www.oneworld.net Marcela Valente

BUENOS AIRES, Feb 6 (IPS) - Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, Nobel Peace laureate, urged his fellow Argentines Thursday to join in a global day for peace and against the potential U.S.-led war against Iraq, a vigil to occur Saturday, Feb 15, in numerous countries around the world.

''The war is not a response to the threat of Saddam Hussein, but to the interests of the United States military-industrial complex, (which seeks) control over petroleum sources around the world,'' charged Pérez, who received the 1980 Nobel Prize for Peace in honour of his defence of human rights during the Argentine military dictatorship (1976-1983).

According to a survey conducted in 41 countries by the Gallup polling firm, Argentina has the highest anti-war sentiment, with 83 percent of respondents opposed to an attack on Iraq.

Four percent said they would support a military offensive against Iraq if it had the backing of the United Nations, and only three percent were in favour of a unilateral attack by the United States.

Argentina was ranked second in the Gallup poll -- after Switzerland -- in the portion of respondents who said they would oppose their government supporting military action against Iraq.

Some local analysts believe this rejection could be due to the failure of the United States to offer Argentina assistance during the devastating economic crisis this South American nation has been suffering over the last year.

The Peace and Justice Service (SERPAJ), the human rights group headed by Pérez Esquivel, organised a ''peace day'' in Argentina Thursday alongside other rights groups, the CTA labour union, and associations of entrepreneurs, artists, intellectuals and unemployed workers.

But the idea for a peace day on a global scale emerged during the World Social Forum last week in the southern Brazilian city of Porto Alegre. Delegates and activists there set the date for Feb 15, a day for individuals and civil society organisations worldwide to join in expressing their opposition to a possible U.S.-led war on Iraq.

In Buenos Aires, the proposal that was most popular for a Feb 15 peace event was to stage a march from Plaza Italia, in the Palermo district, to the U..S. embassy, 600 m away. But other events, including ceremonies for reflection and calls for peace, are also being scheduled.

Tati Almeyda, of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo Association-Founders, told IPS she deeply opposes a military offensive and charged that the United States is going to carry the world into war just because it wants control over sources of oil.

This group of mothers of those who disappeared during Argentina's dictatorship, in addition to taking part in the Feb 15 peace day, will urge ''all women-mothers of the world'', on Feb 12, to demand peace from the authorities in their own countries, from the United States, and from the United Nations Security Council.

Pérez Esquivel, meanwhile, says there is ''a single thread'' connecting the U.S. conflict with Iraq and the crisis in Venezuela, another country that is a leading producer of petroleum, and under normal circumstances the top supplier to the United States.

''The war constitutes a threat to all humanity,'' he added.

The human rights leader wrote an open letter to U.S. President George W. Bush asking him ''not to defy God and not to encourage intolerance and hate.'' Pérez Esquivel, however, said he is sceptical about the chances of achieving a reversal of the war machine that Washington has already set in motion.

''Given the history of the U.S. president since he was governor of Texas, we know that he did not offer clemency to anyone, and that all those who were sentenced to death under his watch were executed,'' noted the peace laureate.

He also sent a letter to the United Nations urging the adoption of ''concrete decisions to prevent the people of the world from being dragged into an armed conflict with unforeseeable consequences, one which could threaten the lives of millions of people.''

Instead -- and along the lines of statements made by the new president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva --, Pérez Esquivel said, ''The battle that the peoples of the world should fight is against the silent bomb of hunger, which kills more people than wars, and against social exclusion and poverty.''

www.oneworld.net Marcela Valente

BUENOS AIRES, Feb 6 (IPS) - Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, Nobel Peace laureate, urged his fellow Argentines Thursday to join in a global day for peace and against the potential U.S.-led war against Iraq, a vigil to occur Saturday, Feb 15, in numerous countries around the world.

''The war is not a response to the threat of Saddam Hussein, but to the interests of the United States military-industrial complex, (which seeks) control over petroleum sources around the world,'' charged Pérez, who received the 1980 Nobel Prize for Peace in honour of his defence of human rights during the Argentine military dictatorship (1976-1983).

According to a survey conducted in 41 countries by the Gallup polling firm, Argentina has the highest anti-war sentiment, with 83 percent of respondents opposed to an attack on Iraq.

Four percent said they would support a military offensive against Iraq if it had the backing of the United Nations, and only three percent were in favour of a unilateral attack by the United States.

Argentina was ranked second in the Gallup poll -- after Switzerland -- in the portion of respondents who said they would oppose their government supporting military action against Iraq.

