El Sol Latino | February 2017 | 13.4

February 2017

Volume 13 No. 4

Un Periódico Diferente / A Different Kind of Newspaper

Oscar López Rivera - ¡LIBRE! Un Periódico Diferente / A Different Kind of Newspaper

Un Periódico Diferente / A Different Kind of Newspaper

Gaddier Fine Arts Studio

Un Periódico Diferente / A Different Kind of Newspaper

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Editorial/Editorial

Oscar López Rivera - ¡LIBRE! Cuando la oficina del presidente de Estados Unidos, Barack Obama, anunció el 17 de enero la conmutación de la sentencia del prisionero político puertorriqueño y líder independista Oscar López Rivera, el reclamo de la mayoría del pueblo puertorriqueño se hizo realidad. La noticia se dio un día antes del cumpleaños de Clarisa López, hija de Oscar. En una de sus últimas acciones presidenciales, Barack Obama ejerció su clemencia ejecutiva para conmutar la sentencia. Oscar finalmente quedará en libertad a mediados de mayo próximo tras 35 años en prisión.

Oscar López Rivera nació en 1943 en San Sebastián, Puerto Rico. Es veterano de la Guerra de Vietnam, donde fue condecorado con la Medalla de Bronce por su valor en combate por no abandonar a sus compañeros heridos. Tras su retorno a Chicago, lugar de residencia, se integró a la lucha a favor de los derechos civiles y trabajó para mejorar las condiciones de vida de la comunidad puertorriqueña en esa ciudad.

López Rivera fue sentenciado a 55 años de prisión por conspiración sediciosa para derrocar al gobierno de Estados Unidos en la isla en septiembre de 1981 y ser miembro del grupo clandestino que luchaba por la independencia de Puerto Rico, Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional (FALN). En 1991 se le añadieron otros 15 años a su sentencia por un presunto intento de fuga.

Aunque la liberación de López Rivera ha sido cuestionada por algunos, la mayoría de los puertorriqueños, tanto en la isla como en los Estados Unidos, han favorecido abrumadoramente su liberación. Esto incluye una amplia gama de puertorriqueños de los movimientos políticos no simpatizantes con la independencia para Puerto Rico, como los creyentes en la estadidad y los autonomistas. La campaña para la liberación de Oscar logró unir a los puertorriqueños, similar a lo que ocurrió durante la campaña para sacar a la Marina de los Estados Unidos de la isla municipio de Vieques.

Esta unidad fue visible en una rueda de prensa realizada el 18 de enero en el Coliseo Roberto Clemente de San Juan, Puerto Rico, en la que Clarisa López, su hija, familiares y lideres políticos reaccionaron al anuncio de la liberación de Oscar. El congresista de la ciudad de Chicago, el puertorriqueño Luis Gutiérrez, recogió este sentir al declarar que, “Necesitábamos a los estadistas, necesitábamos a los populares, necesitamos al pueblo completo. Recuerden cómo terminamos el bombardeo en Vieques y de la misma manera es que se da la excarcelación de Oscar López Rivera, con nuestra unidad y con la profundidad de apoyo que existe en nuestro pueblo. Por eso fue que el presidente Barack Obama nos escuchó. Él no escuchó una palabra negativa, él escuchó todo positivo de nuestro pueblo.”

Oscar López Rivera reconocía la importancia de trabajar unidos a favor de una agenda de justicia social. Como dijo en una ocasión, “Cuando personas que pensamos completamente diferente nos unimos es algo muy significativo. Lo más lindo es el sentido de justicia dentro de nuestro pueblo.

Somos un pueblo solidario y con amor a la justicia.” (BoriFrases.com)

contents

2 Editorial / Editorial Oscar López Rivera - ¡LIBRE! 4 Portada / Front Page Puerto Rico Celebrates Political Prisoner Oscar López Rivera’s Release 5 Puerto Rico’s debt crisis: UN expert warns human rights cannot be side lined Puerto Rican black populaton has higher unemployment rate and less access to health 6 Programa de Siembra de Arboles Urbanos en Chicopee y Holyoke 7 ¿Qué Pasa en...?

10 Opinión / Opinion Holyoke is Burning, for Justice 11 End Child Poverty: “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men” 12 Even at home 13 Rise of Rightwing Demagogues Threatens Democracy Worldwide: HRW 14 Libros / Books La noche de los alfileres 15 La Piñata Mágica, new bilingual children’s book about the joy of sharing

Founded in 2004 n Volume 13, No. 4 n February 2017 Editor Manuel Frau Ramos manuelfrau@gmail.com 413-320-3826 Assistant Editor Ingrid Estrany-Frau Managing Editor Diosdado López

Art Director Tennessee Media Design Business Address El Sol Latino P.O Box 572 Amherst, MA 01004-0572

Editorial Policy El Sol Latino acepta colaboraciones tanto en español como en inglés.

Nos comprometemos a examinarlas, pero no necesariamente a publicarlas. Nos reservamos el derecho de editar los textos y hacer correcciones por razones de espacio y/o estilo. Las colaboraciones pueden ser enviadas a nuestra dirección postal o a través de correo electrónico a: info@elsollatino.net.

El Sol Latino welcomes submissions in either English or Spanish.

We consider and review all submissions but reserve the right to not publish them. We reserve the right to edit texts and make corrections for reasons of space and/or style. Submissions may be sent to our postal address or via electronic mail to: info@elsollatino.net.

El Sol Latino is published monthly by Coquí Media Group.

El Sol Latino es publicado mensualmente por Coquí Media Group, P.O Box 572, Amherst, MA 01004-0572.

El Sol Latino February 2017

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Oscar López Rivera - FREE! When the office of US President Barack Obama announced the commutation of the sentence of Puerto Rican political prisoner and independent leader Oscar López Rivera on January 17, the claim of the majority of the Puerto Rican people came true. The news came a day before the birthday of Clarisa López, Oscar’s daughter. In one of his last presidential actions, Barack Obama exercised his executive clemency to commute the sentence. Oscar will finally be released in May after 35 years in prison.

Oscar López Rivera was born in 1943 in San Sebastián, Puerto Rico. He is a veteran of the Vietnam War, where he was awarded the Bronze Medal for his courage in combat for not abandoning his wounded comrades. After returning to Chicago, where he lived, he joined the fight for civil rights and worked to improve the living conditions of the Puerto Rican community in that city.

López Rivera was sentenced to 55 years in prison for seditious conspiracy to overthrow the US government on the island in September 1981 and for being a member of the clandestine group that fought for the independence of Puerto Rico, Armed Forces of National Liberation (Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional - FALN). In 1991 another 15 years were added to his sentence for an alleged attempt to escape.

