Together with the community of Marcos Juárez we presented an environmental protection in the Córdoba Justice Department. We request that the current ordinance on agrochemicals be modified with the objective of expanding the protection zone, compliance with controls and the functioning of the Advisory Commission on the Environment be made effective.
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.
The application of agrochemicals in Argentina continues to be one of the main environmental problems and leads to serious contamination of water, soil, air and consequent damage to biodiversity and people’s health.
There are thousands of scientific studies around the world that prove the toxicity of these products and their link with the development of chronic diseases that affect adults and mainly children. Among them are: abnormal neurological development, cancer, increased incidence of non-hodking lymphoma, a condition in the human placenta with a probable impact on the development of abortions.
The problem of agrochemicals is no longer limited only to rural communities who see their homes, hospitals and schools fumigated daily, but affects millions of people in our country. As an example, the organization Democracia en Red, within the framework of the Pesticides Introduced Silently (PIS) project, analyzed 200 urine samples in the towns of Lobos, Saladillo, Barrio Nicole (La Matanza), Mar Chiquita and the City of Buenos Aires. Aires. The results showed that in all districts there were positive cases for glyphosate.
At Fundeps we have been addressing this problem for some time, developing and implementing different strategies to achieve adequate public policies to guarantee socio-environmental sustainability. In that sense, in 2019 we published our Agrochemical Emergency website where we systematized the immensity of socio-environmental conflicts that occur in our province from the use/misuse of agrochemicals, we also provide tools so that communities can claim for their rights. Simultaneously, we develop models of ordinances that propose restrictions on the use of these products and the creation of protection zones, seeking to promote local advances to improve the quality of community life.
Following this path, in the month of May we presented a first environmental protection for contamination with agrochemicals in Colonia Tirolesa, a process where even and despite the scientific evidence about the various health problems that the community continually suffers, no solution has been found.
Marcos Juárez: what happens with pesticides?
Marcos Juárez is a town located in the southeast of the province of Córdoba, an area known for its economic growth linked to agricultural exploitation and agroindustry, which uses large quantities of chemical products such as fungicides, herbicides, insecticides and despite the fact that Marcos Juárez has With ordinance 2446, which regulates the use and application of chemical and biological products for agricultural use and which the Municipality adheres to Provincial Law 9140, a large part of the population is exposed to these products on a daily basis.
The Marcos Juárez Ordinance arose from a process of collective struggle in 2010, when members of the community organized against the excessive fumigation with agrochemicals due to the social and health consequences caused by this form of production and that was intensifying over time. This ordinance represented a true historical milestone for Córdoba, since it establishes environmental protection zones for the application of agrochemicals. However, over the years the community began to observe that this regulation is insufficient. Added to this is the fact that the Municipality is unable to enforce compliance with this regulation (there are dozens of complaints for violations).
In this context, in 2015 the Genetics and Environmental Mutation Group belonging to the Department of Natural Sciences of the University of Río Cuarto, headed by Dr. Delia Aiassa, evaluated the level of damage to the genetic material in children exposed to pesticides. in the town. The study shows that of the total number of exposed children, 20 (40%) presented persistent symptoms of various kinds. On the other hand, he maintains: “In the case of a relatively small city, this result shows that the sprays could reach (by air) the entire town and that the vulnerable population of children is subjected to extremely high and continuous exposure, givenwho lives surrounded by crops. Taking into account that there are no differences between the groups of children under study in terms of spray distances up to a maximum of 1095 m, this information should be taken into account when establishing environmental safeguards in localities that are surrounded by crops where spraying is carried out”.
From there, and considering that the ordinance establishes distances that are well below what is recommended, for example in some high risk areas (art. 4) the exclusion zone of 150 meters (when in other locations it is 1500 meters), the community organizes itself again and begins a long journey of demands to safeguard their lives and those of their children.
In this framework, at Fundeps we began to support this legitimate claim and after a long journey we decided to go to court in search of solutions.
