7CgVSnLLZTWaf6j8W0c/s320/P3020836.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrpG-agGv21IJPG7s1MA6dzBXIMtqCdRFCyfqOwfMhTeBEKOVPcrdz-KInnJqzjKDRH1co5_npPE8oBDyDwuCY8K3nMUi-DMMW1s-fPnqM0I8-zqca6tu988coNPC9wbaL0ywzZiqLFPg/s1600-h/P3020825.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175942875807112290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrpG-agGv21IJPG7s1MA6dzBXIMtqCdRFCyfqOwfMhTeBEKOVPcrdz-KInnJqzjKDRH1co5_npPE8oBDyDwuCY8K3nMUi-DMMW1s-fPnqM0I8-zqca6tu988coNPC9wbaL0ywzZiqLFPg/s320/P3020825.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNwelQABtcC-xuHKKm6dff7bq5c8pZymcq_gBnTEnNp-M_S8Y5Jc3accgSe4X8fNNZ08bJqhmBXlkd6zY_U1YCyOUrgx167RBZ-_HPG02HLcKmV9dWETBrUdH0M-z-XMEFc_nzJbi0m0/s1600-h/P3020817-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175942600929205330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNwelQABtcC-xuHKKm6dff7bq5c8pZymcq_gBnTEnNp-M_S8Y5Jc3accgSe4X8fNNZ08bJqhmBXlkd6zY_U1YCyOUrgx167RBZ-_HPG02HLcKmV9dWETBrUdH0M-z-XMEFc_nzJbi0m0/s320/P3020817-1.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7fjoZmo7MqSQ4RCxlMPRCXdCODTweNzjXgz5Ml9ZLI3TD1f8waQtf9UkzKSQIkFZgKRLWezNMC73cT8dGgVYmLVATloJr4KcgPkoAGiakSTwZUNfKoDJPltIhZVF3h7WkIcE97757jc/s1600-h/P3020778.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175942347526134850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7fjoZmo7MqSQ4RCxlMPRCXdCODTweNzjXgz5Ml9ZLI3TD1f8waQtf9UkzKSQIkFZgKRLWezNMC73cT8dGgVYmLVATloJr4KcgPkoAGiakSTwZUNfKoDJPltIhZVF3h7WkIcE97757jc/s320/P3020778.JPG" border="0" /></a>The lumps under the arch are sealions.<br /><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175942094123064370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCJGesS6-rhfmJSpklBhD5ofrMxBUudbKQe0Ow9slkSpfYZWQoa6Yh7gQPrM9kCCYDqzuxFaDltvChOp5h8_j2xaOWsrHmNeRzKcM7bEbHnUuAt6U3kFt9pAy3c6xVU3Y8Beit2_9Hyk/s320/P3020776-1.JPG" border="0" /><br /><em>The candelabra</em> (The guide didnt really explain what this is - its huge and he said it was either linked to the Nazca lines, or made by sailors as a compass/map, or an ancient holy symbol related to the halluconogenic cacti or made by aliens.)<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuBLV4GQJmMpvPVoAgVFpZytUHxBla9A9cbunuw_iEp4B3c5Vsu1U6xLfNub8DLLj5mViPaev4MektXH2mRib5a6rtERnJKdo3VA6JSyRXnoz-OxAzcmR8kPRIVPDJVb9OB6Lau8xRTY/s1600-h/P3020769.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175941840719993890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuBLV4GQJmMpvPVoAgVFpZytUHxBla9A9cbunuw_iEp4B3c5Vsu1U6xLfNub8DLLj5mViPaev4MektXH2mRib5a6rtERnJKdo3VA6JSyRXnoz-OxAzcmR8kPRIVPDJVb9OB6Lau8xRTY/s320/P3020769.JPG" border="0" /></a><em>Pelicans on the beach in Paracas<br /></em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOmTve6THoaGZSxEHW7En1QypxdJZHG4A_966_nT5FEKHywyQevsdFeyLDzUhmmDoRiO6lNZQnjYWsqOO7V98vEL2XR8QtJ4pbsh9m3C3sI8YwvpwdSVIT5HRgOwRMr51nDXJ5PDdo1A/s1600-h/P3020752.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175941583021956114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOmTve6THoaGZSxEHW7En1QypxdJZHG4A_966_nT5FEKHywyQevsdFeyLDzUhmmDoRiO6lNZQnjYWsqOO7V98vEL2XR8QtJ4pbsh9m3C3sI8YwvpwdSVIT5HRgOwRMr51nDXJ5PDdo1A/s320/P3020752.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB3EUOBeICZzWB4lD5RehqaX9hB4wDQkj9R2zLx_2BUkk0EZ9WTMXUx8tSGqZaNaZ7T2C8GUkEn-mybA76UdWeGH6KrPtefcHLOQqdCe-gYtn79sRYt8Nt2-yR1oTvhvjIL0tbTx3YH6A/s1600-h/P3020740.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175928126889417650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB3EUOBeICZzWB4lD5RehqaX9hB4wDQkj9R2zLx_2BUkk0EZ9WTMXUx8tSGqZaNaZ7T2C8GUkEn-mybA76UdWeGH6KrPtefcHLOQqdCe-gYtn79sRYt8Nt2-yR1oTvhvjIL0tbTx3YH6A/s320/P3020740.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIN0KqMj7PhMPHDxfpDOS_sOXsRwAKWYBcvCdp-ZDUy9L6fcL6TEbXvaTfwD5V5uBcRJxUOKLdcRDIeOhJT6ITqqfguIrTbploobwUihysvStKEz_SnDgoFY1FCEBK5TqtGv-pNiB52DU/s1600-h/P3020738.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175925253556296610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIN0KqMj7PhMPHDxfpDOS_sOXsRwAKWYBcvCdp-ZDUy9L6fcL6TEbXvaTfwD5V5uBcRJxUOKLdcRDIeOhJT6ITqqfguIrTbploobwUihysvStKEz_SnDgoFY1FCEBK5TqtGv-pNiB52DU/s320/P3020738.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><strong>Pisco</strong><br /><br /><div><div>Being in Picso was depressing. It was very near the epicentre of the earthquake in August and, six months on, looking at parts of the town, you'd think it had happened the day before. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176320317533085874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipYYr_BxorgV5L5vNT9I1E3onw0aLdQvpe732hyphenhyphen7ogIvEJbfZcKTlESuDiJJQy0LAnKM5vUp-75uLScBQrwdVcxrORooBCT7bIhn5GkKA6giz-RUb4Pkes9N1VIMjB9kruDWLvuNk2jo/s320/P3020891.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175918948544305954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVV_BLeKOHZUPQYL2Op2wRexVoQYl9-VZAKxJs4tEYXv1XTxtwkOZtIg7gRI6xHoCSX42kitaz7Ue-vpyOEB0bLri1pqJVyk7JZI_VBCgNy_AmVhOfijORlAmQGTMFoz-lxAk4F69tDtE/s320/P3010703.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6F5HY6x3kxFa_D250cCXTHPLo4CdCBShkM6TdVtt7yKkl7crZQbhnMr9jvQdp6eU1YkdXElsy3lN-1jdqfGjBdJ0AeDLgGvMF1G4W4WjHcubOzcZwjFyHqdVnR0Yz87WlUvXDHTBAsM/s1600-h/P3020727.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175924643670940562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6F5HY6x3kxFa_D250cCXTHPLo4CdCBShkM6TdVtt7yKkl7crZQbhnMr9jvQdp6eU1YkdXElsy3lN-1jdqfGjBdJ0AeDLgGvMF1G4W4WjHcubOzcZwjFyHqdVnR0Yz87WlUvXDHTBAsM/s320/P3020727.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175944069808020626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mrMRIrXvfyctnC1qWbpClu0UiP1B2_tx1_iutWGbR_85u-4Vrfk9sSz5_Llt1r86ToZf1MDWW4UwoqGc6PapG7QZVq269Je6980oxGZ8a4jLSc0VDZwnS8gsImWlvEdtU1-HROq0NC8/s320/P3020879.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175921482575010674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcu2Dax5Oi7HoycQ5DrAr7viv3IS3pAhYb1yGu9pT_VCeOtUGGk0dtTpWLodqVd2HpnY1bhpb09zszN6GHWnPidRqf9J3p-KBflMaBPftFrkXEpC5btc38dYALZQBcNoK4UaOByid4KuU/s320/P3020715.JPG" border="0" /><br /><em>Heaps of people's possession and furniture.<br /></em><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175944344685927586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2C_do9sW3FzMr5YNzVvWgeYvhaEJMupFFcNUDkt4lYNOpgJwhFYx3_hNVpEhZx18LCEdUFRHTeU_hJUrUFU5jHGwW2W7yYRlNx4MSv_NkncF1XcDTpNI2Hhskmy0Yue9U7FzK0El54LI/s320/P3020886.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>A service in the remains of the church which collapsed in the earthquake killing 200 people.</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175923823332187010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRDC6Sjk_7DuXdoGlI4BYIlOkE3ySywHWxIcPEbPWqIBkowtW0fsbCOEN7lw5APwFYCYfZhZwUgXU25uSmyL3X-vxqXjmO_pleYVPVS1fxoTGffDIf_8xbI8k8UOUSuTSD-a_xOBRrZI/s320/P3020718.JPG" border="0" /> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Michelle Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17399775092466018175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001482939104905510.post-40643188431022149862007-11-07T12:51:00.000-05:002007-11-07T12:55:09.297-05:00Articles on seedsaving and agroecologyHello<br />If you'd like to read about some of the work I've been doing in Ecuador, I wrote several articles in Progressio's magazine <a href="http://www.progressio.org.uk/shared_asp_files/GFSR.asp?NodeID=94922">Interact</a> on seeds, food and agroecology (pages 7-12).Michelle Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17399775092466018175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001482939104905510.post-91042382957212130462007-10-28T15:25:00.000-05:002007-10-28T16:27:19.094-05:00Beaches and conference<div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">Hello, taking advantage of being stuck in an airport to put up some photos from the last month or so. There isn’t going to be much commentary I'm afraid as I’m not finding thinking coherently very straightforward.