Although Lopez Rivera’s release has been questioned by some, the majority of Puerto Ricans, both on the island and in the United States, have overwhelmingly favored his release. This includes a wide range of Puerto Ricans from political movements not sympathetic with Puerto Rico’s independence, such as proponents of statehood and autonomists. The campaign for the liberation of Oscar managed to unite Puerto Ricans in a way similar to what happened with the campaign to force the Navy of the United States out of the island-municipality of Vieques.

This unity was visible during a press conference held on Jan. 18 at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where Clarisa López, his daughter, relatives and political leaders reacted to the announcement of Oscar’s release. The congressman of the city of Chicago, Puerto Rican Luis Gutiérrez, echoed this sentiment when he declared that, “We needed the pro-statehood followers, we needed the populares, we need all the people. Remember how we ended the bombing in Vieques and in that same way is that the release of Oscar López Rivera took place, with our unity and the depth of support that exists in our people. That’s why President Barack Obama listened to us. He did not hear a negative word, he heard everything positive from our people.”

Oscar López Rivera recognized the importance of working together in favor of an agenda of social justice. As he once said, “When people who think completely different unite, it is something very significant. The most beautiful thing is the sense of justice within our people. We are a united people with a love of justice.” (BoriFrases.com)

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Portada / Front Page

El Sol Latino February 2017

Puerto Rico Celebrates Political Prisoner Oscar López Rivera’s Release by ANA GABRIELA RIVERA Originally appeared on Global Voices on January 26, 2017 Jubilant celebrations began the same day that Oscar López Rivera, Puerto Rico’s longest held political prisoner, had his sentence commuted by former President Barack Obama on January 17.

López Rivera was convicted of seditious conspiracy in 1981 and sentenced to 55 years in federal prison. He has spent 35 years incarcerated, 12 of those in solitary confinement.

José López Rivera, Oscar’s brother living in Chicago, affirmed that this was a special day for Puerto Rico, which is a US territory. He expressed his amazement for all the support that his brother has received from different sectors in various parts of the world. The movement to demand the release of López Rivera attracted politicians, activists and artists of diverse political positions and backgrounds, from pro-independence supporters, like US Congressman Luis Gutierrez, and pro-statehood advocates like Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló.

López Rivera was convicted of seditious conspiracy due to his links to the Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional (FALN-Armed Forces of National Liberation), which was a group that carried out several bombings in the US in the 1970s and early 1980s to advocate Puerto Rico’s independence from the US. López Rivera maintains he was never involved in any violence, and he was never directly accused of plotting the bombings.

He has also never renounced his support for Puerto Rico’s independence.

Clarissa López Rivera, Oscar’s daughter, responded to her father’s critics, stating, “My father does not have any blood on his hands”, adding that he was awarded a Bronze Medal for his service in the US Army during the Vietnam War and that he was one of Chicago’s most dearest community organizers.

Historian Jorge Nieves Rivera published in the digital magazine 80grados a brief essay on the first political prisoners in Puerto Rico under Spanish rule in the 19th century, establishing parallels between them and López Rivera.

On October 1896, 27 active members of secret societies that plotted to separate Puerto Rico from Spain were arrested. The major of Cadiz in Spain ordered their imprisonment, but after a year, they were pardoned. Nieves Rivera writes: Translation “As a history teacher, it was inevitable for me to compare and contrast these turn-of-the-century Puerto Rican political prisoners with Oscar López Rivera. There are many parallels between these two stories, with the political prisoners [from the town of] Arroyo and with Oscar López. In both cases, we see that both the Cadiz prisoners and López Rivera belonged to secret societies with separatist goals, faced the same charges and were sent to foreign prisons. On the other hand, the sentences were different. None of the prisoners from Arroyo were sentenced to more than 10 years of prison, and they did not face any charges related to seditious conspiracy, or charges related to attacking the armed forces.”

Campamento contra la Junta, a grassroots organization of activists who established a campsite outside the Federal Courthouse in the capital city of San Juan as a symbol of civil disobedience against the Fiscal Control Board that the US recently imposed on Puerto Rico, were among several groups that documented the celebrations that took place on the streets of San Juan with traditional Puerto Rican music.

López Rivera’s release occurred only two days before the annual San Sebastián Street Festival, and San Juan mayor Carmen Yulín quickly announced that the city will be preparing a special event for his arrival in May. The San Juan mayor also assured that López Rivera will be given a position in the municipality as a community organizer, and that his release represents a day of justice and dignity for the people of Puerto Rico.

In the US, however, not all reactions to his sentence being commuted were positive. US conservative political commentator Glenn Beck expressed his disapproval, and several news outlets have referred to López Rivera as a “terrorist.”

Global Voices has been following Oscar López Rivera’s story and the movement calling for his release for various years. Stay tuned for more details regarding his anticipated return to Puerto Rico in May. Ana Gabriela holds a bachelor’s degree in History from Rutgers University and recently earned her master’s in the same field from Centro de Estudios Avanzados de Puerto Rico y el Caribe. Her academic research has been focused on twentieth century Puerto Rican developmental policies and their effects on the current political and social climate.

Foto del Mes/Photo of the Month

Two Boricua Journalists and the New President of HCC Selfie by the new President of Holyoke Community College, Christina Royal, on January 26, 2017. Natalia Muñoz, host of the popular radio show Vaya Con Muñoz (Saturdays at 10am WHMP Radio) and Manuel Frau Ramos, editor of El Sol Latino interviewed the new President in her office. The interview will appear in our March edition.

Natalia Muñoz will announce when the interview will be broadcasted on her radio show.

Cita del Mes/ Quote of the Month “Before mass leaders seize the power to fit reality to their lies, their propaganda is marked by its extreme contempt for facts as such, for in their opinion fact depends entirely on the power of man who can fabricate it.”

Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism

Johanna “Hannah” Arendt (October 1906 – December 1975) was a German-born Jewish American political theorist.

Portada / Front Page

El Sol Latino February 2017

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Puerto Rico’s debt crisis: UN expert warns human rights cannot be side lined Source: United Nations Human Rights Council GENEVA (9 January 2017) – The United Nations Independent Expert on foreign debt and human rights has called for fair solutions to the huge debt crisis in Puerto Rico, warning that ratcheting up austerity measures will threaten residents’ human rights and worsen the US territory’s “intolerable” poverty levels.

Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky, who has requested from the United States an invitation to carry out a fact-finding visit to Puerto Rico, called for meaningful relief to reduce the debt to financially and socially sustainable levels.