The Environmental Protection Action
For these reasons, by virtue of the precautionary, preventive and intergenerational equity principle, on November 27 we presented an environmental collective action before the Córdoba justice system requesting, among other things:
- The creation of an environmental protection zone no less than 1,095 meters away from the external limit of populated areas, where terrestrial fumigation is prohibited.
- And an environmental protection zone of no less than 3000 meters where fumigation of areas with any type of chemical or biological product for agricultural use is prohibited.
The purpose of this action is to safeguard and protect the rights of those who live in the town. We hope that justice, making use of the powers granted by environmental legislation, will quickly order the Municipality of Marcos Juárez to adopt concrete and urgent measures. This is essential to safeguard the community’s rights to life, health and a healthy environment.
Authors:
Katen Moldes and María Laura Carrizo
Contact:
María Laura Carrizo, lauracarrizo@fundeps.org
Marcos Juárez: we present a protection for the use of pesticides in populated areas
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.
The application of agrochemicals in Argentina continues to be one of the main environmental problems and leads to serious contamination of water, soil, air and consequent damage to biodiversity and people’s health.
There are thousands of scientific studies around the world that prove the toxicity of these products and their link with the development of chronic diseases that affect adults and mainly children. Among them are: abnormal neurological development, cancer, increased incidence of non-hodking lymphoma, a condition in the human placenta with a probable impact on the development of abortions.
The problem of agrochemicals is no longer limited only to rural communities who see their homes, hospitals and schools fumigated daily, but affects millions of people in our country. As an example, the organization Democracia en Red, within the framework of the Pesticides Introduced Silently (PIS) project, analyzed 200 urine samples in the towns of Lobos, Saladillo, Barrio Nicole (La Matanza), Mar Chiquita and the City of Buenos Aires. Aires. The results showed that in all districts there were positive cases for glyphosate.
At Fundeps we have been addressing this problem for some time, developing and implementing different strategies to achieve adequate public policies to guarantee socio-environmental sustainability. In that sense, in 2019 we published our Agrochemical Emergency website where we systematized the immensity of socio-environmental conflicts that occur in our province from the use/misuse of agrochemicals, we also provide tools so that communities can claim for their rights. Simultaneously, we develop models of ordinances that propose restrictions on the use of these products and the creation of protection zones, seeking to promote local advances to improve the quality of community life.
Following this path, in the month of May we presented a first environmental protection for contamination with agrochemicals in Colonia Tirolesa, a process where even and despite the scientific evidence about the various health problems that the community continually suffers, no solution has been found.
Marcos Juárez: what happens with pesticides?
Marcos Juárez is a town located in the southeast of the province of Córdoba, an area known for its economic growth linked to agricultural exploitation and agroindustry, which uses large quantities of chemical products such as fungicides, herbicides, insecticides and despite the fact that Marcos Juárez has With ordinance 2446, which regulates the use and application of chemical and biological products for agricultural use and which the Municipality adheres to Provincial Law 9140, a large part of the population is exposed to these products on a daily basis.
The Marcos Juárez Ordinance arose from a process of collective struggle in 2010, when members of the community organized against the excessive fumigation with agrochemicals due to the social and health consequences caused by this form of production and that was intensifying over time. This ordinance represented a true historical milestone for Córdoba, since it establishes environmental protection zones for the application of agrochemicals. However, over the years the community began to observe that this regulation is insufficient. Added to this is the fact that the Municipality is unable to enforce compliance with this regulation (there are dozens of complaints for violations).
In this context, in 2015 the Genetics and Environmental Mutation Group belonging to the Department of Natural Sciences of the University of Río Cuarto, headed by Dr. Delia Aiassa, evaluated the level of damage to the genetic material in children exposed to pesticides. in the town. The study shows that of the total number of exposed children, 20 (40%) presented persistent symptoms of various kinds. On the other hand, he maintains: “In the case of a relatively small city, this result shows that the sprays could reach (by air) the entire town and that the vulnerable population of children is subjected to extremely high and continuous exposure, givenwho lives surrounded by crops. Taking into account that there are no differences between the groups of children under study in terms of spray distances up to a maximum of 1095 m, this information should be taken into account when establishing environmental safeguards in localities that are surrounded by crops where spraying is carried out”.
