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by Derrick Gee, new SCP President

This well brings clean water to an extended family in the Escalante community

Every month, come winter snow or summer mosquitoes, the all-volunteer board of our Project converges on the basement of the library in Richland Center. There, we huddle to tackle the issues of the day. We review the emails from our Project facilitators in Nicaragua, the proposals for school supplies or metal for latrines or more sewing machines or training for health workers or a guard for a turtle hatchery. We figure out how to raise more funds and how to get the information into this newsletter. But occasionally, too, we need to look at the big picture. What have we achieved? Where are we headed? How are we stacking up against our mission?

by Jane Furchgott

In 1979, Nicaraguans overthrew their president, Anastasio Somoza, the last of a dictatorial dynasty. The new socialist Sandinista government that followed was perceived as a cold war threat by President Reagan, who reacted by mining Nicaraguan harbors, setting up a trade embargo, and illegally funding the Contras, a guerrilla force working against the Sandinista government.

The destruction and atrocities of the Contras were frequently reported in the news. The Richland Citizens for Peace and Justice decided to take positive and friendly action in support of the Nicaraguan people.

1989 – Jane Furchgott presents a book of photos and letters from Richland Center people to Santa Teresa mayor Luis Palacios.

by Jane Furchgott

José Marroquin and I arrived in Santa Teresa the evening before Nicaragua's 2006 national elections. Getting up the next morning, Sunday, November 5, and walking around town, we saw long lines of people waiting to vote at various polling places. The voting looked orderly, and there were a number of foreign election observers watching the process.
By that evening, it was clear that the leading candidates in the field were ex-President Daniel Ortega, from the socialist Sandinista party, and U.S. Government-supported Eduardo Montealegre, from the center right ALN party. Neither had yet received the necessary margin (35% of the vote, with 5% over the runner-up) required by Nicaraguan law to win the election. If the margin was not attained, there would be a run-off election between the two men.

by Janet Gee

Come join us at Jack and Margaret Lee’s farm at 11640 Tunnelville Rd., La Farge, WI, on Saturday, May 12, 2007 for a day of fun, friendship and learning. The meal features great hamburgers from the Lee’s own grassfed longhorn cattle, brats, homemade desserts, Nicaraguan gallo pinto, and the “brew canoe”.

• 2 pm: WATER QUALITY MONITORING DEMONSTRATION will be presented at the nearby Kickapoo River. Gary Thompson and Terry Beck of Valley Stewardship will be discussing the process and the benefits to the community.

by Jane Furchgott

José Urteaga telling SCP vice-president José Marroquin about the leatherback hatchery