[NYTr] Drug-Spraying: Colombia Willing to Compensate Ecuadorans Date: Tue, 29 May 2007 14:59:47 -0500 (CDT) Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit Prensa Latina, Havana http://www.plenglish.com Colombia ready to settle differences with Ecuador Quito, May 29 (PL) Colombia is willing to compensate Ecuadorians affected by aerial spraying of Glyphosate, Colombian Foreign Minister Fernando AraC:jo said here Monday. Following closed door talks for over two hours with his Ecuadorian counterpart, Maria Fernanda Espinosa, AraC:jo said his government is ready to accept its responsibility in spraying the herbicide. According to Espinosa, sprayed Glyphosate, which Colombia irrigates over coca leaf plantations, reaches Ecuadorian territory by air, affecting inhabitants on the border and destroying legal crops. Her Colombian colleague added his country has halted air irrigation of Glyphosate and is determined not to proceed with it. "Right now, he noted, irrigation is carried out manually. So far this year 1,600 hectares have been sprayed." In his words, there is no evidence that the herbicide is harming the health of Ecuadorian border inhabitants, but in case any hard proof is provided, the Colombian side will accept its responsibilities. Araujo said a report by his country's scientific commission will be presented on June 8, concerning the effects of the herbicide irrigation. As for Ecuador, it has completed its own report, which is to be brought forward at the next bilateral meeting. After dealing with borderline issues, both sides agreed to try to find ways to decrease the bilateral trade deficit, currently affecting Quito. Ecuador's Foreign Minister highlighted her Government's interest in repatriating 1,276 Colombians who have been serving time in Ecuadorian prisons. Both officials also agreed to hold two meetings by the Binational Border Commission in months ahead, to focus on actions that help promote development and cooperation on the mutual borderline. Shortly after finishing the press round, Araujo flew back to his country. sus jg lgo PL-4 * ================================================================ .NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems . Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us . .339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org .List Archives: https://olm.blythe-systems.com/pipermail/nytr/ .Subscribe: https://olm.blythe-systems.com/mailman/listinfo/nytr ================================================================ [NYTr] Media Gets Venez RCTV Wrong - Voice Your Concern! Date: Tue, 29 May 2007 15:58:44 -0500 (CDT) Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit Venezuela Information Office - May 29, 2007 http://www.veninfo.org MEDIA MISREPRESENTS KEY FACTS IN THE RCTV CASE! LETTERS NEEDED TODAY! Yesterday and today a slew of biased editorials, op-eds, and articles appeared in the U.S. press about the Venezuelan government's decision not to renew the broadcasting license of RCTV. Those most egregious and devoid of any real factual content were the Los Angeles Times' "Venezuelan TV Station Goes Dark" by Chris Kraul (May 28) (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-ventv29may29,1,697130.story), an editorial by the Financial Times (May 29) (http://www.ft.com/cms/s/597bf998-0d80-11dc-937a-000b5df10621.html) and "Chavez Changes Channels", the Economist's Top Story today (http://economist.com/daily/news/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9248319&top_story=1). Almost all frame the RCTV issue as one of deteriorating press freedoms, rather than a government's legitimate response to a station that helped plot and carry out a coup. By stating that the Venezuelan government has "alleged" and "accused" RCTV of involvement in the coup, rather than presenting it as fact, accepted by many independent observers, news sources mislead the reader. YOUR BRIEF LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ARE NEEDED! Send a letter to one or all! Some important facts are outlined below. Feel free to use them in your letters and remember to include your name, address, phone, email and title if applicable. To submit a letter to the LA Times send it to: letters@latimes.com To submit a letter to the Economist send it to: letters@economist.com To submit a letter to the Financial Times send it to: letters.editor@ft.com KEY POINTS: Neither the Economist, Financial Times, nor the LA Times brings a logical view to the case. What media in the world would criticize the U.S. government or any other democracy for not renewing a broadcasting license for a station that had promoted a coup? This is clearly an example of irresponsible broadcasting, as it violates legal norms. The media does not mention the fact that, even after the non-renewal, the vast majority of Venezuela's media remains in private hands. In fact, the other major TV stations critical of Chavez, whose licenses were up for renewal, did receive them. What's worse, the public broadcasting station which has taken RCTV's place- Venezuela's first ever- is condemned. The government gave an initial $4 million to the station to begin but its autonomous board of directors will try to diversify funding by looking for corporate advertising in October. Why should the U.S. press decry the creation of a Venezuelan PBS? A station that benefits the public good and promotes educational, cultural, and national themes in a neutral fashion is truly needed in Venezuela. Finally, it is interesting that other nations who have recently decided not to renew broadcasting licenses for stations that violated radio and TV laws, such as Peru in April of this year, and Uruguay last December, received little if any press coverage or condemnation. * ================================================================ .NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems . Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us . .339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org .List Archives: https://olm.blythe-systems.com/pipermail/nytr/ .Subscribe: https://olm.blythe-systems.com/mailman/listinfo/nytr ================================================================