From there, and considering that the ordinance establishes distances that are well below what is recommended, for example in some high risk areas (art. 4) the exclusion zone of 150 meters (when in other locations it is 1500 meters), the community organizes itself again and begins a long journey of demands to safeguard their lives and those of their children.
In this framework, at Fundeps we began to support this legitimate claim and after a long journey we decided to go to court in search of solutions.
The Environmental Protection Action
For these reasons, by virtue of the precautionary, preventive and intergenerational equity principle, on November 27 we presented an environmental collective action before the Córdoba justice system requesting, among other things:
The purpose of this action is to safeguard and protect the rights of those who live in the town. We hope that justice, making use of the powers granted by environmental legislation, will quickly order the Municipality of Marcos Juárez to adopt concrete and urgent measures. This is essential to safeguard the community’s rights to life, health and a healthy environment.
Authors:
Katen Moldes and María Laura Carrizo
Contact:
María Laura Carrizo, lauracarrizo@fundeps.org
Diploma in Feminist Strategic Litigation launched
The proposal is aimed at legal professionals who wish to be trained in feminist strategic litigation strategies on sexual and reproductive rights in order to develop as leaders in their communities and environments. The Center for Legal and Social Studies (CELS) and the MxM Foundation support the initiative.
The Diploma will be free of charge and will be developed virtually between March and October 2024 through synchronous meetings and will culminate with a practical and face-to-face litigation experience in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, for which scholarships will be granted.
In addition, those students who have obtained a certificate of approval will be able to apply for a legal internship in the organizations coordinating the Diploma, so that they can apply the knowledge, skills and tools they have acquired.
Registration in this form
Brochure – information about the schedule, modules and teachers.
For more information: diplomaturalitigiofeminista@gmail.com
We accompany La Casita Trans in a lawsuit for discriminatory content
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.
La Casita Trans is a Civil Association of Córdoba that accompanies trans identities and their families. Through different actions they fulfill one of their fundamental objectives: working for the recognition and protection of their rights. They are also a center of support and reference, with a focus on trans masculinities.
At the beginning of this year, through publications on social networks of the Medical Council of the province of Córdoba about training aimed at health professionals, the entity promoted an update program that has a module named “Gender Dysphoria.” La Casita intervened by filing a complaint with INADI, requesting rectification of the training since, with that name, it violates current laws and contains violent and discriminatory content against trans identities.
Given the lack of agreement and appropriate response from the Medical Council, the organization filed a lawsuit to prevent this training module from being carried out. The case is pending before the 3rd Nomination Court of Children, Adolescence, Family and Gender Violence of Córdoba.
At Fundeps we intervened through an amicus curiae in which we confirmed that the pathologization of trans identities violates current legislation, the timeliness of scientific information and constitutes a type of violence. It is particularly dangerous that the entity that regulates and supervises the medical profession in our province dictates training with outdated scientific content. It must be taken into account that the organization is in charge of training professionals who will then reproduce said learning in doctor-patient relationships, with the risk of generating situations of violence, discrimination and violation of human rights.
The current international and national provisions, which in our country have been pioneers and avant-garde in the matter, are essential for the protection and recognition of the human rights of diversities. Therefore, judicial interventions that seek to guarantee its respect and avoid future violations are a key tool to ensure compliance.
In a socio-cultural context that still strains the human rights of people from the LGBTIQ+ community, it is necessary to act against symbolic violence. These violations are directly related to hostile treatment in the field of health, which influences trans people to avoid it so as not to be (re)victimized.
The State, private entities and society must focus on supporting the diversity of gender experiences, celebrating the identity of each person and creating inclusive spaces that promote the well-being and safety of trans people.
