Newsletter 66: ¡Berta Presente!

The killing of Berta Cáceres shocked the world earlier this month, and in this edition of the ENCA newsletter we dedicate a number of articles to her life, her work, and the structural policies that have led to her murder. We also have articles on Lenca protest art, with a chance to buy a unique painting by Lenca artist Javier Espinal.

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ENCA 65: Indigenous Land Rights Versus Hydroelectric Projects

In the 65th edition of the ENCA newsletter James Watson reports on the continuing struggle of indigenous communities in Honduras. Helen Yuill (Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign) and Alix Hughes(Bristol Link with Nicaragua) provide an overview of the benefits of Fair Trade, while Didier Leitón Valverde offers a counter view.

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The Violence of Development: Resource Depletion, Environmental Crises and Human Rights Abuses in Central America

By Martin Mowforth

Published by Pluto Press

This book examines the failure of ‘development’ in Central America, where despite billions of dollars of development funding and positive indicators of economic growth, poverty remains entrenched and violence endemic.

The whole idea of development as it is imposed by transnational corporations and promoted by both First World and Third World governments is questioned.

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Storm Warnings: Hurricanes Georges and Mitch and the lessons for development

By Martin Mowforth

Published by the Catholic Institute for International Relations (now Progressio), 2001

In late 1998 Hurricanes Georges and Mitch struck the Caribbean and Central America causing massive loss of life and wreaking chaos in agriculture, housing and infrastructure.

This book describes the impact of the two disasters and the responses of governments, civil organisations and local communities.

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Appeal on Behalf of the Permaculture Association of Suchitoto, El Salvador

In 2015 the AEPS received $6,351 from the Educational and General Trust Fund for a programme of training of small-scale farmers from numerous communities in El Salvador. The programme involved a series of two and three day residential workshops held at the demonstration plot of the AEPS.

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Donations granted: 2015

June 2015
AIDEPC — Cosiguina Peninsula Nicaragua — Reforestation of “bufferzone”     US $1000 ( GBP 650 )
MUFRAS 32 — Integration of antimining efforts between El Salvador, Guatemala & Honduras     US $800   ( GBP 520 )
JULY 2015
CENDAH — Monitoring and training of Spiny Lobster catchers and reversal of environmental     degradation — San Blas Islands, Panama     US $ 900 ( GBP 590 )

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ENCA 64: Anti-Government Protests Grip Central America

In the 64th edition of the ENCA newsletter we report on the growing resistance movements in Honduras and Guatemala. Doug Specht reports on the increasingly desperate situation in Honduras, and the activists, such as Berta Cáceres, who risk everything for social and environmental change.

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Indigenous Struggles and Human Rights in Honduras

ENCA member James Watson reports from a month with COPINH, Honduras

Since a military coup in 2009, Honduras has become one of the most repressive nations in Latin America. The Honduran “oligarchy” of rich landowning families has spread its power through the corrupted government, and the country has seen increasing militarisation in order to cement their control.

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ENCA 63: March 2015

In this edition we report on the halting of the Barro Blanco project in Panama. We also have reports on how Nicaraguan coffee farmers are seeking creative solutions to drought and climate change. Sandra Cuffe reports on drilling the Caribbean and the indigenous communities who are speaking out against oil and gas exploration in Honduras.

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Donations granted: 2014

2014 JULY: MUFRAS ( EL Salvador )Training to protect water resources US$1450

Approved 2014, delivered 2015 JAN : CMO ( Nicaragua ) Cooking Stoves US$4392

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