Newsletters from the Sierra Madre # 43
November, 2000

This newsletter looks at the struggles of disadvantaged people in Ecuador. The first article gives an account of a groundbreaking Regional Forum in Cuenca, in preparation for the People’s Health Assembly, scheduled for December, 2000 in Bangladesh. At this Forum over 40 groups from diverse ethnic groups and habitats gave testimony to how the health of both people and the environment is being compromised by high level policies in the global marketplace that put corporate profits before basic needs. Commitment was expressed for global grassroots mobilization to work toward a fairer, healthier, more sustainable social order.

The second main article--in the form of a photo documentary--portrays innovative activities in a Regional Training Course for Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) in Quito during September, 2000. Participants from community health and disability programs in 14 countries learned through hands-on praxis how important it is to work with the disabled person and family members as partners and equals in the problem solving process.