Julie Chappell

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Posted at 12:22 01 September 2009 by e-Media Global  |  Comments[1]

Dinner with a football legend

This career does have some great moments! Last night was one of them as I got to meet Liverpool legend Ian Rush. We're both currently in El Salvador - me to present my credentials to the Foreign Minister (as part of the official process to become the non-resident UK Ambassador here) and Ian to scout for young footballing talent. We got talking about just how brilliant it would be for England to host the 2018 football World Cup - Ian was barely a toddler last time round! To help our campaign to win the vote in Guatemala, Ian kindly helped us out with some autographs on shirts and footballs that we can now use to stir up some enthusiasm. (For more on the bid, see www.2018england.co.uk).

Interestingly, Ian and his team had just come from holding football clinics in Honduras. While much is still operating normally there, Honduran politics remain tense and polarised. The de facto Government has annouced elections for 29 November; President Zelaya has called for them to be boycotted. There is still no agreement to implement the San Jose package that includes the return of President Zelaya to Honduras. But there is increasing international pressure for an agreement - not least ahead of elections, which a number of countries have already said they would not recognise if held in the current circumstances.

Landing in the lush green of El Salvador

Ian Rush shows his support for the 2018 England World Cup bid

Posted at 22:43 27 August 2009 by Julie Chappell  |  Comments[0]

"Raising her voice" in Central America

Yesterday, I had the privilege to open a 3-day workshop with Oxfam called "Raising her voice". It's part of a programme being run across Africa, Asia and Latin America with the support of the UK. The aim is to encourage women across the world to become more involved in public and political life, and ultimately to reduce inequality. I remember being involved in similar work in Iraq. It struck me then what an incredible difference it could make even just bringing people together so they knew they were not struggling alone.

In Guatemala, there are some specific challenges. For example, only 38% of indigenous women can read and write. Plus levels of violence against women are both shocking and increasing. (Guatemala's total murder rate rose from 17 to 19 murders per day last month.)

But there is some good news too. Recently, Congress showed its commitment to tackling sexual violence and exploitation by revising Guatemala's penal codes. The new law (strongly supported by the Vice-President and civil society groups) gives more explicit descriptions of what constitutes a sexual crime, including within families. It is also more explicit about situations in which a higher penalty must be served, including for gang rape and rape involving weapons, alcohol or drugs. As the Vice President has said, the emphasis is now on implementation.

Posted at 16:31 21 August 2009 by Julie Chappell  |  Comments[4]

The realities of a global negotiation!

I met today Guatemala's Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, just back from meetings in Bonn that form part of the run-up to the climate change negotiations in Copenhagen in December. We discussed the incredible challenge that Copenhagen presents. Climate change requires a global response and a global agreement... that is currently in the form of some 200 pages of text! When I think of the negotiations I have seen among EU or NATO members (less than 30 countries each), the idea is mind-boggling! But so I think it will remain all the more important to hold onto the big picture and the urgency with which the world has to react to its changing environment.

(For a helping hand to understand Copenhagen, see the "beginners´ guide" on the left hand side of  www.actoncopenhagen.decc.gov.uk - it's very handy.)

On the green theme, a colleague is currently visiting from our embassy in Costa Rica to help us reach our goal of being a carbon neutral embassy by 2011. Here are some of her practical tips that instantly save energy and money!

- Turn off your computer screen when you're not using it. I had no idea that the screen uses 10 times more energy than the computer itself!

- Don't leave your phone on charge overnight. It uses way more energy than the phone needs.

- Don't leave your office coffee machine on all day - put the coffee in a thermos instead. It tastes loads better and doesn't zap energy all day.

- You've heard it stacks of times before but don't your leave your television on standby!!!

We'll get the full list up on our website (www.ukinguatemala.fco.gov.uk) alongside some ideas for a Green Christmas.

Lastly, we have two new faces in the Embassy... David McNaught has now taken over from Karen as Deputy Head of Mission. He arrives with his wife Apsara who is also a member of the Foreign Office. Her job is based in London but she is doing it remotely from here. The wonders of modern technology!

David and Apsara...straight to work!!

Rebeca from our team and Kate from British Embassy Costa Rica compare carbon footprints

Posted at 18:59 18 August 2009 by Julie Chappell  |  Comments[0]

Supporting Guatemala's future leaders

It was an honour today to meet Maria Villeda and Javier Paz - this year's Chevening Scholars. "Chevening" is a scheme that the Foreign Office (with the British Council) has supported for many years. It aims to help rising stars, who will come back and use their year's study to drive positive change in their country. Maria will study law at Essex and hopes then to advise less privileged groups in Guatemala. Javier aims to use his business studies from Manchester to help Guatemala develop its ecotourism potential.

