protest in Santiago

More than 70 organizations participated in the march, denouncing Chilean energy company AES Gener and mining company Antofagasta Minerals for possibly threatening the capital’s water supply.

“Everything starts with the glaciers … and for us it’s important that we be present in this march in particular because the construction of Alto Maipo will impact the glaciers,”

“There’s a lack of understanding regarding the impact this construction will have on the city, which has to do with this secret agreement between [Aes Gener] and Aguas Andinas and which will allow it to use drinking water reserves for the production of energy,” 

Earlier in July, various political figures denounced what they saw as a lack of transparency in the AES Gener’s dealings with Aguas Andinas, a utility company that manages drinking water.

According to the companies in charge of Alto Maipo, the US$700 million project would generate approximately 50 percent of Santiago homes’ electricity demand.

Catalina Pezoa, representing the Workers’ Revolutionary Party (PTR), spoke to The Santiago Times about the moral imperative behind her organization’s participation.

“We’re a movement connected to the earth and in that sense, we have a more moral outlook on this problem,” she said. “We want the nationalization of natural resources … because we know that the workers are those who should have control of those resources without having to designate an employer who takes all of those resources and interests.”

Back in April, thousands of Chileans gathered in Parque Almagro demanding the end to the private management of water in Chile, and to have the resource named a basic human right in the Constitution

On Saturday, carrying posters with pictures of the local plant life, residents of the Peumo community of the Cajón del Maipo joined the march to defend their home.

“We’re against the Alto Maipo project because it’s going to take the water from the river and tributaries, 80 percent of it … and the area is filled with flora and fauna. It’s a national heritage. I don’t know how the government can allow something like this. It’s an immoral project,” 

Saturday’s march is one more act of opposition in a string of protests against the hydro project and the privatization of water.

Earlier in June, residents of San José de Maipo occupied the entrance to the Public Works Ministry to show their opposition to Alto Maipo.

Chile imports 70 percent of its energy and has some of the highest energy prices in the region. Bachelet has warned of a pending energy crisis as the mining industry in the north expands, however large-scale hydro projects and coal-fired power plants have struggled to remain operational or get off the ground in the face of legal battles with communities, environmentalists and regulators.

The 2014-18 Energy Agenda revealed the government is gambling on the U.S. shale gas boom in order to address rising energy prices in the medium term.

Palestinian refugees’ escape to Chile

Ahmad and Mustafa are proud Palestinians — but they have never lived in Palestine. The two brothers — 19 and 15 years old, respectively — have spent much of their lives in refugee camps across Iraq, suffering poor conditions, sandstorms and the threat of reprisals from Shia militia as the country continued its descent into sectarian violence.
Now Ahmad and Mustafa live with their family in the leafy Santiago suburb of Ñuñoa. In 2008, the Chilean government gave them and more than 100 other compatriots and fellow refugees asylum in the country, believed to already have the largest Palestinian community outside of the Middle East.

“In 2003, following the beginning of the war, we were discriminated against and abused by various Iraqi criminal groups,” Ahmad said. “They killed a lot of young Palestinians and destroyed our houses and shops.”

The situation for many in the Palestinian community in Iraq only got worse in the following years, according to Ahmad. Sectarian violence was on the increase and Baghdad became increasingly dangerous. In 2006, militant Sunni’s bombed Askariya Shrine — one of the most important religious sites for the country’s Shiite majority — sparking a cycle of retaliatory violence which was often directed at the vulnerable and principally Sunni Palestinian refugee population.

After six years in Santiago, Ahmad and Mustafa are well integrated in the Chilean-Palestinian society, especially through organizations such as General Union for Palestinian Students in Chile (UGEP). Like many Palestinians across the world, Ahmad and Mustafa follow current events in the Middle East closely and continue to voice their opposition to Israeli military strikes on the Gaza Strip following the recent outbreak of violence. On Saturday July 19 Palestinian solidarity groups will protest outside the Israeli Embassy in Santiago.

First semestre 2014

RANKING OF THE BEST OF MY COURSES AND OUTSTANDING STUDENTS

# First place:      (4ºD) Course average 4,4 - Nicolas Provoste     6,1 (outstanding student)

# Second place: (3ªD) Course average 4,4 - Leonardo Vidal        5,9 (otstanding student)

# Third place:    (2ªD) Course average 4,1 - Francisca Galindo   5,6 (outstanding student)

# Fourth place:   (3ªC) Course average 4,1 - Judith Gálvez          5,3 (outstanding student)

# Fifth place:     (1ªE) Course average  3,8 - Pía Véliz                  6,0  (outstanding student)

# Sixth Place:    (2ªB) Course average  3,8 - Hernán Chacón       5,6  (outstanding student) 

# Seventh Place: (4ªA) Course average 3,7 - Aline Nuñez and Jorge Pastrián 4,7 (outstanding students)

Teachers strike across the country for better public education

Teachers led a national strike and mass protests in major cities across the country Wednesday to challenge the government’s planned education reform and call for better working conditions.

