spa151-cultureproject-jaded-blog

[spa151-cultureproject-jaded-blog]

Works Cited Page for Costa Rica, Peru, and Puerto Rico

[spa151-cultureproject-jaded-blog]

[spa151-cultureproject-jaded-blog]

Activism in Puerto Rico

Activism is very common and important to the culture and country of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rican demonstrators are protesting and are activists for mainly political and social reasons. Political activism is very common in Puerto Rico due to the corruption in the government of Puerto Rico in which the citizens of Puerto Rico are negatively affected as a result. A recent instance of political activism was in July of 2019 when former Governor Ricardo Rosselló was demanded to resign by the citizens of Puerto Rico due to the numerous scandals in the government he was involved in, as well as his shocking private chats that had surfaced (Morales). Demonstrators involved in the protest for the resignation of Rosselló consisted of individuals of different age groups, different social classes, and even different political views. Demonstrators that protested for Rosselló’s resignation not only used chants and signs to voice their disappointment. They also participated in a variety of different activities such as horseback riding, scuba diving, music, and even yoga to express their feelings in response to the shocking news (Henríquez). All these different activities combined that Puerto Rico citizens participated in were very effective in which Rosselló eventually resigned as the Governor of Puerto Rico. LGBTQ+ and feminist groups in Puerto Rico also have uniquely demonstrated for their rights, visibility, and equality in Puerto Rico. They have used small hand drums in tune with chants and songs to express their feelings, colorful signs, and flags to show their visibility in their communities. Also, LGBTQ+ community members and their allies in Santurce, Puerto Rico, a barrio located on the northern coast of the country, have utilized social media platforms to start and spread the conversation about gender and sexuality (Alfonseca). They have also educated other residents of the city about the issues that the LGBTQ+ community faces daily, advocated for policy changes that are inclusive of gender and sexuality, and even helped in providing aid to the victims of Hurricane Maria (Alfonseca).  The result of activism shown by the LGBTQ+ groups not only in Santurce but in all of Puerto Rico has made the country a safe place where individuals can safely come out and be accepted. Puerto Rico still has a long way to go in terms of the stigma, the lack of health centers, and many other issues, but the changes they have made thus far are truly substantial.

[spa151-cultureproject-jaded-blog]

First picture: 

Majandra Rodriguez Acha, member of TierrActiva

[spa151-cultureproject-jaded-blog]

Activism in Peru

With being the third-largest country in South America, Peru is very abundant in activism. Environmental and Social activism are the main forms of activism in Peru. Though, there are numerous reasons, other than environmental and social, for Peru’s activism. Peru is home to the Amazon rainforest, the world’s largest rainforest. There are many tribes and communities that reside in the Amazon, so when the Peruvian government started to capitalize on the Amazon rainforest in 2009, many people were upset (Imbler). Majandra Rodriguez Acha, a young citizen of Peru, was outraged after learning the news that the president of Peru was opening up the Amazon rainforest for the capitalization of the rainforest’s oil. This meant that the indigenous tribes that have resided in these oil-rich areas for numerous years would have to relocate. Acha protested alongside other citizens against the capitalization of the Amazon rainforest. Since then, she has been a voice to the silenced people who reside in the Amazon and has raised awareness for the destruction of the Amazon rainforest and the communities and tribes who live there. Along with being an environmental activist, Acha also is an activist for the women in the Amazon rainforest since the majority of the farmers in the Amazon are women and the capitalization of the Amazon directly affects them. Acha, along with her group ‘TierrActiva Perú,’ have organized protests, gatherings, and conferences to raise awareness and to get the conversation started about the unjust actions of the Peru government on the indigenous tribes living in the Amazon (Imbler). Though, environmental activists in Peru have not been treated very well. Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International, comments “those who bravely stand up to defend their land and the environment are frequently targeted because of their work. These attacks have a devastating impact on their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, as well as that of their families and communities” (“Americas: Activists in Peru and Paraguay Criminalized for Defending the Environment”). Authorities in Peru have unjustly charged protesters with criminal activity, have made false accusations, and inflicted physical force on environmental protesters. When Majandra Rodriguez Acha protested alongside others against the capitalization of the Amazon rainforest, her and many other protesters suffered from teargas that was released by Peru’s police force. This shows that there is a frightening side to activism, one that can harm one’s physical and mental wellbeing. Yet, that is the risk people will take if that means effectively communicating a message, and that is the beauty of activism.

