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NATIONAL NEWS |
| Monday, May 29, 2006 Online Edition 19 |
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Economic growth failing to help the poor Rachel Fitch
Government reforms have failed to ease Honduras's deepening poverty crisis, a major new report has found. The UNDP's Human Development Report 2006 for Honduras, published recently, reveals an extra 110,000 families are living in poverty compared to 14 years ago. Life expectancy has dropped for Honduran nationals and unemployment has risen by 26 per cent since 1990, according to the UNDP. The 200-page report looks at the expansion of citizenship in Honduras. It focuses on areas like economics, immigration, employment and violence. Mario Posas, a sociologist involved in compiling the report, said citizenship was a critical issue facing Honduras and was directly linked to the country's development. He said: "It is difficult to have development in the full sense when there is so much poverty and inequality. We want to put poverty, social rights and economic rights on the Government's agenda." Glenda Gallardo, principal economist for the UNDP, explained the country had not shown many signs of development and progress between 2001 and 2004. "There is a stagnant state in human development during this time," said Gallardo. "The country is not progressing like it should and that leaves us in the same situation as before - a country of middle development." To measure development, experts look at life expectancy, achievements in education and income per capita. The UNDP found that in 2004: • the human poverty index increased to 34.6 per cent for Honduras • 15.4 per cent of Hondurans had a life expectancy of 40 years • 67.2 per cent of children under five were malnourished • 29.1 per cent of the population did not have access to good quality water. Gallardo pointed to several advances in Honduras's economy but added benefits had not been passed down to the needy. She said: "There are many achievements in the macro economic arena, for example, we have a more open economy than in 1990 and a lower depreciation rate for currency, but these achievements have not translated themselves into better living conditions for the population. "There has been a little reduction in the poverty line, but the amount of families living in poverty has sharply increased and there are now 110,000 more Honduran homes in poverty than there were in 1992." Posas also emphasised the ineffectuality of state reforms since 1990. He said: "We don't see that these reforms are changing the way of life and there is a great deal of uncertanity about the impact of these reforms. "The economic reforms have not created a better condition of living, justice reforms have not created better access to justice for poor people. These reforms have not offered people the chance to become real citizens." The UNDP found the labor market was not providing opportunities for Hondurans and there was a continuing high rate of unemployment. "Of the jobs that do exist, many have a low productivity because people don't have the education or the equipment to improve the quality of their work," said Gallardo. "If you take the same Honduran and put them in the US, they will have a higher productivity because they have access to better resources and information. It is the economic conditions in Honduras that are restricting people's productivity." She added: "A job provides a person with dignity. People without jobs don't have that dignity or the opportunity to support their families. 64 per cent of the country is living in poverty. "We need to make sure that the economy is for the people and that a stable economy translates into better situations for the people, otherwise what is the point in having economic development?" The report also investigated reasons for immigration and its impact on society. It found many left Honduras because they could not find a job, were denied economic opportunites and felt the country lacked direction. Others said they would stay in Honduras because they wanted to help it overcome its difficulties and create better conditions for people living there. The UNDP said for Honduras to progress properly a more inclusive economy was needed, that the state should be strong and efficient and citizens should be encouraged to be more pro-active. It recommends longer-term political planning, a more progressive tax and public spending system and a better distribution of economic benefits. The report proposes the prioritisation of jobs for young people, a better educational system and the optimization of benefits from the free trade agreement, CAFTA. Also suggested are more forums to let the public have an improved dialogue with the Government.
Teaching Federation strikes continue
Sophie Cross
A teachers' union strike of Monday May 22nd saw more than 55,000 teachers refusing to work throughout the country and blocking 18 main roads in protest. The Federation of Honduran Teaching Organizations (FOMH) have organized four protests previously this year as a means of pressuring the government into listening to their demands. Union leaders met on Tuesday afternoon to evaluate their current campaign calling for the government to abolish the decree signed in January 2004 by former president Ricardo Maduro which has ´frozen´ certain aspects of the Honduran teaching statute, such as salary increase. They are also requesting 17 further amendments to the current education system. Sergio Rivera, President of the Association of Middle School Education in Honduras (COPEMH) spoke on Tuesday of the lack of negotiation offered by the government. "They call us liars, and treat us like terrorists or criminals," he said. He described how the unions´ repeated requests for change had been ignored by Ricardo Maduro's government, and how teachers had hoped that with a new government a positive change might take place as promised during current President Manuel Zelaya's electoral campaign. Those in the education sector have been left disappointed as these changes have as yet failed to take place. Nearly two million children were affected by Monday's strikes, many of whom come from impoverished backgrounds or have families that suffer domestic problems. Rivera claims that the schools attended often have no basic aid such as medical assistance or security; frequently the teachers themselves will pay for items such as classroom materials. Rivera accused the government of being solely motivated by money and working towards the privatization of schools, which jars with the constitutional concept that education should be free for everyone. "There are two ways of working: for money or for the community. You cannot reconcile the technical with the humane", he said. When asked what the next steps were in the Federation's campaign, Rivera replied, "We are going to carry out stronger actions until the government contact us to talk." These actions could include blocking roads, demonstrating in public places and at the Presidential residence. The unions have stressed their desire to discuss the proposed amendments with either the Education minister Rafael Pineda Ponce or the president Manuel Zelaya, both of whom they have previously contacted. According to local press, Pineda Ponce stated on Tuesday that he would not contact any teaching representative to discuss the matter until the unions find a "peaceful and legal way to seek a solution to the problem". Since then it has emerged that the president publicly requested the unions name a date and time to discuss the issues at stake. Responding to this, members of the FOMH declared that they would congregate outside the Presidential residence on Thursday at 4 p.m., to await the President's invitation. Should the government further refuse to talk, the federation has warned that they will take further measures starting next week.
