issue 019 3/4/08 17:50 Page 1 interact The magazine of
Changing lives
How Progressio development workers help change people’s lives
Also in this issue: Illegal logging in Ecuador Women’s roles in Somaliland A question of faith in Yemen
ISSN 1816-045X Spring 2008 issue 019 3/4/08 17:50 Page 2
interact Spring 2008 Contents
editorial 4 3 first person
Changing lives 4 news
In 2005, on a visit to Peru and Ecuador, I met 6 agenda Progressio development worker Jaime Torres (pictured on the front of this Interact). I wrote insight: changing lives at the time (http://incatrials.blogspot.com/): ‘Jaime is a young Colombian who gave up a prestigious job in Bogotá to come to a rural Breaking new ground community to teach farmers to use computers. 7 Patrick Reilly in Somaliland If that sounds stupid, it’s not. It’s really amazing. There are 13,000 farms in the district Outside the comfort zone and they all rely on water distributed through a 8 Michelle Lowe in Ecuador complex system of irrigation channels. The water is controlled by local irrigation councils, Discovery and renewal which need to know how much water to send 9 Charlie Smith in Peru where, and when. The irrigation councils have to apply to the government to get the water, Growing stronger 11 so need to know how much water is needed, 10 Sanne te Pas in El Salvador and when. The farmers need to know which crops to plant and when, so that they can get Playing our part the best prices, and be sure they will have 11 Stephanie Boyd in Peru enough water for the crops to grow… ‘Jaime has devised a database system to The hurricane that brings good collate all the information, and a wireless 13 Jane Freeland in Nicaragua’s Caribbean Coast internet system to make it accessible to the farmers and the irrigation councils… [He has] viewpoint faced problems head on, solved them creatively, and created a sustainable system that provides a simple, workable solution to a Finding yourself problem faced by an entire district of farms. 14 Culture and identity in Peru It’s like one of those enlarged pictures of snowflakes: it’s complex, simple and beautiful, Steps on the road to equality all at one time. I was very impressed.’ 15 Women in decision-making in Somaliland Meeting Jaime and other Progressio development workers brought home to me the The process of recognition 15 value of the work that we do, and the people 16 Haitian migrants in the Dominican Republic who do it. I hope that this edition of Interact will give you a similar insight into their work. Defending the last primary forest 17 Illegal logging in Ecuador
18 opinion
19 action Cover picture:Graham Freer/Progressio
Published April 2008 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!
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first person
Frank Tondeur with his counterpart from Harsh realities, ADM, Daysi Rivera. ask poor people to go on bearing the costs of environmental protection, for the simple reason that it is immoral. So, positive attitudes if a tax was imposed on every plastic bottle found on a company’s premises, ANY PEOPLE will have wondered degree of literacy. Even malnutrition instead of the people who threw them why Nicaragua, despite having among the most vulnerable sections of out being fined, it would make those Minvested millions of dollars in the population, which prevents their companies change their attitudes and environmental education (it is said that effectively assimilating information, has look for a solution to the problem. its per capita investment in training is the been taken into account. At the same time, if we offered an highest in the world), has not achieved And of course, it has been noted that incentive to those who do not use the hoped-for results in tackling people living in poverty plunder the pollutants, those who prevent pollution, environmental problems: its rivers are forests in order to survive, even though and those who make an effort to preserve becoming ever drier, its water more they know it is wrong. It has also been natural resources, many people would contaminated and its forest-cover less said that other attitudes exist that have soon change their attitudes. Because we extensive. nothing to do with survival (such as also need a new culture that goes beyond Naturally, there are a number of throwing rubbish out in the street) and the principle ‘the polluter pays’. factors at work, but our present concern which, despite the campaigns that have International development is to find out if training programmes are been waged, do not appear to change. organisations and governments have really changing the behaviour of those What is certain is that to change invested millions in educating people involved. People have spoken of the people’s attitudes requires a process of often without measuring the real impact pressures affecting society: the training and consciousness-raising that of these efforts. For those organisations impossibility for a human being to may take many years. How, for example, maybe the time has come to think about concentrate, when listening to a talk, can we explain to people the importance following a new strategy [one that because of the many problems besetting of collecting rubbish when they have involves listening and empowering] if we him or her. And that is a harsh reality in lived in the midst of it since they were want things to change, before it is too Nicaragua. children, and see it as normal? late. Questions have also been raised about The other approach is to exert one’s talks given by development workers that influence so that the real polluters, those Franck Tondeur is a Progressio involve little participation, and the lack of who produce the rubbish and the development worker with ADM (the a methodology for popular education agrochemicals, bear the costs of Association for Municipal Development) needed to ‘teach’ groups with a limited decontamination. We cannot continue to in Boaco, Nicaragua. He is from Belgium.
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Participants brought experiences from across Latin America to the conference Somaliland in Cuenca, Ecuador. media Michelle Lowe/Progressio churches have been active in covers HIV prevention, training and care of people living with HIV, others have and AIDS been silent or indifferent to the problem. stories Religious leaders working on HIV and AIDS in eight countries in Latin America presented their OURNALISTS IN SOMALILAND met experiences to an audience drawn with people living with HIV from churches, faith-based Jand AIDS at a Progressio- Latin American organisations and social sponsored meeting in December, organisations including Anglican, to hear their stories and gain a churches discuss Jewish, Methodist, Baptist, better understanding of how to Evangelical, and Catholic churches. present HIV and AIDS issues in the responses to HIV Development workers and staff media. from Progressio also took part. Following the meeting, and AIDS Participants were encouraged Progressio and partner to analyse HIV not just as a organisation Talowadag helped set IVERSE FAITH COMMUNITIES from medical problem, but as an issue up an editorial committee to across Latin America came which causes rights violations, advise and support newspaper Dtogether in Cuenca, poverty, emotional trauma and journalists writing on HIV and Ecuador, in March to discuss damage to bodies and souls AIDS. The initiative is supported by experiences and perspectives on through discrimination and the Mandeeq group of HIV and AIDS. isolation. newspapers whose journalists will The conference – titled ‘Know At the end of the event a joint be encouraged to write regular the truth and it will set you free’ declaration was drafted which articles on the realities of living (John 8:32) – was organised by the takes a stand against moralistic or with HIV and AIDS. Social Pastoral of the Cuenca simplistic responses and the idea Progressio development worker Archdiocese (a Progressio partner that HIV and AIDS is a Eliezer Wangulu commented: ‘This organisation) with the support of ‘punishment’ inflicted by God. The will be a major breakthrough in the Catholic Relief Service and declaration affirms Christians’ and enabling people living with HIV Progressio. churches’ support, love and and AIDS to share their The organisers were keen to solidarity for all people living with experiences and hence contribute open up an ecumenical dialogue HIV and AIDS and their immensely in the fight against on the topic because they commitment to work on the stigma and discrimination, which recognise that while many theme. is rife in Somaliland.’