See Amicus curiae
Autora
Luz Baretta
Contacto
Mayca Balaguer, maycabalaguer@fundeps.org
The Way of the Vote
The political parties are responsible for the printing of the ballots and their distribution, for which the State grants them the necessary funds to do so. For these elections, the National Electoral Directorate valued each ballot at $2.92, granting each party the equivalent of 2 and a half padrones. This means that 2 and a half ballots per party are printed for each voter.
For example, only for the category of presidency and vice-presidency in the PASO 2023, each party was granted a little more than 103 million pesos to be used exclusively for the printing of ballots. Although the parties may decide to print fewer ballots than those established by the Law, if they do so, they are obliged to return the unearned amount.
The parties may choose to distribute the ballots on their own or give them to the Electoral Board to take them to the voting centers, distributing bundles of 350 ballots for each table plus 2 extra bundles for contingencies, or four more if the center has more than 9 tables.
Even if the Electoral Justice were given a bundle of 350 ballots per table -which would be enough to cover all the people who are going to vote-, the party would retain a total of one and a half ballot lists to dispose of freely, either by distributing them the days prior to the election or by using them as contingency ballots during the electoral process, with which not only would there be no lack of ballots, but there would be ballots left over.
The problem lies elsewhere. The system ensures that each voter has his or her party ballot available to vote, but why would the parties not deliver the necessary ballots to the electoral authorities? Wouldn’t this be a waste of resources and, above all, a possible “black box”? According to an investigation by El Ruido and Connectas, in this year’s PASO only one list out of the 1,818 that ran for election returned the surplus of unprinted ballots. Moreover, 8 billion pesos went to ballots of parties that did not exceed 1.5% of the votes.
It is because of things like these that many organizations have been asking, for a long time, for a Single Paper Ballot system. But it is also true that the current procedure is reliable and has so far reflected the will of the electorate, and there is not a single indication of fraud. In fact, sometimes there are those who prefer to raise the specter of fraud rather than accept that they were not an option for the citizens.
Public Budget in Córdoba: reflections on the Public Hearing
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.
Like every year, the following year’s budget bill is presented. This 2023, due to the elections, the times were brought forward and the project was presented on October 24, something that usually happens on November 15. After being presented, the project is discussed in several Commissions and approved in two legislative sessions, called 1st and 2nd reading. And in between, a Public Hearing is held.
From Fundeps we presented ourselves to the Public Hearing last Thursday, November 9. In this sense, it is noteworthy that starting this year, all the information related to the debate on the 2024 public budget law, with the project and its complementary documents, as well as with the calendar of sessions, dates of the Commission sessions and the Hearing. In addition, the way to register through a web form was improved compared to other years. Yes, we must note that it would be very useful for future occasions to publish the Commissions that meet on each date and to allow external participation, even if it is from listeners. Currently, committee sessions are uploaded to the Legislature’s YouTube channel after they happen.
At the hearing, we made some general observations that we understand make it possible to better analyze the budget and comments on a program related to Water and Sanitation. First of all, we explained that the descriptions of the Budget Programs are very generic and it is necessary that they be accompanied by physical goals and both quantitative and qualitative indicators, for the purposes of their monitoring. In the case of Program 572 analyzed, its content remains the same since its creation in 2018. In the case of the Works, contained in the Public Investment Plans, they are not directly described, at least in the budget documents. Then, we move on to explain Program 572 on Water and Sanitation, which is made up of two subprograms, one related to Drinking Water and the other to Sewage Liquids and Sanitary Services. In both cases we observe their evolution and behavior in the years 2022, 2023 and how they are projected in 2024. In that sense, in the two subprograms the same trend of sub-executions is observed in the year 2022 (32% and 53% respectively). , greater execution in the current year (87% and 75%) and a decrease in the budget allocation for 2024. More notable in the first subprogram than for the second. In that sense, we appeal that these programs be observed by the Legislators present, in view of budget approval in the second session on Wednesday, November 15.
A budget that guarantees rights, such as in this case drinking water and sanitary services that directly impact the rights to health and a healthy environment, is governed by the principles of progressivity and non-regression, in which care must be taken that In the allocation of resources there are no setbacks, avoiding cutting or reducing the levels reached.
