Toledo will go down in history

Toledo will go down in history as a failure. There is little doubt about it. The revolution he led, or fronted, in 2000 is now in the past. We will only remember the ‘Cholo bruto’ and have already forgotten the ‘Cholo terco’. This is a shame for many reasons:

First, he missed a great opportunity to bring about a clear change in the structure of power that has ruled Peru for the last 500 years. For once, a Peruvian with the appropriate indigenous credential had been elected democratically to rule the country. His success would have strengthened the chances of the poor and indigenous groups in Peru to claim self-governance and empower their roles in the political processes of the country. Toledo would have been followed by, hopefully, another representative of the indigenous Peru, transforming this country into a fairer and more equal society.

Second, he missed the opportunity to challenge the elites by showing them that their support of Fujimori was not going to be forgotten. He failed, however, because he preferred the power of dollars instead of the power of numbers. He surrounded himself of traditional politicians and businessmen belonging to the social and economic elites of Lima and became a victim of their envy and racism.

Third, he failed to take advantage of the reaction against market reforms and neo-liberalism and implement a more human public policy. He missed the opportunity to carryout a reform of the public sector to guarantee the fair and adequate re-distribution of wealth, the promotion of human rights and the protection of the poor and vulnerable. He has, instead, followed the same neo-liberal, free market policies that failed during Fujimori and that brought about an increase in inequality and social exclusion.

Forth, he has missed the opportunity to become a regional leader. The dream of the South American Union is taking place but with Toledo in an increasingly distant role. He also gave into U.S pressure and left the G20+ at a time when it most needed our support.

Fifth, he has missed the opportunity to do something about the atrocities of the 20 years of war and the impunity of those who carried them out. He failed to offer the Truth and Reconciliation Commission the support it deserved and let its recommendations linger in oblivion. He has engaged in personal fights with some of the most corrupt and disgusting politicians our country has had and let them destroy the chances of justice for the hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of Peruvians directly affected by the crimes of both the revels and the State.

Sixth, Toledo has missed the chance to create a real party, a contender to APRA. He has been unable to lead his own party and strengthen it. He has trusted too many people and depended on others for too many things and has lost control.

Seventh, he has missed the opportunity to shift the balance of power from the transnationals and foreign interests to the people. He has favoured the interests of the mining companies over those of the campesinos, he has reinforced the role of the U.S. in anti-drug policies in detriment to the livelihoods of Peruvian families; and he supports a FTA with the U.S. that can only bring about benefits for the rich and more poverty for the poor.

Toledo, will, no doubt, go down in history as a failure. It is a shame though, that he will fail regardless of the fact that exports, international reserves and GDP among other economic indicators have systematically increased during his government.

But, like any other president, his legacy will depend on what he does during the last days of his government. There is still time. He can, for instance, press forward in a decentralisation process that will award regions with absolute power and control over their resources. He could, for example, begin a systematic move of ministries out of Lima; does it make any sense that the Ministry of Agriculture is based in a city of 8 million people? Shouldn’t DEVIDA be based close to the coca producing regions where it is promoting ‘alternative development strategies’?

He could reform social policy and save it from the bickering of partisan politics. He could dramatically increase education and health budgets to decent levels –who will dare bring them back down? Toledo could still threaten the old order; he could bring about the changes he promised; he could reinvent the Peruvian Ande; he could shift the balance of power… He could do so much. Will he, though?

Senegal 2

This one is a good picture too. Working boy and his mum in Goree

Senegal 1

I was looking for some pics from my trip to Senegal. I have only a few but this must be the best. Its at the Island of Goree; from where slaves were sent to the Americas. A UNESCO site, but little have changed. The poor remain as exploited labour in the island; hidden away from the tourists. This kid was 'fishing' coins thrown into the sea by tourists.

El pop ha muerto, que viva el rock

¡Por fin! Hace unos años se me ocurrió dar mi pobre opinión sobre música a algunos amigos y predije que esa onda de los ‘boy-bands’ y las britneys y christinas iba a desaparecer. Britneys vienen y van pero el rock siempre queda al final. Durante el 2004, una nueva generación de grupos de rock ha madurado y ha tomado por la fuerza el escenario. Desde que Oasis declarara el inicio de lo que en Gran Bretaña se vino a llamar el Brit Pop, y después de una sequía de casi una década en la que el bubble gum pop, el hip-hop y la música trance o dance o como quieran llamarla han invadido las radio y los clubs, un nuevo Brit Pop (o Brit Rock) ha aparecido. Este año, los Brits Awards (el equivalente del Emmy en Gran Bretaña) presentaron solo la punta del iceberg pero dejaron bien en claro que la música de verdad esta de vuelta.

