Did you know......

..that Ecuador´s foreign debt is no less than $ 10.336.200.000 (Oct. 2005)? and that Ecuador pays every year 32% of it´s Gross National Product to IMF and other institutions........
According to UNICEF, the payment of foreign debt between 1990 and 1999 (total $ 15.700.000.000) could also have served to pay for healthservices during 135 years, the solidarity-with-the-poor- fund during 123 years and education during 51 years......

Photography by Rik Pennartz





















For other photographs visit: http://www.photo.net/photos/rikpennartz

The latest strike news
5 provinces in the Ecuadorian highlands have been paralized and blocked by the indigenous population, who protested against TLC (Free Trade Agreement between U.S. and Ecuador).
Imagine these strikes like this: It ´s like a group of protesters digging 1 m. deep and 1 m. wide trenches in the A4 in Holland and all the other highways in the Western part of Holland!
Indian power is strong and it would not be the first time that a president resigns because of indigenous uprising. We´ll see what happens next!

Family pix