This edition of Américas is somewhat different than previous issues. The global economic crisis, approaching the devastation and dislocation of the Great Depression of the 1930s, in both societies and in the personal lives of millions, prompted the OAS General Secretariat to enlist a group of prominent Americans to express their views about the causes and possible remedies of the crisis. In addition, brief summaries of two international meetings where the global crisis was also the primary concern—the Summit of the Americas held in Port of Spain and the G20 Summit held in London—were also included in these pages.
Since this issue was produced as a special edition for the OAS General Assembly, held in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, it was fitting that it commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) with an article the emphasized that close, ongoing collaboration among member nations, civil society, IACHR and the Court of Human Rights which is central to the successful function of a inter-American system protecting and enhancing human rights.
The rest of this issue is what readers generally expect of Américas: a celebration of positive civic action, a review of successful social development programs, and a report on multinational efforts to halt practices that cause environmental deterioration. In these articles the reader will discover how Colombian singer and superstar Juanes is raising awareness about the devastating effects of landmines in his country and throughout the world; that many in the Americas are committed to innovation in education, from agricultural instruction in Central America, to rural teaching in Argentina, to advances in sign language communication in Jamaica; and how thanks to the efforts of scientists and nature enthusiasts world-wide, the majestic monarch butterfly sanctuaries in Mexico are being protected for future generations.
In this issue the reader will find an uncommon mix; we hope you will find it interesting.
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