Full Coverage: South America

29.04.2005 NATALA, Colombia, Apr 28 (IPS) - Hundreds of Nasa Indians in this rural area of southwestern Colombia have taken shelter in their local health post, perched on a hilltop with a breathtaking view of the Andes mountains, as the gunfire between leftist guerrillas and the army rages below.

28.04.2005 Humberto Piaguaje, a Secoya indigenous leader from the Ecuadorian Amazon, faced ChevronTexaco's CEO, David O'Reilly, and other large shareholders this week to convey how the company's operations have affected his now dwindling and cancer-ridden community. Investors holding over $1 billion in stock are supporting a shareholders resolution calling on the company to disclose its environmental and human rights liabilities.

27.04.2005 The Pan American Health Organization on Monday launched a week-long initiative to prevent measles, polio, rubella and other diseases in the Americas through immunization. The focus this year is on indigenous groups especially those living in rural border areas.

26.04.2005 President Lula of Brazil is under continuous pressure on land reform. But questions are beginning to be asked whether higher priority for government spending lies with urban rather than rural poverty.

25.04.2005 In the midst of very challenging circumstances Colombia's citizen groups are accomplishing great feats, including rebuilding community, caring for the most vulnerable, and developing local economies. Lutheran World Relief believes that lasting peace is possible in Colombia, but the U.S. government must balance its approach toward toward the country by providing more social assistance and less military aid.

22.04.2005 U.S. lawmakers are gearing up for a potentially major clash next week over judicial nominations and the filibuster in what's being called by some a political power grab by the ruling party. President Bush's Ecuadorian counterpart was violently ousted this week by an angry populace after packing his country's Supreme Court with his own political allies.

22.04.2005 Chile's National Environment Commission and the United Nations are collaborating to develop the Chilean Trail eco-tourism project. At its completion in 2010, the 8,000 km trail--which will promote environmental protection and bring revenue and jobs into its communities--will be one of the longest pathways in the world for hiking or tours on bicycle or horseback.

21.04.2005

Alvaro Uribe © Radio Netherlands Wereldomroep

ACCION International was honored with a visit from Colombian President Uribe for the inauguration of new ACCION Centro offices in March. President Uribe inaugurated the new offices in the presence of several hundred invited guests, including Julio Mario Santo Domingo, a strong supporter and partner of ACCION. Having outgrown its previous space, ACCION Centro, ACCION Bogota group, moved into the new offices with partner Fundación Mario Santo Domingo. In addition to better office space, the new building also houses classrooms for the ABCs of Business training program run by ACCION Centro. ABCs of Business teaches microentrepreneurs the basics of running a business so that they may effectively work their way out of poverty.

16.04.2005 RIO DE JANEIRO, Apr 15 (IPS) - Indigenous groups welcomed a decision by the Brazilian Justice Ministry Friday to formalise the demarcation of the Raposa Sierra del Sol reserve in the northern state of Roraima.

05.04.2005 Chile, March 5th, 2005 - the Chilean "No Excuses" Campaign kitted out 23 organizations from different parts of the country, with campaign materials, banners and pins to help raise awareness on the Millennium Goals.

04.04.2005 At a ceremony dedicating a new protected ecological area and indigenous territory nearly the size of Belgium, Peru's president asked creditors to forgive 30% of his country's debt in exchange for a commitment to dedicate the funds to ecological conservation and the promotion of the rights of indigenous people.