Ninety eight Latin American journalistic pieces compete for award on fight against poverty and indigenous rural communities

A total of 98 journalistic pieces were registered before the closing of the call, on October 15, for the 2008 Journalistic Award “Economic development, fight against poverty and social exclusion in indigenous and poor rural communities of Latin America and the Caribbean”, organized by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the international news agency IPS Inter Press Service.

Articles come from 12 Latin American countries: Argentine, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.

The press releases registered were published in Spanish and Portuguese in the written media of the region, from January 1 to September 30, 2008. The two best ones will receive awards of US$1,500 and US$ 1,000 respectively.

The jury will be composed of Antonella Cordone, Coordinator of Tribal and Indigenous Issues of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Ernesto Lamas Regional Coordinator of AMARC for Latin America and Joaquín Costanzo, Regional Manager of IPS Latin America. The jury will announce its verdict before December 15, 2008.

This award is expected to promote the life, concerns and projects of the members of poor rural communities and indigenous peoples in Latin America and The Caribbean, as well as the economic development, the fight against poverty and social exclusion, human rights and cultural diversity.