AN ATTACK ON THE HEART OF MADRID, AND FREE SOCIETY

The commuter trains that pass through eastern Madrid on their way to Atocha station are one of the primary routes for the daily influx of thousands of students and workers into the city, writes Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon, mayor of Madrid. In this article, the author cites Madrid as a historic bastion of freedom that now defends freedom for all Spaniards with the same determination to not give in to the oppressor that has always given us courage. We must denounce not only those who were materially responsible for this collective assassination, which has already been recognised as a crime against humanity, but also those who are intellectually complicit, who with their silence or indifference contribute equally to make such acts possible. The best way to not give in to the ferocious attack inflicted on us yesterday as members of a free society consists in not losing sight of these people who yesterday, as on any day, made their way to Madrid to give the best of themselves, not to be remembered as victims but as what they were: passengers on trains that carried the life of the city.

AN INTERVIEW WITH SAVATER: AS EUROPE BROADENS, IS SPAIN DIVIDING?

Fernando Savater is thrilled to be back in Rome, where he has the luxury of anonymity. The philosopher- activist director of the Basta Ya movement, which represents the victims of terrorism in the Basque Country, can\'t take a step in Spain without a security escort. A professor of history and the author of numerous books, he is in Rome to participate in the colloquium \'\'Europe: A Nation of States or a State of Nations\'\'. He agreed to speak with IPS about the prospects for the upcoming elections in Spain, which will be held 14 March, and the future of the Basque Country.

Cabbages and Peppers at the Feet of Skyscrapers

Caracas is following in Cuba's footsteps in experimenting with urban gardens. Critics, however, say it is a very costly "folkloric" endeavor

Mars a Dangerous Destination for Humans

During a voyage to the "red planet", astronauts would be vulnerable to psychological problems due to confinement, genetic harm from radiation, and loss of bone mass as a result of zero gravity, say experts.

Solar Energy

Viable but costly, solar energy is just beginning to find its way a half-century after it was proposed as an alternative. For developing countries, the use of this energy source could facilitate sustainable economic growth.

Ecobreves – GUATEMALA: Landless Movement in Photos

Peasant farmers from Guatemala and Brazil have been united in an exhibit by famed Brazilian photographer Sebastiao Salgado about the problems and struggles of the Landless Movement, showing here until the end of the month.

Ecobreves – CUBA: More 'Noni' Trees

Cuban scientists are researching -- in the unique conditions of this island country -- the characteristics and uses of the 'noni' tree, which has medicinal and nutritional properties.

Ecobreves – HONDURAS: Funding Sought for Potable Water Reservoir

The Honduran government's national aqueduct and sewage service is seeking financing to build a third potable water reservoir to supply the capital, where water rationing has been in force this month, with services cut off six to 10 hours each day.

Ecobreves – BRAZIL: Energy from Wood, But Sustainable

The use of plant-based coal and firewood is seen as an environmental sin because it foments deforestation. But the forest biomass is proving to be a source of sustainable energy in Brazil, taking advantage of waste from legal logging operations.

Ecobreves – AMERICAS: Congress on Privately Run Nature Preserves

The Inter-American Congress on Private Conservation is to meet Apr. 18-21 in Chile with the goal of contributing to protecting biodiversity across the Americas.

Ecobreves – VENEZUELA: Lack of Oxygen Killing Fish

Three tons of sardines, sable fish and crustaceans were found dead in mid-February along the shores of Carenero Bay, on the Venezuelan Caribbean coast.

Fund Launched for Preserving Plant Genetics

More than forty million dollars are at hand to fund plant genebanks this year. But activists doubt that the fund will ensure equal North-South access to biodiversity.

Fishing Divides Europe

The European Union's fishing policy reform is intended for the northern seas, ignoring the unique characteristics of the fishing sector in southern European seas, say critics.

Argentina Measures Climate Change Impacts

A 1.14-million-dollar project announced for assessing Argentina's vulnerability to the effects of global warming.

COP7 of the Convention on Biological Diversity

More than 2,000 experts in biodiversity and sustainable development are participating in the 7th Conference of Parties (COP7) to the Convention on Biological Diversity, in Kuala Lumpur, Feb. 9-20. The central theme of the two-week debate is how to reduce biodiversity loss at all levels.

Ecobreves – HONDURAS: Indians Out to Protect Sea Turtles

Indigenous Miskito communities are promoting the creation of a hatchery preserve in northeast Honduras to protect green (Chelonia mydas), loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and leatherback (Dermochelys cariacea) sea turtles, all in danger of extinction.

Ecobreves – ARGENTINA: Vicuña-Friendly Wool

Argentine scientists and shepherds have shown they can obtain the valuable wool from the wild vicuña (Lama vicugna) using methods that do not harm these cousins of the llama.

Ecobreves – GUATEMALA: Network of Environmental Investigators

Strengthening and coordinating the networks of regional environmental investigators is one of the recommendations for fighting environmental crimes that emerged out of the first World Summit of Attorneys General, Prosecutors and Justice Ministers, held in Antigua, Guatemala Feb. 2-5.

Ecobreves – PERU: Lead Poisoning in El Callao

Four impoverished districts in the port city of El Callao have high levels of lead contamination, which the World Health Organizations considers one of the greatest urban environmental dangers, because it affects the neurological development of children.

Ecobreves – MEXICO: Shrimp Waste Turned Fish Food

Researchers from the Metropolitan Autonomous University of Mexico found a formula to turn the waste from shrimp production, a source of contamination, into a valuable source of nutrition for fish.

A Long Trek to Mars

The directors of the European space program explain to Tierramérica the challenges that must be surmounted in the next 30 years in order to send humans to the "red planet".