A better world is possible: Nicaragua achieves poverty reduction despite US threats. Webinar Monday 31 March, 6.30pm BST

In 2006, the Nicaraguan people elected a Sandinista government which inherited a country where nearly 50% of the population were living in poverty, the consequence of 16 years of US-backed neo-liberal governments.

Since then, Nicaragua has made poverty reduction its top priority, investing in free health care, education, and infrastructure improvements that have clear results.

Today, the country has reduced maternal mortality rates by 70%, has the best roads and hospitals in the region, and Nicaragua ranks number one in the world in educational attainment for women and girls and sixth in the world for overall gender equality.

This has been achieved despite an attempted coup, two major hurricanes, the pandemic, US sanctions, the climate crisis, and an international campaign taken up by the mainstream media to discredit the Sandinista government. What other country could have withstood such pressure?

In the eyes of the US the great ‘sin’ committed by Nicaraguans is to elect Sandinista governments. The punishment for doing so is to suffocate the country economically, attempt to overthrow the democratically elected government and impose its own version of ‘democracy’.

The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has now proclaimed Nicaragua, Cuba and Venezuela ‘enemies’ of humanity’ responsible for the US immigration crisis.

What could this mean in practice for Nicaragua?

In light of the escalation of US threats, international solidarity and unity is critical to ensure that the sovereignty of progressive countries in Latin America such as Nicaragua is defended and maintained.

Speakers:

John Perry lives in Masaya, Nicaragua and writes about politics and social issues in the Morning Star,  FAIR, Covert Action Magazine, and the London Review of Books.  

Becca Renk  has lived in Ciudad Sandino, Nicaragua, for more than 20 years working in sustainable community development with the Jubilee House Community and its project, the Centre for Development in Central America. Becca is currently the Director of the JHC- CDCA’s health clinic and Coordinator of the Casa Benjamin Linder solidarity project.

Nick Hoskyns is Managing Director of the ethical trading company ETICO and has lived and worked with rural Nicaraguan co-operatives since 1988. He is a member of the Executive Committee of NSCAG.

Chair:  Julie Lamin, Co-Chair, NSCAG Executive Committee

Please note that the event will be conducted in English only.

A zoom link for the event will be sent out to participants once they have registered.

Click to register