Some local analysts believe this rejection could be due to the failure of the United States to offer Argentina assistance during the devastating economic crisis this South American nation has been suffering over the last year.

The Peace and Justice Service (SERPAJ), the human rights group headed by Pérez Esquivel, organised a ''peace day'' in Argentina Thursday alongside other rights groups, the CTA labour union, and associations of entrepreneurs, artists, intellectuals and unemployed workers.

But the idea for a peace day on a global scale emerged during the World Social Forum last week in the southern Brazilian city of Porto Alegre. Delegates and activists there set the date for Feb 15, a day for individuals and civil society organisations worldwide to join in expressing their opposition to a possible U.S.-led war on Iraq.

In Buenos Aires, the proposal that was most popular for a Feb 15 peace event was to stage a march from Plaza Italia, in the Palermo district, to the U..S. embassy, 600 m away. But other events, including ceremonies for reflection and calls for peace, are also being scheduled.

Tati Almeyda, of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo Association-Founders, told IPS she deeply opposes a military offensive and charged that the United States is going to carry the world into war just because it wants control over sources of oil.

This group of mothers of those who disappeared during Argentina's dictatorship, in addition to taking part in the Feb 15 peace day, will urge ''all women-mothers of the world'', on Feb 12, to demand peace from the authorities in their own countries, from the United States, and from the United Nations Security Council.

Pérez Esquivel, meanwhile, says there is ''a single thread'' connecting the U.S. conflict with Iraq and the crisis in Venezuela, another country that is a leading producer of petroleum, and under normal circumstances the top supplier to the United States.

''The war constitutes a threat to all humanity,'' he added.

The human rights leader wrote an open letter to U.S. President George W. Bush asking him ''not to defy God and not to encourage intolerance and hate.'' Pérez Esquivel, however, said he is sceptical about the chances of achieving a reversal of the war machine that Washington has already set in motion.

''Given the history of the U.S. president since he was governor of Texas, we know that he did not offer clemency to anyone, and that all those who were sentenced to death under his watch were executed,'' noted the peace laureate.

He also sent a letter to the United Nations urging the adoption of ''concrete decisions to prevent the people of the world from being dragged into an armed conflict with unforeseeable consequences, one which could threaten the lives of millions of people.''

Instead -- and along the lines of statements made by the new president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva --, Pérez Esquivel said, ''The battle that the peoples of the world should fight is against the silent bomb of hunger, which kills more people than wars, and against social exclusion and poverty.''

news.ft.com By Raymond Colitt in São Paulo Published: February 7 2003 4:00 | Last Updated: February 7 2003 4:00

Brazil's two largest airlines said on Thursday they would merge their operations into a joint venture in a move to overcome a deep crisis in the industry.

Varig and Tam are to join their fleets in a new company to be listed on the stock exchange, they said.

With a joint fleet of 218 aircraft and 29.1m passengers a year, the joint venture would be larger than some European airlines such as Iberia or Alitalia.

Varig's preference shares rose more than 8 per cent by mid-afternoon, compared with a 1.3 per cent decline of Bovespa, the São Paulo stock exchange index.

The deal, to be detailed by June 30, is subject to regulatory approval and could face some limitations by antitrust authorities in the domestic market, where the two companies have roughly a 70 per cent share.

On international routes, where they face stiff competition from European and US carriers, they have only a minority market share.

Yet analysts are not expecting serious regulatory obstacles to the merger as the deal was facilitated by the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who took office just over a month ago.

The government has demanded restructuring of the industry to boost competitiveness before considering any additional aid for the troubled carriers.

The government would not act as "hospital for companies" said Luiz Furlan, industry and trade minister.

There would not be funds "until the sector is stable and sustainable", he said.

José Viegas, defence minister, who is responsible for civil aviation, said the government would work with congress and the private sector towards creating a new regulatory framework to create sustainable conditions for the industry.

While both companies will seek efficiency gains, they sought to reassure employees by insisting there would not be immediate job losses.

The joint venture would have more than 26,000 employees.

Varig is Latin America's largest airline, but it has slipped deeper into financial trouble as a weakening currency has increased operating costs and dollar denominated debt of $760m (as of last September).

In five years it has failed to make a profit.

Last month one of its aircraft was temporarily impounded in Paris because a lease had not been paid.

Tam is generally considered more efficient than Varig but also slipped into the red last year with a net loss of R$450m ($125m) in the first nine months.

The companies have yet to determine what share each will have in the joint venture. Varig's unwieldy ownership structure is certain to complicate negotiations.

