Supporting awareness and resources for SARS

Airport workers take precautions to prevent the introduction of SARS in Honduras

By SARAH DAVIES

TEGUCIGALPA — On Monday April 21, the Chinese government announced a further 109 cases of the mysterious and ever more concerning Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus. This follows Sunday’s revelation of 339 previously undisclosed patients, bringing the total of known cases to 1959 within China alone.

Total confirmed cases of the disease have now risen to 3947 world-wide, including 38 cases in the United States and 139 cases in Canada. With two incidents now confirmed within Brazil the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is calling for increased measures to prevent entry of the disease into Central America.

Pedro Grave de Peralta, Public Affairs Officer of Interairport, the company that manages Honduras´ four international airports said that they are taking all possible measures to protect the country against the onset of the epidemic. ´We are working closely with the Secretary of Health in order to prevent entry of the disease into Honduras. Airport staff is routinely wearing facemasks and sterile gloves and there is a system in place for the immediate isolation of any passenger displaying symptoms of the illness,´ he says.

Local nurses are working in conjunction with the airports´ fire brigade paramedics to help screen any passenger experiencing possible symptoms of the illness, especially in regards to flights returning from the United States and Canada. Particular attention is being paid to American Airlines, Continental Airlines and TACA flights.

All passengers are required to answer questionnaires on return flights from the North America’s and passengers traveling from Canada who have been in contact with any suspected cases of the illness, are to be taken straight to hospital for screening.

Officials assure that there is no need for panic and that travelers should not be dissuaded against international travel. There have been no known cases within Central America, but should a possible case of the virulent pneumonia be presented, isolation procedures within the central hospitals have been put in place to prevent an epidemic.


AIDS educational seminar in Roatan

By EVA BROOKS

ROATAN — Shortly before Semana Santa at the municiple building of Roatan, four groups of about 30 people each gathered to attend seminars in which problems such as HIV/AIDS were discussed. Child abuse, homosexuality, drug addiction and the dangers of sharing needles were cited as the primary causes for its transmission. The stress was on prevention and how and where to find help and advise.

This valuable approach towards the understanding and prevention of HIV/AIDS was the brainchild of Vivian Kivett Tagliano. Clearly Kivett spent much time and effort in planning for this. She had invited outstanding and knowledgeable professionals who had the ability to entertain as well as teach in an honest, humorous yet straightforward manner. They were Navidad Susco Lang, Allen Rene Flamenco Jerezano, and Marvin Pineda. Susco is the director of COM/VIDA of San Pedro Sula. COM/VIDA was founded in 1993 through the efforts of UNICEF and the municipality of San Pedro and Pastoral Social Caritas. She has handled the sensitive material many times before and her presentation was aimed specifically at this particular audience’s age and educational level.

She was supported and assisted by Flamenco who is the director of Guajiquiro, a theatre which presents plays, dance and puppet shows in La Lima, Cortes. He intermittently livened up the proceedings by having the various audiences stand up and enjoy relaxation exercises amidst laughter and clowning. Mervin Pineda was in charge of videos, which graphically showed the scientific underpinnings, related to the topic. In addition he talked about homosexuality and the morality of respecting people different from yourself.

Four groups attended the seminar, the first of which were fifth graders from the nearby Juan Brooks School accompanied by their teacher Fidencia Bonilla. The boys and girls were not only well behaved, but also listened attentively and asked good questions. One youngster got up and asked point blank...” if someone tries to fondle me what should I do? Should I tell?” the answer was clear and came from his teacher Bonilla: “Tell me or any other teacher, a priest or go to any adult you trust. Don’t keep it a secret.” A girl, who showed how well these children were able to handle this subject, followed this. She asked: “If someone has AIDS, how does another person catch it. Is it contagious?” This gave Susco a great opportunity: “A person who has AIDS or is HIV positive can infect another person through sexual activity which may cause an exchange of body fluids, such as blood, semen or saliva.” And she added, “Shared needles is another cause for infection.” The children listened as Susca continued, “If a person has more than one lover (multiple partners) he or she may transmit the virus to many others.” The children seemed to understand. “...You can not become infected by shaking hands, sitting and talking, or even sharing a meal with someone, the danger of infection lies in irresponsible sexual activity”, Susca reassured.

The children were followed by a group of tired and disheveled sanitation workers, who had never been educated and lectured in such an up front and informal manner before. Jokes were shared and the atmosphere appeared light and ultimately everyone learned something.

The partial answer is to educate people of every age group and make prevention priority. Vivian Kivett Tagliano has made one effort in this direction. She has shown how spreading the message is possible.

Radio broadcast math lessons promote fun learning

Children don´t even realize they are working while they learn.

By STEVEN W. BUSSEN

TEGUCIGALPA — Teaching math is not easy under even the best of conditions, but imagine the task of giving the little tykes of Honduras these essential skills faced with a chronically under-funded educational system.

As an interesting response to this problem FEREMA, (Fundacion para la educacion Ricardo Ernesto Maduro Andreu) and the ministry of education have devised a unique and common sense solution in the use of an innovative radio program. Aprendamos Matematicas (Let’s Learn Math) consists of broadcasting interactive math lessons into classrooms via radios kindly donated by local businesses and interested parties. The program has seen such success it was presented to educators in Jamaica during a three-day seminar in the first week of April.

Jamaica, which faces similar problems with its schools, seems likely to be able to benefit from this unique system. Plans are also underway to implement other interactive programs like Aprendamos Ingles or `Let’s Learn English´.

