Category Archives: Politics

Fotogalería: La celebración el la Plaza de Mayo, CFK reelecta

By cate | Published October 26, 2011

The president of Argentina, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner is reelected to her second term in office with more than 53% of the popular vote. Residents turn out in mass to celebrate in the Plaza de Mayo in front of the Casa Rosada in Buenos Aires, Argentina, October 23, 2011. Photos taken for Argentina Elections.

Looking for trouble: Covering politics in Argentina

By cate | Published June 11, 2011

publicidad de las elecciones en Argentina

Click on the photo to be taken to the Argentina Elections site.

If I want to learn something I cover it as a professional photojournalist. Working a story makes me examine the details, study the whole and the parts. I am forced to stop, look, digest, and then redeliver it photographically. I love this process. I get to dust off various brain cells. I am also the type of person who likes to do things that are difficult… and understanding Argentine politics is, well, difficult. Despite my 3 1/2 years here I am only slightly less foggier on what the various political groups stand for, ie platforms, defining characteristics, how all the cogs in the gears fit together so that the system actually functions, etc… So it was when I heard that Argentina Elections was looking for volunteer photographers, that I decided to see if I could get a better fix on it all. And really, what better way to understand Argentina at a base level, than to understand the politics. It is a presidential election year as well, so I expect there will be no skimping on the political shenanigans either. I feel as if I am going back to school. I’m so excited, but then again I was always one of those weirdos who looked forward September.

 

The nerd that I am, I figured I’d share with you a few questions and answers before sharing the photos (yes, all of this prepping with words was an excuse to post photos). I promise there will be no pop quiz later.

Question: What is Argentina Elections?

Answer: The central objective of Argentina Elections is to analyze the Argentine elections. In addition, we seek to strengthen and deepen the public debate about the Argentine electoral regime and its influence in the political system. In this regard, it is our hope that those interested in learning more about the elections will find in this website the necessary information to satisfy their curiosity. The content is directed to scholars, elections specialists, journalists, the general public and voters in particular. Argentina Elections is a non-partisan, plural and academic publication.

Question: Why did you decide to post the photos on Flickr and not upload them like you usually do to your website?

Answer: I’ll upload them eventually to my site, but I am using Flickr for various reasons here. By using Flickr I can post to the Argentina Elections site much easier, while maintaining the photos under my account. I also decided Flickr was a great way of reaching a wider audience and because I have chosen to use a Creative Commons license it offers a means by which others may download or link to photographs.

Question: Wait, wait… you’re using a CC license? As in the photos are not Rights Managed, ie, free to use? Geez, what kind of professional photographer are you?

Answer: Hey now, lets not get nasty. First, did you notice the bold sentence in the answer to the first question? Hmmm? Paying attention were you? Argentina Elections is an academic publication. I applaud the connection between academic research and mass communication. Lots of really important crap gets batted around at universities, good and useful conversations, ideas, theories and for some inexplicable reason it gets stuck between the mortar and all that stupid ivy. Second, the CC license I’ve chosen to use is attribution required, no derivitives, non commercial. That is, use my name, you can’t Photoshop the hell out of it and no, you can not sell it or use it in any advertising. I am not RM-ing the hell out of the images, but in keeping with my photojournalism principles and the high standards I expect of academic publications, I do not approve of manipulating photographs or misusing news photographs. Third, I am volunteering because I feel this is worthwhile, not only for what I will get out of it, but for the talent, point of view and experience I can bring to the coverage. So, in keeping with that ideal I believe it is also important to make the photos widely available. I Rights Manage the majority of my work and I do not support the trend in photography that leaves professionals with less paying jobs (or jobs paying less), but I also firmly believe the dissemination of information is a public service and in this case the photos should be made as widely available as possible.

Question: Okay, sorry. Can I see the photos already?

Answer: Sure, Click here to go to my Flickr page and here to go to the story (in Spanish) on the Argentina Elections site (or click the photo above). Just be sure to accurately attribute the photograph if you use it, okay. Don’t make me go all RM on you.

