Global Voices » Laura Schneider

Argentine Pope: Bergoglio and the ‘Slum Priests’

Laura Schneider — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:54:51 +0000

Although many around the world admire him for not using official vehicles or for traveling by bus to visit poor neighborhoods, Argentines remember former cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio – now Pope Francis - for his work at the ”villas miseria“ –slums located in the country's large urban settlements.

The blog Bajando lineas [es] comments on Bergoglio's visits [es] to the slums:

El cardenal es un gran enamorado de esa religiosidad popular, dicen los curas, y cuentan que es bastante común que, durante las peregrinaciones juveniles a Luján, sea Bergoglio el confesor que se instala, sin que los jóvenes peregrinos lo sepan, en la basílica.

Tampoco es raro, dicen, que llegue de improviso a un comedor popular o a la fiesta de una Virgen en alguna de las barriadas donde trabaja el equipo.

The Cardinal loves popular religiosity, say the priests, and they say that it is quite common that during youth pilgrimages to Lujan the confessor Bergoglio arrives to the Basilica without the young pilgrims knowing.

They say it is also not uncommon for him to arrive at a popular cafeteria or a celebration of a Virgin in one of the neighborhoods where the team works.

The current pope pushed for the creation of “slum priests” (priests who work in slums) while he was in Argentina. Maria O'Donnel in La Vanguardia shares [es] their work:

Estos curas, muchos de ellos nacidos y criados en familias de clase media acomodada, reivindican la cultura de los barrios que habitan. Pelean contra la estigmatización, rescatan la solidaridad, las colectas ante cada muerte para que nadie sea privado de un velatorio digno, la alegría que no se rinde ante la adversidad y todo eso quieren defender ante la mirada que sienten prejuiciosa del afuera. Por eso hablan de integrar, antes que de urbanizar.

These priests, many of them born and raised in middle class families, are claiming the culture of the neighborhoods they inhabit. They fight against stigmatization, they rescue solidarity, they raise funds after every death so that no one is deprived of a decent wake. The joy that does not surrender to adversity and more, that is what they want to defend before the prejudiced eyes from the outside. That's why they talk about integrating, rather than about urbanizing.

Villa 31, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Image from Flickr user christoph.wesemann, under a Creative Commons license (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Father Ismael Ojeda's blog [es] refers [es] to the relationship between slum priest ‘Father Pepe’ and former cardinal Bergoglio:

[...] el padre Pepe considera a Bergoglio «un amigo y un padre espiritual»: «Fue él quien me mandó en 1997 a Villa 21», al frente de un «equipo de sacerdotes» en una parroquia extrema, situada en una tierra de compra y consumo de drogas. Cuatro sacerdotes para cuarenta mil personas: «Gracias a él, a su presencia, hemos conseguido desarrollar muchos trabajos de prevención y recuperación». Gracias a la intervención del arzobispo, Di Paola se ha salvado: «Me la habían jurado, él me protegió».

[...] father Pepe considers Bergoglio “a friend and a spiritual father”: “It was he who in 1997 sent me to Villa 21″ in front of a “team of priests” in an parish far away, located in a land where people buy and consume drugs. Four priests for forty thousand people: “Thanks to him, his presence, we have developed many prevention and recovery initiatives.” Thanks to the intervention of the archbishop, Di Paola has been saved: “I felt threatened, and he protected me.”

In the post “Francisco, the pope from the confines [of the city]“ [es] , Eduardo Casas [es] summarizes the work of Bergoglio as cardinal:

El Papa Francisco se lleva lo mejor del Cardenal Jorge Mario Bergoglio para el ministerio de Pedro: sus viajes en el subte de la ciudad de Buenos Aires; sus visitas a la Villa 31; su presencia en las cárceles, su aliento a las escuelas, sus palabras a las enfermos de VIH, su paso por la Compañía de Jesús de la ciudad de Córdoba; su conversaciones con los cartoneros y las víctimas de la trata; su capacidad de respeto, escucha y cercanía, su actitud conciliadora, su apertura ecuménica, su capacidad de dialogar y de decir las cosas tal como su conciencia lo dictaba y mucho, mucho más que sabemos y también otras que ignoramos.

Pope Francis takes the best of cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio to Peter's ministry: his commuting on the subway in the city of Buenos Aires, his visits to the Villa 31, his presence in prisons, his encouragement for schools, his words for HIV patients, his work through the Society of Jesus in the city of Cordoba, his conversations with cardboard collectors and victims of human trafficking, his ability to respect, to listen and his closeness, his conciliatory attitude, his ecumenical openness, his ability to dialogue and to say things just like his conscience dictated and much, much more than we know and more that we ignore.

Finally, this video from Telefe Noticias [es] highlights Bergoglio's work at Villa 31.

Argentina: San Lorenzo Celebrates Pope Francis, its Most Sacred Fan

Laura Schneider — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 14:22:05 +0000

Argentine football has not been immune to the joy sparked by the appointment of Pope Francis; His Holiness Francis is a fan and an active member of football club San Lorenzo de Almagro [es], known in Argentina as the “crows” or the “cyclone.”

The club's nickname, “crows,” is not by accident. The website Goal.com [es] explains the reason for the name [es]:

Definitivamente el apodo no es casual. Cuervos, uno de los modos de referirse a San Lorenzo de Almagro, no viene del ave sino de la manera popular de referirse a los sacerdotes de la Iglesia Católica, cubiertos totalmente con las sotanas negras. También por eso, aunque está en desuso, al club porteño se lo conoce como “Los Santos”.

Definitely the nickname is no accident. Crows, one of the ways of referring to San Lorenzo de Almagro, is not because of the bird but is rather the popular way of referring to the priests of the Catholic Church, completely covered with black cassocks. Although it is no longer used, the Buenos Aires club is known as “The Saints”.

When news broke that Jorge Mario Bergoglio had been elected as the new Pope of the Catholic Church, San Lorenzo's (@SanLorenzo) [es] official Twitter account wrote:

@SanLorenzo: Es un orgullo para la Institución saber que el primer Papa sudamericano es Socio de #SanLorenzo.

@SanLorenzo: It is an honor for the institution to know that the first South American Pope is a member of #SanLorenzo

The institution also sent Pope Francis a letter of congratulation [es].

Furthermore, during a match played on March 16, where San Lorenzo de Almagro faced Colon de Santa Fe [es], San Lorenzo players wore a shirt commemorating Pope Francis.

Image from official Twitter account @SanLorenzo[es]

Before the game against Colón de Santa Fe, the Twitter account El Papa es Cuervo (@ivannacasla, the Pope is a crow) [es] wrote:

@Ivannacasla: A ver el partido a lo de cris, vamos san lorenzo, dios y el papa nos ayudan!

@Ivannacasla: going to watch the game at Cris’ place, let's go san lorenzo, god and the pope will help us!

On the other hand, Anto Gaitan (@Ggaitan_anto) [es], fan of Boca Juniors [es], pointed to the few tournaments won by San Lorenzo. She also referred to the common practice of drawing a star on the shield of football shirts for each cup the team has won:

@Ggaitan_Anto: A falta de estrellas en el escudo. #SanLorenzo salio con la inscripicion d #PapaFrancisco en la camiseta jaja @ArgEsDeBoca @HinchasXeneizes

@Ggaitan_Anto: To make up for a lack of stars on their shield #SanLorenzo come out with an inscription about #PopeFrancis on their shirts ha ha @ArgEsDeBoca @HinchasXeneizes

San Lorenzo won the match against Colón de Santa Fe by 1 to 0 and with one player less. The club's fans, like @Mrrjoness [es], shared their happiness:

@Mrrjoness: @enunabaldosa gol del ciclón, Bergoglio se prende otra fumata para festejar.

@Mrrjoness: @enunabaldosa goal by the cyclone, Bergoglio lights another chimney to celebrate.

And Ale Tati (@aletati2007) [es] wrote:

@aletati2007:#vamos ciclón!! esta si fue nuestra semana SANTA!!!!

@aletati2007:#vamos [es] (come on) cyclone!! this really has being our HOLY week!!!!

Hector Pappa (@hectorPappa) [es] tweeted that there's a party at the Vatican, and Felipe CQ (@FelCul) [es] said that Pope Francis scored the only goal at the game. According to Diego Mendoza (@diegol_77) [es], San Lorenzo's victory is Pope Francis’ first miracle.

Argentina's Impending ‘Monsanto Law’ is Not Welcome

Laura Schneider — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 16:31:19 +0000

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries [es] of Argentina is working on a new law to protect the intellectual property rights of companies that produce transgenic seeds. This bill, dubbed by small producers as ‘Seed Law’ or ‘Monsanto Law', is being strongly criticized by various sectors who consider that Argentina could lose its food sovereignty if the law moves forward.

The website Partido Pirata [es] (Pirate Party) writes about the consequences that such law could bring to Argentina:

Quiere legalizar la policía de semillas que tan nefastos resultados tuvo en EEUU y Europa. Esta ley le daría la propiedad de las semillas a Monsanto. Porque bastaría que las semillas que siembran nuestros campesinos y chacareros estén contaminadas por el gen para ser propiedad de Monsanto, los productores de semillas no podrán acopiar sus semillas.

[The law] wants to legalize the seeds policy that has had disastrous results in the U.S. and Europe. This law would give Monsanto the ownership of seeds. The seeds that our small farmers and landholders sow would just have to be contaminated by the gene to be considered the property of Monsanto, and seed producers would not be able to collect their seeds.

In Tribuna de Periodistas [es] (Journalists’ Tribune), Carlos Forte quotes Minister of Agriculture Norberto Yahuar:

Protest against Monsanto in Buenos Aires, Argentina, September 17th 2012. Photo: Maximiliano Ramos, copyright Demotix.

“En los últimos tiempos se compraban semillas de tecnología que pasaban a ser propiedad exclusiva de los productores, y después esos campos generaron cantidades que excedían a la que necesitaban para una nueva resiembra, por lo que se produjo un comercio que no tiene prácticamente control. Lo lógico es que todo el desarrollo que hacen tanto el Estado como empresas privadas tengan un respaldo en el resguardo de esa propiedad intelectual.”

