letters
Lots of things on readers' minds this time
Looking for volunteer work opportunities
First, I would like to congratulate you on your continued, if tenuous, publication of The Panama News. It has become my link to the political life of Panama while in the States.
I will be back in Panama City next month investigating potential venues for volunteer work within the country and wonder if you might be able to provide me a contact possessing a general knowledge of "who is doing what" there without a particular affiliation to promote... an ombudsman, I guess. I'm just looking for a starting point.
Keep up the good work. As I read of the breadth of corruption within the branches of the Panamanian government, the blatant nepotism, and cronyism that characterize it, I'm humbled to observe how little separates the exercise of power in the Third World from what is being tolerated in Washington DC.
Editor's note: A stroll through the community pages is our archive is one place to start such a search, but an insufficient source as we haven't been able to cover anything close to the vast range of groups who are doing worthy things here. There is also a lot of quiet individual charity here, not only in the form of donations like when somebody gives develops a relationship with the local school and contributes food to its lunch program, but also by lending professional services or contacts for worthy causes that need them. The most desperately needy communities in Panama tend to be rural, isolated and inhabited by indigenous people. A couple of groups that do worthy things in these areas are Casa Esperanza, which in addition to its original program helping kids it finds working or hanging out on city streets is active in the nation's most economically depressed area, the Ngobe-Bugle Comarca; and the Fundacion Pro-Niños del Darien, whose nutrition programs have given a number of communities the ability to consider their economic development without the burden imposed by widespread malnutrition-induced learning disabilities.
A new ex-Canal Zone email group
Colon isn't what it used to be
Miss Roxanna Cain, I read your article on Colon. Yes, I agree that the Free Zone is there and the new Mall 99 by the hospital and the old Cristobal High School. You stated about the slums. Well, I was born there and in days Colon was beautiful. I could go to the park, listen to the firemen play music and watch the dancing waters there.
Now the building the governor was in is no longer there. The church needs to have the doors locked, and also the schools. Ask yourself why.
But again, in my time Front Street was alive with stores, good restaurants and movie houses. They're no longer there. Colon has been abandoned. I thank God that I still have photos of it when I was a child.
Response to the last front page
Your views continue to be thought-provoking. Thank you for helping us to challenge our notions of right and wrong regarding a wide range of important social matters. A special thanks for the comment on the Rwandan newsmen. I'd certainly not heard anything about it on the major news programs here in the States (ABC, CNN, Fox, et al.).
Dennis Hupp
Washington, DC
Marcus Garvey's Universal Negro Improvement Association lives
On behalf of the Honorable Marcus Garvey, Jr. I am happy to announce the hosting of the 47th International Convention of the UNIA in Washington, DC, USA, from August 24th - August 28th, 2004.
The Convention will highlight ninety (90) years of active Pan-Africanism as established in August of 1914 by the Right Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey. This year will be an historic event of enormous magnitude for the race. There are many events planned for this occasion including: a banquet and awards ceremony honoring the elders; a Red, Black & Green Concert and Ball; nightly mass meetings; forums and seminars; diplomatic receptions; the official dedication of the newly purchased UNIA building located in Washington, DC; a flag raising ceremony and much more!
The Convention will feature its customary Souvenir Journal. I ask for all friends and supporters to take out a business advertisement, congratulatory testimonial, or memorial statement. We are counting on you to insure a successful Convention.
The Souvenir Journal shall include powerful articles, international updates, marketing and business resources, along with affordable patron name appearances. The Souvenir Journal package includes the Journal Contract and the Patron's Name Form (please make copies as needed).
Please begin your efforts to send advertisements and patron's names as soon as possible. MONIES, AS WELL AS ALL YOUR JOURNAL CONTRACTS AND PATRON NAME FORMS MUST BE RECEIVED BY US BY JUNE 1, 2004.
With this being our 90th Anniversary, we expect to obtain 10,000 names for our 2004 Souvenir Journal; and each patron can declare their support for our Great Association for only $10. Your ten dollar donations will not be taken lightly, because you and others like you will comprise the foothold and substance to making the event a truly memorable and historic occasion! I assure you, there is a great importance and value placed upon your support.
For more information, and to receive regular updates on the 47th International Convention of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League August 1929 of the World, please contact us at info@unia-acl.org, or by calling (202) 543-7023. Also, leave your email address for regular updates.
Minister Ahmed Assalaam
President, Division # 330,
International Convention Coordinator
Blue Frontier
The Blue Frontier Campaign is dedicated to building a blue movement of seaweed (marine grassroots) organizations committed to the protection, exploration and restoration of Americaís living seas. Our board of directors and advisors includes leaders from marine activism, industry, recreation, education, media, research and governance.
As part of our effort weíve now established the Bluefront.org website. It includes a directory of close to 1,200 US costal and ocean organizations. Yours is probably one of them.
We'd like to encourage you to check out our site (www.bluefront.org), including our book, video, plan of action, and "Solutions" section that highlights laws, policies and strategies that help protect our watersheds, coasts, oceans and maritime heritage.
If you would like to update your listing information or contribute stories to our Solutions section please contact us at. If you would like to link your website to ours please feel free to do so.
If you haven't been in touch but would like to expand an ongoing national dialogue about how we can build a powerful citizens' movement on behalf of our greatest public resource, we look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks from Canada
I am a researcher at the University of Toronto (hoping to be a doctoral student as of this week) at the University of Toronto. I worked at the Region de Salud San Miguelito, and the Centro de Salud, Alcalde Diaz during the year 2000. I am currently attempting to establish a collaborative research project with a med school in Panama, in order to look into priority setting in health care.
I just wanted to drop a note to tell you that I have come across your paper on the net while investigating the current events around the CSS, and that the Panama News has become a news staple. I greatly appreciate the insight and perspective you offer, and a window into the country that I have not found previously in the mainstream Spanish language news.
Thank you and all the best during this holiday season.
Warmest regards from Canada.
Heather Gordon
Joint Centre for Bioethics
University of Toronto
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