February 18 - Nicaragua Sets High Goals for Energy Through Renewable Resources
According to an article in the Christian Science Monitor (February 7) Nicaragua has set the goal of generating 94% of its own electricity from renewable resources by 2016 through the help of a new hydroelectric plant expected to generate half of the country's total energy demand. If these goals are met, the article explains, in 5 years Nicaragua could transform itself from being the most oil-dependent nation in Central America to the least, and in 10 years be an international leader in renewable technologies.
"[The push for renewable energy] is one of the few issues in Nicaragua that has a clear, long-term national vision," explains Iván Cortes, Director of Renewable Resources for the Ministry of Energy and Mines. . . . We have suffered personally the effects of the severe energy crisis, and that's why the whole population supports renewable energy." Geothermal production has increased, and Nicaragua has taken initiatives with wind energy. The privately owned Amayo I and II wind farms are now producing 63 megawatts of power for the country.
William Cobb, the Energy and Environment Officer at the United States Embassy in Nicaragua, says, "In keeping with the United States' international policies and goals, the U.S. government recognizes ambitious efforts in Nicaragua to address climate change by radically shifting its electricity generation from petroleum-based to renewable sources within a short window of time."
Daniel Ortega, head of the Sandinista government, worked with Nicaragua's private sector and Venezuela's Hugo Chávez to address the immediate energy problem by installing an additional capacity of 343 megawatts of power, which is 41% more than Nicaragua was producing 5 years ago. However, electricity costs for the consumer remain high. On January 5 rates rose another 9%, which led the government to petition for further additional funding from the Bolivian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) alliance to pay for continued subsidies to households.
December 17 – House Republicans Seek OAS Action Against Nicaragua and Venezuela
On December 15 the U.S. House of Representatives’ Western Hemisphere Subcommittee approved by a vote of 6:1 a bill to withhold 20% of U.S. funding for the Organization of American States (OAS) each time the OAS holds a permanent council meeting at which it does not invoke the Inter-American Democratic Charter (Article 20) against Nicaragua and Venezuela.
The original draft of the bill, H.R. 2542, mentioned only Venezuela, but an amendment adding Nicaragua to the wording was proposed by Congressman David Rivera (R-FL), whose district includes a large constituency of Nicaraguan-Americans in Miami. Rivera, referring in part to Nicaragua’s presidential election last November, said, “Nicaragua has recently taken some very undemocratic actions.” His amendment includes the statement: “The 2011 Nicaraguan presidential elections were neither free nor fair.” The amendment passed 6:1.
The bill now goes to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which will no doubt approve it, Then it goes to the full House, where it could pass if the vote were to go along party lines. It is not expected that the bill would pass in the Democratic controlled Senate.
Republican backers of the bill argue that the potential financial impact would spur the OAS to act in support of freedom and democracy. Opponents say that the financial impact would be counterproductive by doing Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez a favor by further weakening the OAS, thus making room for the counter organization that Chávez and Nicaraguan President Ortega prefer.
The United States pays 60% of the OAS annual budget. Each occurrence of withholding 20% of this funding would, according to Western Hemisphere Subcommittee Chairman Connie Mack (R-FL), save the U.S. approximately eleven million dollars.
September 4 - Catholic Priest Found Murdered
A Catholic priest from Masaya was found murdered along the highway on August 20, 2011, according to information from Ben Schell, Gettysburg College student serving as one of the Heston Interns in León.
It has been reported that the priest visited a restaurant between 3:00 and 4:00 a.m., and the primary suspect who has been detained is a waiter from this restaurant. The motive has been identified as robbery, and details indicate that the priest was drugged and wrapped in a sheet.
According to the news, the entire Catholic community is worried greatly by this incident and the Church has requested that the national police do everything to bring the criminals to justice. As of the beginning of September the case is far from closed as more details come out each day. For example, the wife of the waiter says her husband could not have been the sole person involved due to a hernia in his back, there is evidence that the priest may have been summoned to the restaurant by a phone call, etc.
