Comments for Benjamin Witte's Web Site

Comment on Nicaragua Again Dreaming Of A “Grand Canal” by Joe

Joe — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:24:03 +0000

You are wrong on this: “historically one of the poorest countries in the Americas”. In the 70.s Nicaragua had one of the strongest middle class in the Americas, when it came the Sandinistas and most of the economy collapsed.

Comment on Ethnic Tensions Again Boil Over In Chile’s Araucanía Region by benwitte

benwitte — Mon, 13 May 2013 11:14:25 +0000

Thanks for your interest. I’m in Spain at the moment. I lived in Santiago on-and-off (mostly on) between 2000 and 2010 and continue to keep tabs on events there. I’m familiar with the the Currahuehue area, but don’t know of any Mapuche resistance activity per say. Hope you’re enjoying Valpo. Saludos, Ben

Comment on El Salvador’s Principal Parties Quick To Pick Their Presidential Candidates by Mia Levy

Mia Levy — Sat, 11 May 2013 03:18:22 +0000

The latest CID GALLUP poll shows 32% of those polled plan on voting for current Vice-President Salvador Sánchez Cerén, the presidential candidate for the leftist Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN), in the February 2014 elections. Norman Quijano, the current Mayor of San Salvador and presidential candidate for the right-wing Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA), is 6 points behind Sánchez Cerén with 26% planning to vote for him. The poll showed 22% plan to vote for ex-president and media mogul Tony Saca, who recently announced his candidacy with the right-wing UNIDAD coalition.

Comment on Ethnic Tensions Again Boil Over In Chile’s Araucanía Region by coloresbrillando

coloresbrillando — Fri, 10 May 2013 21:34:40 +0000

Where are you living? I’m living in Valparaiso (have been here for 3 months, probably staying (with my Chilean partner) for about 2 years). I appreciate your approach and insights. Re the Mapuche conflict – do you know of any resistance activity in the area of Currahuehue (near Pucon and Villarica)? I was there for a month a year ago – they’re trying to develop “cultural tourism” – when my Spanish wasn’t good enough to understand much beyond food …. but I’m returning in a week or two and hope to get a better picture.
(www.coloresbrillando.com)

Comment on Chile’s Governing Coalition Stumbles In Municipal Elections by coloresbrillando

coloresbrillando — Fri, 10 May 2013 21:27:56 +0000

Thank you for the clear summary

Comment on El Salvador Declares First Environmental State Of Emergency by eva peñate

eva peñate — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 00:40:54 +0000

y que se hizo el famosisimo movimiento sin plomo?

Comment on US Deports 20,000 Salvadorans Annually by melissarodrick

melissarodrick — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 04:14:44 +0000

Excellent article. I am currently starting an organization to assist detainee’s and their families, while in detention, to be able to make informed decisions, receive proper care, etc… mostly those who can not afford an attorney, nor find pro-bono assistance. Your article hits on many of the issues immigrants face. I would like to link to this page in the future and thought that you might be interested in donating your words to such a cause or endeavor. please contact me if you are interested.

Comment on Ortega Presente! Nicaraguan President Begins Contitutionally-Questionable Third Term by silver account

silver account — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 13:33:08 +0000

I was born in Nicaragua and visit every year. I also still have lots of family there, and I am planning on moving back there very soon because of its progress under the Sandinista government and Ortega’s administration. I am very happy that Ortega has won another term. I know there are people who will never like Daniel Ortega, or give him an ounce of credit for any of his or his party’s achievements, no matter what. They are blinded by ideology and emotions. Much like the people here in the U.S. who hate president Obama no matter what. They are not interested in facts or statistics, and they readily embrace right-wing propaganda. Under Ortega’s administration poverty has fallen to 57 percent of the population from 65.5 percent in 2005, according to government and World Bank statistics. Tourism has also grown in leaps and bounds. Ortega has been very pro business, no one can argue that, unless they are intentionally being untruthful. He’s been steering Nicaragua down the right path and statistics show that. Every time I visit Nicaragua I have seen improvements with my own eyes. Things have gotten better in Nicaragua. All ideology aside, he gets results. None of the governments prior to Daniel Ortega attended to the poor like this one is doing today. For 16 years, right-wing administrations in Nicaragua have done nothing to help Nicaragua’s poor. Their policies have made Nicaragua slip backwards, becoming poorer and racking up more debt.

Comment on Central American Laborers Cut Down By Mystery Kidney Disease by $100 Dialysis

$100 Dialysis — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 00:12:28 +0000

[...] 0 Reblogged from Benjamin Witte's Web Site: [...]

Comment on Central American Laborers Cut Down By Mystery Kidney Disease by Central American Laborers Cut Down By Mystery Kidney Disease | Kidney Punch

Central American Laborers Cut Down By Mystery Kidney Disease | Kidney Punch — Thu, 10 May 2012 08:31:42 +0000

[...] Reblogged from Benjamin Witte’s Web Site: [...]