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><strong>Honduras</strong></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><strong>Utila - one of the Bay Islands off coast of Honduras</strong></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">The ferry on the way there</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126494918023473554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDoXsvjYPs29X6_fs13f7fSC6pvRlbwmdWAvtgeB7kT64c1W0Zb-OEdAJhGO5EfbVB2caT3XwEHQk-R04fa4zDxpehtJBSd3bGUc09-3bQs_0C4IShLyu3zZlW66GLlupCVBCMTaCEL9o/s320/PA260774.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhi5zauF5E5XCtK2MTscaZ_NqTtfxzxQc0ifa2PvsqFgWPtEnSFGBNUL5uu3k6qxz4o42YyU_rrnOdtbAMHygkaRyKYQsAlT6go115j2t6w_O8EpQsSxlcvUu7tJY7OPFU2Qrl6U1hTss/s1600-h/PA260784.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126495420534647282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhi5zauF5E5XCtK2MTscaZ_NqTtfxzxQc0ifa2PvsqFgWPtEnSFGBNUL5uu3k6qxz4o42YyU_rrnOdtbAMHygkaRyKYQsAlT6go115j2t6w_O8EpQsSxlcvUu7tJY7OPFU2Qrl6U1hTss/s320/PA260784.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Snorkelling with Marcos, Carlos and Scarleth<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkY4wY83tltBmCkAP86W4liOc0Wc04YNwP-yT0OUFJ_uxDXhS8r67FZA5oc048pMgTufaAvaREWFwwRZtuVErYOhbBJFmMMpHc_0yHX83-dcz_NhI-GMW8AIDcxi2chTc0mtmMKW0XWg8/s1600-h/PA270791.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126495145656740306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkY4wY83tltBmCkAP86W4liOc0Wc04YNwP-yT0OUFJ_uxDXhS8r67FZA5oc048pMgTufaAvaREWFwwRZtuVErYOhbBJFmMMpHc_0yHX83-dcz_NhI-GMW8AIDcxi2chTc0mtmMKW0XWg8/s320/PA270791.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSPxYSd2dbbArLS0cD0PhIHWpY9z9P_-D373Lepoaj5ewT_eHr0l9APtkJPDa0AAekfIc8VtlsG9bSyX9_BtVIMgsHpjCY9KwYK-IxSVWPrpEv8ovsi80IbhPUSTWrE-eiWBku7nI04Ks/s1600-h/PA270794.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126495149951707618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSPxYSd2dbbArLS0cD0PhIHWpY9z9P_-D373Lepoaj5ewT_eHr0l9APtkJPDa0AAekfIc8VtlsG9bSyX9_BtVIMgsHpjCY9KwYK-IxSVWPrpEv8ovsi80IbhPUSTWrE-eiWBku7nI04Ks/s320/PA270794.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126494922318440866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQ8QrogP59r1G9CiGInBxlbHyBMGoPne0lW5-CHCIUiI98qAmZKmZydXNEqA6HqxSm9kHcfWc1TUSA0Kw914p7GgQ1z9_plVfiwEHfTJGqv3izoft9zQ8FqxRAvpRJJJZlIwJ1r_JOmU/s320/PA260777.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a>Big spiders ( which you probably cant see)</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126500883733047842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZhuNA06I0tlUdmVwLC_JFt7UWihbFjkuYbRrwmCgkcABBv84GfvXDjDTJ_eOlwyTVTvo6vHTTasmNctwRPaVrCS4ZNzbojP1TqV8vyAqYgm-mV2Zg5iFcne_cCd8mX0DGvdMTjl6JLk/s320/PA260780.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><p align="left"><strong>La Ceiba</strong><br /></p><br /><p align="center">A real live pinapple growing ( I thought they grew on tress...). There are huge commercial plantations of them near La Ceiba where we were for a Progressio conference.<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6H-Nc87Ulf1HFgScKc3Ew6rS64-4fIrFYKF8Z5VRSDX6xKnqTTXXlKlvGOmQSw1Qu5s1stG65oCF6hGEcOf8HsnYDKa2SR8FRoN6JClz-TejXO9CkDiPKS5EShAmaNQo5tiyMHs9WZs/s1600-h/PA250758.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126494905138571634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6H-Nc87Ulf1HFgScKc3Ew6rS64-4fIrFYKF8Z5VRSDX6xKnqTTXXlKlvGOmQSw1Qu5s1stG65oCF6hGEcOf8HsnYDKa2SR8FRoN6JClz-TejXO9CkDiPKS5EShAmaNQo5tiyMHs9WZs/s320/PA250758.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center">The beach at the hotel where we had the conference<br /></div><div align="center"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0oQVzVpIwS8mqwO2Feuwe_dxYhRnw1dqMlvxjXGyG1nMf7G6zn4qKiEW_oWnwDRs1mdq6LAJF_ZidJ82973SvCxCP431CIPr3ka6n8WrR2VWzAX3Xxk2m-E-cEj_fXxWzmW1Mah8ACQ/s1600-h/PA250769.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126494909433538946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0oQVzVpIwS8mqwO2Feuwe_dxYhRnw1dqMlvxjXGyG1nMf7G6zn4qKiEW_oWnwDRs1mdq6LAJF_ZidJ82973SvCxCP431CIPr3ka6n8WrR2VWzAX3Xxk2m-E-cEj_fXxWzmW1Mah8ACQ/s320/PA250769.JPG" border="0" /></a> <p align="center"><br />Juliette and Silvina on the beach<br /></p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWB4FQYaLkKc9cZ2hSbNtvn2lAOLq_NdLOfNQwzY9EUaPsnbJGlC5LMmIwrXVotwP1R8Yg6nVsryQlGtcYwGWtK9Ugalabn5_ZHbnDEAHEr9MwVCaIScKpN5DdsQ876pq9OcWLaai890/s1600-h/PA210694.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126494522886482210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWB4FQYaLkKc9cZ2hSbNtvn2lAOLq_NdLOfNQwzY9EUaPsnbJGlC5LMmIwrXVotwP1R8Yg6nVsryQlGtcYwGWtK9Ugalabn5_ZHbnDEAHEr9MwVCaIScKpN5DdsQ876pq9OcWLaai890/s320/PA210694.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div align="center">Myriam on the beach</div><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126494248008575234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnnuYOH_lYx72Xcup85neh-xuvcqlWlslGfW-y4vHodJH22xB9BBfLJ5AEkxDa_JvOQFNei2gPGHKALeiEtLM7pGMpBXo0_NA9pVUxOw4dzp3Lkh5RdQp9_qDOPTD1UwSm9ZR7iqMWkU/s320/PA210686.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">Most of the Ecuador party<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipzcgEVweACudpoJcVTEAz-JmlydoIGK_mVJWhekY-ZdZym5aPpCVQFxukT8viN4eMjltmWb3IOU3wVYIp1-d5OINSzmgo1JFTEAfUauLKgifwBy5iKG0_FX5CcuZHAPSdzveYXDPUvok/s1600-h/PA230701.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126494527181449522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipzcgEVweACudpoJcVTEAz-JmlydoIGK_mVJWhekY-ZdZym5aPpCVQFxukT8viN4eMjltmWb3IOU3wVYIp1-d5OINSzmgo1JFTEAfUauLKgifwBy5iKG0_FX5CcuZHAPSdzveYXDPUvok/s320/PA230701.JPG" border="0" /></a>Dancing the punta<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCECEcmB1-ifWN8MyD3aU8f-cTgqH-t5oy0lfolbq28n66PJsDLKd5gMawd9hkpFur5nFGuASsetHEnjREKtHww9VbJK4pM8sjvgSuDZVTC_kQhOAmRq9K6MLraRBGzpoHcSGFnEtXc8/s1600-h/PA240729.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126494527181449538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCECEcmB1-ifWN8MyD3aU8f-cTgqH-t5oy0lfolbq28n66PJsDLKd5gMawd9hkpFur5nFGuASsetHEnjREKtHww9VbJK4pM8sjvgSuDZVTC_kQhOAmRq9K6MLraRBGzpoHcSGFnEtXc8/s320/PA240729.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8EwISzuppQVldQzoNqyEAFT3L52XmSSKisn5uVPWNPMtLnxXQ4MmwLb34rE4LUAZ2LkWJJyQA7yxGIo6FLlvHuRayLspuJI6YG8K41xz9YqTesl22HMA6sklWOCTWjFKCsKYlSDzbBE/s1600-h/PA240737.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126494531476416850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8EwISzuppQVldQzoNqyEAFT3L52XmSSKisn5uVPWNPMtLnxXQ4MmwLb34rE4LUAZ2LkWJJyQA7yxGIo6FLlvHuRayLspuJI6YG8K41xz9YqTesl22HMA6sklWOCTWjFKCsKYlSDzbBE/s320/PA240737.JPG" border="0" /></a>Trip to Pico Bonito foundation demonstration farm<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMjY8SnLfOUTqHVt2Fj_PkLrmxg3EoS_ZUclTWcE4b4nSn-Vk36pibh1rj7JdrWfTnh5CmSEcEsZvLpdIekhV41-BqDKd0Vps3Zhy1TlejTTp6Mx07Lf9qLJLMjwJoOlGsEhuYUomXfg/s1600-h/PA250745.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126494535771384162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMjY8SnLfOUTqHVt2Fj_PkLrmxg3EoS_ZUclTWcE4b4nSn-Vk36pibh1rj7JdrWfTnh5CmSEcEsZvLpdIekhV41-BqDKd0Vps3Zhy1TlejTTp6Mx07Lf9qLJLMjwJoOlGsEhuYUomXfg/s320/PA250745.