“In recent times, the purchased biotech seeds would become the exclusive property of producers, and then the amount of seeds generated in those fields exceeded the amounts needed for a new reseeding, so a trade with virtually no control sprung up. The logical thing is that all development carried out by the State and private companies be backed up under the protection of intellectual property rights.”

Forte also writes about the 10 motives [es] that different organizations presented to fight against this new law:

Las organizaciones Movimiento Nacional Campesino Indígena (MNCI), CLOC-Vía Campesina Argentina, GRAIN, Amigos de la Tierra y Acción por la Biodiversidad accedieron a un borrador del proyecto de fines de agosto al que calificaron como un intento de “subordinar la política nacional de semillas a las exigencias de la UPOV (Unión Internacional para la Protección de Obtenciones Vegetales) y las transnacionales”.

En una declaración de “10 motivos para luchar contra el proyecto de ley” señalaron que la norma propuesta “sólo fomenta la privatización y protege la propiedad sobre lo que es un patrimonio colectivo de los pueblos, especialmente de las comunidades campesinas y los pueblos indígenas”.

Organizations such as Movimiento Nacional Campesino Indígena (MNCI, National Farmers and Indigenous Movement), CLOC-Vía Campesina Argentina (Farmers Way Argentina), GRAIN, Amigos de la Tierra (Friends of the Earth) and Acción por la Biodiversidad (Action for Biodiversity) accessed a draft of the bill at the end of August, which they called an attempt to “subjugate the national seeds policy to the demands of the UPOV (International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants) and transnational corporations. “

In a declaration of “10 motives to fight against the bill” [these organizations] emphasized that the proposed law “only promotes and protects the privatization of the collective heritage belonging to the people, especially to the rural communities and indigenous people. “

Forte also adds:

Mientras esto ocurre, los grandes medios callan respecto a este tema. Lo mismo sucede con referentes políticos, tanto del oficialismo como de la oposición. La única que ha hablado claramente es Cristina Kirchner. Eso sí, a favor de Monsanto.

While this happens, big media companies remain silent about the subject. The same happens with politicians, both from the ruling and opposition parties. The only one who has spoken clearly is [President] Cristina Kirchner. Of course, in favor of Monsanto.

Meanwhile, Monsanto spreads the news about the approval for commercialization [es] of a new technology that will increase soybean yield:

“Hoy vemos con agrado que se están dando las condiciones necesarias para avanzar con un nuevo modelo de negocios que reconozca la propiedad intelectual a las invenciones tecnológicas en soja. Así, continuaremos trabajando junto a los productores y a toda la cadena para contar con un modelo consolidado al momento del lanzamiento comercial de la tecnología”.

Monsanto, junto con todos los actores de la cadena de soja, se encuentra finalizando un proceso de consenso que permita el establecimiento de un modelo de negocios que reconozca y respete los derechos de propiedad intelectual sobre las tecnologías patentadas, de modo de estar en condiciones de lanzar comercialmente INTACTA RR2 PRO en el año 2013 en el norte del país.

“Today we are happy that the necessary conditions to move forward with a new business model that recognizes intellectual property rights in soybean technological inventions are being met. Thus we will continue to work with producers and the entire chain to have a consolidated model at the time of the commercial launch of the technology. “

Monsanto, along with all actors in the soy chain, is finishing a consensus process that allows the establishment of a business model that recognizes and respects intellectual property rights on patented technologies, in order to be able to launch INTACTA RR2 PRO commercially in 2013 in the north of the country.

A ‘mega event’ under the slogan “Out Monsanto” [es] was organized through Facebook for December 2, 2012. The same event had been convened on September 17.

Cucharaargentina shares the following video of one of the protests:

El mega evento se desplegó copando la Plaza San Martín con el objetivo de repudiar el accionar criminal de la empresa, el uso de agrotóxicos y rechazar la modificación a la ley de semillas que propone el gobierno nacional, que ya se conoce como “Ley Monsanto”.

The mega event spread through Plaza San Martín in order to condemn the criminal actions of the company, the use of pesticides, and reject the amendments to the seed law proposed by the national government, already known as the ‘Monsanto Law’

Featured image [es] by Paola Barrios Escudero via Facebook.

2013 Dakar Rally Will Visit Peru, Argentina, and Chile

Laura Schneider — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 14:08:05 +0000

The 2013 edition of the Dakar Rally was presented at the Pavillon Gabriel in Paris, France, on November 21, 2012. The rally will tour three South American countries, starting on January 5 in Lima, Peru, passing through Argentina from January 13, and culminating in Santiago, Chile, on January 20, 2013.

Argentine news website Télam [es] writes about the different categories in the new edition:

Tendrá 14 etapas, la categoría autos recorrerán 8574 kilómetros (4419 km de enlace y 4155 km cronometrados); en la categoría motos habrá 8423 km(4277 km de enlace y 4146 km cronometrados) y en la categoría Camiones habrá 8121 km(4580 km de enlace y 3541 km cronometrados).

[The competition] will have 14 stages, the cars category will cover 8574 kilometers (4419 km linked and 4155 km timed); the motorcycles category will cover 8423 km (4277 km linked and 4146 km timed) and the trucks category will cover 8121 km (4580 km linked and 3541 km timed).

Dakar 2012 – photo: Laura Schneider

The official website comments on the topography of each country and shares a map of the rally:

Peru, episode II

The discovery of Peru thrilled everybody who reached this stage of the rally in 2012. This time, all the riders, drivers and crews will be able to test their mettle on the largest chains of dunes crossed on the continent since 2009. The Dakar has never before started in the middle of the desert in its history. Whilst the dosage of difficulties will decide just how and when the pressure rises, there will be no room for improvisation in 2013.

Argentina and its many facets

Once it crosses the Andes Mountains, after a first visit to Chile, the rally will encounter a different face of South America: one that guarantees a broad range of terrains which smile primarily upon flexibility. In Argentina, the capacity to adapt will be vital to switch from one type of riding and driving to another and between different methods of managing the race. Although the ration of sand will be less dense, the visit to Gaucho country will nevertheless finish with a major test in which only genuine experts in desert riding and driving will be at ease.

Chile a double and capital dose

Two distinct sequences will be played out in Chile and each of them will be decisive. The return to the Atacama corresponds with the phase of the Dakar where competitors navigate in the domain of extreme endurance. As a challenge of ultimate resistance, the sessions in the dunes will continue up to the day before the finish. Before reaching Santiago, the competitors will have to tame difficulties of the highest order right up to the end.

However, Alex Sender in his blog Astroufo [es] writes about his concern regarding the geoglyphs in one of the stages in Peru:

El desierto y pampas del departamento de Ica (Perú) es posiblemente la zona más poblada en el mundo por innumerables geoglifos, es decir figuras trazadas sobre el terreno las cuales sobreviven a pesar del paso de los siglos. Ejemplo de ello tenemos las famosas Líneas de Nasca, las figuras de Palpa, los geoglifos de Ocucaje, asi como el Candelabro de Paracas. Pero estos no son las únicos geoglifos que podemos hallar en la región, también en el desierto de Paracas se encuentran un grupo de figuras poco conocidas, los denominados: Geoglifos de Paracas.

The desert and pampas of the Ica department (Peru) is possibly the most geoglyph-populated area in the world. [Geoglyphs] are designs drawn on the ground which survive despite the passage of centuries. For example, there are the famous Nazca Lines, the figures of Palpa, the geoglyphs of Ocucaje, and the Paracas Candelabra. But these are not the only geoglyphs we can find in the region; in the Paracas desert there are a group of little-known figures called Paracas geoglyphs [es].

On the same blog, Alex had warned [es] about possible damages during the 2012 Dakar edition:

Desde este humilde sitio, hago un llamado a las autoridades y personas en general, para que se interceda por la protección de estos invalorables legados de nuestros antepasados, patrimonios no sólo del Perú sino también del mundo. Que no se permita se destruya lo que ha perdurado en el tiempo transmitiéndonos un mensaje histórico, y se preserve el desierto, el cual seguramente contiene muchas otras maravillas aún ocultas.

From this humble site, I call on authorities and people in general to intercede in protecting these priceless legacies of our ancestors, a heritage not only of Peru but also of the world. Let's not allow the destruction of something that has endured over time, transmitting a historic message, and let's preserve the desert, which probably still contains many other hidden wonders.

Rally Dakar 2012- photo Laura Schneider

For five consecutive years, the Dakar organization has chosen South American territory for this competition that attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists. The Dakar generates an economic movement that favors the region, revealing to the world the natural wonders offered by the three host countries.

You can follow related tweets under the hashtag #Dakar2013. Cesar Ruiz Arana (@CesarRuizArana) [es], for example, writes:

@CesarRuizArana: Se viene el #Dakar2013 .. adrenalina y pasión por los verdaderos fierros!

@CesarRuizArana: #Dakar2013 is almost here… adrenalin and passion for real fans!

Reflections After Argentina's #8N Protests

Laura Schneider — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 01:09:37 +0000

Argentines have been analyzing the present and the future of the country after the massive anti-government protests held on November 8, 2012.

One common theme present in many reflections is the polarization of opinion and the division in society between those who favor the government and those who are against it. Sebastián Waisbrot in his blog Catdevmind [es] writes:

La división en Argentina es difícil de explicar. Puedo afirmar, sin duda alguna, que hay muchísimo más fanatismo político de lo que jamás vi en mi vida. También la sociedad está bastante dicotómica: gente a favor o en contra del gobierno actual, con pocas divisiones dentro de esos grupos, o por lo menos poca discusión.
Como ejemplo de este fanatismo, es la primera vez que entiendo por qué en la mesa no se discute de política. Grupos de amigos dividido, gente que se deja de ver, momentos incómodos. ¡Gente que se borra de Facebook!