Film challenges attitudes to migration
TTITUDES TO MIGRATION are migrate to the US and Europe, explored from the how they live, what they do and Aperspective of Dominicans the social prejudice surrounding and Haitians in a new film directed them. by Progressio development worker By providing a rare opportunity Tigu Guimarães. for Dominicans and Haitians to El desafío de la convivencia share their similar migratory (The challenge of coexistence) will experiences, the film aims to be premiered in Santo Domingo, improve understanding and interactnow the capital of the Dominican tolerance between the two Republic, in April. The film neighbours, and to show how Read more about Dominico-Haitians on page 16. To find out more about El desafío de la convivencia go to explores why Haitians migrate to policy-making can influence www.eldesafiodelaconvivencia.blogspot.com/ the Dominican Republic and draws people’s experiences both parallels with why Dominicans positively and negatively.
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to hold referendums on issues of Communities in Peru local concern. It also urged the government to initiate a dialogue say ‘no’ to mining process with leaders and civil society groups from the three N 16 SEPTEMBER, 2007, three documented community affected communities. The separate districts in opposition to a proposed mining pressure worked and the Onorthern Peru held project in Tambogrande. Progressio government initiated formal referendums on whether to allow development worker Stephanie negotiations in Piura, the state mining on their land. These Boyd, who worked with Guarango where the concession is located, agricultural communities depend to produce the film Tambogrande: with leaders and stakeholders. on water for their livelihood and Mangos, Murder, Mining, said: ‘It During the talks the government are concerned about mining’s was exciting to see a large steadfastly refused to recognise potential impacts on their scarce delegation of observers from the results of the referendum and and fragile resources. Tambogrande monitoring the in response community leaders Although the referendums were referendum. The Tambograndinos suspended the negotiations. non-binding, about 53% of eligible were proud that their story had Magdiel Carrion, president of voters in the three communities inspired the communities affected the Farmer’s Federation of came out to vote. Many of them by the Majaz project to hold their Ayabaca, vows that they will had to walk several hours or even own referendum.’ continue the struggle until their days to reach their voting centre. During the referendum cloud forest is declared a protected, More than 97% voted against campaign, the Majaz case gained non-mining zone: ‘because if we allowing mining into their zone. nationwide attention. It was allow them to contaminate our In the months preceding the discussed on Peru’s top-rated news water, everyone who eats our crops referendums, Progressio partner magazine programmes and will be contaminated,’ he says. organisation Guarango provided garnered front page stories in media advocacy training and major newspapers. Peru’s public interactnow technical assistance to community ombudsman’s office responded, Watch English-language versions of the Majaz video spots leaders in the two affected calling on the government to on www.youtube.com (search on Majaz) provinces (Ayabaca and respect the right of local citizens Huancabamba). It conducted a formal workshop, produced video and radio spots to support the campaign, filmed two of the Stephanie Boyd referendums and produced two A woman voting in short videos chronicling the the Ayabaca process, as well as a longer video referendum. report on the Majaz case. (The mining company involved is called Minera Majaz.) All these materials have been compiled into a DVD, which Guarango is distributing to community leaders and media and activist groups at the local, national and international level. A previous Guarango film had
Somaliland takes stand The government of Somaliland has since responded by convening against gender violence stakeholder meetings to develop a national gender policy and to ROGRESSIO PARTNER ORGANISATION violence and the break-up of promote an amendment to the Nagaad in Somaliland family ties and cultural values. constitution aimed at increasing Porganised 16 days of activism Following the discussion, the the representation of women in against gender violence in leaders called upon communities Parliament and other political Nov/Dec last year. to work with government to arenas. As well as various awareness- ensure that gender oppression is raising and community education eliminated and that traditional, interactnow activities, Nagaad brought religious and national laws for the See page 15 for more on Nagaad’s ‘women in decision- together religious and traditional promotion of women’s rights are making’ project leaders to discuss domestic in place.
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And likewise in the North, the recent livesimply challenge brings home to us that it is not just how we think that Progressio’s approach to development work is matters, but how we act. We can make about connecting with people and growing with practical changes to our lifestyles that them, writes Christine Allen agenda can help not only the planet, but the people on it. Of course, it’s not easy. Addressing lifestyle changes can be challenging. But Making read the example (page 14) of indigenous Peruvians facing up to centuries of oppression, racism and connections abuse, and our lifestyle challenges become set in a different context. To me, T’S THE NATURE OF ORGANISATIONS TODAY attitudes, consciousness and this means that we find different ways to that we need to look at how effective understanding. This applies to the South live out our solidarity. It all takes place in Iwe are in our work, and be able to as well as here in the North. It would be very different cultural contexts but our demonstrate the difference that we are easy to say that ‘changing minds: overall purpose is to make both a mental making. changing lives’ means changing minds in and physical connection between This edition of Interact looks at our the North and changing lives in the people. development workers and their impact – South, but the reality is more complex. The papal encyclical Populorum and as you will see, it’s the relational Yes, through development workers Progressio talks about sending overseas aspect of the development worker we can make a difference in the lives of not just experts but people who are placement that is so important. It starts people in the South and help partner ‘tempered with love’. Their approach where people are at and develops from organisations achieve real practical must not be domineering but respectful there. It’s not a question of someone change for their communities. Yes, we and seeking to work in a spirit of love. (from the rich North) ‘giving to’ the want to raise awareness here in the Although Progressio development partner in the South. It’s more two-way North and encourage people to take workers can be of all faiths and none, than that. Indeed, many of our action in solidarity and campaign. But this approach is central to their work and development workers are from the equally, changing the attitudes and mission. Reading the articles, you can South, so our model of development is consciousness of those who are poor and imagine the spirit of comradeship, much more a process of mutual growth marginalised, and those who work with and learning. them, can be a necessity for practical Their impact is not just in As I was reading the different articles, change to take place. The women in the strapline that we use – changing Somaliland (page 15) who are standing the work that they do, but minds: changing lives – kept coming into for Parliamentary election or who are so importantly in the way my head. We seek to make a difference already political leaders are the result of that they do it to the lives of people, especially those having their own consciousness raised, who are impoverished and marginalised, as well as having opportunities offered solidarity and love that underpins the but how important it is also to affect and structures opened to them. work they do and the relationships they have. Their impact is not just in the work they do, but so importantly in the way that they do it and the relationships they, and Progressio, have with organisations Katja Eulenberg and people around the world. We are about helping people to grow in their knowledge, ability and capacity, but ultimately the success of our development work is based on us leaving, and people being able to continue to work without us. Sustainable development means strengthening and supporting local people and organisations to be more effective in doing the work themselves. Whilst development workers may only be in a country for a couple of years, their legacy should last much longer. That’s impact.
Progressio development worker Stephanie Boyd (see page 11) and Ernesto Cabellos from partner Christine Allen is Progressio’s executive organisation Guarango filming during the Majaz referendum (news, page 5). director.
