Rick Sterling: Book Review of Nicaragua: A History of US Intervention and Resistance Dan Kovalik has written a book which reviews the history of intervention and resistance up to the present day. He includes his own experiences from several decades visiting Nicaragua. Kovalik addresses the criticisms of Daniel Ortega and the Sandinistas which are sometimes heard in the West. There are many references and interesting quotations from North Americans and Europeans who live in Nicaragua. The book also includes many references to movies, songs and poetry. Anyone interested in Latin American history or US foreign policy should add this book to their reading list.
Roger McKenzie: Nicaragua: the path to independence Around a third of the FSLN’s seats in the country’s National Assembly are held by trade unionists — giving the movement direct access to the highest levers of power in Nicaragua. Unions also have seats, as a right, on all government commissions, such as education, health and race. Women have been central to building the Sandinista revolution. “Women members of FSLN have always been general secretaries. This reflects our numbers in key sectors such as universities where 56% of workers are women and in healthcare where it is around 80%. “The reality in our country is that women have more power.”
Nan McCurdy: Nicaragua: Example to the World of How to Defend Sovereignty and Independence Nicaraguans not only have repeatedly shown they will stand up for their independence but have developed the country so they can survive US economic warfare. Nicaragua has developed three essential areas that make it resilient even in the face of this form of war: Nicaragua produces about 90% of the food that people eat; Nicaragua has increased renewable energy from 20% to 70% so every year it is less dependent on petroleum imports; and it has developed excellent infrastructure in health, education, roads and bridges, energy, water and sewage.
Fiona Edwards: Nicaragua is standing firm against U.S. imperialism Nicaragua, alongside other progressive forces in Latin America, has firmly rejected Washington’s new cold war agenda. The mainstream Western media’s portrayal of Nicaragua as an unpopular, isolated and authoritarian regime defies reality. Since 2020 Nicaragua’s economy has been recovering, with a growth rate of 10.3% of GDP in 2021 and 4% of GDP in 2022. According to the latest polling, conducted in July 2023, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega enjoys an approval rating of 79% – the highest level of support since he was elected in 2006.
Send a letter opposing US sanctions on Nicaragua, Venezuela, Cuba, then forward these to others
1.RootsAction.org: Tell Congress to Cease Hostility Toward Venezuela A letter you can sign on and send to your Congressperson about S.995 – Venezuelan Democracy Act. This bill would sanction Venezuela until the government is overthrown. H.R.4086 / S.1931 – AFFECT Human Rights in Venezuela Act. This bill is designed to seek negative information on the Venezuelan government. That information might be true or not, but it is not used to promote self-governance but foreign governance. Another bill is coming soon.
2.AFGJ: Contact your Senators! Oppose new and old sanctions on Nicaragua! The new sanctions will restrict loans for economic development from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) which funds roads, water and energy projects, and housing in the country. Previous sanctions stopped most loans from the IMF, World Bank and the IDB. Now the U.S. wants to stop the CABEI loans as well. The new sanctions would also ban additional Nicaraguan products from export to the US, such as coffee and beef.
3. One million signatures for Cuba! demanding Biden take Cuba off the State Sponsors of Terrorism List Not only is there no basis for putting Cuba on this US list, but it worsens the 60 year US blockade on Cuba by making it harder for Cuba to buy food, medicine, fuel, etc on the international market.
4. Code Pink: Sign and Share this petition: President Biden: Lift the Venezuela sanctions! Restore diplomatic relations with Venezuela! Free Alex Saab! First, lift the cruel and senseless broad-based sanctions that have devastated Venezuela’s economy, forcing millions to flee and causing 40,000 deaths in just their first year. Second, end the charade of recognizing Juan Guaidó as “interim president”: your administration sent a team to meet with President Maduro, de facto recognition of his government. Third, Uphold the Vienna Convention and free Alex Saab.
5.AFGJ Alert: Biden Administration’s nomination of Elliott Abrams to the United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy must be stopped! Sign on to send a letter to Biden and your Senators.
Events
September 5: Nicaragua: Truth Versus Lies Organized by the Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign Action Group. John Perry; Abigail Espinoza Muñoz, active FSLN member, former councillor in Masaya; Roger McKenzie, International Editor, Morning Star.
September 24: Next Nicaragua Webinar on the Nicaraguan policing model. 3 PM Eastern time. Mark your calendars! More information coming soon.
Upcoming Delegations to Nicaragua
Casa Ben Linder delegations in October, January, and February
Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition: nicasolidarity.net Our monthly zoom meetings: second Monday of the month (Sept. 11), 2:30 PM ET
Email NicaraguaSolidarityCoalition@gmail.com in advance to request Zoom access for the meeting, or to make other inquiries.
Organizations: Apply for coalition membership here:
Listserve: nicanet@googlegroups.com join at groups.google.com/g/nicanet
Sign up to receive the weekly Nica Notes: https://afgj.org/signup
Facebook: Friends of Sandinista Nicaragua, Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition
Twitter: @SolidarityNica
Instagram: @NicaSolidarity
Valuable Resources from Our Members & Partners: Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign, Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign Action Group, Friends of the ATC Nicaragua