1.0World Vision Advocacyhttps://www.worldvisionadvocacy.orgKatie Taylorhttps://www.worldvisionadvocacy.org/author/kataylor/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="ybcloyKzBP"><a href="https://www.worldvisionadvocacy.org/2019/04/02/finding-common-ground-congress-agrees-foreign-assistance/d105-0392-092-jpg_375723/">D105-0392-092.jpg_375723</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.worldvisionadvocacy.org/2019/04/02/finding-common-ground-congress-agrees-foreign-assistance/d105-0392-092-jpg_375723/embed/#?secret=ybcloyKzBP" width="600" height="338" title="“D105-0392-092.jpg_375723” — World Vision Advocacy" data-secret="ybcloyKzBP" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); /* ]]> */ </script> https://live-advocacy.d2.worldvision.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/D105-0392-092.jpg_375723.jpg1200795In many neighborhoods in El Salvador even small independent businesses are forced to pay ""rent"" to the gangs for the privilege of operating in their ""territory"" or risk loosing their life. The levels that are demanded are damaging the local economies as many people simply decide to close shop. At a local market, nearby vendors tell us that the red shop has not opened in more than a year, after someone was killed in there for not paying the rent. Dozens of businesses, small and large close their businesses every day across El Salvador--closed businesses mean fewer jobs, less income for the business owner and as a consequence less income for the state through taxes. SHARE assignments: s120812-1, s120812-2, s120812-3, s120814-1 Summary: Gang violence and high murder rates make El Salvador is one of the most dangerous countries in the world. The effects of the gangs are felt by everyone. It affects everyone, says Marla Gonzales, World Visions director of Advocacy in El Salvador. The effects are physical, psychological, emotional and financial. There are areas where you basically cant go, says Marla. The levels of violence are so high that if you go in, you might not know how to get out. Our natural processes of development are being affected, not just the development of a person, but the development of the whole country. The most prevalent gangs are the Mara Salvatrucha or M.S.13. Their tagging can be seen in communities across the country. Latin America digital color