Participation in the audience was very varied. There were Professional Associations (such as Lawyers or Notaries), civil housing associations, social sports, companions of children in vulnerable situations, among other actors. This shows that, although this instance is extremely valuable and allows a direct approach by the authorities to problems that bring together different social actors, it also reveals the lack of more spaces for participation. So that people and citizens who often face and solve public problems can channel their demands more effectively. This could be resolved with periodic hearings or greater social participation in the thematic commissions of the Legislature.
It is extremely important that these spaces become increasingly accessible, open and widespread. This is key so that the greatest number of social actors can approach and present their points of view and observations in the development of public policies that directly affect them.
More information
You can consult the entire Public Hearing here, and our participation in the minutes: 2:55.50 – 3:06.20.
Related notes Public budget:
Contact
Victoria Sibilla, ninasibilla@fundeps.org
Democracy is improved with more democracy
In these 40 years, we have learned to respect differences, to value the plurality of voices, to prefer dialogue to violence. The democratic pact was synthesized in the Nunca Más (Never Again), and from there -with difficulties and many pending issues- we have advanced in more rights for more people. This society voted in 30 elections that reliably reflect the will of the electorate. It is an electoral system we can trust.
Today, the undersigned civil society organizations see with concern how the electoral contest is taking place in the midst of proposals and speeches of hate and political violence, offensive and discriminatory.
These speeches are unacceptable and encourage us to move away from the democratic pact that we have worked so hard to uphold. The idea, which we thought was outdated, that a political adversary is an enemy takes us back to our worst times and can only bring chaos and violence to our daily lives.
There is no doubt that Argentina’s democracy has debts. Therefore, our new democratic pact, the one for the next 40 years, must incorporate bases for development and, in addition, promote practices that bring public institutions closer to citizens in order to improve the lives of all. Democracy is improved with more democracy.
The Asian Bank approved its first infrastructure project in Argentina
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.
The main objective of the Annual Assembly is to share the Bank’s progress and receive suggestions regarding its strategic direction and operations. It also provides information and encourages exchanges on policies and projects financed by the AIIB in terms of social and environmental impact.
The central theme of the 8th Assembly was “sustainable growth in a challenging world” and highlighted the importance of addressing the global climate agenda and supporting key infrastructure demands for AIIB member countries. The meeting program covered a variety of Thematic topics that include the latest trends and priorities of the Bank. The public sessions were grouped into three thematic streams: sustainability, connectivity and multilateral cooperation. They addressed issues related to the development and implementation of sustainable environmental infrastructure, as well as the promotion and strengthening alliances that improve infrastructure connectivity both in Asia and in other regions.
First AIIB project in Argentina
A particularly relevant event for Argentina was the announcement, during the event, of the approval of the project called “Energy transition of the province of Tierra del Fuego” for an amount of 65 million dollars. This project marks a milestone, as it represents the first financing granted to Argentina as a member of the Bank, which it officially joined in March 2021. The funds will be used for the construction of a wind farm near the city of Río Grande. . According to the AIIB, the main objective of the project is to establish the wind energy generation capacity in the province of Tierra del Fuego and it “is aligned with the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the Nationally Determined Contributions of Argentina, for which will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the adoption of renewable energy.” This initiative arises from the need to take advantage of the wind resources that the province has and the lack of interconnection in local networks for the materialization of projects of such magnitude.
However, it is important to highlight that given the scarcity of information about the project, it is essential to analyze in depth how the project will be carried out, and what the true implications could be in terms of socio-environmental impacts. For this reason, at Fundeps we are monitoring this project and have made a request for information to the AIIB about details that are not yet clear. For example, although an Environmental and Social Management Plan (PMAS) and a Stakeholder Participation Plan (PPPI) have been published on the Bank’s website, the documentation related to the Environmental Impact Assessment is not yet available. and Social, the Environmental and Social Due Diligence Report or information related to the public hearings planned for the project, among other relevant documentation.
