From seinforma-l at lists.resist.ca Sun Feb 15 09:19:06 2009 From: seinforma-l at lists.resist.ca (Seinforma Canada News/Noticias Seinforma Canada) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 09:19:06 -0800 (PST) Subject: Seinforma Headlines/Titulares Seinforma (English-Espanol) Message-ID: <3713.70.54.21.242.1234718346.squirrel@mail.resist.ca> English/Spanish Services -Canada Servicios en Ingles y Espanol -Canada Special Series -War Correspondents Reporting Feelings from the Front Line CARLOS RIVODO : ?I am a reporter of horror? The most experienced Venezuelan war correspondent, Carlos Rivodo, has covered several armed conflicts since the seventies. Among his lengthiest coverages are the wars in Central America and Angola. http://www.seinforma.ca/seriesrivodoeng.html ------ The Mexican drug trafficking as a factor of social-cultural change The problem is not only about statistics, but cultural as well: drug trafficking members are being perceived as legends and have started to build a political and social justification for such illegal activity; they say they act as an enterprise dedicated to the people?s welfare by hiring unemployed ones, and implementing strict codes of honor that guide their actions. http://www.seinforma.ca/educationguerranarcoeng.html ------ The extinction of species requires urgent action Future generations will know that we were aware of the loss of biodiversity, of global warming, of air and land pollution, and of the degradation of the ozone layer, but that we did nothing about it. http://www.seinforma.ca/environmentbiodiversidadeng.html --------- THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE ANGLES ON EXILE IN CANADA Beverly Foster: the last ?real? Canadian in exile We still could go back to our homelands; we still could find some comrades out there, even here in our new country. But, unfortunately, there is no hope for Beverly Foster, one of the last ?real? Canadians, as we know them today, before they get wiped out. http://www.seinforma.ca/leadingbeverlyfostereng.html ------- ANOTHER ATTACK ON CIVIL LIBERTIES IN BRITAIN ?I?m a photographer... Not a terrorist? Media Event: 11am, Monday 16th February, outside New Scotland Yard. Turn up with your camera and exercise your democratic right to take a photograph in a public place. http://www.seinforma.ca/eventscotlandeng.html ------- AFTER GUANTANAMO CLOSING Omar Khadr?s fate remains uncertain It won?t be easy for Canadian officers to bring him back home, at least so soon. Much less now after Prime Minister Stephen Harper discarded the idea of discussing such topic with Barack Obama next week. The Opposition insists on Omar?s repatriation. http://www.seinforma.ca/worldcanadakhadreng.html ESPANOL: Series Especiales -Corresponsales de Guerra Reportan Sentimientos desde el Frente CARLOS RIVODO: ?Soy reportero del horror? El reportero de guerra venezolano con mayor experiencia, Carlos Rivod?, ha presenciado numerosos conflictos armados desde los a?os 70. Entre sus coberturas m?s prolongadas se encuentran las guerras de Centroam?rica y Angola. http://www.seinforma.ca/seriesrivodoesp.html ------ El narcotr?fico mexicano como factor de cambio socio-cultural El problema no solo es estad?stico: sus miembros son vistos como leyendas que justifican pol?tica y socialmente sus acciones, argumentando que trabajan por el bienestar de la poblaci?n generando empleo e implementando c?digos de honor y normas de comportamiento. http://www.seinforma.ca/educacionguerranarcosesp.html ----- La extinci?n de especies requiere acci?n urgente Las futuras generaciones sabr?n que nosotros ?ramos conscientes de la p?rdida de la biodiversidad, del calentamiento global, de la contaminaci?n de los mares, el aire y la tierra; y del adelgazamiento de la capa de ozono, pero que no hicimos nada para impedirlo. http://www.seinforma.ca/ecologiabiodiversidadesp.html ------- LOS PUNTOS DE VISTA INTERNOS Y EXTERNOS DEL EXILIO EN CANAD? Beverly Foster: La ?ltima ?verdadera? canadiense en exilio A?n podr?amos regresar a nuestras tierras natales; a?n podr?amos encontrar algunos camaradas all? afuera, incluso en nuestro nuevo pa?s. Pero, desafortunadamente, no queda esperanza para Beverly Foster, una de los ?ltimos ?verdaderos? canadienses, como se conocen hoy en d?a, antes de que sean erradicados. http://www.seinforma.ca/editorialbeverly.html ----- OTRO ATAQUE CONTRA LAS LIBERTADES CIVILES EN GRAN BRETA?A ?Soy fot?grafo no un terrorista? Evento medi?tico urgente: Lunes 16 de febrero, 11 am, a las afueras del edificio de la Nueva Scotland Yard. Asista con su c?mara