interact The magazine of The option for the poor A new beginning for the Church in Latin America

Also in this issue: Water in El Salvador HIV and AIDS in Zimbabwe Qat chewing in Yemen

ISSN 1816-045X Summer 2007 interact summer 2007

Contents Nick Sireau/Progresio editorial 3 first person: seeing through a different lens

The option for 7 4 news: elections in East Timor the poor 6 update: bulletins from the frontline

The insight section of this issue of Interact 7 agenda: committed to peace and justice examines the messages from the 5th General Conference of the Latin American and Caribbean insight: the option for the poor bishops held in Aparecida, Brazil, in May. The articles look in some detail at what it means to be an ‘advocate of justice and defender of the poor’. 8 A new beginning 8 A concern for the poor and powerless is at the Latin American bishops take new heart of Progressio’s approach. We seek to step in church’s journey empower people to tackle the poverty and injustice that they face. This can be seen in the 10 Declaration of intent work described elsewhere in this Interact: in The spirit of Medellín is alive and well Christopher Nyamandi’s work with young people in Zimbabwe (see page 14), or Hans Joel’s work action with communities in El Salvador (page 13), or Francisco Hernandez’s work with the environmental movement of Olancho in Honduras 12 Putting the poor first (page 6). The challenges posed by climate change Progressio’s approach is always grounded in what we ‘see’ of the world: the experience of our viewpoint work in countries in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia; the views of our partners 14 and the people we work with in those countries; 13 Clear water and, as our environmental advocacy coordinator A community in El Salvador Sol Oyuela describes (page 12), our analysis of the fights for its rights issues that the people we work with face. But ultimately, what gives us our direction is 14 Helping hands not just experience or analysis, but the values we Young people in Zimbabwe face up to HIV and AIDS bring to the work that we do. To turn the phrase around, this is what gives our work its value – its reportage meaning and purpose. While poverty and injustice 16 exist, our values will always require us to act. 16 Something to chew on The culture of qat chewing in Yemen

18 18 interview: Melody Pazan

19 reflection: water for life

Cover picture: Women and children from Columbe Alto in Cotopaxi province, Ecuador. 20 review: visions of development Photo: Caroline Pankhurst/Progressio

Published August 2007 by Progressio Progressio Ireland Editor Alastair Whitson Unit 3, Canonbury Yard c/o CORI, Bloomfield Avenue Executive Director Christine Allen 190a New North Road, Off Morehampton Road Design Twenty-Five Educational London N1 7BJ Donnybrook, Dublin 4, Ireland Printing APG (ISO 14001 accreditation for tel +44 (0)20 7354 0883 tel +353 (0)1 6144966 international environmental standards). fax +44 (0)20 7359 0017 e-mail [email protected] Printed on REVIVE 100% chlorine free e-mail [email protected] Charity reg. in Ireland no. CHY 14451 recycled paper. website www.progressio.org.uk Company reg. no. 385465 Recycle this magazine!

Progressio is the working name of the Catholic Institute for International Relations Charity reg. in the UK no. 294329 Company reg. no. 2002500 Except for articles written by Progressio staff, the views and opinions in Interact are the authors’ own and do not necessarily reflect Progressio policy. first person

A woman at a community meeting in East Timor in 2004. Vicky Bautista is now doing similar community capacity building work Seeing through a different lens with Caritas Dili in East Timor.

REPARING FOR A FIELD TRIP to three had previously been given funds for After the meeting, we learned that villages where we are working with economic activities and providing them the posts of secretary and treasurer of Pthe communities, myself and the with cash for everything they ask for the group had been vacant for some Caritas Dili staff tried to identify would foster dependency. Facilitating the time and the leader had been indicators to measure a ‘good group discussion therefore aimed to functioning essentially as a one-person community group’. Tetun language is come up with alternatives that would show. The next day, after mass, a group really rather limited – everything is either help solve the problem while at the same member approached a Caritas Dili staff diak (good) or la diak (not good). Fine! time building the local people’s capacity. member to say she was not happy about But what exactly is grupo diak (good At some point the discussion got the meeting because there was no group)? tense when the group leader threatened transparency in the group. She was We came up with various elements to stop working if their demand was not unhappy that the leader had been asking that make up a group or organisation, met. To what extent was he representing for more money when in fact there was and which could be used in assessment, the sentiments of the group? That was no system to ensure control over the monitoring and evaluation: vision, hard to say as his outbursts were met financial resources. objectives, plan, leadership, structure, with silence. Equipped with new analytical/ resources, policies and procedures, After further discussion, the group conceptual tools, the staff member easily financial control, and so on. But during came up with a number of decisions. recognised the weaknesses of the the workshops I observed how difficult it First, they were willing to work with us organisation, and is therefore now in a was for the staff to come up with to analyse the situation and prepare a better position to help ‘fix’ what is amiss. concrete and observable signs of a ‘good proposal. Second, since the issue He was also appreciative of the group’. They could talk well in abstract involved the entire community, they were facilitation process – recognising that it is terms about good leadership and good willing to bring in other community up to the people themselves to identify women’s participation, but were back to members instead of limiting it to the the issues, make decisions and take diak and la diak when talking about group members. This decision was action. what is a good group. It occurred to me particularly significant because I am told In the end, the conceptual/analytical that perhaps they hadn’t seen concrete there are rifts among different sectors in tools and the methods we introduce are evidence in practice of what makes a that community. like lenses we provide, so that the people good group, perhaps because their work Third, since water is an issue that the we work with are able to see their work in communities had so far not been government ought to concern itself with, in a different light – one that will directed at the detailed workings of they were willing to network with the ultimately lead to new and enhanced community organisations. government in finding the solution to programme work. At one of the villages, Turiscai, a the problem. Finally, recognising that the community group (consisting of 13 water problem is linked to environmental Vicky Bautista is a Progressio members) was asking for funds to build degradation, they were willing to work development worker in East Timor, a water tank for their vegetable garden. on rehabilitating and protecting their working as a capacity building advisor However, Caritas Dili could not fund the mountains. To these decisions the leader with Caritas Dili. Vicky is from the project, one reason being that the group seemed amenable – in the end. Philippines.

Summer 2007 interact 3 news

Ecuadorian organisations speak composing proposals and up on constitutional change challenges for candidates. Some fear constitutional change could CUADOR IS CAUGHT UP in actually be a step backwards from ‘constituent assembly fever’ – the existing constitution, drawn up Ethe new socialist president in 1998, which on paper is very Rafael Correa’s project to elect an progressive, particularly regarding assembly to rewrite the country’s the collective rights of indigenous constitution, writes Michelle Lowe. groups. In April, 82 per cent of voters Ampam Karakas, a member of Amira Herdoíza, executive director of backed the idea in a referendum, the Shuar indigenous group who La Corporación KIMIRINA. initiating a scramble among works for indigenous people’s prospective members of the rights, fears that the rights of assume responsibility for providing constituent assembly to collect indigenous communities could be anti-retrovirals for all those who enough signatures to register for at risk: ‘I hope that the collective need them and a commitment to the elections. Civil society rights of indigenous communities ensure that people living with HIV organisations are now entering into which are recognised in the existing and AIDS are not dismissed from a period of campaigning and constitution are maintained and their jobs,’ she said. lobbying candidates on the new included in the new constitution. The electoral campaign will run constitution. The hope is that the new from 14 August to 27 September, Correa was inaugurated as constitution once approved will with the elections taking place on President in January in a context of actually be respected and applied 30 September 2007. The assembly widespread mistrust and hostility in full for more than the 10 years is due to begin work in mid- towards the country’s mainstream which the current constitution has November. The draft of the new political parties. His election lasted.’ constitution will be submitted to a campaign promised a ‘citizens’ Amira Herdoíza, executive national referendum later in the revolution’. The aim is to give the director of La Corporación year. Time will tell whether the new country a fresh start by rewriting KIMIRINA, a Progressio Partner constitution will really lead to the constitution to extend political organisation, is uniting with other empowerment of the marginalised. participation and reduce the power NGOs working on HIV and AIDS to of the country’s political elite. lobby for the new constitution to Michelle Lowe is a Progressio Networks of NGOs working on contain a specific paragraph on HIV development worker, working on different themes including HIV and and AIDS. advocacy and communications in AIDS and the environment are now ‘We would like the state to Ecuador and Peru.

