An informative piece by Fusion asks “Is rape the price to pay for migrant women chasing the American Dream?” The articles notes that 80% of Central American women crossing Mexican territory on their way to the United States experience sexual assault. The scenario is something all too common, and largely goes unaddressed when talking about the migration experiences of Central Americans. In it’s opening line, the video article captures some of what entails women’s migratory experience, “Before they can reach the American Dream, many migrant women have to survive a Mexican nightmare.” Not every Central American woman makes it to the US, and in many Southern Mexico towns, there are local underground economies based on trapping these women into sex work. Watch the video and read the article here.
Mining has been an on-going battle between the Salvadoran people and North American corporations. Canadian mining company, Pacific Rim which was recently acquired by the Australian OceanaGold corporation, is suing the nation of El Salvador for halting its gold-mining operations in the department of Cabañas. The Salvadoran government came to its conclusion after an assessment of the environmental damage and health risks resulting in an Honduran town negatively affected by mining developments. Many environmental activists and community leaders opposed to the mining have been the target of harassment, abuse, and sometimes assassinations which have sent shockwaves throughout the community. Now the decision rests with an obscure World Bank Court. The implications of this judicial body could be enormous. As it stands, either El Salvador will have to pay millions of dollars to the corporation or let the mining proceed forward unchallenged. Read the article here:
Stand in Solidarity with the people of El Salvador and sign the petition here:
Mayans win against Monsanto
Upsidedownworld.org brings us another report on indigenous people power in Central America thwarting agrobusiness giant, Monsanto. The Guatemalan Court repealed a decision that would have allowed Monsanto free reign to expand its biotechnology projects on indigenous lands. Mayan communities of Sololá organized to stop the introduction of genetically modified seeds which would have replaced natural seeds and ruined their local economy. This is a small victory in a large and ongoing struggle against Monsanto and other predatory corporations that have negatively affected farmers, indigenous peoples, and countless communities across the region. Read more here.