fotogr?fica y ejerza su derecho democr?tico de tomar una fotograf?a en un lugar p?blico. http://www.seinforma.ca/eventoscotlandesp.html ------ TRAS EL CIERRE DE GUANT?NAMO Futuro de Omar Khadr a?n es incierto A los oficiales canadienses no les ser? f?cil traerlo de regreso, al menos no tan pronto. Mucho menos ahora que el Primer Ministro Stephen Harper descart? la posibilidad de tratar el tema con Barack Obama la pr?xima semana. La oposici?n insiste en la repatriaci?n. http://www.seinforma.ca/mundokhadrengeng.html From seinforma-l at lists.resist.ca Wed Feb 25 07:01:11 2009 From: seinforma-l at lists.resist.ca (Seinforma Canada News/Noticias Seinforma Canada) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 07:01:11 -0800 (PST) Subject: Colombian army bombards elementary school/ Ejercito colombiano bombardea escuela Message-ID: <1659.70.51.166.164.1235574071.squirrel@mail.resist.ca> Specialized Journalistic Services English / Espanol Services "New" Colombian Army Unit Bombards, Pillages Elementary School in Catatumbo Region Andrew Willis Garces-Rural Press/Seinforma Tuesday 17 February 2009 The Colombian Army's brand-new 23rd Mobile Brigade, pursuing National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels, pounded a school and nearby home on Monday, February 2 with bombs, rockets and machine-gun fire in the hamlet of La Esperanza, in San Calixto municipality, Norte de Santander department. The area, part of the war-torn northeastern region known as Catatumbo, is sparsely populated, with less than ten homes within 500 meters of the school, spread out across a perpetually fog-covered mountain. Over 300 soldiers first fired on the area from the ground, then laid siege from a helicopter gunship. The Nueva Esperanza school was hit dozens of times, with many bullets falling inside classrooms that, thankfully, were empty of students, owing to a lack of teachers. One young civilian resident was hurt, and bullets also fell on a house nearby, a mortar striking within thirty feet. The soldiers then camped in the homes and on the land of La Esperanza residents ? a violation of International Humanitarian Law and Protocol II of the Geneva Conventions, as is the targeting and destruction of a civilian institution. (Article 48 of Geneva Conventions Protocol I requires the armed forces to only carry out operations against military targets, not civilian establishments.) They also stole personal property of local leaders, copies of parents' identity documents and over $1,000 US in school and community property. Calls to the army's 2nd Division commanders requesting comment on the operation and reports of property theft were not returned. The aerial attacks by the Arpia AH-60L gunship were reportedly carried out by Air Force Unit No. 5. These acts were verified by one Spanish citizen and one US citizen, accompaniers with International Peace Observatory, and a representative of the San Calixto Personer?a, a state agency charged with protecting the human rights of Colombian citizens, all of whom visited La Esperanza February 8. "Fresh Start" After Army Assasinations Scandal? This wouldn't be as newsworthy considering similar recent violence in Catatumbo if not for the auspicious origins of the week-old army unit that carried out the ground attack and occupation. Last month the Minister of Defense Jose Manuel Santos announced a shakeup following the "false positives" scandal that broke in October, in which dozens, perhaps hundreds of army officers were implicated in a scheme to execute ordinary civilians and make their victims look like guerrilla combatants. According to a report by an NGO coalition, at least one civilian was killed in this way every day from January `07 to June `08. These murders have been an issue particularly in the Catatumbo region, where in December the campesino association ASCAMCAT held a public hearing for a senator, giving voice to the families of over 200 victims. As a result of the work of the association and others in the region to expose these violations, tirelessly denouncing official murders of campesino civilians for years, the commanders of the army's 2nd Division were dismissed in October, and in January Santos dissolved the 15th Mobile Brigade, one of the primary culprits of extrajudicial executions. In its place he announced the formation of the 23rd Mobile, which began operating January 29. Santos had claimed this was a "fresh start" for the 2nd Division. Soldiers were recruited for the brigade from other divisions, reportedly receiving human rights instruction. But the results of the attack