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Progressio’s development workers play a key role in changing people’s lives in the 11 countries where we work. But what does the experience mean to them – what do they think they are achieving, and what do they get out of it for themselves? BREAKING NEW GROUND
Patrick Reilly considers the challenges ahead as he looks forward to a new role in Somaliland
’VE LIVED MOST OF MY LIFE in I’m mostly looking forward This is an edited extract from an Alaska, but for Progressio I’ll to meeting the people – interview conducted with Patrick the Ibe working in Hargeisa, because realistically there’s a week before he left for Somaliland. Somaliland, as a local concern about going into a new After arriving in Somaliland, Patrick democratic governance advisor community, particularly one has decided to learn Somali. ‘While in a think tank called the that’s still relatively foreign to fluency may not be within my grasp Academy for Peace and me. But that’s the excitement within the time frame of this position, Development. too because I realise that once the ability to be conversational in It’s challenging enough to I’m there – at least in my Somali is possible. Somali language give good governance advice in experience of prior travels – skills will give me a better a setting that you’re used to, people open up as long as I can understanding of the local and for me I’ll be in a new be relaxed and get to visit politics/culture and this cultural setting – a Muslim or with them. improves the advice I give Islamic culture. I’m hoping I’ll While I’ve got as we move forward be open enough to listen to lots of formal with the what their needs are, as that’s education, I decentralisation actually where I’ll be getting know really project.’ my direction from. when it comes The biggest challenge will be to interacting how to put procedures in place and relating to so that people get to have a people, it’s voice in how they should live more from the as a community. Most places, neck down when people get to help decide than up in or participate in their future, your head. So they always feel much better that’s what I’m off. Even if the decisions that looking they’re trying to implement forward to: aren’t accepted by the rest of trying to relate their community, at least to people one on having an avenue to express one. their voice makes them more well off…
interactnow Listen to Patrick Reilly’s podcast in full at Graham Freer/Progressio www.progressio.org.uk – go to ‘country programmes’ then ‘Somaliland’
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intensive production of a limited variety of vegetables, OUTSIDE THE resulting in loss of crop diversity, contamination and dependency on bought seeds. What was new was to hear COMFORT ZONE their objections to organic certification schemes which are seen by many small producers Michelle Lowe shares her thoughts anything Edinburgh has to as another form of Northern after arriving in Ecuador offer, with expensive branded tyranny in which US and clothing, lattes and enormous European companies set the HAVE BEEN THINKING A LOT supermarkets. Meanwhile, criteria, charge unmanageably about what it means to work outside, throngs of people high fees for registration and Iin a developing country desperate for some form of place very stringent demands compared to being an income clamour at the on producers. employee of a charity tackling windows of cars or leap onto They feel these criteria are the same issues in the UK or buses to sell chewing gum or more related to the interests of Ireland. Although many of the joke moustaches for 50 cents the consumer than the interests issues, problems and ways of each. of the communities and working are the same, the In one of my Progressio environments where the crops politics are very different, and orientation talks I was told that are grown. So CEA is seeking to can be a little uncomfortable at the average household income set up local certification with a times. in Ecuador is US$250 a month greater emphasis on social and Before I arrived in Quito (in while the basic basket of May 2007), I had somehow necessities is $430. thought that I was going to be Unemployment and doing the same underemployment are huge The most striking thing communications and and so many thousands of for me in my first week campaigning work that I was people leave each year to seek here was the huge used to, but in a different work elsewhere. The first social inequality country. In some ways I am, message you see on arriving at but the change of location from Quito airport is a huge Edinburgh to Quito and from billboard: ‘Say No to environmental criteria (a new North to South has many Coyoteism’, the smuggling of Progressio development worker, implications. immigrants into the USA. It’s Myriam Salazar from Colombia, Of all the new sights, sounds pretty sobering to compare my arrived in August 2007 to and information, I think the adventuring journey over here support CEA with a project to most striking thing for me in to the frightening forced recover native seeds and my first week here was the migration of people in the agricultural practices). huge social inequality. There other direction. Since I’ve been here it has are massive USA-style shopping Before I arrived, I don’t think been funny seeing myself malls which are I had fully made the through others’ eyes: imagining far more glitzy connections between my move the stereotype I fit into as and scary from North to South and the people try to place me. Taxi than power relations of drivers for example figure me development. As part of a UK out in three questions: ‘Where development organisation with are you from?’, ‘How long are a clear agenda, I am one of you here for?’, ‘Ah you must be many forces trying to shape working for some charity or and change things here. For other … orphans maybe, or the example, one of Progressio’s environment?’. When I try to partners, Coordinadora explain to them what I do, I Ecuatoriana de Agroecología feel like a nice, idealistic white (CEA), is a network of girl naively imagining I can agroecology organisations that save the world. The jargon I supports small-scale sustainable inevitably slip into to explain – agriculture. One of its ‘development’, ‘sustainable coordinators, José Rivadeneira, environment’, ‘civil society told the familiar story of participation’, ‘advocacy at an farmers pressurised by big international level’ – seems a supermarket monopolies into long way from their reality as
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they begin their night shifts. have to apologise after Michelle Lowe works on Advocacy Many people I meet from criticising northern consumers, and Communication in Ecuador local organisations may see me lifestyles, companies and and Peru. and my gringa face as money: culture, as they remember that I’m a possible connection for I am there: as if I am interactnow them to a development representative of all things evil, This is an edited extract from Michelle Lowe’s weblog organisation in the UK and its exploitative and capitalist. Not ‘Michelle in the Andes’. Read more from Michelle’s funds. And it’s amusing how a position I often found myself weblog at www.michelleintheandes.blogspot.com frequently people feel they in in Scotland! DISCOVERY For Charlie Smith, being a development worker in Peru is a continuing process of sharing and learning & RENEWAL
’M WRITING THIs while leading a countries really are the fundamental to go on trying to field trip for the ‘El Perú ‘developing’ ones). understand the world, to adapt, Ipuede cambiar tu vida’ (Peru Having lived in Peru for to fight for change and to can change your life) course many years, it gives me great celebrate life. that we ran at the Instituto pleasure to be able to share my Now that I am about to visit Bartolomé de las Casas. The trip knowledge and experience, and England for the first time in included visits to Chiclayo, my understanding of the over two years, I am taking the Cusco and Puno, and was part country, and to know that I can chance to think about who I of an immersion experience for help other people to gain an am, where I come from and a group of students from the understanding of Peru and the where I am going, since I University of Rochester, New world. At the same time, part of believe that is part of a York. this experience has been to development worker’s life. It was the first time I had led realise that each of us has a What I can say now, since this one of these courses, and different experience and we can short trip, is that I am very although I was there as all learn from one another. happy where I am, and want to coordinator, I also became a Having lived here for almost go on learning from this five years, it would be easy to country that is so full