John Cavanagh, former director of the Institute for Policy Studies, is the co-author of 12 books and numerous articles on a wide range of social and economic issues. His newest book is “The Water Defenders: How Ordinary People Saved a Country from Corporate Greed. He just returned from a factfinding trip to El Salvador whereupon he identifies how El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele reduced the gang violence and crime rates by employing strongarm tactics that ostensibly violate human rights and national laws. El Salvador is holding firm in banning mining to save its rivers from poisonous chemical contaminants. Turning to the Middle East, he suggested that Hamas release the hostages and Israel respond accordingly. Palestinian desperation and Saudi Arabia’s potential deal with the Israelis may have helped ignite the October 7 terrorist attack. On a positive note, the frosty relationship between China and the USA seems to be improving, what with the meetings between Presidents Biden and Xi.