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Main Square San Pedro Sula<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126493852871583922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJAZ7cMiT1rU0TroJoOl-z3kDoFy8ZYtH8k0PJ1OZqKj84EGzw433oOjWn-CG2io_nLqgUKnkHiTv_oYTsQErPAK3lYY1-Sl4dWOZ5GfrbZ1P02o45M0I-rh_cM3hOAWrv8L3VdicFmo/s320/PA210670.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwu8OpUoHq9_3TgOWyBvJogum32O94mePzHLgMIWAeaXdGOA3dnYBpX9NVG8KSuoP19E8oaGAtslEgbB7_RfDRfeCqMqxww0CpNr4TuZbNW58HN4Slv01yDfGlLjczNmeAMgmIBX9cYM/s1600-h/PA210673.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126494239418640594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwu8OpUoHq9_3TgOWyBvJogum32O94mePzHLgMIWAeaXdGOA3dnYBpX9NVG8KSuoP19E8oaGAtslEgbB7_RfDRfeCqMqxww0CpNr4TuZbNW58HN4Slv01yDfGlLjczNmeAMgmIBX9cYM/s320/PA210673.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126493861461518530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dAsV2O_3IHAxAzj1YjRcZ6KeP6xYRwL_gw4SQjiEXJBBGqoYl7R3_PmHrION6vquLv6KuTUTAvmGqDCviI7dVybfmXlMQTSGdp5HgVqruq_wOMvkkcO5wsh7mPF_THBPCuSy06rw0dw/s320/PA210671.JPG" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEesl9LOaKf2fYsrw0yChmtHc6ymBCpDLtcvP0s4JEvrlZ-_It10LTMXgR9EW4pSZcLFyCtLANZA-WrxvtdB35qsvvmVF5xK5rcjYiBD0JpnsSqC0vhfEKCdZvzc3mo-ESyFEFZPA5Zjo/s1600-h/PA210680.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126494243713607906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEesl9LOaKf2fYsrw0yChmtHc6ymBCpDLtcvP0s4JEvrlZ-_It10LTMXgR9EW4pSZcLFyCtLANZA-WrxvtdB35qsvvmVF5xK5rcjYiBD0JpnsSqC0vhfEKCdZvzc3mo-ESyFEFZPA5Zjo/s320/PA210680.JPG" border="0" /></a>View from hotel room<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYgwsKyAbDh4MOQKazOkXphiLZt5-2uvYn1USkGC87vPbmPblkXQeCvA3o6P5jXfRCA5Gkg7eLijhGVvMqCccCodMx9rTlY6Cfp4nnay86wxNdmSbYSAmqr6RfQCNJoYdB2Tk80RnoEA/s1600-h/PA210684.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126494248008575218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYgwsKyAbDh4MOQKazOkXphiLZt5-2uvYn1USkGC87vPbmPblkXQeCvA3o6P5jXfRCA5Gkg7eLijhGVvMqCccCodMx9rTlY6Cfp4nnay86wxNdmSbYSAmqr6RfQCNJoYdB2Tk80RnoEA/s320/PA210684.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><strong>The beach in Ecuador - Canoa</strong> </div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="center">Resting after long bus trip<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126493006763026450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOC-upg37AhoG3QcB3wfrITw8Psh8CigggprvJXbyS9qGaLHfUIevq2a9EZSKdGBEGWm32Kn4jLIstGGtyr99bSOhLdGBUyE1wcflH0brBIDzfoekVpiF3qSIWp9h-ExxD6OFVJ882e-g/s320/PA120596.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126493517864134770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2lNF6s7UyApos-XZBMV1prviCCHz1VgniDkBwxpl-aBroZvx8Mly83FKXWnZCrSNH37GWVdJ2SyGWBZogBzZZzWu4GDAvhkKwC3cVBLjlyzu56eYm73DBdUlKQMO3AxTY9RBLqMpOJI/s320/PA130635.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">Cycle trip to organic farm through mud</div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XKcNXXT9ST0xfjei4ryd7LPxHhCEO-O2qDO3fFf-UJW29kzoOdLi40vyeHy_cId7LKUR_ZxAxCxF79Aen4XHlaxovijuSKCMWHRhJxAa_pGLz3hLl0TLiN6Q5bUe-5yMqmDPM95XBNA/s1600-h/PA130636.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126493835691714690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XKcNXXT9ST0xfjei4ryd7LPxHhCEO-O2qDO3fFf-UJW29kzoOdLi40vyeHy_cId7LKUR_ZxAxCxF79Aen4XHlaxovijuSKCMWHRhJxAa_pGLz3hLl0TLiN6Q5bUe-5yMqmDPM95XBNA/s320/PA130636.JPG" border="0" /></a> Making chocolate<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWRn4KV9GK3clgXWiAjseseB8rLisCXlrMgpKjjFEOoZlNimFgz_Kd9gvh_GU46WVycjt80EZuYVKKeHA90ERLRCM5RdYLkXm_NrqWl3mo1b-CcJ8TS0nsqIARcgTOC4oZAQ9wK7jAxQ/s1600-h/PA130663.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126493835691714706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWRn4KV9GK3clgXWiAjseseB8rLisCXlrMgpKjjFEOoZlNimFgz_Kd9gvh_GU46WVycjt80EZuYVKKeHA90ERLRCM5RdYLkXm_NrqWl3mo1b-CcJ8TS0nsqIARcgTOC4oZAQ9wK7jAxQ/s320/PA130663.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ockymErX-Q58-kbKlxiIgJ00OfyESs04VczpIwHWcoqnyMJ_Fs0k8wNU_75jDwgYFpInqOngDsh3h0LQ8ExGwX5mkmH402FpQt89ytmXeOSosbP7K_UDPrnLuD2B2qWjNysc5XhBoMY/s1600-h/PA130666.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126493848576616610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ockymErX-Q58-kbKlxiIgJ00OfyESs04VczpIwHWcoqnyMJ_Fs0k8wNU_75jDwgYFpInqOngDsh3h0LQ8ExGwX5mkmH402FpQt89ytmXeOSosbP7K_UDPrnLuD2B2qWjNysc5XhBoMY/s320/PA130666.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div align="center">Amy running<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh4M7uK2_RbYoOl6bG-sAqK5d_CnckrsICpERPyovsvH5rDfVN5MP1W1_2c5uHjIBBhHFGov6QpbgdsGjaST8Jp2GhMJrUyqM2T4Og3LfSBouMwr_nLhyBnUXG5idu5Nu2DfOFf-Xu9kQ/s1600-h/PA120617.JPG"></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126493015352961058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVJ5KR-iyau2m8wikMB5_IZsHD-TJ1D9ZjmjcRbJNFSoCmGQSA2Ks3eKEL9YEXnOk47a9iz3hIZpdqwhqiBEL5XuMyc1R3Bhoa6EmD6rmspBGwBrqRVmZM5AHIl7eNJdx52E2wwcYv5Y/s320/PA120598.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhur0BcSXqwFfw-rXs_LzCpzs90Rg7yDjpN7zbrhyphenhyphenocx0Vx9FlxwcZbuPnwXo9R-6WZmsWrCDoW05e1-e-VN4gnPNsm9pamNqPnfZoEpdIkr8TAVP2fb99nMTmXXr4TUOBDR9Gbq50JEfQ/s1600-h/PA120620.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126493504979232834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhur0BcSXqwFfw-rXs_LzCpzs90Rg7yDjpN7zbrhyphenhyphenocx0Vx9FlxwcZbuPnwXo9R-6WZmsWrCDoW05e1-e-VN4gnPNsm9pamNqPnfZoEpdIkr8TAVP2fb99nMTmXXr4TUOBDR9Gbq50JEfQ/s320/PA120620.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhj9GDj56Sc98RuMo1oX-2KSjG6ThvJZE9mbwHviLHroiH9m_LFnR4OrzOoTi4irPq1V20nxD3JQaxKw01OILOVQKWhZHg5coD_m1kL2EpzozTs0fAtUs5VW625OBwHS6mm697KJGxuKw/s1600-h/PA120628.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126493509274200146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhj9GDj56Sc98RuMo1oX-2KSjG6ThvJZE9mbwHviLHroiH9m_LFnR4OrzOoTi4irPq1V20nxD3JQaxKw01OILOVQKWhZHg5coD_m1kL2EpzozTs0fAtUs5VW625OBwHS6mm697KJGxuKw/s320/PA120628.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSojAa5uwyUFumQYX2syYlNQe36IC9i7srbZZhPebtfFxtL14CSY2BBIuQCFke8Iyl0FO4iNuNDueK4jZmZ3DE1bUJcpiv0h3uqnwW7RM_k_NgBw207DusZbGahz3mUs9M2Kmn2CdBEhY/s1600-h/PA130634.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126493513569167458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSojAa5uwyUFumQYX2syYlNQe36IC9i7srbZZhPebtfFxtL14CSY2BBIuQCFke8Iyl0FO4iNuNDueK4jZmZ3DE1bUJcpiv0h3uqnwW7RM_k_NgBw207DusZbGahz3mUs9M2Kmn2CdBEhY/s320/PA130634.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><strong>Mompiche</strong><br /><div align="center">Mark in little canoe<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_dg9JTvHjzqS9c4RezKqU23KRz3rilauy9GYzVlwymhDhdEgmQxpx49NXuY8TgmrH-U4ZniaTJH0krrCPC4bBCvDI1yF6mgTDezic4b_M-FC-ATjNltnHq_aP4-KZ21STyyNs7itXZo/s1600-h/P9150507.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126492989583157218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_dg9JTvHjzqS9c4RezKqU23KRz3rilauy9GYzVlwymhDhdEgmQxpx49NXuY8TgmrH-U4ZniaTJH0krrCPC4bBCvDI1yF6mgTDezic4b_M-FC-ATjNltnHq_aP4-KZ21STyyNs7itXZo/s320/P9150507.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsx5O0CJ3FvA6kf7KyaozU8Rmz33eYx-D6Wsn1E2YlLXmB-CfwvPIHjQmU9VsgZeVMEFauZr6Wg6a04wSlnaqzzPLHhJgJuNEp3G7KwRC6SQMA8fqdk8U6u4mniYBJZL8Os_7_9U4tgg4/s1600-h/P9150512.