“Ensuring financial stability, controlling public debt and reducing budget deficits are important goals, but should not be achieved at the expense of human rights,” said the expert as he published a detailed statement on the crisis.

versa. Losses need to be fairly distributed. Bond holders, including hedge fund investors, need to take their fair share.”

The Financial Oversight and Management Board dealing with the crisis must ensure that economic, social and cultural rights are not undermined by giving absolute priority to creditors’ rights and by imposing excessive austerity, Bohoslavsky said.

He welcomed recommendations from a US congressional task force for fairer federal funding of health insurance schemes and more tax credits for families.

“Reducing the tax burden of families with children is one of the many measures required to combat intolerable levels of poverty in Puerto Rico,” the Independent Expert said, highlighting that nearly 60 per cent of the island’s children live in poverty.

“Puerto Rico’s fiscal plan needs to prevent further harm to persons in situation of vulnerability. Reform measures must guarantee protection for the rights to health, food, housing, and social security,” he stressed.

“The island simply cannot afford further austerity,” Bohoslavsky underscored. “After 10 years of economic depression, further spending cuts will not assist economic recovery, but will accelerate emigration and undermine the provision of essential public services.”

The expert highlighted the particular impact of the debt crisis on persons with disabilities – pointing out that residents in Puerto Rico receive an average of USD 74 per month in Federal support for living expenses compared with the mainland average of USD 540.

“Actual costs of living do not justify such differences in public support,” he said. “Under international law, the US remains responsible for ensuring that the social rights of all individuals living under its jurisdiction are fully protected without any discrimination.”

Independent Expert on foreign debt and human rights, Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky. UN Photo/ Jean-Marc Ferré.

“The population cannot be held hostage to past irresponsible borrowing and lending,” he stressed. “The economy should serve the people, not vice

Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky (Argentina) was appointed Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and human rights by the United Nations Human Rights Council on 8 May 2014. He previously worked as a Sovereign Debt Expert for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) where he coordinated an Expert Group on Responsible Sovereign Lending and Borrowing. His mandate covers all countries and has most recently been renewed by Human Rights Council resolution 25/16.

Puerto Rican black populaton has higher unemployment rate and less access to health Source:UPR- Office of Communications Translated by Ingrid Frau / El Sol Latino Río Piedras, (January 12, 2017). According to an analysis by the Census Information Center (CIC) of the University of Puerto Rico in Cayey (UPR-Cayey), from 2009 to 2013 the probability that a black person would be unemployed was up 4 percentage points when compared to a self-classified white person.

In terms of health, the probability that a black person in Puerto Rico would have health coverage was 4 percentage points lower than that of a person classified as white. The data are taken from tables S2701, B27001 and S2301 of the Community Survey.

“It is thought that in Puerto Rico there is no racism, that there is no racial discrimination and the issue is rarely addressed. However, when analyzing the available data, I find that there is a statistically significant difference between the quality of life of the average black person and the person classified as average ‘white’. In order to eradicate these negative trends, we need greater labor guarantees to avoid discrimination, better statistics and better access to health. There is no reason why 280,000 black people in Puerto Rico have lower results on average than others,” said Dr. José Caraballo Cueto, CIC director at UPR-Cayey.

According to the analysis, the situation appears to be worse for some municipalities in the interior of Puerto Rico. For example, in Guayama and Patillas, the probability of being unemployed increased by seven percentage points for black people relative to white classified persons. It should be noted that in both municipalities there are a relatively greater number of black people, representing 14% of the municipal population. In Puerto Rico, people classified as black for the study period were 8%.

“It would seem that in places where there is more black population, there are more racial inequalities. Integrating an anti-racist discourse across the entire educational system, public and private, is necessary to root out these root inequalities, because in the end, racism is a reflection of ignorance. In fact, a company that discriminates for racial reasons can lose good human resources and in that sense racism does not maximize profits,” said the doctor also in Economics.

According to the CIC director, the Community Survey is currently one of the few representative databases available in Puerto Rico to measure the black population in Puerto Rico. The CIC is an entity attached to the Census Bureau and the Institute of Interdisciplinary Research of the UPR in Cayey, whose purpose is to disseminate economic and population census data to the different communities. They also consult with organizations.

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Portada / Front Page

El Sol Latino February 2017

Programa de Siembra de Arboles Urbanos en Chicopee y Holyoke por MANUEL FRAU RAMOS manuelfrau@gmail.com Las ciudades de Chicopee y Holyoke, conjuntamente con el Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC, por sus siglas en inglés), el Valley Opportunity Council y la organización comunitaria Nuestras Raíces llevaron a cabo una serie de talleres públicos encaminados a promover la creación de calles verdes en estas comunidades. Los talleres fueron en inglés con traducción simultánea al español.

La meta del proyecto es aumentar la siembra de árboles en las calles de Springfield, Chicopee y Holyoke, para reducir los desbordamientos combinados de las alcantarillas y el agua de lluvia en el Río Connecticut.

Pablo Báez, traductor, junto a Dave Bloniarz, experto en bosques urbanos del Servicio Forestal durante el taller en la Biblioteca Pública de Holyoke.

Los árboles urbanos y otras instalaciones de infraestructura verde desvían el agua de lluvia lejos de los ríos y arroyos y también reducen las cargas de las aguas pluviales en las plantas de tratamiento de aguas residuales, donde las tormentas pueden provocar desbordamientos combinados de aguas negras en el río Connecticut.

Este proyecto es financiado por el Servicio Forestal de los Estados Unidos.

También tiene como socio del proyecto al Departamento de Conservación y Recreación de Massachusetts (DCR, por sus siglas en inglés) y la Conway School of Design. El DCR donará los árboles, mientras que los estudiantes de la Escuela Conway dirigirán los talleres públicos para identificar y diseñar ubicaciones apropiadas para la instalación de árboles e infraestructura verde en los próximos proyectos de reconstrucción de carreteras.

El primer taller se realizó en la Biblioteca Pública de la ciudad de Chicopee.

El segundo se llevó a cabo en la Biblioteca Pública de Holyoke el jueves 12 de enero.

El taller interactivo presentado en Holyoke ofreció a los residentes la oportunidad de aprender los conocimientos básicos acerca del programa de calles verdes, la plantación de árboles, el cuidado y el mantenimiento de estos. El taller lo dirigió Dave Bloniarz, un veterano experto en bosques urbanos del Servicio Forestal.

Se seleccionaron tres zonas urbanas de estudio basadas en su ubicación en áreas con sistemas de alcantarillado combinados y donde se realizarán mejoras a las carreteras. Junto con los socios del proyecto, los estudiantes de la Conway School of Design co-facilitarán otros dos talleres públicos en cada ciudad durante los próximos meses con el objetivo de conocer la opinión pública acerca del proyecto y posteriormente diseñar planes que identifiquen dónde plantar árboles urbanos e instalar otras infraestructuras verdes.

