As Colombia approaches presidential elections next year, the US decision to decertify the country in the war on drugs plays into the hands of its allies on the political right, writes NICK MacWILLIAM

VOLUNTARY action, like lay leadership and involvement in unions, is encouraged and widespread in a range of organisations.
Thirty-eight per cent of the population are involved in some form of civic participation, around 75 per cent often give to charity with £22 a month being an average donation.
The most commonly cited reasons for being involved in volunteering in the community are that people want to “improve things” or “help people.”



