Dear Friends,
Here is your update from FOR on Latin America, peace, and U.S. policy:
 By John Lindsay-Poland
The month-long Caravan for Peace with Justice and Dignity has traversed the entire border between the United States and Mexico, shining a light on the human cost of the drug war, of gun trafficking, of inhumane immigration policies, of a militarized foreign policy, and of money laundering. Today, the Caravan for Peace with Justice and Dignity carries out an unprecedented action. An assault rifle and pistol purchased so easily, so casually at a Houston gun show will be dismantled, cut apart, hammered, and buried in cement by victims of gun violence. Continue reading.
 By Susana Pimiento
On August 27, the buzz about the peace talks between the Colombian government and the leftist FARC guerrillas grew exponentially with the report that an initial agreement has been reached to start a dialogue that would lead, once and for all, to end the five-decade Colombian armed conflict. The news of peace negotiations have received an overwhelmingly positive response, both among Colombian political forces and in the international community. Continue reading.
 By Emily Schmidt
In neat, black hand-written letters is a homemade sign, posted outside the United States embassy, which reads: ASOTRECOL -- protesting General Motors 373 days since August 1st, 2011. It has counted each day the Association of Injured Workers and Ex-Workers of General Motors Colombia, ASOTRECOL, has called this quiet street corner, seated just outside the main embassy entrance, home. Manuel Ospina Contreras mumbles as he speaks, his lips barely parting wide enough to allow the words to escape; they are swollen from three small stitches that have sewn them shut. Continue reading.
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