Noam Chomsky, Danny Glover, and 88 others sign open letter against Argentina's Macri [View all]
U.S. writer Noam Chomsky and actor Danny Glover joined 88 other academics, artists, and activists from 22 countries to protest against “the neoliberal policies” of Argentine President Mauricio Macri and the corruption scandals that have emerged from him and his administration.
The letter, titled “Against Macri's Abuses: The World Stands with Argentina,” was sponsored by Intellectuals and Artists in Defense of Humanity.
“He triggered thousands of layoffs in the public and the private sectors, devalued the currency, stripped workers of labor rights as well as benefits for retirees and their free prescription drugs,” stated the document among other issues.
“The steep decline of economic activity, particularly in industry, is evident as poverty continues to grow with two million new poor since the beginning of Macri’s presidency.”
Macri’s neoliberal economic reforms have also seen the price of goods and services skyrocket in the South American country. Inflation in Argentina rose sharply, from 23% in November 2015 - the last full month before Macri took office - to 45% a year later.
Inflation has since eased to 36%; but the affordability of key staples such as beef and dairy have fallen by one third, while that of vegetable oil and bread has plummeted by half despite record harvests.
The signatories criticized Macri for his involvement in corruption scandals such as the Panama Papers, the Odebrecht scandal, as well as for agreements with Avianca airline and the Argentine postal company Correo Argentino that amount to self-dealing.
They also condemned the illegal detention of Indigenous leader Milagro Sala and expressed their solidarity with former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who “suffers from an attack from the justice system and the media that gets worse and worse, turning into a serious attack against democracy.”
At: http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Noam-Chomsky-Danny-Glover-Sign-Letter-Against-Argentinas-Macri-20170320-0024.html
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