Colombian civil society intervenes in the process of peace, demands an integral agrarian reform

The Political Forum of Integral Rural Development, that was held in Bogotá from the December 17 and 19 2012. (PHOTO BY ORSETTA BELLANI)

by Orsetta Bellani
Especial for El Reportero

On Friday, December 21st, the first round of talks between the Colombian government and the guerrillas of the FARC-EP ended. The parties are seeking, since November 19th in Havana, Cuba, to reach an agreement that would end the war that for half a century has torn Colombia apart.
The talks will resume on January 8th with the discussion of proposals that will outline agreements on agricultural issues, which has been chosen as the first item on the agenda, since it is the main cause of the conflict. In fact, the inequity in land distribution created the conditions for the birth of the Marxist guerrillas and paramilitary groups acting in defense of the interests of landowners.
The proposals that the parties will need to consider in January are not only the ones that have been raised by both the government and the FARC, but also those that have been submitted by Colombian civil society through a dedicated website, or that have been deposited in mailboxes at town halls.

“This is a process that uses several modern tools for a broad and pluralistic participation that will enrich the discussion. This is the true pluralism that allows everyone, from every corner, to let us know their views. We will continue to consider proposals, some of them quite interesting,” said Humberto de la Calle, Head of the Delegation of the Government in the negotiations.

In addition, the talks in Havana will have to examine the proposals that have come out of the Forum for Integrated Rural Development Policy, held in Bogota on December, 17th-19th, 2012. The Forum was summoned by the same negotiating table and organized by the Center for Thought and Monitoring of the Peace Process of the National University of Colombia and the United Nations Office in Colombia. Around 1200 representatives of movements and peasant, indigenous, student and human rights organizations were invited, as well as political parties and agribusiness unions, with the task of systematizing concrete proposals on rural development policies that would be implemented in the country, so as to be presented on January 8th at the negotiating table in Havana.

“The rural issue is the main cause of conflict and civil society participation is key,” noted Bruno Moro, UN Resident Coordinator, during the opening ceremony.

Data presented at the Forum for Integrated Rural Development Policy showed that currently in the Colombian countryside, where there has never been a successful land reform, inequality persists.

According to the 2011 Human Development Report of the United Nations Program for Development (UNDP), 80 per cent of the Colombian hungry population live in the countryside. During half a century of conflict, the peasantry has been stripped of more than 7 million hectares of land, in a country where 52.2 per cent of the land belongs to the 1.1 per cent of the population.

Participants of the 20 tables that formed the Forum for Integrated Rural Development Policy rejected plans for militarization of rural areas and highlighted the need of sovereignty and food security, a new rural infrastructure, with a focus on gender policy that also guarantee the rights of indigenous communities and people of African descent.

They also highlighted the need to promote Rural Reserve Areas (areas where a limit is set to the extension of each plot) and amend the Law of Victims and Land Restitution of Juan Manuel Santos’ government.

Overall, the participants to the Forum proved the failure of the current model of economic development characterized by mining and agribusiness, and raised the need for a comprehensive, democratic and participatory land reform, which sets a limit to land ownership and the presence of foreign capital in the country.

The need for a comprehensive land reform is also raised by the FARC: following the end of the first round of negotiations, the head of the delegation of the guerrilla, Luciano Marin Arango, alias Ivan Marquez, said that they will not stop discussing the country’s social and economic development model.

“The public can be assured that their proposals will be valued appropriately,” said De la Calle, who however highlighted the government’s willingness to advance a negotiated settlement of the conflict, saying that under no circumstances the change of the Colombian economic development model is at stake, adding that for that to be discussed, the guerrillas must leave the weapons, do politics and win the elections.

“You cannot think that the end to the estates will be signed in Havana or that the country will be structurally transformed,” says Sergio Coronado, from CINEP (Center for Research and Popular Education).

“But the agreement itself can create a foundation on which to build a model of rural development much closer to the need of peasant sectors, something that would be easier in the absence of an armed conflict.

However, the resolution of land conflicts in the country does not depend on the signing of peace accords, the absence of armed conflict does not mean the absence of social conflict.”

 

by the El Reportero’s wire services

Rosario Murillo

Nicaragua started today evacuating more than 300 families in a radius of three kilometers from San Cristobal Volcano, north Chinandega, because it has increased activity.

Rosario Murillo, coordinator of the Consejo de Comunicación y Ciudadanía, asked the people to cooperate and move into shelters to prevent further difficulties, especially exposing their health and lives.

