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22
How to Stop Unauthorized Debits from Your Bank Account
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HAVANA TIMES, Dec 21 (Rel-UITA) – It’s increasingly clear that what has occurred in Honduras marks a setback – whatever might happen before January 27.
Taking office on that date will be Porfirio Lobo Sosa, the right-wing winner of the dubious presidential elections that left this Central American country with almost no country in the world recognizing it.
Lobo Sosa will begin his term in the aftermath of the June 28 coup that turned the clock back on the consolidation of the democracy on the Latin American continent.
In this context, one cannot overlook the evident responsibilities that the new US administration is faced with in its offensive to reposition itself on the continent.
With the coup d’état of June 28, powers in Honduras who control the economy and politics of that nation -along with repressive military forces and their international allies- were able to stop an emancipation process.
This had been one in which the active forces of the people were cooperating with the executive for the first time in the history of Honduras to conceive and plan a different future; they had hoped to bring about an inclusive and markedly popular National Constituent Assembly.
Prior to the coup, Honduras had begun traveling along a road to strengthen Central American and Latin American unity; it had joined the Central American Integration System (SICA), PetroCaribe and the ALBA.
This was too much for the retrograde forces of the country and the continent, who saw this as threatening their historical interests as well as the status quo of privilege; these had been preserved for decades thanks to the violence and repression of military forces at the service of the controlling economic groups and their international allies.
Clinton’s Statements No Surprise
In this context we should not surprised -though indeed outraged- by the recent statements of the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her report on relations between the United States and Latin America.
Hypocritically, she asserted, “We worry about leaders who are elected in a free, fair and legitimate manner, but who after being selected begin to undermine the constitutional and democratic order, the private sector and the rights of citizens to live free of harassment, repression and the ability to freely participate in their societies.” Clinton pointed an accusatory finger at Venezuela, Nicaragua and -without mentioning them- all governments that do not faithfully follow Washington’s “advice.”
It would be interesting to ask to Mrs. Clinton and the recent Nobel Peace Prize recipient (President Obama) what they really mean by such pronouncements.
Perhaps they didn’t notice that there was a coup d’état in Honduras, and that the legitimate president of this country remains barricaded in an embassy?
As Clinton reflected in her speech, “What I worry about is how we will get back on the correct road, one on which it is recognized that democracy is not a matter of individual leaders but of strong institutions.”
How can one describe the Obama administration which immediately recognized the legitimacy of an electoral process that was held without observers; one which was corrupted by having taken place amid repression and violence, and one that was carried out within the framework of a constitutional breakdown in which the Supreme Electoral Tribunal itself played a part.
The US administration has effectively ignored the state of terror in which a good part of the Honduran population live after having rejected the current de facto government and refusing to be accomplices to its crude maneuvers to legitimate and support the coup?
Speaking in relation to Honduras, the head of the US Department of State said that her country had worked to achieve a “pragmatic approach, a principled and multilateral one aimed at restoring democracy.”
No one had noted this because the only achievement of that “pragmatic approach” was an attempt to annihilate all of the initiatives and achievements made in the last several years. That approach was behind the positioning of key players (Costa Rican President Oscar Arias above all) to take the reins of the situation and derail those efforts made from the very first moment by the OAS, the UN, the SICA countries, the ALBA and other institutions of the Latin American continent.
In response to the complete farce staged by the de facto government, the United States is now asking for compliance with the Tegucigalpa-San Jose Agreement, which calls for the installation of a unity and reconciliation government that fails to foresee the participation of Manuel Zelaya, his principal ministers or his advisors (most of whom have been forced to live in the exile). At the same time, Roberto Micheletti’s de facto government sent an amnesty bill to the National Congress to absolve all those who have systematically violated human rights over the past five months.
This is a new pantomime that aims to definitively legitimize the coup d’état and which seeks to set an example for the rest of the continent. This is a manual for the perfect 21st-century-style coup d’état, one that sends a clear message as to what Obama’s position will be toward Central America and Latin America.
