The Institute for Policy Studies joins the Washington Ethical Society to celebrate and recognize three honored guests for their courage, commitment and service: Vidalina Morales, anti-mining activist and ADES board member; Elvis Zavala, a leader of the Radio Victoria team; and Cristina Starr, co-founder of Radio Victoria. We are thrilled that Vidalina, Elvis and Cristina will be here to attend the celebration and receive this recognition.

ADES and Radio Victoria have devoted themselves to protecting and promoting the most precious resources of the Salvadoran people: land, water, life, culture, and freedom; as well as the future health and welfare of their children.

For over 20 years these organizations have been an active voice for those who were silenced;they have been advocates for those whose homes had been destroyed and whose lands had been taken from them; they have been the hands that opened doors for those who were without opportunities; they have been in the front line of the struggle against foreign mining interests that would poison the water and devastate the land in their quest for gold. The staff of both ADES and Radio Victoria have continued their difficult work despite limited funding, extreme hardship, the murder of a number of activists opposing mining and threats against their lives.

The benefits of their work have reached well beyond the borders of El Salvador: their unwavering devotion has been instrumental in bringing international attention to the issue of precious metal mining in developing countries worldwide.