 

Remembering former President Nestor Kirchner

By cate | Published October 28, 2010
The flag of Argentina flies at half-mast in front of the Obelisk after the death of former President Nestor Kirchner, 60.

The flag of Argentina flies at half-mast in front of the Obelisk after the death of former President Nestor Kirchner.

The hits keep coming for the citizens of Argentina. Former president Nestor Kirchner, 60, died Wednesday, Oct 27, 2010 of a heart attack while at home in El Calafate (located in Patagonia). Kirchner is the husband of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, currently serving. You can read about it here (in Spanish).

I don’t know much about his politics or his impact. I generally believe it is hard to gage a politician’s impact for many years, if not decades, after the term ends. I came to Argentina shortly after his wife was elected and, as in all politics, it depends who you ask. He is beloved. He is vilified. Regardless, he was a political force in Argentina and his death changes the politic landscape, especially with the approaching presidential election in 2011.

I hope for his family, son and daughters, that time heals quickly and they find a measure of solace in remembrance. Sixty years is too young to die.


Below is a short selection of photos from around the Plaza de Mayo where mourners are gathering to leave memorials in former President Nestor Kirchner’s memory.

Graffiti painted on the ground at the crosswak on Avenida de Mayo at Calle Florida.

Flowers are available for purchase (5pesos) as mourners wait in the line (extending down Avenida de Mayo) to view former President Nestor Kirchner.

A board if full of buttons with a photo of former President Nestor Kirchner.

Blocks and blocks long, mourners wait in the sun to view former President Nestor Kirchner.

The Plaza de Mayo is full of mourners leaving tokens and watching the big screen televisions broadcasting the events inside the Casa Rosada.

The Casa Rosada as seen through the protective fence adorned with flowers and letters of rememberance.

Mourners console each other after leaving the viewing of former President Nestor Kirchner inside the Casa Rosada.

Signs and candles are taped to the concrete in the Plaza de Mayo as mourners leave rememberances after the death of former President Nestor Kirchner.

Activism, Youth and Death

By cate | Published October 22, 2010

One of my favorite photos from the protest yesterday because it is just so, Argentina. While a protest gathers and organizes behind him, Fernando Santo Zacarias, 71, sits at his usual spot, shining shoes.

A young militant died on October 20, 2010. He was shot in the chest during a protest, reportedly by a union member protecting the tracks of the ex-Línea Roca. (You can read about it in English here and in Spanish here or here). His name is Mariano Ferreyra. He was working with a group called Partido Obrero protesting the lay-off of railway workers. They set out that morning to occupy the railroad tracks and stop train traffic. They encountered union members of the railway instead.


Militant is an interesting word. It conjures up so much imagery, negative and positive, and your stand (perhaps your economic standing, are you wealthy? poor?) greatly effect how you might respond to the word militant. Did you think ‘how sad’ when you first read the sentence? Were you enraged? Or did you already justify in your head, place it in some context, file it away as ‘cosas que pasan’? Ferrerya was, after all, a militant activist.


Did you pay attention the word I used right before militant? Young. He was 23.


Yesterday, October 21, 2010 there was another protest. This time protesting his death (and lack of suspects perhaps). There were more more militants there. There were more young adults there.


Regardless if I agree (or not) with their tactics, or their politics, or their ideology, etc… I am saddened that a 23-year-old died and so should you be.


Click on an image to see it larger and browse all of the images.

Protesters march past the Obelisk to the Plaza de Mayo, on Thursday, October 21, 2010 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in protest over the shooting death of Mariano Ferreyra, 23, during a protest over the lay-off of train employees from Linea Roca the day before in Barracas. Reports say that Ferreyra was shot in the chest by armed union members protecting the railway tracks. Ferreyra was protesting with the Partido Obrero as the group attempted to occupy train tracks in to get the railway to hire back the workers. (Photograph by Caitlin M. Kelly/Zuma Press)