Luego los diseños serán promovidos por una empresa de ingeniería con el fin de tener las especificaciones listas para la instalación una vez que comience la construcción de las carreteras.

“Una de las principales áreas de trabajo de PVPC es la reducción de las descargas combinadas de desbordamiento de alcantarillado en el Río Connecticut, que es el recurso natural más importante de la región,” dijo Chris Curtis, jefe de planificación de PVPC. “Los árboles plantados en las calles en las áreas urbanas ofrecen una manera económica de abordar este problema, mientras que al mismo tiempo proveen entornos más atractivos para caminar y andar en bicicleta, y así reducir el uso del automóvil y mejorar los valores de las propiedades.

Estamos entusiasmados con los múltiples beneficios que se obtendrán de este proyecto.”

“Nuestras Raíces se complace en ser parte de este proyecto que traerá más árboles a los barrios del centro de Holyoke, brindando sombra a los peatones y ayudando a reducir la contaminación de aguas pluviales del Río Connecticut,” dijo Félix Machuca, Director de Operaciones de Nuestras Raíces. “Hacer que Holyoke sea más verde hará que sea un lugar más atractivo para vivir y visitar, y estamos emocionados de que los residentes tendrán la oportunidad de aprender a cuidar árboles urbanos y aportar su opinión sobre el diseño de calles verdes para áreas en el centro de Holyoke.”

Los residentes de Holyoke y Chicopee que residan en los vecindarios designados podrían ser elegibles para siembras gratis de árboles en sus propiedades más adelante en el plazo del proyecto.

Para mas información sobre este proyecto, comuníquese con Jharikem Borrero-Irizarry, Community & Outreach Organizer de Nuestras Raíces / (413)535-1789 ext.209 o jborrero@nuestras-raices.org

Jeroton Clown Music, Games, Balloons and Much More...

For More information call: Jerry & Brenda 413-557-8273 • 413-210-5458 jero4817@yahoo.com

Publish your bilingual ad in El Sol Latino! Call us today at (413) 320-3826

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El Sol Latino February 2017

Holyoke

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Wistariahurst Museum: February 2017 Events I Love Wine: A Tasting to Benefit Wistariahurst Museum

Friday - February 10, 2017 • 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm I Love Wine, the popular annual wine tasting event, returns to Wistariahurst on Friday, February 10 from 6 to 8pm. Guests will enjoy a sampling of delicious wines from around the world—from sparkling whites to oaky reds to rich ports.

Vendors will be on hand to offer advice and suggestions based on your palette.

Keep track of the vineyards and vintages, aromas and finishes of the wines you love on the guest sampling menu. Light refreshments will be served.

Holyoke Public Library: February 2017 Events Crafternoons at the Library

Wednesday – February 8, 2017 • 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm / Teen Room Wednesday - February 15, 2017 • 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm / Teen Room Come unwind in the teen room and make buttons with the button maker, color, collage, make jewelry, etc. Please let Rachel know if you want to lead a crafternoon or if you have any ideas for new crafts!

All proceeds from the evening will benefit Wistariahurst Museum. The event is sponsored by Liquors 44 and Historic Holyoke at Wistariahurst.

Contact - Rachel 413-420-8101 / rdowd@holyokelibrary.org

Tickets will be on sale online beginning in mid-January. Advance admission $25 each; Admission at the door, $30 each.

Keep Calm & Needlework On!

Springfield Symphony Orchestra Presents: Winter Ensemble

Sunday - February 19, 2017 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm Join members of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, Maestro Kevin Rhodes and your friends at Wistariahurst for a special afternoon of music.

The program will include a light brunch, talk-back with the Maestro, and two duet performances featuring Maestro Kevin Rhodes, Piano and Michael Sussman, Clarinet and Maestro Rhodes and Albert Brouwer, Flute.

Tickets and Reservations, $30. Includes brunch, performance, and talk-back with the Maestro.

Info Session: Summer Teacher Institute

Tuesday - February 21, 2017 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm Wistariahurst will be hosting two, one-week teaching institutes this summer funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. These institutes are free for participants and include a stipend to cover food, travel, and housing expenses.

February 6 & February 21 we will be holding drop-in information sessions at Wistariahurst for interested teachers. At these sessions we will answer questions, assist with the application, and present information regarding institute content.

The “Women Making Change” institute will work to improve competency and comfort in two key areas: 1) Women’s history and 2) The use of primary sources in the classroom. Participants will actively pursue their own research, using archives, objects, and a variety of sources to construct materials for use in the classroom. Along the way they will engage directly with top scholars in the field. Teachers will leave this institute having a better conceptual framework of how to address women’s history in the classroom and how to look critically at representations of women in historical narratives. They will be given the opportunity to undergo basic training as historical researchers including using oral histories, utilizing research archives, handling artifacts, and investigating primary sources.

Contact Information: Wistariahurst Museum - 238 Cabot Street - Holyoke, MA 01040 Phone: (413) 322-5660 • info@wistariahurst.org

Wednesday - February 8, 2017 • 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm / Board Room Wednesday - February 15, 2017 • 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm / Board Room Wednesday - February 22, 2017 • 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm / Board Room A new group is forming for those with an interest and passion for all things needlework related. This group is free and open to every one of all ages who like to do things with an eyed needle (for example: cross stitch, needlepoint, crewel embroidery, plastic canvas, counted thread work, and quilting – just to name a few).

This is a casual, relaxed event for you to work on your project while enjoying the company of like-minded individuals.

Please bring your own supplies. Reservations are not needed.

Those under 13 need to be accompanied by an adult.

For more information call 413-420-8101

Learn in Motion!

Wednesday – February 8, 2017 • 3:45 pm - 4:45 pm / Community Room COME PLAY! LEARN IN MOTION is a preschool age sports group that nurtures, challenges, and engages your child in a fun and secure environment.

We believe physical activity plays the most important role in your child’s academic success. Our classroom is the field.

Contact - Jason Lefebvre 413-420-8105 / jlefebvre@holyokelibrary.org

Desde Puerto Rico para el mundo— "la primera y única emisora de tv con licencia para la historia"

El Sol Latino May 2014 9 1/8 x 5 3/8

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El Sol Latino February 2017

Your community radio station, broadcasting 24/7 from the campus of Springfield Technical Community College

www.wtccfm.org WTCC is your source for music - from salsa to R&R oldies, gospel to jazz, R&B to bluegrass, Motown and more, as well as Ecos del Ritmo, Cantares Latino-Americanos, and Club House Dance Music plus local talk shows with local hosts discussing local issues.

