Not much in this new world order gives me that much hope. Even as I struggle with the decision of whether to vote a mainstream candidate for President for the first time in 12 years, I'm not overcome with "hope" for American democracy. But there's something incredible afoot in South America. The latest turn left comes from Paraguay, where former liberation theologist Fernando Lugo was elected on a platform of land reform and peasants' rights.
So much of South America is moving in this direction, it can't be seen as a fluke anymore. With Asia split between isolated dictatorships and Americanesque capitalist states, and Africa dealing with extreme poverty, violence and corruption, and the preventable spread of disease, South America may be the only truly successful manifestation of the Nonaligned movement of the 40s and 50s. The nations and people of the South are moving on their own, and it seems like even the main early players (Castro, Hugo Chavez) aren't as influential as indigenous folks stepping up to take leadership.
Sep 23, 2008
Third World Rising: Paraguay
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2 comments:
Very cool and inspiring.
You might have already heard of this, but I like this site, venezuelanalysis.com, to get info on what's happening in South America. Although its focus is Venezuela, it does talk about the other leftist countries in the region as well.
KC
Cool - haven't seen that site. Thanks for the heads up.
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