of riches, Each of us has a different think I don’t have to go on but also from other foreigners experience and we can all trying to understand it. But this who come here. And I experience of sharing what I have remembered that a learn from one another already know, what I feel, and time spent in Peru, just of trying to answer the as in any other participant to a certain extent. students’ questions, has given country, may indeed Watching the students taking me a new opportunity to change your life. in what they saw and trying to rediscover Peru for myself, to Graham Freer/Progressio make sense not only of what is experience and enjoy many of Charlie Smith is a happening in Peru, but also of its different aspects: the coast, Progressio the world at large, seeing their the mountains, the countryside development worker expressions of emotion, and the city. with the Instituto surprise, guilt, fascination, joy It has also made me think Bartolomé de and sadness – all the emotions about the country of my birth, las Casas. aroused when you visit the what it means to be a citizen of South after a life spent in the the North, what the world is North – made me think about like and what roles we play my first experience of travelling here on earth, and what each of to a ‘developing’ country (as us must do to try to make the they say in the North: although world fairer and more just. And as I see it, development has to reaffirm that we must never much more to do with human close ourselves off, neither to processes than economic the country in which we live growth, and therefore we need nor to our roots, because to do to ask ourselves which of our that leads to intolerance. It is
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Activism has definitely motivated me, and I am very GROWING pleased to see that the women’s movement seems to be more unified than when I arrived. I feel that this very dynamic of STRONGER activism, however, means that sufficient time is still not taken to reflect more profoundly on Sanne te Pas was a Progressio development than ever the tranquillity of my the objectives of this activism, worker with Las Dignas – the Association of life in Holland, and more than because of the desire ‘to do Women for Dignity and Life – in El Salvador ever I feel committed to the everything’. struggle for a just world, Nevertheless, I think that we HAVE LEARNED A LOT about the without violence against have achieved a lot if we look at situation of women who women and without machismo. the results. Some of Las Dignas’s Iexperience violence at the These years have also taught research processes (press hands of their partners and me that I have to follow my reports, Service Desk dossier) sexual violence, and about the heart in what I do, and they have been strengthened, and naturalisation of this violence – have given me a new dream: to various publications have the and even of child sexual abuse. become a documentary maker, potential to have an impact – This came across particularly in order to be able to continue such as the reports on violence through fieldwork and through researching and raising against women reported in the having had the opportunity to awareness on issues that press, a leaflet about child attend self-help groups on concern me, and to give voice sexual abuse, a study on why some occasions. The lack of to the women who are so often women do not report domestic sexual education and the not heard … violence, and a leaflet on how serious consequences of this, My ‘old’ dream was to carry to strengthen advocacy on the above all for women, has had out research in an activist issue of violence against women an impact on me. I feel even organisation like Las Dignas, through social research. stronger now, after having which made me very happy to I myself have learned a lot have found this job. I think from all these experiences. I More than ever I feel committed to that the cycle of capacity hope that my new dream (of building has had good results, making documentaries) the struggle for a just world, judging by how my colleagues becomes a reality. This being without violence against women have applied their new the case, I will surely return to knowledge or skills in the make a film about violence projects that we have been against women in El Salvador, worked with Las Dignas in carrying out together. Even and another about the serious defending the importance of a though some of these consequences of the total feminist analysis of this colleagues have now left Las criminalisation of abortion. problem. Dignas, they will undoubtedly Well, I say ‘surely’, but that I also learned a lot about continue to work for the is my Dutch culture … here in living in a country with such a wellbeing of women, and El Salvador we would probably difficult context: of war, continue to be involved in the say ‘God willing’ … injustice, tremendous social movement of El Salvador, machismo, impunity and so these new skills will not be Sanne te Pas completed her two hierarchical relationships. I lost. years as a Progressio development think that I now value more worker with Las Dignas in 2007.
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Stephanie Boyd reflects on PLAYING five years of working with Guarango, an independent film and video production company in Peru OUR PART
HEN I BEGAN WORKING with Guarango, my Wcolleagues were frustrated by the fact that their E Sanchez/Guarango talents and energies were consumed by making short videos for private companies and government agencies and the occasional non-profit organisation or foreign broadcaster. They had the skills, ideas and talent to make their own independent productions on social justice issues, but lacked the confidence and – more importantly – the contacts with solidarity groups in Lima and abroad. Connecting Guarango to these groups was, I believe, my most important contribution. I’ve watched my colleagues grow, both in their skills and Stephanie Boyd and Fernando Carrasco, a farming leader from Tambogrande, give a radio interview to self-esteem. Not only have they promote a screening of the Tambogrande film in Cajamarca – one of a series of public screenings and workshops in Peru on non-violent community resistance using the Tambogrande film. Such workshops produced two feature-length, are part of Guarango’s participatory approach to film-making: using contacts and technical skills to independent documentaries, create spaces for marginalised people to bring their stories to the outside world. they have also founded a media advocacy project and have a strong, clear vision for the to govern their corporations raises some searching future development of the overseas; and mining questions. More than seven organisation. communities themselves years have passed since the Five years ago, when I cannot be tricked or silenced by village of Choropampa was attended press conferences on slick company officials, as they poisoned by a mercury spill mining issues in Peru, I was one were in the past. Across Peru from the world’s largest gold of the only reporters asking mining communities have risen questions about environmental up en masse and are demanding Mining communities themselves and social issues. Today, the protection of their natural cannot be tricked or silenced by newspapers and television resources and a say in their stations are full of debate and own development. slick company officials, as they commentary on the impact of Guarango certainly cannot were in the past mining on Peru’s natural take full credit for raising resources (including water), awareness on these issues – we labour force and social fabric. are just one player in a larger mining corporation. They have New laws have been enacted; network that includes leaders been years of struggle and mining companies are from mining communities and frustrated attempts to receive investing more and more activists both in Peru and just compensation and medical money in community abroad. But I feel we have care. Although the film we development projects and played a part in bringing some made (Choropampa: The Price of environmental technology; of Peru’s forgotten stories and Gold) continues to be shown in major mining countries like ignored peoples to the fore. Peru and around the world – in Canada are devising standards Yet the process of doing this festivals, classrooms,
