THE ISRAELI PEACE CAMP IN TIMES OF TERROR AND HOPE

These are startling days for Israeli domestic politics. For the first time in history, the leader of the nationalistic right wing is talking in public about \'\'the need to put an end to the occupation\'\', stating \'\'the time has come to divide the land between us and the Palestinians\'\', writes Sarah Ozacky-Lazar, a Middle East historian and co-director of the Jewish-Arab Centre for Peace at Givat Haviva, Israel. In this article for IPS, the author writes that while most Israeli leftists doubt Sharon is serious about peace and interpret his sudden change as merely a tactic to avoid open crisis with the Bush administration, they have to support Sharon\'s moves to prevent the ultra-right from blocking the renewed peace process. The Israeli left and what remains of the peace camp now find themselves in a contradictory situation: their major rival, Sharon, is in the process of implementing their own ideas. They doubt his sincerity but cannot oppose him because he is doing exactly what they have been preaching for ages. They strongly oppose the harsh security measures taken by the Israeli army but cannot protest because the suicide bombings continue. The irony is that if and when any peace agreement is achieved, it will be credited to the right wing that has opposed it for years, while the left wing will be left out of both the history books and political power, despite its long stubborn struggle for mutual recognition and the right of the Palestinians to freedom and statehood.

Ecobreves – CHILE:: At Recycling's Cutting Edge

Ecologists applaud the municipality of Ñuñoa, one of the 33 communities of the Santiago metropolitan area, for launching an unprecedented waste-recycling program.

Ecobreves – NICARAGUA: Cement Company Promises to Stop Polluting

The Mexican transnational Cemex recognized that its cement plant in Nicaragua was contaminating the surrounding area, and promised that in 2004 it will complete work on its 1.2 million dollar toxic substance emissions control program.

Ecobreves – PANAMA: Pageant Under Shadow of SARS

- Panamanian authorities have set up a strict security apparatus to prevent SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) from entering the country with the numerous foreign visitors who will be arriving for the Miss Universe contest Jun. 3.

A Dangerous Splash

Bathers are no longer safe even in the waters of Latin America's most beautiful beaches -- the culprit is contamination.

Energy in a Castor Bean

The castor-oil plant, ricinus communis, is the best source for creating "biodiesel", say Brazilian experts.

Sick Citizens Take Argentine Tannery to Court

The Arlei company is accused of dumping toxic chemicals in the province of Santa Fe. The tannery's executives decline to comment.

Guatemalan Marsh in Distress

The Manchón Guamuchal marsh, Guatemala's largest, suffers degradation from human activities and contamination from the dumping of chemicals and garbage, say environmentalists.

U.S. Environmental Policy

The environmental policy of the United States is relevant to the entire world, both because of the ecological impact of that country's huge economy and high level of consumption, and its role as the world superpower.

Ecobreves – CUBA: Six Hurricanes on the Horizon

Cuba is expecting a dozen tropical storms to pass the island this year, six of which could turn into hurricanes and cause costly damage. To prevent disaster and reduce the risk to human life, the authorities conducted the exercise dubbed Meteoro 2003.

Ecobreves – UNITED STATES: Disappointment in EPA Chief's Resignation

With the resignation of Christine Whitman from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "the environment has lost a friend," Jonathan Lash, president of the non-governmental World Resources Institute, commented in an interview with Tierramérica.

Ecobreves – VENEZUELA: 120 Caymans Released

Last week, 120 young Orinoco caymans (Crocodylus intermedius) were released in the plains of Venezuela's Aguaro-Guariquito national park, 300 km south of Caracas

'The clone would be uglier, sicker and dimmer'

Human cloning would serve no purpose; all it would do is create imperfect beings, Carlos Alberto Redi, the Italian scientist who created the first mouse clone, says in an interview with Tierramérica.

Brazil Aims for Most Tender Beef

In 18 months, Brazilian scientists expect to have figured out the genetic puzzle that will allow their country to raise cattle that are more resistant to disease and produce better beef.

WHAT DOES THE RIGHT TO HEALTH MEAN?

What does the right to health mean in a world where so many people live in desperate situations? asks Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director-General of the World Heath Organisation.

Environmental Legislation and Law

The need to protect the environment produced the emergence worldwide of an environmental legal framework in the form of laws, agreements, regulations, decrees and treaties, of national or international scope, requiring a high level of expertise among environmental lawyers.

Ecobreves – MEXICO: Culture in Benefit of Environment

With a full schedule of films, exhibitions of paintings and caricatures, Mexico is gearing up to celebrate World Environment Day, Jun. 5.

Ecobreves – COLOMBIA: Youth Committed to Nature

Some 400 young people from Colombia's Caribbean coast have made a pledge to work for the benefit of the environment and to prevent the irreparable harm that human activities often cause in nature.

Ecobreves – SOUTH AMERICA: Humboldt Current Alleviates Global Warming – Study

The cold Humboldt current, which flows parallel to the South American Pacific coast from the south to the northern Peruvian coast, contributes to mitigating global warming, says a new study by Peru's Institute of the Sea (IMARPE).

Ecobreves – HONDURAS: Controlling Sugarmill Fires

An agreement aimed at regulating operations of sugarmills in Honduras in order to prevent pollution entered into force this month.

Ecobreves – CENTRAL AMERICA: US Proposes Fining Polluters

The United States has suggested that five Central American countries should include in the provisions of the free trade agreement under negotiation economic penalties for companies that pollute.