The outside world has viewed Chile as a shining example of success in Latin America after enduring one of the region’s worst dictatorships. It has strong institutions, a relatively low poverty rate and a high GDP. But recently, thousands of Chileans have poured into the streets, banging pots and pans and jumping subway turnstiles. The protests revealed the stark divide between the haves and the have nots in Chile and exposed the country’s extreme inequality. Several other countries around Latin America and the Caribbean have also seen protests recently, including Ecuador, where people marched to the capital over an increase in transit prices. We discuss how these protests are similar and, more importantly, how they are different.
Guests: Patricio Aeschlimann, James Bosworth, Andra Chastain, Patricio Navia and Matías Zibell. Reporters: Colleen Connolly, Alanna Elder and Cameron Oakes. Hosts: Colleen Connolly and Alanna Elder. Producer: Alanna Elder. LAND editor: Colleen Connolly. Music and sounds: St Francis by Josh Lippi & The Overtimers (YouTube Audio Library), Charangos by LATASHÁ (YouTube Audio Library), Fresno Alley by Josh Lippi & The Overtimers (YouTube Audio Library) and a mix by Dax on the Trax. Other sounds: Hundreds Hop NY Subway Turnstiles, Block Street to Protest NYPD, News2Share, Nov. 2, 2019. Filmed by Ed Fabry; Presidente Piñera: “Estamos en guerra contra un enemigo poderoso,” Meganoticias, Oct. 21, 2019; Chile: el presidente decreta estado de emergencia en Santiago en medio de violentas protestas, FRANCE 24 Español, Oct. 19, 2019; Escolares volvieron a liderar evasiones en el Metro de Santiago, T13, Oct. 17 2019; Sebastián Piñera: “Hubo uso excesivo de la fuerza y se cometieron abusos,” EL PAIS, Nov. 18, 2019.