The lessons teach basic mathematical operations to children up to the third grade by relating lessons to everyday situations expressed through songs and games. The children count, add, subtract, and group objects while having fun, singing, and playing. Whilst still in the experimental stages this seems to be a highly modern and successful way of reaching out to children in a way that combats the lack of teaching staff. This scheme helps to install the basic essential skills needed if these young Hondurans are to join the workforce and all whilst they don’t even appear to realize that they are learning.

CULTURAL EVENTS  

The Real Clarion hotel invites you to its Mango and Tropical Fruit gastronomical festival this week.

THEATER

ADULT COMEDY — TONIGHT — Teatro Reforma in Tegucigalpa is hosting the presentation of the comedy “Una casa de enredos,” by the Sociedad Compania at 7:30 p.m. Admission is Lps. 60, children, senior citizens and students with ID pay Lps. 40.

FILM

FRENCH MOVIE — APRIL 30 — The French Alliance in Tegucigalpa invites the public to see the movie titled “Le Boulet,” the most successful French comedy of the year 2002 at 6 p.m. Admission is free.

MUSIC & DANCE

PIANO CONCERT — MAY 2 — Salvadoran classical piano player Carolyn Masear will offer a concert at Café La Plazuela, in Tegucigalpa’s downtown, from 7 p.m. Admission is Lps. 50.

INTERNATIONAL DANCE DAY — APRIL 29 — The Ministry of Culture and the Danza Libre Foundation invite you to celebrate the International Dance Day, with a special event and cocktail to take place at the facilities of the French Alliance in Tegucigalpa from 7 p.m. Admission is free.

SHERRY AND SHEYLA NEW CD — APRIL 29 — The Convention Center in Hotel Honduras Maya, Tegucigalpa, will be host to the presentation of the new CD produced by Honduran twin singers Sherry and Sheila, from 7:30 p.m. The invitation comes from Pepsi.

LITERATURE

BOOK PRESENTATION — The Real Intercontinental hotel in Tegucigalpa will host the presentation of the book titled “Sombreros nada mas,” by Nicaraguan author Sergio Ramirez. It will take place at 6 p.m. Admission is free. The invitation comes from the Grupo Santillana editorial group.

GASTRONOMY

MANGO FESTIVAL — APRIL 29 - MAY 5 — The Hotel Real Clarion in Tegucigalpa invites people with good taste and an open palate to enjoy their first “Mango and Tropical Fruit Festival.” The event will feature an amazing, creative array of salads and sweet dishes flavored with Honduras’ very own tropical fruits such as mango, plums and other seasonal fruits prepared by Chef Walter Andres. Shrimp, pork, entrees, mousses, salads, fish, beef, and pies, will be all ready for you to taste at the Cuatro Estaciones restaurant at lunch time, coffee hour and dinner time. For more information, call 232-188.

POTPOURRI

ART CONTEST — DUE MAY 25 — The Ministry of Polony is sponsoring the Fifth International Artistic Contest for Youngsters and Children. People aged three to 25 can participate with free techniques. Proposals should be sent to Mlozlezowy Don Cultury Pl-42- 200 C Zestoochowa.UL.Lukasinskiego 68, Polony before May 25.

INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST — The Ministry of Culture has announced the International Contest of Cooperation for Development Photography. Works can be presented in color or black and white. They must show the participants’’ countries’ situation, as the jury will grade the level of visual and creative perception in regards to a relevant happening or tradition. The first place will earn a three thousand euros prize, while the second and third places will receive 1,800 and 1,200 euros. For more information, call 221-3928.

SEMANA SANTA EXHIBITION — THROUGH APRIL 30 — The Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History is hosting an exhibition titled ‘Expressions of faith in Santa Semana.’ The collection contains valuable pieces of cultural and religious heritage. The event takes place in the Antigua Casa Presidencial in Tegucigalpa and is open Monday to Sunday, from 9am to 5am.

PACKING AND TECHNICAL EXPO WORKSHOP — MAY 26 — The National Association of Industrial Businessmen (ANDI) will hold an expo workshop on Product Packing Design and Technical Assistance, to be offered by Taiwanese experts. It will be held at the facilities of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tegucigalpa (CCIT) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 239-1238/39.



The Maya Calendar is a public service for our readers.  If you would like to announce an event taking place in Honduras, please send the information to: Calendar Editor, Honduras This Week, Fax 232-2300, e-mail: hontweek@hondutel.hn

MUSEUMS & GARDENS

TEGUCIGALPA 

MUSEO DE HISTORIA REPUBLICANA

The Museum of Republican History is located at the Villa Roy building in Tegucigalpa's Barrio Buenos Aries.  It is open 8:30 to 3:30, Tuesdays through Sundays and features portraits, paraphernalia, and other interesting items from past presidents.  Admission is Lps. 20 for non-resident foreigners and Lps. 10 for Hondurans and Central Americans.  For more information, call 222-3470 or 222-1468. 

CENTRAL BANK MUSEUM

The Central Bank of Honduras located at the Comayaguela annex building is open from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday.  It has a permanent coin and painting exhibit.  For special presentations, call the Emision y Tesoreria department at 237-2270 (-78), ext. 2117 (-2120). [CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.] 

NATIONAL ART GALLERY

The Galeria Nacional de Arte features rock art, pre-Columbian ceramics, colonial paintings, religious art and a wide selection of 20th century Honduran painters.  The gallery is located at the Plaza de la Merced in downtown Tegucigalpa.  It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10-5 p.m. and Sunday from 10-2 p.m.  Admission is Lps. 10 for adults, Lps. 5 for senior citizens, Lps. 3 for students and Lps. 1 for children accompanied by adults. 