were much the same as other recent, arbitrary operations affecting civilians in Catatumbo. On January 1, the Fifth Mobile Brigade carried out a similar bombardment in the community of La India in Tib? municipality, also affiliated with ASCAMCAT. An IPO accompaniment team verified that the army backed by the same air force unit hit the town with 500-pound bombs, and rockets fell within meters of homes. In that case, there was no sign of guerrilla presence, before or after the attack. Terror Under Seige The attacks last week left one young campesino injured, two dead cows and wounded a donkey. There are dozens of quarter- and fist-sized holes in roofs, windows and walls, and the area is filled with trash left by the soldiers. Student play areas and the soccer field are pockmarked with craters from rockets and other projectiles. A woman and her two young sons and two pregnant women were present at the time their house was hit by gunfire just south of the school, with a bomb or rocket detonating a mere ten meters away. The residents we spoke with talked of the terror of being under siege, and hostile treatment by encamped soldiers afterwards. The president of the local town council (Junta de Acci?n Comunal), Jos? Orlando Pinz?n, his cousin and son were detained by the army when they went to check on the damage. They were all interrogated, searched and photographed, and his personal diary, agenda and contacts were seized. Soldiers also stole food and beer from a storage space, music CDs from a teacher's room and other equipment; total losses estimated at $2.5 million pesos by council leaders. National identity documents of dozens of school parents were taken also. Several residents told us the soldiers camped out in the homes of residents of La Esperanza. Confirming this account, on the way to the town we noticed a soldier stationed inside a farm in neighboring the neighboring village of El Caracol. One Step Forward, Two Steps Back This incident illustrates the halfhearted nature of the Uribe government's voluntary reforms. Criticized for months in the mainstream media and elsewhere, the government finally acted last month to replace sacked army officers and describe how they planned to prevent these acts from recurring. But the victory won by campesino leaders ? official recognition of the widespread "false positive" killings ? has not been matched with a change in treatment of campesinos by the army. So far neither local nor national governments have made any sign of investigating the attacks in La Esperanza. A delegate sent by the General Prosecutor's office in Oca?a to confirm the attacks reported by ASCAMCAT advised local residents to flee with what belongings they could carry, and told one of the group's leaders that the school only needed "a little paint." Since another administration ? Barack Obama's ? with huge responsibility for the funding of army activities has recently started fresh, this may be an opportune time to revisit US-Colombia policy as it relates to operations against civilians. Last month Secretary of State Hillary Clinton declared the Obama Administration's intention to support Colombia's war against guerrillas. She didn't address rights violations by the armed forces in her confirmation testimony. It's unknown if either of the units responsible for the attack receive Plan Colombia funding; several calls to the US Embassy's State Department Verification Office went unreturned. But the US has in recent years continued to fund army units in areas where the army is responsible for rights violations. A report released last year by Amnesty International and the Fellowship of Reconciliation shows that geographic regions with the highest levels of reported extrajudicial executions of civilians by members of the armed forces in 2006 were also largely regions with the most military units receiving US assistance. Espanol Ejercito bombardea escuela en el Catatumbo colombiano Andrew Willis Garces-Prensa Rural/Seinforma Febrero 17, 2009 El pasado lunes 2 de febrero la nueva Brigada M?vil No. 23 del Ej?rcito Nacional de Colombia bombarde? la escuela y alrededores de la vereda La Esperanza, corregimiento El Caracol, del municipio San Calixto en el Norte de Santander, a consecuencia de un combate con un grupo insurgente que perpetua en la zona. El Observatorio Internacional de Paz se traslad? a la zona para estar presente en la verificaci?n de los hechos y acompa?ar a la Asociaci?n Campesina de Catatumbo (Ascamcat), de la cual son afiliados la vereda La Esperanza. Acompa?ados por una de las lideres de la asociaci?n