The case is a hot news item at the moment and is expected to be in the headlines for the coming weeks.
August 30 - Song from Comedy Show Gains Popularity
One starts to hear people playing a song on the streets--a song from a comedy show In Nicaragua, a song that is gaining in popularity via the YouTube. It can be found at the website address: http://www.youtube.
The comedy show features several different sketches, including this particular one where the character is a habitual marijuana smoker, but there also parodies of news networks, Discovery Channel-esque features, and a segment in which the actors simply tell jokes on screen. The video featured in this link shows a collaboration with a pair of reggaeton artists from the Corn Islands. The song features the character Rolando Montes' catchphrases "ay dejala" (Leave it be) and "no seas caballo" (Don't be a horse).
August 19 - León Celebrates La Griteria (The Screaming)
As Ben Schell reports, La Gritería (roughly, the screaming) was celebrated in León on Sunday, August 14. Though this is also celebrated on December 7 for La Purisma (The Most Pure) of the Virgin Mary, this particular La Gritería in August is unique to Leon.
This celebration remembers the intercession of the Virgin Mary during a volcanic eruption of Cerro Negro in the 19th century that had been destroying the surrounding countryside and threatened the city itself. The priest and people of the city removed the statue of the Virgin Mary from the Cathedral in León and marched around the city praying for her help. It is said that when they returned to the Cathedral the eruption ceased.
To celebrate this occasion the people of Leon set up altars in their houses that can be viewed from the street, and at night people make the rounds of these houses much like Halloween for treats. This evening activity is supplemented by innumerable fireworks displays--a Nicaraguan favorite--at different times of the day, and between the noise of the fireworks you can hear children and adults yelling "Who causes so much joy?," to which people respond, the "The conception of Mary!"
July 7 - Sandinistas Use YouTube for Political Campaign
The Sandinista party in Nicaragua, the FSLN, now has a campaign ad on YouTube as part of its advertising for the November 6 election. The site, http://www.youtube.com/
"I have already heard this song it seems like 10 times, and it came out only a couple days ago," reports Ben Schell, one of Gettysburg College's interns working in León this summer. Ben explains that "the video uses youth from the Sandinista party, and some people (some Sandinistas) are really excited about the song coming out. However, others view this as simply more propaganda from the government." Ben adds, "We can be sure we will be hearing this song until November."
PGL does not, on principle, support any political party in Nicaragua, and provides this news of the FSLN video as a matter of current events in Nicaragua.
June 26 - Women's March Held in Matagalpa June 11
In response to a Canadian police authority's statement that, "women should avoid dressing like sluts so that they are not victims of sexual violence," so-called "Slut Walks" have been popping up globally. As reported by "Radio La Primerisima" on June 16, the Matagalpa Women's Network held a march on June 11.
In other countries the marches have been used as a strategy to make visible relations of power, inequality and injustice between men and women. The protesters reject the idea that women are responsible for the verbal, sexual and physical violence perpetrated against them. Moreover, the marches seek to reclaim the word "slut," which has been used for decades to marginalize women and justify sexual violence.
June 26 - June Anniversary of ABC Reporter Killed in 1979
The anniversary of the shooting of Bill Stewart, ABC international correspondent, by Somoza's Nicaraguan National Guard, was on June 20. Stewart was in Managua, covering the Nicaraguan civil war, described by "Time" magazine as "one of the most dangerous assignments in journalism."
The Somoza family, which had been in power for over 40 years, had been accused by international organizations of human rights violations, corruption, and illegal activities. The assassination of Stewart was one of the final blows to Somoza's already waning international support. The United States had supported the regime ostensibly as a buffer against Communism in Central America, but after Stewart's murder President Jimmy Carter formally withdrew support of the Somoza government.
On July 17, 1979, less than a month after Stewart's death, Somoza resigned as president of Nicaragua, and the Sandanistas took over control a day later. Somoza flew to Miami to seek refuge but was denied entry into the U.S. He was assassinated in Paraguay in September, 1980.
