BELIZE NEWS

U.S. news displays the international relations between Belize and the U.S. The
highlighted stories include issues of criminality, the environment, and culture. Stories from major papers focused on ecological issues while smaller local papers focused on cultural issues.

The first article was published in The New York Times on Aril 15, and features the Cotton Tree Lodge as an eco-friendly resort. The establishment uses place specific materials and adventures, like cacao trees and chocolate making, as a lure for tourists. The resort also focuses on the local culture and traditions of cacao growers. Planting trees and preserving the reef and rainforest are main goals of this resort and others like it.

The next article from MSNBC discusses criminal charges being brought against a company, its executives and employees. Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals of Norcross, Ga. has been successful in the dietary supplement industry. The company has now been accused of mob like activity and operating an illegal Internet pharmacy in Belize. The lab in Belize is described as substandard and unsanitary. Another article from The Morning News, a paper in Arkansas, discusses more criminal activity. A man who was scheduled to appear in court on charges of manufacturing methamphetamine fled the US to Belize, but was captured by U.S. Marshals and a bail bondsman. These two stories show an attempt to use Belize as a safe haven for criminal activity. The cases here are failures of that attempt, but there may be many more that may have succeeded and are endangering the citizens of Belize.

The Guardian, highlights Andy Palacio as a wonderful Garifuna singer. The music is described as gently soulful. The music tells stories of the slave trade era and has a stirring blend of Garifuna rhythms and reggae. Your Hub, out of Denver CO, draws attention to the Macky Travel Film Series presentation of "Worlds of the Maya". This presentation explores ancient Belize and Guatemala as well as today's isolated villages, with age-old rituals and ceremonies. These two papers show that the culture in Belize has an amazing history and is still thriving if we pay attention.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/04/15/travel/15journeys.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17742469/
http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2007/04/12/news/041307bzcourt.txt
http://arts.guardian.co.uk/filmandmusic/story/0,,2055640,oo.html
http://denver.yourhub.com/Boulder/Events/Theater/Event~293494.aspx