From Terminator to Zombie biotechnology companies’ contamination problems? UROPEAN TAXPAYERS are security depends on re-planting Most importantly, our money is financing a research project harvested seeds from year to year. financing the development of a Ecalled Transcontainer which is Terminator also poses a threat to technology that will have working to develop a new biodiversity and the environment, catastrophic effects on the lives of generation of Terminator seeds, as the terminator gene may poor farmers, who cannot afford writes Sol Oyuela. contaminate other plants. or don’t want to buy these types Terminator seeds are seeds that At the 2006 UN Convention on of GM seeds. One of the proposed are genetically modified so that Biodiversity (CBD) a ban on the new technologies – dubbed they produce sterile seeds at field testing and commercialisation ‘zombie seeds’ – will force poor harvest. Progressio, along with of Terminator technology was farmers to pay biotech companies other NGOs, has expressed upheld. Despite the moratorium, for a chemical treatment that will concerns about the risks that private and public researchers are bring seeds back from the dead. Terminator technology poses to expanding and refining the Progressio believes that this the 1.4 billion poor farmers in the development of this technology research project is a way to get developing world, whose food through the controversial £3.4 round the UN ban on Terminator, million Transcontainer project. and we are committed to do our interactnow The people behind utmost to support a strengthening Transcontainer claim the research of the ban on Terminator at the Progressio will be formally launching its campaign, ‘Say No to Terminator Seeds’, on World Food Day on 16 October. If you will help find a solution to the next CBD meeting in Berlin in May are interested in helping in our efforts to give poor farmers a problem of genetic contamination 2008. voice in choosing how they want to feed their families, please contact us at [email protected] of non-GM plants. But why are You can also find out more about the campaign at our taxes being spent on the Sol Oyuela is Progressio’s www.seedsaver.org.uk development of a sophisticated environmental advocacy technology that seeks to address coordinator.

4 interact Summer 2007 news

Book brings hope to Honduras

rights-based approach to educating people about HIV and AIDS. Progressio development worker Mónika Galeano Velasco, who worked with CIPRODEH to produce the book, said the aim is to tackle HIV ‘through education and empowerment’. As well as providing basic information about HIV and AIDS, the book covers we give each other and the human rights, sexuality and communication we establish with gender, and advocacy skills, and the people living around us,’ she IPRODEH, a Progressio provides guidance on preparing said. partner organisation in workshops on HIV and AIDS. ‘In Honduras we have, like the CHonduras, has published a Described by Mónika as ‘a geese, started our own journey. book on HIV and AIDS prevention simple book full of hope’, El vuelo We have learned that human targeted at gay and lesbian de los gansos takes the image of safety needs collective organisations in the country. geese flying as its theme. ‘To see participation, and that to enjoy the The book, which has been geese flying inspires our lives journey of discovery that is life, we distributed to all gay and lesbian because it teaches us that living must share and live together with organisations in Honduras, takes a together needs solidarity, the love the rest of the people.’

• widening a public debate on Timor-Leste still awaits how to use the largely unspent oil reserves in its Petroleum a government Reserve amid widespread poverty ARLIAMENTARY elections in year when 60,000 people were • working out coherent pro-poor Timor-Leste on 30 June 2007 displaced was internal rather than, policies, creating economic Phave left no party with an as previously, a reaction to the opportunities for the absolute majority in the 65-seat repressive and illegal Indonesian marginalised (especially in the Parliament with the squabbling occupation which ended in 1999. agricultural sector) parties disagreeing on who forms Unresolved tensions arising from • working on coherent policies in the next government. This means the occupation, such as impunity its relations with its powerful tension in the streets and no for the perpetrators of violence neighbours: Australia on oil resolution of the country’s against the Timorese (despite a boundaries and division of problems, writes Steve Kibble. truth and reconciliation process), revenues, and Indonesia on Like the preceding presidential mean a divided and traumatised justice following its illegal 24- elections, the parliamentary society. year occupation of Timor-Leste elections were peaceful and The immediate challenge facing • pursuing justice and deemed free and fair by whatever new government of reconciliation on violence both international and domestic Timor- Leste, the poorest Asian from the Indonesian occupation observers. nation, is likely to be food and the civil unrest in 2006 The former governing party shortages affecting a fifth of the • undertaking security reform to Fretilin (Revolutionary Front for an population by October as a result create a functioning indigenous Independent Timor-Leste) saw its of a predicted 30 per cent fall in police and military majority reduced from 57 per cent food production following drought. • dealing with youth groups’ in 2001 to 29 per cent following Progressio will be working with violence linked to massive major internal violence, scandals its partners in Timor-Leste such as youth unemployment, on arms being handed out to its Luta Hamutak, Caritas Dili, the gender/domestic violence and supporters, and perceptions of Catholic Church Commission for ethnic division corruption and arrogance in some Justice and Peace, Rede Feto • rehousing the remaining 30,000 of its leaders. It wants to lead a Haburas, the Human Rights internally displaced people grand coalition of all parties Foundation and FONGTIL on their • installing a strong and whilst former president José priorities for the new government. independent judiciary. ‘Xanana’ Gusmao offers an For its own part Progressio alternative Coalition of non- considers that the major issues for Steve Kibble is Progressio’s Fretilin parties. the new administration would advocacy coordinator for Africa, The violence that erupted last appear to be: Middle East and Asia.

Summer 2007 interact 5 update bulletins from the Progressio development worker Francisco Hernandez-Montoya describes the issues currently facing the people of frontline Olancho in Honduras

++ The dilemma of the vanishing water ++ ++ The government, in serving the interests of the private In Honduras, the government and state bodies such as the State Forest sector, crushes its own people ++ Administration emphatically deny any link between droughts, deforestation, and an increase in land used for farming by agribusinesses. This stance has Salamá, Honduras. Today is another day in helped the timber industry in Honduras (80 per cent of which is estimated to the life of Don Ovidio (name changed for security be illegal) to continue plundering the few forests the country has, and reasons), but it could be more important than he destroying the way of life of people in rural areas. realises, because today Salamá’s Municipal Land In La Muralla National Park in eastern Olancho, timber companies remove Plan (POT, to use the Spanish acronym) is being wood from the centre of the park without anyone preventing them from doing presented. There is still, however, a big problem. so. According to MAO, the Environmental Movement of Olancho, 26 of the 52 Don Ovidio doesn’t know or doesn’t understand water currents that have their source in this park have dried up in the last what it is about! five years, which coincides with the period during which timber merchants The same can be said for most of the region’s have been operating in the area. Seeking to protect the basins and bring 20,000 people. This is mainly due to the use of order to activities in these territories, MAO is asking the government to bring disinformation as a tool to undermine democracy, + in a land planning law in Honduras. ignore the rights of the people, and demobilise civil society organisations so that a certain few ++ Because life is defended with life! ++ may take advantage. Such an approach is very common in Latin America but is employed with particular cruelty On 22 December 2006, two environmental leaders from MAO, Heraldo Zuñiga in Honduras. MAO is calling on the Honduran and Roger Ivan Cartagena, were murdered by police forces in the Guarizama government and the World Bank’s Forest and area. The two young men, fathers, and MAO activists for many years, were shot Rural Productivity Project – those responsible for from behind. It is presumed that the deaths of the two environmentalists were the aforementioned POT – to rectify their actions a form of intimidation. To date, seven environmentalists have been murdered and develop a proposal that benefits and respects + in the country without anyone having been prosecuted for these crimes. the human rights of the inhabitants of Salamá. +

