es http://www.alcnoticias.net/ Information and analysis about the social-ecclesial reality, development and human rights in Latin America and other regions of the world englisheditor@alcnoticias.net http://www.alcnoticias.net/interior.php?codigo_lang=23931_688 "Changing our copyright laws in ways that restrict the open Internet and economic opportunity are unfair to citizens, businesses, creators, and civil society organizations. Not only could such changes raise prices for users of copyright works, but they could also stifle our knowledge economy and chill innovation," says Open Media International. 2013-05-21 http://www.alcnoticias.net/interior.php?codigo_lang=23922_688 The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has begun rolling out its new visual identity including a new logo. It will be officially launched together with a redesigned LWF web site on 12 June during the LWF Council meeting. 2013-05-20 http://www.alcnoticias.net/interior.php?codigo_lang=23921_688 Mayangna indigenous communities in northern Nicaragua are caught up in a life-and-death battle to defend their ancestral territory in the Bosawas Biosphere Reserve from the destruction wrought by invading settlers and illegal logging. 2013-05-20 http://www.alcnoticias.net/interior.php?codigo_lang=23907_688 A project supported by the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) in the area of Tumaco, on the Colombian Pacific coast, worked with eight of the ten communication media there, to create a protocol for the coverage of ethnic and gender issues. In addition, a newspaper and radio program was begun for the purpose of dealing with those issues. 2013-05-17 http://www.alcnoticias.net/interior.php?codigo_lang=23905_688 “Ministry with those who are geographically far from our location does not always mean crossing the seas but may take the form of seeking to transform predatory foreign structures or global systems that connect us all”: Professor Eleazar Fernández, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, in Burning Center, Porous Borders—The Church in a Globalized World. 2013-05-17 http://www.alcnoticias.net/interior.php?codigo_lang=23900_688 The executive committee of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) has concluded its annual meeting with a call to follow where God is leading. WCRC’s General Secretary, Setri Nyomi reminded the 30 member committee of the importance of following the will of God even if it takes them to places that are not “comfortable zones”. 2013-05-16 http://www.alcnoticias.net/interior.php?codigo_lang=23899_688 The way to evangelization passes through a “leaving the church” and toward an encounter with the reality of the pain and happiness of the people, said the Synod of the Reformed Church in Argentina (IRA), gathered May 11-12. Another theme emphasized was the organic unity of the Protestant churches. 2013-05-16 http://www.alcnoticias.net/interior.php?codigo_lang=23892_688 During the remaining days prior to the beginning of the VI General Assembly of the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI) on May 20, the organizing committee is working hard on each of the details involved, so that the continental ecumenical gathering may meet and exceed all of the expectations surrounding its being held for the first time in Cuba. 2013-05-15 http://www.alcnoticias.net/interior.php?codigo_lang=23893_688 “Justice is a right for victims and contributes to rule of law in our country. We believe that for a true peace to exist in Guatemala there must first be justice,” said Guatemalan Judge Yassmin Barrios. She declared General Efraín Ríos Montt guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity on Friday May 10, a day that will be etched forever in Guatemala’s collective memory. 2013-05-15 http://www.alcnoticias.net/interior.php?codigo_lang=23888_688 At the age of 20, Damián Valencia speaks knowledgeably about every aspect of gender equality. He is a member of Cascos Rosa, a young people’s initiative working for cultural change against machismo and violence against women in Ecuador. 2013-05-14 http://www.alcnoticias.net/interior.php?codigo_lang=23883_688 May is the month of Mary, who is celebrated the length of Latin America as someone more than the mother of God – or even a religious figure. Mary is associated with everything from national identity in Mexico to the mother earth in Chile to the national patroness of many of the countries in between. 2013-05-14 http://www.alcnoticias.net/interior.php?codigo_lang=23877_688 A strategic planning meeting was held in Antigua, Guatemala, from April 29-May 4, involving representatives from the National Forums and organizations that are part of the Latin America and Caribbean ACT Alliance. 