7.2.2024: 1st Quarter Economic Growth; US Sanctions; Donate to Matching Fund; Sister Cities
Our Banner in the Free Palestine contingent of the Chicago Pride Parade
Please donate to the Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition matching fund. Your donation is matched, dollar for dollar! Donate here Support the coalition's advocacy. (Use this link to donate on the web page of our fiscal sponsor. Scroll down a little.) We have received an offer from a generous donor to match the first US $2,000 we receive in donations from other supporters. As soon as the offer arrived, another donor responded with $1,000 toward the match! Can you help us reach the other $1,000? Your gift, as you are able, is a wonderful help. Thank you!
Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition T-shirt available: front and back T-shirts in honor of the 45th anniversary of Nicaragua's July 19 triumph and ongoing Revolution. Let us know if you would like one, or even order more for family or friends. For US residents, the cost is $19 per shirt, to cover shipping. If you live in another country and need it shipped -- please write to us to see what we can arrange. Here is the order form.
John Perry: The US Has Imposed Sanctions on Georgia and Nicaragua for Instituting Laws that Copy US Legislation and Were Designed to Ward Off Coups Politicians in the small Caucasian nation of Georgia have been sanctioned by Washington for “undermining democracy” and depriving Georgian people of “fundamental freedoms,” simply because its parliament has passed a law to control foreign influence over Georgian politics. Politicians in another small country, Nicaragua, were subjected to US sanctions for doing the same. And both modeled their legislation—not on Russia as is claimed—but on longstanding US federal law, the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) of 1938. Neither Washington nor its allies abroad or in the corporate media approve of countries outside the West adopting similar powers. The reason is, of course, that they might expose the very Trojan horses created by Washington or by European capitals to interfere in those countries’ politics or even to provoke regime change.
What distinguishes the protests in Georgia and Nicaragua, and indeed other non-Western countries such as Thailand where controls on NGOs have been tightened, is that the threat of FARA-style legislation is used to create a sort of moral panic by human rights bodies, the corporate media and the spokespeople for Western governments. According to this narrative, such a law would not just bring over-zealous regulation of one sector of society, but threaten the whole society’s freedom of expression and its democratic values. This claim is used to justify the mobilization of well-publicized anti-government protests, ostensibly non-violent, but which can rapidly provoke a response from police that can justify violence in return.
The Central Bank of Nicaragua (BCN) reports on the quarterly GDP first quarter of 2024 The BCN stated the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) showed an interannual growth of 3.7% (5.2% in the previous quarter). With this result, the average annual growth was 4.6%. From a production perspective, the year-on-year evolution of GDP first trimester showed growth in the activities of hotels and restaurants (17.6%), construction (16.0%), electricity (8.9%), water (8.5%), trade (7.3%), mining and quarrying (5.1%), financial intermediation and related services (5.1%), livestock (3.8%) and transportation and communications (3.4%), among other economic activities. GDP first trimester growth was determined by the boost in domestic demand, due to the growth of consumption (4.0%) and fixed investment (8.0%). The above was attenuated by the decrease in net external demand due to fall in exports of goods and services (-5.8%) and the growth in imports (0.8%).
Covert Action Magazine: The Case for Resolution 943: Why Annulling the Monroe Doctrine Is Important US Representative Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) introduced Resolution 943 in Congress, to have the United States formally renounce and annul the Monroe Doctrine. The Monroe Doctrine has evolved to the needs of an expanding US empire. There were at least four important steps in this evolution: (1) the Monroe Doctrine; (2) the (Teddy) Roosevelt Corollary; (3) the “Good Neighbor” Policy; and (4) the Doctrine of National Security.
Each phase of the Monroe Doctrine was more exacting than the last. But an increased dependence on dictators to do the dirty work of protecting US interests in their countries now demanded another doctrine to rationalize their repressive behavior as they violated human rights, militarized their countries, and repressed democratic voices, all in support of their own and US economic and political interests. They found what they needed in the Doctrine of National Security.
Nicaragua Celebrates Julian Assange’s freedom As we celebrate his freedom, we extend our embrace of Solidarity to his wife Stella, his children, and to all the militants of True Causes who have accompanied him during all these years demanding Justice and Respect for Freedom of Expression. The Human Family continues to learn more and more about the savage, cowardly, atrocious hypocrisy which Fascist Neocolonialism tries to sell so as to continue deceiving the world.
Bainbridge Island, WA -Ometepe Sister City newsletter
Richland Center, WI - Santa Teresa (Carazo) Sister City newsletter
Events
July 6-7 No to NATO, Yes to Peace! NATO 2024 Counter-Summit in Washington DC
July 8: Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition monthly zoom meeting: second Monday of the month 2:30 PM ET. Email NicaraguaSolidarityCoalition@gmail.com in advance to access.
July 10, 1:30pm ET UK- Nicaragua Solidarity Forum: What difference does it make when the unpaid work of rural women is recognised & remunerated in supply chains? Receive the zoom link, email campaigns@nicaraguasc.org.uk
July 11: Nicaragua Against Empire Baltimore, in person only
July 15 Protest at the Republican National Convention. Join contingents against the US blockades and economic warfare on Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua. contact Stansfieldsmith100@gmail.com
July 20: 9 am ET The Nicaraguan Revolution 45 years on: Global Solidarity in a Changing World Speakers: Carlos Arguello, Nicaraguan Ambassador to the Netherlands and Nicaragua's representative to the International Court of Justice (ICJ); Ismara Mercedes Vargas Walter, Cuban Ambassador to the UK; Ruby Cox, Member of the NSCAG Executive Committee; Roger McKenzie, International Editor of the Morning Star
August 11, 3pm ET. Nicaragua Webinar, "Celebrating 45/19: Nicaragua's Revolution Lives On" Join us to hear a report-back from participants celebrating the 45th anniversary of Nicaragua's July 19 triumph and ongoing Revolution. Register for Zoom link at bit.ly/NicaAug11
August 19-22 Protest at the Democratic National Convention. Join contingents against the US blockades and economic warfare on Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua. contact Stansfieldsmith100@gmail.com
Casa Ben Linder 2024 delegations to Nicaragua:
Email casabenjaminlinder@gmail.com to apply:
November 8-17 2024: Salud & Solidaridad: Hands-On Healthcare in Nicaragua
February 2025: The Bird Brigade: Birding in Solentiname Archipelago
March 2025: Power & Protagonism: Women in Nicaragua
Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition: nicasolidarity.com
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