++ Bringing the forests back to ++ Research uncovers corruption ++ the people ++ Since 2005, Global Witness and the Environmental Research Agency, the Tegucigalpa, Honduras. A proposed new latter contracted by the Washington-based Center for International Policy, forestry law is being discussed in the country’s have carried out fieldwork in Honduras on the issue of illegal logging. This parliament. The proposed law is a key tool in the research has uncovered strong and proven links between government fight against illegal logging and for community officials and timber industrialists. This ranges from granting felling permits participation in forest management. without the necessary requirements being fulfilled, to the permissiveness of Several organisations within the Coalition for government officials towards infringements of forestry law – something that Environmental Justice have worked shoulder to happens routinely. shoulder with MPs on the committee overseeing the Despite the evidence, the Honduran authorities have been reluctant to act legislation to bring a stop to indiscriminate and have remained silent on the issue. In the last 30 years, these illegal exploitation and ensure that Honduran forests are actions have allowed the deforestation of more than half of the country’s once again a common asset of the Honduran people. forests, changes in microclimate have been caused, and the quality of life of The law is facing great opposition, especially more than two million people who live in wooded areas of the country has from MPs who receive support from the timber been affected. These people, in the best of cases, now merely ‘survive’. sector. Nevertheless, if the law is passed the result The timber industry in Honduras is similar to mining, in that only a few will be no less than the transformation of the become rich through it, while communities remain in misery. After more forestry sector – as part of which the current state than 50 years, there has not been one single example in Honduras of a forestry administration, a body with a long track community to which the timber industry has brought well-being or even record of corruption, will disappear. + material progress. +

++ The Environmental Movement of Olancho (MAO) ++

MAO believes that in Honduras, ownership of natural resources should be returned to the Honduran people. However, MAO is not against the sustainable, sensible and beneficial use of these resources. Our vision is of a forestry sector free from corruption, where communities can decide on the appropriate use of resources, based on the premises of responsibility, auditing and protection of natural resources. We call for community certification of the forests and the Francisco Hernandez-Montoya reclamation of more than five million hectares plundered over the last 30 years by so-called timber industrialists. + Francisco Hernandez-Montoya is a Progressio development worker working with the Movimiento Ambientalista de Olancho (MAO).

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It is here in the grassroots where the work is done and also where the change is experienced. Power may be held at the The problems of today challenge us to top, decisions made in layers above, but see the world through the eyes of the daily life is in how individuals live their poor, writes Christine Allen agenda lives and communities interact and engage. For Progressio, that’s why – as well as doing advocacy rooted in our values and Our commitment to vision of a just world marked by full human development – we work with development workers. These are people peace and justice inserted with communities and organisations who work with respect to offer support and guidance, and help S WE CELEBRATE the 40th the world, whose perspective you have, people to find their own solutions to anniversary of the Pope’s letter and where you identify the power. It their problems. Interact offers some of APopulorum Progressio through means making choices that will make a these stories, but they are just snapshots the livesimply project, we are also difference to the lives of those in poverty from the wide range of our work. reminded how things have changed in and recognising that people in poverty In her article ‘A new beginning’ (page 40 years and how much our awareness need to make choices too, to regain 8), María Rosa Lorbés writes: ‘Sincere of issues has grown. control over their lives, to engage with self-criticism is always a good first step The core of the document was society and to experience the dignity towards finding fresh motivation to concerned with full human development central to human beings. continue the journey.’ How true this is, and covered issues as forward thinking The reaffirmation of the see–judge– and how important the livesimply project as trade, international relations, and act methodology is also very welcome, can be in helping all of us to reflect on models of assistance which are just as especially with the ‘see’ being first. We our work, our understanding of the relevant today as they were when have to look at the world, to see the world and our relationships with our written. However there are some notable reality and pain and signs of hope, brothers and sisters globally. Whilst we gaps – the concern for the environment, before we make any analysis or are inspired by values and teaching patterns of economic and social changes judgement. Otherwise we run the risk of throughout history, we are called to see brought about by globalisation and the imposing pre-conceived ideas. It’s a our world now and to reflect on the movement of peoples, relations across simple methodology but one that is very challenges of today to find a new way of faiths and the changed role and powerful. Many Christian activists or living – simply, sustainably and in expectations of women. those involved in Justice and Peace work solidarity with the poor. Some of these issues were looked at will know this (or the pastoral cycle as it I hope that you will be interested to in the recent meeting of the Latin is also known) as it forms the bedrock of find out more and meet Maria Rosa American and Caribbean bishops. The their activity and reflections. when she speaks at our Annual General raft of issues facing the region are shared For the church and the formation of Meeting in December. by many other parts of the world, so the its people, the recognition of the words of the bishops and their importance of communities of the Christine Allen is Progressio’s executive commitment merit reflection by all. grassroots has never been more needed. director. Despite the changes in contexts, it is good to see some fundamental truths that were central to Vatican II being re- affirmed. The support for the ‘preferential option for the poor’ is critical in this. Looking at the media Nick Sireau/Progressio headlines, you could be forgiven for not realising that the church has, at its core, the gospel commitments to peace and justice. This means a concern for the poor and powerless in particular. For us at Progressio, this concept is at the core of our values and central to our work. We are an organisation concerned about poverty, but it’s more than that – more than just reaching targets or delivering basic needs. The concept of the preferential option for the poor goes beyond a mechanistic approach to Going to church in Baucau, Timor-Leste: church recognition of grassroots communities is key to tackling poverty. It’s about how you see the formation of the church’s people.

Summer 2007 interact 7 insight: the option for the poor

The church of San Jeronimo in Cusco, Peru.

from the assembly to the people of God and to all men Graham Freer/Progressio and women of goodwill in Latin America, the bishops commit to ‘maintaining our preferential and evangelical option for the poor with renewed vigour’. In this way, the Latin American and Caribbean church, which represents 43 per cent of the world’s Catholics, returns to

‘The Church is called upon to be ‘the advocate of justice and defender of the poor’

the roots of the gospel and reaffirms itself on its path, while responding with creativity and vitality to the challenges of the present.

Defender of the poor Benedict XVI established guidelines in his inaugural speech, when he affirmed that the Church is called upon to be ‘the advocate of justice and defender of the poor’ in the face of ‘intolerable social and economic inequalities’, which ‘are an obvious disgrace’. So A NEW that there is no doubt over the essential and fundamental nature of this option for a Christian, the bishops – inspired by the Pope’s speech – BEGINNING affirm that ‘the preferential option is implicit in the simple María Rosa Lorbés, director of the Instituto Bartolomé de faith of Christ… This option is las Casas in Peru, welcomes a reaffirmation by Latin born of our faith in Jesus American bishops of the ‘preferential option for the poor’ Christ, the God made man, who made himself our brother (cf. Hebrews 2:11-12).’ HE 5TH GENERAL Pope, but changes, if any, will Another reaffirmation of the CONFERENCE of the Latin almost certainly be minor.) In path taken by the Latin TAmerican and Caribbean its reaffirmation of ‘the path of American church is given in Episcopate saw itself as a new faithfulness, renewal and the decision by the bishops step in the church’s journey, evangelisation of the Latin who met at Aparecida to return according to the final American church in service of to the see–judge–act method document of the conference its people,’ the bishops saw the used in Puebla (1979) and held in May in Aparecida, conference as providing both Medellín (1968). They write: Brazil. (The document, continuity and a new ‘Many voices from all over the approved by the bishops, has beginning. continent offered contributions not yet been ratified by the In their official message and suggestions, affirming that

