On the Issues
Recent articles on issues we're engaged with
"Hands Off Nicaraguan Elections" Campaign
U.S Interference in the Nicaraguan Elections
On November 5th, 2006, Nicaraguans went to the polls to elect a new president and National Assembly. From the outset of the presidential campaign, the current U.S. administration - represented by its ambassador to Nicaragua, Paul Trivelli - blatantly attempted to influence the outcome of the elections. Trivelli did everything he could to ensure that the U.S. government's preferred candidate, banker Eduardo Montealegre, won the presidency, and to make sure former president Daniel Ortega, of the Sandinista party, lost. Obviously, this is not the way fair, free, elections work.
Quest Staff just back from Nicaragua
The month of July was one of celebrations. July 19th marked the 29th anniversary of the triumph of the Sandinista Revolution and the context of impossible dreams and social transformation in which the Quest for Peace was born. On July 22, Quest staff joined the Institute of John XXIII in celebrating their 47 years of service and solidarity with the poor of Nicaragua. Please read our newsletter for updates on: Hubs of Development, the Institute's new 3-year plan, Housing Construction in Tipitapa and Waspam, Reforestation and Watershed protection in FEDICAMP communities and the 7th MesoAmerican Forum on Neo-colonialism and Free Trade.
Quest Spring Newsletter
In this Issue
Recovering from Felix and Lorenzo
Plant a Tree for Me
In the Footsteps of a Giant
Project Prever
A Gusher for Ojo de Agua
A New School Year
Alliance for Responsible Trade
Tropical Storm Alma impacts agricultural cycle
Tropical Storm Alma produced millions of dollars in damages to the agricultural sector, impacting over 24 thousand producers. In Leon and Chinandega, campesinos lost their first planting to heavy rains and winds which reached 100 kilometers per hour in some areas. This crop loss is disastrous for small farmers who have not harvested since last year and must now repay bank loans used plant. Crop loss was heaviest in Leon, Malpaisillo and Achuapa. In response to a request from the Institute Juan XXIII, the Quest for Peace is working on the possibility of shipping vegetable seeds so that families can reinforce food production from patio gardens.
Tropical Storm Alma strikes in May
In an atypical pattern, Hurricane Alma developed off the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua on Wednesday, threatening the entire region with torrential rains. Heavy rains pounded Costa Rica for 24 hours where the President of the National Emergency Commission reported that "more rain fell in one day than in the entire month of May", producing mudslides and damage to roads and housing. At noon on Thursday, the storm hit land in Nicaragua near Leon, converting to a Tropical Storm with winds of 65 miles per hour and dumping as much as twenty inches of rain.