Murillo highlight in telephone interview for Canal 4 TV chanel the work of the Sistema Nacional de Atención, Mitigación y Prevención de Desastres (Sinapred) and other bodies from yesterday because of the rumbles and the 500 to 800 m-high gas and ash emission.

The government brass stressed on the need to support those working for the people’s welbeing and assured that there will always be fresh news on the developments and measures enforced under the yellow alert in the volcano’s vecinity through Sinatrep.

President Daniel Ortega, for his part, ordered to enforce the yellow alert to introduce the measures needed should further complication may occur and activated the Municipal Committees of Prevention, Mitigation and Disaster Attention.

The Civil Defense sent in four contingents with the logistics to evacuate the population, added Guillermo Gonzalez, exec. Secr. of Sinapred.

Similar situation in September forced to order road closing, limit the traffic and the use of masks, among other measures, to prevent complications since Nicaragua is sitting right on one of the largest section of the fault in the pacific origin of the 1,750m above sea level colossus.

Chavismo thumps opposition; Capriles provides sole consolation

Venezuela’s beleaguered opposition received a pummelling at the polls on 16 December.

The ruling Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela (PSUV) swept 20 of the country’s 23 states in regional elections, the best possible palliative for President Hugo Chávez as he convalesces in Cuba.

The only crumb of comfort for the opposition was the victory of Henrique Capriles Radonski in the battle of the heavyweights in Miranda against former vice-president, Elías Jaua. Defeat for incumbent governor Pablo Pérez in the largest state of Zulia means that Capriles is the only candidate with the credibility to stand in presidential elections if Chávez is unable to go on.

Mexico to produce 2.71 million vehicles this year

The automotive production in Mexico will reach 2.7 million vehicles this year, news bulletin reported today.

The official Financial Group Ve por Mas, Manuel Guzman, told reporters that both total production and automobiles export, is in its highs, despite a slight decline in November. He added that these figures show Mexico’s strengths, even in an adverse international environment.

He specified that the main risk that may currently affect the industry is the national fiscal precipice in the United States, its main trading partner.

According to the Mexican Ministry of Economy, last year the country ranked eighth worldwide in automotive production.

Chrysler, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Nissan, Toyota and Volks wagen are the brands assembled here.

by Dan Roberts
ammoland.com

News that a mandatory, government sponsored gun buyback scheme is in the planning stages emerged last Friday.

Friday is well known as the day of the week in the news cycle to release information or statements that is unusually controversial or ” bad news,” the theory being that the general public will be so distracted by the upcoming weekend that they will pay little if any attention.

Exploiting this common practice, word emerged at the end of last week that Congresswoman Dianne Feinstein and NY State Gov. Andrew Cuomo are actively working on a planned government fiat to seize lawfully owned private property without cause. In the form of an Australian style mandatory firearms buyback program, going so far as to tout that Countries program and so called positive results, while conveniently omitting the fact that Australia’s violent crime rate dramatically increased in the wake of the scheme and continues unabated.

While details are scant in both Feinstein’s and Cuomo’s press release on the plan, Cuomo was quoted as making it clear that the buyback would be compulsory and participation mandatory. Although it remains a question what the penalties for noncompliance would be. Cuomo further added that they would make gun owners “an offer they can’t refuse” when referring to buyback amounts of up to $500.

Sounding more like a NY mafioso then a “leader” in a Free State with significant Constitutional Protections in the way. Cuomo’s offer serves not only to further reveal his elitist arrogance, but also highlights his ignorance, presuming that the owner of a 1, 2 or 3,000 dollar firearm (or multiple ones) would roll over and comply for a cash value orders of magnitude below retail values.

Also worthy of note is Dianne Feinstein’s previous quotes on the news program 60 Minutes several years ago. During her interview with Mike Wallace about the 1994 to 2004 Clinton Era “Assault Weapons Ban” , where Feinstein lamented the fact she felt the law didn’t go far enough and stated “If I could have gotten 51 votes in the Senate of the United States for an outright ban, picking up every one of them . . . Mr. and Mrs. America, turn ‘em all in, I would have done it. I could not do that. The votes weren’t here.”

This is the same Feinstein who admitted in another, different interview that when she felt threatened by terrorists, she carried a gun for self-defense and stated “I carried a concealed weapon. I made the determination that if somebody was going to try to take me out, I was going to take them with me.” — April 27,1995.

And Gov Cuomo has a taxpayer supplied 24/7 security detail armed with actual, real fully automatic “assault weapons” at his side and disposal for his safety and the safety of his loved ones.