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126492993878124530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsx5O0CJ3FvA6kf7KyaozU8Rmz33eYx-D6Wsn1E2YlLXmB-CfwvPIHjQmU9VsgZeVMEFauZr6Wg6a04wSlnaqzzPLHhJgJuNEp3G7KwRC6SQMA8fqdk8U6u4mniYBJZL8Os_7_9U4tgg4/s320/P9150512.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="left"><strong>Cotopaxi </strong></div><br /><div align="center">Climbing to refuge (as far as we went!)<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3HFlPEtTQD8dudqLgGa4hSrXMsApH5PswwNPl3T3m73XRhIQBWhhIaJd9gbPppo8dLoBB3lnyyAmvnXlobB95cHs_9JKqeU2w_Wh0u-4ZkrP72dyIJF1B_TGEp1Y9OQ7mapOiL6RrLjQ/s1600-h/PA070586.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126493002468059138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3HFlPEtTQD8dudqLgGa4hSrXMsApH5PswwNPl3T3m73XRhIQBWhhIaJd9gbPppo8dLoBB3lnyyAmvnXlobB95cHs_9JKqeU2w_Wh0u-4ZkrP72dyIJF1B_TGEp1Y9OQ7mapOiL6RrLjQ/s320/PA070586.JPG" border="0" /></a></div>Michelle Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17399775092466018175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001482939104905510.post-32951993786463037662007-09-09T21:14:00.000-05:002007-09-20T15:02:46.148-05:00Talking to farmers<div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3cRRoRPDQ82Qj_YP3mlgWOVF-BMOC__5mmuaSojAZyIVYxNGfwkx1UGWlVxuuz1iJzXd-uhiTzK24-apL38bwW_tI2s1UwY274XEwITURhqPffuO1sofgGf4kQ7Z3jeJV-GPHtiau9E/s1600-h/José+Nacipucha+and+Michelle+Lowe+DSC_0066.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112376781574690354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3cRRoRPDQ82Qj_YP3mlgWOVF-BMOC__5mmuaSojAZyIVYxNGfwkx1UGWlVxuuz1iJzXd-uhiTzK24-apL38bwW_tI2s1UwY274XEwITURhqPffuO1sofgGf4kQ7Z3jeJV-GPHtiau9E/s320/Jos%C3%A9+Nacipucha+and+Michelle+Lowe+DSC_0066.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />In the last week I've been having a really interesting time interviewing farmers about seeds to collect case studies to use in Progressio's <a href="http://www.progressio.org.uk/seedsaver/AssociatesHome2/94195/home/">campaign against terminator technology</a>.<br /><br />Its fascinating getting to quiz people all about their daily lives, how and what they produce, how much they make, what the problems are etc. I love that kind of work. On Thursday I was sitting in the back of a pickup truck travelling back from a little community in the jungle having had a fascinating conversation with almost all the female side of a huge extended family (the men are away doing money work whilst the women farm) and grinning as the banana trees whizzed by, feeling amazed that somehow I was there in that place so far from Edinburgh, and that this was part of my job!<br /><br />First I spent a couple of days in Cuenca which is high up in the Andes like Quito, but further south. I went round peoples farms and the markets in the city with Juliette, the lovely French Progressio development worker there. I was back in Quito for one day and then headed out to Tena which is low down in the Amazon and a totally different world.<br /><br />In Cuenca people are growing much the same crops as you'd grow in the UK: root veg, chard, lettuces, kale, cabbages, tomatoes etc (plus some exotic fruits that you couldn't manage in Britain and guinea pigs for meat, chickens and lots of medicinal herbs). People's land looks a lot like market gardens or allotments in the UK- small plots with a real mix of produce. The people work hard all day everyday in the fields.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112376798754559586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEHuE0A-Ta8z4goHmaaY3U2Mo5rtUWLO7w9AQcRXJsEPtBsL0FXHjr3Esdkm0FuuJz61VrpvxZ33XMHh1RQcksQ1JDwSLMuQDcIB7qVEoFOZ8tl0GXhNwolBk5r0-R5HNbr4j5JlLXNU/s320/Totoracocha+market,+Cuenca,+agroecological+stalls+P8310306.JPG" border="0" /><em>Agroecological producers at market in Cuenca</em><br /><br /><br />In Tena, people's farms looked to me like jungle. It wasn't till they pointed individual crops out to me that I could see yucca, cocoa, coffee, plantain, bananas etc. and various medicinal and sacred plants. There, it is hot and steamy and the people were very laid back. They told me that they basically work when they have to and in groups- when something really needs doing they set a day and everyone puts in a concerted effort for a morning or a day.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112376785869657666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-UQXQqbRJT7JdbGJFCq8cHzxAPyaAXHtRfBhsYeq7BDBhLbTOeJCvLoflhXLAmC1lOQGCVnAsDpVKIRAYlwRWz7cHr_a_XGn__3BZ5bkmahyphenhyphen21-HGEvOw4j8VXiM_5PAUtGBDUqFsY4/s320/Nelson+grinding+leaves+to+make+natural+insect+repellantP9040438.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112376790164624978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvEGS_Xz1Xnf1jbz2kJ-Osa48YyBvVcOj0v_B5elOx8PWnUI4iYy-P2hkNqmjAqV7VuHA1dHJRHpB3Qdyi3yFc1M2fSCm3RLRA7Os62NrLe7v30kUJol3mN-5Xt4X6bnZcbft5cH60G0/s320/Nelson%C2%B4s+parents+houseP9040406.JPG" border="0" /><br /><em>Nelson Ramon Mamallacta Alvarado at his farm near Tena</em></div><div align="left"><br />They welcomed me into their houses and cooked for me and were the ideal anthropological subjects/interviewees, being willing to talk about every detail of their lives in huge detail.(In Cuenca in contrast we stood outside or under people's porches in the rain, but were never invited in and people answered my questions politely and willingly in a few sentences then stopped to see what else I wanted to know).<br /><br />The famous stereotype of closed mountain people versus open gregarious jungle/coast people seemed to hold very true. Amazing what the climate does to people- arriving in Tena at 10pm it was hot- I was sweating sitting still in a t-shirt and looking out the bus windows it was a real culture shock to me to see people out in the streets eating and laughing and joking, women in hotpants and strappy tops, men in shorts, some without t-shirts, everyone with bare feet or flip flops. Lots of bare skin and lots of lounging around in the open, laughing.<br /><br />The other huge contrast with Quito was hearing the constant noise of insects and birds- the air always seems to be humming with life. Waking up to a cacophony of bird racket made me realise how fews birds you hear in Quito (and being eaten alive by insects made me love how few bugs there are in Quito).<br /><br />Now I'm back in Quito, in the office its strange writing the interviews up- the realities of people's worlds here are so far away from London and the UK government and the EU and the people who might hopefully read the little stories I am writing and think briefly about the impact GM seeds might have on these people's lives. Most of them had no idea what 'genetically modified seeds' were let alone terminator technology.<br /><br />The decisions of some international meeting on biodiversity about whether to permit the commercialisation of terminator seeds seems on the one hand utterly irrelevant to producers who are thinking at the level of growing enough to eat and maybe a little more to sell to be able to buy other bits and pieces...But then on the other hand, the possible impacts are chillingly relevant and its scary to think how little decisionmaking power or influence these farmers have over the big decisions whose impacts will eventually reach them.