[spa151-cultureproject-jaded-blog]

[spa151-cultureproject-jaded-blog]

Activism in Costa Rica

Activism is an important element of the culture and country of Costa Rica. While there are numerous motives for activism in Costa Rica, many activists of Costa Rica have been mainly fighting against climate change and corruption in their government. Climate change is an issue that is currently happening worldwide, and communities in Costa Rica have been doing everything they can to prevent it from getting worse. Latin Clima writes that Costa Rican communities “decided to take the challenge of decarbonizing its economy, for which the transportation sector represents a fundamental challenge, followed by the solid waste sector. Inventories of greenhouse gases (GHG) made by the municipalities of San José, Desamparados, Belén, La Unión, Monteverde and Golfito show that both activities are the main sources of GHG across the six municipalities” (“Costa Rican Communities Fighting Against Climate Change”). Though, these communities are not taking their activism on the streets. Instead, they are implementing various projects that reduce their carbon footprint on the earth. Also, municipalities are finding ways to reduce the number of carbon emissions given off from industrial sectors. Forest engineers in these Costa Rican communities have also been planning to create more hiking and bike trails, restructure the public transportation system, and promote carpooling and other eco-friendly means of transportation. (“Costa Rican Communities Fighting Against Climate Change”). As stated before, government corruption is one of the main motives for activism in Costa Rica. In October of 2018, members of the citizen empowerment group ‘Territorios Seguros’ took a stand against the Ministry of Finance of Costa Rica for not releasing the names of the companies who have not paid taxes in the past 10 years due zero profit or loss (“The Power of Citizens to Confront Big Businesses and Fight Corruption”). When a court ruling enforced the Ministry of Finance to release a list of the companies who were tax-exempt, it was revealed that large companies, who have made billions in sales, have not paid taxes in years. Due to this event, citizens of Costa Rica gained transparency between the government and the people. Nevertheless, there was an outrage for the fact that large companies have not been paying taxes and the increase in the citizens’ taxes because of it. The activism of these members from Territorios Seguros brought people to fight for more transparency between citizens and their government by advocating for more investigations in the scandals and wrongdoings of businesses and for more tools that the government can use to fight tax evasion in large companies (“The Power of Citizens to Confront Big Businesses and Fight Corruption”). The simple actions done by the few members of Territorios Seguros show that activism comes in many forms. Activism does not always correlate to a massive crowd or group to effectively communicate a message. A single person can also have the same effect.

[spa151-cultureproject-jaded-blog]

Activism in Costa Rica, Peru, and Puerto Rico

Activism can be seen all over the countries of Costa Rica, Peru, and Puerto Rico. These countries have an abundance of activism for similar reasons, but citizens in each of these countries are making significant changes in their own unique way.

[spa151-cultureproject-jaded-blog]

Works Cited for Spain and Mexico

[spa151-cultureproject-jaded-blog]

Activism in Mexico

[spa151-cultureproject-jaded-blog]

Activism in Mexico

From the small towns to large cities, activism is portrayed throughout the country of Mexico. Motives for activists in Mexico to participate in demonstrations range from political to social reasons. Joshua Partlow of the Independent explains, “they [citizens of Mexico] protest at Mexico’s oil policies, US immigration rules, rising subway prices and education reform. They have marched in opposition to drug lords’ rampant killing and kidnapping, and in opposition to the arrest of said drug lords. They block toll booths. Airports. Roads” (Partlow). Citizens of Mexico rally for things that are unjust whether that may be in their community or the government. When looking at activist groups and movements, there are many in Mexico. One major group is the feminist and women’s rights activists which fight for women’s rights and gender equality in Mexico. Feminists activists in Mexico have gotten creative in how they protest against gender inequality. Recently, feminist activists in Mexico protested against state violence against women with the use of glitter, or ‘glitter bombing.’ Glitter bombing is the act of throwing copious amounts of glitter over an individual. Lauren Cocking of Teen Vogue interviewed author Galli Robertson and wrote that “Mexico City is the first sort of protest-based use of glitter bombing that I've seen,” Galli Roberston [sic] said, noting that “the use of glitter bombing [in Mexico City] actually softens what otherwise would be seen as … very destructive and even violent protests…The combination of the strikingly visual, force-free glitter bombing with “intensely radical protest tactics” is “really, really interesting and I think tactically very smart for these women,” Galli Robertson said” (Cocking, “The History of Using Glitter as a Symbol of Protest). Surprisingly, glitter bombing is used frequently in demonstrations in Mexico. LGBTQ+ activists in Mexico have also utilized this tactic. Activists in Mexico have been very creative in their demonstrations. From colorful signs to chants, activists in Mexico goes above and beyond. Partlow explains, “in the past month, Mexican football players wore brown paper bags over their heads to protest at unpaid wages. Topless women with blue-paint handprints over their breasts marched for women’s rights. Jugglers, dancers and clowns raged against a new rule banning animals from circuses” (Partlow). Creative tactics like these have significantly increased the effectiveness of these demonstrations. Another unique way activism is being portrayed in Mexico is through embroidery. Embroidery has been used as a form of peaceful protest by the Fuentes Rojas, a “group dedicated to reclaiming space through peaceful protest” (Cocking, “The Activists Using Embroidery to Protest Mexico’s Murder Epidemic”). The start of the Fuentes Rojas and their peaceful protest was a reaction to the homicide epidemic in Mexico. To bring awareness to the homicide epidemic, members of Fuentes Rojas hand embroider the names of victims of homicide and their story on individual handkerchiefs in remembrance of them. Then, they display the embroidered handkerchiefs outside for the general public to view. As a result, many people have sparked conversations with the group, but some people rejected their actions. Fuentes Rojas embroider each handkerchief with a certain string color, depending on the victim. They use a red thread to represent all victims of homicide, but they also use a green thread for the hope that disappeared loved ones would return. Also, a pink thread is used for females killed in gender-based murders, and a black thread is used for deceased journalists due to homicide (Cocking, “The Activists Using Embroidery to Protest Mexico’s Murder Epidemic”). With the numerous creative and unique forms of activism in Mexico, as well as the diversity of groups and individuals who are fighting for change, the activism shown in Mexico is truly special.

