Day after day, I have hesitated to write here because the onslaught of news has kept me off-balance.  There have been few times in my life when the matters of politics, social upheaval, public health and dysfunctional economics have all come together with such overwhelming force.  Every one of the issues is daunting.  Facing them … Continue reading Out of Balance →

When a man acts, he pronounces himself to the world. When a man who has become a leader enriches himself and his family at the expense of his followers, he is a syphon; When a man speaks words that betray reality, he is a liar; When a man sees himself as the only answer to … Continue reading When A Man →

“Free, only want to be free, We huddle close, Hang on to a dream.”  –America by Neil Diamond There’s no shortage of patriotic music today, July 4.  From God Bless America sung by Kate Smith to America by Simon and Garfunkle,  America the Beautiful by Ray Charles, God Bless the USA by Lee Greenwood, I’ve heard songs all day … Continue reading They’re Coming to America →

“It is said that the children of the very poor are not brought up, but dragged up.”                                                    Bleak House, by Charles Dickens It’s an image that is haunting, and daunting, this … Continue reading Bleak House →

An awakening, a dare and what is distinctive about reinventing a cooperative René Mendoza Vidaurre[1] The how Claudio migrated to El Salvador in search of work. The farmer in El Salvador, while chatting, realized that Claudio has 50 acres of land in his own country, Nicaragua. At times he would tease him about this, “hey … Continue reading An awakening, a dare and what is distinctive about reinventing a cooperative →

Fund creation: a peasant strategy in the face of coming shocks René Mendoza Vidaurre[1] Realities A student in a class asked, “does the economy run the other areas, like social and political areas? “Yes, “another student said, “money can even make monkeys dance.” Everyone laughed. The teacher took out a cardboard block on whose sides … Continue reading Fund creation: a peasant strategy in the face of coming shocks →

This is the English translation to the introduction to a book on cooperatives which reflects some of the learning accumulated from the work of accompanying cooperatives in Central America. Reinventing Cooperativism The art of organizing and re-organizing with those at the bottom The biggest challenges that we have had in at least the last 50 years, … Continue reading Reinventing Cooperativism The art of organizing and re-organizing with those at the bottom →

“Development” organizations have tended to emphasize export crops as key for the development of small producer communities. Our research shows that focussing on export crops to the detriment of traditional diversity of indigenous-peasant production results in loss of family land and food insecurity. People also need to analyze and improve the local market for essential … Continue reading Corn, a reflection for the community of Ubú →