May 20, 2005

Notice: El Salvador adds extra digit to phone numbers
In case you were not aware of the change, El Salvador has added an extra digit to all phone numbers to meet increasing demands for phone lines. For land lines—numbers beginning with 2,3, or 4—add a "2" before the seven-digit number. For cell phones—or numbers beginning with 7,8, or 9—add a "7". For example, when calling the CRISPAZ office in San Salvador, a land line, from the United States, you need to dial 011-503-2-225-2090.

Hurricane Adrian causes severe flooding, evacuations

Hurricane Adrian reached the Pacific coast of El Salvador as a category one hurricane at around 8 PM PDT Thursday night before weakening to a tropical storm and passing over the rest of the country, according to the US National Hurricane Center in Miami.

The storm’s heavy rains resulted in severe flooding in certain areas of the country. According to the Associated Press, some 14,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes and seek refuge in temporary shelters. Most of the shelters, maintained by municipal governments, are not equipped with mattresses or food supplies.

Early reports from the Network of Environmentalists in Action, a coalition of environmental organizations, indicate that communities in the department of Usulatán in the Bajo Lempa river basin and near the Rio Grande de San Miguel were most affected. Read More

Salvadoran Citizen group seeks to protect native seeds

La Red Ciudadana Frente a los Transgénicos en El Salvador (The Salvadoran Citizen’s Network on Gentetically Modified Organisms, or GMOs) held its fourth Seed Fair on Saturday, May 8th, in the Civic Plaza in downtown San Salvador. Producers from seven provinces came to showcase their organic goods, and environmental and consumer groups filled tables with literature on GMO’s and other environmental issues.

Environmentalists concerned about genetically modified organisms list among possible dangers of their use unexpected production of new toxins and allergens in foods, the spread of disease, further contamination of our water supply caused by increased use of chemicals, the creation of herbicide-resistant weeds, decreased biodiversity and an overall disturbance of ecological balance. Read More