I'm a big fan of Chevening. It's a long term investment that builds deep relations for the UK. I remember, for example, a meeting in June 2003 with ex-Chevening Scholars in Iraq. They were brilliant people and keen to work with us.  

Our Chevening Scholars with Eduardo from the Embassy team

This week, I have also met the editors of some of the key newspapers here. We look to work very closely with the press as they both influence and inform public opinion. We also share interest in many of the same issues, notably climate change and human rights in the region.

In the busy offices of Prensa Libre with Editor Gonzalo Marroquin 

Posted at 11:51 07 August 2009 by Julie Chappell  |  Comments[4]

I´ve been tangoed

After a great week away travelling from Guatemala's Pacific to Caribbean coast with Pete, I was back to work yesterday. However, any risk of Monday blues was quickly blown away by 24 visiting ballerinas! They are in town to perform a show in support of the Vice-President's foundation - SANA (see SANA's English webpage at www.vicepresidencia.gob.gt/v2/en/content/guatemala-sana). The foundation supports rural children in Guatemala, with a particular focus on health and nutrition - according to UN figures, Guatemala has the fourth highest child malnutrition rate in the world.

In order to learn more about SANA and given that the main dancer has close links with both London's Royal Ballet and the Dutch National Ballet, my Dutch colleague and I jointly hosted a reception, during which the Vice-President spoke about the Foundation's work. We were even lucky enough to get a sneak preview of these talented dancers. For anyone reading this in Guatemala, come see the show on 5 August at the National Theatre - it should be a fantastic night.

The Dutch Ambassador and I get a tango lesson....tricky!

And a few photos from last week...

Tired from a horse trek at Lake Atitlan and Guatemala's beautiful Eastern coast

Out and about with the UK charity Street Kids Direct (www.streetkidsdirect.org.uk), who work to help children living on the streets in Guatemala and Honduras.

Posted at 17:28 04 August 2009 by Julie Chappell  |  Comments[1]

Mix & match

What have Honduras, IELTS English language test, an out of date computer system, England World Cup bid, Chevening scholarships & a pub quiz got in common?  Answer: Me!  Hi my name is Mark Day, Third Secretary standing in for Julie this week whilst she takes a well-earned break with her partner Pete.

Since Julie's last blog, we've had a really busy time of it here in Guatemala, covering a variety of activities.  Last Thursday & Friday we finally managed to host April's International English Language Testing System (IELTS) tests, which were postponed due to H1N1 influenza.  That the examiner and invigilator are based at the British Council in Mexico City explains why the original tests had to be placed on hold.  29 nervy candidates sat the tests - the majority of which needed a score of 6.5 out of 9 to be considered for immigration to English speaking countries.  They now await the results, the outcome of which will undoubtedly change lives.

Exam day nerves

Over the weekend I anxiously watched ousted President Zelaya on CNN Español as he approached his country's Las Manos border post from Nicaragua during his symbolic 'March on Tegucigalpa'.  Thankfully the anticipated violent confrontations never materialised as he returned to Nicaragua for further consultation.

Monday morning presented every System Administrator's nightmare - no email or internet!  Hurried resetting of servers, checking of UPS' and calls to the Help Desk had everyone up & running again with minimal inconvenience.  Evidently, power went out in the building for 3 hours over the weekend.  At least our good old IT system lived to tell the tale!  The unsung heroes on our Help Desk deserve a pat on the back!

On Monday & Tuesday I had the pleasure of escorting Lucia Sanchez from the English Football Association (the FA) to various contacts & football related projects.  Lucia was here on a reconnaissance visit ahead of the World Cup 2018/2022 bid presentation later this year.  Most impressive was to hear the FA's approach to leaving a global football legacy should the bid be successful.  Some of the ideas that Lucia came up with certainly opened some eyes.  Learn more about the England World Cup bid at http://www.england2018bid.com/.

Felix showing his support for the England World Cup bid

On Tuesday evening I hosted a traditional British pub quiz for expatriates and locals.  Whilst there is plenty in the way of entertainment available in Guatemala City, these events are incredibly popular.  Once again we had a full house, with people from varying backgrounds enjoying the opportunity to mix.  Whilst Delboy & Rodders running through the streets of London as Batman & Robin gained the biggest laugh of the night, the real stars were those businesses who kindly donated prizes.  Thanks again to all.