El Sol Latino February 2017

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EAT. Art. Love.

Experience the Nourishing Power of the Arts UMass Fine Arts Center - Temporada 2017

Please visit our new office at the corner of High and Suffolk Streets.

Hours for tax season 2017: Monday 3 p.m. - 8 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 8 a.m. - 8 a.m., Other times by appointment.

Subject to change, please call ahead or check our Facebook page.

JELLY & GEORGE: CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF JELLY ROLL MORTON AND GEORGE GERSHWIN Aaron Diehl y Cécile McLorin Salvant Jueves, Febrero 16, 7:30p.m., Fine Arts Center Concert Hall El celebrado pianista Aaron Diehl y la vocalista Cécile McLorin Salvant, ganadora del Grammy, revitalizan las obras de George Gershwin y de Jelly Roll Morton con interpretaciones energéticas que rinden tributo a un patrimonio musical de más de un siglo.

Charla antes del concierto a cargo de Tom Reney, anfitrión de NEPR Jazz á la Mode, a las 6:30 p.m. en el Concert Hall Lobby. $35, $25; Estudiantes - Five Sponsored by College Student 17 años y menores $15, $12, $10; Five College Faculty & Staff

TRAIDO POR

TU ESTACIÓN PBS

¡PRESENCIA! JUEVES 7:30 P.M.

SYDNEY DANCE COMPANY Martes, Febrero 28, 7:30 p.m., Fine Arts Center Concert Hall El Sydney Dance Company viene al FAC bajo la exuberante dirección artística de Rafael Bonachela, un auto-proclamado “movement junkie.” Para su presentación en Amherst, la compañía presenta un programa de repertorio mixto que aprovecha las impresionantes cualidades físicas de los bailarines y lo que el Sydney Morning Herald llama una “exhilarante energía.” $45, $40, $20; Estudiantes - Five College y 17 años y menores $15, $12, $10; Five College Faculty & Staff

Co-Host Veronica Garcia

Un programa bilingüe de televisión local para ti y nuestra comunidad.

Tendremos conversaciones/presentaciones de nuestras historias, cultura y tradiciones. sponsored by

WGBY.ORG/PRESENCIA

Postre: Acompáñenos para una charla al finalizar el espectáculo.

Sponsored by

¡HAY MUCHO MAS! Visite fineartsecenter.com para ver la lista completa de las actividades.

Para boletos: 413-545-2511, 800-999-UMAS o visite fineartscenter.com

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Opinión / Opinion

Holyoke is Burning, for Justice

by DAVID YOS | (jdyos@hotmail.com) It’s been said that if you don’t stand for something you’ll fall for anything, and never has that been truer than in Holyoke now, and the greater the mistake, the greater the propaganda campaign; certainly the fallout from the New Year’s Day fire in the Flats, which resulted in three fatalities, and numerous injuries, demonstrates this.

It wasn’t the timeliness of the response, but the adequacy of it, in terms of personnel on the scene that made the difference, as the president of the firefighters’ union stated in his very poignant remarks to the City Council on January third, as well as a citizen who witnessed the fire in his comments to the Council’s Public Safety committee on the nineteenth. How horrible for a firefighter to be up on one ladder rescuing one person, only to watch another fall to her death because there was no one to man the other.

Worse, despite all this the brownout continues unabated; worst of all, it is always Engine Two, which serves the city’s lower wards, the area where our citizens are both the most vulnerable to fire, and the least politically influential.

El Sol Latino February 2017

firefighters will certainly help – and a reprioritization for the city as a whole, it does seem that the current situation is so extenuating that it is appropriate to utilize $300,000 of the stabilization fund to restore Engine Two to service for the remainder of the fiscal year. The great irony in this is how those who have always been so outspoken on human rights and social justice have all of of a sudden become such fiscal conservatives.

People can talk all they want about how there should have been sprinklers, the alarm system should have been working, and so on, and certainly all that is true; they can can talk about how truly great the relief efforts have been – although not so much in the case of the more recent Main Street fire on the part of some – as well as great photo opportunities; but none of that can ever, for one instant, absolve someone entrusted with the public’s safety of his responsibility, and to, quite literally, put political considerations ahead of peoples’ lives is utterly unconscionable.

One recalls some years ago the people marching through similar sections of our city bearing caskets representing children killed by fire; they could do the same today for all the same reasons, only now adding to them a heavy dose of hypocrisy.

May there be justice for all the great people of Holyoke.

The Puerto Rican Cultural Project

Dominican Republic Flag Raising Holyoke City Hall Recognition to Smith College professor Ginetta Candelario for her outstanding professional career and community work

Ginetta Candelario, Ph.D.

North East Street Fire (Photo credit –Jason Ferreira)

Yes, it is a shame that it often does take a tragedy to get peoples’ attention, but now that it has, we must do all we can to prevent it from happening again.

Calling the city administration to task on this is said to be politicizing the tragedy, but in truth nothing is more politicized than the administration itself, with its top-heavy Fire Department no exception, with, for example, its six deputy chiefs, the $14,000 pay raise for the Chief himself, which he still managed to get despite it being cut from the budget by the City Council, and most of all his appallingly equivocal attitude. It is time to reexamine our priorities, and start putting people over political gain.

Crédito de foto - Smith College

Thursday, February 23 @ 4:00 pm Holyoke City Hall (536 Dwight Street ) ------------------------------------------------------

While the long-term solution involves a reorganization and depoliticization of the Fire Department itself, involving especially, but not at all exclusively, some difficult contract negotiations – although the recent grant for ten new

Book Reading by Ginetta Candelario "Cien Años de Feminismos Dominicanos"

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Opinión / Opinion

El Sol Latino February 2017

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End Child Poverty: “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men”.

Why it matters?

by WALTER MULLIN, Ph.D. and MIGUEL ARCE In the United States, child poverty persists at alarming rates. The United States has one of the highest child poverty rates among other industrial countries. In a civilized world, a country’s government works to ensure their children are safe, secure and that their basic needs are met. This occurs regardless of the parent’s employment status. Healthy, well-developed children are in the interest of a country’s future. The current political landscape seems to be emerging as one that ignores children in poverty.

This is distressing for the children and wrong for the country. Children are the most precious gift and the hope for the future.

Asserting that government programs should help people escape from the cycle of poverty, the ideal role of government is to assure all the pieces are available for high impact in the immediate future to end poverty. Programs need unprecedented levels of funding. Investments in children protect them from a lifelong consequence of poverty. Investments now improve life outcomes and impact future generations, including healthier children.

