Luis Espinal, a life well fought

Today Bolivians honor the Jesuit priest Luis Espinal who 30 years ago was kidnapped, tortured, and murdered during the military coup of Luis Garcia Meza. Luis Espinal was targeted for his decade of work struggling on behalf of the poor during the military dictatorship of Hugo Banzer. 3,000 people participated in today's events in La Paz. 

Below is a translation by Nick Buxton of Luis Espinal on the subject of prudence.

There is a imperceptible line between prudence and cowardice.
We call on prudence for the sake of safety and laziness,
We call on prudence in order not to compromise ourselves,
in order not to risk anything personal.

We think that with age prudence grows,
without realising that conformism grows at the same time.

We all talk of prudence, Lord
But not a prudence that is yours,
which in vain we search for in your gospels.

Jesus Christ, we give you thanks
because you were not prudent
or diplomatic
You did not stay silent in order to escape the cross.

You challenged the powerful,
knowing that you risked your life.
Those that killed you, they were prudent.

Do not let us be so prudent that we become content with everything.
Your word wounds, like a sword with two sides.

A conversation between fellow Americans

Cindy Sheehan interviews Hugo Chavez and Evo Morales in this warm hearted interview that I highly recommend. (h/p: ICH) 

The interview is part of a larger documentary project about Sheehan's visit to South America entitled "Todos Somos Americanos" (We are all Americans). So, in that spirit of continental unity, here is a song:

Evo and the 6.9

"I always wanted to experience an earthquake" (Quería conocer los sismos)

"It surprised me, but did not scare me."

Evo Morales, seated next to Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo, reacts differently than other guests to the 6.9 tremor during Chilean President Piñera's inauguration ceremony.

Bolivia, our beacon of hope

Matt Kennard

There's a game I've been playing recently. Any time I read the news and get depressed about the parlous state of our world, I type "Bolivia" into Google news and wait for the results. It's really all you need to brighten up your day.

In the last month things such as this have popped up: Bolivian women spearhead Morales revolution, which describes the decision by Bolivia's president, Evo Morales, to stock half his new cabinet with women, nearly half of them indigenous. More recently there was this: Bolivian president donates half pay to victims, which detailed Morales and his vice president Alvaro García's decision to donate half their March salaries to help the victims of the Haiti and Chile earthquakes.

continue reading...


More linkey links you should have read by now:

• Jim Shultz talks common sense to the "War on Drugs" in one of his best posts ever, read it now.
• Mark Weisbrot and Otto sum up Hillary Clinton's attempt to warm up US-Latin American relations.(hint: not well)
• And Lisa McDonald discusses gains and challenges for women in Bolivia.

Catching up with February

It is March now so here is a post to catch up with the general slacking around here and to share this excellent ABI photo.

VP Alvaro Linera at Carnival in Oruro making good on his quoted promise: "I will dance with with any carnival girl that appears in front of me."