Division in Argentina is difficult to explain. I can affirm, without a doubt, that there is much more political fanaticism than I've ever seen in my life. It is also quite a dichotomous society: people in favor or against the current government, with few divisions within these groups, or at least little discussion between them. As an example of this fanaticism, it is the first time that I understand why people don't discuss politics at the kitchen table. Groups of friends are divided, people have stopped seeing each other, awkward moments. People are even blocking friends on Facebook!

In his post “Divided”, Matias Gonzalo [es] deplores the hatred that exists in society:

El odio hacia el prójimo nos moviliza, y eso es lo que nos hace perder la humanidad. El desprecio simplemente divide más y más, y hoy no somos más que una población de necios, disfrazados de Nación. Ciegos y sordos consecuencia de un fanatismo insoportable, ya sea por el fanatismo de que todo está bien, como el fanatismo de que todo está mal.

Hatred directed at another person is what moves us, and that's what makes us lose humanity. Contempt simply divides us more and more, and today we are but a population of fools, a disguised Nation. Blind and deaf, an unbearable consequence of fanaticism, both the fanaticism of “all is well”, and the fanaticism of “everything is bad”.

Matias concludes:

Hoy somos extremos, somos gorilas [anti-peronistas], somos peronistas, somos K [a favor de Kirchner], somos anti-K, somos 8N, somos 7D [7 de diciembre, día en que arranca la nueva Ley de medios]. Somos todo, menos una sociedad.

Today we are extremes, we are gorilas [anti-Peronists] [es], we are peronistas [Peronists], we are K [in favor of Kirchner], we are anti-K, we are 8N, we are 7D [December 7, the day a new media law will come into effect]. We are everything, except a society.

8N Protest, Photo: Martin E Iglesias on Flickr, under a Creative Commons license (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Citizens of other countries are also analyzing this confrontation and division, like Colombian blogger Jenny Manrique [es] in Americas Quarterly:

La polarización se exacerbó en estos dos años en modo y forma complejos, a tal punto que los interlocutores se han convertido en enemigos y los discursos están llenos de odio.

The polarization has exacerbated in these two years in a complex way, to such a point that both parts have become enemies and speeches are full of hate.

She also analyzes both sides of the political spectrum in the #8N [es] protests:

Algunos cargaban pancartas con términos desobligantes: “Fuera Cristina”, “Andate Yegüa”, “Abajo la dictadura de Argenzuela”. Términos que tienen una cargada connotación si se tiene en cuenta que este país vivió una de las dictaduras más cruentas en América Latina.

Y al otro lado el oficialismo que considera las demandas una expresión del “corporativismo mediático” que no se agrupa alrededor de una idea coherente y que no reconoce que tiene detrás una “mano negra política” como el macrismo (de Mauricio Macri, intendente de Buenos Aires, gran opositor de los Kirchner y cuyo modelo es de derecha.)

Some carried banners with disparaging terms: “Out Cristina”, “Go away bi…”, “Down with Argenzuela [a combination of Argentina and Venezuela] dictatorship”. Terms that have a loaded connotation if you consider that this country lived through one of the bloodiest dictatorships in Latin America.

And on the other side, the government considers these demands as an expression of “media corporatism”, which is not united around a coherent idea and which does not recognize that behind it there is a “black political hand” like macrism (from Mauricio Macri, Mayor of Buenos Aires and a big Kirchner opponent, and whose [political] model is from the Right.)

In the blog Cuadernos de la Ira [es], Chilean blogger Jorge Muzam writes:

Los bandos en conflicto son feroces para embestirse y desacreditarse. Por un lado, están los que apoyan al actual gobierno de Cristina Fernández, y por otro lado todo el resto, que son en esencia una variopinta barriada cultural de pensamiento derechista

The warring factions are fierce to discredit each other. On one side, there are those who favor the current government of Cristina Fernández, and on the other side there are all the rest, who are in essence a cultural motley of right-wing thinking

Kirchnerist groups accompanying President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner during Flag Day celebration. photo: Laura Schneider.

Twitter is also a network that Argentines use to share opinions. On November 9, after the 8N demonstrations, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (@CFKArgentina) [es] wrote:

@CFKArgentina: En esta semana han ocurrido dos hechos importantísimos: uno es la elección del Presidente de USA, primera potencia del mundo.

@CFKArgentina [es]: this week two important events took place: one is the reelection of the President of the USA, the leading power in the world.

And Ramiro Castañeda (@ramiroski_) [es] responded:

@ramiroski_: @CFKArgentina hubo un hecho muy importante, el pueblo argentino demostró tener carácter y valentía para exigirle a sus ineptos gobernantes.

@ramiroski_: @CFKArgentina There was a very important event, the Argentine people have shown character and courage to demand [action from] their inept rulers.

Horacio Elsinger [es], in his post “Is everything the same after 8N?” [es], concludes:

El gobierno conserva toda su fortaleza, pero no debe dormirse en los laureles. La mejor manera de defender y consolidar el terreno ganado es seguir avanzando en la transformación del país.

The government retains all its strength, but it should not rest on its laurels. The best way to defend and consolidate the gains is to continue advancing in the transformation of the country.

Argentina: Protesters Say “Enough” to Government's Policies

Laura Schneider — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 16:05:12 +0000

On September 13, 2012, several marches and cacerolazos (pots and pans protest) were held in different cities across Argentina to protest the recent policies enacted by the government of Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. The mobilization was organized through social networks, where people are clamoring for “Justice, Liberty, Security, Inflation, [a] Locked Exchanged Market” [es].

The Facebook page “Yo no voté a la Kretina y Ud?” [es] (I did not vote the Cretin and you?) spread the announcement [es] and later published images of the protests held in different cities. The page El Cipayo [es] also shared videos and photos of the mobilizations.

On YouTube, the user Yamil Santoro [es] shared a video which he titled “Bare Argentina”, where he undresses while telling viewers why they should participate in the protests on September 13. The video concludes with the following phrase:

“No dejes que te sigan robando tu futuro, no dejes que te sigan robando tu libertad. Resistí, vos podés”

“Don't let them continue stealing your future, don't let that continue stealing your freedom. Resist, you can do it” “

The Facebook page El anti K [es] spread [es] the call with this message:

Hoy 13 de Septiembre nos manifestamos en Plaza de Mayo y en todo el país. Pueden ver los puntos de reunión en la convocatoria y comunicarse con las personas que asistirán al evento en tu provincia. Ganar una elección no da impunidad para cometer delitos y para ocultar inflación e inseguridad ! Este gobierno debe saber que todos debemos ser escuchados ! El dia de hoy si queres compartir información con nosotros que estaremos en el evento, podes enviarnos sms al 15-6-808-9938. Demostremos que no tenemos miedo !

Today September 13 we protest in Plaza de Mayo square and across the country. You can see the assembly points in the call and communicate with people attending the event in your province. Winning an election does not give impunity to commit crimes and hide inflation and insecurity! This government should know that everyone should be heard! If you want to share information with us, you can send us a text message to 15-6-808-9938. Let's show that we are not afraid!

Protest in the city of Rosario – Image shared by Twitter user @meindol

Argentinians also tweeted about the various protests held around the country. Antonio Ledesma (@agrledes) [es] reported from Rosario :

@agrledes [es] : En rosario es multitudianria [sic] la convocatoria en el monumento a la bandera.

@agrledes [es]: In Rosario there is a massive protest by the Flag Monument

User @carteraspalermo [es] said:

@carteraspalermo: Siento una profunda emocion ver gente como uno que labura 10 horas por dia , que la pelea todos los dias unida en plaza de mayo!!!!

@carteraspalermo [es]: I feel a deep emotion seeing so many people who work 10 hours a day, and who give a fight everyday and are now united in Plaza de Mayo square!!!!

While the protests were being held, the Twitter hashtag #SanJuan [es] became a local trending topic because President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was at the San Juan province inaugurating industrial plants. National News Agency, Telam [es], published part of her speech:

“nerviosa no me voy a poner ni me van a poner”, y destacó además que Néstor Kirchner “murió de pie como un árbol y dio sus frutos: ustedes, que están de pie”.

“I will not be nervous, nor will people make me nervous” and pointed out that [her husband and former president of Argentina] Nestor Kirchner “died standing like a tree and gave fruit: you, who are standing.”

In reference to her phrase, Javier (@Avetuitera) [es] tweeted:

@AveTuitera: Desde San Juan… Kristina: Yo Nerviosa, no me voy a poner… Otra frase que denota su Soberbia… BASTA

@AveTuitera [es]: From San Juan… Kristina: I will not get nervous… another phrase that shows her Arrogance… ENOUGH

On the other hand, during the evening of September 13, Diego Sívori (@Diegosivori) [es] reminded his followers:

@Diegosivori: Hace un año el 54% le dijo sí a Cristina. Al que no le guste el resultado electoral y democrático, que espere a las próximas elecciones.

@Diegosivori [es]: A year ago 54% said yes to Cristina. Those who do not like this democratic result should wait for the next elections.

Other hashtags that became local trending topics were #cacerolazo [es] (pots and pans protest), #Cristina [es] and #13ASTA [es] (enough).

Protest in Buenos Aires – Image shared by Twitter user @CarlaBHO

Argentina: Blogging in Welsh from Patagonia

Laura Schneider — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 10:00:28 +0000

This post is part of a special Global Voices series on Welsh language and digital media in collaboration with Hacio'r Iaith.

Argentina received large flows of immigrants in the late 1700s and during the 1800s, including immigrants from Wales who settled mostly in the Argentine Patagonia. Today, people from Wales and their descendants living in Argentina keep their culture and language alive through blogs and social networks.

In 2015 it will be 150 years since the founding of the Welsh colony in Patagonia. The Wales-Argentina Society [es] retells the history of this colony and how Welsh migrants settled in Argentina:

La Colonia Galesa se fundó en 1865, cuando viajaron cerca de 150 personas desde distintos sitios de Gales en un barco llamado Mimosa, para instalarse en el valle del río Chubut, en el sur de la Argentina.