IGUANA FARM

The Biosfera Ecocentro Iguana Farm in Colonia La Joya invites the public to come and learn everything about iguanas.  Admission is Lps. 5 for adults, Lps. 3 for children.  The facility is open every day (except Wednesday) from 9 to 5.  For more information, call 230-6346.

COMAYAGUA, COMAYAGUA 

COMAYAGUA MUSEUM OF ARCHAEOLOGY

Located in the city of Comayagua, two hours north of Tegucigalpa, the Comayagua Museum of Archaeology is in the building that served as the seat of government in the 19th century.  Exhibits include prehistoric fossils, cave art, ceramics, and objects used by indigenous cultures during the pre-Colombian era.  The museum, which also has a small library, is open to the public Tuesdays through Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

COMAYAGUA RELIGIOUS MUSEUM

Located in the Casa Cural in front of Comayagua's cathedral, this museum features religious paintings and objects dating back to the 16th century.  Hours are 8-12 and 2-4 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.  For more information, contact Leonardo Letona at 772-0348.

LA PAZ, LA PAZ 

LA PAZ HOUSE OF CULTURE

The La Paz Casa de la Cultura is located in downtown La Paz.  It features an attractive exhibit of the Lenca handicrafts and culture.  It is open Mondays through Sundays.

SAN PEDRO SULA, CORTES 

SPS MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY AND HISTORY

The Museo de Antropologia e Historia de San Pedro Sula features exhibits on the development of Sula Valley, from 1500 B.C. to the middle of this century.  The museum is open 10 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays.  Admission is Lps. 10 for adults, Lps. 5 for students and children under 12, and Lps. 2 for senior citizens.  For more information, call 557-1496/557-1798 or fax 557-1874. 

MUSEUM OF NATURE OF SAN PEDRO SULA

Sponsored and managed by the Fundacion Ecologista H.R. Pastor Fasquelle, this new museum was inaugurated last December in its current location at the Biocentro on 3 Avenida and 9 Calle Noroeste.  It has 24 exhibits on the environment, natural resources and biology of Honduras.  Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and 8 a.m. until noon on Saturdays.  Admission is Lps 5 for students from public schools and Lps. 10.00 for everyone else.

YUSCARAN, EL PARAISO 

YUSCARAN HOUSE OF CULTURE

Yuscaran's Casa de la Cultura is located at the former Casa Fortin in downtown Yuscaran, El Paraiso department, just 45 km from Tegucigalpa on the road to Danli.  It is open Mondays through Saturdays.

OLANCHO 

PECH CULTURAL CENTER

The Pech have built a small house in El Carbon, Olancho to display their modern handicrafts.  An exhibit of archaeological finds in the area is planned.  You can ask to see the collection and/or get a tour of a Post Classic era fortified site.  The Pech Cultural Center also offers medicinal plant tours, nature hikes, Pech dinners, etc.  There is no admission fee to the cultural center.  Hours: If you ask, they will open it.

COPAN 

COPAN ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

Located in the village of Copan Ruinas, Copan department, the museum exhibits a splendid assortment of Mayan pieces that have been found in the Copan Ruins Archaeological Park just 1 km away.  

LA PUENTE ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

Featuring a sizeable collection of Mayan handicrafts and photographs as well as a room with Japanese antique ceramics, this museum is located at the El Puente Archaeological Site, about an hour's drive from Copan Ruinas. 

MAYAN SEPULTURAS MUSEUM

Inaugurated in 1996, this is the premier Mayan museum in the Mundo Maya, featuring the finest examples of Copan's tombs, sculptures and architecture.  Located at the Copan Ruins Archaeological Park, the museum is open Monday through Sunday.

TELA, ATLANTIDA 

LANCETILLA BOTANICAL GARDENS

Located 2 kilometers from Tela on the Atlantic coast highway, the gardens feature one of the largest collections of tropical and subtropical plants, shrubs and trees in all Latin America.  It is open from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Mondays through Sundays.  There is an admission charge.

LA CEIBA, ATLANTIDA 

TROPICAL BUTTERFLY FARM

The Tropical Butterfly Farm & Gardens of La Ceiba is open to the public Wednesday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  The farm is located at The Lodge at Pico Bonito in the village of El Pino, about 25 minutes west of La Ceiba.  Admission is Lps. 30 for adults, Lps. 15 for children and $6 for international visitors. 

BUTTERFLY AND INSECT MUSEUM

Thousands of butterflies and insects from Honduras and 18 other countries are on display in La Ceiba' private Butterfly and Insect Museum.  It is located in Colonia El Sauce, 2nd etapa, casa G-12.  Visiting hours are 8-12 and 2-5, Monday through Saturday.  The museum is closed Wednesday afternoon.  Fees are Lps. 15 for adults and Lps. 10 for students.  Tel. 442-2874, e-mail: rlehman@ns.gbm.hn

TRUJILLO 

TRUJILLO RUFINO GALAN MUSEUM

A private museum which has a memorabilia section, old chairs, anchors, silverware, beds of famous people locally.  There is an industrial archaeology section on how lights, axes, stoves, sewing machines, typewriters have changed over time.  They have a good collection of Garifuna handicrafts and the best collection of NE Honduras archaeological pieces -- all unmarked.  A written guide to the museum is available at the Trujillo Tourism Office in English and Spanish.  The museum is open 8 to 4, closing for lunch.  Adults Lps. 20, children Lps. 10.  Located on Calle 18 de Mayo, next to the Crystales River and the famous "piscina" or pool, about a 15-minute walk out of town.

ROATAN, THE BAY ISLANDS 

CARAMBOLA BOTANICAL GARDENS

h located in Sandy Bay, Roatan, Bay Islands.  A wide variety of exotic plants is featured here, including "Roatan's most extensive orchid collection."  It is open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.  For more information, call 445-1117 and ask for Bill or Irma Brady. 

