jbray@bbncca.ARPA (James Bray) (06/07/84)
Here is some information about a group called tecNICA, which provides a way for `computer people' to help out in Nicaragua. Don't agree with Reagan and the CIA and their fascist Contra friends? Here's a great way to show it. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- tecNICA Technical Aid to Nicaragua While the Reagan administration tries to destabilize the Sandinista Government of Nicaragua, other people are finding ways to aid this struggling Third World nation. The Nicaraguan revolution is unique in the world with its mixture of idealism and pragmatism. It has attracted the support of people and governments of many different political persuasions. One of the most important forms this support takes is technical assistance. Many of us have been trained in various fields of the computer industry or in areas depending heavily on their use -- economics, statistics, administration, etc. In the past year, a number of these professionals have traveled to Nicaragua in groups or individually. While there, they have initiated and worked on projects in banking operations, agriculture, and other fields. Additional support projects have been requested in the central bank (international, public investment), the ministries of Education, planning, health, and the University of Central America. All of these are ongoing projects that require technical support both in the United States and Nicaragua to succeed. Nicaragua has a fair quantity of relatively sophisticated hardware but a serious shortage of trained personnel and usable software to fully utilize this equipment. This is a serious deficiency for any country, but especially one trying to develop its fragile economy against the odds faced by the Nicaraguans. However, it is a deficiency which can be helped in a very real and immediate way. By volunteering our time to conduct a workshop, provide consulting or by living and working in Nicaragua our knowledge and expertise can make enormous contribution to the struggle of the Nicaraguan people. Providing the means to make this exchange happen is the object of tecNICA. In conjunction with various agencies and ministries of the Nicaraguan Government we are conducting a series of workshops that will provide many of their people with much needed skills. They provide lodging and meals during our stay but because of the scarcity of foreign currency they ask each of us to provide our own air fare (about $700). Workshops are one week long with several different ones being conducted each week over a two week period. This allows individuals to teach for either one or two weeks depending on their own work schedules and time commitments at home. Consulting with agencies on problems relating to their own particular application is also provided when possible. During our stay we set aside as much time as possible for travel to see Nicaragua and its people. In addition, one can stay longer for more extensive travel. Workshop Participants We need people who can either travel to Nicaragua to conduct these workshops or consult, as well as people who can provide much needed project research and development here. Long Term Residents The greatest contribution to these and other projects would of course come from a consultant working full-time on a job, for an extended period. A great deal more training and support could be provided. To accomplish this, we are helping the Nicaraguans find professionals who can make longer commitments (month or more) and work as a full-time employee of a ministry or agency. We are currently organizing our summer trips. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information, drop me a line: decvax!bbncca!jbray jbray@bbncca.arpa
martillo@ihuxt.UUCP (Yehoyaqim Martillo) (06/10/84)
Think of your aid to the Nicaraguan government as a contribution to their
genocidal campaign against the Mesquito Indians. Even Werner Herzog who
hardly counts as a flaming rightist has called for the overthrow of the
Sandinista government. Of course the fair and unbiased American press
never reports on popular Nicaraguan disenchantment with the Nicaraguan
government.
--
Yehoyaqim Shemtob Martillo
(An Equal Opportunity Offender)ken@ihuxq.UUCP (ken perlow) (06/11/84)
-- >> Think of your aid to the Nicaraguan government as a contribution >> to their genocidal campaign against the Mesquito Indians. Even >> Werner Herzog who hardly counts as a flaming rightist has called >> for the overthrow of the Sandinista government. Of course the fair >> and unbiased American press never reports on popular Nicaraguan >> disenchantment with the Nicaraguan government. >> Yehoyaqim Shemtob Martillo Sure, believe the CIA instead. They're neutral. I believe friends of mine, who have been there, and are not flaming leftists. The consistent report is that the plight of the Mesquitos is not good, but there is no genocide. The Sandanista line is that the plight of *everybody* will be better when they're not threatened by immanent invasion. You can take that however you want. Werner Herzog wants to overthrow the Sandanistas? Well, Ed Asner, no flaming leftist, has called for their support. What can I say--that's show biz for ya. -- *** *** JE MAINTIENDRAI ***** ***** ****** ****** 10 Jun 84 [22 Prairial An CXCII] ken perlow ***** ***** (312)979-7261 ** ** ** ** ..ihnp4!ihuxq!ken *** ***
dire@dartvax.UUCP (06/11/84)
It is reasonably safe in Nicaragua, the 4 American Churchwomen
refered to were killed in El Salvador. Many friends of mine
(at least 2 dozen) have traveled freely in Nicaragua over the
course of the last two years. I have recenltly helped raise $$
and supplies (mostly medical) for a drive sponsored by Oxfam
America which I feel is a model for all aid campaigns. The
people of Nicaragua deserve our help, after all it was our
government who supported Samoza for 40 years and it was Samoza
who created the economic hardship and political repression that
brought about revolution in Nicaragua. It's a terrible shame that
we in the US know so little about what's really going on in Nicaragua.