Take me Out the Franz Ferdinand se convirtió, de la noche a la mañana, en uno de los mejores singles del año. El album se convirtió en algo de culto por dos o tres días y después apareció en todas las tiendas de discos vendiendo como pan caliente. Keane, que hace recordar a Coldplay (viene un tercer álbum en mayo-junio), la rompió en los festivales del verano pasado y se unió a un Snow Patrol con canciones que merecen estadios. Muse tuvo más de una nominación en los Brits y recibió el reconocimiento que merecen. Y Kasabian, un show increíble.

Han aparecido grandes compositores. Razorlight y the Libertines han deslumbrado con letras y música que han inspirado cuantiosos artículos y especiales de televisión. Es como si de pronto, Ibiza y sus fiestas de extasy y trance ya no existieran más. Ya no se escucha ese adictivo ‘tum-tum-tum-tum-tum’ que como alguna vez dijo Quino (no EL Quino, sino Gabo Chavez Tafur): ‘si el que invento ese ritmo lo hubiera patentado…’ Pete Doherty, de the Libertines ha dado la cara por el rock apareciendo en cuanto tabloide y medio de comunicación le sea posible por temas que nada tienen que ver con su música: problemas con la droga, la ley y las mujeres (Kate Moss, para ser exactos) –como los grandes del rock. Estén atentos al próximo álbum de Babyshambles (su nuevo grupo). Y The Streets nos da una alternativa a Moby –y una alternativa que no nos manda a dormir.

Esta onda británica no acaba acá. Por suerte. Es más, podríamos decir que parte de este renacimiento del rock se puede deber al éxito de grupos como the Strokes en Estados Unidos. Y a ellos se les unen los nuevos The Killers y the Kings of Leon. Cada uno con su estilo. Incluso los eternos Green Day han revivido con American Idiot.

Y entre todos ellos no hay que olvidar a Maroon 5, The Darkness, Embrace, el nuevo disco de U2, Graham Coxon y muchos más.

Al final, el rock, o lo que acá llaman Brit Pop, ha triunfado. Porque como diría Álvaro, los ingleses tienen un rock alucinante pero un pop terrible. Lo único que falta es que los videos mejoren. Hace tiempo que no se ve algo de la calidad de Jeremy (Peral Jam) o los videos de los Caifanes. ¿Puede ser que los buenos directores de video se han pasado al cine?

El Hit del Verano (2002)

Este 'hit' apareció sólo unos días después de Setiembre 11. Sigue siendo un clásico.

ESTE ES EL NUEVO HIT de OSAMANU CHAO

Me gustan los aviones, me gusta Bush
Me gusta viajar, me gusta Bush
Me gusta el atentado, me gusta Bush
Me gustan los muertos, me gusta Bush
Me gusta soñar, me gusta Bush
Me gusta Air Force One, me gusta Bush

¿Qué voy a hacer a Afganistán?
¿Qué voy a hacer allá en Kabul?
Qué voy a hacer? Otro ataúd
Ya cuántos son?' 'Más de un millón'

Me gustan los cazas, me gusta Bush
Me gusta el western, me gusta Bush
Me gusta la lluvia, me gusta Bush
Me gusta los misiles, me gusta Bush
Me gusta Bin Laden, me gusta Bush
Me gusta cadáver, me gusta Bush
Me gusta la montaña, me gusta Bush
Me gusta el camuflaje...

¿Qué voy a hacer a Afganistán?
¿Qué voy a hacer allá en Kabul?
¿Qué voy a hacer? Otro ataúd

Talabín talibán talabímbombán
Talabín talibán ala bín ladén

New Year's eve 2004

I think this a very cool picture. It would look great if it was life-size. That's Veronica (V) in the Inca Kola T-shirt. And Seraa sitting down. New year's eve 2004.