BAY ISLANDS MUSEUM

A private museum at Anthony's Key Resort, Sandy Bay, Roatan, Bay Islands, it mostly includes archaeological pieces, but there is a small section on the modern Bay Islanders.  Museum admission is included in the cost of the dolphin show at Anthony Key's Institute of Marine Sciences.  Small buses or taxis will take you to Sandy Bay from most Roatan towns.

206 years of the Garifuna, and still going strong

Young people excelled in the Artisan Training Course

By ANA L. BENGOCHEA, CAROLINA DAVID, ROSALINA GARCIA, MARIA E. ROBLEDO, BALBINA CHIMILO, SUZANNE SHENDE, MARTIN MARTINEZ, JUAN ARZU

Special to Honduras This Week

TRUJILLO – Today, April 12, Honduras commemorates the 206th anniversary of the arrival of the Garifuna to these shores, and the Garifuna people honor their history, culture, struggle and advances here.

One of the organizations behind many of the advances in the last four years is the Comite de Emergencia Garifuna de Honduras, a non-profit NGO (non-governmental organization) that was formed in the wake of Hurricane Mitch. As a grass root Garifuna group, the Comite has encouraged the development and self-sufficiency of the Garifuna towns of the Department of Colon. For example, the Comite trained young people in Trujillo in artisan woodworking during the two months of their school break. The youth themselves designed the project with the goals of generating income, rescuing their culture, and avoiding the vices becoming more common in Honduras. The course has achieved all that and more. The First Lady of Honduras, Aguas Ocana de Maduro, arrived to see the course in Barrio Cristales, the first time that a First Lady has come to Trujillo!

Parents take turns preparing balanced meals for the children

The Comite supports young people’s efforts in many ways: building basketball hoops for the girls’ and boys’ teams in Iriona Viejo; presenting workshops about self-esteem, first aid and care of HIV positive prisoners; providing a guitar for a youth musical group, Mondongo Star; and giving coconut plants, barbed wire, grafted orange trees, and hard wood tree seeds to schools.

As a means of providing children with better nutrition, last year thee initiated a daily Children’s Breakfast Program in the kindergarten of Punta Piedra, a humble town without electricity or a telephone. The program was so highly valued by the parents that they themselves built a kitchen 0with totally donated materials and labor, and they are the ones who rotate turns preparing the complete, balanced breakfast for the children. The Comite is especially proud of how the women of the communities have organized and empowered themselves, in the breakfast program, in agricultural cooperatives and at decision-making levels. The Comite is fortunate to be part of different women’s networks worldwide, such as the Huairou Commission and GROOTS that work towards community betterment.

Many Garifuna now, just like their ancestors, have dedicated themselves to subsistence agriculture, but with the support of the Comite de Emergencia Garifuna, they have learned to commercialize their harvest. In this way, farmers have been able to take advantage of the first-ever Garifuna Farmers’ Market, built by the Comite in Barrio Cristales of Trujillo, called Mercado Wabagari (Our Life Market). Farmers have met with success in the sale of pineapple, sugar cane, yucca (manioc root), breadfruit, hot peppers, salt fish, plantains, mango cake, coconut oil, squash bread, salt fish, yucca flour, cassava and marote (dry breads made of yucca). In order to have a variety of products for future home consumption and for sale in the market, the Comite has recently provided farmers with seeds or seedlings of plantains, yucca, rambutan, ginger, bananas, taro root, grains and vegetables. Together with the seeds and tools that the Comite delivers, they hold training sessions with agronomists in order to improve and diversify agricultural production.

In an effort to offset the economical and environmental effects of the fatal lethal yellowing disease of coconuts on Garifuna villages, especially in Barranco Blanco, the Comite succeeded in establishing three coconut tree nurseries. In addition, the Comite continues with reforestation in six hard wood tree nurseries in various communities. These hardwoods, with time, can be used in the elaboration, in a sustainable manner, of dugout canoes, drums, and other traditional items, and will help communities protect their lands from usurpers.

The protection of the ancestral lands is no trivial matter. The community of Vallecito has faced arson, shootings, and the destruction of their crops with a bulldozer, and other threats to their lives and legally titled lands. Landholder Miguel Facusse seeks to obtain their lands to expand his empire of palm oil plantations. The nearby town of Punta Piedra also suffers from the invasion of their lands by outsiders, despite governmental rulings that the usurpers must leave, and allocation by the Congress of funds to compensate the invaders for the houses they are forced to leave.

Closer to Trujillo, the community of Barranco Blanco is struggling to protect its land from the ENP, the National Port Facility, which is trying to extend its port installations. There are reports that the land is desired for use in the construction of “Freedom Ship,” an American profit venture to build a floating city, the biggest ocean-going vessel in the world. In addition, the Garifuna are battling to protect Barranco, which is part of a formally recognized nature reserve, against illegal trash dumping, and illegal sand extraction, which damages the natural barrier protecting the zone from flooding from high tides.

Protecting the environment and protecting the ancestral lands of the Garifuna are the priorities, too, in the struggle of Iriona Viejo against an illegal highway built by nearby cattle ranchers. The road runs through the mountains, above the water reservoirs of 11 towns, contaminating water, destroying crops and rainforest, and opening up more lands to usurpers. The road was built without the legally required municipal and environmental permits and has since been criticized by the Governor and the Secretary of Natural Resources and the Environment (SERNA), but it remains open and continues to do damage. Garifuna who have organized to oppose the road have faced threats of violence, even though they have proposed an alternate route. The Comite supports these, and other communities in their struggles, including help in documenting these violations of human rights. This effort has been aided by provision of a video camera and training by Witness, a New York City based organization that does video advocacy for human rights.