Organizers the Teachers’ Union said 150,000 educators took part in strike action and demonstrations nationwide with at least 50,000 protesting in the capital alone  — though Carabineros, Chile’s uniformed police, said attendance of the protest proper was closer to 10,000 in the capital.

Beginning at Plaza Italia then heading west down the main thoroughfare Alameda, the Santiago protest passed largely without incident and was hailed a success by union president Jaime Gajardo who claimed the turnout demonstrated public support for the union’s position.

“The great majority of the country supports us and supports our call for profound changes in our education system,” he said, adding that President Michelle Bachelet’s reforms endanger public education and were drafted without sufficient input from teachers, students and other external groups.

“The government must announce whether municipal school will be returned under the control of the central government and end uncertainty,” Gajardo added. “The essential thing is to change the financial model of the education system because this is what is harming the poorest and ultimately devastating public education.”

New index ranks Chile as second most peaceful country in South America

Chile continues to lead as the second most peaceful country in South America and ranks 30 globally, according to the 2014 Global Peace Index report.

The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) released the annual report on Wednesday, which ranks 162 independent states’ internal and external peacefulness based on 22 indicators. Through its rankings, the institute also establishes the countries most likely to experience instability and violence in the next two years.

Chile’s index scores in the broader areas of safety and security in society, the extent of domestic or international conflict, as well as the degree of militarization raise it one spot globally from last year’s ranking of 31. The most peaceful country ranks at one, while the least peaceful ranks 162.

“Although it has faced many challenges over the last decade, Chile has remained resilient to a platitude of external shocks, including the tragic earthquake and Tsunami in 2010,” the IEP wrote in April.

Its improvement from last year, however, is still a low ranking compared to previous years. This year Chile ranked higher in violent demonstrations, accessibility of small arms and light weapons, as well as high level of perceived criminality. The country ranked lower in various other indicators like political instability, meaning that citizens’ needs are supported by political institutions.

While Chile increased its index score, Uruguay continues to remain as the most peaceful country in South America despite its drop in score. An increase in police and security forces dropped the leading country’s score.

Although it ranks third regionally as most peaceful, Argentina is among the ten countries most likely to “deteriorate in peace” in the next couple of years. The index shows that even with internal tensions in Colombia and Venezuela, South America scored above the global average this year.

Overall results represented Syria as the least peaceful country in the world and Iceland as the most peaceful. The general findings indicate that global peacefulness is gradually decreasing due to terrorist activity, number of conflicts fought and number of refugees and displaced persons.

“As these effects are likely to continue into the near future, a strong rebound in peace is unlikely,” Steve Killelea, founder and Executive Chairman of the IEP, told the press.

Neymar stole the show

The striker responded to the responsibility of being his country's poster boy by finding the net either side of half-time after Marcelo had scored an early own goal.
Oscar cemented the result with a wonderful individual goal late on but the adulation at the Arena de Sao Paulo went to Barcelona's Neymar.

His first goal was a low, sweeping effort that crept into the net from 25 yards. His second, 19 minutes before the end, was altogether more controversial.

Dejan Lovren was judged to have fouled Fred in the box. Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura pointed to the spot, despite replays showing little contact had been made. Neymar converted, the ball deflecting in off the out-stretched arm of goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa, to spark scenes of celebration.
It ensured a 10th consecutive win for Luiz Felipe Scolari's side but Brazil demonstrated flaws and fragilities. They did not play with the fluency or flamboyance that saw them swat aside Spain to win the Confederations Cup so emphatically last year.

The moments before kick-off had been typically rousing. A passionate Brazilian crowd delivered another fervent rendition of the national anthem. Croatia were no more than an afterthought to most outside the thousand travelling fans.

Bravo to Barcelona

Chile captain and goalkeeper Claudio Bravo is reportedly on the verge of a move to Barcelona, having agreed personal terms with the Catalan club, for a fee of around US$12.2 million.

Bravo has turned down the opportunity to join Spain’s elite clubs on two occasions in the past — in 2010 he declined Real Madrid’s offer of becoming a backup to Iker Casillas, and similarly in 2012 rejected the chance to become Barcelona’s second choice goalkeeper behind Víctor Valdés.

However, with both first-choice Valdés and backup José Manual Pinto leaving the club this summer, the Chilean could reach the pinnacle of European football by making the number one jersey at Barcelona his own. Standing in his way is the club’s recent signing, 22-year-old German Marc-André Ter Stegen.

The Chilean goalkeeper’s experience could count in his favour — he has amassed 78 caps for the national team and has the chance to display his ability at the World Cup this summer, unlike his German competitor, who missed out on a place in the Germany squad for the tournament.

Former Chile goalkeeper Nelson Tapia believes that Bravo will soon surpass the record number of international caps for Chile, a title held by Leonel Sánchez with 85, and offered glowing praise for the current national number one.