by the El Reportero’s wire services
Santiago, Chile, Dec 16 – In Chile, 97 percent of citizens consider that water for human consumption must be guaranteed in the new Constitution as a human right, according to a survey published on Wednesday.
The study ‘Chile Drop by Drop: pandemic, challenges and perceptions of water crisis’, sponsored by Greenpeace Chile, shows that access to water is considered one of the major elements necessary to lead a decent life, in addition to health, housing, food, education and employment.
The survey by the environmental organization analyzed the water situation during the second half of this year, consulting a little more than 1,000 people throughout the country, with the aim of knowing the major concerns closely related to the crisis this nation is going through.
In addition, 88 percent of those interviewed considered the present water shortage an unacceptable social inequality, and that same percentage showed that the distribution is not equitable.
Greenpeace Chile Director Matias Asun considered these results proved that the de facto privatization of water, in the hands of just a few, is an injustice that must be urgently reversed in the new Constitution.
Mexico, the US to keep the border closed for another month
Mexico, Dec 11 – Mexico and the United States renewed the deal to keep the common border closed for another month in non-essential steps of its over 2,000 kilometers of extension, unfolded the local Foreign Affairs Ministry on Friday.
On Twitter, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that, after reviewing the development of the spread of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, and due to the fact that several entities are in the orange of the epidemiological traffic light, Mexico proposed to the United States the extension for another month of the restrictions to non-essential land transit on their common border. The measure will surely be of great commercial impact due to the Christmas season and once again causes discomfort for Mexican border citizens, because they assure that it applies mainly to them and not to those coming from the United States.
In its statement, the Secretariat reiterates that the restrictions will remain in the same terms as they have been since their implementation on March 21, 2020.
Both countries will coordinate health measures in the region, which will be in effect until 23:59 local time on January 21, 2021.
President opens office to provide support, protection to visiting migrants
‘Citizen heroes’ will be protected from criminal activity
A special office will be set up within that of the president to protect Mexican migrants who travel home to visit.
President López Obrador announced the opening of the office during Monday’s press conference, explaining that visiting Mexicans — whom he hailed as “citizen heroes” — will be protected from criminal activity and abuse.
“A support program has been initiated for the protection of our countrymen, but it is going to be reinforced” with an office in the National Palace, he said.
“They are going to be reporting to me daily because in this office they are going to coordinate all support and protection for our countrymen so they are not abused, so they are not victims of assault, that they are not victims of extortion. I will give instructions to the National Guard so that, from the moment that arrive and clear customs, they will be given protection and support …”
López Obrador called on all public servants “to act with rectitude and honesty” because no abuse against migrants will be allowed.
Immigration chief Francisco Garduño said the migrants who return to their homes during the December holidays will be given “privileged attention.”
The president has expressed praise for migrants in the past for their remittances, money that represents Mexico’s largest source of foreign income.
In the first 10 months of the year they sent home US $33.56 billion, up 10% from the same period last year. BBVA research, a division of the Spanish-based financial services firm, estimates that this year’s total will reach $39.4 billion, an 8% year-over-year increase.