2013-05-13 http://www.alcnoticias.net/interior.php?codigo_lang=23868_688 An editorial in the current edition of the Espacio Laical (“Lay Space”) digital supplement of the Cuban Catholic Church, points out that the changes are not to be according to “the style of what happened in many countries of Eastern Europe.” 2013-05-10 http://www.alcnoticias.net/interior.php?codigo_lang=23869_688 In a panel discussion at the German Protestant Kirchentag in Hamburg, the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, expressed positive hopes for the leadership of Pope Francis. 2013-05-10 http://www.alcnoticias.net/interior.php?codigo_lang=23858_688 “How do we pray among the atrocities being meted out in today’s world such as child labour and human trafficking?” asked Collin Cowan, who currently serves as the head of the Council for World Mission. 2013-05-09 http://www.alcnoticias.net/interior.php?codigo_lang=23857_688 “Constitutional recognition is very important, it is not a minor point,” says lawyer Gisela Martínez, of the Mexican chapter of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC). “If (community radio broadcasters) are not named (in the constitution) it is as if they did not exist; that is why we are fighting for recognition under the law, because they say we are illegal.” 2013-05-09 http://www.alcnoticias.net/interior.php?codigo_lang=23856_688 In the past five years the situation of women in Nicaragua has worsened without firm response from the government. The offenders enjoy impunity, while the victims of rape or violence are said to provoke the crimes and are often further assaulted by police officers. 2013-05-09 http://www.alcnoticias.net/interior.php?codigo_lang=23845_688 The UBL and the Latin American Biblical Seminary Association (ASBL), the UBL governing body, have sent a statement to ALC, “with the purpose of sharing an official voice on the diverse situations that we have been facing as an institution upon beginning this new administrative management, as well as what has been done in these circumstances." 2013-05-07 http://www.alcnoticias.net/interior.php?codigo_lang=23839_688 Concerned over the Legislature's estrangement from society, especially that of the religious representatives, ecumenical leaders met with the coordinators of the Parliamentary Front for the Defense of Human Rights, and presented a letter calling on the politicians to make good use of the mandate given to them by the electorate. 2013-05-06 http://www.alcnoticias.net/interior.php?codigo_lang=23837_688 Today the leaders of the communities are clamoring for adequate living conditions, education, support for sports activities, new technologies and most especially for the chance to live in harmony, not only with each other, but with the natural world as well. 2013-05-06 http://www.alcnoticias.net/interior.php?codigo_lang=23827_688 In a letter made public on April 30, Cardoso, who assumed as dean of the UBL last March, points out administrative and academic matters as among the reasons for her resigning. 2013-05-05 http://www.alcnoticias.net/interior.php?codigo_lang=23826_688 Félix, who is Argentinean, assumed the position today, May 3, following his election by the Latin America and Caribbean Communication Agency (ALC) Board of Directors at its Annual Meeting in April. The new director was chosen from among a number of different candidates who had applied in response to the board’s public invitation for applications. 2013-05-04 http://www.alcnoticias.net/interior.php?codigo_lang=23810_688 Measures such as cash transfers or health insurance programmes can sometimes determine whether a child spends the day studying and playing, or working and being deprived of a fair chance at a decent future. 2013-05-02 http://www.alcnoticias.net/interior.php?codigo_lang=23803_688 Lutheran leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean have addressed the challenge of preaching the gospel in diverse and disenfranchised cultures, calling for new theological language, holistic mission efforts and support for youth in their churches. 2013-04-30 http://www.alcnoticias.net/interior.php?codigo_lang=23795_688 For the first time in their history, the patriarch of the Antiochian Orthodox Church asked the believers to adorn the traditional Palm Sunday processions with black ribbons tied on candles rather than the usual white ribbons expressing their sadness because of the two abducted church leaders from Aleppo, Syria. 2013-04-30