June 12. Election ID Process Suspected of Bias
The "Ethics and Transparency" organization (IPADE) in Nicaragua calls the delivery of the newly formatted ID card, a card indispensable for voting, "politically biased." Reports have shown that delivery is far faster for FSLN sympathizers, while those perceived as opponents of the FSLN face obstacles, unjustifiable delays, or even flat denial of the card.
In addition, Ethics and Transparency say that the lack of any verification of what happens to a person's old card is disturbing, since both the old and new card are valid in this year's presidential election. This raises the suspicion that "double voting" could occur.
Ben Schell, Gettysburg College student and Heston Intern in Léon, was able to accompany a friend who is employed to go through neighborhoods to make sure that people register to vote and receive the new ID card. Ben writes: " . . . it was interesting to see the process. Several times there were people unregistered who were not on his list, and we had to go find them . . . "
Ben writes that the criticisms he has heard ". . . were also the ones I have heard amongst FSLN opponents: lost ID's for [voters for] the opposition party, late delivery [of ID cards for FSLN opponents]. The tension of elections is pretty tangible, compared to when I was here in December, and when we arrived in May, there was a noticeable difference in the general atmosphere here."
May 30. Spectacular Eruptions of Volcano in León Province
"The volcano was erupting as we arrived and it's all anyone talked about," reports Bridget Footit, one of the three Gettysburg College student interns who arrived in Nicaragua on May 23 to begin their summer work in León. Bridget is talking about Nicaragua's volcano, "Telica," that spewed a massive cloud of gas and ash into the air on Tuesday, May 17, and continues to erupt. Sixty nearby villages were evacuated as a precautionary measure.
At the time of the eruption on May 17 a total of 50 explosions, some of them very strong, were recorded by the seismological institute, Ineter. Material was ejected 1.2 kilometers into the air above the crater. Since Friday, May 23, when the three students arrived, Telica has ejected a large amount of sand on nearby towns, and since May 9 Ineter has recorded 59 seismic shocks in the area of the volcano.
The volcano, located in León Province, lies some 130 kilometers northwest of Managua. It last erupted in 1948.
For video of the volcano in action, google "youtube Telica volcano eruption."
May 19. Wal-Mart to Open 14 Additional Stores In Nicaragua
Wal-Mart's investment of $54 million in Nicaragua this year will include the opening of 14 stores throughout the country, including in the cities of León and Esteli, according to a report in the Tico Times on May 16. This will bring the total number of stores in Nicaragua to 73.
Vernon Narváez Valverde, head of the Nicaraguan headquarters of Wal-Mart, said, "We have never before invested so much in Nicaragua," and he anticipates that the new stores will create 400 new jobs.
In 2005 the Wal-Mart corporation acquired more than 33% interest in the Central American Retail Holding Company (CARHCO) from the Dutch retailer, Royal Ahold NV. In the following year Wal-Mart increased this interest to 51%, and the CARHCO name became Wal-Mart Centroamérica. Wal-Mart claims to be the largest retailer in Central America, with stores in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.
April 3. Head of FIFA to Visit Nicaragua
Joseph Blatter, President of the International Federation of Soccer Associations (FIFA), will visit Nicaragua on April 13-14. During his visit Blatter will meet Daniel Ortega at the Presidential Palace and visit the new National Stadium where Blatter will unveil plaques and tour the facility.
"Our country is honored to receive on these days a leader from the highest international level of sports," said Julio Rocha, President of the Nicaraguan Federation of soccer.
March 19. Did Obama Make a Stop in Nicaragua?
On President Obama’s recent five-day trip, March 19-23, to points south of the U.S. border he visited Brazil, Chile and El Salvador, but, no, not Nicaragua.
During his visits President Obama repeatedly praised countries in Central and South America for moving from dictatorship to democracy over the past twenty years. On the third day of the trip Obama spoke in Chile’s capitol city, Santiago. As the Washington Post reports, “Like much of the president’s trip, his speech in Santiago was intended to highlight the growing economic progress of Latin America and focus attention on issues in which Chile, a close U.S. ally, could work with the United States.”