Durante el medio siglo que siguió a la migración de los galeses, se fundaron las bases de las que hoy son las ciudades de Puerto Madryn en la Bahía Nueva, Rawson, Gaiman, Trelew a Dolavon en el Valle del Chubut y Trevelin en el Valle Hermoso (Cwm Hyfryd) en los Andes. Muchos de los descendientes galeses también viven en Esquel, al pie de los Andes; en Comodoro Rivadavia, la ciudad más grande de la provincia; en Colonia Sarmiento y también a lo largo y ancho de la República.

The Welsh Colony in Patagonia was established in 1865, when over 150 people from various parts of Wales sailed on the Mimosa to settle in the Chubut Valley, in Southern Argentina.

During the half century following the migration of the Welsh, the foundation was laid for what today are the cities of Puerto Madryn on Bahía Nueva, Rawson, Gaiman, Trelew to Dolavon in the Chubut Valley and Trevelin in Valle Hermoso (Cwm Hyfryd) in the Andes. Many Welsh descendants also live in Esquel, in the foothills of the Andes; in Comodoro Rivadavia, the largest city of the province; in Colonia Sarmiento and also throughout the Republic.

Train Station in Esquel – Photo: Laura Schneider

Regarding the language and education, the site writes [es]:

Hoy, existe ya una escuela bilingüe, galés-castellana, fundada en Trelew, un jardín de infantes a través del galés en Gaiman y otro en Esquel. El Eisteddfod del Chubut, festival cultural tradicional, que se celebra anualmente en octubre y el Eisteddfod yr Ifanc, festival cultural tradicional de los jóvenes, a celebrarse cada mes de septiembre, son dos de las actividades que se mantienen en plena vigencia. Se celebran también pequeños festivales (eisteddfodau llai) en el Valle del Chubut, en Puerto Madryn y en los Andes.

A Welsh-Spanish bilingual school was established recently in Trelew and there are Welsh nursery schools in Gaiman and Esquel. The Eisteddfod of Chubut, a traditional cultural festival which is held every October, and the Eisteddfod yr Ifanc, a traditional cultural festival for youth held every September, are stronger than ever. Also small festivals (eisteddfodau llai) are held in the Chubut Valley, Puerto Madryn and the Andes.

Blogging in Welsh from Argentina

Lois Dafydd [cy], from Wales, is currently teaching Welsh in Argentina. In a personal blog [cy], Lois writes about the experiences and activities of the Welsh community. The latest post, for example, is entitled “Annibyniaeth, Buddugoliaeth, Cyngerdd a Chymanfa…” [cy] (“Independence, victory and a song festival”). Lois also writes about a “Birthday weekend in Patagonia” in the post “Penwythnos Pen Blwydd Patagonaidd” [cy].

In Welsh, there is also Ellbaines's Blog [cy], who shares experiences in Patagonia. Ellbaines is also teaching Welsh in the Argentine Patagonia.

On Facebook, the Welsh community has several groups in Spanish, like “Galeses en Argentina” [es] (Welsh People in Argentina) and “Galeses por 150 años” [es] (Welsh People for 150 Years), this last one referring to the 150 year celebration of the Welsh community in Argentina.

However, Menter Patagonia [cy], an organization that promotes the Welsh language in the Argentine Welsh community and Patagonia, has a Facebook group [cy] where they write in Welsh. They also update the Twitter account @MenterPatagonia [cy]. One of their latest tweets refers to Friendship Day, which is celebrated in Argentina every July 20:

@MenterPatagonia: Diwrnod y Ffrind Llawen! Feliz Día del Amigo!

@MenterPatagonia: Diwrnod y Ffrind Llawen! Happy Friends’ Day!

Finally, a video on the blog Variete [es] shows how Welsh descendants celebrate the anniversary of the arrival of the first Welsh immigrants to Argentina.

Argentina: “I'm an Organ Donor and I Tell the World”

Laura Schneider — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 14:44:43 +0000

The news that renowned Argentinian singer Sandra Mihanovich [es] was donating a kidney to her goddaughter Sonsoles Rey Obligado, daughter of her girlfriend Maria Paz Novarro, surprised Argentinians and raised awareness about the importance of saving lives. Sandra's example has also revived online campaigns seeking to raise awareness about organ donation.

Argentina's law prevents organ donation between living persons who are not direct family members, so Sandra had to go to court for approval. Sandra's website [es] describes the moment when the Judge asks her why she wants to donate her kidney:

“Dar amor”, así Sandra definía por estos días frente al juez, cuando éste le preguntó sobre el por qué de su decisión de donarle un riñón a su ahijada de bautismo Sonsoles. No hay mucho que decir frente a estos actos, frente a estas expresiones de amor tan concretas. Pero este hecho grandioso, emotivo y generoso nos da la enorme posibilidad de aprender, de educarnos, de conocer, de saber, de perder miedos. Es nuestra oportunidad de conocer más sobre el tema donación de órganos e informarnos al respecto.

“To give love” that's how Sandra defined her decision before the judge, when asked about the reason for donating a kidney to her goddaughter Sonsoles. There isn't much to say against these concrete expressions of love. But this great, emotional and generous act gives us enormous opportunities to learn, to get educated, to lose fear. It is our opportunity to learn more and get informed about organ donation.

On its website, INCUCAI, the government body that regulates, coordinates and supervises organ, tissue, and cell donation and transplants in Argentina, publishes daily statistics about patients on a waiting list for organs. The following is a real time report [es] at the time this post was being translated:

Statistics at 9:49 am

7153 waiting list patients
910 Implants 2012
398 real donors 2012
9.6 Donors PMH 2012

In his blog [es], journalist Alfredo Leuco [es] dedicates a post to Sandra Mihanovich and suggests that everyone share the news about her donation:

Los periodistas, los docentes, los religiosos, los políticos, los artistas, los deportistas y todos los que tenemos un micrófono, una tribuna o un púlpito desde donde difundir informaciones y pensamientos tenemos la responsabilidad social, la obligación moral de incitar a la esperanza, de fomentar la donación, de multiplicar la solidaridad de hacer una propaganda constante de los valores que nos hermanen mas y nos hagan mejores personas y mejores argentinos. No hay otra.

Journalists, teachers, religious leaders, politicians, artists, athletes and all who have a microphone, a podium or a pulpit from which to share information and thoughts have a social responsibility, a moral obligation to encourage hope, to encourage donation, to multiply solidarity, to constantly advertise values that bring us closer together and make us better people and better Argentinians. There is no other way.

On May 30, following the National Day of Organ and Tissue Donation, the INCUCAI launched an online campaign [es] using the hashtag #SoyDonante [es] (“I'm a donor”) on Twitter. Also a video on YouTube was launched with the motto “I'm a donor and I tell the world”:

Furthermore, the INCUCAI website [es] announced that Argentina will host the next World Transplant Games which will be held in 2015.

Tras superar las postulaciones de países competidores como Japón y Alemania, la candidatura de nuestro país fue avalada por la World Transplant Games Federation (WTGF) en su reunión desarrollada en Durban, Sudáfrica, lo que constituye un fuerte aval a la política argentina de procuración y trasplante de órganos, ya que Argentina será el primer país de Latinoamérica en el que se realizará esta actividad.

After winning the bid against competing countries like Japan and Germany, our country's candidacy was endorsed by the World Transplant Games Federation (WTGF) at its meeting in Durban, South Africa. This constitutes a strong endorsement of Argentina's policy on organ transplantation, since Argentina is the first Latin American country to host this activity.

A complete report [es] on Sandra's experience was published on the singer's website. It includes videos, like one with her song “Honrar la vida” (“Honoring Life”). The report concludes:

Sandra esta vez no cantó, sino que, con su ejemplo vivo nos habló de DAR AMOR y de HONRAR LA VIDA con mayúsculas y a viva voz.

This time Sandra didn't sing, but rather, with her living example she spoke about GIVING LOVE and HONORING LIFE with capital letters and a loud voice.

Argentina: Football, the ‘Evita Cup’ and New Security Measures

Laura Schneider — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 13:00:31 +0000

On August 3, 2012, the national football tournament kicked off in Argentina, and with it, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner made two announcements that will change some aspects of the most popular sport in Argentina.

The first announcement is related to the acts of violence which took place in the first half of 2012. Due to these acts, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) [es] and the Office of the Argentine Presidency [es] signed an agreement [es] to prevent violence. The measure involves the installation of SABED (Biometric System for Admission to Sports Events), in which fingerprints will allow the entry to stadiums according to the antecedents of each spectator.

Violence in football, inside and outside the stadium, has been present for many years; and violence can be confined to groups called “Barras Bravas’ or not. In her speech [es], President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner reviewed the history of violence in football matches in Argentina, and then concluded:

Y además otra cosa que también tengo que decir, cuando se arman bardos no se arman solamente bardos en la “popu”, se arman también bardos en la platea. Yo he visto agarrarse a piñas en la platea entre gente, inclusive, del mismo club porque tienen diferencias con respecto a la jugada del arbitro, a lo que opinan del técnico, a lo que opinan del fútbol. Así que creo que hacer un reduccionismo de creer que solamente un grupejo identificado puede generar un clima de violencia generalizada, lo hemos visto cuando hay una mala jugada. Lo que tenemos que lograr sí es que los réferis cobren bien, siempre uno tiene una mirada sesgada cuando es hincha, pero a veces yo no entiendo nada y cuando me explican y veo observo que hay cada bombeada que no se puede creer. Y la verdad que cuando hay bombeada la gente se indigna y hasta el más pintado, el más educado por ahí se manda un macanón. Por eso creo que… ya veo mañana titular de Clarín: “Cristina defendió a los barrabravas, confirmado”.