Sadly, poor children have minimal influence in Washington.

The problem Today, 14.5 million poor children in America, nearly one in five, are poor; more than two-thirds live in working families. This stark and dreadful statistic is overrepresented in inner city neighborhoods with high concentration of people of color. Nearly one in three African American and nearly one in three Latinos are impacted compared to one in eight White children. According to Children’s Defense Fund (CDF)*, in 2016, every day in America, 1,151 babies are born into extreme poverty. Every day in America, 874 babies are born at low birth weight. Birth weight is vital for healthy development and is both a symptom and cause of poverty later on.

Healthy biological development is undermined by the limitations of parental finances, education, and environment. The cost of being born at low birth weight and less healthy can be leave scars for life.

There are enormous differences between the future lives of children who are raised in poverty and those who are not in poverty. The Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) highlights this difference by naming several likely outcomes of a life in poverty including the decrease likelihood of graduating from high school, the likelihood of living in poverty as an adult, to have poor health and to become involved in the criminal justice system. The statistics stand as a call of action for all Americans. How can a country turn its back?

Who works on the problem? The Children’s Defense Fund The Children’s Defense fund began in 1973. It is a private, nonprofit child advocacy organization that works to establish policies and programs that lift children out of poverty. It has a mission to ensure that all children have access to health care, quality education and life experiences that support their development. It provides a strong, effective and independent voice for all the children of America who cannot vote, lobby or speak for themselves.

Marian Edelman Wright, the founder and president, has become the unsilenced voice for most vulnerable, children. CDF and Ms. Edelman Wright understands that, in order for children to bloom, they must be faithfully nurtured. Children growth and self-actualization takes a long time.

This CDF highlights the required commitment by national action— “compassionate, massive and sustained, backed by the resources of the most powerful and the richest nation on this earth”.

CDF has a vision to end child poverty. They are seeking that all parents and caregivers have the resources to support and nurture their children: jobs with livable wages, affordable high-quality child care, supports for working families like the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit, and safety nets for basic needs like nutrition and housing assistance. CDF also seeks to ensure every child in our rich nation has access to high-quality early childhood development and learning, comprehensive health coverage and care, and quality K-12 education so all children can reach their full potential.

CDF and Ms. Edelman Wright understands that, in order for children to bloom, they must be faithfully nurtured. Children growth and selfactualization takes a long time. CDF seeks basic human respect and decency. CDF articulates the basic truth enunciated by Fredrick Douglas “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men”.

Who else works on it?

There are other originations and advocacy groups that work hard to combat childhood poverty. The Children Action Network, amongst a long list of others, has expressed concerns with the policy priorities of the current administration including personal and corporate tax cuts, increases in defense spending and reductions in entitlements. The Children Action Network also focuses on the policy priorities of the federal government administration. They note personal and corporate tax cuts, increases in defense spending and reductions in entitlements that ignore the lives of America’s children. In considering child development, the Children Action Network notes “Those first five years of life when 90% of brain growth happens.” They state that the biggest social justice issue in this country is that poor children are developing at a slower pace than the more affluent children. It is only because of the want of resources.

What needs to be done?

Walter Mullin and Miguel Arce

For these two organizations, the call for actions is clear. There is a role for citizens is to advocate on behalf of the most vulnerable children during this

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Opinión / Opinion

El Sol Latino February 2017

Even at home

by J’ANTHONY SMITH | January 19, 2017 Independent columnist - smithh251@gmail.com When one thinks of Trumpism and everything that it stands for, many things come to mind. Whether it be the movement for a return to the far right, the racist ideology that underlies the idea of “Making America Great Again”, or the mob mentality that has erected so quickly. One never fully relates to these threats. We see this modern threat as a distant one. We believe that it’s something that doesn’t really affect a community like Holyoke because before the election we were a community and after the election we’re still a community. This belief couldn’t be any more false.

As small communities we’ve been placed in the front line of this battle against oppression. It is the cities like ours where tensions have been brewing. Demographics are changing, globalization is trending, and the traditional order is changing all across the country and in our own backyards. These differences have been bottled up over time and aged.

Now it appears that the cap is coming off. These differences are leaking out and are invading our communities. Holyoke is one of the cities in which people are more divided than ever. This hatred is creeping into our neighborhoods and into our people. It’s evident in bumper stickers and lawn signs. Scattered throughout the city are reminders that people like me aren’t safe. No matter where we are, we’ll be facing oppression. Even in a city that I’ve lived half of my life in, I’m still not fully welcomed.

Recently a friend of mine and I were walking back home from Holyoke Community College. It was the last day of intermission and we wanted to enjoy the nice weather that was teasing us in mid January. We chatted about what we would do for the rest of our vacation, how glad we were that class was over, and other small talk. My friend was also eating a bagel.

About halfway through the bagel he got full and decided to dispose of the bagel. We looked around for a trashcan but there wasn’t one so he tossed the bagel and we watched it briefly fly like a disk across the road and land in the emergency lane. Before we could even take another step we heard shouting from the distance. We turned and saw three men standing under a

“Trump: Make America Great Again” plaque and heard one of the men yelling at the top of his lungs. The bagel that landed on the side of the road, near the woods, was apparently on his property. Without proper reason, he began swearing at us, threatening us, and blaming “our kind of people” for the trash in “his” neighborhood. In defense, we pointed out that the bagel was on public property and that he was simply creating something from nothing.

As we tried to step away he continued and became even more aggressive with his threats. He then began crossing the street and started approaching us. Once in our faces I could see who the man was more clearly. He was in his mid to late thirties, roughly 6’4”, and 240 lbs. He was more or less double our age and our size. But I also saw something else. I saw the hatred in his eyes, the anger in his body, and the energy in his movements. He was full of rage for some reason and it went deeper than a bagel. We were just convenient targets for this rage. Once a breath away he pushed my friend and started egging us on to fight him. My friend immediately got frustrated and told the guy that he had no right putting his hands on him- perfectly reasonable. Things were getting heated and then I reminded my friend that it would be their word against ours. He then just decided to end it all and shut the guy up in another way. He started walking in the middle of the street and approached the bagel. Grabbed the bagel, walked back, then put the bagel on the other side of the street. In that moment the man started walking back to his house but not before insulting us about how “uncivilized” we were. My friend and I walked away in shock to the situation that had occurred. One small act had led us to such a dangerous ordeal.

That day my perspective changed on how I view the Trump movement. I could no longer view it as movement abroad. It became something much closer to home than I previously imagined. The heated division between people caused by the movement was now taking place in a small town like mine. It had become much more local and was now something that could actually interfere with my personal life. The anger, the hate, and the rage behind the movement was something that was closer than I once believed it was. Now it was something that I could see right outside my window.

