Radio Progreso & ERIC-SJ

Radio Progreso & ERIC-SJ
Abbreviation ERIC
Established January 1980 (January 1980)
Purpose Human rights advocacy
Location
Region served
Central America
especially Honduras
Director
Ismael Moreno Coto, SJ[1]
Affiliations Jesuit, Catholic
Website ERIC-SJ
Remarks ERIC-SJ runs Radio Progreso

Radio Progreso & ERIC-SJ (Equipo de Reflexión, Investigación y Comunicación – ERIC) is a Jesuit center for reflection, research, and communications, founded in El Progreso, Honduras, in 1980. Its stated aim is to improve the human rights of the rural poor in Honduras.[2] Its work has been extended to the rest of Central America.

History

Honduras ranks second from the bottom in all of Latin America in per capita GDP,[3] and has the highest per capita homicide rate in the world.[4] ERIC-SJ began from an initiative of Fernando Bandeiram, S.J., as a service to the Catholic parishes around El Progresso, Yoro District, to help the people reflect on the situation of their country as it impacted them.[2] In May 1980 three other Jesuits joined Bandeiram and founded the Reflection, Research and Communication Center at what became Casa San Ignacio at the Jesuit property in El Progresso.

Courses were offered on the "national reality" and a monthly newsletter was published focused especially on the Catholic Church in Latin America. Services were extended to the clergy in San Pedro Sula, Copán Department, and to the general meetings of CONFEREH, which brings together religious congregations that work against human trafficking in Central America.[2]

Early works included dissemination throughout Central America of a denunciation of the massacre allegedly carried out by the El Salvadoran National Guard on the banks of the Sumpul River in El Salvador.[2] This was followed by efforts to organize the Jicaque people in Yoro, Olanchito, and Morazán Departments, assisting them with their land titles.[2] Berta Cáceres, who became world prominent for her efforts to secure water rights for the people and was assassinated for her efforts, was "working in alliance with the parishes of Atlántida and the ERIC and Radio Progreso, initiatives of the Jesuit Ismael Moreno"[5][6][7]

The work of the station and center today includes grassroots radio programming, training on human rights, urging greater government transparency and accountability, community organizing and empowerment, combating violence against women, formation of leadership committed to social change, and assisting returned migrants.[8]

On the occasion of the 2009 coup in Honduras, Jesuits from around Latin America met and expressed their support of ERIC-SJ efforts to oppose the killings and restore constitutional government to Honduras. Signatories to the document included the farmers' rights groups CIPCA in Bolivia, IMCA in Colombia, CEPAG in Paraguay, and ALBOAN in Spain.[9]

ERIC also represents Honduras in hearings before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, as in cases involving intrusion by mining and energy companies on the water rights of local communities.[10]

Publications

Amecate Corto is the monthly newsletter and is styled "another look at reality"; it focuses on the misbehavior of the rich and powerful and the plight of ordinary people.[11]

Revista Envío-Honduras is a more indepth quarterly journal published by EPIC-SJ.[12]

ERIC-SJ also contributed a volume on Honduras to the four-volume work on youth violence and gangs in Central America.[13]

The Radio Progreso website carries numerous resources on-line.[14] Articles cover topics such as relations between the USA and the Honduran government, and "remittances Honduran migrants sent to Honduras in 2015 - almost 3 billion dollars".[15] The website also gives free access to in-depth studies by the Center, as on the socio-economic impact of mining in the Northwest region of Honduras (three case studies) published in conjunction with Saint Louis University.[16] Other topics covered include genetic manipulation of seeds, environmental issues, best practices for farmers, notices from the Jesuit Migrants' Network in Central America, and statements by Catholic religious congregations[17] as well as Christian groups in general.[18]

Journalists at Radio Progresso were interviewed on the topics of violence and injustice in Honduras for the documentary La Voz del Pueblo, released in March 2015 on the 35th anniversary of Archbishop Oscar Romero’s murder in neighboring El Salvador, to bring attention to human rights violations in neighboring Honduras.[19]

References

  1. Picture with Berta Cáceres
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "ERIC - Equipo de reflexión, investigación y comunicación". cpalsocial.org (in Spanish). Retrieved 2016-12-12.
  3. Guide, Global Property. "GDP per Capita in Latin-America | Real GDP per Capita in Latin-America". www.globalpropertyguide.com. Retrieved 2016-12-14.
  4. "Intentional homicides (per 100,000 people) | Data". data.worldbank.org. Retrieved 2016-12-14.
  5. "Berta Cáceres. Mujer indígena y cristiana – Presencia Adsis". www.presenciaadsis.org. Retrieved 2016-12-14.
  6. Afp. "Despiden a la ambientalista Berta Cáceres en Honduras". Retrieved 2016-12-14.
  7. Univision. Accessed 14 December 2016.
  8. "Equipo de Reflexión, Investigación y Comunicación / Radio Progreso". cafodca.org. Retrieved 2016-12-12.
  9. mecate corto.pdf CEDOH. Accessed 14 December 2016.
  10. "NGOs testify before IACHR regarding violation of the right to water by extractive activities". AIDA. 2015-10-26. Retrieved 2016-12-13.
  11. "Periódico Mensual". radioprogresohn.net. Retrieved 2016-12-13.
  12. "Revista Envío". radioprogresohn.net. Retrieved 2016-12-13.
  13. Honduras Labor. Accessed 14 December 2016.
  14. "Radio Progreso La Voz que esta con Vos". radioprogresohn.net. Retrieved 2016-12-13.
  15. Melo, Padre. "Hillary Clinton y JOH: ¿Dos campañas que se cruzan?". radioprogresohn.net. Retrieved 2016-12-13.
  16. "Informe Industria Extractiva". radioprogresohn.net. Retrieved 2016-12-13.
  17. "Articulación y Redes". radioprogresohn.net. Retrieved 2016-12-13.
  18. "Honduras: Carta de denuncia##Radio Progreso y del Equipo de Reflexión Investigación y Comunicación ERIC-jesuitas » Redes Cristianas". www.redescristianas.net. Retrieved 2016-12-13.
  19. "Violent Reality in Honduras To Be Highlighted with Documentary Release on 35th Anniversary of Archbishop Oscar Romero's Death". Ignatian Solidarity Network. 2015-03-23. Retrieved 2016-12-12.

Coordinates: 15°23′47.39″N 87°48′45.76″W / 15.3964972°N 87.8127111°W / 15.3964972; -87.8127111

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