There is something else I want to say, things don't only get messy on popular stands, these things also happen on the more expensive stands. I have seen people fight in the premium stands, even between fans of the same club because they had differences regarding the referee, or have differences about the trainer or differences about plays. So I think that thinking that only a small identified group can generate a climate of generalized violence, we have seen it when there is a bad play as well. What we have to achieve is that referees call out fouls fairly, provided one as a fan always has a biased perspective, but sometimes I do not understand anything and when someone explains it I notice that there are many unfair charges by referees. And the truth is that people get disappointed and even the best dressed up person and the most educated can have a false step. That is why I believe…. I can already see tomorrow's front page headline in the Clarin newspaper: “Cristina backs up barras bravas, it's confirmed”.

The following day, Clarin published the following headline [es]:

Photo: Laura Schneider

Ante la dirigencia del fútbol, Cristina elogió a los barrabravas de todas las canchas.

In front of all the national football leaders, Cristina praised barras bravas.

Another announcement [es] in the President's speech was a request that the national tournament be named “Evita Capitana” (Evita Captain) and that the trophy handed to the champion be called “Copa Evita” (Evita Cup):

Quería también pedirle en este 60º del paso a la inmortalidad de Eva Perón que este próximo campeonato de llame “Campeonato Eva Perón” y que la copa…¿cómo se va a llamar, a ver, adivinen, a ver si son vivos?……….”Evita Capitana”, muchachos, tiene que llamarse la copa, “Evita Capitana” porque además tiene que ver con la capitanía de los clubes, la capitanía de la Selección y la capitanía de la Argentina, por qué no, Evita capitana de la Argentina. Así que, vamos a hacer el campeonato Eva Perón y la copa “Evita Capitana”.

I also wanted to ask, in commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of immortality of Eva Perón, that the tournament be called Campeonato Eva Perón (Eva Perón Championship) and that the trophy…how will it be called?, guess, let's see if you are smart?……”Evita Capitana” (Captain Evita), it also has to do with the club's captain, the captain of the national team and the captain of Argentina, why not, Evita as Argentina's captain. So, let's name the championship Eva Perón and the cup “Evita Captain.”

The reactions did not take long to appear on Twitter, and the hashtag #CopaEvita [es] became a local trend with tweets in favour and against the announcement, like this one by Ro (@stardustblow) [es]:

@stardustblow: La #AFA [Asociación de Fútbol Argentina] y su #CopaEvita. Evita el juego limpio y divertido. Evita eliminar a los barras y violentos. Evita la transparencia. Evita…

@stardustblow: The #AFA [Argentine Football Association] and its #CopaEvita. Evita [avoids ("evita" in Spanish also means "to avoid")] fair play and fun. Evita [avoids] eliminating barras and the violent. Evita [avoids] transparency. Evita [avoids]…

And the following tweet by Walter (@Walter_D12) [es]:

@Walter D12: #copaEvita x dios dejen d usar ese nombre, q estuvo a favor d la politica nazi. Y deposito en su cuenta bancaria tesoros robados d la guerra [sic]

@Walter D12: #copaEvita god please stop using this name, of someone who was in favour of Nazi politics. And who deposited in her account treasures stolen from the war

However, Gabriel Gonzales (@sp4rt4cus) [es] writes:

@sp4rt4cus: ME ENCANTO LA PRESENTACION DE LA#TVPUBLICA PARA#FUTBOLPARATODOS #COPAEVITAAHORA SI EL FUTBOL TIENE SABOR A PATRIA SOCIALISTA. =)

@sp4rt4cus: I LOVED THE PRESENTATION FROM #TVPUBLICA [State owned TV] ON #FUTBOLPARATODOS #COPAEVITA ["football for all", "Evita Cup"] NOW FOOTBALL HAS A SOCIALIST FLAVOUR. =)

Facu Laser (@facundinho) [es] looks beyond history and the announcements:

@Facundinho: No hay diferencia de género si la copa se llama #EvitaCapitana no?

@Facundinho: There is no gender differentiation if the cup is called #EvitaCapitana [Evita Captain], right?

The blog Toque y Gambeta [es] recalls Eva Duarte's relationship with football:

En 1945 la Federacion Catalana de Fútbol (FCF) organizó la disputa de un torneo que enfrentaría al campeón de la Liga española contra el campeón de la Copa del Generalísimo (antecesora de la actual Copa del Rey), a iniciativa del Cónsul argentino en Barcelona. El certamen se denominó Copa de Oro Argentina en honor a la colonia argentina, que había donado el trofeo. El FC Barcelona consiguió el título al derrotar (5-4) al Athletic de Bilbao el 23 de diciembre de aquel año. La cuestión es que dos años y medio después el torneo se volvió a disputar, ahora patrocinado por la Real Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF), aunque con el nombre de Copa Eva Duarte de Perón, tras una propuesta del embajador argentino en España, el Doctor Pedro J. Radío. Evita, que se había casado el 22 de octubre de 1945 con el presidente de la República Argentina, Teniente General Juan Domingo Perón, viajó a Madrid y donó el trofeo en disputa. La Copa Eva Duarte de Perón se convertía en la antecesora de la actual Supercopa de España.

In 1945 the Catalan Football Federation (FCF) organized a tournament that would place the Spanish League champion against the champion of the Copa del Generalissimo (the predecessor of the current Copa del Rey), an initiative by the Argentine consul in Barcelona. The event was called Argentina Gold Cup [es] in honor of the colony of Argentina, which had donated the trophy. The Barcelona football club won the title by defeating Athletic of Bilbao (5-4) on December 23 of that year. The point is that two and a half years later the tournament was played again, now sponsored by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), but with the name Copa Eva Duarte de Perón [es], following a proposal by the Argentine ambassador in Spain, Dr. Peter J. Inlays. Evita, who had gotten married on October 22, 1945 with the President of Argentina, Lieutenant General Juan Domingo Perón, traveled to Madrid and donated the trophy in dispute. The Copa Eva Duarte de Peron became the predecessor of the current Super Cup in Spain [es].

Argentina Wins its First Gold Medal in London 2012

Laura Schneider — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 19:12:00 +0000

This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics.

On Friday, August 10, Argentina celebrated its first gold medal in the London Olympics; Sebastian Crismanich [es], born in the Corrientes province, competed in the 80 kilogram category in Taekwondo, beating Spain's representative Nicolás Garcia Hamme 1-0.

In Argentina, the hashtag #Crismanich [es] became a trending topic, and users expressed their happiness as well as their surprise for this achievement in a sport that is not as popular as other sports, like football. Among several tweets, Nico Fernandez (@nicolinoribas) [es] writes:

@nicolinoribas: Ahora son todos fanáticos del Taekwondo. No rompan las pelotas. Hace 12 horas no sabían ni que competía #Crismanich. Hipócritas.

@nicolinoribas: Now everyone if a fan of Taekwondo. Yeah right. 12 hours ago no one knew that #Crismanich was competing. Hypocrites.

Similarly, Jose (@vjosesc) [es] blames journalists for the lack of coverage:

@vjosesc: Hace 2 días no sabíamos que #Crismanich tenia posibilidades de ganar una medalla de oro. Falla de los periodistas que cubrieron los #JJOO .

@vjosesc: Two days ago we didn't know that #Crismanich had any chance of winning a gold medal. Journalists who cover the #JJOO ["Olympic games"] failed.

However, most users are expressing their joy over Crismanich's achievement, like Juancho (@kiddo72) [es], Perickles (@peripepe) [es] and Abel Racedo (@AbelRacedo) [es], among others.

Argentinian news agency Telam summarizes [es] this achievement and the history of gold medals for Argentina:

Crismanich, de 25 años, se erigió entonces en el primer medallista olímpico de la Argentina en la disciplina (que empezó a disputarse en Sydney 2000) y además cortó una racha de 64 temporadas en las que un argentino, en manera individual, no conseguía la medalla dorada.

Los boxeadores Pascual Pérez y Rafael Iglesias y el maratonista Delfo Cabrera, también en Londres, pero en 1948, habían sido los anteriores deportistas nacionales, en subir al escalón más alto de la premiación.

Crismanich, 25 years old, emerged as the first gold medalist for Argentina in the discipline (which began to be played in Sydney 2000) and also ended a 64 season streak in which an Argentine, on an individual basis, had not gotten a gold medal.

Boxers Pascual Pérez and Rafael Iglesias, and marathoner Delfo Cabrera, also in London, but in 1948, were the former national athletes to climb to the top of the medal podium.

This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics.

Thumbnail image from Sebastian Crismanich's [es] Facebook page.

Argentina: China-Born Olympic Athlete in the Spotlight

Laura Schneider — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 21:41:02 +0000

This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics.

In a weekend marked by sports, with many disciplines where Argentinian athletes and teams participated in the London 2012 Olympics, Argentinian fans divided their time between basketball, women's hockey, the Olympic rings, and tennis.

But what caught the most attention among Argentinian netizens was ping pong, also known as table tennis. Not because it is a popular sport in the country, but because of the man who represented Argentina in this discipline. Liu Song, born in China but with Argentinian nationality, has captured the undivided attention of Argentinian netizens after bringing the first victory for Argentina in London 2012.

Who is Liu Song? Fabio Baccaglioni comments [es] in his blog:

Un nombre resume todo, Liu Song. ¿por qué tomarlo como ícono olímpico? simplemente porque es uno de esos atletas por los que nadie da un mango en los medios, aquel que uno sabe va sin nada y se vuelve con todo aun habiendo perdido. No sale en fotos oficiales, nadie apuesta por él, sin embargo logró que todo el mundo lo mencione y mire sus partidos de Ping Pong, suframos con su caída, lo felicitemos cuando le hacen una nota y nos llenemos de lágrimas al verlo triste pero con la frente alta.

One name sums it up, Liu Song. Why take him as an Olympic icon? simply because he is one of those athletes that nobody in the media pays attention to, who you know will go with nothing and yet he will come back with everything, even though he has lost. He does not appear in official photos, no one is bidding on him, but he has managed to make everyone mention him and watch his games of Ping Pong, suffer with his fall, congratulate him when he gets some air time and we are filled with tears when we see him sad but with his head held high.