Trivial pursuits..

Yesterday I had the pleasure of presenting Manuel Delgado Chavarria, our Salvadoran Chevening scholar for this year with his formal award letter.  Manuel will be studying a MSc in Economics at Sussex University.  Manuel has promised to email me from Brighton the moment he finds pupusas there.  El Salvador is well-known for many things, not least of which is the scrumptious pupusa - a cheese-filled tortilla!

Posted at 10:45 30 July 2009 by Julie Chappell  |  Comments[3]

Human strength: Norma Cruz

Posted at 15:36 23 July 2009 by Julie Chappell  |  Comments[0]

Where's the second largest barrier reef in the world?

Well I never knew until this week.. Belize. I travelled there yesterday (with a beady eye still on developments in Honduras!) to meet my British counterpart there, Pat Ashworth. Our aim was to support the ongoing process between Belize (ex British Honduras) and Guatemala to end their territorial dispute. We met key members of Government and visited the team of the Organisation of American States (OAS), which sits next to the border post between Belize and Guatemala. This team helps to solve local disputes and keep good relations. The military on both sides also help - for example, carrying out joint patrols. In the past, we have given these forces language training to help them communicate and build trust. (I agree with recent blog comments about the importance of languages.) Other recent positives between Belize and Guatemala include the start this month of a direct flight and improving road links.

Visiting the OAS office

Whilst in Belize, we also had an inspiring meeting with the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCandafewmoreCs). They bring together data from the region and help to co-ordinate the Caribbean approach to climate change. Increasingly, they are also acting as an interface with the Central American region. We strongly welcomed this - a united voice across the whole of this vulnerable area could help to encourage an ambitious approach when it comes to the climate negotiations in Copenhagen at the end of this year.

A final stop on the way home was a pitch in the middle of nowhere...or so I thought. It's actually a pitch in the middle of Belize and Guatemala! One goal in Belize...one goal in Guatemala. Kids running across the half way line and horses happily munching the grass on both sides. An inspiring note on which to end.

Posted at 23:33 15 July 2009 by Julie Chappell  |  Comments[1]

Speeches in spanish and football passion

A colleague once told me on a training course that whenever I got nervous about public speaking, I should be grateful that at least I was doing the speech in English. That struck a chord and has helped me through a number of events since... but sadly was little use today at my Guatemala welcome reception when I finally had to test my skills in Spanish. To be honest, it was scary! Still, fortunately all went well and I'm now back in the office...very tired. While this kind of event is fun, it's also really hard work. In just a few hours, the embassy team has a really useful chance both to make new contacts and to reinforce good working relations with, for example members of Guatemala's Government, Congress, Military and Civil Society. At one point, I also had the privilege to meet Señor Salguero, who is a member of FIFA's Executive Committee and holds one of the 24 votes that will determine whether England will host the 2018 Football World Cup. We shared some passionate discussion about our favourite English players... David Beckham and Michael Owen (que hablan español) would certainly receive a very warm welcome here in Guatemala!

Señor Salguero and Mark from the Embassy share their passion for football

Posted at 17:30 09 July 2009 by Julie Chappell  |  Comments[6]

Honduras calm for now

The situation in Honduras continues to be a key issue for the embassy as we ensure that our travel advice is updated with the latest information, including for example curfew times and airport closures. After a violent weekend, thankfully the situation is now calmer. Importantly, a political track is developing that we hope will help President Zelaya and Roberto Micheletti to find a way forward. For now public opinions remain polarised. The use of the military in Central America brings back bad memories of past human rights abuses and is a very sensitive issue. However, so too is the issue of limiting a President to only one term in office. Recent events in Honduras have touched on both and today saw a number of both pro-Micheletti and pro-Zelaya demonstrations.

One tricky issue for an embassy that covers a number of countries is that even with a crisis in one, business continues elsewhere as normal! For example, this morning we hosted a visiting delegation from the OAS who updated us and other Donors on progress being made towards resolving the ongoing territorial dispute between Belize and Guatemala. Next steps include holding referenda in both countries to ask for approval for the case to be taken to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In the meantime, we are encouraging both Belize and Guatemala to continue to build good relations - not least because there is such potential for both countries to benefit from providing a trade gateway between Central America and the Caribbean.