This information is key to identifying the real impacts of the project and verifying whether access to information about the project and the participation of the local population is effectively ensured. In turn, another aspect that raises doubts is the role that the CAF (current Development Bank of Latin America) will have in relation to the project, since it has been presented as a co-financed project between both multilateral institutions.
Author
Candela Jauregui
Contact
Gonzalo Roza, gon.roza@fundeps.org
Labeling law: Córdoba can move towards the best standard
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.
On August 16, a project for adhesion to the Law for the Promotion of Healthy Eating (PAS), better known as the “labeling law,” entered the Córdoba Legislature, which presents the best standards among the adhesion laws sanctioned so far. . It was achieved through collaborative work between the team of legislator Miranda and legislator Labat, together with the College of Nutritionists of the Province of Córdoba and Fundeps. It hopes to have the support of all the blocks that consider it a priority to defend public health and access to adequate food for all consumers and, fundamentally, children.
To understand the importance of subnational progress in relation to the national front labeling law, we must look not only at the letter of the law but also at its implementation. The text explicitly obliges the provinces to guarantee the implementation of the law in their territories, but does not say how. It does not command adherence. For this reason, at the time of the sanction and regulation of the national law, the question arose: is it necessary for the provinces to adhere? What should and what can the provinces do to guarantee effective compliance with these recognized fundamental rights? How can we guarantee equality in the enjoyment of these rights throughout the territory? Despite the questions, what was not questioned is that the national standard is mandatory throughout the country beyond the strategies defined by the province.
It is important to highlight that the standard aims to address the food issue in a comprehensive and transversal way. For this reason, it not only introduces front labeling that allows warning about the true composition of what is being consumed, but also regulates aspects such as: healthy school environments, nutritional food education, marketing strategies of food industries, public purchases. carried out by the State, etc. That is why this law is recognized as a kind of suture of the great regulatory dispersion that exists in the regulation of the right to food in Argentina, and it is also seen as a model law for the region.
Now, the implementation of all these components of the law put at the center the challenges of federalism and the system of distribution of powers, and requires coordination between different ministries, agencies and levels of government. In this scenario, the issuance of adhesion or complementary regulations emerged as the best way to ensure the full implementation of all the measures established by law, and thus effectively protect the health of the population.
To date we have only 7 adhered provinces, which according to the regulatory map of labeling in Argentina reflects 63.3% progress at the national level, and this has to do with the fact that none of the regulations regulate the implementation of the different components of the law that require it.
The bill in Córdoba
In this scenario, the bill presented in Córdoba appears as a model to be followed by the rest of the provinces. It proposes broad and comprehensive local regulation, which ensures the effective application of all the measures provided by national law. Thus, it not only assumes the responsibility of controlling and supervising compliance with the front labeling of food products and national regulations on advertising, promotion and sponsorship of these products, but also expands the scope of restrictions on advertising in the areas of local jurisdiction, such as points of sale and public roads. It also defines what is meant by advertising aimed at children and adolescents, correcting an important deficiency in national regulations. Thus, the text achieves full protection of the environment against marketing strategies that aggressively encourage the purchase of products that harm health.
Also, it speaks out regarding the two crucial components that require the actions of the provinces.
Other points to highlight in the proposed regulations have to do with the definition of the Ministry of Health as the application authority in coordination with other ministries involved. This is essential so that all the measures taken in the different areas are considered from a public health approach. We also consider the provision of complaint channels, sanction systems and registration of offenders at the local level to be a success, which allow us to reinforce national mechanisms that have been presenting certain limitations in practice.
Another point of interest, which has to do with strengthening the availability of healthy foods, is the incentive to consume unprocessed and natural foods produced by regional economies and peasant, indigenous (and/or) family agriculture.
Finally, we want to emphasize that the project provides for the creation of a Consumer Commission made up of civil society organizations, consumers and professional associations whose objective is the protection of the rights involved. Commission that guarantees citizen participation in monitoring the implementation of the law and in the development of complementary policies.
