Mitch

[Doug Henwood]

>For Immediate Release                   	              15 March 1999
>
>SPECIAL REPORT:  HURRICANE MITCH IN NICARAGUA
>Environmental Degradation, Deforestation Exacerbated Tragedy
>
>>From October 25 to November 2, 1998, Central America suffered a full scale
>disaster with Hurricane Mitch.  Action for Community and Ecology in the
>Rainforests of Central America (ACERCA) called for and organized an
>environmental justice fact-finding research delegation to the region
>(co-sponsored by Witness For Peace).  In the first part of February this
>year, the ACERCA-WFP delegation traveled in Nicaragua to get an eye-witness
>account.  This delegation was the first from the United States to look into
>the environmental factors of the hurricane.
>
>Hurricane Mitch exposed in Nicaragua what has been present for many years.
>Decades of land abuse and environmental neglect magnified the hurricane's
>devastating toll in death and damage.  A combination of many social,
>political and economic factors caused the environmental degradation that
>exacerbated the tragedy.  Deforestation played a major role.  United States
>policy toward Nicaragua contributed to these factors.  Other factors
>include Global Climate Change.  Additionally, the government of Nicaragua
>ignored many warnings that could have prevented the tremendous loss of
>human life.
>
>To get the full Special Report (with color photos) go to:
>
>http://nativeforest.org/campaigns/acerca/ejd1_results1.html
>
>For further information, please contact:
>___________________________________________________________
>
>  ACERCA
>
>  Action for Community & Ecology in the Rainforests of Central America
>  POB 57
>  Burlington, VT  05402  USA
>  (802)863-0571
>  (802) 864-8203 Fax
> Email:  acerca at sover.net
> http://www.nativeforest.org/campaigns/acerca/index.html
>
> ACERCA is a project of the Alliance for Global Justice
>         and a member of the Native Forest Network
>__________________________________________________________