features

The Process of Recognition (24 Apr 2008 )

The human rights of Haitian migrants to the Dominican Republic can no longer be overlooked, writes Lizzette Robleto

A favourite destination of British tourists, the Dominican Republic (DR) is known for its sandy beaches and clear blue waters. Yet behind this idyllic façade lie the murkier waters of the DR’s treatment of migrants from Haiti, its poor neighbour. While Dominican-Haitians and Haitian migrants to the DR make a significant contribution to the economies of both the DR and Haiti, they remain largely unrecognised by both states. As general elections in the DR approach this May, the situation of these two groups remains an unresolved challenge.

On the Trail to Timor (11 Apr 2008 )
Progressio is an international development organisation working in 11 countries around the world on HIV and AIDS, Civil Society and Sustainable Environment. While many of you first became acquainted with us by sending seedpackets to your MPs expressing your concerns around Terminator technology, as an organisation we actually do much more. Progressio’s Press Officer, Jo Barrett brings you more information about how we work through skilled professionals around the world to end poverty.

No Peace without Justice in Timor Leste (9 Apr 2008 )
By 9.30pm the streets of Dili, capital of Timor Leste (East Timor), have few pedestrians; the white vehicles of the United Nations and international aid organisations speed past the tents of the internally displaced and the rapidly emptying beach bars. A curfew has been in place since February when army mutineers apparently attempted to assassinate both President and Prime Minister, leaving their leader Reinado dead. President and Nobel peace prize-winner José Ramos Horta is recovering in a Darwin hospital from stomach wounds and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao escaped injury. How did this newest nation in Asia come to such levels of violence, distrust and division so quickly? writes Steve Kibble

Saving seeds from harvest in Ecuador (9 Nov 2007 )
'Seeds are life. We are seeds', one Ecuadorian farmer, Nelson Mamallacta, told me when I visited him recently. A seed is a powerful symbol of life around the world. Currently 10 international seed companies control just under 50 per cent of the world's commercial seed trade. This means they also control 50 per cent of the world's agricultural genetic resources and biodiversity, farming practices and people's ability to feed themselves writes Michelle Lowe.

Beyond the kitchen: advancing women’s political decision-making in Somaliland and Timor-Leste (29 Oct 2007 )
Although there are differences between Somaliland and Timor-Leste – Somalilanders are Muslims, whereas most of us Timorese are Catholics – there are also many similarities, writes Ivete de Oliveira. Both our countries are poor and have seen conflict in recent years. In both, grass roots organisations supported by Progressio have been playing a strong role in helping to rebuild our countries from scratch. And for me, a crucial similarity is that Somaliland’s culture, like that of Timor-Leste, has historically been deeply patriarchal and resistant to letting women’s voices be heard anywhere but in the kitchen.

No green light for Terminator technology (17 Oct 2007 )
The world celebrated World Food Day on 16 October. You, like us, may think that there is not much reason to celebrate: according to the UN’s World Food Programme, more than 800 million people are hungry, writes Sol Oyuela. Progressio believes it is time to stand in solidarity with the struggle of poor people in the developing world to feed themselves and invites you to take part in its campaign, livesimply Say no to Terminator seeds: Become a seedsaver.

Zimbabwe: the need to bear witness (5 Oct 2007 )
The resignation of Pius Ncube, one of the fiercest critics of the Zimbabwean government, from his position as Archbishop of Bulawayo, came as no surprise writes Dr Steve Kibble.

The bishop is being sued by a Bulawayo man, Onesimus Sibanda, for allegedly having a two-year adulterous relationship with Sibanda’s estranged wife Rosemary. Whatever the truth of the allegations, many Zimbabweans agree with the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference that, like the apartheid regime in South Africa, the state is attempting to smear prominent church opponents with sex scandals rather than dealing with the massive crises affecting Zimbabwe, which can be laid squarely at its door.

Opening people’s eyes to gender stereotypes (24 Sep 2007 )
My name is Melody Pazan and I live in Cuenca, Ecuador. When I was younger, I didn’t even think about what gender was. It wasn’t something that was even mentioned at school. I only started to think about these issues when I joined Cuenca State University to study medicine. I’m on a psychiatry rotation at the moment and I noticed a pattern. It is mostly women who come for psychiatric appointments at the surgery. They come for many reasons: some have experienced violence, some have attempted suicide while others have faced the discrimination and frustration so common to women in our country.

Latin American bishops reaffirm the ‘preferential option for the poor’ (17 Sep 2007 )

The Latin American and Caribbean church, which represents 43 per cent of the world’s Catholics, returned to the roots of the gospel and reaffirmed itself on its path while responding creatively to current challenges at the 5th General Conference of the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopate in May, writes María Rosa Lorbés.

In their official message from the assembly in Aparecida, Brazil to the people of God and to all men and women of goodwill in Latin America, the bishops commit to 'maintaining our preferential and evangelical option for the poor with renewed vigour'.