Masters course in Central American literature on offer at UNAH Hannah Green
The application process is currently underway at UNAH (National Autonomous University of Honduras) for its newest post-graduate degree: a Masters in Central American literature. The specialized course is the only one of its kind in Honduras. Even general literature degrees are scarce in the country, with only UNAH and the National Pedagogical University Francisco Morazán offering them. University degrees in Literature in the country traditionally consist of the study of materials from around the world, particularly from France, Italy and Spain. For this reason, UNAH's new Masters course is somewhat pioneering in that it not only includes literature from the region in which it is taught, but concentrates solely on Central American work. It is an attempt to restore the importance of Central American literature for the area's inhabitants; to stimulate them to read more about their history and to be more culturally aware of their countrymen's literary accomplishments. The actual curriculum includes the study of a variety of texts: novels, poetry and plays. It encompasses the complete time period from ancient Mayan literature to modern work. The intention of narrowing down the curriculum is to clarify that the study of Central American literature does not adhere to the physical and political boundaries that tend to prevail between neighboring countries in the region. Irrespective of political and social change, literature and language have not been restricted. The proximity and shared history of the countries means that whether they like it or not, they share more common links than differences. Through studying for such a focused degree, the graduates develop specialized and contextualized knowledge of the region's literary history. In this way, the course produces scholars who have the potential to go on to be leaders in the renovation of literary study in the educational system and culture of the country: secondary school teachers, university lecturers, writers and publishers. Part of the degree's attraction is the availability of necessary equipment that the students require to prepare their dissertation at the end of their two years to a pre-publishing standard. There are many Honduran and Central American writers who do not have the resources to be able to publish their work, so the inclusion of an information technology course aids this process. The two-year course is available at UNAH for post graduates and costs 30,000 Lempiras per year. There are a number of requirements that must be satisfied by applicants before they embark on the interview process, such as originals and copies of various forms of identification, and proof of grades from the student's undergraduate degree. The study of literature encourages people to think and it confronts their views about both social events and culture. What sets the new Masters in Central American literature course at UNAH apart is that its graduates can apply these skills to their own country and surrounding region, which can only instill a sense of pride and determination in them to continue raising awareness.
Honorary consul bringing Japanese oil explorers to Honduras
Mario Gutierrez
Professor George V. Chilingar of the University of Southern California recently received the Knight of the Arts and Sciences award from the Russian Academy of National Sciences and the White Elephant Medal of Honor from Thailand. Doctor Chilingar has been Honorary Consul of Honduras in Los Angeles, California, for the past twenty years. He established the Endowed Fellowship for Honduran students to obtain Master of Science degrees in environmental engineering at the University of Southern California. Last year, David Murillo achieed an M.S. degree in environmental engineering with honours and returned to Honduras to serve his country. His cost of education was $45,000. On two occasions, Dr Chilingar obtained 1,000 bullet-proof vests for Honduran police, as well as ten motorcycles and other equipment. Dr Carlos Roberto Reina gave him a Police Medal of Honor. President Rafael Leonardo Callejas gave him the rank of Gran Oficial in the Order of Francisco Morazan for his great service to Honduras for many years. Professor Chilingar, together with famous Russian geologists, researched the oil-gas potential in Honduras and believes that there is oil there. He is going to bring several oil companies to Honduras to get concessions. He encouraged the best exploration company in Japan to study oil potential in Honduras free of charge. Soon, he will be bringing the Japanese experts back to Honduras to discuss a possible exploration with President Manuel Zelaya. Professor Chilingar hopes to continue serving in Honduras as Honorary Consul until he retires. At the present time, Professor Chilingar has published 58 books and 500 articles in the fields of petroleum geology, petroleum engineering and enivironmental engineering. He is the recipient of more than 100 medals and awards from various countries and organizations, including Persia,Russia, Thailand, Taiwan, Korea, Nicaragua and Italy. An oilfield in Iran is named after him.
