With abundant natural resources and a thriving middle class, Argentina was once considered the Europe of Latin America. In the late 1970s, however, a brutal military dictatorship wreaked havoc on the country, causing the death and disappearance of over 30,000 individuals. Democracy was finally attained in the 1980's but the country's economy was in ruins. In the 1990's, acting as the poster child for the neo-liberal economic policies of the IMF, the Argentine people were told that they would soon become part of the "first world". On Dec. 19 and 20, 2001, however, the bottom fell out. All the banks were locked denying people access to their own accounts, and the people watched as the Peso, along with their savings, was devalued to a third of its original worth. Citizens all around the country took to the streets banging their frying pans and chanting "que se vayan todos" or "throw them all out" for the removal of the corrupt government.
Today, Argentina still finds itself in the midst of one of the worst economic crisis ever. Rampant unemployment and increasing poverty have darkened Argentines' spirits. Yet, amidst the despair, grassroots solutions offer hope for the future. People's movements throughout Argentina are attempting to solve the problems brought on by the crisis and the failures of the current free market economic system. People in Buenos Aires have been organizing into neighborhood assemblies that attempt to take the place of the void left by the insecurity and failure of political representation. Over 65 factories have been taken over by their workers and transformed into cooperatives. The unemployed have created the piquetero movement, which fights for unemployment compensation from the government by organizing demonstrations and blocking major roads throughout the country. Visit Argentina, to better understand the collapse of the neo-liberal project and witness the possibilities that Argentine movements present in building a world beyond unfair trade, privatization, debt and structural adjustment policies. Also get a feel for the culture of Argentina, the birthplace of Tango, and the home of such famous authors as Borges and Cortazar!
Tour to Argentina Sample Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival
AM Arrival in Ezeiza airport in Buenos Aires. Transfer to hotel. Orientation meeting. Lunch. PM Short city tour EVE Dinner in town. Saturday night nightlife in Buenos Aires. Centro Cultural de la Coooperacion www.cculturalcoop.org.ar Feria Artesanal Viejo Palermo www.palermoviejo.netfirms.com/#
Day 2: History and Visit to "Al Borde"
AM "A crash course in Argentina history"
2pm Visit to Al Borde Evening: Visit to San Telmo fair
Day 3: 9:00 -- 10:30 Talk with economist and contributor to Clarin (www.clarin.com) one of the major newspapers in Argentina, Late morning & lunch: Visit to Feria Rural 14:30 -- 16: Visit the Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo www.abuelas.org.ar 18:30 -- 20 Tango Lesson
Day 4: The piqutero movement
All DAY Visit with MTD Piquetero Movement
Day 5: IMPA, Serpaj, CTERA
9:30 Visit IMPA La Fabrica (www.alternativateatral.com/portada.asp ) and Movimiento de Empresas Recuperadas
14:00 Visit to Servicio de Paz y Justicia, Serpaj (www.derechos.org/serpaj/ ) and Dialogo 2000 (www.dialogo2000.org.ar ) 16:00 Visit to Central de Trabajadores de la Educacion, CTERA (www.ctera.org.ar ) 8:30 pm Tango Lesson
Day 6: CTA, CIEPP, DerHumALC, Palermo Viejo
Central de Trabajadores de la Argentina, CTA (www.cta.org.ar ) 9:30 Hospital Juan Peron, Avellaneda 11:00 Meeting with "judiciales" at the CTA 16:00 Talk by CIEPP (www.ciepp.com.ar) 20:00 Derechos Humanos ALC (www.derhumalc.org.ar) 22:00 Visit to Asamblea Barrial Palermo www.palermoviejo.netfirms.com/#
Day 7: The Argentine Pampas (The excursion to the Argentine north's Wichi indigenous communitites might be substituted here for the next three days-To be confirmed)
All Day at a ranch: Visit to San Antonio de Areco
EVE Tango Show (www.turismo.gov.ar/espect/sr_tango/home.htm )
Day 8: FTAA, Mercosur, art museums
AM "Negotiating with the US, the Argentine point of view"
PM: Paseo La Recoleta, Museo Bellas Artes, Museo Malba
EVE: Party
Day 9: Videos and Gaucho Fair
AM "Ecos de una Rebelion" "Cazadores de Utopias" "Motin de Guerra" PM Visit to Feria Gauchesca in Mataderos
EVE Farewell dinner
Day 10: Departure
AM "last minute shopping" PM Transfer to Ezeiza airport
Program Highlights:
- Visit one of Buenos Aires popular assemblies and learn about issues of grassroots governance.
- Tour a recovered factory cooperatively owned and managed by its workers.
- Meet with the women of the Abuelas Del Plaza de Mayo who continue to search for their grandchildren who were kidnapped during the military dictatorship.
- Meet with representatives of the Piquetero Movement of unemployed workers who have conducted road blocks in protest to government corruption.
- Meet with economists, alternative media journalists, workers organizers and their lawyers, representatives of the Ministry of Economy who are part of trade negotiations with the US.
- Explore the beautiful and rich culture of Buenos Aires with the music and dance of tango.
- Possible excursion to Argentina's North to visit with the Wichi indigenous communities fighting for land rights.
Cost: $1300 (from Buenos Aires)
Price Includes:
- Double-room hotel accommodations; two meals per day; transportation to and from all programmed activities including possible domestic flight; guides and translators; a qualified trip leader; all program activities; and reading materials.
- Not included: International airfare, lunches, airport departure taxes, tips, and personal expenses are not included.
How to Register:
We must receive your application and a non-refundable deposit of $200 two months before departure. A late fee of $50 will be applied to late applications. Payments by Mastercard or Visa are welcome.This trip will be as diverse as possible in terms of race, age and life experiences. We strongly urge people of color to apply. In some cases, a limited number of partial scholarships are available for low-income applicants.
Make your reservation online now!
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