The Comite worked to protect the environment, as well, through the construction of 25 “Justa stoves,” with the cooperation of students from Public School 1 of Denver, Colorado. These stoves use less firewood and are better for the lungs as well as family expenses. In addition, the Comite is rescuing a wild vine, balaire that is used as the raw material in woven artisan objects, such as traditional sifters for the Garifuna kitchen. This vine needs cool forested areas to develop sufficiently, so its conservation ensures the preservation of the rainforest eco-system.

The Comite also supported the town of Aguan, which was the Garifuna town hardest hit by Hurricane Mitch and still suffers from undressed needs. Recently, the Comite assisted in the study for a system of water so that the community can re-locate itself to higher ground, to avoid another tragedy with loss of lives, houses, crops, cattle and infrastructure.

Concerned in general about the health of the Garifuna communities, the Comite has coordinated two workshops about emergency medicine, with doctors from the University of Massachusetts Medical School, who also donated medicines for 15 health centers and midwives in 23 communities. Direct Relief International and Big Huge Help of Ohio have also channeled donations to the most needy areas through the Comite.

After 206 years of Garifuna presence, the Garifuna are still marginalized and kept from achieving full development and equality. Because of this, the Comite de Emergencia Garifuna de Honduras will continue its efforts to support the progress of communities and their struggles for justice.

The Comite continues to seek allies, and gratefully receives support from American Jewish World Service; the Edwards Foundation; Mazon: a Jewish Response to Hunger; the Wardlaw Foundation; and the Cottonwood Foundation. For more information, call the Comite’s office, 434-4818 or write to afro@hondutel.hn



Riecken opens first public library in Santa Lucia

Visitors at the new Santa Lucia Library

 
By RACHEL BURGESS

SANTA LUCIA — The first public library in Santa Lucia, Francisco Morazan was opened on Friday, March 28, by the Riecken Foundation. The Santa Lucia public library was the second of three libraries to be inaugurated last week, with the other two being opened in Comayagua.

The new library, although modest in size, has been impressively designed to create a zealous and vibrant atmosphere. The library includes two separate reading areas for younger and older children as well as an adult section. The walls have been decorated, in part, with bold, fluorescent colors and a number of educational posters. All the tables and chairs have been donated by various sources, including a hospital. The enthusiasm at the opening, which was attended by Riecken’s Regional Director, Matthew Colburn and his team, proved overwhelming, as children and adults of all ages, both male and female, became completely absorbed in the books and CD-ROM activities. However, the people of Santa Lucia will have plenty of time to peruse through the library’s collection as it plans to stay open twelve hours a day, seven days a week.

The establishment of public libraries in areas lacking in such facilities is a scheme run by the Riecken Foundation, which was founded in 2000 by Susan Riecken and Allen Andersson. Riecken is a non-profit organization dedicated to building public community libraries. Their mission is to “promote the discovery of ideas and resources in isolated Latin America communities by supporting the construction and operation of public libraries.” Riecken is currently supporting projects in Honduras and Guatemala, which are the two countries in Central America considered to be in the greatest need for public library facilities. However, they hope to eventually expand projects to Nicaragua.

The emphasis of such projects is on community involvement and Riecken asks that the community contribute resources to the project. The community itself is responsible for providing the necessary land, helping with the actual construction or renovation, contributing materials and labor, and finally paying the salary of the librarian(s) and the monthly expenses occurred by the library. Riecken believes that this instills a “strong sense of ownership,” with their highest priority being that “the community has full ownership of the project.” In return, Riecken finances a large proportion of the construction or renovating costs, supplies books, computers and other audio-visual equipment, and provides continuous training for local librarians.

Riecken currently boasts a collection of a thousand books that it provides to each new library. Half of the collection is aimed at children whilst the rest includes novels, poetry, agriculture, health, sports, history, indigenous culture and business. Each library receives three computers, a set of CD-ROMS, a digital camera, radio and telephone. Riecken also provides a television and video player, which “can help people with poor literacy levels”, says Karen Berelowitz, co-director of the Foundation.

Berelowitz states that their only rule is that: “books must be accessible.” This policy is clearly evident in the Santa Lucia library where a selection of books are openly sprawled across the tables and the books can be picked up directly from the shelves, without being unlocked from an imposing glass cabinet. “We envision a lively, welcoming place that all members of the community have reason to visit...” says Riecken.

The Foundation works closely with World Library Partnership to provide ongoing training for the librarians. This includes practical training such as, cataloguing, preparing books and fund-raising initiatives. Berelowitz emphasizes that “projects are continuous” and Riecken remains actively involved with all the libraries it launches. For additional information on the Riecken Foundation and their future projects please visit their website at www.riecken.org.

Prestigious Honduran archeologist speaks at seminar in Palma De Malaria, Spain

Leading Honduran archeologist Ricardo Agurcia

By KELLY PIKE

On April 7, 8 and 9 of this month the Central American archeologist Ricardo Agurcia gave an introductory seminar on pre-Columbian archeology in Palma de Mallorca. It forms part of the ‘I Ciclo de la Cultura Maya’ held by the Sophia Foundation at the Institute of Mayan Culture in April.

Copan was one of the most important cities of the Mayan Culture, whose golden era lasted from 250 AD to 900 AD. It has been considered as the “Athens of the New World” and represents one of the most advances examples of pre-Columbian culture.

The foundations season of Mayan culture opened on April 4 with an inauguration of the photographic exhibition ‘Copan: Testigo Maya,’ a selection of some of the best images from the Copan complex.