Before, the movement threatened my safety abroad but now it’s something visible even at home.

Publish your bilingual ad in El Sol Latino! Call us today at (413) 320-3826 End Child Poverty: “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men”. time of political uncertainty. Children need community and governmental support. While supporting and providing opportunities for children is the role of government, now in its absence, what should be done? We must pay attention. Citizens working with governments, local partners, need to strive to create opportunities for children advocating for spending aimed directly to benefit children, including income tax reductions for families with young or dependent children and other child related expenditures. We must keep speaking about child poverty.

There is a concern about current national agenda and how money will be allocated. How will it be decided about what sectors will receive money?

There is a strikingly imbalance approach. The current plans turn a blind eye

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to the principles of justice and addressing the hardship faced by the poorest and most vulnerable, children. Currently the government seeks deductions, exclusions, and credits and gives other preferences disproportionately to benefit high income households. We must keep speaking about child poverty. *See more at: http://www.childrensdefense.org/policy/ endingchildpoverty/#sthash.nuP9IFdg.dpuf Walter Mullin, PhD (wmullin@springfieldcollege.edu) is a Professor at the School of Social Work at Springfield College. Miguel Arce MSW (marce@ springfieldcollege.edu) is an Associate Professor at the School of Social work at Springfield College.

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Opinión / Opinion

El Sol Latino February 2017

13

Rise of Rightwing Demagogues Threatens Democracy Worldwide: HRW By NADIA PRUPIS Common Dreams | January 13, 2017

Trump and other populist leaders work from a similar propaganda playbook that supports bigotry and discrimination, HRW says. (Photo: Reuters) The rise of political populists threatens democracy worldwide, a new report from Human Rights Watch (HRW) released Thursday says.

In its World Report 2017, the human rights organization highlights President-elect Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S., the power grabs of “strongman” leaders in Russia, China, Turkey, and the Philippines, and the rise of right-wing demagogues in Europe, as trends that “denigrate legal standards and disdain factual analysis, directly challenge the laws and institutions that promote dignity, tolerance, and equality.”

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Trump and other populist leaders work from a similar propaganda playbook that supports bigotry and discrimination; scapegoats immigrants and refugees for economic problems; encourages people to give up their rights in favor of authoritarian rule as a defense against outside threats; and foments division between demographics, the report states.

“The rise of populism poses a profound threat to human rights,” said HRW executive director Kenneth Roth. “Trump and various politicians in Europe seek power through appeals to racism, xenophobia, misogyny, and nativism.

They all claim that the public accepts violations of human rights as supposedly necessary to secure jobs, avoid cultural change, or prevent terrorist attacks.

In fact, disregard for human rights offers the likeliest route to tyranny.”

Roth cited Trump’s campaign promises to curtail women’s and minority rights, deport millions of immigrants, use torture against detainees, and crack down on freedom of the press, as examples of “the politics of intolerance.”

He also noted parallel campaigns in Europe that used xenophobia and nationalism to encourage people to vote away their rights, with Brexit being one of the most prominent outcomes.

“We forget at our peril the demagogues of the past: the fascists, communists, and their ilk who claimed privileged insight into the majority’s interest but ended up crushing the individual,” Roth said. “When populists treat rights as obstacles to their vision of the majority will, it is only a matter of time before they turn on those who disagree with their agenda.”

HRW’s report comes as the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, called on business leaders planning to converge in Davos, Switzerland for the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) next week to focus on resisting right-wing agendas around the world.

“We begin the year full of anxiety about the state of the world: the deeply disturbing increase in divisive behavior and policies, and outright hatred; the attacks against fundamental human rights, particularly of those already vulnerable; and the continued widespread failure to ensure fair access to resources, prosperity, and economic security for all,” Zeid said Friday.

“Business actors can be powerful advocates for human rights—for the empowerment of women, for equal rights regardless of race, nationality, or sexual orientation, for the rights of all to adequate housing, to an adequate standard of living, to education, healthcare, and more,” he continued.

The high commissioner has also made similar warnings against the rise of Western demagogues, once saying that Trump was “dangerous” for the global community. His office is reportedly strategizing to take on the president-elect’s vision for the United States.

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Libros / Books

La Novena

El Sol Latino February 2017

por MARCELA SERRANO • Alfaguara, 2016. 416 páginas

Cuando eres un joven idealista y encuentras una causa que estimas más que nada, que te motiva más que cualquier otra cosa en tu vida, que vale cualquier sacrificio, aún el sacrificio de tu propia vida, puedes dedicarte a tal causa antes de todo. Porque es pura y vale los sacrificios.

Tú crees…

Hasta que un día llegas a ser un adulto maduro, golpeado por los sacrificios que has hecho, y te das cuenta, con un íntegro choque mental y emocional, de que los queridos valen mucho más que cualquier abstracta meta idealista.

Y entonces ¿qué?

Este es el tema que nos presenta la chilena Marcela Serrano en su reciente novela La Novena. Vuelve a los años del dictador Augusto Pinochet (Presidente de Chile entre los años 1973-1990), triste época cuando, según la enciclopedia Wikipedia, casi 80,000 personas fueron detenidas en prisiones, muchas torturadas, y el número de muertos y desaparecidos llegó a 3,095.

El joven protagonista idealista Miguel Flores, tras asistir a una manifestación estudiantil, donde vienen “los pacos con las bombas lacrimógenas y las mangueras con sus feroces chorros de agua,” huye corriendo, tropieza con un perro, cae, y así es fácilmente detenido por “sus actividades subversivas.” Después de darle “una buena apaleada,” lo llevan esposado a un sitio llamado Santa Amelia, donde encuentra “un paisaje del siglo pasado” , “tan descontaminado de civilización.” Es un sitio aislado en las altas montañas que rodean la capital.

Flores es un relegado y las condiciones de su castigo las enumera él: “No tengo autorización para salir después de las diez de la noche ni antes de las siete de la mañana. No puedo desplazarme sino dentro del valle. Debo firmar todos los días en el retén de Carabineros. El alojamiento y la comida son de mi absoluta responsabilidad. No puedo trabajar en ningún punto de relegación. Debo avisar en caso de enfermedad.”

A pesar de tener poco dinero para comprar comida, es la soledad lo que le hace sufrir más. Encuentra una lagartija en su humilde hogar y la bautiza Lisandra. Es a ella a quien le cuenta los pocos sucesos de su día.