Protesters march from Avenida Callao and Avenida Corrientes to the Plaza de Mayo, on Thursday, October 21, 2010 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in protest over the shooting death of Mariano Ferreyra, 23, the day before during a protest in Barracas over the lay-off of train employees from Linea Roca. Reports say that Ferreyra was shot in the chest by armed union members protecting the railway tracks. Ferreyra was protesting with the Partido Obrero as the group attempted to occupy train tracks in an attempt to get the railway to hire back the workers. (Photograph by Caitlin M. Kelly/Zuma Press) Protesters with FUBA converge on the Plaza de Mayo, on Thursday, October 21, 2010 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in protest over the shooting death of Mariano Ferreyra, 23, during a protest in Barracas the day before over the lay-off of train employees from Linea Roca. Reports say that Ferreyra was shot in the chest by armed union members protecting the railway tracks. Ferreyra was protesting with the Partido Obrero as the group attempted to occupy train tracks to get the railway to hire back the workers. (Photograph by Caitlin M. Kelly/Zuma Press) Militant protesters with the Partido Obrero carry pipes and sticks as they block 9 de Julio as marchers converge on the Plaza de Mayo, on Thursday, October 21, 2010 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in protest over the shooting death of Mariano Ferreyra, 23, during a protest in Barracas the day before over the lay-off of train employees from Linea Roca. Reports say that Ferreyra was shot in the chest by armed union members protecting the railway tracks. Ferreyra was protesting with the Partido Obrero as the group attempted to occupy train tracks in an attempt to get the railway to hire back the workers. (Photograph by Caitlin M. Kelly/Zuma Press) Protesters light trash on fire while blocking 9 de Julio as marchers converge on the Plaza de Mayo, on Thursday, October 21, 2010 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in protest over the shooting death of Mariano Ferreyra, 23, during a protest in Barracas the day before over the lay-off of train employees from Linea Roca. Reports say that Ferreyra was shot in the chest by armed union members protecting the railway tracks. Ferreyra was protesting with the Partido Obrero as the group attempted to occupy train tracks in an attempt to get the railway to hire back the workers. (Photograph by Caitlin M. Kelly/Zuma Press) Fernando Santo Zacarias, 71, who has worked the corner of Avenidas Callao and Corrientes The Casa Rosada, the seat of the national government is protected by black iron barriers cutting off the plaza and the surrounding streets as protesters converge on the Plaza de Mayo, on Thursday, October 21, 2010 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in protest over the shooting death of Mariano Ferreyra, 23, during a protest in Barracas the day before over the lay-off of train employees from Linea Roca. Reports say that Ferreyra was shot in the chest by armed union members protecting the railway tracks. Ferreyra was protesting with the Partido Obrero as the group attempted to occupy train tracks in an attempt to get the railway to hire back the workers. (Photograph by Caitlin M. Kelly/Zuma Press) Protesters march from Avenida Callao and Avenida Corrientes to the Plaza de Mayo, on Thursday, October 21, 2010 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in protest over the shooting death of Mariano Ferreyra, 23, the day before during a protest in Barracas over the lay-off of train employees from Linea Roca. Reports say that Ferreyra was shot in the chest by armed union members protecting the railway tracks. Ferreyra was protesting with the Partido Obrero as the group attempted to occupy train tracks in an attempt to get the railway to hire back the workers. (Photograph by Caitlin M. Kelly/Zuma Press) Children wait alongside the road and eat bread before the start of the march from Avenida Callao and Avenida Corrientes to the Plaza de Mayo, on Thursday, October 21, 2010 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in protest over the shooting death of Mariano Ferreyra, 23, the day before during a protest in Barracas over the lay-off of train employees from