<br /><br /><br /><br />If you're interested you can see some <a href="http://www.progressio.org.uk/be%20a%20seedsaver/AssociatesInternal/94500/seedsavervideos/">video clips of interviews </a></div>Michelle Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17399775092466018175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001482939104905510.post-87652347942884719502007-08-21T17:02:00.000-05:002007-08-21T17:13:10.759-05:00Feeling very smallThis morning I woke up terrified when an aeroplane flew overhead because I mistook the vibrations for an earthquake. After the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6949984.stm">earthquake in Lima</a> last Wednesday, traffic rumbling by or even the vibration or my mobile phone keep making me jump...<br /><br />It was my first earthquake and was pretty scary even though I was in the nice part of Lima where buildings are built to withstand earthquakes. In Miraflores, after 2 minutes of quaking we were all basically OK – people shaken rather than hurt, a few broken windows, possessions and damaged roofs.<br /><br />For thousands of people elsewhere in the country it was devastating. It was 7.9 on the Richter scale and left over 500 people dead, 1500 injured and 35,000 buildings destroyed. As always the poorest suffered most, with flimsy adobe or makeshift housing collapsing and people being left out in the cold with no power, water or communications. Aid efforts are underway but reconstruction will take a long time.<br /><br />Everyone I know in Peru is fine but when I left at the end of last week people in Lima still could not get in touch with their families in the worst-hit areas.<br /><br />It was one of those experiences which makes you feel very small, insignificant and vulnerable- and it makes you reevaluate what's important. In the mayhem and stress immediately after the earthquake in Lima, everyone’s top priority was getting in touch with loved ones. The day after there was an atmosphere of fear mixed with relief and on the streets a real sense of solidarity - a wierd friendliness amongst strangers that comes from having survived something together.<br /><br />If anyone wants to donate to relief efforts, the Peruvian consulate in London has <a href="http://www.conperlondres.com/">details.</a>Michelle Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17399775092466018175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001482939104905510.post-36248190134336162792007-08-07T18:41:00.000-05:002007-08-10T10:26:30.615-05:00Adjusting to Lima<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38GzAII3P1gWtenPP5eyVAvHp_uz7BZ1PZuPvf20_TpO8efaNiXxc_-pzd-wNn7sYupnFln-cPL0xum2eCpQcRPWs1ceY4FwG9IlfL9w956au7p-jmN2ewZA4qAz8w46MbVMBflqP6V8/s1600-h/P8050150.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097087957065741538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38GzAII3P1gWtenPP5eyVAvHp_uz7BZ1PZuPvf20_TpO8efaNiXxc_-pzd-wNn7sYupnFln-cPL0xum2eCpQcRPWs1ceY4FwG9IlfL9w956au7p-jmN2ewZA4qAz8w46MbVMBflqP6V8/s320/P8050150.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi007HUYmFVeNXZcV0V74I6IPoqroDVhNOgET23gFIrGgPlxRYN4AaLysqgkpZj1bzRm0JqxTuSkbZEAtwYaw5Ng_14lKR5dALMwMS61d88hsiLNk_RYJ8J9gWaGLTOZMcMwSIo6wEP9mw/s1600-h/P8040115.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097087385835091138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi007HUYmFVeNXZcV0V74I6IPoqroDVhNOgET23gFIrGgPlxRYN4AaLysqgkpZj1bzRm0JqxTuSkbZEAtwYaw5Ng_14lKR5dALMwMS61d88hsiLNk_RYJ8J9gWaGLTOZMcMwSIo6wEP9mw/s320/P8040115.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>The sky is not always grey…</strong> hard to believe in Lima at this time of year. I’ve been here a week and the fog has been constant. It’s hard to imagine months on end of this whiteness…<br /><br />Going from sunshine to fog is not the only thing that takes some getting used to in the journey from Quito to Lima. If inequality is striking in Quito, in Lima it is overwhelming. The shiny wealthy districts of Lima and the ‘pueblos jovenes’ are like different worlds. The ‘young towns’ are the areas on the outskirts which for decades have been established by a flood of migrants (fleeing terrorism or rural poverty) who squat the land and set up rudimentary shelters. Then, if they manage to stay, begin turning them into new neighbourhoods and with streets, brick houses and eventually water and electricity. Parts of Miraflores (rich neighbourhood in the centre) feel like Milan or some other wealthy European city.<br /></div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097088498231620850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdCaCPRad7Na29YsHXOkcFejmsZzCyLXKv3qE4jVBCHm7JqzA8ME89BtQaJoi7sPJMF4KZ_mojIx0VZZh5-70FZM2efD8nFV7cwLX-WrR9OjqQeFjV0rvDpj-r7cSb9BLj28fwHlnot0/s320/P8060165.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097088524001424642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggODIcUWwRrDeIObpt1AST63x_bhAirMw9cgCIakeG1Yk8wYS8P7rVlBMI5yxArDq_qf4WQ6vwoLTGSVdr3M-2Zo5RaZL9pDFaK9h61OkmNqpEZ8FifvuYmMXl9NSJP5GP2kH0addTStM/s320/P8050139.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><br />It really hit me one lunch time when I was sitting in Miraflores in a trendy wholefood organic vegetarian restaurant which wouldn’t be out of place in London, eating a US$ 7 lunch and sitting under a ludicrous patio heater, whilst reading statistics saying that over half the population in the country is classified as poor (living on less than $2 a day). Only 15% of the economically active population have adequate employment according to the UN…etc.<br /><br />Politically things also seem pretty grey here. In Ecuador there is a lot of political optimism at the moment. The new left wing President Rafael Correa still has high opinion poll rating and is living up to some of his manifesto promises. NGOs and social movements are working to prepare candidates and proposals for a new assembly which is to rewrite the countries constitution. And there is some hope that it could change things for the better<br /><br />In Peru on the other hand, the president Alan Garcia’s popularity has plummeted. For the last 4 months protests have overtaken the country. The economy is booming but the wealth is not trickling down to the people who need it and many seem to feel that the president’s priorities lie with the demands of foreign mining companies, the armed forces, the USA, and the market rather than the poor.<br /><br />The government is pushing ahead with measures which favour extractive industries and foreign companies at the expense of local communities and NGOS also fear that he is trying to restrict the power of civil society and clamp down on opposition. For example a new law requires NGOS to register with a body which has the power to shut down those which are not working towards ‘the goals of the government’. NGOs say this violates the constitution including in respect of the right to freedom of expression and association. There is also a <a href="http://www.amnistia.org.pe/index_noticias.shtml?sh_itm=56bd8cae899442ea39504d065d81e46f">new and frightening amendment to the Penal Code</a> which gives the armed forces and national police impunity from criminal prosecution if they cause injury and death in the performance of their duties.<br /><br />Lets hope that the sky is not always grey…<br /></div><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnHsplZYDzpSjZL2h8Kkbk2f_qNpax1tVyW8AfeSNJZi0yAvuEGs55CCRsK_ECXjRaNqqoIyY11f-5QplyaQNUQNp5OiPbHeEeM8NHCv2pTwQs7cpWZOdX3KCtH-EiNzMXxkOyTJSR9s/s1600-h/P8060171.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096111891387987090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnHsplZYDzpSjZL2h8Kkbk2f_qNpax1tVyW8AfeSNJZi0yAvuEGs55CCRsK_ECXjRaNqqoIyY11f-5QplyaQNUQNp5OiPbHeEeM8NHCv2pTwQs7cpWZOdX3KCtH-EiNzMXxkOyTJSR9s/s320/P8060171.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6OpLrH8mmkT7HzXddv9RycoDRgGL46GAcwXWYudyR2H3HwcRkrzo-Uy0R284CgbMF8P4val0yrvoe42T4eHIht1Lx2KEfe-LtOTODYKIXIXBqlS-nwD-bwZk9lbCO-w_-0lXATDzM28/s1600-h/P8050157.