Frente a la Descapitalización... CONFISCACION! Nicaragua diary

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weapons I didn't feel unsafe. Though not satisfied with the speed of The work brigades of which I was a many of the militia were young, they ment and with the 30 percent part were made up of volunteers who were not tense, or threatening, or alien- rate, which they attribute to replaced workers in the fields during the ated from the people. They have a dinistas: (In reality the inflation peak harvest months of December, Janu- responsibility to defend the revolution wide and made worse by U.S. ary, and February. Because so many of the Nicaraguan people have been called The interaction among people at the The husband and wife doctor team upon to defend their country from coun- camp was very positive. There were had a young son who was playing with a terrevolutionary attacks, there are not about 500 people working there at the wooden horse. They explained that there enough people to harvest the coffee, cot- time. Some were kids as young as 6. But just aren't any toys in Nicaragua. At ton, sugar cane, tobacco, and vegetable all ages worked together, rising at 5 a.m., least $500,000 would be needed to buy crops. Ours was the first North Ameri- eating, picking for about seven hours, them and the government doesn't really can brigade and consisted of about 45 returning to the camp, doing laundry, want to import American toys. What people ranging in age from 19 to 72. they have done to try and work around What the Sandinistas have attained The conditions at the coffee farm this is to start a program of Nicaraguans thus far in their revolution is remark- were rough. There were no bathrooms, making their own toys to be sold inexable. But what stands in their way now is just outhouses. There were no electric pensively. The wooden horse was an the threat of outside intervention. Their lights in our rooms. There was no hot methods of distribution and increasing water. The beds were wood boards, no I talked to Francisca, an 11-year-old cooperative production have brought mattresses or pads. Everything was dirty. girl who was staying at the camp mindmuch to an oppressed people, but they And, of course, the three daily meals ing her sister's baby. Francisca asked me inherited an impoverished and war-torn consisted of rice, beans, and tortillas. what it was like in the United States. She country, and they continue to be faced And yet the campesinos live in these con- couldn't believe that people were not with the need to defend themselves. This ditions year round. This is their life. fighting in the United States. "You mean takes precious material and human During our stay in Nicaragua, we vis- there is no war in your country?" she resources that they would much rather be ited a health center in the small town of using for improving the lives of the peo- Pueblo Nuevo. People there spoke of God, what a revelation this was! She conditions before the revolution: All the was only 11, but war had been so much a The threat of war, or perhaps I should land was owned by one man; the people reality of her life that she couldn't imagsay the reality of war, became more who worked the land camped out ine what it would be like if there was no tangible as we reached the farm where because he provided no housing. There war. She just assumed that everyone we would be spending three weeks har- was only one private doctor to service vesting coffee. We were about 10 miles the whole area and, of course, the people It has been quite depressing returning east and 25 miles south of the Honduran who needed help couldn't afford it. Now to the Unites States, and seeing such a border. There were four outposts sur- they have several health workers in the wealthy country using so many resources rounding the farm and guards circulating area. Teams of medics make rounds in to prevent Nicaragua from building a 24 hours a day. The guards, most of the countryside. Health care is free if the new society. But at the same time it has whom were just kids, all had guns slung strengthened my commitment to build across their backs. And to add to the The people at the health center said the kind of antiwar movement in this open sight of arms, there was the con- that almost all the young people are country which can stop the U.S. war stant sound of fighting in the distance at behind the revolution because they have against Nicaragua, and allow the Nicaraseen the improvements and feel hope. guan people to determine their own But many do complain because they are WHERE TO FIND US:

Boston Socialist Action P.O. Box 1046 GMF Boston, MA 02205 Chicago Socialist Action Box 80 B 2520 N. Lincoln Chicago, IL 60614 (312) 248-1094 Cleveland Socialist Action P.O. Box 6151 Cleveland, OH 44101 (216) 429-2167 Houston Socialist Action University of Houston Campus Activities Box 551, 4800 Calhoun Houston, TX 77004 (713) 643-2030 Los Angeles Socialist Action 18653 Ventura Blvd etc. Box 217 Los Angeles, CA 91356 (213) 343-4511 Michigan Socialist Action P.O. Box 4523 Ann Arbor, MI 48106 Minneapolis Socialist Acti P.O. Box 14087 Dinkytown Station Minneapolis, MN 55414 New York Socialist Action P.O. Box 20209 Cathedral Finance 693 Columbus Ave ple.

New York, NY 10025 Phoenix Socialist Action P.O. Box 5161 Phoenix, AZ 85010 (602) 951-0354 Pittsburgh Socialist Action P.O. Box 10769 Pittsburgh, PA 15203 San Francisco Socialist Actic 3435 Army Street, Rm. 308 San Francisco, CA 94110 (415) 821-0458 Washington Socialist Action night.

P.O. Box 3467 Washington, D.C. 20010 Despite visibility improveinflation the Sanis worldintervenand they carry it out well. tion.)

example. asked in amazement. lived the same horror she did. patient can't afford it.

fate.

Socialist Action March 1984