Resistol

Hi all

I might have added something about this before. I have recently been doing research for the book about Resistol and found a very good website about the HB Fuller, the company behind the toxic substance. For those not in the know, Resistol is the shoe glue that street kids sniff in Honduras. It kills their brain cells, destroys their lungs, gives them bronchitis, liver and kidney failure, and eventually kills them. The kids talked to me about how it destroyed their memory and feeling for hunger. But the ingrediant that gets them hooked is toluene. As you will read from the website that I included below, activists have been urging HB Fuller to add mustard oil to the glue, which causes nasal irritation and acts as a deterrant to the abusers. The company claim it would be a huge expense to themselves and it would affect the quality of the glue, but it seems they know that their product is often used for sniffing purposes, and they fear a huge drop in profits if the kids stopped using it. In the 90s, this company was making $1.1 billion in countries south of the Rio Grande, and over half the street kids used it.

Here is the website. It’s a bit dated, but very interesting. http://pangaea.org/street_children/latin/fuller.htm. It’s a topic that is still very close to me. I remember going to the San Isidro market with Casa Alianza and being surrounded by dozens of half crazed kids who’d fallen victim to this drug, and basically throwing their life away. Meanwhile this company makes billions of dollars and does very little to highlight the health consequences of sniffing the stuff, and advertise it proudly at Honduras’ football stadiums. Just outside the stadium in Tegus is where a lot of young Resistol abusers inhale the glue. It leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. The thought I mean, not the glue.

I am also including a song by Stereophonics called Rewind. I’m not playing it for any reason more than that I just love the song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79c6zRnPpx0

Crossing Continents – A Death in Honduras

Hi all

Two friends of mine, Chris Kentish and Nigel Simons, pointed out a programme on Radio 4 today that was all about Honduras. It starts by talking about the free funeral service for the poor set up by the Mayor of Tegucigalpa. It then talks about the political problems, problems with gangs, the police and violence. It’s a sharp reminder about my experiences there, and hopefully, in August, I’ll be back.

Here is a copy of it on Iplayer. I’m not sure if it can be heard by people in other parts of the world. I hope it can. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01gvthm.

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