Sunday, December 4, 2011

Chile from a cafe with legs

Today I went back to tread the streets "than it was Santiago" and I could not get close to the Palacio de la Moneda in this bright spring afternoon in the southern advance. Fences do not stop and yet the quiet is wonderful. What happens is that a few yards away, the University is taken by the Chileans angry young men demanding better and cheaper education. A huge banner, which practically covers the nineteenth century facade of the Central House of the University, says: "The struggle is for the entire society. All for free education. " Within the "Penguins" do not cease their advocacy activities. The chairs and tables upside down, indicating that the building is in struggle. " "Penguins" here is what they call high school students for their black and white uniforms , but they are far from being some boobies. Since 2006 have been facing the Organic Law of Education (LOCE), in force since March 10, 1990, just a day before the transfer of the government of dictator first elected president of this democracy, Patricio Aylwin. And little by little have managed to join them university students, teachers, parents, union members and officials to be supported by about 80% of the population, and starring in the biggest demonstrations in Chile since the return of democracy in 1990. A little further I go into what is here called " coffee with legs ", ie a café where waitresses in miniskirts esbeltísimas serve the tea, and read in" El Mercurio "that the general economic situation in Chile is good their euros 9,800 per capita income puts it at the top of the Latin American countries, what we call a real "success" that does not match the image given by the manifestations, or with the idea of Chile as a model country for its neighbors. Something does not match and as the popularity ratings of the current president, Sebastián Piñera, has fallen to 26%, the lowest level of any ruler of Chile's democratic period. Trouble coffee, look at a pair of legs walk past my desk and I hear from afar the cry of "penguins".

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