There should now be overwhelming evidence to anyone with two brain cells to rub together that we are no longer being “led” by elected Officials that took their Oath of Office seriously, but by rulers, tyrants who would be Kings, no different then King George III. We might as well take down Old Glory from every State Capitol and the US Capitol in DC and replace it with the Union Jack, while we’re at it, we can rename Congress, Parliament, because there really are no significant recognizable differences between the yoke of tyranny we are under today and the one we threw off over 200 years ago.

If Feinstein’s and Cuomo’s plan is allowed to proceed even one step further without being vociferously and publicly protested and killed in utero, they will have effectively struck the match and lit the fuse on a Second American Revolution.

About Dan Roberts is a grassroots supporter of gun rights that has chosen AmmoLand Shooting Sports News as the perfect outlet for his frank, ‘Jersey Attitude’ filled articles on Guns and Gun Owner Rights. As a resident of the oppressive state of New Jersey he is well placed to be able to discuss the abuses of government against our inalienable rights to keep and bear arms as he writes from deep behind NJ’s Anti-Gun iron curtain. Read more from Dan Roberts or email him at DRoberts@ammoland.com You can also find him on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dan.roberts.18.

by PF Louis
Natural News

The common disease directly attributed to vitamin C deficiency is scurvy. Scurvy creates a malaise of fatigue and lethargy, affects bone and muscle strength, and stifles the immune system.

Some nutritional experts consider scurvy a manifestation of acidosis, extreme acidity or low pH. That condition gives rise to many other diseases, even cancer. Thanks to using citrus to curb the two million earlier sailors’ scurvy, scurvy’s occurrence has greatly diminished from the late 18th century till now. But it does still occur.

Due to terrible diets or practicing bulimia to become anorexic, there has been a scurvy surge among teens. It can also afflict alcoholics or older people whose ability to absorb vitamin C has diminished from excessive medications or poor diets.

Even infants who are not breast fed by a healthy mom can become scorbutic (manifesting scurvy symptoms).

Although not a wise choice due to toxic additives, most infant formulas are fortified with vitamin C. Most animals can create their own vitamin C.

That’s why they can recover from disease or injury quickly. The problem with us humans, Guinea pigs, and a few other primates is the gene involved with internal vitamin C manufacturing is missing.

The remedy is simple. Introduce more vitamin C food sources into the diet and/or add ascorbic acid supplementation.

Early signs of enc roaching scurvy:

(1) Chronic low energy, strength, and/or depression. Even bone strength is affected. Since acidosis and scurvy are similar, the classic acidosis symptom of wasting away becomes evident while losing weight.

(2) Bleeding gums, loose teeth, or gingivitis. This is an obvious and easy to notice sign that the collagen needed for building and maintaining tissue is deteriorating. Vitamin C is vital for collagen.

(3) Rapid mood changes, short tempers, and irritability can be an early sign of scurvy. Add more vitamin C to your diet or look into other possibilities before seeking pharmaceutical interventions.

(4) Bruises that occur easily, and often linger may be an indication of vitamin C deficiency. Low healing of minor wounds and dryer hair may also point to inadequate vitamin C levels.

(5) Chronic limb or joint pain is another sign for you to check into low vitamin C as a missing nutrient. Sometimes scurvy gets to a point where bleeding occurs within joints, causing severe pain.

(6) Anemia is another sign of possible vitamin C deficiency. If you seem to catch every cold or flu that comes your way, maybe more vitamin C will help elevate your immune system.

Vitamin C deficiency creates neurological problems

A recent study conducted at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department of Neuroscience in Nashville, Tennessee and recorded in the Journal of Neurochemistry October, 2012, came up with some interesting observations.

They used mice which were genetically engineered to deactivate the genes that normally provide their own vitamin C. Of course, those mice are kept alive and healthy by externally providing them vitamin C with ascorbic acid (AA).

But for the purposes of this study, they created periods of not providing AA and then reintroducing it. Before and after each period, blood samples were taken.

During each deprivation period, behavioral patterns were observed and noted. Depressive and submissive behavior was noted during the initial absence of AA. Compulsions for consuming glucose above all other food types was observed.

After depriving the mice of AA a second time, blood samples indicated “… decreased blood glucose levels, oxidative damage to lipids and proteins in the cortex, and decreases in dopamine and serotonin metabolites in both the cortex and striatum.” In other words, neurological damage.

The miraculous results of IV mega-dose vitamin C or liposomal high cellular absorption vitamin C have been achieved by orthomolecular medical MDs who have used megadose minerals and vitamins for decades, resolving extreme physiological and psychological problems.