Posted at 18:53 07 July 2009 by Julie Chappell  |  Comments[1]

Honduras: the confusion continues

We have kept a close eye this week on events in and around Honduras. Our Honorary Consuls (based in 3 key places in Honduras) have been particularly helpful in giving us accurate information about e.g. demonstrations in the major cities. We have also been meeting diplomatic, military and business contacts to get a feel for opinions in the region, as well as staying in close touch with other British Embassies – for example, in Washington where the Organisation of American States (OAS) has its headquarters. We hope that confrontation can be avoided ahead of the elections that are due to be held in Honduras in November this year. The OAS has a crucial role to play this weekend in helping to find a peaceful, political way forward. But for now, the situation remains unpredictable. Just today, we have issued a further update to our travel advice warning of possible confrontations over the weekend.

Posted at 14:16 03 July 2009 by Julie Chappell  |  Comments[0]

Honduras: Expulsion of President Zelaya

This weekend was a busy one for the embassy, monitoring events in Honduras following the expulsion of President Zelaya on Sunday. Fortunately, the situation has remained calm. Tourists in the popular areas such as Roatan have been unaffected, but we are staying in close touch with our contacts on the ground and travel advice will be kept updated on www.fco.gov.uk.

On Sunday, our Foreign Office Minister Chris Bryant called for the restoration of democratic, constitutional government in Honduras. We will continue to urge for the situation to be resolved through political - and not military - means.

Posted at 11:40 29 June 2009 by Julie Chappell  |  Comments[0]

UK Armed Forces Day in Guatemala

Yesterday, we hosted a couple of events. At lunchtime, we celebrated the first ever UK Armed Forces Day by holding a lunch for ex-UK military personnel (including World War II veterans) now living in Guatemala. UK Armed Forces Day is about showing our thanks for the sacrifices and immense commitment that our British Forces make. In the UK, there were also a number of events to raise public awareness of the work that they do. (For more information, check out www.armedforcesday.org.uk) I was really pleased to be able to support this day because I have worked very proudly alongside the British military throughout most of my diplomatic career – in Jordan, Iraq, Washington, NATO HQ and most recently in the Horn of Africa.

 
Then we were back down to Antigua - this time to meet some of the 150+ UK residents who live in this small town. We regularly do this type of consular outreach to stay in touch with the British community and to help with any problems as necessary. This time round, we also asked for some advice from them in designing a leaflet campaign for British tourists in this region. Ideally, all of the 40,000 British travellers to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador would check our travel advice (on www.fco.gov.uk) to know the latest security risks and for practical advice on e.g. what to do in an earthquake. But, then again, I’m sure I remember backpacking in Africa as a student and not always being quite so diligent! So the idea of the campaign is to be proactive in getting helpful information out to travellers once they have arrived in country. To be most effective, we’ll be calling on our British network – as well as contacts in e.g. the ports (air and sea), tourist agencies, Spanish schools and local tourism boards – to help us get leaflets to those who need them.

And finally, I rushed home to check the internet to see how the British teams got on the 2009 Lacrosse World Cup (www.lacrosseworldcup2009.com). This sport remains my favourite, even though not so many people play it here… yet!

Posted at 10:20 26 June 2009 by Julie Chappell  |  Comments[2]

A weekend trip to the jewel of Guatemala

At the weekend, I joined Doug Pilling (Head of the British Community Association here) and his daughter in Lake Atitlan. It’s spectacular - over 1000 feet deep, 11 miles long and surrounded by six volcanoes. As I was swimming, I came across a stretch of water about 10m long that was hotter than a bath. This just didn't seem right so I made a dash for shore. In between smiles, Doug reassured me that volcanic activity was totally normal in the lake. I just can't get used to the ground around us being quite so lively!

Doug and Dyana.

Sadly, as the area around the lake becomes increasingly developed, so it is becoming polluted. However, on the positive side, it is also becoming a high-profile focal point for efforts to encourage protection of the environment across Guatemala, not least because there is a clear economic link between preserving the lake and keeping the tourist money coming in.

Promoting environmental awareness is one of our regional objectives, on which we work closely with the British embassies in Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, Santo Domingo and Belize. We focus in particular on promoting the economic opportunities of e.g. providing clean energy sources (hydroelectricity is big out here) and eco-tourism. We’re also meeting again this week with Guatemala’s negotiating team ahead of the Copenhagen climate talks at the end of the year.

Posted at 17:15 22 June 2009 by Julie Chappell  |  Comments[2]