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workshops, church halls and that I woke up the next day in Many journalists and on television – we left their case Choropampa’s health post…’ development workers survive in the hands of a US law firm This brave young woman by their apathy. They build up and activist groups in from Choropampa is thick skins, immune to the Cajamarca and Lima. As media determined to overcome her daily sufferings of others – professionals, we had to move mercury-related illnesses and otherwise, the strain would be onto the next story, but our finish her studies in veterinary too tough to bear. They would personal involvement with the medicine. Reading her email be incapacitated, unable to town continues. from the sanctity of my new support the people they’re Seven long years, and yet I’m home, at the other end of the supposed to be helping. It’s still witnessing the debilitating country, I realise that Jessica tough to write an article or effects of the mercury spill, and her fellow villagers are during my too-infrequent visits trapped in the past. Like the to Choropampa and in updates victims of Hiroshima and When do you stop from friends. Safe and healthy Chernobyl, they live with the feeling guilty that in the mountains of Cusco, I consequences of their you’ve always got a can’t help but feel a pang of environmental disaster, plane ticket home, an guilt as I read Jessica’s most whereas I remember it only recent email: occasionally, while showing the out, an escape? ‘I’m in pain and I’ve got a film or writing articles. pounding headache. One night I’m hit with that same old conduct an interview if one is it seemed like my legs and feet feeling of helplessness that overcome by grief and plagued me during the years we compassion, or so goes the Seven long years, and yet I’m still spent making the film. As a common wisdom. Somehow witnessing the debilitating effects media worker and activist, I can I’ve never been able to close try to draw awareness to myself off to human emotion. of the mercury spill Jessica’s case, but I can’t make But how do you strike a balance the pain go away. I can’t make between being human and a were dead. After a while, I her eyes better or conduct functioning professional? couldn’t feel my hands – my laboratory research or mount a When do you realise you’ve fingers were bent and I couldn’t legal case to sue the company turned into a machine and no bring them together. That’s all I for medical care and damages. longer care about the people remember, because after that I And worst of all, I can’t stop you’re working with and see don’t recall anything – only her health from deteriorating. them as subjects, ‘the other’? When do you stop feeling guilty that you’ve always got a What did I learn? plane ticket home, an out, an escape? I’ve always believed that we development workers gain far more from our experiences Perhaps the fact that I’m still than we could ever hope to give in return. Here are just a few of the lessons I’ve asking these questions, five learned: years later, at the close of my · In order to help others, you must first know who you are and be strong in time with Progressio, shows yourself that I’m not completely lost. · Everyone – I mean EVERYONE – has a story to tell … we only have to learn to Whether it’s guilt or solidarity, listen to them or a jumble of both, these · The world is not black and white – allies can be found in the homes of our feelings help remind us that deepest enemies we’re human. Living in Peru · Sometimes you have to pass people the ball and let them run with it (and hope hasn’t given me all the answers, that they score a goal, but take the chance that they might trip over their own but it has stimulated a constant shoelaces) questioning – a joyous, heart- · Despite all our flaws as a species, we humans have the ability to learn from our wrenching, bitter and profound mistakes learning experience that I will · There is always an alternative to violence carry with me always. · In order to gain a person’s trust, you have to sit down and eat lunch with them · Never judge a country by its politicians Stephanie Boyd’s term as a · If you’re trying to change the world and everyone likes you – you’re doing Progressio development worker something wrong ended in October 2007. Stephanie · Sometimes those with the least money have the most to give is now writing a book about her · A united people can never be defeated experiences which will be · The small can overcome the rich and powerful published by Progressio in 2009 · The impossible is always possible (with a Spanish edition published in Peru by Guarango).
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insight: changing lives
to see school texts in them, and indigenous teachers spoke of THE HURRICANE THAT confident, bright children participating freely in class. At the same time, parents also BRINGS GOOD believed that only by learning in Spanish would their children be Helping to develop an indigenous to educate for indigenous able to salir adelante. This university was just the start of a leadership, diversity and cultural Spanish expression sums up all continuing commitment to Nicaragua’s revitalisation. Within this vision, these tensions: it means to Caribbean Coast, writes Jane Freeland our project brief was to discover move forward, but also out, as how the Coast’s multilingualism though progress must entail N 1994 I WORKEd on a CIIR/ICD might affect minority access to abandoning diversity. project to support the higher education, and to design a We realised that URACCAN Idevelopment of a proposed Language Department able both must create the necessary University of the Autonomous to support the revitalisation of the framework to strengthen both Regions of the Caribbean Coast of Coast’s languages and cultures elements of the programmes. It Nicaragua (URACCAN). This and remove linguistic obstacles to must promote study of the local proved one of the most exciting university access. languages and develop years of my life, and began an In this region, travel is mainly by community confidence in them, enduring relationship that water, slow and expensive. So through culturally sensitive continues to this day. URACCAN proposed three materials, methods and The Caribbean Coast region is campuses, in the north, the south, training; and it must strengthen Nicaragua’s unknown other half, a and the central mountains. With Spanish as a second language, region of rainforests, swamps, my Nicaraguan counterpart, I without which community lagoons and rivers, home to five travelled to all these centres and support would die. indigenous and ethnic groups. their outlying communities, in Within a year, our Three of their languages survive, small planes, jeeps, boats and recommendations had taken despite efforts to impose Spanish dugout canoes, over jungles, flesh in an Institute for the and kill them off, though another through mangrove swamps and Research and Promotion of three are in serious danger. across rivers sometimes swollen Languages and Cultures (IPILC), Since colonial times Coast with sudden rain. At one level, this headed by my counterpart in peoples (Costeños) have defended was a real physical adventure. the project. Officially, my their autonomy. In 1987 an It was also a lesson in the development worker role ended Autonomy Law was finally passed, complexities and tensions of there. In fact, I’ve returned granting political, territorial and educating for diversity. We regularly to collaborate with cultural rights, but it has yet to be focused mainly on the bilingual IPILC as researcher, teacher, fully implemented. primary school programmes in research supervisor and friend. Costeños had long dreamed of three regional languages, Over the years I’ve watched it their own university offering instituted in 1985. Minority access go from strength to strength, courses tailored to the needs of to higher levels would depend despite precarious funding. the region. In the new context of entirely on their success. As we The saying goes that autonomy, URACCAN aimed also observed classes and talked to URACCAN is the only hurricane people at all levels of the system, (huracán) to bring good. The we realised how symbolically saying applies equally to my important the programmes were: own experience. My
Jane Freeland they were, at the time, the only development worker’s job practical fulfilment of the description in 1994 spoke of a autonomy promises. Yet in an ‘transfer of training’ to my economy crippled first by war and Nicaraguan counterpart. What now by IMF restrictions on actually took place was a rich spending, they lacked materials, process of reciprocal learning teachers and training. They were I am still proud to be part of. also hobbled by a government reluctant to implement the Jane Freeland was Senior Autonomy Law, with its provisions Lecturer on the Latin American to devolve control over education. Studies programme at There were also tensions at Portsmouth University until 2001, when she retired to Eloy Frank, coordinator of IPILC in the Minas area, and community level. Adults who had himself a graduate of URACCAN, leads a workshop for been punished for speaking their devote more time to her work Mayangna people. languages in school were thrilled with URACCAN.
