The butterfly does not count months, but moments.And it has enough time.
Mariposa
Author: Heidi Venegas (San José, Costa Rica)
Wiruka: a Huichol tale
The Huichol communities are located in Mexico, in the Potosi desert. They are widely recognized for their wonderful abilities as designers, and their use of beautiful color palettes. #Storytelling #ScreenWriting
Buen Vivir: indigenous alternative to neoliberalism
What follows is a synthesis of the thought and tradition of the indigenous peoples of the Americas, and particularly the indigenous communities of South America — that is, the Andean indigenous peoples. It is also drawn from a a talk given by Javier Badilla. The indigenous concept of Good Living takes precedence over the western… Read more »
The humanism of Argentina’s new president, Alberto Fernández
In a public discussion forum entitled “Culture, politics and late capitalism,” sponsored by Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero on November 1, 2019, Argentina’s new president Alberto Angel Fernández referred to an earlier article he had written, in which he discussed his personal reflections regarding mechanisms of social control. As he spoke, he revealed himself,… Read more »
Mon Laferte:
consummate artist with a message for the world
Mon Laferte is the singer-songwriter who protested with her body at the Latin Grammys ceremony on November 15. Her photo immediately hit the front cover of media around the world. Laferte undressed to send a message to the world about human rights abuses in Chile. She wrote about her body as a field, a territory… Read more »
Respect for the Wiphala: solidarity with the indigenous of Bolivia
The amautas (“master” or “wise one” in Quechua) are guides in Andean spirituality and wisdom. They consider the Wiphala a symbol, not a flag. For them the Wiphala represents the earth goddess Pachamama. As well as the cosmos, the animals, the plants, stones, runes, and all life in harmony. So why did those in Bolivia… Read more »
Bolivian President Evo Morales forced from office
Indigenous communities in Bolivia are defending President Evo Morales after the police, the army, and wide public protests forced him to resign. They are not accepting his resignation. President Morales defied constitutional term limits in order to run for a fourth term in the October 20 elections. He won the election, which sparked wide protests, as… Read more »
What’s happening in Chile right now
If I had to say something about the events right now in Chile, it would be this. First, there is a debate on ecological self-sustainability. The media have been reporting on the possible privatization of water, for example. There are serious problems of desertification, plus intensive mineral mining. The per capita index is 20,000 dollars,… Read more »
The Huetares of Costa Rica: teaching about
Mother Earth
These women live in a remote, largely unknown area near San José, Costa Rica, in the territory of Zapatón (cantón de Puriscal). They are the last surviving members of a cultural group called the Huetares. Many words from the Huetar language are part of modern-day Spanish spoken in Costa Rica. The women are working to… Read more »
Trouble in paradise
Costa Rica woke up today, Wednesday October 23rd, with riot police and a dramatic police cordon around National University in the city of Heredia. Although an agreement was signed yesterday by the rectors of public universities and the government, students continue to occupy some facilities, including the rectory building. The students, university employees in other… Read more »
Save Costa Rica’s Loma Salitral
The Loma Salitral in Costa Rica is a protected forest area of 507 hectares located in the middle of a densely populated area in the canton of Desamparados, a short distance south of the center of the capital of San José. It currently suffers from great legal fragility and tremendous pressure from encroachment of the… Read more »