Among those who accompanied President Obama were his wife, Michelle, and daughters, Sasha and Malia.
Opposition Contests Legality of Ortega’s Candidacy for President
In November Nicaraguans go to the polls to elect their country’s president. As the Christian Science Monitor and other media report, the political campaign is getting contentious because the four opposition parties are presenting legal challenges to current President Daniel Ortega’s candidacy for a third term.
The Nicaraguan constitution prohibits sitting presidents and those who have already served for two terms from seeking reelection. Nevertheless, Ortega officially registered on March 18 as a candidate for the presidency, and his supporters claim that this action is legal.
Last year the Ortega-controlled Supreme Court ruled that the article in the constitution governing presidential reelection does not apply to Ortega.
VII International Poetry Festival, Granada, Nicaragua. February 13-19 2011.
by Rob Sawers
Granada, in central Nicaragua has just finished hosting the Seventh International Poetry Festival. The
quaint colonial city, which is under consideration by UNESCO to be named a site of ‘Cultural and Natural
Patrimony of Humanity,’ was packed with the world’s brightest poetic minds, audiences, and tourists for
Central America’s largest poetry festival. The Festival brought together 124 poets from 45 countries, and
held special events for emerging young poets, women poets, and for Nicaraguan poets. Readings were
also held in neighboring towns and across the country, including in Managua and León.
As well as hosting poetry readings, creative workshops, and tributes to poets past, the Festival was also
the venue for Nicaraguan cultural events and traditional folkloric dances. Between readings, open-air
concerts and parades were held in Granada’s central square, the Parque Central. Some participants
arrived in “costumbre” (traditional indigenous or mestizo clothing) or dressed as mythical characters
from Nicaraguan folklore.
In years past, the festival was opened with statements by members of a delegation from the European
Union, acknowledging the festival’s role in preserving cultural heritage and stimulating contemporary
artistic expression.
Year-round, Granada is a regular stop for visitors to Nicaragua, but the annual festival is a much
appreciated bonus for the tourism industry there. The city’s central location in Nicaragua makes it
an ideal place to stay for the foreign visitor; it is close to Managua and the handicraft marketplace
in Masaya, it is on the shores of Lake Nicaragua, and it is within driving distance of active volcanoes,
Amerindian ruins, and the beaches on the Pacific Coast. Surely Granada’s main attraction, though, is
its beautiful colonial-era architecture, brightly painted walls, Spanish tile roofs, and tranquil interior
courtyards decorated with tropical flowers. The city exudes a naturally poetic ambiance that has
attracted global recognition.
Sources:
http://www.festivalpoesianicaragua.com/english/
http://vianica.com/go/specials/22-granada-poetry-festival.html
http://www.hartford.edu/daily/Articles.asp?MainID=10014&Category=4
http://www.pierrejoris.com/blog/?p=6024
http://www.c3mundos.org/news/2010/03/05/vi-international-poetry-festival-more-100-poets-all-over-
world-are-expected-come
http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1819/
19 February, 2011
'Last Contra Standing' Shot Dead February 15
by Rob Sawers
Former Contra José Gabriel Garmedia was shot dead on February 15, 2011 in a joint operation by Nicaraguan police and military. Garmedia was known in Nicaragua for claiming to carry the banner of the Contras, remarking as late as July 2010 that his movement was mobilizing to topple Daniel Ortega’s Sandinista government.
There is controversy surrounding the actions of the plainclothes policemen and soldiers who shot Gardmedia, and Congress has called for an investigation to begin next week. Some in Nicaragua worry that this was simply an assassination. But authorities claim that the security forces acted in self-defense from a professional terrorist who was resisting arrest. It seems that several other people were wounded in the attack, but the government is not confirming whether they were bystanders, Garmedia’s coconspirators, or undercover police.
