brad brace contemporary culture scrapbook

Eight months since taking power, the government of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega is facing fierce opposition from reactionary sectors – both national and international – led by the United States, who are persisting in ignoring the structural changes that have been embarked on in this new era for national politics.

It concerns an ideological struggle, radicalized in the last few months, between the principles and the program to improve the quality of life of the majority of the impoverished Nicaraguan population and, on the other hand, the interests of the right wing, who are witnessing a threat to their class privileges in the face of overwhelming support for the process being set in motion by Ortega and his cabinet.

Ortega continues to condemn the destabilization plans on the part of the government in Washington, and in the last few weeks has attacked the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signed by his country with the United States, contrasting the vast differences between that and the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA), which it has already signed along with Cuba, Bolivia and Venezuela – the main driving force behind the project – the philosophical base of which is fair trade aimed at improving the lives of the poorest sections of those countries.

“Unfair trade” was one of the president’s descriptions of the FTAs, because they always benefit the largest country. He gave as one example the effects that will be felt by Nicaragua’s tobacco industry on account of the import and sales taxes applied to that product by the United States.

By adopting this measure, thousands of Nicaraguan producers will lose their jobs and will be forced to illegally emigrate to the United States, where they are treated as fifth-class citizens.

Ortega affirmed that his party, the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), was never in agreement with the FTA.

Meanwhile, the United States is continuing its dirty war against the political process led by the former FSLN commander.

According to the president’s recent condemnations at the Sao Paulo Forum – held in Managua – the administration of George W. Bush is working “behind the scenes” in order to boycott the social and economic programs embarked on by his government, which have seen significant advances to date in spite of obstacles laid out by their enemies.

In a firm but conciliatory tone, Ortega referred to the fact that, despite the ideological differences between the two governments, relations between the United States and Nicaragua should be based on mutual respect and for that reason, he said, the underhand campaigns it is financing with the domestic right and with the privately-owned media are unacceptable. For the president, Washington’s interference in the internal affairs of his country are aimed at supporting groups calling themselves “representatives of the population,” when in reality these were destroyed by voters in last year’s general elections.

It is believed that a new split in bilateral relations could show itself after the Managua government confirmed an embargo of assets owned by U.S. oil company Esso in a tax payment dispute. The fraud on the part of the company consisted of declaring certain quantities while in the customs report, others appeared, according to presidential advisor Bayardo Arce.

The plan executed by Washington against Managua since Ortega assumed power is not that different from those that the White House – whose tenant Bush is currently rejected by 66% of his own people – has traditionally employed against legitimately constituted governments in Latin America and the Caribbean. Remember Haiti, Chile and Guatemala. The only difference is that we are in different times now and the governments have the support of powerful social and indigenous movements with a high level of political awareness.

What the right wing is looking to do now is to confuse the Nicaraguan population with tall stories in order to boycott the political and social programs of the administration of Ortega, the man who led the country from 1985 to1990, but did not secure reelection because of interference by the United States, which was supporting the so-called Contra war.

MANAGUA, Nicaragua — Each year between July and December, hundreds of thousands of rare sea turtles visit Nicaragua to lay millions of eggs along the country’s coasts. Nicaragua, a country abundant in nature and adventure, is one of only four countries believed to experience turtle hatchings of such large proportions.

Nicaragua’s majestic turtle migrations occur in waves referred to as “arribadas”, or arrivals in Spanish. There is usually one “arribada” per month, but the exact date is influenced by a variety of factors, including the weather and moon. During each migration, several thousand turtles come ashore almost simultaneously and lay more than 100 ping-pong ball-sized eggs each. Remarkably, the turtles return to the exact same beach on which they were born, a phenomenon yet to be understood by scientists.

Both of Nicaragua’s coasts are popular sites for nesting turtles. The country’s less-developed Caribbean coast, specifically the Pearl Cays, is the nesting area of choice for thousands of rare Hawksbill, Green, Loggerhead, and Leatherback turtles. The warm water, inviting grass beds, and protective mangroves of these remote, white-sand beaches are also home to what is believed to be the world’s largest remaining population of Green Sea Turtles.

More than a haven for surfers, Nicaragua’s Pacific coast also welcomes millions of turtle hatchlings every year. Between one and two million baby turtles emerge from the sands of Nicaragua’s Pacific coast to begin their perilous journey out to sea. One of the largest turtle groups can be found at the La Flor Wildlife Reserve, a crescent of white sand beach lined by lush tropical rainforest and rocky cliffs. Just south of San Juan del Sur, this natural refuge covers only a mile and a half of beach, yet attracts an extraordinary number of turtles each year, including more than 200,000 Olive Ridleys, one of the world’s smallest species. Mother turtles literally crawl over each other to compete for a spot in the warm sand. Between the months of July and January, La Flor is also visited by an average of 3,000 Paslama Turtles as well as several Parrot Turtles, the largest and most threatened of all marine turtles. Visitors interested in witnessing this exciting phenomenon can reach La Flor from Managua in less than 45 minutes, enter the park for a small fee and enjoy plenty of beach. La Flor is currently being managed by Fundacion Cocibolca, a local NGO that is attempting to educate local communities.

Turtle migrations become increasingly rare with each year due to the endangered status of the sea turtle. Though poaching remains a constant threat for turtles around the world, the Nicaraguan government is working with agencies such as the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to help educate communities about the importance of protecting these turtles for future generations.

A Wellington, NZ family are selling their Caribbean island after an idyllic but at times nightmarish experience living there for two years.

They are asking $5.4 million for the island they bought for about $1 million – the difference being the cost of developing a five-star luxury residence with all mod-cons including staff quarters and helipad.

In 2002, Martin and Jenifer Thomas of Paraparaumu bought Little Eden Cay, a remote island off Nicaragua, and took their four young children there for the dream lifestyle.

Initially, all six had to stay in a rat-infested hut, plagued by stinging sandflies and waiting many months for their house to be built.

Materials were delivered by canoe but the Thomas family’s presence was challenged.

They hit the headlines when a national Nicaraguan newspaper declared Depredan los Cayos! (Our cays are being destroyed).

Officials from the police or marines, environmental activists and journalists arrived from Managua with cameras and guns to challenge the family’s presence and question their ownership.

Martin Thomas wrote in his book A Slice of Heaven, that the officials and media were horrified but also fascinated that so much building work was taking place and that foreigners had bought one of the precious Pearl Cays of Nicaragua.

The officials claimed the family did not own the island – they said the state did – and they should leave.

But Mr Thomas said he was the seventh owner and he took a peaceful but strong line, having been advised by lawyer Peter Martinez that threats were a common tactic and foreign island ownerships were being upheld in courts there.

So the officials left the family in peace and they got on with developing a luxurious residence.

And eventually they created their own private paradise – with all conveniences.

They installed a 30,000 kilowatt power generator, septic tank, telephones, high-speed internet access from a satellite dish and the helipad.

Only the birth of a fifth child and concerns for the older children’s education forced them to leave.

The family are back at Paraparaumu and hope to sell the island soon. In the meantime, they are planning to shift to France, near the Spanish border, buying a house there to renovate.

* Little Eden Cay was previously called Wild Cane Cay.
* Situated in the Caribbean’s idyllic Pearl Cays archipelago.
* Said to have been owned by a king of the Miskito ethnic group.
* 10ha island bought in 2002 for US$500,000 ($1 million at the time).
* Now selling for ¬3 million ($5.4 million).
* A two-hour speedboat trip from Nicaragua mainland.