Pubdate: Mon, 12 Mar 2001
Source: Register-Guard, The (OR)
Copyright: 2001 The Register-Guard
Contact:  PO Box 10188, Eugene, OR 97440-2188
Fax: (541) 338-2828
Website: http://www.registerguard.com/
Author: Allan Erickson
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n387/a12.html?52626

HALT AID TO COLOMBIA

I appreciated The Register-Guard's publication of the articles on Colombia 
(commentary, March 4), especially the article by Pam Fitzpatrick and Paul 
Dix. I was among the packed house on March 5 at Harris Hall for their 
public presentation.

Fitzpatrick and Dix are to be commended for many reasons - not the least of 
which was traveling to a dangerous area of our hemisphere to cover the 
effects of U.S. aid there. Their article is well written and covers a lot 
of ground. Their presentation was excellent. I think many people were 
shocked at the violence and environmental devastation portrayed in the 
authors' words and photos.

U.S. aid in the form of Plan Colombia goes mostly for military hardware, 
coca eradication and training of Colombian military personnel. Dix's photos 
offered grave testimony to the lie of accurate spraying of the herbicide 
glyphosphate (aka Monsanto's Roundup) by graphically showing ruined food 
crops and pastures. Our presence in Colombia is resented by the people 
there and not supported by our allies in Europe.

What can Americans do? We can write our U.S. representatives and senators 
and tell them to oppose continued or expanded aid to Colombia. Boycott all 
Monsanto products. Boycott cocaine and demand an end to our drug war. Get 
educated!

Allan Erickson, Eugene
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D