The President of the Sophia Foundation, Professor Francis J. Villar expressed his satisfaction in having the presence of Professor Agurcia (co-director of Proyecto Arqueologico De Copan) in Palma de Mallorca. Professor Agurcia is a distinguished exponent of the New Archeology. “His prestigious discoveries have facilitated a better understanding of the thinking and evolution of Mayan culture.”

Agurcia is also the executive director of the Copan Association, an institute dedicated to the research and conservation of the natural and cultural heritage of Honduras. In the past ten years Agurcia has directed several excavations in the vast archeological park of Copan. These include some prominent discoveries, of which the discovery of Temple Rosalila is most notable. Temple Rosalila is a pyramidal Structure of three levels, which is polychromatic. It was found by Professor Agurcia entirely intact under another pyramid in 1989 within the Copan archeological complex.

Currently Professor Agurcia is completing his research and rescuing a tomb thought to be of ‘Yax-k-uk-mo’, the first governor and founder of the royal dynasty of Copan. He was declared a ‘Patrimonio Cultural De Humanidad’ by UNESCO in 1980.

Honduran poverty is Pulitzer goldmine

By MATT CONRAD

This year’s Pulitzer Prize for feature writing was awarded to 42 year old Sonia Nazario, projects and urban affairs correspondent for the LA Times. Her article “Enrique’s Journey” is an account of a young Honduran boy’s clandestine voyage to the United States to reunite himself with his mother, Lourdes, whose decision to leave the shy and emotional little five year old prompted a decline into delinquency, disillusionment and finally desperation. Like 48,000 other Central Americans and Mexican minors every year, Enrique left his home nation in search of a parent who left in search of greener pastures to send money back home for food and school. Unfortunately she deprived Enrique of all that he ever really wanted, a family.

Sonia Nazario, who specializes in social issues in this region, writes vividly and dramatically yet abstains from being sentimental, to be as realistic and convincing as possible. Enrique, embarking on his eighth attempt to reach el norte, is described as he clings to the roofs of trains, praying to God to protect him from another beating from bandits, another shake down by corrupt Mexican policemen or to once again be deported to Guatemala only to have to trudge back to Tegucigalpa as he passed around from one relative to another.

As home becomes more and more of a laughable concept he becomes ever more determined to see his mother. Eventually his uncle, a kind and noble man, who helps Enrique escape his drug habits and encourages him to follow a more honorable path, takes him in. Enrique is delighted. He has finally found some one who won’t abandon him, someone respectable and above all someone who loves him. When his uncle is killed by bandits, whilst exchanging money at the El Salvador border, Enrique is destroyed. His Aunt turns on him and once more he spirals into drug use and delinquency.

He moves back with his grandmother but it is no use. He needs his mother. He hasn’t spoken to her in over a year when she promised, for the fourth time, to come back for Christmas. He confides in his sister. He is leaving for the United States to find his mother, and he shall not return unless he has seen her.

Enrique leaves Tegucigalpa with his mother’s telephone number in north Carolina written on the inside of his trousers and little more than $50 stuffed into his clothes for the 12,000 km. journey. He is armed with the experiences of his seven other attempts to get to U.S. and the stories of countless others who have failed even more regularly. Enrique is heart-breakingly vulnerable; he is hungry, weak and traveling alone.

He carries no papers so if he is robbed he cannot go to the authorities and after countless near misses and scuffles with gangsters and bandits his luck runs out. Whilst hanging on precariously to a train he is severely beaten for only a couple of pesos. His clothes are ripped off and he is clubbed repeatedly over the head and across the face. He wriggles free and but has to jump off the locomotive in order to escape. Bloody, beaten, and almost naked a sympathetic farmer finds him in a ditch. Enrique is moaning something about having lost his mother’s phone number.

Enrique reaches New Laredo, Mexico the last hurdle before the United States. Many immigrants regroup here and try to earn enough money for a coyote, a people smuggler, normally charging $1200. He called his boss in Tegucigalpa; he’ll get the number. He finally contacts his mother, who barely recognizes his voice but tells him she can wire him some money, they will be together soon but the border crossing will not be easy.

Lourdes does not hear from Enrique in weeks and fears the worst. Border crossing are extremely dangerous and coyotes are hardly trustworthy individuals, they are known to hold successful clandestines for ransom and threaten to turn them over to the authorities.

When Enrique limps into Lourdes´ mobile home in North Carolina she is overwhelmed with emotion.

Conditions for the poor in Honduras force people to make dramatic choices, which often tear families apart.
 

Valle de Angeles revs into life as the Harley Davidson procession passes through.

By RACHEL BURGESS

TEGUCIGALPA — The city became a deluge of Harley Davidson motorcycles last weekend, as Honduras’ CCM club hosted the first Harley Davidson tour of Tegucigalpa. The normally congested streets came to a standstill as police escorts held up traffic to allow the procession of Harleys to pass unhindered through the city. Their presence was warmly embraced as locals lined the sidewalks to wave and cheer as the bikes came roaring pass.

The Central American Harley Davidson tour is held at least once a year in each Central American country and this is the fourth time it has come to Honduras. Harley Davidson enthusiasts traveled from as far as Argentina and Cuba to attend the convention as well as from neighboring Central American countries such as Costa Rica, Guatemala and Nicaragua. More than fifty bikes were present for the event, which kicked off on Friday at Hotel Honduras Maya. From there they visited an auto show in Boulevard Morazan, which exhibited the top 100 Harleys from the region.