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Turning point A moment that was unforgettable for its intensity, depth, pain and sense of Finding helplessness occurred during one of the workshops in February. As part of the activities, we decided to do what we call the ‘identification exercise’. In brief, the yourself exercise consists of placing a line on the floor. One side of the line represents the past (ñawpaq time), identified with the Running workshops on culture and identity with indigenous Peruvians Kichwa culture (ñawpaq kawsay), while raises challenging questions for a development worker from the the other side represents the present North, writes Nicoletta Velardi (kunan time), identified with the modern culture (kunan kawsay). The line in the O WORK ON THE TOPIC of which she will never truly belong – and middle represents the ‘middle time’ discrimination with individuals who in so doing, makes invisible not only the (chaupi time), identified with a culture Thave experienced so much of it that discrimination she is subject to and that has some features of the Kichwa they come to internalise it and take it for reproduces, but also her own cultural and some of the modern culture. granted in their relationships not only diversity and richness. Workshop participants take positions on with the culturally dominant ‘majority’, the side on which they consider they but also with other indigenous Opening old wounds belonged, in terms of their knowledge populations, is not only a challenge but The workshops developed in the project and their ‘identity’. also an intense personal and require, amongst other things, that the Choosing a position means, for the interpersonal process: profound, indigenous participants reopen wounds individual, recognising and identifying his conflictive, enriching and valuable. that had, voluntarily or involuntarily, long or her own kind of knowledge, his or her I realised I was working with been forgotten and buried in a dark culture, and giving it value. One by one, indigenous peoples characterised by corner of their past. Each participant, as the leaders and specialists took up a what we have come to define as an it were, ‘undresses’ her/himself and then position, and explained it, while at the ‘identity crisis’ or ‘cultural conflict’. This ‘re-clothes’ her/himself, piece by piece, back of the hall there were four leaders has its origins in the very history of post- stripped of the discrimination and self- looking lost, anxious and full of colonial Peru, a history of domination by discrimination which had characterised conflictive feelings, who could not take a the so-called ‘modern’ culture over the their ‘dressing up’ until that point. position, and could not provide a clear indigenous culture. The interaction My role as workshop facilitator – to definition of their own kinds of between the two cultures has produced encourage participants to follow a knowledge, their culture, their own in Peru an indigenous ‘subject’ who does process of (re)cognition and position, because they experienced deep not recognise her own Kichwa culture as acknowledgement of their own culture, identity and cultural conflicts. significant, but rather sees it as obsolete, its value and position in the modern as having no place in the present but world – was a challenge I had never met Personal struggle only in the past. An indigenous subject before. The process was profoundly There was a moment when my eyes filled who, on the one hand, declares her conflictual for me, because on the one with tears, when I saw four adult human indigenous cultural identity, but on the hand I asked myself: ‘What right do I beings in profound conflict, pain and other, denies and rejects it in favour of a have to shake them up and ask them to confusion, and realised that I was unable modern culture to analyse and deconstruct the conditions to help them resolve their conflict or of their discrimination? What right do I offer a solution. They needed to have to make them relive painful, long experience this moment on their own, forgotten and buried moments? What and my role as facilitator was precisely to right do I have to make them question let them be, to let them realise the their identity and their position in conflict they were living, help them name Peruvian society?’ On the other it, and take the next step, that of hand, I understood the need to be (re)cognising themselves. ‘brazen’ in order to take the next These same leaders are now carrying step and begin raising awareness on a hard personal struggle, with of the processes by which an admirable pride, strength and sincerity, individual becomes a social and cultural and in truth, it was an honour, and very subject. enriching, to be able to live with and accompany them through this process of self-realisation and recognition as Nicoletta Velardi/Progressio cultural and social subjects.
Nicoletta Velardi is a Progressio development worker with Centro An indigenous leader at a Bartolomé de las Casas in Cusco, Peru. workshop in March 2007. Nicoletta is an anthropologist from Italy.
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AIRIMU MUNYINI was impressed. After just three months as a WProgressio development worker, working with women in Steps on the road Somaliland, she witnessed something she wasn’t expecting. Determination. Desire. Ambition. ‘I have continued to encounter the tenacity of Somaliland women in going to equality about activities that they believe in. And this tenacity cuts across age, class and Women in Somaliland are breaking new ground in their quest for status,’ she says. equality, writes Dr Adan Yousuf Abokor Since taking up her post in Hargeisa, Somaliland, in 2006, Wairimu has men have been given the opportunity to nine women from the region of El Gavo witnessed small but positive steps create myths and misconceptions about have expressed an interest in standing towards increased female political the rights of women in Islamic society. for office. The WDMP is currently in the participation – and the momentum process of identifying and profiling continues to grow. Women’s exclusion potential female candidates in all six Women’s exclusion from the political and regions of the country to support their Women’s role social spheres of society goes hand in campaigns. Somaliland is an internationally hand with economic exclusion and There is undoubtedly a long way to unrecognised country, but one where poverty. In fact, however, women can be go. Last year, efforts at getting the women have played a major role in powerful drivers of development. Electoral Law amended to include a helping to promote peace, reconciliation Wairimu has been working with quota system for women and minority and reconstruction after Somaliland Progressio partner organisation Nagaad, groups were defeated after the Guurti declared independence from Somalia in an umbrella organisation of women’s rejected the proposal (on the grounds, 1991. Today women are even the groups based in Hargeisa, to bring about ironically, of equality for all). country’s primary breadwinners. a shift in the status quo. As Amina Yet Somaliland women are still Warsame, Nagaad’s director, says: ‘Once Women’s rights desperately under-represented at the women are empowered, society can But the WDMP has not given up on highest levels of government – only two move on.’ lobbying for a quota despite the of 82 elected members of the lower level Since 2001, Nagaad’s ‘women in disappointment of last year. Wairimu parliament, the House of decision-making’ project (WDMP) has, Munyinyi says women are slowly taking a Representatives, are female. At local through conferences and training stand to show they can succeed against government level, only three of 330 sessions, civic education programmes, all odds: ‘The way I see it, the time has elected councillors are women. The grassroots meetings and sensitisation come for women to refuse to be Guurti (House of Elders) comprises 82 campaigns, established a platform for subjected to double standards when it unelected male members. women’s involvement in all areas of comes to their quest for leadership Part of the problem stems from the society. positions,’ she says. ‘I am yet to hear of fact that women were traditionally any man being accused of wanting to excluded from decision-making. Women’s equality destroy the family unit simply by Somaliland’s clan system – based on a The first, tentative results of this work expressing interest in a leadership family’s male ancestry – does not give are now starting to take hold. Women position. Why the same interests are status to women. now possess at least formal equality, interpreted subjectively when they come Add to this traditional enshrined in the Somaliland constitution from women cannot be justified. cultural views, which from 2001. And all the three political ‘Somaliland women now need to see women as parties have had women as members defend their interests on the same basis unsuitable for and candidates and continue to do so. as men do: they are the mothers, sisters public office, Somaliland expects to hold its local and daughters of those very men that and high levels and presidential challenge their right to leadership and of female elections decision-making.’ illiteracy and it’s this year. easy to see how Already, Dr Adan Yousuf Abokor is Progressio’s country representative in Somaliland. Nick Sireau/Progressio
Women can look forward to a greater role in Somaliland’s future.
