Chile Proposes Bills To Resolve Mapuche Hunger Strike

Health problems of strikers increase while three incarcerated youth join the cause

With a spotlight on Chile as its bicentennial quickly approaches, pressure has mounted to take action on demands by Mapuche hunger strikers who passed day 52 of their protest on Wednesday and whose plight has received little coverage in the national media.

New solar panels that move in sync with the sun have recently been built in La Tirana in northern Chile.  They harvest 40 percent more energy than conventional, static solar panels. 

The 10 solar panels, the first of their kind in Chile, are attached to a water pump to provide irrigation water for nearby farms.  The well is 27 meters deep and pumps four cubic meters an hour.  The project cost about US$450,000 and is expected to run for 20 years.

Children in program to stay at school until 8 p.m.

“After-class is cool,” proclaimed the Education and Interior ministries in naming a new program for fifth- to eighth-year students. Starting Aug. 16, children in participating schools throughout Chile will be able to stay after class until 8 p.m. and participate in a variety of extracurricular activities.