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096111032394527794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6OpLrH8mmkT7HzXddv9RycoDRgGL46GAcwXWYudyR2H3HwcRkrzo-Uy0R284CgbMF8P4val0yrvoe42T4eHIht1Lx2KEfe-LtOTODYKIXIXBqlS-nwD-bwZk9lbCO-w_-0lXATDzM28/s320/P8050157.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1fYzQs8vJT2sS3B06vBxsmknuwQ8p1k6W924MqTYSSl_d_O7XwiuHIjwnqUL1O2hFGNdeSEDkvEW9TpkVRTwuw2sX85ksbn-6Ksalmjtpqhv90bdlFaUrv79117aDtjEcGUjGHPZOOTg/s1600-h/P8050126.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096111036689495106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1fYzQs8vJT2sS3B06vBxsmknuwQ8p1k6W924MqTYSSl_d_O7XwiuHIjwnqUL1O2hFGNdeSEDkvEW9TpkVRTwuw2sX85ksbn-6Ksalmjtpqhv90bdlFaUrv79117aDtjEcGUjGHPZOOTg/s320/P8050126.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGk0cbbDrIU1H0i-wrlgPauAUXXqWTILd1JruZKPXSLDzQCFxdOG8iEkUVuG5Lxt_HEKHMrnLAPqCZsThuXQD2CekDGsTkP8EHEeLB0moX7Jm_1cmx7BY2OXsyig-HFTDT_J-JzYn1L8U/s1600-h/P8050129.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096111040984462418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGk0cbbDrIU1H0i-wrlgPauAUXXqWTILd1JruZKPXSLDzQCFxdOG8iEkUVuG5Lxt_HEKHMrnLAPqCZsThuXQD2CekDGsTkP8EHEeLB0moX7Jm_1cmx7BY2OXsyig-HFTDT_J-JzYn1L8U/s320/P8050129.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qrMBQc-_i5TN1prbzBRAB51MG7c39e01U5LNNvXE1Ey6W38DfMOvrBL75H223hqX-tV3vBTIKdIPqBW_BVJ5ynqW_Q7z1IilF8fQ8mxpptTpMk0L0VhXDF63x3hoeSV-LpjhapOw14w/s1600-h/P8050139.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZVak7qppXCo0Pnko2n5FlOcrH0cLdQSl6R6Dz1LkdBqz6MAuYaPj8F_t0BSpqT-soLH25r3YuW1boeFI8IwUWNXPhb94BE0vxBFPO87UOK_dc2sMg7AlJwNucmQ09H4oSuAm0U7QzbY/s1600-h/P8050146.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096111049574397042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZVak7qppXCo0Pnko2n5FlOcrH0cLdQSl6R6Dz1LkdBqz6MAuYaPj8F_t0BSpqT-soLH25r3YuW1boeFI8IwUWNXPhb94BE0vxBFPO87UOK_dc2sMg7AlJwNucmQ09H4oSuAm0U7QzbY/s320/P8050146.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtippE1MWbVL1Og0U37uRXM2QHhmwT5D8obmBnGx4m7hacA6cgJew8r1VpSzt9AD-NOeB7Bznt5mTKtfvL1TesbPiR8utkp5RR93K2QXxuzGWtufpfHJ7wBb3MdJsOhcgpYHHw5JK4WY/s1600-h/P8030101.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096108992285062146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtippE1MWbVL1Og0U37uRXM2QHhmwT5D8obmBnGx4m7hacA6cgJew8r1VpSzt9AD-NOeB7Bznt5mTKtfvL1TesbPiR8utkp5RR93K2QXxuzGWtufpfHJ7wBb3MdJsOhcgpYHHw5JK4WY/s320/P8030101.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEDbzn5lZfOyS6b73_jOOaNHXuAnrZah7FjC66adUPB5oXwRXRoJBKHKYkmAKk2cVMImzq2GIYvq0jc9539pJCGkqHdboKD-Tvjzx40ddJC5mmNbIQzThMxdJ6K73MYcMCWBVMuwHbOw/s1600-h/P8050121.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPiJZuwYGFZEXdRAFijsMH0DtOY-1ufGI-utUk2Io0dKAgHoewv5WjfOwR-INfl3nKod_b_0j9-Xc3FIF9NYl_MkaVsuoBx9s9eSf4-Tzgn20iB2NLkVHLOVASXAAxEtbjatsvtBvgTY/s1600-h/P8050124.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096108996580029474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPiJZuwYGFZEXdRAFijsMH0DtOY-1ufGI-utUk2Io0dKAgHoewv5WjfOwR-INfl3nKod_b_0j9-Xc3FIF9NYl_MkaVsuoBx9s9eSf4-Tzgn20iB2NLkVHLOVASXAAxEtbjatsvtBvgTY/s320/P8050124.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Michelle Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17399775092466018175noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001482939104905510.post-68551975060447831732007-07-23T21:24:00.000-05:002007-07-23T22:18:52.308-05:00seedsThis weekend I went to a really interesting and positive event: a seed saving fair run by a <a href="http://www.redsemillas.org/">network</a> which aims to save and recover indigenous organic seeds and the ancient agricultural knowledge that goes with them.<br /><br />The event was down in a valley just outside Quito. I started the afternoon feeling depressed after foolishly deciding I'd do some alternative tourism and spend my morning wandering around two of the towns in the valley. They were both strung along a main road thick with traffic and fumes, and flanked by a characterless strip of Kentucky Fried Chickens, McDonalds, Supermaxis (Tesco equivalent) and other chain stores. Once you got off the main road there were huge expensive houses with correspondingly huge dogs and even huger gates - the rich commuter belt for Quito.<br /><br />But, a wander up a long dusty track took me out of the town to a a totally different world (a bit like stumbling upon Redhall walled garden for any Edinburgh folk). There were traditionally built adobe wood frame houses and trees covered in grapefruits and a buzzing gathering of people from all over Ecuador who had bought baskets of seeds to exchange, all lovingly saved, dried, wrapped and labelled.<br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5090585277795349458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis93ot4TAUz0JdN69B4cUB5_4HA8l6qHoeHf1kJ_6rFzJG5ujeeFx7rY3AdQl8f3MnUU9ojNPQDgXeaBFP1bkwO34hElVCuQ95PNW1wXYr_qQRdjUDiVcReevIDD5wPX_C0_tMZZFlfOg/s320/P7219961.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5090584629255287714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4ZbgiDSHk5_HIvwT1Crr2mwWd3YsHxCbYXJ1R_wyg5Ys7hR5GJSt1Zt15UWDHW9NBcFevyoWl8hcr8aeB4H0JcbwW5LY0URcd8E2IoX2NaYt-LdFfnhhssAbqrI7sT1eQ07BNomxw04/s320/P7219951.JPG" border="0" /><br />As the afternoon went on people organised themselves into stalls from the different areas of the country and set out little displays. People wandered round asking questions and getting to taste weird and wonderful fruits and vegetables and learn about unfamiliar seeds.<br /><br />My favourite was the aerial potato which looks like an angular potato, and apparently tastes quite like one, but grows in the jungle hanging from creepers.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5090584637845222338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2Hx6sBh3JNlNfCPAUECBWvQvkPQ_zOR2z0WEMJtqXV8BMgip7d5Ubjv5ByMPl3DC-kqAe49BtbugcSC9PDRy6acXdOpQyxgCDKIUHNmV7v1qvgcG8CoqT29lhKQYOiZFhZ-UdvjaNds/s320/P7219952.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />I did some interviews with the farmers their about why they save seeds and heard some sad stories about the local crops which have now disappeared because people have lost the practice of saving seeds and market pressures and bribes/incentives from agribusinesses have started them on the path of buying hybrid seeds. </p><p>There were also lots of hopeful stories though about how people are now grouping together to improve things and it was amazing to see so many people getting enthusiatic about little hand-wrapped envelopes of seeds carefully labelled with the date, altitude and variety.<br /><br />The interviews will hopefully be used as part of Progressio's <a href="http://www.progressio.org.uk/ecomatters/AssociatesInternal/92433/terminator_technology/">campaign against terminator technology</a>, the GM suicide seeds which are modified to be sterile, preventing farmers from being self sufficient by collecting seeds to sow next year, and ensuring that they become dependent on big agricultural companies.<br /><br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqN6NHT9jP8RmI_AU99O__ixDkEDyidsCFmNDwawSZWKA1pG7M2FMuiHegVQbOqA_TMateHVEk44h1V2hSBlHvNsxSUgw3ibbvU7K4Dg3Dv0F2xD2EyA_exYcuoAotB9oZqGP1CfD1OdY/s1600-h/P7219936.