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relatively large amount of money. For the poor majority of Dominican-Haitians and The process of Haitian migrants living on less than a dollar a day, the difficulties involved in obtaining legal documents only exacerbate their vulnerability. recognition Stigmatising ‘illegal’ people without considering the reasons for their illegality is an easy way out and not conducive to The human rights of Haitian migrants to the Dominican Republic can putting an end to illegal migration. no longer be overlooked, writes Lizzette Robleto Facilitating the acquisition of legal documentation should be a first step to FAVOURITE DESTINATION of British ‘years of unregulated migration have encourage people to be ‘legal’. Having tourists, the Dominican Republic created a permanent underclass of cheaper and simpler procedures in place A(DR) is known for its sandy people of Haitian descent in the for naturalisation, and for visas for beaches and clear blue waters. Yet Caribbean, including in the Dominican migrant workers, would be the second. behind this idyllic façade lie the murkier Republic’. Haitians are often accused of Tackling illegal migration from its core is waters of the DR’s treatment of migrants taking jobs away from locals – yet most just the first, but very important, step in from Haiti, its poor neighbour. Dominicans admit Haitians do the work the process of reducing the human rights While Dominican-Haitians and Haitian they choose not to do. violations against this vulnerable group. migrants to the DR make a significant Paradoxically, it is the search for The aim should be to reduce contribution to the economies of both better-paid employment, a better discrimination and increase tolerance in the DR and Haiti, they remain largely education and better quality of life, the island. unrecognised by both states. As general coupled with political instability in Haiti, And this goes for both governments. elections in the DR approach this May, which has encouraged Haitian migration Unfortunately, there is a serious lack of the situation of these two groups to the Dominican Republic, other concern – and even less action – from remains an unresolved challenge. Caribbean islands and the USA. The both the DR and Haitian governments. Dominican economy, especially the sugar The DR government, for its part, has Stateless and construction industries, has long accused NGOs of hosting an In 2005, a key ruling by the Inter- profited from a steady influx of cheap international campaign against the DR. American Court of Human Rights Haitian labour. More than 90% of the This is not the case. All we are asking is (IACHR) found that the DR had been country’s seasonal sugar workers and for serious attention to be given to this wrong to deny nationality to two girls of two-thirds of its coffee workers are issue, to ensure that appropriate Haitian descent. The ruling required the Haitians or Dominicans of Haitian origin. measures are taken, and adding our Dominican government to pay a modest In a recent report, The Cultural Centre voice to calls on the DR to comply with sum in compensation and to simplify the and Action Aid suggested that Haitian its international and human rights procedures and requirements for labour is indispensable in the agricultural obligations. Dominican-born Haitians to acquire sector representing almost 30% of the Dominican nationality. national GNP. Lizzette Robleto is Progressio’s advocacy However, in November 2007 the coordinator for Latin America and the IACHR reported that so far the DR has ‘Illegal’ Caribbean. Progressio currently has 16 only complied with the compensation Indeed, the relationship between poverty development workers in the Dominican element of the judgment. Meanwhile, and legality is often an element which is Republic, two of whom are with the real problem – the stateless situation overlooked in the chain of migration. organisations working with Haitian of many Dominican-Haitians whose Obtaining birth certificates, passports migrants and Dominicans of Haitian fathers or mothers are Haitians or who and other official documents costs a descent. were born in the Dominican Republic to Haitian parents – remains unchanged.
Exploited Gianni Dal Mas Haitian migrants have their own story to tell. As a result of their undocumented status many are exposed to exploitation, gross human rights violations and human trafficking. In practical terms, this means that a large percentage of the Haitian migrants living in the DR lack the appropriate access to protections enshrined in Dominican law: calling the police would be out of the question if you’re worried about being deported. According to the US-based organisation Refugees International, People of Haitian origin at the border town in Dajabón during enforced repatriations of May 2005.
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viewpoint Defending the last Olindo Nastacuaz is helping his community stand up to illegal logging, writes Michelle Lowe primary forest
WILL NEVER SIGN A DEAL with the being invaded and occupied by logging companies. Even if they communities, companies and individuals ‘Ithreaten to kill me I won’t sign who claimed it was uninhabited. They because I know that my people will achieved legal recognition of their land in suffer.’ So says Olindo Nastacuaz, 1987 and this has since been reinforced Michelle Lowe/Progressio president of the Federation of by a series of legal decrees. However, as Ecuadorian Awá Centres (FCAE). He is a Olindo points out, this was far from determined man: a man with a mission being the end of their problems: to defend the forests, culture and ‘Our territory is now surrounded by identity of his people. plantations. There is going to be more The Awá are an indigenous nationality and more pressure for control of this who live on 116,000 hectares of their primary forest. We are going to need to ancestral land in the foothills of the be really strong to be able to continue to Andes in the northwest of Ecuador. The resist.’ Awá traditionally live from hunting and Like other communities dealing with gathering, fishing and agriculture, and illegal logging in Ecuador, the Awá have not found the government to be a useful ‘We are going to need to be ally in their struggle. Olindo says: ‘It is Olindo Nastacuaz. really strong to be able to the companies who have the most power and weight with government. The prevent their community succumbing to continue to resist’ government doesn’t do anything. They the loggers’ deals by providing their don’t seem to be serious about tackling people with other sustainable options for have lived sustainably in the forest for the problem at all.’ managing the land and earning a decent generations. Their territory contains one In addition to external pressures, the income. They have set up a project to of only two areas of primary forest federation has to deal with internal ones. sustainably manage their forest and remaining in the province of Esmeraldas Some of the Awá, especially those who harvest wood using light machinery and after massive deforestation. live in remote communities, believe that low impact techniques. They are also Olindo and the FCAE are trying to they should sign a deal with logging trying to acquire FSC certification to preserve their highly biodiverse forest but companies to get a road built through show their wood is from a sustainably the pressures from loggers, plantation their land which they say would help managed source, but this process has owners, roads, mines, and land reduce poverty and improve their quality proved to be long and difficult. speculators are now enormous. of life. Others such as Olindo fear the They are also studying options for Progressio partner organisation Acción cultural destruction and deforestation eco-tourism and for carbon trading Ecológica has worked with them on that might come with the road. schemes and Olindo hopes that these advocacy initiatives and on making For now at least the forest is safe, as projects combined with environmental public their reports of illegal logging on decisions on the community land have to education can save the forest: ‘We have their land. be agreed by a majority of the 22 Awá to have a constant campaign going out The federation was established, centres representing the population of to speak to people and raise awareness Olindo explains, because the Awá 3,500 – and the majority are still in about the environment and the impacts wanted to unite to defend their territory favour of conserving the forest. at a local level but also around the world. and culture in response to their land Olindo and the FCAE’s challenge is to ‘At the moment, the majority are still saying no to letting the loggers in. They know what is happening in the rest of Progressio is working to tackle illegal logging by supporting partner the country and internationally. We have organisations in countries where the wood is coming from and through to fight to keep it that way. lobbying in the UK and Europe for strict legislation to stop the purchase of ‘We are all guilty. We are damaging illegally logged timber. Mother Nature and we will all suffer the In Ecuador, Progressio development worker Germán Luebert, a specialist in consequences if we don’t act now.’ geo-referencing information systems, is working with Acción Ecológica to set up a database of maps and information to support advocacy and monitoring work Michelle Lowe is a Progressio and allow Acción Ecológica to denounce illegal activities at a national and development worker, working on international level. advocacy and communications in Peru and Ecuador.
