December 21, 2000

Activists under siege

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It’s telling that in Colombia, many human rights advocates have to look to bodyguards for protection.

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According to NEWS FOR CHANGE, a group of unidentified gunmen recently opened fire on Wilson Borja, wounding the prominent activist and peace organizer. Labor groups say that 96 peace activists have already been killed in Colombia this year. Supporters of peace like Borja are generally not in danger from the leftist guerillas, but rather from right-wing paramilitary groups that are increasingly active in the decades-old conflict. Between his support of unions and peace, Borja — like many other activists — has become a marked man.

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WE'LL BE BLUNT

It is astonishingly hard keeping a newsroom afloat these days, and we need to raise $253,000 in online donations quickly, by October 7.

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Readers also told us to just give it to you straight when we need to ask for your support, and seeing how matter-of-factly explaining our inner workings, our challenges and finances, can bring more of you in has been a real silver lining. So our online membership lead, Brian, lays it all out for you in his personal, insider account (that literally puts his skin in the game!) of how urgent things are right now.

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