WIth attention focused on the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, little else has garnered attention in the media. That’s not to say that the rest of the world has come to a halt. Hardly. So here is a summary of news from outside the Conventions.
Surge of Violence Against Trade Unionists in Guatemala – AFL-CIO
The government of Guatemala ratified the Dominican Republic – Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) on March 25, 2005, which entered into force between the United States and Guatemala on July 1, 2006. The government made several promises prior to the ratification vote in the United States to substantially improve the administration of labor justice in the country. However, the political will necessary to achieve these changes never materialized, and the United States has applied little visible pressure on the country to comply with the labor provisions of the trade agreement.
Social Factors Key to Ill Health – BBC
Social factors – rather than genetics – are to blame for huge variations in ill health and life expectancy around the world, a report concludes.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has carried out a three-year analysis of the “social determinants” of health. The report concludes “social injustice is killing people on a grand scale”.
The Military is the Main Culprit in Zimbabwe – The East African
Since 2000 and his defeat in a referendum destined to reinforce his presidential powers, Robert Mugabe has been at war with his opposition and his regime has become the equivalent of a military dictatorship.
Dismantling the military structure’s control over the country’s politics, economy and civilian administration is crucial for the country’s future. But this will only be possible if real executive powers are handed over to opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai in the ongoing talks.
Mexico City Struggles With Law on Abortion – The New York Times
When Mexico City’s government made abortion legal last year, it also set out to make it available to any woman who asked for one. That includes the city’s poorest, who for years resorted to illegal clinics and midwives as wealthy women visited private doctors willing to quietly end unwanted pregnancies.
A man looked at portraits of women who support abortion rights during a recent demonstration in Mexico City. But helping poor women gain equal access to the procedure has turned out to be almost as complicated as passing the law, a watershed event in this Catholic country and in a region where almost all countries severely restrict abortions.
ICC May Launch Investigation in Colombia – Colombia Reports
The International Criminal Court may soon launch an official investigation in Colombia. The court’s prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo will conduct an official visit to Bogota next week to find out whether the Colombian government is capable of securing justice in the context of its civil conflict.
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