John Taylor told us about the mining crisis in El Salvador, and asked us to raise awareness of these problems. El Salvador has significant deposits of gold, which should be a good thing if it were not for the conflicts it generates. Gold extraction comes at a huge environmental cost since arsenic and cyanide are used in the process. Leaders concerned by the health impact on families living near the mines have become better organized. The efficacy of their opposition has become really annoying, to the point that some of these leaders “disappeared”. International mining companies are suing to obtain mining rights under the Central America Free Trade Agreement, even when their country is not part of CAFTA. John is asking that we contact our congress representatives, & ask for the review of CAFTA and the investigation of the disappearances.

Robert Warwick told us about the International Rescue Committee, which was founded in 1933 and provides emergency relief in 43 countries, most recently in Haiti. In the USA, IRC advocates for and resettles refugees. The refugee status is obtained when someone is persecuted because of religion, social matters, race, nationality or political opinions, crosses an international border and cannot come back home. In recent years, the focus was on Somalia, Sudan, Iran, Iraq or Bhutan. Once someone becomes a refugee, they follow a process: waiting phase, refugee status, repatriation or resettlement (less than 1% of all cases). Around the world, there are about 40 million refugees. In Maryland, the 1100 refugees come mainly from Iran, Iraq, Burma, Bhutan and Africa. The resettlement assistance starts with basics such as food, medical and job training all the way to full citizenship. The Maryland center is a one stop shop for all needed services.