Fabio continues:

Liu Song – photo: Comisión Nacional de Cultura Física y Deporte under license (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Siendo un chino nacionalizado argentino, con apenas un español rudimentario, igual nos representó e hizo lo suyo más que bien.
[...]

Por eso creo que él representa a todas esas otras disciplinas que no “venden” que no suben el rating si no que pasan desapercibidas durante cuatro años y nadie les da la más mínima atención, para ellos, el mejor de los deseos, y ojo, a no confundir, que no significa que uno no apoye a las disciplinas “famosas” si no que lo que quiero es que sean todas importantes, aun cuando la única chance sea de tan sólo pasar una ronda.

As a Chinese, citizen of Argentina, with only rudimentary Spanish, he has represented us and did his part very well.

[...]

So I think he represents all those other disciplines that do not “sell”, that do not raise ratings but rather go unnoticed for four years and no one gives them the slightest attention, for them, I wish the best, and don't be confused, that does not mean I don't support the “famous” disciplines, I want all of them to be important, even if the only chance they get is to pass to the next round.

Song, who already represented Argentina in 2000, 2004 and 2008 for the Olympics, won over Argentinian Twitter users, and the hashtag #Songuito [es] became a local Trending Topic over the past weekend. Among the most relevant tweets there are those that “sing” to cheer for Song, like Alejandro Guevara (@AleMGuevara) [es] and Pibe Cristino (@pibecristino) [es]:

@pibecristino: ♬ #songuito, mi buen amigo, esta olimpiada volveremo a esta contigo, te enseñaremooooo’ el españooool ♬

@pibecristino [es]: ♬ #songuito, my good friend, these Olympics we will be with you again, and we will teach you Spanish ♬

Others are already thinking about Song's participation in the Brazil 2016 Olympics. Javier Navia (@javiernavia) [es] suggests that Song be the standard bearer for the Argentinian delegation:

@javiernavia: #Songuito debe volver en Rio 2016 y ser el abanderado.

@javiernavia [es]: #Songuito should be in Rio 2016 holding the Argentinian flag.

Likewise, Eve (@apalappapa) [es] tweets:

@apalappapa: #Songuito quiero ir a Ezeiza a recibirte!!!!! brasil 2016 te espera!!!!

@apalappapa [es]: #Songuito I want to go to the Ezeiza Airport to greet you!!!!! Brazil 2016 waits for you!!!!

Liu Song is admired by Argentinians because his triumph was the first victory for the country in London 2012. Song won during the first round against the Congolese Suraju Saka, but in the second round he was eliminated by Slovenian Bojan Tokic. Again, Twitter in Argentina exploded with reactions. Facun Díaz (@fideoFlash) [es] says that he doesn't want to watch the Olympics Games anymore and would rather watch YouTube videos of Song; and Antonio Nicolás Peix (@ANPeix) [es] says the Games are now meaningless.

Because of the losses by Las Leonas in Women's Hockey against the United States, by Men's Basketball [es] against France, and by Los Gladiadores [es] in Men's Handball also against France, among others, Liu Song was still remembered on July 31. Walter Cuevas (@Walwaler) [es] tweets:

@Walwaler: desde que perdió #songuito están perdiendo todos los deportistas arg!

@Walwaler [es]: since #songuito lost, all Argentinian athletes are loosing!

While JC (@JuanCruzLopez12) [es] makes a suggestion:

@JuanCruzLopez12: La única solucion que se me ocurre… Es que #Songuito sea capitan de todos los equipos.

@JuanCruzLopez12 [es]: The only solution I can think of…is that #Songuito be the captain of all teams.

Finally, in the post “Thank you #Songuito! We will never forget you…”, Alez R. from the blog Una Opinión en Blog (An Opinion in a Blog) [es] writes:

Alli termino la participacion de #Songuito como fue famoso y “TrendingTopic” en la red social Twitter, pero quedara para siempre en el sentimiento de los argentinos… “Grande ArgenChino” !

There ended the participation of #Songuito who was famous as a “TrendingTopic” on the social network Twitter, but will remain forever in the hearts of the Argentinians … “You are great ArgenChinese”!

This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics.

Argentina: A Tour Through Rosario and its Architecture

Laura Schneider — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 12:00:59 +0000

Rosario, the third-largest city in Argentina by population, is located 300 kilometers north of Buenos Aires on the Paraná River. Rosario is known as the home of the Argentinian Flag, since it was in this city where it was raised for the first time. It is also the city that saw the birth of great athletes like Lionel Messi, Marcelo Bielsa, Luciana Aymar [es], and the politician and revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara. But beyond its international figures, one of Rosario's most astonishing features is its architecture, reflecting the European immigration of the early 1800′s.

Rosario has been given many nicknames; one of them is “the Argentinian Chicago”, since it was the main port for grain and it also hosted a number of Sicilian mobsters, like “Chicho Grande” and “Chicho Chico”, among others. Newspaper La Nación [es] writes about this nickname:

Rosario, la ciudad que a fines del siglo XIX y principios del XX se convirtió en el principal puerto cerealero del país, no sólo albergó el paso de miles de marineros y extranjeros, sino que también cobijó otro tipo de desembarco, el de la prostitución. Fue el trampolín de la mafia en el país y, de allí, el bautismo de “la Chicago argentina”.

Las andanzas de los italianos Juan Galiffi, apodado “el Chicho Grande”, y su rival, Francisco Morrone, “Chicho Chico”, inspiraron el cambio de nombre acorde con los niveles de violencia y corrupción que los envolvían.

Rosario, the city that in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries became the country's main grain port, not only hosted the passage of thousands of sailors and foreigners, but also harbored other type of landings, such as prostitution. It was the springboard of the mafia in the country and, hence, it was baptized as the “the Argentinian Chicago.”

The adventures of the Italian John Galiffi, nicknamed “Chicho Grande”, and his rival Francis Morrone, “Chicho Chico”, inspired the name change due to the levels of violence and corruption present at the time in the city.

After visiting Rosario, journalist Nicolas Pasiecznik writes in his personal blog [es] about the buildings’ domes:

De estilo neoclásico, barroco, con reminiscencias italianas, vanguardistas y hasta en algunos casos eclécticas, estas cúpulas son, además de un patrimonio de calidad excelentemente cuidado y revalorizado, una muestra del poderío económico que la zona tuviera antaño.

Neoclassical, baroque, with Italian reminiscences, vanguardist and even eclectic in some cases, these domes are not only an excellent heritage that is excellently cared for and appreciated, but also a sign of the economic strength that the area once had.

Rosario Stock Exchange building, constructed in year 1929, neoclassical style, emblem of multiple financial transactions. Photo: Ines (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Another piece of architecture that shows Argentina's wealth of agricultural activity is the building “La Agrícola”, built in 1907 and located opposite the Stock Exchange. This corner is known as “the corner of the three domes.”

Building La Agrícola. Photo: pablodf (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Another building declared a Historic National Monument is the Spanish Club [es]. Its website comments about the history of this building's construction:

El edificio se comenzó a construir el 1912, contratando para ello al Arq. Francisco Roca i Simó graduado en 1906 en Barcelona.El edificio se inaugura oficialmente el 9 de Julio de 1916, una fecha singular para la historia del país: el Centenario de Independencia.

En la construcción se reconocen tres partes: la anterior, la central y la posterior, que presentan modos particulares de resolver los espacio. Pero a su vez la organización de las funciones se realiza a partir de un eje longitudinal imaginario que divide la organización de las partes en dos.

The building was built in 1912, by architect Francisco Roca i Simó, who graduated in 1906 in Barcelona. The building was officially inaugurated on July 9, 1916, a date unique to the country's history: the Centennial of its Independence .

In the construction one recognizes three parts: anterior, central and posterior, which present particular ways of solving the space. But in turn the organization of its functions are set up starting from an imaginary center line that divides the organization into two parts.

Spanish Club. Photo: pablodf (CC BY-NC-ND

The page continues with the description of the facade:

La fachada se presenta como un imponente juego de volúmenes quebrando y ahuecando el plano del mismo. A simple vista se reconocen tres partes en la organización de los elementos ornamentales, un basamento, un desarrollo y un imponente remate donde el comprometido coronamiento del edificio. Se destaca, este último segmento por la idea de colocar el escudo policromo, custodiado por dos imponentes leones, representando de la monarquía española.

The facade is presented as an impressive game of volumes breaking and hollowing the surface. At first glance, viewers recognize three parts in the organization of the ornamental elements, a base, middle, and an impressive finish where the crowning of the building is involved. This last segment stands out due to the placement of the polychrome shield, guarded by two imposing lions, representing the Spanish monarchy.

The blog Noticias de la ciudad de Rosario [es] comments about another emblematic building in the city, the Cabanellas Palace:

El Palacio Cabanellas, en la esquina de Sarmiento y San Luis. Art Nouveau, o Modernisme según los catalanes. El edificio lo diseñó Francesc Roca i Simó, que vino de Mallorca y Barcelona a Rosario a principio del siglo XX, se quedó menos de una década y no paró de planear fastuosos edificios como éste.

The Cabanellas Palace, at the corner of Sarmiento and San Luis. Art Nouveau or Modernisme according to Catalans. The building was designed by Francesc Roca i Simó, who came from Majorca and Barcelona to Rosario in the early twentieth century. He stayed in Rosario less than a decade and never stopped planning lavish buildings like this one.

Cabanellas Palace Dome. Photo: lu6fpj (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

The city's architecture is no stranger to the political activity of Rosario. The Municipality is located in the Lions Palace [es] (“Palacio de los Leones” in Spanish), inaugurated in 1898, and located very close to the Flag Monument [es] and the Paraná River. Various stories have been passed on about this building. The best known story is about the ghost Yolanda, who, as the website El Ciudadano Web [es] explains, appears in the building:

Un inspector de tránsito de la Municipalidad, Lucio Montenegro, aseguró haber visto un fantasma en el Palacio de los Leones el pasado 20 de junio. Según contó el protagonista del hecho a Elciudadanoweb.com, se encontraba trabajando en Santa Fe y Córdoba por el Día de la Bandera, y pidió permiso para entrar al baño de la Municipalidad de Rosario. Montenegro subió al primer piso y ahí fue cuando ocurrió el tenebroso episodio. Un fantasma le tocó el hombro y le dijo: “Soy Yolanda. Decile al sereno que deje la luz prendida”.