For these reasons, it is an advanced law for the promotion of healthy eating in the province. It can set the path to be followed by other provinces that have not spoken out and also for provinces with simple accessions to dictate complementary regulations that ensure comprehensive compliance with this public health policy that is being a reference in the region.
We invite citizens to support and follow the process of processing the law in the legislature. Your involvement is essential so that the balance does not tip in favor of the interests of large food industries and the rights of the population, and fundamentally children, to enjoy a healthy life and healthy eating are protected.
Access the bill
Author
María Laura Fons
Contact
Maga Merlo Vijarra, magamerlov@fundeps.org
Healthy Eating Promotion Law: Marketing chain responsibilities – INFOGRAPHIC
This infographic provides information about the responsibility that corresponds to merchants of food products and non-alcoholic beverages that present warning seals and/or precautionary legends, as arises from the incorporation of the Law for the Promotion of Healthy Eating to the national regulatory system. of food, as well as international principles that govern business activity.
Healthy Eating Promotion Law: Responsibilities of entities and sectors involved in the marketing chain
This report provides information about the responsibility that corresponds to merchants of food products and non-alcoholic beverages that present warning seals and/or precautionary legends, as arises from the incorporation of the Law for the Promotion of Healthy Eating to the national regulatory system of food, as well as international principles that govern business activity. In this sense, the commitment of the sector is essential in order to guarantee compliance with the public policies in question and protect the health of the population.
Argentina presented the National Plan for the Implementation of the Escazú Agreement
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.
The Secretary of Climate Change and Sustainable Development and Innovation of the Nation was appointed to advance towards the implementation of the Escazú Agreement in Argentina. This tour was designed in two stages: the first, aimed at carrying out a diagnosis to determine the status of compliance with the Agreement in our country, from which recommendations emerged: and the second was focused on designing the Plan. For this, a public consultation, collaborative virtual and in-person meetings, regional dialogue tables and a proposal box were carried out. In total, 533 contributions were received from citizens in the design of the Plan and the majority (65%) of the people who participated were women. At Fundeps we accompany this entire process by providing contributions in the different participatory instances.
The Plan is structured into 6 axes: access to public environmental information, public participation in environmental decision-making, access to justice in environmental matters, human rights defenders in environmental issues, capacity building, governance system for the execution and monitoring of the implementation of the Agreement. Objectives and indicators are also established, which are very important for evaluating progress in implementation. The execution of the Plan will be over a period of 3 years and will be in charge of the National Executive Branch.
The process of creating the Plan was an open, participatory and transparent process, focused on ensuring citizen participation and building the necessary consensus to address the needs of the communities and make the Agreement effective. We celebrate the presentation of this Plan, which represents a milestone towards the consolidation of the application of the Escazú Agreement in Argentina and provides concrete tools to facilitate its implementation. Now we urge the national state and the provinces to implement its implementation and citizens to demand its effective application to achieve the ultimate goal of the Escazú Agreement: compliance with the right to a healthy environment.
More Information
Author
Manuela Fernández Grassani
Contact
María Laura Carrizo, lauracarrizo@fundeps.org
Is a new international financial architecture possible?
“Below, we offer a google translate version of the original article in Spanish. This translation may not be accurate but serves as a general presentation of the article. For more accurate information, please switch to the Spanish version of the website. In addition, feel free to directly contact in English the person mentioned at the bottom of this article with regards to this topic”.
The Annual Meetings, which this year took place between October 9 and 13 in the city of Marrakech, are spaces where panels are organized with IMF directors and staff, while civil society has its own forums and exhibition spaces and discussion. At the same time, countless closed meetings occur in parallel to the entire official agenda. All of this aims to be able to discuss how the international financial architecture is organized, which determines under what conditions funds are lent mainly to countries in the global south. The role of civil society in these spaces is to bring their concerns and represent the voices of the people affected by this complex lending infrastructure.