Linea Roca. Reports say that Ferreyra was shot in the chest by armed union members protecting the railway tracks. Ferreyra was protesting with the Partido Obrero as the group attempted to occupy train tracks in an attempt to get the railway to hire back the workers. (Photograph by Caitlin M. Kelly/Zuma Press) A CTA organizer wears a bib that says 'Ningun pibe nace chorro' (no child is born a thief) before the start of the march from Avenida Callao and Avenida Corrientes to the Plaza de Mayo, on Thursday, October 21, 2010 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in protest over the shooting death of Mariano Ferreyra, 23, the day before during a protest in Barracas over the lay-off of train employees from Linea Roca. Reports say that Ferreyra was shot in the chest by armed union members protecting the railway tracks. Ferreyra was protesting with the Partido Obrero as the group attempted to occupy train tracks in an attempt to get the railway to hire back the workers. (Photograph by Caitlin M. Kelly/Zuma Press) A man tries to regain control after pushing and shoving between protesters marching down Avenida Corrientes to the Plaza de Mayo, on Thursday, October 21, 2010 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in protest over the shooting death of Mariano Ferreyra, 23, the day before during a protest in Barracas over the lay-off of train employees from Linea Roca. Reports say that Ferreyra was shot in the chest by armed union members protecting the railway tracks. Ferreyra was protesting with the Partido Obrero as the group attempted to occupy train tracks in an attempt to get the railway to hire back the workers. (Photograph by Caitlin M. Kelly/Zuma Press) Mariano Ferreyra PROTEST. Protesters march from Avenida Callao and Avenida Corrientes to the Plaza de Mayo, on Thursday, October 21, 2010 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in protest over the shooting death of Mariano Ferreyra, 23, the day before during a protest in Barracas over the lay-off of train employees from Linea Roca. Reports say that Ferreyra was shot in the chest by armed union members protecting the railway tracks. Ferreyra was protesting with the Partido Obrero as the group attempted to occupy train tracks in an attempt to get the railway to hire back the workers. (Photograph by Caitlin M. Kelly/Zuma Press) Two women console each other before the start of the march from Avenida Callao and Avenida Corrientes to the Plaza de Mayo, on Thursday, October 21, 2010 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in protest over the shooting death of Mariano Ferreyra, 23, the day before during a protest in Barracas over the lay-off of train employees from Linea Roca. Reports say that Ferreyra was shot in the chest by armed union members protecting the railway tracks. Ferreyra was protesting with the Partido Obrero as the group attempted to occupy train tracks in an attempt to get the railway to hire back the workers. (Photograph by Caitlin M. Kelly/Zuma Press) Protesters are reflected in the glass of a business building as they march from Avenida Callao and Avenida Corrientes to the Plaza de Mayo, on Thursday, October 21, 2010 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in protest over the shooting death of Mariano Ferreyra, 23, the day before during a protest in Barracas over the lay-off of train employees from Linea Roca. Reports say that Ferreyra was shot in the chest by armed union members protecting the railway tracks. Ferreyra was protesting with the Partido Obrero as the group attempted to occupy train tracks in an attempt to get the railway to hire back the workers. (Photograph by Caitlin M. Kelly/Zuma Press) Protesters march from Avenida Callao and Avenida Corrientes to the Plaza de Mayo, on Thursday, October 21, 2010 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in protest over the shooting death of Mariano Ferreyra, 23, the day before during a protest in Barracas over the lay-off of train employees from Linea Roca. Reports say that Ferreyra was shot in the chest by armed union members protecting the railway tracks. Ferreyra was protesting with the Partido Obrero as the group attempted to occupy train tracks in an attempt to get the railway to hire back the workers. (Photograph by Caitlin M. Kelly/Zuma Press)

