Time to work toward prosperity, Colombia

LETTERS LETTERS@USATODAY.COM

The promise of peace in Colombia, following

an agreement between its government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (the militant rebel group known as FARC), has citizens celebrating in the streets the end of a violent conflict that has lasted for a half-century. Yet short-term optimism should not transform into long-term complacency as the country seeks to further address fundamental issues that helped fuel the drug-related conflict in the first place. One such issue is widespread poverty.

As the Borgen Project (a non-profit that raises awareness of, and advocates for, global poverty-fighting legislation) highlights on its website, approximately 29% of Colombia’s citizens live in extreme poverty. This is almost half of what it used to be 10 years ago. This is heartening news, but Colombia’s challenge moving forward will be doubling down on effec- tive and new initiatives that will provide stable, sustainable jobs and dynamic economic growth, especially for farmers growing illegal crops (e.g. coca) living in FARC-ruled territories.

Given the anemic nature of Colombia’s GDP growth, the government must be quick to act, lest it find itself unintentionally fanning flames of resentment from impoverished, disempowered citizens who may have found life more bearable under a drug-trading FARC. Neil Decenteceo Gainesville, Fla.

I hope the U.S. isn’t on the same path to a violent revolution. The wealthy, powerful and politically connected just keep pushing . Juan Bendejo

Colombia is moving ahead. Detroit is regressing. That’s why I made the move here to Colombia. Bogota, Medellin and Cali are all safe, modern cities. Dan Scott