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this method has helped to live our vocation and mission more intensely in the church, it has Instituto Bartolomé de las Casas enriched theological and The Bartolomé de Las Casas Institute is a non profit organisation founded in 1974 by pastoral work, and in general it the theologian Gustavo Gutiérrez and a group of professional Catholics who wanted has motivated us to assume our to contribute to the process of integral freedom and human development in Peru from responsibilities in the face of the Christian perspective of a preferential option for the poor. the particular context of our Integral freedom implies that people work to strengthen democracy and encourage continent.’ citizen participation from the perspective of justice and solidarity which recognises the In the same way, the diversity which exists in the country and the promotion of consensus. This concept of document’s appraisal of the development also implies a concept of real freedom which enables people to overcome base ecclesial communities the inhumane poverty in which the majority of Peruvian people live. (grassroots Christian This process presupposes that poor people actively participate in society, that they communities, known elsewhere are not excluded or treated as objects but recognised and considered as subjects with in Latin America simply as human dignity, aspirations and the capacity to actively participate. ‘Christian communities’) is Charlotte Smith, a Progressio development worker, is currently supporting the significant: ‘In the ecclesial Institute with its international communications work. experience of Latin America For more information on the institute, see www.bcasas.org.pe and the Caribbean, the base ecclesial communities have often acted as schools that train is a pressing need for all version of this document, it followers and missionaries of women to be able to participate will be very important to read the Lord. The generous fully in ecclesial, family, it, study it, and try to bring it devotion of so many of their cultural, social and economic to life in our personal, members, who have even spilt life, creating spaces and community and ecclesiastic their blood, is proof of this... structures that favour a greater daily life. The first thing is to Deeply-rooted in the heart of degree of inclusion.’ let ourselves be questioned by the world, [the base ecclesial This concern is characterised Him in depth, and to ask communities] are privileged by the phrase ‘the faces of the ourselves, in a climate of spaces for the community poor’. The bishops state: spiritual reflection, how experience of faith, sources of ‘Globalisation has caused the faithful we are to the voice of fraternity and solidarity, an emergence of a greater number the Lord, how attentive we are alternative to the current of poor in our countries. With to the new signs of the times society founded on selfishness special attention and in and to what extent we live in and on ruthless competition.’ continuity with the previous solidarity with the poor. General Conferences, we fix Perhaps, as a first step, it Renewed focus our gaze on the faces of the would be good to read the But the message that came newly excluded: migrants, paragraph in which the bishops from Aparecida is not just victims of violence, displaced seriously examine the ecclesial about the reaffirmation of a people and refugees, victims of path. It also places a new people trafficking and ‘[Christian communities are] sources theological and pastoral kidnappings, missing people, emphasis on issues such as the those ill with HIV and chronic of fraternity and solidarity, an appreciation of indigenous and illnesses, people addicted to alternative to the current society afro-american cultures and the drugs, elderly people, children founded on selfishness and on explicit commitment made by who are victims of prostitution, ruthless competition’ the church to defend their pornography and violence or rights. It includes a pastoral child labour, abused women, conscience and lament ‘our concern for protection of the victims of violence, exclusion weak experiences of the environment, the challenge of and of trafficking for sexual preferential option for the ecumenicism and of inter- exploitation, people with poor’. For both people and religious dialogue, and the different abilities, large groups institutions, sincere self- urgent call to ‘listen to the of unemployed people, those criticism is always a good first often silenced cry of women excluded by technological step towards finding fresh who are subjected to many illiteracy, people who live on motivation to continue the forms of exclusion, and to the streets of major cities, journey. violence in all its forms and at indigenous people and people all stages of their lives. of African descent, farmers This is an edited translation of the Amongst them, women who without land and miners.’ leading article from the June 2007 are poor, indigenous or of edition of Signos (Signs), published African descent have suffered a New challenge by Instituto Bartolomé de las double marginalisation. There As soon as we have the official Casas, Lima, Peru.

Summer 2007 interact 9 insight: the option for the poor

Although the phrase just cited does not come at the beginning of the address, the DECLARATION themes touched on in Benedict’s talk to the bishops can be, and I think should be, understood in the light of the preferential option. These OF INTENT themes include: Human development: ‘In the Francis Chamberlain, s.j., considers what the Bishop’s Conference at effort to know the message Aparecida means for the Latin American Church of Christ and to make it the guide for one’s life, it must WRITE THESE REFLECTIONS a few Pope’s benchmark be remembered that weeks after the end of the The Inaugural Address of evangelisation has always I5th General Conference of Benedict XVI, which served as a been linked to human bishops in Aparecida, Brazil, benchmark for the work of the development and authentic which I attended as an adviser conference, started from the Christian liberation.’ on the outside to some Pope’s affirmation that ‘the Populorum Progressio: Peruvian bishops. preferential option for the poor ‘[Populorum Progressio] For me, the conference was is implicit in the christological makes clear that authentic an important reaffirmation, as faith in the God who became development has to be well as a new beginning, of the poor for us in order to enrich integral, that is, oriented to Latin American Church’s post us with His poverty (cf. 2 Cor the whole development of Vatican II identity, an identity 8-9).’ This is an explicit each and every person … first vigorously affirmed in confirmation of the and it invites everyone to Medellín in 1968. It represents fundamental thesis grounding overcome those grave social a new beginning because it both experience and inequalities and enormous responds to important changes theological reflection in Latin differences in the access to within Latin America in recent America during the past 40 material goods.’ decades: the impact of years. God’s love extends to all Globalisation: ‘Although globalisation, the continuing persons, and because of this, certain aspects [of and even growing disparities His love is most especially globalisation] represent an between wealthy sectors directed to the poor. The achievement of the great benefiting from the new preferential option for the poor human family … economic reality and the excludes no one and is thus a nevertheless it also carries poverty and exclusion of declaration of the universality the risk of vast monopolies millions, and the threat of of God’s love. Benedict’s words and the conversion of ecological devastation and its were also an implicit rejection economic gain as the consequences especially for the of the idea that such an option, supreme value … As in all poor due to unfettered which is not optional for areas of human activity, economic exploitation. The followers of Jesus, is not based globalisation must be Aparecida document tackles all on sociological or ideological governed by ethics.’ of these and other challenges, premises. Its ground is faith in Social structures: ‘Just and on the whole it comes off, Jesus. structures are … an I believe, with high marks. Caroline Pankhurst/Progressio Caroline

Cultivating the highlands in Cotopaxi province, Ecuador: campesinos throughout Latin America rely on natural resources for their livelihoods.