Dentro de poco, Doña Amelia, una rica señora de edad mediana, “igual a Katharine Hepburn,” que prefiere vivir en la soledad de las montañas, le extiende su amistad…y algo de comer. Es dueña de La Novena, llamada así porque durante la Reforma Agraria, los grandes territorios de los ricos fueron divididos en nueve partes.

Miguel lucha en su interior contra la tentación de hacer amistad con esta mujer quien no le muestra nada sino la pura y desinteresada caridad. Pero para él, ella representa la clase alta y sus valores. Cuando ella le presta un libro de su enorme biblioteca, Miguel se dice a sí mismo, “Mejor abandono el libro este, debo pensar en cosas importantes, en el partido, en los movimientos que nos esperan cuando termine mi relegación, en mis tareas mientras esté aquí,…a mí me importa solo la lucha. Esa vieja loca no me ha preguntado nunca por qué estoy relegado.”

Sin embargo, cae víctima de su bondad y la ve como una mujer auténticamente buena: “No solo me cae bien, me estoy apegando a ella. Y eso no estaba en el programa, carajo. “ Sí, “el programa” era otro.

Y un día, enfermo y pasando la noche en casa de doña Amelia quien lo estaba cuidando, vienen “los pacos” llegan a buscarlo. Han descubierto un escondite de armas en la propiedad de Amelia. Miguel se escapa, pero no Amelia. La sujetan a todo tipo de torturas de la dictadura de aquel entonces.

La hija de Amelia, Mel, se promete no perdonarle nunca esto a Miguel.

Por el sistema de arreglos entre los que luchan clandestinamente contra el regimen de Pinochet, Miguel se escapa del país y llega a Inglaterra. Estudia en la universidad y se hace hombre de posición y de influencia. A pesar de haberse convertido en el honorable Jorge Escalante, sigue picándole la conciencia por no saber lo que le ha pasado a Amelia. Hace esfuerzos por localizar a Sybil, la prima de Amelia que vive en Inglaterra. Aquélla le dice que “no expiarás tus culpas en esta vida, créeme.” Y así empieza un viaje hacia la verdad de lo que le hizo a Amelia.

La novela capta muchos detalles históricos de la triste época de la Chile bajo Pinochet pero no sólo por eso me impresiona y me conmueve tanto.

Serrano es sumamente artista. Maneja la complejidad de la trama con aparente facilidad dado los varios puntos de vista.

Pero lo que me impresiona aún más es su maestría de palabras. Capta la esencia de sus personajes y éstos saltan a la vida en sus tres dimensiones.

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Libros / Books

El Sol Latino February 2017

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La Piñata Mágica, new bilingual children’s book about the joy of sharing NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- After his successful children’s book, Ser como el bambú (‘Being like bamboo’), the bestselling author Ismael Cala, has once again reached young audiences with La Piñata Mágica (The Magic Piñata).

The story -- which is bilingual and illustrated -- tells the story of Alex, a boy who is about to celebrate his birthday, but has to learn an important lesson about selfishness.

Through its pages, illustrated in full color by Yunior Suárez, ‘The magic piñata’ draws its young readers into the world of its protagonist, whose parents are preparing a wonderful birthday party with a great big piñata, inviting children from the little town of Tepoztlán where Alex lives, to attend.

During the party, Alex discovers that he must share whatever tumbles out of the piñata with others, and this bothers him. From now on, he decides, he will ask his parents to celebrate his birthday a little differently: with two piñatas, one for his friends and one for him alone.

time show CALA on CNN en Español.

He is currently considered one of the leading communicators in the Americas, and his message of social entrepreneurship, mindfulness and wellbeing is a touchstone for millions of followers attuned to his books, seminars, workshops and lectures throughout all of Spanish America.

He is the author of the bestsellers “La vida es una piñata” (‘Life is a piñata’), El analfabeto emocional (‘The emotional illiterate’) El poder de escuchar (‘The power of listening’), Un buen hijo de P (‘A real S.O.B.’) and El secreto del bambú (‘The secret of bamboo’). He is the co-author of Beat the curve, with Brian Tracy. He has worked with great teachers such as Deepak Chopra and John C. Maxwell and undergone training with coaches such as Tony Robbins and Miguel Ruíz.

In a letter addressed to parents, Cala affirms that being self-centered is a harmful trait in a child’s personality. “It is likely that a self-centered child will turn out being unsupportive as a child and as an adult. He will suffer a lot at every stage of his life, since he will not understand how other people relate to each other and share among themselves. Fighting against selfishness prepares our children to be better people, and helps them cultivate a spirit of kindness and fairness,” the author explains.

Ismael Cala had already made use of the figure of the piñata in his successful book, La vida es una piñata (‘Life is a piñata’), which provides inspiration to face life with the right attitude. He avails this picturesque artifact to teach children not just the importance but also the joy of sharing the good things of life.

“My story is about a piñata, because it’s entertaining and at the same time allows children to relate, to explore their own worth and individuality and the particular gifts that differentiate them as human beings,” Cala explains.

La Piñata Mágica is an excellent introduction to read to children because it has illustrated pages with short texts. Additionally, Alex’s decisions and attitudes can be discussed in family to help children understand the consequences of being selfish, and teach them how to resist this negative attitude. Furthermore, the book is a great tool to help children learn a second language, because it contains the complete text in both English and Spanish.

Ismael Cala is a life and human development strategist, best-selling author and international lecturer. For more than five years he was host of the prime

La Novena continued from previous page Además, envuelve a los lectores en el ambiente por pintar tan bien los escenarios. Por ejemplo, mientras Miguel explora los confines de su destierro, tropieza con un anciano: “Era una voz ahogada, ronca pero a la vez débil, como si el tiempo la hubiera privado de amplificación. Su figura, en el vano de la puerta, parecía la de un patriarca legendario: una larga barba blanca en un rostro poblado de surcos, miles de ellos, una figura pequeña y encorvada, enteramente cubierta por un chal descolorido, y unas manos transparentes.”

La autora nos habla por boca de Amelia del valor de leer la ficción:

“aprendo más de la naturaleza humana en la ficción que en los seres de carne y hueso…atisbo la grandeza y la miseria, el claroscuro de cada uno, la ambigüedad, cuán malos y cuán buenos somos…ahí me encuentro con la vida.”

He leído otras novelas de Serrano: El amor en el tiempo de los dinosaurios, Dulce enemiga mía, Nosotros que queremos tanto, y Sin dios, sin ley. Las recomiendo todas, pero creo que ésta última podría ser la mejor.

Reseña de Cathleen C. Robinson, profesora jubilada de español y de la historia de América Latina.

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Portada / Front Page

El Sol Latino February 2017

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