Council on Global Solidarity

Catholic Diocese of Cleveland

 

 

STATEMENT ON CIVIL CONFLICT IN COLOMBIA

AND ON SOLIDARITY WITH COLOMBIAN PEOPLE

Executive Committee

of the

Diocesan Council on Global Solidarity

 

July 2003

 

Editor, The Catholic Universe Bulletin

1027 Superior Ave.

Cleveland OH  44114

Letter to the Editor

 

          As members of the executive committee of the diocesan Council on Global Solidarity, we feel that we have an obligation to call attention to recent events in Colombia. In late June of this year, a Bogotá court ruled to end U.S. sponsored aerial fumigation in Colombia until a study of the herbicide is conducted. In spite of public health complaints and the possibility of environmental damage, the Colombian government plans to appeal the court’s decision and continue spraying throughout the process.

          Campesinos and indigenous peoples have suffered greatly as a consequence of fumigation. Hundreds of Colombians in the affected area have complained of symptoms ranging from headaches to fever, rash, dizziness, diarrhea, respiratory problems and vomiting. American and Colombian authorities are quick to point out that the fumigant is composed of the same chemicals as the widely used product, Roundup; however, the Environmental Protection Agency tested glyphosate (the primary chemical in the fumigant) in less concentrated forms than those which are currently being applied in Colombia. The agency has never tested the fumigant formulation in total. Aerial spraying methods, temperature differences and the flora and fauna of Colombia’s equatorial region were not considered in the tests.

          Later this month, Bishop Cadivid, Bishop of Quibto, Colombia, will be speaking at a number of locations within the eight-county Diocese of Cleveland. His itinerary can be found at the diocesan Social Action website http://www.catholic-action.org/ or by calling the diocesan CRS office at (800) 869-6525 Ext. 2280. We encourage everyone to come and hear the bishop speak, to acquaint yourselves with the complex problems of Colombia and then to express your opinions and ideas to your U.S. senators and elected congressional representative.

 

Jane Dinda

Sr. Sheila Marie Tobbe, OSU

Patricia Shields

 

For the U.S. Bishops’ Statement on Colombia: “Mission to Ecuador & Colombia” (6/3/03)

 

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