llegamos a la escuela para reunirnos con la comunidad y tomar testimonio de lo que hab?a sucedido. Nos reunimos todos en uno de los salones donde pod?amos presenciar los resultados del bombardeo para empezar a escuchar las voces de los testimonios. Jos? Orlando Pinz?n, presidente de la Junta de Acci?n Comunal de La Esperanza (JAC) cuenta que era el domingo 1 de febrero cuando ?l y unos compa?eros estaban en la cancha de f?tbol para empezar un partido de f?tbol, como de costumbre, cuando se dieron cuenta de la presencia del ELN y de sus comentarios: ?tenemos la presencia militar encima?. En un momento como ese el presidente y algunos compa?eros no aguantaron y se fueron, dejando el partido para otro d?a. Al d?a siguiente, 2 de febrero, eran las nueve de la ma?ana cuando empezaron los enfrentamientos terrestres entre la Brigada M?vil No. 23 del Ej?rcito y el grupo insurgente alrededor de la escuela y la cancha de f?tbol durante dos horas. Aproximadamente alrededor de las 11 de la ma?ana lleg? un helic?ptero arp?a del Ejercito as? empezando el devastador bombardeo a la escuela y a sus alrededores afectando a una casa particular. Jos? acompa?ado de otros campesinos y de integrantes de Ascamcat nos mostr? detalladamente todos los desastres que hab?a dejado el bombardeo y la presencia de m?s de 300 militares en la zona. La escuela hab?a sido impactada en todas sus instalaciones por proyectiles, las cuales afectaron las aulas donde por suerte los 33 alumnos que asisten a la escuela no estaban presentes ese lunes, ya que el municipio a?n no hab?a nombrado maestro para ellos. Los alrededores de la escuela, espacio de juego de los alumnos, estaban llenos de huecos provocados por los proyectiles. Los militares hab?an tumbado las puertas de las diferentes aulas y hab?an robado comida y todos los discos que hab?a en la escuela, no sin dejar rastro de sus pasos por la escuela. Nos alejamos unos setenta metros aproximadamente de la escuela cuesta abajo hasta llegar a la casa particular. La propietaria nos dijo: ?a?n tengo el temor a dentro?, ese comentario ten?a su explicaci?n. Ella, sus dos hijos menores y dos mujeres embarazadas han tenido que aguantar desde una de las piezas de su casa todo el combate y el bombardeo. Ella misma nos mostr? los dos impactos de bala que impactaron en el interior de su casa, nos indic? donde hab?an muerto sus dos terneros heridos en el bombardeo y, a diez metros de la casa, el hueco que hab?a dejado el impacto de uno de los proyectiles lanzados desde el helic?ptero. Definitivamente la mujer y su familia hab?an sentido la muerte muy cerca. La propietaria de la casa nos cont? que en horas de la tarde de ese mismo lunes del bombardeo, ella decidi? junto con sus dos hijos menores bajar a la finca donde estaba trabajando su marido para contarle todo lo sucedido. Al cabo de unas horas ella y sus dos hijos volvieron a subir para atender a los animales, aprovecharon para recoger dos colchones y unas cuantas pertinencias para regresar a lado de su marido. Cuando, por el camino, salieron dos soldados los cuales les negaron el paso a ella y a sus hijos, oblig?ndola as? a regresar a su casa exponi?ndose a sufrir otro combate. Seguimos caminando al lado de Jos? hasta llegar a la cancha de f?tbol donde nos explic? que el al d?a siguiente al bombardeo, es decir, el 3 de febrero decidi? subir a la escuela acompa?ado de su hijo de diez a?os y una prima para ver que hab?a sucedido, al llegar a la escuela se encontr? con la presencia de los militares de la Brigada M?vil No. 23, los cuales los retuvieron a los tres. Les empezaron a preguntar sobre la presencia de la guerrilla en la zona y la vinculaci?n que ten?an con ella, los fotografiaron de frente y de perfil, haciendo un empadronamiento ilegal, y para finalizar hurtaron la agenda personal y el cuaderno a Don Jos?. Despu?s de retenerlos e incomodarlos, los dejaron ir. ?l mismo nos dio el siguiente testimonio: ?El tercer d?a yo vine para mirar lo que estaba pasando y los da?os a la escuela. Pero, fui presionado por los militares. Me acompa?aba una prima y mi hijo. Inmediatamente nos preguntaron qui?nes ?ramos, qu? hac?amos y les dije que era el presidente de la Junta. Me robaron unos recursos. Me quitaron el cuaderno, mi agenda personal y les pregunt? qu? quer?an hacer con mi agenda, ?ya han violado alguna parte del respeto a las cosas personales? , les dije: ?Si se la llevan, tendremos problemas?. Me revisaron todos los papeles que ten?a, cosas que pertenec?an al municipio, de proyectos. Nos marcharon a la pared, tomaron tres fotos de cada uno de nosotros, les