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5090584624960320402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqN6NHT9jP8RmI_AU99O__ixDkEDyidsCFmNDwawSZWKA1pG7M2FMuiHegVQbOqA_TMateHVEk44h1V2hSBlHvNsxSUgw3ibbvU7K4Dg3Dv0F2xD2EyA_exYcuoAotB9oZqGP1CfD1OdY/s320/P7219936.JPG" border="0" /></a>It's great to think of little pockets of enthusiastic people tucked away behind the Kentucky Fried Chickens working on alternatives and protecting what they have.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSm_kJ7dz4v89u-A0pWJHmw_yKs9S9UrB5bzmovlw5MSOc2g0j-4u4ZAM6GeKh_KoZQ-FUXgLhIBAmjNba_EBBNUIemXbuqlOKyKrZkg-6B5XbNzTJdsuoorLH7ijmvfth4yU9x_yOW4/s1600-h/P7219958.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5090584633550255026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSm_kJ7dz4v89u-A0pWJHmw_yKs9S9UrB5bzmovlw5MSOc2g0j-4u4ZAM6GeKh_KoZQ-FUXgLhIBAmjNba_EBBNUIemXbuqlOKyKrZkg-6B5XbNzTJdsuoorLH7ijmvfth4yU9x_yOW4/s320/P7219958.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Michelle Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17399775092466018175noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001482939104905510.post-69463370259198368952007-07-16T15:25:00.000-05:002007-07-17T11:20:48.461-05:00I work in developmentI have been thinking lots about what it means to be a 'cooperante' or development worker as compared to being an NGO worker working on lots of the same issues in my own country. Although a lot of the topics, problems and ways of working are the same, the politics are very different and a little uncomfortable at times.<br /><br />Until now I have always been in the very comfortable position of studying development and criticising it from the outside, but now I now work in development. I feel like that transition somehow happened without me quite realising it.<br /><br />Before arriving here I had somehow been thinking that I was continuing doing the same kind of communications and campaigning work, just in a different country. And in some ways I am, but the change of location from Edinburgh to Quito and from North to South also has a lot of implications.<br /><br />I don’t think I had fully made the connections between that move and all of the politics of all the history and power relations of Development. (Being part of a UK development organisation with a clear agenda and power base – one of many forces trying to shape and change things here).<br /><br />It is funny seeing myself through others’ eyes – imaging the stereotype I fit into for different groups of people I meet as they try to place me. Taxi drivers for example figure me out in 3 questions: “where are you from?”, “How long are you here for?”, “Ah you must be working for some charity or other – orphans maybe or the environment?”.<br /><br />Trying to explain what I do to them makes me feel like a nice, idealistic little white girl naively imagining I can save the world. The jargon I inevitably slip into in my explanation “development”, “sustainable environment”, “civil society participation”, “advocacy at an international level” seems quite a long way from their reality as they begin their night shifts.<br /><br />And I think a lot of people I meet from local organisations see me and my gringa face and see money – a possible connection to a development organisation in the UK and its funds. It is also amusing how frequently people feel they have to apologise after criticising northern consumers, lifestyles, companies and culture as they remember that I am there – as if I am representative of all things evil, exploitative and capitalist. (Not a position I often found myself in in Scotland!).Michelle Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17399775092466018175noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001482939104905510.post-29989932504898856022007-07-13T08:51:00.000-05:002007-07-13T09:19:01.959-05:00Mountains<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#000000;">Hi I haven't been great at writing this the last couple of weeks but I thought I'd start by putting up some photos and then I'll write something soon. </span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#000000;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#000000;">These are of Antisana National park where I went camping and walking last weekend.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#000000;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#000000;">Depressing climate change fact to accompany beautiful pictures: yesterday I read that the that the Antisana glacier shrunk 7-8 times faster during the 1990s than during previous decades. Run off from the glacier is one of the main sources of Quito's drinking water.</span></span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086681446115573154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJghDy71ILUxt0PUIAMwoCp1Tv2VBU0-Ob_aR1YUzBlR_BbKnp57pFz2KDOJiRGEj1lbVtYK3SGxsxQ5rwKJFWy68w8Y3V18U_M1w_pXQLxh6ysvdaD0AokgqoiRrz9Pcpwr95vWO1DY/s320/P7079895.JPG" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZDfHvUSR5lT_Yy0jFLY7xxOp4oGeMBYIIILP7MeDnkbBVbQFh_ZbXsnraE0dJqAd7ydSYkGveCE-vLj64KJrPV9nksItgepSc3MjwzHa6em8og26LM3gcYZ4pIzHV5cZBWc-9bledTU/s1600-h/P7079896.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086681450410540466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZDfHvUSR5lT_Yy0jFLY7xxOp4oGeMBYIIILP7MeDnkbBVbQFh_ZbXsnraE0dJqAd7ydSYkGveCE-vLj64KJrPV9nksItgepSc3MjwzHa6em8og26LM3gcYZ4pIzHV5cZBWc-9bledTU/s320/P7079896.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjihwPYhy5WFQzwo9VI7STlo_BaF8dzCbijajA89qp6DXBvbp-z8sRaP-zyf36vNVBUBJ-B-zAiModLfUZMUmtvx9ogCBbjjAfDN2utuDb3M7Lo3Odh3Ywf-S38-S9oTjXRdQarAT8rx2I/s1600-h/P7079906.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaC-gJ2C8BjgRnbjxbTfxPH6piuW5nTS7F9bhu86sP8TgIeqbczJEqYDiPTl9cUvEyV_O4976nfRBMflAhAUisCV1YD2_OYPdoZcA2nAIeq64g9liSDYokRxh9kxg6-tANj2uIzzurjug/s1600-h/P7079910.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSl6oImVu0pcuI70kHfGN97HHvXOZiPWZptFvWe3y89DQqnnaqtGsMmGgDhA0_qC54-PbSXOkfVTjecCoO4an74h_whwo8i2FevBPO9LDu6LlYCQBBDKFB9O6VjsLwdpHjJYhUj965sQ/s1600-h/P7079915.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086681459000475106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSl6oImVu0pcuI70kHfGN97HHvXOZiPWZptFvWe3y89DQqnnaqtGsMmGgDhA0_qC54-PbSXOkfVTjecCoO4an74h_whwo8i2FevBPO9LDu6LlYCQBBDKFB9O6VjsLwdpHjJYhUj965sQ/s320/P7079915.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_2jsc4uHXny8EOw2b-y0ys5QcdgSd4PYbmyAS0b_GFZcS7wzuPs02sWH0dX2BwmiTcoTHkSU2Cg-BA1yRHn0-PwiQJAv_rrzTPbVkHjN77vSfDqSsTsNPU1sQrhZWmMVAcPUnGPDMd00/s1600-h/P7079861.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086680767510740306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_2jsc4uHXny8EOw2b-y0ys5QcdgSd4PYbmyAS0b_GFZcS7wzuPs02sWH0dX2BwmiTcoTHkSU2Cg-BA1yRHn0-PwiQJAv_rrzTPbVkHjN77vSfDqSsTsNPU1sQrhZWmMVAcPUnGPDMd00/s320/P7079861.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8o8vibM0mDsI8ZnHuOIhZK_3g-VM4OkVXDitbGtnBMfLsrjQzxL5pgEwvwFPESR5YUSVwE1rwb4uBl2lRt0Y1cUPBSnEMDitqCnLvLkpYZaKRGzDGzp8vgojPL9g_pTAViSXL2tdw_k/s1600-h/P7079871.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086680771805707618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8o8vibM0mDsI8ZnHuOIhZK_3g-VM4OkVXDitbGtnBMfLsrjQzxL5pgEwvwFPESR5YUSVwE1rwb4uBl2lRt0Y1cUPBSnEMDitqCnLvLkpYZaKRGzDGzp8vgojPL9g_pTAViSXL2tdw_k/s320/P7079871.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBES5q9AvC5Hf-zn6bmCLHbw8bcPuSWmESpquFmU_NK7xpU6_zCUOPWVkKGt-V-jmZDnxqed4vV0fGChunRYWcc9BZVmC6nudrosm6p0gSPXfCR-2rKeISBxH5CHz_nQvU-nNongO66jU/s1600-h/P7079880.JPG"></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWM7TsIhAw9nvEzKQ4ceWkOEeYFbzBZ8yjqqNd0Iubhsh5PeHWiZz7RsN526HBISclcDcWk1ZVPQdT-3XWd9Znk8Z95EEKX-nqCGYuGmJgv47Dk3Gn1v5MTx2eLCse5-IOicIYbL8piA/s1600-h/P7079823.