ARGENTINA: Day of Memory & more – 28th Mar 2024

¡Buenos días from Greenway Parks! This is the Rorshok Argentina Update from the 28th of March twenty twenty-four. A quick summary of what's going down in Argentina.

Intense energy filled Buenos Aires' Plaza de Mayo on Sunday the 24th. Over 400,000 people took to the streets to commemorate the victims of the military dictatorship that ruled the country from nineteen seventy-six to nineteen eighty-three. This year’s National Day of Memory, Truth, and Justice march emphasized the importance of remembering the past to prevent its recurrence. Many of the attendees condemned President Milei's administration's apologist stance towards state terror.

Last week, Milei’s government sparked controversy by echoing Vice President Victoria Villarruel's skepticism over the number of people who forcibly disappeared during Argentina's last military dictatorship, saying they were not 30,000. VP Villaruel has since faced backlash for downplaying the dictatorship's abuses.

On Sunday the 24th, the government released a video urging a full portrayal of the nineteen seventies violence, advocating for a complete memory of the era while equating state terrorism with leftist actions. Human rights organizations criticized Milei's stance on the dictatorship's atrocities, labeling him as a "denialist." The rally, led by legendary groups like the Madres and Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo, was a vivid reflection of the deep-seated societal commitment to justice and remembrance.

Do you recall Milei’s and the VP’s heated disagreement last week? Well, Villarruel seems to be still on fire. During her first TV interview since assuming office, Villarruel opposed involving the Armed Forces in crime control, stressing their role is not to combat civilians. She criticized Patricia Bullrich, the minister of security and Luis Petri, the minister of defense, for advocating military action against drug gangs. She also emphasized the need for dignified wages for Senators to prevent corruption, even though she had to reverse her decision to increase their salaries.

And this is not even the tip of the iceberg. In that same interview, she announced the cancellation of the April 2nd military parade commemorating the Malvinas historic deed due to budget concerns. Instead, she said that Congress will host week-long ceremonies honoring Malvinas War Veterans. Villarruel made it clear that this is not a sign of disrespect. She emphasized her personal commitment to the cause, stating, "Every day is the 2nd of April for me."

Recall that on the 2nd of April, nineteen eighty-two, Argentina’s armed forces landed on the Malvinas Islands, igniting a war between Argentina and the United Kingdom over their sovereignty.

You can never get bored in Argentina, now can you? President Milei's government is set to rename the iconic Centro Cultural Kirchner, sparking a potential culture row. Initially a post office, former President Néstor Kirchner transformed the building into a cultural center in two thousand five. The move is likely to stir controversy, with the director of the Centro Cultural criticizing the decision as "ridiculous" and urging the preservation of its identity.

Colombia expelled Argentine diplomats after Milei called President Petro a terrorist assassin in a CNN Español interview. The Colombian foreign ministry said Milei’s comments deteriorated the trust of the country and offended the dignity of Petro, who was democratically elected. Diplomatic relations between the two nations have been strained, impacting historic ties and bilateral cooperation.

Moving on to economic news… President Milei has announced plans to cut 70,000 government jobs, showcasing his chainsaw-style approach to slim down the state. Last week, hundreds were dismissed from the ANSES social security agency without prior notice. Now, more than 15,000 are expected to lose their positions as contracts expire. Despite facing pushback from powerful labor unions, Milei remains determined to proceed with his austerity measures. While his actions may impact his approval ratings, the President remains optimistic, citing increased public confidence in the government's economic direction.

Someone who is also confident of the government’s direction is Daiana Mondino, the Foreign Minister. She visited Japan to focus on a Free Trade Agreement between the South Asian country and Mercosur, the economic and political bloc. She says that Free Trade Agreements are a growth engine, and Argentina's ready to step on the gas. Mondino even took a subtle swipe at China, highlighting the importance of trade between democracies. She also defended Argentina's decision not to join the BRICS, a group of major emerging economies, emphasizing it as a more political relationship rather than an economic one.

She was not just there to talk. Argentina's energy resources are on the table, perfect for Japan's green shift. The Minister also offered support related to food security.

Contrary to Mondino’s decision, Axel Kicillof, the Governor of the Buenos Aires Province, talked with Dilma Rousseff, the BRICS bank chairwoman, to seek collaboration and investment opportunities. The meeting discussed leveraging the New Development Bank's resources for infrastructure.

Any Bitcoin fan in the house? Bitcoin's been on a tear, surging past $70,000 dollars and it is not showing signs of slowing down. The prices rose historically, and the market is in extreme greed territory. Of course, with such highs comes the risk of volatility. But many experts believe this is just the beginning of a new bull cycle for Bitcoin. So, hold onto your hats and get ready for a wild ride!

Argentina's cracking down on illegal fishing! The Navy and the Air Force detained a Chinese ship and inspected it. No fish on board this time, but Defense Minister Petri's warning is clear: mess with Argentina's waters, and face the consequences! This is a big shift. Patrols are ditching predictable routes, becoming a moving target for illegal fishing fleets.

On Thursday the 28th, chaos reigned on the highways. Long queues formed at toll booths amidst a massive exodus for the long Easter weekend. The traffic was extremely heavy towards the Atlantic beaches and led to delays for travelers opting for the six-day long weekend.

On another note, Argentina’s men's football team played two friendly matches warming up for the Copa América tournament. Despite the absence of captain Lionel Messi in both games, the team beat El Salvador 3-0, and Costa Rica 3-1. These wins are a great sign for Argentina's depth and future, showing they are a force to be reckoned with even when Messi is not on the pitch.

Chess fans, hold onto your knights! In a stunning upset, ten-year-old Faustino Oro just toppled the chess world order! On Saturday the 23rd, during the online Bullet Brawl tournament, Oro, nicknamed the "Messi of Chess," outsmarted none other than the mighty Magnus Carlsen, the five-time World Champion, in a forty-eight-move blitz! Despite finishing 21st in the overall tournament, Oro's win over his idol Carlsen is a sure sign of a future grandmaster in the making.

Calling all truth warriors! Hackathon contra la desinformación is back in Buenos Aires. Journalists, programmers, designers, and analysts are invited to fight fake news on the 17th and 18th of April. The event will feature speakers, project presentations, and awards for the best ideas. Registration is now open. To know more about this event, check out the link in the show notes.

And to close this edition, we have a new release worth checking out. Artist Wos just dropped his third album called Descartable. Sixteen tracks deep, the album is a genre-bending journey. This album is about overcoming struggles, following your gut, and chasing dreams. But he is not alone. Artists Dillom, Natalia Lafourcade, and el Indio Solari accompany him on the ride.

Catch Wos live at the Racing Club Stadium on the 20th of April.

And that’s it for this week! Thanks for joining us!

Have you ever tried to pick something with a group of people, a movie to watch, a restaurant to go to, a book to read, anything like that?....And the process of deciding is endless, divisive, and annoying?....Yeah, us too.

But....there's light at the end of this particular tunnel! Rorshok has developed an app that makes deciding something within a group very easy and fun. If you'd like to be in the first group of people to try it out and give us your opinions and ideas, let us know at info@rorshok.com.

¡Nos vemos la próxima semana!