The ‘father of democracy’ in Argentina dead at 82

By cate | Published April 1, 2009

Alfonsin dead at 82Former President of Argentina Raúl Alfonsín, 82, known as the ‘father of democracy’ died from complications due to lung cancer in his sleep March 31, 2009 at home in Barrio Norte, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Thousands of Argentines gathered at the Palacio del Congreso building on April 1, 2009 as he lay in state in the Salon del Azul to pay tribute to the first democratically elected president after the fall of the military dictatorship in 1983. Alfonsin, who died in his sleep surrounded by family, held office from December of 1983 to July 1989.

News information in Spanish:
La Nacion
Clarin
Pagina 12
Critica

News information in English:
NY Times
Reuters

Historical information on Wikipedia:
in Spanish
in English

The Girl Effect

By cate | Published October 27, 2008

“Imagine a GIRL living in POVERTY”

Now IMAGINE what can happen when you give something to her life. Here are images from one local event that is trying, through games and fun, to make a difference for just a day. Of the 20 or so social groups that participate in the CuJuCa festival, many are active on a weekly or regular basis inside Villa 31. I chose images of the girls I photographed this day to support the message of The Girl Effect .

You can donate here.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIvmE4_KMNw&hl=en]

Gloria's house

By cate | Published October 3, 2008

Finalmente. Finally. I thought I’d post a few photographs from Gloria’s house. Gloria Rodriguez, 44, lives in Villa 31 behind the Retiro bus station in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She works at a cooperative called the Comedor Los Pibes in La Boca. There she spends her day sewing or participating in marches or protests as the comedor is quite politically active. Gloria earns a ‘plan’ of $150 pesos (@$50USD) per month, in addition to food the comedor doles out once a week to each member. She supplements her groceries with a bank card that supplies money from the gov’t (national?? not sure which program), so she can buy additional items. Gloria has six children. Three are grown (Mariana, posted earlier, is one of her older children). Living in her house now is her daughters, Pamela, 16, Gabriela, 14, son Ezekiel, 11, and her mother Maria Amelia, 79. With five (or six people if her older son, Juan, 26, is there) people currently in the house, everyone shares a bed. They have two bunk beds, but only three beds available, because the top of the one Maria Amelia sleeps on is used to store bags of clothes and other items. The bathroom facilities consist of a large hole in the ground out in front of the house, covered in wood planks with a toilet propped on top and an outhouse build around it. The kitchen, half inside and half outside, is one burner with gas supplied by propane (cost @$35pesos a tank).

As Gloria and I talked the other day I asked her if she worked before. She gets is money through the plans (gov’t sponsored) and the possibly the sewing, but she may go months before she sees any profit from the sewing because the cooperative must complete a job before the gov’t will pay them. Gloria and her family once rented an apartment in La Boca. When the family was there she worked for a cleaning business, as she explained, about 14 hours a day to earn about $220pesos ($73USD) a month. I am still in shock over this figure and questioned her multiple times to gage its accuracy. I’ll definitely confirm it a few more times.

More photos to come. I am definitely still shooting and other families as well.

Bolivian support in Buenos Aires

By cate | Published September 15, 2008

Supporters of Bolivian President Evo Morales marched down Avenida Corrientes from the Obelisk to the Bolivian embassy in a show of support September 15, 2008 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Many of the signs, such as the one to the right, accuse the United States and President George W. Bush for supporting the opposition and fostering the violence. The sign reads, “Bush genocide, principally responsible for the division in Bolivia.”

Riots have broken out between Morales supporters and the opposition. According to the BBC 30 deaths have been reported in Pando in Bolivia.

President Morales is seeking to reform the Bolivian constitution to give a greater voice to indigenous populations. The vote is scheduled for December 7.

Today’s march, attended by a few hundred supporters, was peaceful with supporters singing and chanting.

The Conflict continues

By cate | Published July 16, 2008

Two protests on the same day (yes I only made it to one. I have yet to figure out how to clone myself). Both the Argentina government and the Campo (farmers and agricultural groups) staged protests and rallies today in Buenos Aires, July 15, 2008 as the senate argues over export taxes. The law passed the house recently and will be voted on by the senate tomorrow, July 16, 2008. Both peaceful as far as I know. View the slideshow for the Campo rally HERE.

Anti-government Protest in Argentina

By cate | Published July 9, 2008
March and Protest by the Partido Obrero and Partido Quebracho against the Argentine Government.

March and Protest by the Partido Obrero and Partido Quebracho against the Argentine Government.

Yet more conflict over the retenciones… indirectly. A conflict between two more of the militant left-wing groups here in Buenos Aires and the police led to several injuries yesterday. As a result the two parties, the Partido Obrero and Quebracho staged a march from the Congreso to the Casa Rosada to condem the use of force by the police. Today’s event, July 8, 2008 passed without much incident as far as I could tell. It was still a trip to see protesters decked out in head scarves carrying batons. They were a minority compared to the amount of people who came. But, they were also a very good picture. Click HERE for the slide show.