The companies hired Banco Fator, a local investment bank, to advise them.

news.ft.com By Raymond Colitt in São Paulo Published: February 7 2003 4:00 | Last Updated: February 7 2003 4:00

Brazil's two largest airlines said on Thursday they would merge their operations into a joint venture in a move to overcome a deep crisis in the industry.

Varig and Tam are to join their fleets in a new company to be listed on the stock exchange, they said.

With a joint fleet of 218 aircraft and 29.1m passengers a year, the joint venture would be larger than some European airlines such as Iberia or Alitalia.

Varig's preference shares rose more than 8 per cent by mid-afternoon, compared with a 1.3 per cent decline of Bovespa, the São Paulo stock exchange index.

The deal, to be detailed by June 30, is subject to regulatory approval and could face some limitations by antitrust authorities in the domestic market, where the two companies have roughly a 70 per cent share.

On international routes, where they face stiff competition from European and US carriers, they have only a minority market share.

Yet analysts are not expecting serious regulatory obstacles to the merger as the deal was facilitated by the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who took office just over a month ago.

The government has demanded restructuring of the industry to boost competitiveness before considering any additional aid for the troubled carriers.

The government would not act as "hospital for companies" said Luiz Furlan, industry and trade minister.

There would not be funds "until the sector is stable and sustainable", he said.

José Viegas, defence minister, who is responsible for civil aviation, said the government would work with congress and the private sector towards creating a new regulatory framework to create sustainable conditions for the industry.

While both companies will seek efficiency gains, they sought to reassure employees by insisting there would not be immediate job losses.

The joint venture would have more than 26,000 employees.

Varig is Latin America's largest airline, but it has slipped deeper into financial trouble as a weakening currency has increased operating costs and dollar denominated debt of $760m (as of last September).

In five years it has failed to make a profit.

Last month one of its aircraft was temporarily impounded in Paris because a lease had not been paid.

Tam is generally considered more efficient than Varig but also slipped into the red last year with a net loss of R$450m ($125m) in the first nine months.

The companies have yet to determine what share each will have in the joint venture. Varig's unwieldy ownership structure is certain to complicate negotiations.

The companies hired Banco Fator, a local investment bank, to advise them.

www.guardian.co.uk Friday February 7, 2003 The Guardian

George Monbiot says (Comment, February 4) "there is little doubt that the Farc has been diverted by the struggle for control of drugs money". In the 40% of the country it controls, Farc also "taxes" Colombia's other big exports, bananas, beef and flowers - we don't hear them described as "fruit fighters"or "cattle combatants".

According to the UN and others, the rightwing paramilitaries are Colombia's leading narco-traffickers. Indeed, President Uribe, when mayor of Medellin, was closely connected to drug lord Pablo Escobar. As a senator he opposed the extradition of wanted drug traffickers. The DEA has long been after his election campaign manager Pedro Villa, whose chemical company is implicated in the mass production of cocaine. Farc has repeatedly pleaded with the US to work with it on sustainable crop-substitution programmes rather than inflict "fumigation" on the country. And in the vast demilitarised zone it controlled until the collapse of the peace process last February, it worked successfully with agro-economists and farmers to this end.

The problem for Washington's hawks is that, after four decades, Farc is still led by the same disciplined central committee and still making populist political declarations from the mountains about its plans for an alternative government. The prospect of having the Farc sweep to power and make common cause with Chavez's Venezuela, Lula's Brazil, Gutierrez's Ecuador and Castro's Cuba is driving the White House and Pentagon towards the "Vietnamisation" of the entire Amazon and Andean region. Those concerned by the looming war in Iraq should know where George Bush intends to go next.

Oliver Houston Colombia Peace Association www.ColombiaPeace.org

· The drug trade and the guerrilla war that it finances have created a climate of violence in many areas of my country. Unfortunate incidents do occur. But Colombia has a freely elected government and a free press and a forceful civilian opposition in parliament.

Our electoral system requires two rounds of voting to elect the president until a majority of over 50% is achieved. Unprecedentedly, President Uribe was elected in the first round, garnering more than half the votes. The turnout of 12 million voters, despite the Farc's efforts to sabotage the elections, was an overwhelming legitimation of Colombia democratic system.

As far as the army is concerned, it is, according to a recent Gallup poll, the most respected institution in the country, with an 87% positive image. It surpasses even the church. So we have a legitimate democratic regime, a freely elected president who enjoys great popular support and an army with a high public approval rating. And those are not conjectures but verifiable facts.

Alfonso Lopez Caballero Ambassador of Colombia