Lessons from Latin America

Europe, which has benefited so much and takes many advantages today  from Latin America, still continues not recognizing, clinging to the decline of a system that has replaced democratic principles by the market  laws and democratic multilateralism by oligarchic groups, the lessons  that in many aspects the countries of South America, finally emancipated,  are giving today.

Surprisingly, the editorial opinion of “El País" of February 2 has entitled his analysis of the Summit of CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) just held in Havana: "Simulation in Havana”. It says among other improprieties: "The conclusions have been a catalog of good intentions -strengthening the exchange, declaring the region as a" zone of peace” or fight poverty which imitates the rhetoric of other forums.

Here are some of the resolutions adopted at the Second Summit on 28 and 29 January 2014:

• Continue working on plans, policies and national programs in order to progressively reduce income inequalities that are at the very core of hunger, poverty and social exclusion by, among others, progressive fiscal policies, creation of permanent formal employment protection, assistance and social security, minimum wage setting and its progressive elevation...

·        Grant the highest priority to strengthen food security and nutrition, literacy and post-literacy programs, free general public education, technical, professional and  higher education of quality and social benefit, land tenure, agriculture development ... and the universal public health, the right to adequate housing for all ...

·        Carry out the "preparation of a Strategic Regional Agenda on comprehensive disaster risk management" ...

·        Continuing to deepening strong regional principles for recognition of the rights of migrants and to strengthen coordination of regional migration policies and common positions in global negotiations ...

·        Convinced that climate change is one of the biggest problems of our time ... "will adopt the necessary measures in accordance with the regulations and principles of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the decisions taken at the Conferences of the Parties.”

·        Welcome the recent signing of the new Convention of Minamata  on mercury, as the first binding instrument negotiated under United Nations framework in the last twelve years ...

·        Reaffirm the importance of developing tools to strengthen the international financial system, which should provide a more strict and effective regulation of financial institutions ...

·        Declare the right of our nation to maximize  natural resources, in a sustainable way, ...

·        Committed to continue working to strengthen Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace, in which the differences between nations are resolved through dialogue and negotiation ...

·        Emphasize the importance of culture in Latin America and the Caribbean as the basis of the identity of each country and as a catalyst in the process of regional integration. Likewise emphasize the importance of culture and cultural industries to regional economies and be committed to promoting cultural undertaking ...

·        Reiterate our positions around an integral reform of the UN System, most notably in regard to democratization of international decision-making requests, in particular the Security Council ...

·        Emphasize the celebration for the first time at the United Nations, of a High-Level Meeting on Nuclear Disarmament, on September 26, 2013, in which the CELAC reaffirmed the urgent need to move forward to nuclear disarmament and to achieve the total and general elimination of nuclear weapons in a transparent, verifiable and irreversible manner ...

Now I'd like to see similar resolutions in other international forums and particularly in Europe today!

As a whole, Latin America is reducing social inequalities, while in Europe are expanding.

In Europe we severely judge the behavior of some political leaders in Latin America.

In contrast, Latin America is able to continue having good relations in spite of being humiliated with the " Condor Plan " with thousands of killed and tortured; and with the "structural adjustment" that enriched borrowers and impoverished lenders; and with intolerable mining techniques, and essential services embargoes for decades; and despite having in mind the invasion of Iraq, that has resulted in tens of thousands of dead and maimed, millions displaced....   And of how Europe got rid of Arab leaders brought out by the people in the famous " Spring", who  a few months ago were entertained lavishly , and sold arms with generosity , and have so far accepted all kinds of excuses for some of their big " investors " , although they were not exactly good examples of " democracy" ...

Despite having suffered many outrages by the loathing of the Republican Party to the United Nations and to institutions of integration and discussion at a continental scale, the countries of Latin America have, in general, an attitude of rapprochement and peaceful coexistence.

A great historic turning point lies in the horizon: take note of CELAC and the conclusions of its Second Summit. It would not be bad now for the West to learn new political designs and to put into practice the outstanding resolutions adopted in Havana. Europe, suffering the collapse of a system based exclusively on markets, gives the impression that does not want or cannot see the reality in a different way.

No, it would not be bad that at meetings of the European Commission, or in Davos, or the OECD… similar resolutions were adopted with the intention of putting them into practice.