A traffic inspector of the Municipality, Lucio Montenegro, said he saw a ghost in the Palace of the Lions on June 20. He told Elciudadanoweb.com he was working in Santa Fe and Cordoba for Flag Day and requested permission to enter the bathroom of the Municipality of Rosario. Montenegro went upstairs, where the scary episode took place. A ghost touched his shoulder and said, “I am Yolanda. Tell the guard to leave the lights on”.

Rosario Municipality – Lions Palace. Photo: maxid (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Finally, on its website Rutas Modernistas en Rosario (Modernist Routes in Rosario), the Municipality of Rosario shares more images for those who want to continue this virtual tour of the city and its architecture.

Argentina: Falklands Olympics Video Sparks Controversy

Laura Schneider — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 18:57:30 +0000

This post is part of our Special Coverage London Olympics 2012

Over and above the event's athletic importance, competing in the London 2012 Olympics for Argentina also has political connotations due to the memory of those killed in the Falklands War. April 2, 2012 marked the 30th anniversary of the landing of Argentine troops in the Falkland Islands, known as the Malvinas in Argentina. With the imminent start of the 2012 Olympic Games, the Office of the Argentinian President released a video tribute via their YouTube channel [es]:

The video, which was made by the Office of the Argentine Presidency [es] and filmed in the islands, shows an Argentinian athlete training for the London Olympics in the Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory. The final sentence sparked the controversy: “To compete on English soil, we train on Argentine soil.” The protagonist of the video is Fernando Zylberberg, a player of the Argentina Hockey Team, who will not actually be participating in the 2012 Olympics.

The reaction by the Olympic Committee was immediate. The website SSQH [es] posted the reaction:

“Los Juegos Olímpicos no deben ser un foro para tratar temas políticos, y el COI lamenta cualquier uso de la plataforma de los Juegos para esos fines”, señaló la entidad en un comunicado enviado a la agencias de noticias AP. ”Estamos en contacto con el (Comité Olímpico) Argentino… y en varias ocasiones nos han asegurado que el comité olímpico nacional no tratará de usar los Juegos como una plataforma política, y respetará la Carta Olímpica”, agregó el COI.

The Olympic Games should not be a forum to discuss political issues, and the IOC regrets any use of the platform of the Games for those purposes,” [the Olympic Committee] said in a statement to the AP news agency. “We are in contact with the Argentine (Olympic Committee) … who have repeatedly assured us that the National Olympic Committee will not try to use the Games as a political platform, and will respect the Olympic Charter,” the IOC added.

The blog Sopitas [es] also commented on the controversy:

A 30 años de la guerra entre Argentina y Gran Bretaña por estas islas, y ante la proximidad de los Juegos Olímpicos, este spot parece una provocación que ya está causando polémica.

Ian Hansen, legislador de las Malvinas dijo estar decepcionado por este video, el cual “intenta politizar los Juegos Olímpicos en servicio de las ambiciones territoriales argentinas”.

30 years after the war between Argentina and Britain over these islands, and so close to the start of the Olympics, this ad looks like a provocation that is already causing controversy.

Ian Hansen, Falklands legislator, said he was disappointed by this video, which “attempts to politicize the Olympic Games in the service of the Argentine territorial ambitions.”

Penguin News, a newspaper from the Falkland Islands, considered the video disrespectful:

Sadly, this illustrates the disrespect the Argentine authorities have for our home and our people. Unsurprisingly, at no stage does the video feature any Falkland Islanders – a clear reflection of Argentina's policy, which is to pretend that the people of the Falkland Islands do not exist.

However, as the comments [es] show on YouTube, for many Argentinians the video has served to reinforce their position that the Falkland Islands belong to Argentina.

This post is part of our Special Coverage London Olympics 2012

This post was sub-edited by Jane Ellis.

Argentina: Starbuck's Public Apology Trending

Laura Schneider — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 18:51:48 +0000

On July 16, 2012, Starbucks Argentina [es] issued a public apology [es] on their Facebook account for the lack of cups and original sleeves on their premises, which caused a reaction among consumers, non-consumers and the media in general.

Queremos pedir disculpas, ya que debido a un quiebre temporario de stock, en algunas de nuestras tiendas se están utilizando vasos y mangas nacionales. Se trata de vasos de color blanco y del mismo tamaño que los que se ofrecen regularmente. De todas maneras, estamos trabajando para que esta situación se normalice lo antes posible y cada uno de ustedes puedan disfrutar su bebida como siempre.

We want to apologize, due to a temporary shortfall of stock in some of our shops we are using local cups and sleeves. Cups are white and the same size as those offered regularly. However, we are working to fix the situation as soon as possible [so that] every one of you can enjoy your drink as usual.

Santiago Darmandrail [es] Chief Editor of website Neutronico [es], writes [es]:

Si visitaste una de las tiendas de la compañía en las últimas semanas, probablemente hayas notado que muchos de los vasos y mangas usados no tienen el tan popular logo verde. Pero no sólo eso sino que no traen más el formulario que los empleados de caja usan para escribir el tipo de bebida que debe contener, además de los adicionales, y así evitar que los baristas equivoquen el pedido.

Aunque Starbucks probablemente se disculpaba por este problema que genera la nueva nacionalidad de sus contenedores, no de dónde fueron producidos, el mensaje no cayó demasiado bien entre los tuiteros argentinos.

If you visited one of the company stores in recent weeks, you've probably noticed that many of the cups and sleeves do not have the popular green logo. But not only that, also they don't have the form that the baristas use to write the type of drink and add-ons you want to avoid mistakes in the orders placed.

Although Starbucks was probably apologizing for the problem that generated the new identity of their cups, and not [apologizing for] where they were produced, the message did not sit too well with Argentinian Twitter users.

photo: chickenlump (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

While the franchise in Argentina did not comment on the reasons for the “shortage”, newspaper Infobae [es] attributed [es] it to current import restrictions on Argentina.

La compañía de café emitió un comunicado para “pedir disculpas” porque en algunos de sus locales “se están utilizando vasos y mangas nacionales” debido a que no pueden ingresar sus modelos por aduana

The coffee company issued a statement to “apologize” because in some stores “local cups and sleeves are being used” because they can't import their models through customs

However, the News Agency of Buenos Aires [es] says this is not a cause for apology and does not agree with Infobae regarding the reasons behind the cup shortage:

Es insólito pero sucedió. La cafetería transnacional pidió disculpas a sus clientes por tener que usar vasos descartables de industria nacional y, como si fura poco, para el portal de noticias InfoBae el tema merece ubicación destacada, adjudicando “el problema” a las “trabas a las importaciones”.

It is unusual but it happened. The international coffee company apologized to customers for having to use disposable cups of the domestic industry and, as if it weren't enough, the news portal InfoBae decided the subject deserved better justification, so changed the “problem” to “barriers to imports.”

The Agency continues:

Como sucede en cualquier país que se precie de tal, cada vez que los productos importados pueden ser sustituidos por otros nacionales, generando puestos de trabajo y producto bruto con valor agregado, lo que para Starbucks es motivo de lamento y disculpas, seguramente para millones de argentinos será una muy buena noticia.

As in any country, whenever imported products are replaced by local products, it generates jobs and adds value to the Gross National Product, which maybe a matter of regret and apology for Starbucks, but it is probably very good news for millions of Argentinians.

The public apology from Starbucks Argentina generated the hashtag #PedimosDisculpas [es] (“We apologize”) in reaction to the statement, but users later satirically, began using it as a means to apologize for anything. Javi Sosa (@ Javi_soccer) [es], writes on his Twitter account:

@Javi_soccer: #PedimosDisculpas pero no queremos darles trabajo a ustedes ni haciendo un vasito… la papota es toda para nosotros (Starbucks)

@Javi_soccer [es]: #PedimosDisculpas but we do not want to give jobs to anyone of you, not even making cups… the earnings are all for us (Starbucks)

The blog Dominó [es], analyzes the type of media used for the apology:

¿Por qué pedir disculpas por ello en las redes sociales? Es un ejemplo de la obsesión 2.0 que tienen algunas empresas. Los “afectados” por usar vasos diferentes van a ser solo algunas personas de algunos locales. ¿Esto no se resuelve con un lindo cartelito en la caja de cada local? Creo que tenemos que utilizar las herramientas adecuadas para cada situación y público específico. En este caso erraron y el precio reputacional a pagar, hoy con la viralidad de las redes, es alto. Veremos como reaccionan y responden a las críticas generadas. Un caso para seguir de cerca.

Why apologize on social networks? It is an example of some companies’ 2.0 obsession. Those “affected” by using different cups will be just some people in some locations. Wouldn't a cute sign on cash registers on every premise solve that? I think we have to use the right tools for each situation and specific audience. In this case they made a mistake and there is a price to pay in terms of reputation, today with word spreading very fast on social networks. We'll see how they react and respond to the criticism that has been generated. A case to watch closely.

On the other hand, Anto Ocampo [es], on the Starbucks Argentina Facebook page [es] defends the company's comment:

Todos lo que dicen ” Ah no defienden la industria nacional” no tienen ni la mínima idea cual es la inserción internacional de Starbucks en Argentina. Y de como esta influye en los distintos productos que ellos ofrecen.
Gente antes de opinar asesórense bien.
Y para mi Starbucks no pidió disculpas por utilizar vasos “nacionales” si no por el simple hecho de que no va a haber los vasos a los cuales los consumidores están a acostumbrados.

All those that say “Oh you do not defend the domestic industry” have no idea about Starbuck's international presence in Argentina. And how this influences the different products they offer. People, get advice before talking.
And in my opinion Starbucks did not apologize for using “local” cups, but for the simple fact that there the cups to which consumers are accustomed will not be [available.]