--
John Macario
UUCP: {decvax|linus|cornell}!dartvax!dire
CSNET: dire@dartmouth
ARPA: dire%dartmouth@csnet-relay
US MAIL: 10 TERRACE VIEW
Lebanon, NH 03766
"...it's even worse than it appears but it's all right..." tac@teldata.UUCP (06/11/84)
, (sop to the blank line eaters--consider it a religious sacrifice)
In reply to my reply and I will not repeat it all here:
Yes, Ken, I realize the differences between El Salvadore and Nicaragua.
In one country Faction A is in power and supported by the US to put down
Faction B. In the other Faction B is in power and is figthing to put
down Faction A which is supported by the US. This may be an over
simplification, but it is reasonably accurate for our purposes. The
main thrust of my article was that we should not be improving their war
capabilities, but removing the US presence which unbalences (and adds
to the capabilities for) the war. Come on, Ken, as a man who marched
against the VN war do you mean to tell me that this one is just fine?
Did you think the answer to the VN war was to give technical aid to
North Viet Nam?
There is an interesting game out on the market called "Civilization"
by Avalon Hill. It has many interesting aspects and models the rise of
a nation/racial group from stone age to late iron age. It is based around
the Mediterrainian, but the concepts are the same whereever you might
make the map for. One of the best aspects is that players SLOWLY find
that you can't win the game by fighting wars. They hurt both players
too much. When I first started playing with the local group they would
already have the battle lines drawn when they started play. I hopped in
and made friends with the people around me and became peacefull. Since
everyone would trade with me I was able to make deals no one else could
and my race prospered beyond all expectations. It took them several games
which I either won or finished second (out of 7 or 8) before they realized
that it was the lack of war which did the trick. The moral of this is
that while the game is only a game, it does model real life in this respect.
You can not throw men and equipment into war and still raise your
standards of civilization at the same time. EVEN IF IT IS SOMEONE ELSE'S
WAR!
So lets not debate which side is right or wrong. WRITE YOUR CONGRESS-
PERSON AND YOUR PRESIDENT AND GET THE @#$% OUT OF *ALL* OF THE WARS IN
THE WORLD.
From the Soapbox of
Tom Condon {...!uw-beaver!teltone!teldata!tac}
One Less War A Week Might Bring The Peace We Seek.
DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed herein are those of everyone who
matters, but not necessarily anyone you know, and most certainly not
my employers!dfi@ihuxf.UUCP (Dan Iuster) (06/12/84)
Can we PLEASE keep this group for what it was intended ?
I read enough politics in the newspapers and hear enough of it on
the evening news and I don't want to here any in this newsgroup.
If anybody wants to comment on Nicaragua and El Salvador, PLEASE
find a more appropriate forum or use private mail.
--
~~~~~~~
/ \ Dan F. Iuster
/ - o \ ihnp4!ihuxf!dfi
( ) | ( ) AT&T Bell Laboratories
\ \_/ / ih 6n-427, x2994
\_______/
"Have a nice Day"piet@mcvax.UUCP (Piet Beertema) (06/15/84)
<...>
Maybe your expenses are even US-tax deductible! You can bet Ronnie
would be surprised....
--
Piet Beertema, CWI, Amsterdam
...{decvax,philabs}!mcvax!pietpiet@mcvax.UUCP (Piet Beertema) (06/15/84)
<...> >...just ask the nuns. :-) Using the ":-)" here is no sarcasm, just bad taste. >I couldn't end it without a concrete proposal. How about a >constitutional ammendment which requires that the US send no >money, arms, food or help of *ANY* kind to a country which is >fighting--either itself or anyone else! VERY EASY indeed to not send anymore food to a country whose fighting the US itself are causing! And you call THAT a "concrete proposal"???? -- Piet Beertema, CWI, Amsterdam ...{decvax,philabs}!mcvax!piet