2007.02.15: February 15, 2007: Headlines: COS - Mexico: Counterinsurgency: Criticism: Chiapas Centro de Medios Independients: Angeles Mariscal writes: US Denies that Chiapas Volunteers are Counterinsurgents
Peace Corps Online:
Directory:
Mexico:
Peace Corps Mexico :
The Peace Corps in Mexico:
2007.02.19: February 19, 2007: Headlines: COS - Mexico: Counterinsurgency: Criticism: Chiapas Centro de Medios Independients: Elio Henríquez writes: Five members of the Peace Corps, a U.S. government-sponsored organization accused of performing counterinsurgency activities in several countries in the past, have been incorporated as "volunteers" in strategic departments of ECOSUR:
2007.02.15: February 15, 2007: Headlines: COS - Mexico: Counterinsurgency: Criticism: Chiapas Centro de Medios Independients: Angeles Mariscal writes: US Denies that Chiapas Volunteers are Counterinsurgents
Angeles Mariscal writes: US Denies that Chiapas Volunteers are Counterinsurgents
Press people from the embassy of the neighbor country insisted that the members of the Peace Corps are volunteer experts who work to strengthen the on-site activities where they collaborate, and they have nothing to do with policy functions, besides the fact that they do not participate in counterin-surgency or “ideologization,” as members of the Colegio de la Frontera Sur (Ecosur), who are opposed to the presence of the “volunteers” in their organization denounced to La Jornada. In its official we page (www.usafreedomcorps.gov) it is explained that the Coordinating Council of the Peace Corps is presided over by George W. Bush, and his headquarters is in the White House. The web page refers to the fact that on April 8, 2002, in the context of a visit to the Knoxville Civic Center, in Tennessee, Bush eulogized these programs and invited United States citizens to join them, “as a way of making a front against war, in a strategy that assures the United States may be better prepared.”
Angeles Mariscal writes: US Denies that Chiapas Volunteers are Counterinsurgents
US Denies that Chiapas Volunteers are Counterinsurgents
Garza meets with groups financed by his country
by Angeles Mariscal, Correspondent.
Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, February 14, 2007.
The U.S. ambassador in Mexico, Tony Garza, and Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy of that same nation, Karen Hughes, reported about the investment of their government in different projects in Chiapas, like the Peace Corps and environmental conservation groups, that long term “project benefits because of oxygen and carbon fixation.”
For two days, the United States officials met in this city with organizations of coffee growers, small financers, conservationists and of tourist services, where their government has million dollar investments and an interest in their development, reported the diplomats.
In their first day of the tour, Hughes and Garza met in private with their compatriot members of the so-called Peace Corps. The ambassador held that the “volunteers” will help indigenous communities of the Lacandón Jungle in ecotourism projects to develop marketing campaigns to sell their crafts.
Press people from the embassy of the neighbor country insisted that the members of the Peace Corps are volunteer experts who work to strengthen the on-site activities where they collaborate, and they have nothing to do with policy functions, besides the fact that they do not participate in counterin-surgency or “ideologization,” as members of the Colegio de la Frontera Sur (Ecosur), who are opposed to the presence of the “volunteers” in their organization denounced to La Jornada.
In its official we page (www.usafreedomcorps.gov) it is explained that the Coordinating Council of the Peace Corps is presided over by George W. Bush, and his headquarters is in the White House.
The web page refers to the fact that on April 8, 2002, in the context of a visit to the Knoxville Civic Center, in Tennessee, Bush eulogized these programs and invited United States citizens to join them, “as a way of making a front against war, in a strategy that assures the United States may be better prepared.”
In his visit to the state, Tony Garza held that since five years ago, the United States government also supports the Tourism in Nature program, through the Na-Balom Foundation and the Conservation International (CI) grouping. The diplomat also met with representatives of CI, Starbucks Coffee, the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas, coffee growers and state officials.
Ricardo Hernández, state representative of CI, explained that 1,200 producers are ascribed to the Conservation Coffee program, who receive direct financing from the United States government.
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: February, 2007; Peace Corps Mexico; Directory of Mexico RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Mexico RPCVs; Criticism
When this story was posted in February 2007, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
 | Ron Tschetter in Morocco and Jordan
On his first official trip since being confirmed as Peace Corps Director, Ron Tschetter (shown at left with PCV Tia Tucker) is on a ten day trip to Morocco and Jordan. Traveling with his wife (Both are RPCVs.), Tschetter met with volunteers in Morocco working in environment, youth development, health, and small business development. He began his trip to Jordan by meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II and Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah and discussed expanding the program there in the near future. |
 | Chris Dodd's Vision for the Peace Corps
Senator Chris Dodd (RPCV Dominican Republic) spoke at the ceremony for this year's Shriver Award and elaborated on issues he raised at Ron Tschetter's hearings. Dodd plans to introduce legislation that may include: setting aside a portion of Peace Corps' budget as seed money for demonstration projects and third goal activities (after adjusting the annual budget upward to accommodate the added expense), more volunteer input into Peace Corps operations, removing medical, healthcare and tax impediments that discourage older volunteers, providing more transparency in the medical screening and appeals process, a more comprehensive health safety net for recently-returned volunteers, and authorizing volunteers to accept, under certain circumstances, private donations to support their development projects. He plans to circulate draft legislation for review to members of the Peace Corps community and welcomes RPCV comments. |
 | He served with honor
One year ago, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul (RPCV Kenya) carried on an ongoing dialog on this website on the military and the peace corps and his role as a member of a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have just received a report that Sargeant Paul has been killed by a car bomb in Kabul. Words cannot express our feeling of loss for this tremendous injury to the entire RPCV community. Most of us didn't know him personally but we knew him from his words. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. He was one of ours and he served with honor. |
 | Peace Corps' Screening and Medical Clearance
The purpose of Peace Corps' screening and medical clearance process is to ensure safe accommodation for applicants and minimize undue risk exposure for volunteers to allow PCVS to complete their service without compromising their entry health status. To further these goals, PCOL has obtained a copy of the Peace Corps Screening Guidelines Manual through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and has posted it in the "Peace Corps Library." Applicants and Medical Professionals (especially those who have already served as volunteers) are urged to review the guidelines and leave their comments and suggestions. Then read the story of one RPCV's journey through medical screening and his suggestions for changes to the process. |
 | The Peace Corps is "fashionable" again
The LA Times says that "the Peace Corps is booming again and "It's hard to know exactly what's behind the resurgence." PCOL Comment: Since the founding of the Peace Corps 45 years ago, Americans have answered Kennedy's call: "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." Over 182,000 have served. Another 200,000 have applied and been unable to serve because of lack of Congressional funding. The Peace Corps has never gone out of fashion. It's Congress that hasn't been keeping pace. |
 | PCOL readership increases 100%
Monthly readership on "Peace Corps Online" has increased in the past twelve months to 350,000 visitors - over eleven thousand every day - a 100% increase since this time last year. Thanks again, RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps, for making PCOL your source of information for the Peace Corps community. And thanks for supporting the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come. |
 | History of the Peace Corps
PCOL is proud to announce that Phase One of the "History of the Peace Corps" is now available online. This installment includes over 5,000 pages of primary source documents from the archives of the Peace Corps including every issue of "Peace Corps News," "Peace Corps Times," "Peace Corps Volunteer," "Action Update," and every annual report of the Peace Corps to Congress since 1961. "Ask Not" is an ongoing project. Read how you can help. |
Read the stories and leave your comments.
Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.
Story Source: Chiapas Centro de Medios Independients
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Mexico; Counterinsurgency; Criticism
PCOL36228
09
