Interact Autumn 2007 Contents Editorial 6 3 First Person: Growing Together
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interact The magazine of Seeds of change How agroecology is improving the quality of life in Ecuador Also in this issue: Say No to Terminator Technology Vocational training in Somaliland Keeping the promise on HIV and AIDS ISSN 1816-045X Autumn 2007 interact Autumn 2007 Contents editorial 6 3 first person: growing together Seeds of change 4 news: speaking out on Zimbabwe I hope you will read this issue of Interact and be 6 agenda: the quality of life inspired. Because I was. By the people of Ecuador who are standing up to the colonisation of their insight: seeds of change country – their natural resources, their culture and traditions – by multinational companies, A better living from the land international institutions and global capital. By the 7 Alternatives for food security in Ecuador 10 Progressio development workers like José Jiménez, Alex Amézquita, Rogasian Massue and Chris Nyamandi, whose commitment to their 10 You are what you eat Changing the way food is produced work – and to the people they work with – shines through in the articles they have written for you voices to read. Back to their roots But most of all, I hope that what you read here 12 Farmers in Ecuador talk about agroecology will inspire you to action. Because the people throughout the world struggling to take control action of their lives, in the face of the challenges of poverty, need our support. Whether it is practical 14 Say No to Terminator Technology action such as adding your voice to Progressio’s Join Progressio’s seedsaver campaign campaign against Terminator technology, or financial support for the Progressio development viewpoint workers in countries from East Timor to Ecuador, what you do can make – and does make – a real difference. Training for life 15 16 Vocational training in Somaliland 16 Turning experience into knowledge A radio soap opera for young people in Ecuador 19 17 reflection: open eyes, open mind Cover picture: Nelson Ramon Mamallacta Alvarado, 18 action: keep the promise from Lushian Mariposa in Archidona province in Ecuador, grinding leaves to make a natural insect repellent. Photo: Michelle Lowe 19 reflection: another colonisation Published October 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 The views and opinions in Interact are the authors’ own and do not necessarily reflect Progressio policy. first person Growing together BEGAN WORKING WITH PROGRESSIO in the and promotion of organic products, and organisations have received international Dominican Republic in January 2005, the awarding of small credits, helps certification for the organic production Isupporting the agroecology work of finance the socio-organisational and on their farms. This has enabled the two partner organisations: JUNACAS environmental work. farmers to increase their incomes, (The Salcedo Committee of Farming All the work includes a focus on particularly through the sale of coffee Associations) and CAFESA (Affiliated gender equality – seeking to revalue the and cocoa with an organic stamp. Farmers of Salcedo). I now also support presence of women farmers and Farmers have also been successful at COOPASOL (The Soliman Agroecological establish equal relationships between targeting niche markets for organic and Production and Multiple Services male and female farmers – and relies on fair trade produce. Cooperative). These organisations are participation. This promotes a critical The future vision of these farmers’ made up of male and female farmers in presence and decision-making within the organisations is to develop distribution the northern mountain range of the organisations, and so aims to ensure that channels for the products that bear their Dominican Republic. the agroecological approach is own agroecological stamp. They hope The mountainous zone has many sustainable beyond the timeframe in also that consumers in Europe, the USA valuable natural resources and is very which Progressio works with the and Japan become aware of products productive in terms of agroforestry. Yet, organisations. which originate from farms which are despite these natural assets, people in As a development worker, I have been ecologically managed by producers the region lack basic services such as directly involved in building the capacity committed to the development and drinking water, electricity, sewerage of the organisations to develop their conservation of the environment. To this systems and transport links. agroecological work. Therefore, the most end, the production of a video about My work with the partner important achievement is the existence JUNACAS is being supported. organisations aims to help improve the of a group of technical promoters, My time here has been a personally quality of life of their members, through formed of men and women who are enriching experience, and I can see that the management of natural resources, responsible for implementing the the seeds of change are beginning to institutional strengthening, organic agroecological practices on members’ spread. My counterparts Eugenio Díaz production and joint marketing of their farms. These practices include: (JUNACAS), José Rosario (CAFESA) and agroforestry products. agroforestry management of coffee and Alejandro Sánchez (COOPASOL) are now Having had previous experience of cacao plantations; the production of recognised agroecology experts and working with different farmers’ vegetables and other short cycle crops, promoters who are starting to act, organisations in Ecuador, my home especially in order to improve the diet of consciously, as change facilitators. That country, I have learnt that the needs of participant families; soil conservation; is, they are working together with people small-scale farmers are similar in different production of organic fertilisers; from rural areas on the management of developing countries, as is the state in environmental assessment and natural resources available to them. They which the natural resources are found. interpretation; reforestation using native are leading and carrying out actions for a The work carried out by JUNACAS, species; ecological management of common interest, in order to achieve CAFESA and COOPASOL is based on household waste; improvement in the community development. three principal components: socio- basic infrastructure for the postharvest of organisational, environmental and coffee and cocoa; and supporting joint José Antonio Jiménez Vélez is a economic. The economic component commercial activity. Progressio development worker in the underpins the others: joint marketing During the last two years, two of the Dominican Republic. Autumn 2007 interact 3 news depressing and salutary reminder their homes and jobs, attacks on Zimbabwe: of what happens to opposition the independent media and NGOs, voices. In recent years Archbishop a series of rigged elections, the need to bear witness Ncube had become, in a place torture, kidnappings, murders, and where opposition is not tolerated, ‘urban cleansing’ of the cities to HE RESIGNATION of Pius Ncube, conspicuous as a courageous and divide and destroy the opposition. one of the fiercest critics of effective channel of opposition. He In May Pius said: ‘Five hundred Tthe Zimbabwean was one of the few church leaders people die of AIDS every day, but government, from his position as speaking the truth to those in Mugabe does nothing to improve Archbishop of Bulawayo, came as power. Lately the Zimbabwean health. They are a mafia. A few no surprise, writes Dr Steve Kibble. churches, notably the Catholic people are stinking rich and the The bishop is being sued by a Bishops, have spoken out to majority are below the poverty Bulawayo man, Onesimus denounce the current regime. The line. The people are being fed by Sibanda, for allegedly having a Easter Pastoral letter ‘God Hears the World Food Programme - a two-year adulterous relationship the Cry of the Oppressed’ third of us would be dead if it with Sibanda’s estranged wife compared the plight of wasn’t for the help that we’re Rosemary. Whatever the truth of Zimbabweans to the Jewish slaves getting - but Mugabe is still the allegations, many under the Pharaohs. berating the West. He never looks Zimbabweans agree with the Tributes to Ncube’s role into himself and admits his Southern African Catholic Bishops’ abound. Progressio’s executive mistakes. And the truth is that 99 Conference that, like the director, Christine Allen, said: per cent of what we are suffering apartheid regime in South Africa, ‘Progressio is of course extremely is because of this one man.’ the state is attempting to smear sorry to hear that Archbishop Pius In response to the Zimbabwean prominent church opponents with Ncube has tendered his crisis, the EU’s Council of Foreign sex scandals rather than dealing resignation, but the fact that