[spa151-cultureproject-jaded-blog]

Activism in Spain

[spa151-cultureproject-jaded-blog]

Activism in Spain

Activism in Spain is an essential part of their culture and is very important to the people who reside there. There are various motives as to why many individuals in Spain are activists. One motive for why citizens of Spain are activists is due to the instability of the government in Spain and the controversial politics that are negatively affecting the citizens of Spain. Because of this, Spain’s citizens have resorted to activism for direct communication with their government. Florent Marcellesi and Rosa Martínez Rodríguez of the European Green Journal writes, “in recent years, more and more people have understood that action and transformation from below are essential for change. Similarly, the neglect and incompetence of the authorities in the face of a democratic, social and ecological emergency (paired with their collusion with the economic powers) have demonstrated that a political presence is equally indispensable” (Marcellesi and Rodríguez). The citizens of Spain are tired of not being heard by the government about the issues they face, and activism and demonstrations seem to be their only voice to communicate with the people in power. Another reason why citizens of Spain are activists is due to extreme political parties. In Andalusia, the most populated region in Spain, a new political party called Vox has entered the Andalusian government. Individuals that reside in this region of Spain are unhappy about this political party coming into power due to their extremely conservative views that go against their values, specifically equality. One thing that the Vox party wants to accomplish is to remove laws that criminalize individuals for gender violence. This potentially puts many individuals at risk because abusers will not get criminalized for domestic violence, leaving the victims of domestic violence with no justice. As a response to Vox’s agenda for the future of the Andalusian government, Isabel Valdés and Antonio J. Mora of EL PAÍS reported that “…100 municipalities in total held some form of protest against a party that has made scrapping gender violence laws a signature issue” (Mora and Valdés). This is one of many examples as to why activism is important to the culture of Spain because the citizens want to protect the collective values that they share that ultimately make up their culture. There are also numerous activist groups and movements in Spain. One major activist in Spain is the 15-M movement. The goal of the 15-M movement is to fight against the corruption of the government of Spain, and essentially gives the citizens of Spain a voice. Álvaro García of El País further explains that the 15-M movement “was not the sole focus of the demands made five years ago by Spaniards angry at the failure of the political classes to deal with the crisis that began in 2008, but it certainly generated a public debate about the country’s institutions, its electoral rules, evictions of people trapped in negative equity, senior officials’ pay, and of course corruption. It emerged in the context of the poverty created by the economic crisis, austerity policies and youth unemployment, and the anger it expressed found a channel on the internet and the social networks” (García). The 15-M movement has made remarkable progress in communicating with the Spanish government to get the demands that will benefit the citizens of Spain. Though, they still have a long way to go. Other activist groups and movements in Spain include feminist and Women’s Rights groups and LGBTQ+, both fighting for equal and fair rights. In their demonstrations, Spaniard activists have created catchy slogans, colorful signs, and chants to use as a communicative device to voice their concerns and opinions. With the different movements and activist groups in Spain, as well as the different causes citizens of Spain are fighting for and against, activism in Spain is very unique. 

[spa151-cultureproject-jaded-blog]

Activism in Spain and Mexico

When looking at activism in the cultures of Spain and Mexico, activism is very common and is significant to the people who reside in those countries. Though, activism in Spain is very different from activism in Mexico due to their differing motives for their activism, activist groups, and how they take action.

[spa151-cultureproject-jaded-blog]

What is activism?

Activism is an essential part of any culture or society. It allows individuals to voice their opinions, to support a cause, and to bring about change. Marches, petitions, and protests are just a few of the numerous forms of how activism is practiced. Demonstrations of activism are due to social, political, economic, or environmental reasons. In many countries around the world, activism is very common. An important thing to note about activism is that it can bring about change. When looking at historical figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, Malala Yousafzai, and Martin Luther King Jr., they all changed history and the world for the better through continuous activism. The reality of activism, especially in demonstrations, can bring positive or negative reactions. There are people who will support or reject a cause, authorities who will fight back, and it can overall be mentally and physically draining. Despite the negative outcomes that can arise, the positive outcomes from activism prevail.