On Saturday, the usually dormant town of Valle de Angeles revved into life as a convoy of bikes came thundering through the narrow streets, before stopping to enjoy an afternoon of traditional Honduran cuisine and drink. The evening concluded with drinks at the newly opened ‘Biker’s Bar’ in Boulevard Morazan.

Money raised from merchandise sales will be donated to The Foundation for Education Ricardo Ernesto Maduro Andreu (FEREMA) and the pediatric ward at the Materno Infantil hospital. “We try to get together, have fun and do something for charity at the same time,” says Aileen Agurcia who is a representative for FEREMA and has been riding Harleys since 1998.

However, owning a Harley is not a requirement to take part in the tour. Karla Lopez, aged 22, does not have her own bike but attends Harley events with her father who has been riding since he was eighteen. “I enjoy it because everybody knows everybody”, says Lopez.
Most would agree with Gustavo Ulloa from Honduras, who describes the biggest appeal of riding Harley Davidsons as “forgetting about everyday life.” Ulloa has been riding Harleys since 1992 and his current bike cost $16,000 US dollars.

The Harley Davidson Owners Group (HOG) was established in 1983 in response to demand from Harley riders to share their passion. In 1991 HOG went international and nowadays boasts a membership of more than 650,000.

The next stop of the tour is in Milwaukee to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Harley Davidson.

World Health Day 2003: Action for children’s health needed now

By BECKY WEARN

TEGUCIGALPA — The World Health Organization (WHO) has released details of this year’s World Health Day, due to take place of Monday April 7, outlining a disturbing new set of statistics surrounding the health of children. The day is designed to raise awareness of these issues and put into action new plans for improving health for people all over the world.

It is estimated that over five million children between the age of 0 and 14 die every year from illnesses and other conditions in their environment; the dangers are lurking in areas they work and play. Children are more vulnerable and susceptible than adults to environmental hazards because their bodies are still developing. An astonishing 40 percent of diseases falls on children under five, because their youth and size render them incapable of fighting such dangers. There are six main risk factors that lead to this worrying number of deaths that could, if understood, be prevented.

The biggest problem worldwide is water, one which the people of Honduras have been working strongly to overcome. It is expected that approximately 1.1 billion people worldwide do not have access to a clean water source. Inadequate drinking water causes diarrhea, the world’s second biggest child killer, taking the lives of 1.3 million children every year, which is 12 percent of deaths in children under five in developing countries.

Poor water standards can also lead to infections such as hepatitis A and E, transmission of which is carried through bacteria in the water, and affects thousands of children every year. Infested water sources also cause skin and eye infections such as trachoma and schistosomiasis, which are highly contagious and cause severe discomfort to victims.

Countries across the globe are been helped to improve resources for clean water, and Honduras itself has recently received US$50 million in funds to support water sanitation programs to bring clean water to rural areas from the United Nations.

Hand in hand with household water security comes the problems associated with hygiene and sanitation, which affects 2.4 billion living in peri-urban areas across the planet. The spread of disease becomes easy through poor hygiene conditions, such as contaminated food or no facilities for washing. The WHO hopes that education of children on such simple matters as washing hands with soap before eating and after defecating will reduce the risk factor considerably.

Acute respiratory infections claim the largest number of children’s lives every year, with approximately two million falling victim to unhealthy concentrations of air pollutants. The combustion of biomass fuel, tobacco, car fumes, sulfur dioxide and other chemicals fill the air that a quarter of the population breathes. The WHO demands action for better ventilation in homes and the ongoing battle against pollution in hundreds of the worlds’ cities.

Disease vectors, such as mosquitoes or worms pose a specific risk to younger people due to the fact that their immune systems are not fully developed, and are present particularly in rural areas where water management is insufficient, enabling them to breed and stagnate. Malaria of course is the biggest know life-threatening illness, and can be easily prevented with repellents and nets, rather than cured.

The last two major problems jeopardizing the safety of children are chemical poisoning and unintentional injuries such as car accidents. Both of these require more conscientious care to be taken by consumers, such as safer storage of hazardous chemicals and avocation of safer road conditions.

This World Health Day it is hoped that the publication of the six major issues in schools and the community will raise awareness of the affective preventative measure to be taken, both in the home and by world leaders, and bring forth a new generation of guardians for the planet.



Result 1-1
International battle commences with fury but ends in submission

Jose Luis Chilavert, Paraguay’s goalkeeper.

By BECKY WEARN

TEGUCIGALPA — On Wednesday April 2 the Tegucigalpa National Stadium was brimming to almost full capacity with the booming chorus’ of thousands of Honduran football fans following the fate of their national side. The game between Honduras and Paraguay kicked off at 8, after a league match between champions Olimpia and Victoria and a patriotic opening ceremony, with the National Anthem echoing sonorously around the terraces.

With such a massive home support it would be fair to assume that the Paraguayan team could have been intimidated by the simmering crowd, but their first half performance did not display evidence of this.
In the first 45 minutes the teams appeared equally matched, both exhibiting spirited energy, but with Honduras maintaining the edge over possession and producing the most chances for their teammates.

Referee Carlos Batres granted Honduras a free kick in minute 14, after Paraguay’s gigantic goalkeeper Chilavert asserted a controversial tackle on Francisco Ramirez. The shot was taken by Amado Guevara, sending Honduras into an easy lead.

Within minutes the Paraguayans retorted with a well-aimed header by Condos soaring into the hands of Noel Valladares.
Chilavert, an internationally renowned colossal goalie, raised the tension when he came forward to take a free kick for his team, but thanks to a sturdy defense wall the ball barely reached the edge of the area.

