NSCAG UPDATE AUGUST 2022
Dear Friends I have just returned from Nicaragua, accompanying a delegation of UK teachers for an exchange visit with their Nicaraguan counterparts. The delegation was sponsored by the National Education Union and the Nicaraguan teachers union ANDEN. The visit has proved to be a great success, providing the opportunity for teachers in both countries to exchange information and methodologies on the teaching of second languages as well as learning about their respective cultures and traditions. Members of the delegation will be giving a report back at a solidarity event which we are organising in conjunction with our AGM on 1st October - details of this will follow as soon as possible.
During my stay in Nicaragua, I was struck once again by the extent to which Nicaraguan reality differs so much from the picture put forward by international media. The progress made in the country over the last fifteen years has been incredible, with priority given by the Government to health, education and housing and the desire to create a better life for everyone. The Nicaragua I saw was a joyous and vibrant country, a country which is fiercely proud of its culture and a country determined to defend its sovereignty and right to live in peace.
The following articles provide further insight into the mismatch between the portrayal of Nicaragua in corporate media and what is really happening in the country: -
"Nicaragua celebrates 43 years of revolution: a clash between reality and media misrepresentation" – an article by John Perry, Senior Research Fellow, Council on Hemispheric Affairs – see link here
"A strange kind of dictatorship" – article by Barbara Larcom, co-ordinator of Casa Baltimore Limay – see link here
"Celebrating Revolution in Nicaragua" – article by Margaret Kimberley, Black Agenda Report Executive Editor and Senior Columnist – see link here
Summit of the Americas
Joe Biden’s illegal, unilateral and clumsy decision to exclude Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua from the Ninth Summit of the Americas brought about a generalised revolt in the republics south of the Rio Grande and an embarrassing foreign policy mess for the US government. Please see article written by Francisco Dominguez and published on the Cuba Solidarity Campaign website – link here
Ben Linder Solidarity School
This is a highly recommended ten-week virtual course organised by Friends of the ATC (Rural Workers Association). The course will run from 27 August – 29 October. The course takes the name of Ben Linder, a young North American killed by the US-backed contra while working on a rural electrification project in Nicaragua in 1987. Deadline for signing up is 19 August. Details here
Education
The lessons of Nicaragua’s education system and the eradication of illiteracy - article by Logan Williams, an activist for the NEU and a volunteer organiser for Arise: A festival of left ideas – see link here
US Sanctions
On 25 July Labour Friends of Latin America in the UK organised a webinar entitled 'Viva La Solidaridad: Latin America leads the way' with speakers on Bolivia, Brazil, Honduras, Venezuela, Colombia and Nicaragua. Teri Mattson from the US organisation CODEPINK (https://www.codepink.org/) gave an overview of elections taking place or that have taken place in Latin America this year and then focused more specifically on the many forms of US interference in Nicaragua including sanctions. See link here to see her presentation on the impact of US sanctions on Nicaragua.
Learn Spanish online with the Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign (NSC)
Ten-week autumn term classes run by our sister organisation NSC will start in September, enjoyable learning with Peruvian teacher Dante. One former student commented on what she liked about the class: “the interaction in a small group; learning so much vocabulary and being given the confidence to build sentences; and writing and talking about a particular topic."
All class fees go towards the NSC’s work of raising awareness in the UK of the situation in Nicaragua and supporting Nicaraguan organisations promoting social, environmental, and economic justice.
Further details on the NSC website (https://nicaraguasc.org.uk) and social media soon. For queries contact nsc@nicaraguasc.org.uk In solidarity
Louise
Louise Richards,
Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign Action Group
www.nscag.org
Twitter: @NSCAG_UK