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086680200575057154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWM7TsIhAw9nvEzKQ4ceWkOEeYFbzBZ8yjqqNd0Iubhsh5PeHWiZz7RsN526HBISclcDcWk1ZVPQdT-3XWd9Znk8Z95EEKX-nqCGYuGmJgv47Dk3Gn1v5MTx2eLCse5-IOicIYbL8piA/s320/P7079823.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikDSYfsdNss_FuOdR7mLcq9l7ho35EbP_TRikvbCRJewLFOCBtNhZ8RcGZu3166vUm-BAXbrw5JG3ZRpPP-icCYmeelSEhzuejt9jpTSsAG6Y09iJAcrXvRNrSj96BhRqRq0XZO7rIVI/s1600-h/P7079843.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086680217754926354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikDSYfsdNss_FuOdR7mLcq9l7ho35EbP_TRikvbCRJewLFOCBtNhZ8RcGZu3166vUm-BAXbrw5JG3ZRpPP-icCYmeelSEhzuejt9jpTSsAG6Y09iJAcrXvRNrSj96BhRqRq0XZO7rIVI/s320/P7079843.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispIQeqVmdFEfWuCdiUhfJXRddo9IMrUn3gLiMxDCKdkSFn-ycs-KAt3bxkd0YTfOSAsZLn6bYTqZn4_zc0aJfz9vhWnRXlnteayRudWhXX8ogRgH40BrHNItdF7djjLBk2OgPjPFqSUc/s1600-h/P7079851-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5086680222049893666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispIQeqVmdFEfWuCdiUhfJXRddo9IMrUn3gLiMxDCKdkSFn-ycs-KAt3bxkd0YTfOSAsZLn6bYTqZn4_zc0aJfz9vhWnRXlnteayRudWhXX8ogRgH40BrHNItdF7djjLBk2OgPjPFqSUc/s320/P7079851-1.JPG" border="0" /></a></div>Michelle Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17399775092466018175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001482939104905510.post-9673434399130789812007-06-24T19:28:00.001-05:002007-06-24T20:27:12.893-05:00Bus meanderings<div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXamx736Y5MWkz9qbOPwYgOJQs8QUnXPNwKDrfn3NgFyc1_J7cY9zo8g1PiJ-6qdmJ_Td4-C9ZvZQe9JtD0UUz6e-d-3bC4kg9QaUkgTx3buyRRlSTuu3xAZjRRbJph7rYqTl5vJQ5vc/s1600-h/P6249702.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079793013280214162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXamx736Y5MWkz9qbOPwYgOJQs8QUnXPNwKDrfn3NgFyc1_J7cY9zo8g1PiJ-6qdmJ_Td4-C9ZvZQe9JtD0UUz6e-d-3bC4kg9QaUkgTx3buyRRlSTuu3xAZjRRbJph7rYqTl5vJQ5vc/s320/P6249702.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>Laguna Quilotoa</em><br /><br /><br /><div align="left">I have just got back from a trip to Latacunga (a town about 2 hours south of Quito) and Laguna Quilotoa a nearby amazing lake in the crater of an extinct volcano at 3900m. On Friday I left work and went to Latacunga with Fernando, another Progressio development worker who lives there with his wife and two sons and they warmly welcomed me into their home. After a good nights sleep, lots of chat and a delicious breakfast of 'arepas' - special Columbian bread products (which I foolishly said were a little like British muffins!) Fernando took me to the bus station to head to Quilotoa.<br /><br />Quilotoa is a weird tiny village whose existence is pretty much only justified by the lake that formed there 200 years ago and the tourism created by it. The lake is stunning though – a proper stereotypical volcanic crater that looked to me like it ought to have dinosaurs roaming around it. I had a great half an hour stomping down into the crater to reach the water and a puffing, panting and wheezing hour climbing back up to the rim. Below are a few of the many many pictures I took – the colour of the lake changes constantly throughout the day.<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079793786374327458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFsXoklQlMqlN_DlL_yfXQn7trxFOaJ7yWwcs28R8gEioOvtGlQCu-oldg-_MHLbo5Wyp46zC9jegbNxrdCqRt2g57-7DDWpJCum_xeoVxcLqyNFKapQ2IDAW8GiWhDkxsZ9WgMxn3MHM/s320/P6239607.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079793790669294786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOt4S-B7tjgLDBeK82eJ55qcdh9kLsjd2jLFXBVN2lkh08FsOenb9NTjVRbSRIp9Gv85slAwzuRUVoC4dbEsNAkjv9B2bnXaFfZTsR0S0ukGct9iG2-MuD4vGUjH54y91SQKlqbw75F0/s320/P6249732.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079793786374327474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASgejkMNFGP_UP3MbzJBLrUXnpwRiLtiECwNvEgP-PjCndp73z6CfwRgs-1gtW2FaQFd0NVXY3ogOYIdSDBAlic00OgSexmyZInB996UNPxKCJs5itCoPWHVdD-uZh-5uwV5E60E4UEs/s320/P6249721.JPG" border="0" /><br /><em>I think the purple plants in foreground are quinoa which grows wild here as well as being cultivated<br /></em><br />It gets very cold there because of the altitude, but I spent a cosy night in a hostel with a group of cyclists crushed under a cosy mountain of blankets. I've concluded that one of the reasons for my settling in Scotland must be my love of the cold. I'm so much happier with 4 layers on in a cold wind than in the baking sun. People here seem to hate it. I had an amusing conversation with the elderly lady next to me on the sweltering bus to the Quilotoa when I opened the window, assuming everyone would want to reduce the heat and the smell of the two children being sick next to us. She told me that it was dangerous to open the window when the bus was ascending to altitude because the cold high altitude air would rush in suddenly and make us sick. I couldn't help noticing she was wearing what looked like 5 layers of wool whilst I was in a thin t-shirt. I suppose its just what you're used to.<br /><br />Buses here are a lot more entertaining than buses in the UK. There are always people leaping and off to sell you strange plastic bags of food and other weird and wonderful products. Lots of them do a huge long sales pitch where they apologise loudly for the inconvenience but explain that they would other wise be unemployed and have a large family to support etc...then launch into a mammoth monologue about the merits of whatever product they are selling.<br /><br />On the first bus of the weekend where a guy was selling cereal bars I stupidly made the resolution to buy one of whatever such vendors were selling in a sort of solidarity like buying the Big Issue. I stuck to my decision when the second guy got on selling pirate dvds (Volver) but quickly revoked my pact when the third guy began peddling a packet of herbs to cleanse men's urinary system and improve their sex drive. The 4th guy pushing children's literacy text book reinfirced my decision to be a bit selective in my solidarity.<br /><br />Apart from the heat and the vomit though, the journey there was interesting to see all the tiny villages on route and the amazing patchwork of fields of cereals which reach to the very tops of mountains which would be bare in Scotland. I got a much better (and pleasantly cold) view on the way back in the back of a pickup truck. </div><div align="left"><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079794924540660962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vFrz_cI309NnJrOzhWk1jYmcbgTJjvpaM-P_mrS2lTpK9zf4N01ikNdXMjj1TRm8q8plr96CPna-5e8JVwC7waCD1PTD73wWdtmPWs_Cpa3fl2B6mLFralt0DOaAI-i462LN0t8hqmo/s320/P6249750.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079794924540660978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2QtDO2Qn_ABuQ4VReA89fBqknFCk3al-15QXgUxWAUPmpIGz7qQ30zCJXn754R8gBS4fOs6jupGXbkpvk19Y4f01wUqX_acGAtPl0AFNWGF0evL2rQ0VRVglpT2dZlBoUlT8aTTMdNE/s320/P6249748.JPG" border="0" /><br /><em>Vertical agriculture<br /></em><br />Other than that I have been working and settling into the mundane office realities which seem to be one of the few things that is the same in Quito and Edinburgh – setting up and fixing glitches in email accounts, writing budgets and workplans, cursing slow internet connections and fiddling around with tables in excel. </div>Michelle Lowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17399775092466018175noreply@blogger.com2