10 interact Summer 2007 insight: the option for the poor

indispensable condition for a was therefore a crucial decision and, especially, the habitat of just society, but they do not by the bishops, not in any way campesinos and Indians.’ arise or function without the a declaration of independence moral consent of society from Rome, but rather an Facing down poverty regarding fundamental affirmation of Latin American The Aparecida document states values and the necessity of Catholic identity. that the present style of living out these values with globalisation has produced their necessary Defending nature ‘new faces of the poor’. renunciations, even of Among the major themes Globalisation is not something personal benefit.’ coming out of Aparecida, that that benefits all people, but will hopefully serve the Church only a relatively select few. The Latin American roots and Latin American society in document proposes that the The Pope touches of course on the coming years, was ecology. Church join the struggle for a other themes, but the The South American continent new kind of globalisation, what statements above demonstrate is one of the richest areas of the bishops call ‘the that Benedict put a very Latin biodiversity in the world. The globalisation of solidarity’. American flavour on his talk. Amazon rain forest produces Such global solidarity demands None of the topics mentioned close to 30 per cent of the working for the common good: are new in theological planet’s oxygen. The continent ‘Work for the common global reflection and pastoral practice has immense resources in good must promote a just in this part of the Catholic water, minerals, timber, oil and regulation of the world’s world. But that is precisely the gas. All of these resources are in economy, financial point: Benedict in effect put his danger of being destroyed by movements, and commerce. It seal of approval on a way of indiscriminant and unfettered is urgent that external debt be reflecting and living the Gospel economic exploitation. The cancelled to make investment that has its roots in Medellín conference forcefully expressed in the social sector viable. and the succeeding Episcopal its concern over the growing Regulations must be put in conferences during these last devastation and contamination place to prevent and control 40 years. In doing so, Benedict of the natural wealth of the capital speculation. Justice in was letting the bishops know continent, especially for those commerce must be promoted that the ball was in their court, campesino and native along with the progressive and on their terms. populations whose source of lowering of protectionist For the bishops, the first livelihood is curtailed and even barriers by the powerful. Just order of business was the eliminated by the destruction prices for the raw materials question of methodology. The and contamination of the produced by poor countries are Medellín and Puebla natural environment of the urgently needed. There must be documents were structured region. norms created for attracting around the methodology of The struggle for the defense and regulating foreign see–judge–act. Santo Domingo of the natural world is thus a investment and other services.’ in 1992 overturned that new way of living the The Aparecida document is method and put judging, that preferential option for the poor. good news for Latin America is theological reflection, before The Aparecida document puts and its Church. It is not a the assessment (seeing) of it this way: ‘The natural perfect document: for example, concrete reality. It was said resources of Latin America the place of women in the then, falsely I believe, that suffer today an irrational Church and in society is Christian reflection and acting exploitation, which leaves [in considered in the document, cannot be grounded on mere its path] a march of destruction but one gets the feeling that sociological considerations. The and even death throughout our what was said was simply not fallacy in this way of thinking region. The present economic enough. But at least the is based on the idea that model must assume an bishops took the ball that ‘seeing’ reality for a Christian is enormous responsibility. It Benedict threw them and only a sociological task. From a privileges the excessive search played their own game. One of truly Christian perspective, the for wealth, over and above the the priest delegates at the end effort to ‘see’ is always done in lives of individuals and peoples of the conference put it this the light of the Gospel. and the care of the natural way: ‘The spirit of Medellín is Before the conference the environment. The devastation alive!’ It is a spirit that is alive great majority of national of our forests and its and well and open to the new Episcopal conferences biodiversity by selfish and challenges of our day. requested that the depredatory practices implies a methodology of see–judge–act moral responsibility of those Francis Chamberlain is a member be reinstated. The decision on who so act. It puts in danger of the Chicago Province of the the structure of the document the lives of millions of persons Society of Jesus.

Summer 2007 interact 11 action

(Association of Municipalities of Nueva Segovia), one of our local partners in Nicaragua, works in areas of extreme rural Putting the poverty where the unsustainable exploitation of natural resources is causing rapid environmental degradation. The project has been addressing the weakness of local government institutions and the poor first lack of participation of the poor (especially women) in natural resource management, planning mechanisms and Progressio’s environmental advocacy coordinator, Sol Oyuela, local policy. outlines the challenges posed by climate change Overcoming obstacles These initiatives, like others that LIMATE CHANGE is finally making a But environmental degradation is not Progressio supports, aim to enhance the belated appearance at the top of only a cause of poverty; it’s also a resilience of local people in the face of Cthe political agenda, but it doesn’t consequence. The rural poor cannot but climatic changes, whilst promoting their concern only politicians: most of us are continue to rely on natural resources, own skills and knowledge about their making efforts to change our lifestyles in even if this means over-exploiting the social and ecological context. They also response to climate change. To people in already few resources that surround them. take into consideration the needs, the North, this usually means saving In some cases, this means working for aspirations and circumstances of poor energy (turning off lights and appliances, wealthy members of their community in farmers, by involving them in decision- using energy saving bulbs, switching to a activities that contribute to environmental making over environmental resources. We green energy provider) and polluting less degradation (such as mineral extraction believe that the possibility of people (driving less, using a train instead of a and logging). gaining control over the resources that plane, reducing, reusing and recycling our The mutually reinforcing relationship determine their lives is key to overcoming waste). between poverty and environmental poverty. But have you ever stopped to think problems requires solutions that address We also believe that it is crucial to what climate change means to the both aspects. For Progressio, this means bring the voices of those most vulnerable world’s poor? Last May, the to environmental degradation to global Intergovernmental Panel on Climate People gaining control over policy debates. Our international Change (IPCC) published a report that the resources that advocacy work on the environment aims concluded that the most devastating to make this a reality. Whilst the climate effects of climate change will be felt by determine their lives is key change agenda has only recently become those with the least resources to adapt – to overcoming poverty prominent in the North, poor the 1.4 billion poor throughout the communities in developing countries have developing world. supporting the rational and local been struggling with its effects for some This finding shouldn’t come as a management of natural resources to time. The international community has a surprise to anyone. The livelihoods of the improve the lives of the poor. This lot to learn from the strategies and world’s poor, especially in rural areas, are includes promoting sustainable cultivation techniques that poor communities have strongly linked to a reliance on the natural practices and resource management developed over the years to respond to environment. The rural poor’s basic needs techniques, whilst improving productivity, natural climate variability. We are are met by natural resources. These income and living conditions in small committed to exploring and provide them with food, energy, water, farming communities throughout the understanding what adaptation to climate housing, good health, and a means to developing world. change means at the grassroots level, and employment and income generation. For example, in Ecuador Progressio promoting the scaling up of those supports the work of a local successful experiences. Links to poverty environmental NGO called CEA Today northern countries are at last Progressio believes that responses to the (Coordinadora Ecuatoriana de facing up to the problem. However, the challenges of climate change need to Agroecologia). CEA promotes challenge now lies in incorporating recognise the mutually reinforcing agroecology, building on traditional developing countries into these processes. relationship between poverty and the knowledge and the use of local resources Given that their people are the most environment. to develop farming systems that are vulnerable to the effects of climate Poor people stress that as the quality environmentally sustainable and that change, it is their needs and demands of the physical environment declines guarantee the food security of rural which need to be at the forefront of (infertile soil, deforestation, pasture communities. global policy processes. Progressio’s degradation and decreasing fish stocks) To Progressio, finding sustainable programmes and advocacy work are their livelihood opportunities become solutions to environmental and poverty committed to making this happen. more limited as their ability to generate problems means including the poor in the an income is constrained. This makes decisions on managing natural resources Sol Oyuela is Progressio’s environmental

Lucy Cathcart/Progressio them more vulnerable to future shocks. that are so crucial for their lives. AMUNSE advocacy coordinator.

