Chile – Challenge

Poetry Corner: The Men by Pablo Neruda

The Men by Pablo Neruda, translation by Alfred Yankauer

Pablo Neruda was a prominent Chilean Communist, as well as a Nobel prize-winning poet in both literature and peace. Neruda played key roles in two Chilean governments and experienced the outlawing of Communism in 1948 and later became a close adviser to the Socialist President Salvador Allende only to die in hospital of cancer at the time of Pinochet’s US-backed coup. Better known nowadays only for his poetry, he was a hugely popular poet in Chile at the time and remains popular throughout the world today.

Chileans vote to ditch Pinochet era constitution

On 18 October 2020 Chileans took part in a historic referendum, the result of a mass uprising of workers last year, to decide if a new constitution should be created to replace the anti worker Pinochet era constitution. Despite many workers not being able to take part with as many as 100,000 miners being unable to vote due to work combined with the difficulties of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the Chilean workers did not disappoint as they voted overwhelmingly for change.

Breaking with Pinochet’s terrorist and neoliberal regime of the past in Chile

On 25 October 2020, Chileans will have the right to vote for a new constitution and a new constituent assembly of representatives. Lautaro Carmona, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Chile, told Nuevo Mundo on 27 August that October’s referendum will be “decisive for the future of the country” and “for conquering a societyContinue reading “Breaking with Pinochet’s terrorist and neoliberal regime of the past in Chile”

Poetry Corner: The United Fruit Company by Pablo Neruda

The United Fruit Company by Pablo Neruda , 1950.

Pablo Neruda was a prominent Chilean Communist, as well as a Nobel prize-winning poet in both literature and peace (slightly more deserving than the current warmongering president of the US). Neruda played key roles in two Chilean governments and experienced the outlawing of Communism in 1948 and later became a close adviser to the Socialist President Salvador Allende only to die in hospital of cancer at the time of Pinochet’s US-backed coup.