World cup craze Hannah Green
It is hard to escape the FIFA World Cup hysteria that is currently gripping the globe. The 32 teams involved begin their campaign to be crowned football champions of the world on 9th June 2006. However, there is another side to the World Cup that has taken hold of a surprisingly wide number and variety of people both worldwide and in Honduras: filling the official FIFA World Cup album with 596 different stickers relating to the tournament. Football fever is a year-round labor of love for Hondurans. Despite Honduras' first and last appearance in the World Cup being 24 years ago, fans of 'the beautiful game' here still avidly follow the competition. Thousands of fans have contributed to the success of this phenomenon - collecting stickers depicting every player, team and stadium that will feature in the World Cup. Both the albums and stickers are on sale from the most frequented establishments in the country, from petrol stations to coffee shops. The book itself costs 30 Lempiras, and stickers come in packs of five for 7 Lempiras. The fascinating thing about the craze is that there are no restrictions on the type of people that participate. People of any age and class, both male and female can be found buying new stickers or trading with fellow collectors. Due to a growing number of women playing football, female interest in the World Cup has soared. Wives, girlfriends and daughters are no longer content to be the mute in the corner knowing nothing about the players or teams involved. Most also readily admit to another motive contributing to their interest in the game: men. However, this does not take away from the competitive nature of collecting the stickers, with friends battling to complete their albums first. Collectors have another incentive apart from enjoying the healthy competition -an address for each country is published at the back of the album to which completed books can be sent. The albums received are entered into a draw to win tickets to one of the World Cup matches in Germany. There is also the satisfaction of not only completing the sticker book, but being able to look back on them fondly in years to come. One fan, Felicito Montalvan, who has collected the World Cup album every four years since he was seven-years-old believes that, "not many people enter the draw to win tickets, and for me I would rather keep the albums as mementos of each World Cup I have watched." The album is a perfect way to remember the World Cup. It contains facts about each player, team and country in the event. Every team is arranged according to the players' positions. Geography is also touched upon, with a map of each country in the context of its continent for those who aren't aware of where some teams are from. This is especially helpful for the three countries that will play their debut World Cup this year: Angola, Togo and the Ivory Coast. Every country's name is written in each of the following languages: English, German, French, Italian, Dutch and Spanish, to cater for the activity's worldwide popularity. As with any sport, there are certain teams who are better-known than their competitors, which translated to World Cup stickers means they are harder to get hold of. Stickers of Brazilian players are the rarest, and especially Ronaldinho who could cost up to 50 Lempiras if traded. This may be expensive for a child in Tegucigalpa, but it's unlikely that Barcelona will be selling the real man for anything similar.
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Chaos in the capital because of taxi strike About 4,000 taxi drivers blocked the main streets and entrances of Tegucigalpa last Wednesday, causing traffic chaos and paralyzing the commercial and administrative district. Blockades were put in place from 6 a.m., preventing thousands getting to work or school. The protestors were demanding the Government cuts fuel prices by 15 lempiras and restricts the amount of taxi licenses being issued in the next ten years. Leaders of the taxistas called for the strike after talks broke down with the Government. President Manuel Zelaya has summoned another meeting with leaders of the demonstration. Hondudiario Although the health authority has agreed to pay what it owes doctors at the Hospital Escuela, many are still on strike because they do not have the right medicines to work with. It has been over a week since they first took action, bringing to a standstill most of the hospital. The union's branch secretary is involved in talks on payment to the hospital's doctors and how to resolve the shortage of medical supplies and drugs. Cesar Rodriguez, spokesman for the doctors on strike, said: "We don't even have gloves to work in, and on more than one occasion the surgeries have been cancelled because there is no anesthesia or clothes." La Tribuna Carnival of goals In one night of carnival in La Ceiba on May 20th, Olimpia and Victoria carried out their own celebration and delighted 15,000 fans with six fantastic goals. "Jaibos" and "Lions" drew 3-3 in the game. It was an encounter full of action, with both teams making good use of the ball with some spectacular and impressive play. At the beginning, it was an encounter played with more emotion than intelligence and there was much disorder, but there was a good attitude on the part of the players who wanted to recover the ball. Who will win the final is anyone's guess. The second round will be played in Tegucigalpa on May 28th. La Tribuna
Honduras has signed up to a new piece of legislation to cut bureaucracy at border crossings in Central America. The agreement has been made by the migration directors of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. A free borders agreement has existed between El Salvador and Guatemala since 2004. Honduras and Nicaragua added their names to that agreement at a meeting in San Salvador last Tuesday. The measures will come into effect from June 1st and from then travelers from the four countries will only require an identity card or passport to make their journey without difficulty. Jorge Santibañez, El Salvador's director of migration, said: "We will reduce a process that took up to two hours to 10 minutes." El Heraldo
President calls for Hondurans to re-subscribe to TPS President Manuel Zelaya has called for Hondurans to re-subscribe to the United State's Temporary Protection Status (TPS). Any Hondurans living in the U.S will need to sign up to the TPS before June 1st or face deportation. Zelaya was concerned about the apathy of Honduran nationals living in the U.S who had not re-subscribed yet. According to the Honduran Chancellery, more than half of the 80,000 beneficiaries of TPS have so far not re-subscribed. TPS gives temporary protection status to migrants in the U.S, including thousands of Hondurans following the Hurricane Mitch disaster in 1998. El Heraldo |
Sophie Cross/Honduras This Week