12 interact Summer 2007 I wealthy people. plantations becausetheyare ownedby rural areas, exceptforthecoffee she says, isnotinterestedgovernment, in representative forElSalvador. The to CarmenMedina,Progressio’s country accordingneglected bythegovernment, of themainproblems theyare facing. toaddresslobby thegovernment some management sothattheycaneffectively management, advocacyandproject training theminleadership,risk with thesecommunityrepresentatives by sidelines ofthemeeting.Hehasworked worker withFUMA,standsonthe and prioritiesforthecomingyear. together todecideontheirneeds,plans organisation FUMA.Thegroup hascome worker withProgressio partner lakeside communities,andoutreach the committeewhichrepresents allthe says JosefaElisabethAvila, treasurer of who liveonitsshores. blessing andacursetothecommunities by volcanoes.Yet thislakeisbotha nestled betweensteephillsoverlooked the settingseemsidyllicaslakesits dying from diarrhoeaandarsenic result manypeopleare sick andeven shallow depthare heavily polluted.Asa hand-dug wellswhichduetotheir have togettheirdrinkingwater from geology ofthearea. Thecommunities which occurnaturallyduetothevolcanic faeces, andbyarsenicotherminerals land forfood,byanimalandhuman the hillswhere thecommunitiescultivate heavily polluted:byfertiliserrun-off from communities usefordrinkingwater–is groundwater sources –whichthe drinking water. Thelakeandsurrounding committee issecuringaccesstoclean lake sothattheycanenforce thislaw. environmental policetobepostedthe So, thepeopleare nowaskingfor enforce itbecausehehascattlehimself. suspect thatthemayordoesnotwantto is notbeingenforced. Somepeople cattle gonearthelake.However, thelaw law forbiddingpeoplefrom letting their toadoptanew lobbied thegovernment from animalfaeces,thecommunities In order toreduce pollutionofthelake Pollution Lake Olomega.Onfirstimpressions, crowded countryofElSalvadorlies H A SOUTH FAR THE N Rural communitiesgenerallyfeel Hans Joel,Progressio’s development ‘The daythefishdieout,weout,’ One ofthebiggestprioritiesfor - EAST of thesmall, writes JoanneGreen A communityinElSalvadorisstandingupforitsrighttocleanwater, water Clear drink it,’oneoftheleaderscommented. old wellsispollutedbutwestillhaveto not thecar. We knowthewaterfrom the the wateryet,it’s likewehavethegasbut water totheirhomes.‘We are notusing didnot installpipestodeliver government it wasperfectquality. However, the After theydugitthewaterwastestedand mechanically dugtoadepthof80metres. successful andthenewwellhasbeen Theywerelobby thegovernment. mayor’s office todeveloptheproposal and ministry. Theyworkedwiththelocal which theytooktothegovernment developed aproposal foranewdeepwell Recently 25peoplehavedied. poisoning whichcauseskidneyfailure. to go,andalthoughthepeoplehave of diarrhoea.Butthere isstillalongway latrines whichhaslowered theincidence communities withbuildingcomposting FUMA hasalsosupportedthe of thecommunitieslives:forexample, Progress hasbeenmadeonmanyaspects Progress The communities’leaderstherefore

Nick Sireau/Progressio

Joanne Green/Progressio manager. Joanne GreenisProgressio’s advocacy stand upandexpress ourneeds.’ thank FUMAforteachingushowto for helpwithourprojects! We wantto El SalvadorianPresident andaskedhim political rallynearbyandIwentuptothe Minister. Infact,recently there wasa feel confidentenoughtospeakthe andcaneven afraid ofthegovernment front ofanyaudienceandI’mnoteven audience, Iwillcry!Butnowcangetin have tosayanythinginfront ofan training: ‘IwassoshythatIthoughtif Granado, recalled thatbefore Fuma’s the communityleaders,Toribio Mejía lives. Atthecommitteemeeting,oneof ability tomakeadifference totheirown leaders thattheyhavetheskillsand confidence onthepartofcommunity Hans andFUMAhaveleftisastrong implemented. change andnewprojects are fully they stillfacechallengesinmakingsure achieved successintheirlobbyingefforts, Yet onelastingpositiveimpactthat Summer 2007 Toribio MejíaGranado. Avila; above:HansJoel; left: Top left:JosefaElisabeth viewpoint interact 13

Joanne Green/Progressio viewpoint Helping Young people in Zimbabwe are helping their communities face the challenges of HIV and AIDS, writes Progressio development worker Christopher Nyamandi hands

N MANY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, young because, with high unemployment, out people find it hard to get involved in of school youths are often idle and thus IHIV and AIDS initiatives due to socio- vulnerable to peer pressure cultural, economic and political experimentation.

challenges. In Zimbabwe, the Janice Flower/Progressio government has addressed this problem Youth friendly by introducing coherent curricula on the Batsirai’s approach involves setting up pandemic for school children. This has ‘youth friendly corners’ at heath centres introduced the HIV and AIDS agenda to (such as clinics and hospitals), schools children in school. The challenge now is and other community centres. The to maintain the momentum with out of youths carry out HIV and AIDS activities school youths, who are often grappling through arts, sports and other with the harsh economic context of high campaigns. One example is the youth unemployment, hyperinflation and friendly corner at Alaska, a former general social decay. mining suburb in Chinhoyi municipality Progressio partner organisation where the majority of the residents are Batsirai has responded by setting up an now unemployed following closure of innovative youth programme that aims the mine. Progressio development worker Christopher to enable young people to themselves be The Alaska Youth Friendly Corner Nyamandi. the agents of behavioural change, was started in 2001 and currently has a through training in peer education. membership of more than 25 out-of- revolved around fighting stigma and Batsirai – which literally translated means school youths, of whom 10 are young discrimination, positive living, self-help ‘a helping hand’ – believes that working women. The primary aim was to carry and general information sharing. At the with these youths presents a window of out HIV and AIDS campaigns among time young people (especially boys) were hope for an HIV-free generation. youths using community based structures not involved in caring for people living Capturing them with information and such as churches, clubs/societies and with HIV and AIDS, so there was no behaviour change tools is critical other community groups. The message connection in their minds between infection and its consequences. As the impact of the pandemic continued unabated, this gap could only be closed by involving young people in care work. The attitude of adults is sometimes to

Janice Flower/Progressio want to protect young people, thus underestimating their potential and preventing them from reaching out to others and contributing to their communities. The ‘Young People We Care’ concept was therefore introduced to encourage and enable young people to participate in caring for families infected or affected by HIV and AIDS. This concept, used in conjunction with other participatory methodologies such as Peer Education Training and the Stepping Stones Methodology, aims to encourage youths to support children, their peers and adults who are living in communities and are infected or affected Young men at the poultry project. by AIDS.

14 interact Summer 2007 viewpoint

Community care After the training, youths in Alaska Growing up became more involved in community HIV has resulted in unusually high levels of orphans and vulnerable children. At activities such as road maintenance and Chikonohono Primary School in Chinhoyi, a teacher who did work experience repair, visiting home-based care clients, with Batsirai during his studies has responded by setting up ‘The Helping Hand counselling children (especially orphans) Project’. Working with 38 pupils from a grade 4 class and with support from and helping people with chronic illness Batsirai, the school resuscitated a dormant agricultural garden. The project’s with household chores such as fetching aims included generating an income to pay school fees and buying school items water and firewood. To date the youth for the most needy orphans, teaching and discussing HIV and AIDS-related life group has visited 203 households and skills, and developing the children’s capacity for self help while strengthening offered support and assistance to them. social cohesion within the school. They have participated in seven funerals The first harvest, of peas and carrots, generated Z$24,000 in sales – a (usually Zimbabwean funerals are respectable sum at the time, considering that no fertilisers were used and the accompanied by all-night vigils and are land is quite small. From this income, the club bought 28 exercise books and attended by adults) and have repaired paid school fees for one orphan. In addition some of the money was used to 500 metres of gravel road surface that is buy seeds and fertiliser; Batsirai also contributed seeds and fertiliser. The teacher used by the public. plans to inter-crop maize and beans so as to maintain or enhance the fertility of In addition to these care activities the the soil. This is expected to boost income at the next harvest. group started recreational games and The project struggles with water shortages and thefts, but the school is in the arts. They are involved in drama and process of engaging with the community to make people understand the value poetry and they have used these as a of the garden to children in need. For their part, the children have learnt that tool for communicating AIDS through their own efforts they can make a difference in the lives of their information. Their group is now colleagues. They have found that through group discussions they are free to registered as a performing arts group discuss their problems with their peers, and they are learning new life skills that with the National Arts Council, meaning will stand them in good stead for the future. they can perform for a fee at any designated place. The group has since shot a video on child abuse and written over 12 plays that they perform at Elvis Ngaura with some of his schools, churches, and other public chickens. places. The group uses music during all their activities: in fact music seems to be Christopher Nyamandi a part of their daily life. They keep guests, group members and community leaders entertained through music and dance every time they meet. Their music revolves around social life in present day Zimbabwe and gives emphasis to the fight against HIV and AIDS.

