BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS AND CROSSING BORDERS

ACTS OF COMPASSION: 



Yesterday, September 5, 2015 NPR interviewed a Hungarian woman who had gone to the train station to help migrants from Syria who were trying to travel to Germany, but the Hungarian government said no.  "Why are you here?" the reporter asked.  "My government behavior compelled me to come."  I understood that woman as I too have been and am compelled to act - to show compassion and to welcome the stranger.  


The global migrant issue or crisis cannot be avoided. We need to address the root causes of migration - war, economic inequality, failed states and instability.  One refugee in the New York Times 9/6/15) said:  "I want to live in a stable country where I and my family will be safe." All European nations except Germany and Sweden are not accepting migrant refugees and we in the United States are not helping victims of war either in the Middle East or people fleeing violence and poverty in Central America.


THE PEOPLE ACT IN GUATEMALA!


As a long-term activist for human rights in Guatemala, I was absolutely thrilled and a little surprised that the people protests in Guatemala City and the threatened arrest of the President, Otto Perez Molina led to his resignation.  http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/04/world/americas/otto-perez-molina-guatemalan-president-resigns-amid-scandal.html?ribbon-ad-idx=4&rref=world/americas&module=Ribbon&version=context&region=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Americas&pgtype=article

It is the Guatemalan people who spoke and marched and protested - We have had enough of corruption, human rights violations and lack of funding for education and health care.  His resignation does not create immediately a new direction as today's elections are choices between candidates tied to the existing power structure. But it was significant that the business elite coalition did not defend him that opened the door for grassroots activists and middle class people to act to oust him.  


A GUATEMALAN WOMAN DEPORTEE:


This past March I met a young woman from Guatemala who entered the United States without documents.  She was apprehended and put into the private corporation operated detention center in Eloy, Arizona.  I met her through a detention center visitor program sponsored through CIVIC nationally.  http://www.endisolation.org/