The half continued with a series of prospective shots from the Honduran side, all of which failed to fully penetrate the Paraguay defense, culminating in the ball being sent soaring high above the posts by Alvarez. His endeavor was mirrored with the opposition just before half time as Hernandez elevated another pass over his own goal.

Half time saw the party resumed by the fans and the Tegucigalpa sky illuminated with fireworks and filled with the chants for the national team.

The teams that reemerged from the tunnel did not seem to retain their former enthusiasm throughout the second half, which was dominated by more substitutions than good football.

The Paraguayans persevered to level the score, with Salcedo starting their string of attacks in the 51st minute. Within five minutes Victor Quintana brought the score up to 1-1 with the ball gliding into the back of the net from just outside the area.

The crowd tried to enliven their teams over the remaining minutes, a Mexican wave rushing through the terraces and the cries increasing in dexterity, but those on the pitch continued disappointingly, with sluggish passes and unfulfilled chances slipping between the feet of the players.

Minutes before the end, as the crowd began to vacate their seats; a corner by Alvarez flew poignantly towards Carcamo, who missed the chance by inches with his head.

The draw was a deserved illustration of the teams ability on Wednesday, but left a disappointed after taste for fans. The match however was an excellent practice for the National sides before the Gold Cup Qualifiers resume later this month, with Honduras’ last chance to enter the group being challenged on the April 23 and 27.

Learning by doing at Zamorano produces excellent students and new hope for communities

Zamorano students come from 20 different countries

By BECKY WEARN

TEGUCIGALPA — The Zamorano School of Agriculture, situated just 30km from Tegucigalpa, has 60 years of experience and an ever-increasing notoriety for being one of the best agricultural colleges in the world. With about 800 students from 20 different countries working eight hours a day in the stunning 7000 acre estate it is little wonder that these young scientists and entrepreneurs go on to positions of extreme importance in modern society.

But the most impressive aspect of the institute is not grounded in its results or facilities, however staggering. It is in their continued dedication to using their knowledge and expertise to help less fortunate communities work themselves out of poverty and hardship. In the hills that envelope the institution live 50,000 families who receive regular help form Zamorano students and lecturers.

They base their classes on a strict set of beliefs; Pan-Americanism, leadership and character building and all pupils are expected to display exceptional qualities in each. These are at the core of the Outreach Program which are six community based projects that students undertake in their final years. They not only provide the students with invaluable “learning by doing” experiences in laboratories and fieldwork, but also work to benefit the lives of agricultural communities across South and Central America, particularly here in Honduras.

The most prominent of these options is PROEMPREZAH (The Honduran Rural Entrepreneurial Development Program) led by Marcos Rojas. The scheme is designed to help small local cooperatives improve their enterprises through education. It is executed by students and lecturers across Honduras, especially in Zamorano’s immediate surroundings, with the promotion of products such as beans, coffee, preserves, crafts vinegar and wine. Approximately 500 pupils become involved every year gaining funds from bilateral and multilateral organizations and hey have had numerous successes with the growing companies.

Many products are available in the university’s shop that can account for the institutions remarkable self-sufficiency. Every morning students are involved in milking cows that go into producing dairy products for selling and consumption, bread is baked and fruit is grown. Any profits from products made and manufactured goes straight back into the school to advance facilities.

Out of the foundations established 60 years one area that has made significant progress is the bean research program. Doctor Juan Carlos Rosas has led the program for over a dozen years and is considered an expert in the field. They have worked with over ten varieties of bean to produce optimum yields for farmers in 11 countries whose crops provide the backbone of the Central American diet. With beans being the main source of protein in the region the project is not only a fascinating application of education, but is extremely relevant to the real world, aiding in alleviation of poverty and educating communities of nutrition.

Botanical research makes up a large portion of the laboratory work in Zamorano, with on-going work into the micro-propagation of the national flower, Orchid Rhyncholaelia Digbyana and alleviation of plant diseases in bananas and coconuts. In the Caribbean a lethal yellowing disease has destroyed coconut trees, threatening the tourism industry and the lives of local communities on the north coast. Students worked to develop a disease resistant fungus in the molecular laboratories and then traveled to Tela to help with the replanting process. This sort of technological advancement has been available for over half a century, as the 50th Anniversary of the discovery of DNA by Wilson and Crick is celebrated this year.

Zamorano also boasts one of the regions most extensive insect and plant collection, required for the identification of thousands of species here in Honduras. Dr. Antonio Molina graduated from Zamorano in 1946 and is still working in the Herbaria discovering new species of plant and insect life out of the estimated 30 to 100million that species exist here on earth. The insect collection alone houses between 20-25,000 type species of insect and can be used in the discovery of new species for identification purposes.

Many of the critters housed in this collection are considered pests by local farmers, but this problem is being relieved in an organic way by the efforts of Pest Management Program. Insecticides and other chemicals have been destructive to our natural environment but over the last three years students have been producing “natural enemies” such as wasps, fungi and viruses that can be used to kill pests naturally. Their products are sold cheaply to farmers in Guatemala, El Salvador and here in Honduras who in turn learn the pros of organic agricultural practices.

But not all the work goes on in the farms of Central America. The Socio-Economic Development and Environment department works continually with communities for student who want to become more aware of the issues that challenge the contemporary lives of thousands of Hondurans. The two main projects are the Watershed Management Program, which controls the water catchments areas in the valley to provide better services to rural areas, and Local and Regional Development Program. The latter has been in progress for eight years, working to associate the municipalities so that minority council’s voices can be heard in the government.

Every year the school works to better and improve the services it offers and in 2003 it looks like Zamorano has exceeded its own boundaries, adding more uniquely aware graduates to its previous 4,571 to work conscientiously in private sectors across the world.