Building livelihoods With support from Batsirai, the group Raphael Grey, a former member of He says: ‘Being a member of the group has also started two income generating the group who is now employed in has given me an entrepreneurship activities: a poultry project and a Botswana, said: ‘Being a member of this spirit… The skills I have learnt are not vegetable garden. After receiving 100 youth group helped me gain confidence. only relevant for the group but I have chicks and poultry mash for the first Now I can think critically and logically. assimilated them into my personal life.’ cycle of the poultry project, they I can express myself well and analyse The success of this group is evident. managed to raise and sell the chickens to situations to come up with rational and Members feel more secure and exude a start again for the second and third well thought out decisions for my beam of confidence. The songs they cycle. They have through repetitive cycles personal life and my family. The sing, the plays they perform, their sold more than 225 chickens, and information I gained helped me think speeches, the poetry and any other donated others to households with about protecting myself and my family activity speak of one thing: HOPE. A chronically ill patients. The vegetable from HIV. Now I am happily married with hope that through resilience, garden, where carrots, cabbage and two children and would not hesitate to determination and self-reliance the sweet potatoes are grown, also aims to recommend that parents send their youths can make a difference in the face serve the community at large. It is children to the youths group.’ of HIV and AIDS. expected to provide income to the group Some members have also used the to motivate the peer educators and also skills acquired from the Youth Corner to Christopher Nyamandi is a Progressio to push forward their humanitarian develop their own livelihoods. A good development worker with Batsirai. He is assistance to clients under home based example is Elvis Ngaura, 19 years old, based in Chinhoyi, 112 km west of care. who has started his own poultry project. Harare.

Summer 2007 interact 15 reportage

Chewing qat is part of the culture in Yemen – something but it doesn’t come without a price

Words and pictures: David Tanner to chew on

A typical rural village sits atop a hill in Yemen on the outskirts of the capital Sana’a. The barren landscape is typical of much of rural Yemen, where water is a precious commodity. Available fresh water per person per year is only 220 cubic metres – well below the internationally recognised ‘scarcity level’ of 1,000 cubic metres per person per year. Experts working on water have predicted that the capital Sana’a could run dry as early as 2015. To address the problem, governmental and non-governmental organisations across Yemen are undertaking a variety of programmes aimed at enabling communities to take control of their water resources, conserve and ration water in a more equitable manner, and gain access to improved water sources – typically helping to lower the workload of women and girls, the traditional drawers of water. Progressio-Yemen is currently researching the possibilities for Progressio development workers to work on issues around water in Yemen.

Qat fields often occupy the best agricultural land – an oasis of green in an otherwise barren landscape. These fields are dotted with watchtowers, from where armed men guard the valuable qat bushes day and night. Qat – which has been grown, traded and chewed in Yemen for centuries and has a social function much like alcohol (which is banned in Yemen) – is now mostly cultivated on good fertile lands. For healthy growth and a good crop, qat requires a significant amount of regular watering – a problem in such a water scarce country. A more recent problem associated with the use of qat is the application of pesticides to the plant which are then absorbed by the qat plant and subsequently by the qat chewers themselves.

A local youth bundles qat for sale from his family stall. Traditionally most Yemeni men will buy their bundle of qat during the lunchtime hours in preparation for an afternoon chewing session. Qat is a major part of Yemeni society economically as well as socially. The financial transactions involved in qat production and its sale – land, water, pesticides, fertilisers, picking, transport, bundling and sale – account for an estimated 16 per cent of the national economy and 22 per cent of the total workforce. Qat gradually loses potency from the moment it is picked, so the network of growers, transporters and sellers is highly organised to ensure that freshly picked qat is always available for sale by lunchtime in all cities, towns and villages across Yemen.

16 interact Summer 2007 reportage

An afternoon qat chewing session in the mountain village Nick Sireau/Progressio of Raymah. All over the country, Yemeni men gather in the early afternoon to chew qat together and discuss everything and anything from politics, history and religion to local gossip and rumour. Qat chewing sessions are exclusively male affairs: chewing qat is traditionally a male preserve, and chewing by women is frowned upon. Because important matters are discussed and decided at qat chewing sessions, the tradition is a significant way in which women in Yemen are excluded from participating in debate and decision-making.

A money changer with a ‘pouch’ of chewed qat leaves collected in his cheek over a long afternoon’s chewing. Yemenis tend not to swallow or spit out the chewed qat but slowly collect it in one cheek (Somalis, who also chew qat, tend mostly to swallow the chewed leaves). Qat leaves contain a very low level of an amphetamine-like chemical which is absorbed into the bloodstream when chewed. If enough is chewed and for long enough, it can lead to a feeling of clarity and heightened perception, and a mild sense of euphoria. Chewers tend to become more voluble, and the conversation tends to become more free-flowing, the longer the chewing session goes on. Qat reduces tiredness and prolonged chewing can lead to insomnia – indeed, it is often chewed by long distance lorry drivers to keep them awake. Qat is not believed to be addictive and has few long-term medical side effects, but heavy use over a long period can in rare cases lead to psychological problems – although the use of qat is certainly much less damaging than tobacco or alcohol, for example.

A range of locally grown vegetables on sale at a shop in the capital, Sana’a. One of the problems associated with the production of qat is that fertile land and water – both extremely valuable and scarce resources in Yemen – are given over to qat production rather than for the production of vegetables, fruits and grains. Additionally, as qat is relatively expensive, it means that although its production is highly profitable for those lucky enough to grow it, the average man buying qat uses a significant proportion of the family income for its purchase. This can result in a lack of funds for family needs such as children’s school fees, clothing or even food: studies have revealed a direct link in some families between child malnutrition and parental use of qat.

A small bush festooned with plastic bags thrown away by qat chewers. Another problem associated with qat is the environmental pollution caused by the thousands and thousands of plastic bags that are used to carry and sell qat and are not disposed of properly. Roadsides, trees and bushes around qat selling and chewing areas are typically strewn with plastic bags, which, as they are non- biodegradable, last for hundreds of years. Rubbish collection and disposal outside the main cities is limited, and litter is a frequent eyesore – and a growing health risk – by roadsides and in villages and rural areas.

Summer 2007 interact 17 interview

Melody Pazan overcomes challenges with a smile.

promoting ambitious projects in the university. The women’s association is

Belisario Nieto/Progressio pushing for a university nursery, as lack of childcare is a big reason for female students dropping out. I’m a mother, I’m divorced, I’m studying for my degree practically full-time, so I know the obstacles that women students have to overcome. For women with children, if you don’t have the support of your parents or your family, there is no opportunity to move forward. Even among my classmates, there are women who say ‘I’m pregnant, I’m going to quit university’. We should say to them ‘no’, because the women who drop out end up getting low-paid jobs and locking themselves into a state of poverty. We know that men are the ones who wash their hands when it comes down to it, at least here in Moving Ecuador. That’s my situation too: I don’t receive any financial help from my daughter’s father, I have to pay my university fees, I’m studying and working as well. forward I guess for the rest of my life there will always be difficulties, but one way or another I will work them out. Women Melody Pazan, a student and women’s activist, talks about the are capable, and there have been many struggles that she and other Ecuadorian women face examples, and mine is just one such case, isn’t it? ’M THE CURRENT PRESIDENT of the University best and worst adverts [see Interact, In five years I see myself doing the Women’s Association here at Cuenca spring 2007]. I think people have now same, working for women, in the IState University, in Ecuador. The grasped what it is about, and how political field. I really like politics, issues association aims to help female students sexism works in advertising and the to do with countries, struggles for… not respond to the problems women face in media. just women, but people. I think I’m society. Drop-out rates at the university When I was younger, I didn’t even going to stay within this same field. are much higher for female than male think about what gender was. It wasn’t From my experience, I will be saying students, and this is down to something that was even mentioned at to my daughter, always move forward. discrimination, a lack of resources, a lack school. I only started to think about Accept life’s difficulties but never let of support for women. Our aim is to these issues at university, through my adversities bring you down. And trust change this. involvement with the women’s your family, trust people. Many times For the past two years, we have organisations. Women are marginalised when we encounter problems, when helped GAMMA [a Progressio partner in lots of ways: because of everything is black, everything is dark, organisation] bring its exhibition on discrimination, because of poverty, there are friends around you who are sexism in advertising to the university. because of neglect… I can even see an ready to lend a hand to help you. The first time, it was a new issue for the example of this in my profession. I’m The thing that has always motivated students. Some of them understood studying medicine, and at the moment me and has made me feel good about what it was about, and some didn’t. I’m on a psychiatry rotation, in a things is to think about my daughter. Some were a bit shocked by it. The next psychiatry surgery. And it’s mostly When you’re a mother, you need to stay year, though, people were more women who come for appointments, calm and look at the solution. I know interested, and joined in to vote for the because of violence, because of suicide that if I don’t do my part, I will just pass attempts, because of discrimination, my problems onto my daughter. So I because of the frustrations that women have to be the best I can, for her. ‘Women are marginalised face. in lots of ways: because When I see this it gives me the Melody Pazan was interviewed by motivation to continue the fight, to Belisario Nieto, Progressio’s programme of discrimination, because of continue working with women, to coordinator for Latin America and the poverty, because of neglect…’ continue supporting women, even Caribbean.

