FARC rebel group in Cuba to negotiate peace talks

FARC  rebel group to negotiate with Columbian government in Cuba

        

Progress is going on in Cuba where the dangerous rebel group the FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia) are negotiating peace deals with the Columbian government. Like Cuba the FARC is a left wing group that believes in a Marxist paradigm where they represent the poor rural people of Columbia. The problem with this unfortunately are its methods. They kidnap people for ransom, kill people, produce drugs and distribute them. The government has met with high ranking leaders of the FARC in Cuba and have been given a one year deadline to reach a peace deal. This means they won’t be staying in Cuba for too long because it will not last very long they are hoping “This has to be a process of months, rather than years. In other words, this should not last any longer than November next year at the latest, and I would say (it should be) earlier than that,” president Juan Manuel Santos said. The Columbian government have killed lots of FARC rebel groups lately to speed up the process for this decade long conflict to end.

                I find it rather interesting that these talks occur in Cuba. The reason I think it’s a good idea is because if conflicts occur in negotiations I think killings could happen but it being in a foreign country it would be wrong. Another reason I think it’s smart they are doing this in Cuba is to focus on negotiations only. If talks were to be in Columbia they could easily be distracted and be in danger whereas in Cuba they can only talk about peace deals and finding an agreement. I hope agreements will be made soon so we can end the long conflict of the FARC and the Columbian government to improve the country.

http://www.euronews.com/2012/12/03/farc-given-one-year-deadline-to-reach-colombia-peace-deal/

Haiti to Change Adoption Laws

Haiti is in the process of trying to pass a legislation to change it's adoption laws. The legislation has gone before the Senate for review and awaits approval from both houses of Parliament. The legislation is being made to make Haiti match up with international adoption laws. Some of the changes include the requirement of informed consent from both biological parents. It also has the general director of the government's social welfare agency's office as a "central authority". Other requirements that couples adopting a child must be married for five years, with one spouse at least 30 years old and a single person filing for adoption must be at least 35. There are also more sanctions that will be applied to Haitian orphanages that are in sub-standard living condition.

All these efforts are being made to put an end to the neglect of these children. Orphans have been shipped out of the country to a family that had no prior background check and half the time the adoptive parents put them back up for adoption. There are even cases have been found were children were adopted and shipped out of the country to the Dominican Republic and were forced into servant labour. 

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