It appears that the US will not pursue a direct war like in Iraq and Afghanistan. Nor will it use threats such as the deployment of the Fourth Fleet in the Atlantic, the installation of military bases in Colombia or direct words such as those from Hillary Clinton (directed at those who dare to maintain relations with Iran). Instead, it will wage a surreptitious war of “low intensity,” as it pulls on the “darker” strings of diplomacy and the chains of “special agencies” prepared to infiltrate countries, governments, elections and movements.
This is a “necessary and justifiable war,” President Obama would say.
The Resistance: a necessary bastion
There is one element that the ceremonial powers and the United States itself didn’t calculate: The impressive capacity of the Honduran people to respond.
Following January 27, Honduras will inevitably enter to a new stage in its painful history. After concluding the period of Manuel Zelaya’s presidency, it will be Porfirio Lobo’s turn.
He will be at the head of an extremely weak government in the midst of a violent economic crisis. Receiving scant recognition at the international level, he will be tied to the commands dictated by the prime movers behind the coup, including the United States.
Faced with this situation, the resistance that opposed the coup forces has transformed into the National Front of Popular Resistance (FNRP), which must now prepare for a new phase of the struggle. The difficulties are already being faced. Constant and selective repression, which is being denounced at the world level by human rights organizations, and which is a clear sign of the fear that this process is generating.
The past December 4-5, delegates from organizations making up the FNRP from across the entire country assembled to begin a historic second phase of the struggle. Their aim is to strengthen the organizational process leading toward the formation of a political alternative to the traditional parties, one able to push for a Constituent Assembly.
During those two days, they formed several commissions and thematic circles that studied the path to be traveled over the next several months. Upon concluding those activities, Juan Barahona (a union leader and the coordinator of the Bloque Popular) explained, “Now we will move forward with a clear ideological-political position so that all organized sectors will know where we’re heading.”
“We need to know our course of action. We need a methodology to reach those sectors using the technique of the snail -from the bottom up- then we will have a movement that thunders. It’s necessary to maintain our spirits,” Barahona continued, “We intend to take power peacefully, before or in the next elections.”
“However, it’s necessary to work, relentlessly, putting this project in our daily agendas,” he concluded.
A new stage of the struggle of the Honduran people has begun.
Here’s the bullet on what was achieved here in Copenhagen at the international climate change talks that concluded on Saturday. The “Copenhagen Accord,” as the agreement reached is now called, is a vital step forward in the 21st Century’s greatest challenge – overcoming global warming. It clears away the obstacles that have heretofore prevented us from passing comprehensive climate change legislation in the US.
Some may want to play Monday morning quarterback and endlessly debate what could have happened here, that it’s not enough. But given what we needed to continue making progress, it is enough.
We needed, and the Copenhagen Accord achieved, the following:
- A political accord by both developed and developing countries that for the first time quantifies what it means to “avoid dangerous interference with the climate system” (the goal of international negotiations since the Rio climate treaty in 1992 signed by the first President Bush and ratified by the Senate). This quantification comes in the form of a commitment to keep warming from rising any more than 2°C from pre-industrial levels.
- A commitment by the major emitters such as the US and China to reduce their pollution (with the Chinese commitment its first ever).
- Independent verification of the pledged pollution reductions.
- Substantial progress on commitments made by developed countries to help the most vulnerable developing countries and communities adapt to the consequences.
- Progress on a forest protection framework that provides a good start to what can be completed in 2010.
Given how much we in the religious community have worked to increase funding for the poor, the commitment in Copenhagen by developed countries of so-called “fast-track” funding that will ramp up to $10 billion a year starting in 2012, and continue to ramp up to $100 billion a year by 2020 was particularly heartening. This funding is to help the poor (1) adapt to climate impacts, (2) achieve climate-friendly, sustainable economic progress, and (3) preserve their forests. It’s unclear how much of this funding is public and how much private, and how much goes into each of these three categories. But we will be working hard to ensure the right balance.
Those who had higher expectations for Copenhagen than the good things that were achieved are disappointed. But if you ask, “Does the Copenhagen Accord put us on the road to overcoming global warming in a way that will avoid crossing dangerous thresholds (i.e. keeping things below a 2°C rise)?” The answer is yes. Not that on its own the pollution reduction commitments of the Copenhagen Accord will get us there. They will not. But they put us on the road to getting there. That’s what we need. We have to get started in a major way.