18 interact Summer 2007 reflection

HERE WAS WATER before the beginning of humanity. It was Tvapour and when it was condensed it turned itself into drops of water. The Water life of micro-organisms began in the water as did the living beings that in time came to live on the land. During our existence as human beings we have established a deep and permanent relationship with water. It begins before we are born, as we grow for life in the womb. Water facilitates the Take care of water as the water takes care of you, writes neurological process by which the brain Mónika Galeano Velasco produces a thought. Our bodies are made up of a high proportion of water. It is essential to the physiological processes well as to possess and to limit it. opposite. We will run out of water unless of our digestive and circulatory systems. We used to find a lot of pure water we take the responsibility to protect, to We belong to water because it gives but now the little we still have is preserve and to respect the natural us life; but water does not belong to us, contaminated. It does not flow as it used resources we still have. it is free. It flows wherever it finds a bed to do and occasionally, when it is not To restore the relationship between to follow. It is both deep and superficial expected, it bursts with all its power, water and the human being is a personal at the same time: it is within the bowels flooding cities, forests and fields. of the earth, and it also gushes out to People worldwide are denied the We belong to water because the surface as a spring. It is immaterial human right to enjoy a decent life by the lack of water or the contamination of it gives us life; but water the supplies they have. But while many does not belong to us are suffering the lack of the water they People worldwide are need, others are fighting between them choice. It is also an act of deep solidarity denied the human right to to have control over it. They have and love to Mother Nature, in order to enjoy a decent life by the forgotten that it does not belong to achieve balance and harmony in our lack of water or the anybody but is a natural resource of the temporary and quick passage over the contamination of the planet and a life resource too. earth. It is time for us to appreciate the supplies they have relationship we have with water and Mónika Galeano Velasco is a Progressio overcome the perception that it is an development worker with Fundacion inexhaustible resource. Global warming Arcoiris in Honduras, working on human but also mouldable, becoming the shape and its consequences are showing us the rights and advocacy on HIV and AIDS. we want to give it when we contain it in a bottle or vessel. It flows past the same places over and over again, but the water that runs past is never the same, it is always new. We can see through it and yet it has hidden depths. It is peaceful and it brings us peace: it is enough to contemplate its immensity and at the same time to listen to the sound of its voice to take away the sadness from the heart. We can compare its purity with the love human beings are able to give. Water has relaxing properties and it can even relieve stress: to feel water sliding down the skin or to be submerged in it is a delightful experience that can produce pleasant sensations of peace, calm and happiness. Yet, even though water has an important meaning for human life, we have rejected its generosity. Our relationship is seriously damaged and the main cause of this serious damage is the human wish to have control over it, as A drawing by Lili Vanesa Membreño, a Grade 8 student in Culmi, Olancho, Honduras.

Summer 2007 interact 19 review Visions of development Marigold Best reviews a new book that looks at the development role of faith and inter-faith movements

ELIGION IS LIKE A COW. It kicks, but Both Swadhyaya and Sarvodaya, by The book also takes us to Cameroon, it also gives milk,’ said the bringing out the best in every individual Brazil, Guatemala, Ethiopia, Indonesia ‘RHindu mystic Ramakrishna. member of the community regardless of and Chile to see how different faiths, in Development theorists and agencies background, enable people to transform very different situations, produce that have tended to shun the religious cow as all aspects of life, including the natural empowering energy. ‘In all the stories we retrograde and divisive, but recently environment, by their own efforts. These see how important the melding of there have been attempts to identify and are not small idealistic daydreams. spirituality and common sense is for revalue the milch cow. One such was the Swadhyaya has drawn in more than 20 people who believe that development is World Faiths Development Dialogue set million people in 100,000 villages and about human flourishing in all its up in 1998 with the sponsorship of the Sarvodaya is working in about 15,000 dimensions,’ writes Tyndale. then Archbishop of Canterbury, George villages. It has also set up a Peace Centre She does not expect any of these Carey and the then President of the for Peoples of All Nations and is training movements ‘to come up with a blueprint World Bank, James Wolfensohn. young Hindus, Muslims, Christians and for alternative development plans for the Wendy Tyndale was the first Buddhists in conflict resolution and world, but they can and do provide coordinator of the WFDD, and as the building ‘trust and understanding signposts to direct us towards a different editor of Visions of development: Faith- through programmes on health and way of ordering life based on different based initiatives (Ashgate, 2006) has education’. Such inclusiveness is an values and a different quality of produced an inspiring book featuring a important characteristic of all the relationships among human beings and selection of the many different faith and initiatives studied. It means openness to between them and their natural inter-faith movements and organisations people of all religions and castes and full environment.’ How greatly we all need she came to know in that role. Each is participation for women. that! The only shame with this invaluable described by one of its leaders and then But the inclusiveness of the milch cow book is that, at £45, its message may be ‘case-studied’ by Tyndale. ‘Each in their can be a red rag to the kicking cow, as priced out of the reach of many who own way,’ she says, ‘they are wrestling shown by the fascinating story of the would benefit from reading it. with the question of what the most truly struggles of the fish workers of Kerala, a human way of living might be in the state with a sizeable Christian Marigold Best is the co-author with context of our age.’ population. In the southern tip almost all Pamela Hussey of several Progressio/CIIR This may involve a radical change in the fisherfolk are Latin Catholics and in publications, most recently the Comment the way God is understood and the 1960s the local bishop and some A question of commitment. Marigold is a worshipped. The germinal idea of India’s progressive clergy, inspired by Vatican II, former Latin America Programme Swadhyaya movement, inspired by the started to support the fishermen who Coordinator for Quaker Peace & Service. Bhagavad Gita, is ‘to develop an were trying to hold on to their livelihood awareness of an in-dwelling God – the in the face of the arrival of destructive divine presence in every human being … mechanised trawlers. Devotion is not an introverted activity This certainly produced a new view of [but] a social force.’ Worship has to be the meaning of Christianity ‘as a living channelled ‘through constructive work faith concerned not only with spiritual towards collective good’. matters but also with justice and peace in The Sarvodaya Movement in Sri Lanka this world’. The progressives helped the is based on Buddhist concepts, updated fish workers to start trade unions, which to fit the needs and concerns of villages in 1982 came together as a federation; today. Sarvodaya means ‘awakening’ and insisted that Muslims and Hindus (spiritual, moral, cultural, social, economic should be included. The inclusive and political) which the movement organisation has flourished and brought believes can overcome ‘the psychological about important improvements for the impotence gripping the rural poor’ and, fishing communities, ‘inspired by an all- by ‘tapping their innermost beliefs and embracing spirituality: an empowering values’, awaken them to their personal energy whose source, they say, is not and collective power. confined to any one spiritual tradition.’

20 interact Summer 2007