For example, the Coalition for Human Rights in Development presented a report where of 38 projects evaluated, in 36 reprisals were identified against people who defended rights and complained against said loans. This shows that, although the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) make high-level proclamations regarding the importance of human rights, there are no measures or real addressing of the negative consequences on defenders who suffer abuse by security forces. security and the police, judicial persecution, the disproportionate use of force, surveillance, and gender violence and sexual harassment in the particular case of defenders.
Likewise, the Environment and Natural Resources Foundation (FARN) presented in a panel on the IMF’s climate strategy regarding the Argentine case. It was made visible how the need for foreign exchange from exports is pushing the fossil fuel extractivist model and going against the country’s climate change mitigation goals. The emblematic example is Vaca Muerta, which if fully exploited would use the equivalent of 11.4% of the CO2 budget. In this case, we can see how the short-term foreign trade balance needs override any analysis of environmental impacts and put the environmental sustainability of the planet at risk.
Faced with this, in general the authorities and staff of the IFIs present on the panels insist that existing policies are the ones that work, they dismiss the proposals of civil society with their own data and are not very receptive to any criticism. For this reason, spaces like the Counter Summit appear, where the conversation flows in a more critical and sincere way about what is happening with the impacts of loans and projects, allowing a space to unite voices in order to change injustices. that today affect so many countries and communities.
The Counter Summit opened on October 12 with a march, and over the next two days there were both small group and plenary discussion sessions. Finally, on Sunday the 15th, the plenary session closed with a reading of the conclusions, which included the cancellation of illegitimate debts, policies that respect planetary limits, climate and social justice, and promote food sovereignty. Also, let end financial colonialism, that there be financing for projects that allow adaptation to climate change, social security and universal health coverage, and a special proclamation for the rights of women who are those who are most negatively impacted by austerity policies.
Argentina and its link with the IMF
According to Noemí Brenta, Argentina has a very particular relationship with the IMF, since it is the middle-income country that has been under its agreements the longest, directing economic and fiscal policies. Today, not only does it have almost 30% of the IMF’s loan portfolio, but it is a good student: throughout all these years and of 22 agreements, only 5 were suspended by the organization. Therefore, it can be stated that the guidelines recommended by this organization have had great influence on the decisions of the different governments.
However, compliance with the policies has implied a notable deterioration in people’s quality of life. On the one hand, the conditionalities impose that the income that the country has be used to pay creditors (that is, to the IMF and other debtors as well), which in turn implies that social expenses are cut and there is no investment for the country. development. On the other hand, the extractivist model is deepened through the agro-industrial production of commodities, the exploitation of fossil fuels and mining – lithium mining is very popular today due to its potential to contribute to an energy transition towards other renewable sources. This has negative consequences on the environment, does not take into account the impacts on the use of scarce and non-renewable resources such as water, and limits the development of the communities that live in the exploited territories.
Mariano Féliz suggests that the impacts on the paid labor market have clear gender biases, since it is women who have to face intensified unpaid and reproductive tasks, while receiving fewer public services. IMF policies that promote women’s participation in economic activity do so from an instrumental perspective because it improves macroeconomic indicators and provides labor that usually accepts worse working conditions. However, while the employment rate for adult women increased, the employment rate for men, especially young people, decreased. All of this only results in the capitalist tendency to overload women with care tasks for their own homes and communities, for example, through the organization of popular soup kitchens.
For the logic of financing agreements and governments, human rights are an ideal that is difficult to fulfill rather than an obligation. The panorama then in Argentina makes us have to think about how to build a political movement against unsustainable and illegitimate debts, against abusive conditionalities that are detrimental to fundamental rights and people’s lives. It also forces us to reflect on how these Levels of indebtedness and precarious lives are linked to the growth of far-right electoral options, which ultimately also promote anti-democratic discourses and practices.
The challenges are many, they are complex and involve a lot of political articulation. However, the context is urgent, since there is no sustainability of life possible under the policies of austerity, impoverishment and extractivism. We have to continue building collective narratives, mobilizing and supporting communities by defending their territories.
Contact
Carolina Tamagnini, carotamagnini@fundeps.org