Japan donates emergency equipment to COPECO

Representatives of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) donated this month a complete set of specialized equipment to the Permanent Commission of Contingencies (COPECO) in order to be prepared for emergencies caused by land­slides, floods, and fires.Full Article by Rosa Aguilar/JICA

Mount View in Valle de Angeles:
Finally, a later night dining option opens

Valle de Angeles is known as the place to go for those excellent Honduran crafts and souvenirs. The streets are filled with an ample selection of artisan souvenir shops, but what the historic Spanish mining town lacks for many visitors is somewhere to get a late night meal or drink in an environment that matches the peaceful views surrounding the area. A former Canadian naval engineer by the name of Tony believes he has found the answer: he has opened a restaurant called Mount View. Full Article By Callum Oliver

Pine Festival Activities

Opening activities
Friday May 2, 3:30 pm
Horticultural, Bonsai, and floral design exhibition. Friday May 2 and 3, 2 pm. Concert with the band “Supremos Poderes” Friday May 2, 7 pm Full Article

These few lines from the song dedicated to my town of Siguatepeque express the love we have for our city, located in the heart of Honduras. Many have passed by our town in their jour­neys from Tegucigalpa to San Pedro Sula. But few experience the real beauty inside of the city, its people, food, pretty plazas and parks and of course the tall and exuberant pine trees that are our national symbol. Full Article By Martha E. Sanchez

ARTS

WOMEN IN THE ARTS - Mujeres en las Artes. One of the strongest artistic movements in Tegucigalpa. Mujeres en la Artes Leticia de Oyuela constantly sponsors workshops, exhibitions, conferences, art shows and community events in the city. For the complete schedule, log on to www.muaartes.org.hn or contact Veronica Romero at 222 3015. Full Article

STILL ANOTHER LAYER

We have been alerted to a situation facing real estate salespeople working on the island. There seems to be about a $5,000 price tag attached to the obtaining of a permit to sell real estate within the jurisdiction of the Roatan Municipality. Now, another $4,500 hit for conducting the same business should the property be in the Santa Guardiola area, another like amount for a permit if they want to go to Guanaja and yet another $ 4,500 should their duties take them to bustling Utila. By Don Pearly

Colombia’s ‘Parapolitica’ raises international concerns

Colombia’s complicated internal conflict challenges the administration of President Alvaro Uribe, who finds himself flanked by both sides of the armed ideological divide; the demobilisation or defeat of the irregular militias from the left and the right have become the central proposition for his presidency and have defined his nation’s contemporary domestic struggle for peace and security. Full Article By James W. Bodden

Public prosecutors’ hunger strike becoming a complicated affair

Public prosecutors who, until recently worked for the Honduran Attorney General’s Office, recently began a hunger strike in response to failed negotiations and requests regarding corruption cases. Two weeks ago, prosecutors ceased talks with General Prosecutor Leonidas Rosa Bautista following a lengthy, complex negotiation process, a potentially embarrassing situation for the controversial Nationalists and their Attorney General. Full Article by Álvaro Morales Molina

Surgical brigade to Honduras offers more than surgery alone

www.google.com

As our airplane circled the city of Tegucigalpa, Honduras and I took in the size of the city, my heart began to race a little. We had all been preparing for this week for so long…collecting and packing medical supplies for our surgery team…stuffed animals, candies, crayons and coloring pages for the children our non-medical members would visit. You see, we are missionaries who have felt a specific call to Honduras, to Hospital Escuela, in particular. Full Article by Sandra Alfonso

Awakening the “Can-Do” Spirit in Honduras

One of the strengths of foreign volunteers in Honduras is their ability to be adaptive, creative, and innovative. Teams that visit the country each year have tremendous resources at their disposal, including medical skills, technical know-how, and money. But that which is most consistent among these groups is a can-do, positive spirit that refuses to accept that something is too difficult or impossible to be done. Full Article By Marco Caceres

Who to believe?

Hondurans are now witness to a melodrama playing out in the Attorney General’s office. Three weeks ago, a small group of prosecutors in that office started an unprecedented hunger strike. The six attorneys, who are claiming to be victims of a corrupt system, took control of their organization. According to these attorneys, they decided to confront and fight against the ‘terrible cancer of corruption’ that has reached all levels of the organization, including the Attorney General. Full Article

Are you sure it is carpal cunnel Syndrome?

What to do with three different diagnoses: Cervical Radiculopathy, TOS (Thoracic Outlet Syndrome) or CTS (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome)! You’re working at your desk, trying to ignore the tingling or numbness you’ve had for months in your hand and wrist. Suddenly, a sharp, piercing pain shoots through the wrist and up your arm. You cannot hold your computer mouse anymore and even drinking your coffee or water gives you trouble because it feels as if you don’t have the strength to bring your cup to your mouth. Full Article by Ivonne van Leest

Honduran cantaloupe ban adds up to $13 million loss

After eight days of closed borders to cantaloupes grown in Honduras for suspected contamination with salmonella, the U.S. resumed melon sales in its markets on March 28th. Although the Honduran production company in queston had to dismiss 1800 employees, the actual presence and cause of the bacterium in the fruits has yet to be established.Full Article By Todd Ellertson