Eva Peron Dies: From the BBC, July 26, 1952

Eva Duarte de Peron, wife of the president of the Argentine Republic, has died from cancer, aged 33.
She passed away at 2025 local time at the presidential residence in the company of her husband General Juan Domingo Peron.

Her death was announced by the Subsecretariat of Information at 2142.
The President of the Chamber of Deputies, Dr Campora, immediately submitted a bill to Congress, declaring 26 July as a national day of mourning from now on.

The government has announced that it will observe official mourning for 30 days.

'Brilliant and devoted'

The Queen sent a message of condolence to the Argentine president.

It read: "I extend to you my deepest sympathy and that of my people for the tragic loss which you and the Argentine people have suffered in the premature death of your brilliant and devoted partner."

Argentina's most famous first lady, who was recently proclaimed "spiritual chief of the Argentine nation" by Congress, was born Maria Eva Duarte on 7 May 1919 in the village of Los Toldos.

She was the youngest of five children born to Juana Ibarguren and Juan Duarte. Her father died when she was seven and the family struggled to make ends meet.

Before she was 20 Eva had moved to Buenos Aires to pursue her theatrical aspirations.

She met the then Colonel Juan Domingo Peron in 1944 when he was vice president and secretary of war and the couple were married in 1945.

The following year General Peron became president. His wife devoted her time to the poor, or the descamisados (shirtless ones), of Argentina and over the next seven years brought the working classes into a position of political power never witnessed before.

She organised mass political rallies and spent millions of pounds of public money on the poor. She got women the vote and legalised divorce.

But the Peronist years were controversial.

Although hailed a social champion and adored by the working classes, Evita, as she became known, was feared and loathed by the military and the upper classes. They regarded her as a threat and believed she was using her public position to further her own personal aspirations.

In 1951 she was nominated for vice-presidency but was forced to withdraw after pressure from the military.

Her last public appearance was on 4 June this year when she stood beside her husband in an open motor-car during the inauguration ceremonies for his second presidential term.

Her body, dressed in a white evening dress, has been taken to the Ministry of Labour and Welfare, where it will lie in state for two days.

It will then be transferred to the General Confederation of Labour.

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On Frank Almeida of Sugar & Spice

As many of you may have noticed, I have remained silent on the recent posts by and about Frank Almeida of Sugar & Spice that have been popping up on local forums, blogs, websites and social networking sites. I have since decided that I want to share a few words with you regarding my thoughts on Frank, his company and his involvement in the community. In my opinion, there are three types of people involved in a community: those who are members of a community, those who participate in a community and those who help create a community. Frank clearly falls into all three of those categories. However, when I think of the last group, those who strive to build something greater than themselves, Frank immediately comes to mind as both a leader and a pioneer.

I know from firsthand experience that Frank has striven to contribute in a significant way to assist both the local and the expatriate communities. As many of you are aware, I am involved with several organizations here in town working within both the expat and local community. Frank, along with Sugar & Spice, has been there nearly every step of the way. He has offered encouragement, support, time, energy and on several occasions has either catered events or offered items for raffles which were intended to promote a greater community than the one we arrived to participate in.

Throughout history there have been those who have cared about the world around them. There have been those who wanted to create a better community, a greater world. There have been those who have tirelessly given of themselves, their time, and their talents. And unfortunately, throughout the ages these people have met strong resistance. However, I believe in people and in the power of community. And I also believe in the power of light to conquer the darkness.

In the instant case, I am reminded of the words of Haile Selassie excerpted from a speech he gave before the United Nations in 1968:

“...until bigotry and prejudice and malicious and inhuman self-interest have been replaced by understanding and tolerance and goodwill; until all [of us] stand and speak as free human beings, equal in the eyes of the Almighty; until that day, [we] shall not know peace. We ... will fight if necessary and we know that we shall win as we are confident in the victory of good over evil.”

Frank is one of the best men I have ever had the privilege to call friend. I admire Frank. He has my respect. And he has my full support and that of those who I hold most dear.  Read more!

Witness - World and the Underworld - 08 Oct 08 - Part 1

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Political Economies: Explained Using Cows

United States: You have two cows. The government pays you subsidies not to milk your cows. Imports of dairy products from South America increase.

China: You have two cows. The government takes both cows and shoots you.

Iraq: You have two cows. They end up in Guantanamo Bay, but receive excellent medical care.

India: You have two cows. You worship them.

Poland: You have two bulls. You get killed trying to milk them.

Russia: You have two cows. You drink vodka and see four cows.

Argentina: You have two cows. Néstor and Cristina Kirchner take the milk and export it. They tax you 44%, leaving you without enough money to cover production costs. Too bad! On the plus side Cristina is able to pay for Botox injections and pays off some political cronies. Read more!

Seeking Operación Cóndor Information

I am working on a research project which involves U.S. State Department and intelligence services through the research of documents spanning back to the mid 1970's that have been released through the FOIA, Freedom of Information Act.

While the focus of this project is the involvement of the USA in the Southern Cone of South American during this period, I would also be interested in accounts from people who were here, or had family here at that time. The nationality of the individuals is of no importance, nor is the ability to speak English.

Specifically, I was wondering if any of you out there had any first or secondhand knowledge of Operación Cóndor, or if you had any first or secondhand experiences relating to that period in history. More specifically, I am interested in accounts of life in Buenos Aires during the period between about 1972 or '73 up until around 1983. Memories, stories, letters, photos, etc. are all of interest. And of course, anyone with info relating to other member countries of Operation Condor is of interest as well.

While notes and/or recordings might upon occasion be used to insure the accuracy of the project, personal information can and will be withheld from others upon request.

I will provide some brief background for those of you unfamiliar with Operation Condor, Operación Cóndor in Spanish. Operation Condor was a shadowy Latin American military network created in the 1970s whose key members were Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. This group was later joined by Ecuador and Peru. The operation was a covert intelligence and operations system that enabled the Latin American military states to hunt down, seize and execute political opponents across borders. Refugees fleeing military coups and repression in their own countries were "disappeared" in combined transnational operations.

Of particular interest is the fact that Operation Condor was not only the result of the joint work of intelligence and security services of those member nations, but it also received direction, support and financing from the USA through its State Department, intelligence and security services.
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Thoughts on Today's Inauguration

I find it interesting the changes I have seen in the USA in my own life time, although the election of a black man to the presidency is a far cry from completion of the battle for equality.

I grew up in Texas and still remember mandatory busing, banning of blacks from certain places, events, opportunities.


My mother died weeks before Clinton's first inauguration and I am sure she would have been proud to see this day as well. Since that time, my father has entered into a long term relationship with a black woman.

My father and I always love sitting around and reminiscing about the "good ole days". A topic of frequent discussion is places, restaurants, events from years gone past. It is interesting when my father and I engage in one of our "blast from the past" talks and his girlfriend is around. My father and I excitedly discuss things from the past and she remarks: "we were not allowed to go there", "we could not attend", "we could only sit in the balcony of Wednesday nights"......

We have certainly come a long way in recent years, but there is yet much work to be accomplished. Read more!