For those who wanted more funding for the poor, I say the commitment for $100 billion annually is a good place to start as we fill in the details and make this a reality.
For those who wanted more of whatever it is, I say let’s move on so we can move forward and eventually achieve what is needed.
And we need to move forward because the race isn’t over. Indeed, frankly, the race hasn’t even begun. Now, however, we’re at the starting line. The race for us will start when we pass comprehensive climate change legislation. That will be the crack of the gun to start the race.
But without the Copenhagen Accord we wouldn’t be at the starting line. Ever since 1997 the US has been constrained by something called the Byrd-Hagel resolution passed by the Senate. It said that the US couldn’t commit to reduce emissions unless China also made a commitment. Now this has been achieved.
On Friday afternoon, when the outcome was in serious doubt, when I and the other official NGO observers were locked out of the Bella Center where the negotiations were taking place, I spent several hours deep in prayer. I sent out urgent emails to colleagues in the US to pray right at that moment. I saw before us the possibility that if we didn’t get something that could allow us to pass legislation in 2010 we would be in serious trouble. I knew that prospects for passing something in 2011 would be questionable, even doubtful. I knew that time is running out for us to start the race. We simply can’t afford to wait – we must pass climate legislation in 2010. And to do that we should pass a Senate bill by April 22, 2010, the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.
As Senator Kerry remarked (according to The New York Times), this is a “catalyzing moment” that “sets the stage for a final deal and for Senate passage this spring of major legislation at home.” We can and must get it done.
Finally, we must pause to acknowledge a simple fact. President Obama turned defeat into victory. Simply put, without his leadership there would have been no Copenhagen Accord and we would not be in a position to pass legislation in 2010.
So it’s on to the Senate. Let’s do what we can to help our Senators pass a strong bill by April 22nd.
Jim Ball is the President and CEO of the Evangelical Environmental Network.
Unauthorized debits from your bank account can be devastating if you do not act quickly. Many companies continue to take money from your bank account or charge your debit card after you cancel a service, magazine subscription, or free trial. It may be an honest mistake or it may be a scam.
To stop unauthorized charges and debits, follow these simple steps and always be polite, firm, and persistent. If your bank account has a negative balance or outstanding checks may bounce, skip directly to Step #5 to avoid hundreds of dollars in penalty fees.
Step #1 Get organized. Gather all pertinent information by reviewing your bank statements, online banking records, and the company's terms of service. You should have enough information to answer these questions: When did you buy or sign up for the service or product? What steps were required to cancel? When and how did you cancel? You should also know the dates and amounts of all debits you are disputing.
Step #2 Call the company. Be sure to note the date, time, and names of all people spoken to. First explain that you signed up and then canceled and now their business is taking money from your bank account. You may wish to also speak to a supervisor. No matter what they say, do, or promise to do, do not assume the problem is solved.
Step #3 File a complaint with the BBB. Filing an online complaint with the Better Business Bureau is quick and easy. Be sure to only state factual information. It may take up to 30 days to receive a response, but if the business cares about their reputation they may refund your money.
Step #4 Call your bank. Many people are embarrassed and blame themselves for being gullible. Don't worry, you did nothing wrong and even the best bankers have been fooled by dishonest business tactics. Explain your situation, the steps you have taken to correct it, and ask about your options. You may have a time limit, so ask if you should wait for a response from the BBB or take action now.
Step # 5 Go to your bank. Tell them you need to “put a stop payment order” on all current and future unauthorized withdraws from your bank account from Company XYZ. This may cost you $15 to $25, but will be well worth it in the long run. If you're really persuasive, they may do it for free. This will prohibit the company from ever taking money from your account again. They may even refund your most recent unauthorized withdraws. If you have a negative balance, be sure to speak to a person of authority about removing all penalty charges.
Step #6 Close your bank account. If none of the other steps have worked, you may need to close your bank account and cancel your debit cards. Many people do this as a first step, but the hassle and inconvenience is not worth it if you can resolve the problem using the steps above.
Sources:
Personal experience
The Better Business
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