Garmedia’s death will certainly be mourned by those on the right who saw him as the last Contra standing, the action hero that was the thorn in Ortega’s side. He was trained by the CIA in the 1980s, and became highly skilled in combat, psychological warfare, and subterfuge. Former Contras who knew Garmedia as “Comandante Yajob” did not think his actions showed signs of an imminent insurgency from the right. But his former comrades did describe him as a capable soldier who could organize terrorist attacks. The military saw him as an outlaw using the Contra struggle to legitimize his involvement in organized crime.
It was rumored that Garmedia had traveled to Honduras in recent months. This spread fears that his criminal network was benefiting from Honduran complicity and perhaps reaffirming old alliances in preparation for attacks. The Contra insurgency in the 1980s was launched from training camps and supply routes in Honduras, and the Nicaraguan government remains suspicious of foreign and criminal involvement along the porous border between the two countries.
Sources:
http://laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=387077&CategoryId=23558
http://www.google.com/hostednews/epa/article/ALeqM5jD6MCm0poKM4bihrpOKezrhSetuw?docId=1466806
http://www.insidecostarica.com/dailynews/2010/august/22/centralamerica10082202.htm
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2011/0215/Mystery-shrouds-shooting-death-of-Ortega-enemy-Comandante-Jahob-in-Nicaragua
January 23
Birthday of Nicaraguan Poet, Ruben Dario
You might have missed it, but January 18 is the birthdate of Ruben Dario, born in Metapa, Nicaragua in 1867. Dario is considered to be one of the great poets in the Spanish language. Some scholars say there no writer in English who has had as much effect on English literature as Rubén Darío has had on Spanish literature.
Dario came from a remote village--now named Ciudad Darío--in Nicaragua, and began publishing poems at the age of 12. His first poems had titles like "Faith," "Disillusionment," and "The Tear Drop."
In his mid-20's Dario worked as a war correspondent during the Spanish-American War and then lived in Paris, serving as Nicaragua's ambassador to France. He was a productive poet during his 30's and 40's, and in 1910 wrote one of his most famous works, "Poem of Autumn."
Dario died at age 49. More than a century after his death he is revered as a folk hero around Central America. A massive portrait of him greets people in the arrival area of Managua's international airport. An English edition of Darío's poems is available, translated by Lysander Kemp: Selected Poems by Rubén Darío (1965).
December 2
Washington Post Criticizes U.S. Policy Toward Nicaragua
In an editorial on Monday, December 26, the Washington Post writes that in view of the border dispute between Nicaragua and Costa Rica (see news item below) the U.S. is treating Nicaragua too kindly, because Nicaragua "recently sent troops to seize disputed territory from neighboring Costa Rica," and: "The reaction from Washington? An invitation to apply for foreign aid." The Post explains: "In October Mr. Ortega launched an operation to divert the course of the San Juan River, which runs between Nicaragua and Costa Rica, and deployed troops to occupy an island on Costa Rican territory." The editorial does not mention the possible role of a Google map error in the dispute.
The editorial's reference to "an invitation to apply for foreign aid" has to do with a recent announcement from Robert Callahan, U.S. Ambassador to Nicaragua, that the country is eligible to apply for a Millennium Challenge Corporation grant. Apparently this is not the final word, however, because the corporation's board is scheduled to decide in January "whether Nicaragua actually will be considered for aid."
December 13
Poll Judges View of Democracy in Latin America
According to a poll taken in 18 Latin American countries between September 4 and October 6, 2010, in response to the question, "Would you say your country is making progress?" 40% of Nicaraguans responded "yes." This placed Nicaragua in the middle of the scale of countries, on which Honduras ranked at the bottom with 10% and Brazil at the top with almost 70%.
In response to a question about their level of satisfaction with the way democracy works in their country the number of Nicaraguans who chose "very satisfied" or "somewhat satisfied" rose from just over 20% in 2001 to just under 40% in 2010.
The poll was taken by "Latinobarometro," a non-profit organization based in Santiago, Chile, that has been taking regular surveys in Latin America since 1995. This most recent poll involved 20,204 face-to-face inteviews. A report of the poll's results is in the December 4, 2010, issue of "The Economist."
