Dreaming

A little less than three years ago, we had a cat in our communal house called "Ñaupa".

The companion stopped between the books; maybe he just made us believe he was reading, but that purr in the middle of an open book looked like the murmur of a boy reading.

In November 2016 "Palomo" arrived: we found him in the street, badly wounded.

He has never been a reader nor has shown interest in reading, especially since we found - also thrown away in the street and hungry - "Plumo", in the month of February.

We are going to talk to them now, to see if they will do more than just sleep.

Taramuyke!

Marleny Olivera has started with her steps as Volunteer Coordinator of our Network in the province of San Ignacio. And she has returned to the communities after long hours of a trip that involves crossing the river in a captive raft.

For those who do not embark on the commitment to serve their land and their people, to the dream of the sovereign mind and community culture, it must be difficult for them to imagine the gift that constitutes seeing the happy mood of children reading, of the united villagers, growing together.

On 17th April the Rural Library in Educational Institution of Taramuyke, Potrero Grande Village Centre, district San José de Lourdes, Province of San Ignacio, began.

Professor Diómedes Camacho Zelada is your librarian: and you have to see that pleasant spill of enthusiasm!

Our congratulations and hugs to you!!

Jaén reading

High spirits encourage: that is the lesson that they have been cultivating in the Educational Institution "Sacred Heart" of Jaén.

Our colleague Elizabeth Olano Díaz, Coordinator of the Network in Jaén, and all the formidable team of the institution, encourage reading with creativity, responsibility and enthusiasm.

Our embrace goes from here, always adding to that generous deed.

Sunset and sunrise

Today I saw the most beautiful sunset in the world, in one of the most beautiful villages I know in Cajamarca.

I do not know how pleased some people are to walk in some big city while shopping, among large concrete blocks. Perhaps they would never understand the beauty of a mud house or the wonders that inspire the soul seeing a sunset like this.

That contemplation could be described as "boring" or "weird", but then we should be proud to be so.

The way things are going, it may be that in a few years the tranquil fields I passed today will be invaded by ridiculous mounds of concrete, which is like listening to reggaeton in the middle of Beethoven's ninth symphony.

The mooing of the flocks will not be heard, nor the creaking of the leaves waving to the wind; You will not see butterflies flying nor children playing. They will not remember their story or the stories of their grandparents. And nobody will want to sit and watch the sunset.

The truth sounds sad if it is said so directly, but if it did not hurt we would not do anything to try to cure it.

The Network of Rural Libraries is my family, always was and always will be, beyond time and distance. There I have hundreds of uncles, aunts and cousins, sisters and brothers who also fight so that the truth, at last, will not hurt.

With them, comuneros, one can sit down and see and appreciate this sunset.

Mara

One book, many readings

"All the bloods", the monumental work of José María Arguedas could also be called all the voices, all the souls, all the Andean world.

It is a book that opens different forms of reading: from the conflict of interests and factions, exclusion, injustice, violence, abuse; going through the beautiful descriptions of the exuberant Andean nature or, the recognition of the firm peasant traditions with the permanence of the Quechua language in the Peruvian Andes; the ideas, the prejudices and the opinions of the life and the customs of the people of the coast, the city dwellers, those of the mountain range, the rich people, the foreigners, the politicians, the entire people.

The paragraphs on the land, the crops and the agricultural work are abundant, the description of the mountain landscapes of Peru, the review of diverse flowers, trees and Andean birds, all wrapped in the sacred tone that emits the chacarero world of the Andes: 

"On the yellow of the dead weeds and the blackish of the small parched trees, the flowers of the k'antus shone at the top of the mountain. It is the only flower of winter; It opens its bells that have not only the colour but the brightness of blood, precisely when the surface of the earth seems dead."

Arguedas refers to the ancient tradition of sharing the toast with the earth, with the mountain: "Don Adrián invited a drink of aguardiente to each ringleader. He first poured a few drops on the earth and scattered others to the air, in the direction of the Pukasira"; 

"Five community members spilled a few drops on the palm of their hands so as not to wet the carpet, and they blew the cognac drops, spreading them in the air. In this way they participated in the toast to the mountain gods."

Todas las Sangres besides representing Peru, its contradictions and its struggles, is also an exaltation of the strength of its mountains, that is, the creative and revolutionary power that exists in the Andean soul: "Peru is scary, sometimes! (...) These mountains! If they begin to march, who can stop them? Their summits reach heaven."

Statistics and poverty

This past April 10, 2019, the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI) issued a report stating that the level of poverty fell 2018 from 21.7% to 20.5% in the Peruvian population.

We already know that the statistics can lend themselves to juggling, like that affirmation that in the Vatican City there are two Popes per square kilometer, considering that the surface of the Vatican is half a kilometer.

The truth is that in this tremendous reduction of national poverty, it is also indicated that Cajamarca is in the worst situation, with a poverty level of between 37.4% and 46.3%. This is ten times higher than the level of poverty in regions such as Ica and Madre de Dios.

According to the INEI, since 2011 Cajamarca is located in the group of regions with the highest level of poverty. And since 2017 it is the only paladin that holds this indicator chart: Cajamarca, with its extreme official poverty, is ten times higher than the regions with a lower extreme poverty index (0.3% and 0.7%).

The meters of the historical fast say that, here, the minimum expense line to cover vital food needs is less than 183 Soles per month per person.

But they continue talking about development, sustainability, investments, export agriculture and similar managers.

Blessings and hugs

We received many and nice greetings for our 48 years.

Our gratitude and affection. The blessings are reciprocal!

Hugs for everyone and thanks for the teachings!!

- Many greetings for the whole family and those around us. May God always guide and enlighten us so that we can continue in this arduous task and responsibility for the culture of the peoples. Many blessings and hugs.

- Congratulations to all the members of this great family for the immense support to the community of Cajamarca. A cordial greeting to all and may the successes continue.

- Congratulations for both the commitment and enthusiasm. Thank you very much for spreading the joy of giving. Many hugs and blessings.

- 48 years!! It's such a significant date. I will never be able to give thanks for everything I received in Rural Libraries. A huge gift in my life. Many affection and thanks, many affection and may the celebration extend to all.