But, Maria Bambara [es] thinks differently:

qué tal si mejor piden disculpas por no utilizar insumos nacionales??? o nacional sólo usan y explotan a los empleados???

What if you rather apologize for not using local accessories??? or are the only local[products] you use and exploit, employees??

At the closing of this post, newspaper La Nacion [es] published the international chain's response to their inquiry, explaining the reasons for the lack of “official” accesories:

Tras una consulta de este medio, Starbucks respondió con un escueto comunicado afirmando que la falta de stock de vasos se explica en un “error interno de planificación”, pero no hace alusión al pedido de disculpas por suplantar a los vasos convencionales por otros de manufactura local.

Following this newspaper's inquiry, Starbucks responded with a succint statement saying that the lack of stock of cups is due to an “internal planning error”, but does not refer to the apology to supplant conventional cups with cups manufactured locally.

User @celibs [es] tweets:

@celibs:‪#PedimosDisculpas‬ a‪ #LaBandaDelStarbucks‬ por darles vasos de Industria Nacional con el cual no puedan sacarse fotos para Facebook.

@celibs [es]:‪#PedimosDisculpas‬ to ‪ #LaBandaDelStarbucks‬ [es] (“The Starbucks band”) for giving you locally manufactured cups, which you can't use to take photos for Facebook.

Among the controversy and news releases, Starbucks Argentina [es], through its Facebook account finally explains [es]:

Les pedimos disculpas por el post de esta mañana – Entendemos sus comentarios y aclaramos que la intención fue comunicarles que temporalmente en algunas tiendas estamos usando vasos diferentes a los habituales. Esto se debe a un quiebre de stock por un error de planificación interno. Estamos trabajando para seguir brindando lo mejor para nuestros fans. Nos gusta ser transparentes con nuestra comunidad y compartir cada uno de nuestros cambios – sean permanentes o temporales.

We apologize for the post this morning – We understand your comments and the intention was to announce that we are temporarily using other cups in some stores. This is due to a shortage of stock due to an in internal planning error. We are working to continue to provide the best for our fans. We like to be transparent with our community and share all of our changes – both permanent and temporary.

Argentina: The Return of ‘Cacerolazos', Pot-banging Protests

Laura Schneider — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 15:20:10 +0000

On May 31, 2012, the cacerolazo –a protest where people bang pots and pans– returned to Argentina as a measure of social protest. The same happened in 2001 [es] when citizens got President Fernando De La Rúa to resign from his position. The protest, organized through social networks, focused on insecurity, corruption and the recent measures taken by the government regarding foreign exchange, particularly the United States (U.S.) dollar.

On Twitter the hashtag #cacerolazo [es] became a local trending topic, but the hashtag had been gaining popularity since May 28, as we can see in Camilo's (@ cegooo) [es] tweet, where he asks:

Dicen que se viene un ‪#cacerolazo‬, es posta??

They say a cacerolazo is coming, is it true??

Quique Rosito (@ocupadisimo) [es] also asks:

Che avisen a que hora arranca el ‪#cacerolazo‬ Es contra el hambre en el mundo? Por mas insumos en hospitales? Ah no? Es para comprar dolares?

Hey, tell us at what time the cacerolazo starts. Is it against hunger in the world? or is it about more medical supplies in hospitals? oh, no? is it for buying U.S. dollars?

Twitter users have been sharing this image to call for a cacerolazo on June 1

New measures for foreign currency

Since October 2011, the Argentine government has been launching a series of policies to regulate the currency market as a measure to control inflation and the outflow of foreign currency. The latest policy affects tourism for Argentinians as well as foreign residents who want to travel outside the country and will need to buy other currency. The RG 3333 [es] (General Resolution) says:

Los sujetos residentes en el país que demanden la adquisición de moneda extranjera para atender gastos en concepto de viajes al exterior por razones de salud, estudios, congresos, conferencias, gestiones comerciales, deportes, actividades culturales, actividades científicas y/o turismo, deberán cumplir previamente con el régimen de información que se establece por la presente.

Subjects living in the country that require the purchase of foreign currency to meet expenses for travel abroad for health reasons, studies, conferences, business, sports, cultural activities, scientific and / or tourism activities, must comply previously with the regimen of information established by this resolution.

Through Official Newsletter 3300 [es], the Federal Public Revenue Administration communicates the new measure and the reasons behind it:

Esto es un paso más en el desarrollo de un nuevo paradigma de control, mediante la implementación de herramientas informáticas con el objetivo de “anticipar” el control sobre las operaciones de los contribuyentes, buscando un funcionamiento ex-ante de la Administración Federal.

This is another step in the development of a new paradigm of control, by implementing tools in order to “anticipate” control over the operations of the taxpayer, seeking a prior performance of the Federal Administration.

The Official Newsletter [es] also explains the information that will be required through this new tool:

La herramienta informática solicitará información de los paquetes turísticos que venden los operadores, debiéndose detallar en qué moneda se concertó el pago del paquete, en cuantas cuotas y el CUIT del operador turístico, entre otros datos.

Esta información permitirá conocer en detalle la matriz del negocio de los operadores turísticos y, de esta manera, fiscalizar adecuadamente la renta declarada por los principales contribuyentes del sector, máxime considerando que estos pueden acceder al mercado de cambios sin limitación alguna y luego exigen a los turistas la cancelación en moneda extranjera del paquete.

The software tool will request information from the tours sold by tourism operators. It must clarify which currency was used to buy that tourism package, in how many installments it was paid and the CUIT (taxpayer ID) of the tourism operator, among other information.

This information will reveal in detail the array of business and tourism operators, and thus allow the adequate supervision of the income declared by the main contributors to the sector, especially since they can access the exchange market without restriction and then require the tourists to cancel in foreign currency the cost of the package.

Reactions to the new measures

On May 31, officialist Senator Anibal Fernandez made statements to the press that generated controversy between citizens and opposition parties. Cadena3 [es] publishes the Senator's declarations:

Al ser consultado sobre por qué posee sus ahorros en dólares mientras pide a los ciudadanos que “piensen en pesos”, el senador dijo: “Porque se me antoja, ¿no me acaban de escuchar? Porque se me antoja, es mi derecho, hago lo que quiero con mi plata”.

When asked why he has his savings in U.S. dollars while he asks citizens to “think in pesos,” the senator said, “Because I feel like it, didn't you hear me? Because I feel like it, it is my right, I do as I please with my money”.

On Twitter Claudia Rucci (@claudiarucci) [es] reacts to the senator's statements:

Anibal Fernandez, con sus declaraciones, es un gran movilizador de masas…ajenas. Cada palabra es una invitación al ‪#cacerolazo‬. Qué busca?

Anibal Fernandez, with his remarks, is a great mobilizer of the masses… of others. Every word is an invitation for a ‪#cacerolazo. What does he want?

YouTube user gloysanty shared a video of the May 31 cacerolazo in Buenos Aires:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGEpcL88AA4

Gerardo Fernández analyzes the protests in his blog Tirando al Medio [es]:

Podríamos hasta llegar a la cuenta de que llegan tarde estos cacerolazos que, además, fueron de una tibieza que asombra. Faltos de ganas, de fe, de convicción. Gritos de viejas crecidas al calor del golpismo gorila, espasmos de hijos de empresarios del campo domiciliados en las zonas acomodadas de la capital federal.

We might even say that these cacerolazos came in late, and that they were a very “light” protest. Lacking desire, faith, conviction. Cries from women who grew up in the warmth of coup sympathizers, spasms from children of businessmen domiciled in the affluent area of Buenos Aires.

Fernández continues reflecting on the use of pots and pans as a way of protest:

Si tenés que agarrar la cacerola y salir al balcón es porque no tenés una puta herramienta política a mano y las elecciones de renovación parlamentaria no hacen más que preanunciar que el oficialismo las vuelve a ganar.

If you have to grab the pan and go out to your balcony it is because you do not have a f***g political tool on hand and the renewing parliamentary elections only serves to herald that the official party will win again.

While the hashtag #cacerolazo [es] was the leading local trend, reactions started emerging against the cacerolazo with a new hashtag: #yoapoyoamipatria [es] (“I support my country”). Geraldine Panno Burs (@geripannoburs) [es] tells opponents:

Busquen ideas para dos mil quince y en las urnas nos veremos opositores! mientras sigan disfrutando del gobierno popular!‪#YoApoyoaMiPatria‬.

Search for ideas for 2015 and at the polls we will see each other, opponents! in the meanwhile keep enjoying a popular government ‪#YoApoyoaMiPatria‬

Likewise, Totoro (@hcaenrique) [es] writes:

Mira que yo no coincido en casi nada con el gobierno, pero el ‪#cacerolazo‬ de anoche fue una payasada mayúscula. Eso.

Look, I do not agree with government in almost anything, but the ‪#cacerolazo‬ last night was a big joke

And Jose Ruben Sentis (@joserubensentis) [es] says:

‪#YoApoyoaMiPatria‬ Justa, Libre y Soberana. Ellos al dólar.

#YoApoyoaMiPatria Fair, free and sovereign. The others can turn to the U.S. dollar.

After reflecting on the events of May 31 and the call through social networks, the blog Lo que pasa [es] concludes:

lo que vale es el voto y si uso la cacerola me es difícil cocinar, ojala alguna vez aprendamos a crecer…

what counts is the vote and if I use the pan it is difficult to cook, hopefully one day we will learn to grow …

But, just in case cacerolazos continue, Martin Machuca (@martinmachuca) [es] jokingly promotes a new model of cooking pans:

Vendo Olla automática Rebel Chick 2.0: Mas de veinte ritmos. Programable. Integrada con Twitter, Facebook, iPhone vía Bluetooth. ‪#cacerolazo

I'm selling an automatic pan Rebel Chick 2.0: More than twenty rythmns. Programmable. Integrated with Twitter, Facebook, iPhone vía Bluetooth. ‪#cacerolazo‬