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Saramago describes the inner self as a cave where we hide, alone and unsure; To develop where interpersonal relationships and customs deteriorate; where there is no personality; we are just there, victimised, afraid and propping up our oppressor to or not to make us feel free and as though we are the liberators. So ‘development’ appears and along with it comes blindness, as Saramago develop? says. Specific beings and the complexity of what is real are ignored because we That is the question … and Progressio cannot assess them. Therefore, returning development worker Fernando Ruiz has his answer to Moran, ‘the advancement of development is the advancement of F WE LIST ALL THE PROMISES made in undesirable condition and that there is a barbarity’. relation to development, we have to goal, a desired paradise that is It is assumed that development is a Iconclude that the idea has been a total ‘development’. gift derived from the wisdom of a better failure. By accepting ‘development’ as our – ‘developed’ – way of life that will The idea was, in effect, to change the goal, we accept that we are in an illuminate the dark and unproductive ways of life of millions of people to undesirable state and that we should lives of the peripheral minorities. But achieve an ideal called ‘development’. change this state for a ‘better’ one. Thus, cultural elements and their relationship What was this ideal? It was a particular we are throwing our cultural values, our with nature, such as access to certain way of life that certain countries in the history, our processes, our ideals and our places and their significance, ways of world had managed to achieve and that own concept of a better future or a good passing on wisdom, spiritual expression seemed to be what the other countries life, overboard. and rituals, are disowned and wanted. We are also asked to accept that undervalued. The dominant discourse However, it has failed, not only ‘development’ is not only necessary, but renews its utilitarian emphasis and because the number of people who do also inevitable. The difference is crushes any possible alternatives. The understood as a hierarchy: that is to say, economist’s vision prevails; and all other ‘Development’ is itself the we accept inferiority as a starting point visions follow or are distorted and parent of ‘underdevelopment’ in the quest for ‘development’. eliminated by the discourse and by its and an element of the I have tried to find everything that this practice. word embodies and it seems to have However, one thinker, Vandana Shiva, discrimination that looms over many meanings. Development of a comforts us with the assurance that the lives of millions of people theme, community development, the ‘alternatives do exist, it is just that they development of a child through to have been excluded’. not have that lifestyle has increased adolescence, technological development, I am working, as a Progressio rather than decreased, but also because, alternative development, etc, etc, etc. development worker, with the Instituto de from the beginning, ‘development’ has There are so many meanings attributed Estudios Ecuatorianos (IEE – Institute of been one more expression of ignorance to this word that it loses its value, Ecuadorian Studies), helping to build the about the situation of millions of people because we can use it to say (develop) organisational capacity of the Cotopaxi in the world. anything at all. Indigenous and Campesino Movement. ‘Development’ is, of course, a The sociologist Edgar Morin tells us: One element of this is the use of an comparative term. That ‘Development is a global myth and a intercultural language that recovers is, it presumes that reductionist idea, according to which expressions originating from and inspired there is an initial economic growth is the necessary and by Kichwa. An intercultural language adequate drive for all development…. implies dismantling expressions that come And nobody asks for an explanation from the discourse on development and faced with such an unstructured other dominant discourses, and reviving argument. The notion of development is the Andean meaning of relationships
Michelle Lowe/Progressio seriously underdeveloped; and between communities and Pachamama underdevelopment is a poor and abstract (Mother Earth) along with other less product of the weak notion of dominant ideas. development.’ (Taken from Terre patrie, In short, it is an approach that rejects 1993.) According to this assertion, the proposal of ‘development’, with its ‘development’ is itself the parent of implication of maximum use and ‘underdevelopment’ and an element exploitation of resources and loss of of the discrimination that looms solidarity, in favour of one of sharing and over the lives of millions of exchange. people. The writer José Fernando Ruiz is from Colombia.
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…so that we may live and not die, and that the land Progressio has been For the past six months, may not become desolate campaigning against the, afield genetic testing modification and commercialisation to plants that of (Genesis 47:19) Terminator seedssterile seeds. We have focused our makes them produce 2,000 efforts both on the EU and the UK government and the response has been phenomenal. With over sent to UK MPs and hundreds of Valentine’s seedpackets cards and letters sent to Stavros Dimas, EU Commissionergenetic for the Environment, the UK public has shown how passionate they are about stopping this dangerous new form of to plants (and trees). With numerous offers modification
CEA of support and a meeting between Progressio and representatives of the European Commission on the environment, your help has given us the momentum and credibility needed to speak directly with decision makers on this issue.
While the reasons for opposing Terminator seeds are numerous - they are a threat to food security, biodiversity and the livelihoods of over 1.4 billion farmers worldwide who save seeds An indigenous potato variety from the Azuay region of Ecuador... people of faith may also wish to look- at the issue from a theological point of view. This is why Progressio has commissioned a theological reflection to answer the question , the United Nations ‘Why should we, as Catholics, care about Terminator seeds?’ Written by Donal On 19 - 30 May 2008 Dorr, MA, and Sean McDonagh, SSC, the Convention on Biological Diversity will meet to Comment outlines the theological discuss issues related to the conservation of concerns around developments like the world’s biodiversity, including Terminator Terminator seeds and gives us a sound seeds. We are asking you to keep these basis for understanding the issue from decision-makers in your prayers during this - that they may seek justice, and be a faith perspective. time the needs and struggles of mindful of and of the current fragile state of the poor our environment. Let us pray that they make interactnow sound decisions on our behalf, leading us The Progressio Comment ‘Unless the grain of towards a more just society, where people have wheat shall die: The moral and theological equitable access to resources for many case against Terminator seeds’ is available price £2 plus p&p or as a free download from generations to come. Progressio (order online or download free from www.progressio.org.uk)
LET US PRAY: Dear Lord, thank you for the abundance of creation you have provided for all and for the justice you promise to deliver for the poor and marginalised. As the UN Convention on Biodiversity draws near, we ask you to be present in the preparations and the meetings. We pray that you would work to strengthen the influence of those countries who are working to maintain the current moratorium on Terminator and you would change the hearts and minds of those who seek to weaken it. Lord we pray for justice to be done and for your creation to be protected. Amen
19 interact Spring 2008