es http://www.alcnoticias.org/ Information and analysis about the social-ecclesial reality, development and human rights in Latin America and other regions of the world englisheditor@alcnoticias.org http://www.alcnoticias.org/interior.php?codigo_lang=16426_688 The Anglican Episcopal Church of El Salvador March 18 publicly denounced the attempted murder of Bishop Martín Barahona and two others, according to a news release issued by the church. The incident happened in Santa Tecla, El Salvador, on March 17 when an unknown man approached and fired upon Barahona, a church musician and Francis Martínez, the bishop's driver. 2010-03-18 http://www.alcnoticias.org/interior.php?codigo_lang=16418_688 The violence generated in Aguán is the product of a structural problem that has not been solved in Honduras and an expression of the need for profound changes in the country so that most of the population can effectively and fully enjoy their human rights. Since the coup political-business-military executed on June 28, 2009, against the institutions of the State of Honduras, there has been an increase of deaths, persecution, threats and intimidation of some 3 thousand 500 peasant families who would like to live with dignity. 2010-03-18 http://www.alcnoticias.org/interior.php?codigo_lang=16419_688 A massive vaccination drive and HIV prevention campaign are being implemented in an effort to minimize the spread of disease inside a Port-au-Prince camp where more than 20,000 displaced Haitians are staying, reported the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). "With people living so close together, the risk of the spread of communicable diseases remains extremely high," said Sandra Golles, health services coordinator for the ADRA Emergency Response Center in Haiti. "We are hoping our ongoing health activities will avert a potential epidemic." 2010-03-18 http://www.alcnoticias.org/interior.php?codigo_lang=16407_688 In accordance with the mandate set forth in the 1996 agreement between the Government of Colombia and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the present report analyses the most important developments relating to the situation of human rights and international humanitarian law in Colombia in 2009. It records, among other issues, the significant progress made in terms of a drastic reduction in the number of complaints of extrajudicial executions and the continuous prosecution of members of Congress and public officials for alleged links with paramilitary organizations. 2010-03-16 http://www.alcnoticias.org/interior.php?codigo_lang=16412_688 HIV infections in women have increased in Latin America and the Caribbean, especially as the age initial sexual activity declined. Panel speakers at the Sixth Central American Congress on HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections held in San José, Costa Rica March 1-5 said that the region´s women and young people face the highest risk of contracting the virus. 2010-03-16 http://www.alcnoticias.org/interior.php?codigo_lang=16411_688 As American society becomes more religiously diverse, the nation’s population has had to grapple with how to define its holidays and celebrations. A recent study by the Barna Group explored Americans’ definition of the Easter holiday, asking a nationwide, representative sample of American adults how they would describe what Easter means to them, personally. The results indicated that most Americans consider Easter to be a religious holiday, but fewer identify the resurrection of Jesus as the underlying meaning. The study also explored the degree to which Americans are likely to invite an unchurched friend or family member to attend worship service on Easter weekend. 2010-03-16 http://www.alcnoticias.org/interior.php?codigo_lang=16385_688 An international panel of pastors and theologians is drafting a “manifesto” on church unity and social justice for a new global organization of Reformed churches. The text is to be presented in June to the Uniting General Council (UGC) of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) in Grand Rapids, United States. At the conclusion yesterday of a four-day consultation in Cartigny, Switzerland, the group representing churches in eight world regions approved a text calling for a clear commitment to church unity as the basis for joint action on economic and ecological justice concerns. 2010-03-12 http://www.alcnoticias.org/interior.php?codigo_lang=16386_688 As Fontil Louiner sees it, faced with the reality of damaged homes and lost income, he and more than two dozen family members and friends had no alternative but to pull up stakes and leave the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince. “We had no other choice. We couldn’t stay,” said the 39-year-old video technician who recently returned to his hometown of Petite Riviere, in the northern department of Artibonite. 2010-03-12 http://www.alcnoticias.org/interior.php?codigo_lang=16372_688 Science fiction blockbuster Avatar was the big loser in the Oscar awards ceremony - not only a blow for director James Cameron but also seen as a symbolic reverse in the struggle to recover Amazon rainforest areas in Ecuador from the effects of oil pollution. Several environmental organisations, like the Rainforest Action Network (RAN) and the Amazon Defence Coalition, had asked Cameron to "let his legions of fans know that while Pandora is fictional, what is happening to (indigenous) communities in Ecuador is as real as it gets." 2010-03-11 http://www.alcnoticias.org/interior.php?codigo_lang=16371_688 In Guatemala, violence against women has reached staggering levels in recent years. Since 2000, over 4,700 Guatemalan women have been brutally murdered with almost no accountability for a single perpetrator of these crimes. On March 3rd, 2010, American University hosted an event with the Guatemala Human Rights Commission (GHRC) called “Stop Femicide in Guatemala!” Internationally acclaimed human rights advocate Norma Cruz spoke with students and professors about the increasing rate of violence against women in Guatemala. 2010-03-11