preguntaban demasiadas cosas a los compa?eros, si la guerrilla se reun?a aqu? . En el cuaderno que me tomaron tengo una lista, lo que hay escrito tiene que ver con la escuela, uniformes, las tallas de botas de los estudiantes. Eso y ya.? Finalmente la comunidad junto con los integrantes de Ascamcat nos llevaron donde estaba la mula herida por una bala en una de las patas traseras y nos mostraron todos los escombros que hab?a dejado el Ej?rcito y todos los da?os materiales que hicieron a una tienda que hay cerquita de la escuela de la cual robaron un mill?n de pesos aproximadamente en mercanc?a. Este incidente hace manifiesto que otra vez se est? poniendo en peligro a la poblaci?n civil ante el conflicto armado, siendo violado el Derecho Internacional Humanitario. --- Visit www.seinforma.ca Thank you for your support www.seinforma.ca/donations.html Gracias por su apoyo www.seinforma.ca/donaciones.html -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From seinforma-l at lists.resist.ca Wed Feb 25 07:11:54 2009 From: seinforma-l at lists.resist.ca (Seinforma Canada News/Noticias Seinforma Canada) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 07:11:54 -0800 (PST) Subject: YouTube Peace video contest /Concurso de video sobre paz English-Espanol Message-ID: <1668.70.51.166.164.1235574714.squirrel@mail.resist.ca> Specialized Journalistic Services English / Espanol Services Posted by: The Peace Support Network February, 2009 The Peace Support Network is sponsoring a YouTube video contest. Create a > short film based on the theme, "Create Peace". Show us your creativity > and you could be given the grand prize of $1000 or three runner-up prizes. > > All ages, school classrooms, not-for-profit groups, as well as > individuals are urged to participate! Even if you don't consider yourself > a filmmaker, you can participate in the peace video collection and contest > by becoming a part of the discussion in the group YouTube forum found at > the same address. > > Film a 1-2 minute video on the theme "Create Peace" and post it to the > Peace Support Network YouTube group at > http://www.youtube.com/group/peacesupport. > > Videos will be judged on three different criteria: > > 1) Creativity of the video. > > 2) The ability of the video to communicate positive peace to a wide > audience. > > 3) YouTube overall ratings and popularity. > > Grand prize - $1000 Three runner-up prizes will also be awarded. > > Here's how to participate: > > 1) Film and edit your 1-2 minute video. > > 2) Join the Peace Support Network Group on YouTube at > http://www.youtube.com/group/peacesupport. > > 3) Winners will be notified by March 31, 2009. > > > For complete details please see http://celebratingpeace.org/videos.cfm > > Post your vision of peace right away, but no later than February 28, 2009. > > Sincerely, > Kelly Guinan > Peace Support Network > www.celebratingpeace.org > 402-426-5240 Espanol Contribucion de: The Peace Support Network Febrero, 2009 The Peace Support Network est? patrocinando un concurso de video en YouTube. Crea un cortometraje basado en el tema: "Crear Paz". Mu?stranos tu creatividad y podr?s recibir el gran premio de US$1000 o tres premios de subcampe?n. A todas las edades, aulas de escuelas, asociaciones sin fines de lucro, as? como a todas las personas se las alienta a participar. Incluso si no te consideras un cineasta, puedes participar en la colecci?n de videos por la Paz y participar siendo parte de la discusi?n en el foro del grupo de YouTube en la misma direcci?n. Graba un video de 1-2 minutos sobre el tema "Crear Paz" y s?belo al grupo Peace Support Network de YouTube en: http://www.youtube.com/group/peacesupport Los videos ser?n juzgados seg?n tres criterios: 1) La creatividad del video. 2) La capacidad del video para comunicar la paz positiva a una amplia audiencia. 3) Los ?ndices de popularidad y puntuaciones globales de YouTube. Gran Premio: $ 1000. Se conceder?n tambi?n tres premios de subcampe?n. He aqu? c?mo participar: 1) Graba y edita tu video de 1-2 minutos. 2) ?nete al grupo The Peace Support Network de YouTube en http://www.youtube.com/group/peacesupport 3) Los ganadores ser?n notificados el 31 de marzo de 2009. Para m?s detalles puedes consultar: http://celebratingpeace.org/videos.cfm Publica tu visi?n de la Paz lo antes posible. La fecha l?mite es el 28 de febrero de 2009. Atentamente, Kelly Guinan Peace Support Network www.celebratingpeace.org 402-426-5240 --- Visit www.seinforma.ca Thank you for your support www.seinforma.ca/donations.html Gracias por su apoyo www.seinforma.ca/donaciones.html