According to the poll the country exercising the most leadership in the 18 country region is Brazil, chosen by 19% of respondents, followed by the United States, chosen by 9%, and Venezuela, 9%. The United States, however, is seen as the most influential country by respondents in Mexico and much of Central America. Respondents in Nicaragua, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic named Venezuela as the most influential.
December 8
Christmas Celebrations Begin in Nicaragua
Fireworks at Christmastime? In Nicaragua, yes! A popular tradition, and more or less the start of December celebrations, is “ La Noche de Griteria” (The night of shouting). On December 7 at precisely 6:00 p.m. in churches and in the streets the shout is heard, “ Quien causa tanta alegria?” (Who causes so much happiness?) and the happy shout is, “ La Conception de Maria!” (The conception of the Virgin Mary).
Then the fireworks begin, and outdoors the people shout to the Virgin Mary. Through the early morning hours of December 8 neighbors stroll from door to door, where typically the families have decorated their houses and set up altars to the Virgin Mary on their porches. At each altar the visitors sing, pray, receive treats, and enjoy a festive time.
Related to “ La Noche de Griteria” is the Christmas tradition called “ La Purisima” (The Most Pure). A richly decorated altar is set up in a corner of the house with a statue of the Virgin Mary. In some families the statue has been handed down for several generations. On December 8 family, friends and neighbors gather in front of the altar and with musical instruments, song, and prayer, honor and celebrate “ The Most Pure Virgin Mary.”
Border Quarrel Between Nicaragua and Costa Rica
“Heard the one about Nicaragua accidentally invading Costa Rica because of a Google Maps error?” wrote Robert Mackey for the New York Times on November 19. A dispute between the two countries broke out in early November when 50 Nicaraguan soldiers settled down on an island, Isla Colero, in a delta of the San Juan River at the eastern edge of the two countries. The river belongs to Nicaragua, while the southern bank belongs to Costa Rica.
At the time the troops arrived at the island, a Nicaraguan, Edén Pastora, was overseeing men dredging the river. Pastora argues that the soldiers were on Nicaraguan territory, pointing out that anyone Googling the border would see that the island is on the Nicaraguan side. Google acknowledged its error, but as of the end of November Nicaragua had refused to remove its troops.
Some observers think that the Google map is not the whole story behind Nicaragua’s actions. Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega argued that his country owns the island because it owns the river and the island is made up of silt from the river. He said that as the river’s course has changed over the decades Costa Rica “has continued to advance and take possession of terrain that doesn’t belong to it.”
Nicaragua has ignored a request from the Organization of American States to withdraw from the island, while, according to a report in Nicaragua’s newspaper, La Prensa, Costa Rica has filed suit against Nicaragua at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Eight Inches of Rain in León
According to officials in Nicaragua eight inches of rain fell on the city of León during a 24-hour period in late November, while Chinandega received over seven inches and Jinotega six inches.
The Latin American Herald Tribune reported that two people drowned while trying to cross rain-swollen rivers in the northern district of Matagalpa. More than 1,400 people had to be evacuated to 12 shelters across the country, and twenty-four inhabitants of San Francisco Libre, north of Managua, were isolated by flooding caused by the rains and had to be air-lifted to safety.
$200,000 Awarded to Filmmakers of “Bananas”
For those of you who didn’t see “Bananas,” it’s a documentary film about a 2008 lawsuit brought against the food corporation Dole by Nicaraguan workers who claimed that exposure to DBCP pesticides made them sterile.
Dole sued the filmmakers, claiming defamation, but dropped the suit in October, 2009. Then in November, 2010, as ABC News reports, a Los Angeles judge awarded the Swedish filmmakers, Fredrik Gertten, Margarete Jangard and WG Film AB, $200,000 in costs and attorney’s fees. The judge’s decision was made under provisions of California’s “anti-SLAPP law,” which provides protection against lawsuits intended to stifle debate on topics of public importance.“Bananas” was shown at the 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival. Gertten, director of the film, said, “We are extremely happy and relieved with the court’s ruling after this year-long struggle.