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Argentina Replaces Columbus Statue with Indigenous Heroine

The statue of Juana Azurdy is a gift from Bolivia to Argentina
teleSUR – July 15 2015

Bolivian President Evo Morales’ visit to his Argentina counterpart Cristina Fernandez Wednesday will focus not only on bilateral agreements between the two nations, but also South America’s independence history, Cuban news agency Prensa Latina reported.

The two South American leaders will inaugurate a monument to independence heroine and South American guerrilla military leader Juana Azurduy.

The 15-meter high (52 feet) bronze statue has been erected outside the presidential palace in Buenos Aires in the place that a monument to Christopher Columbus once stood.

Festivities throughout the week will celebrate the monument’s inauguration as a symbol of “Patria Grande,” a term that roughly translates as “Big Homeland,” used in Latin America to refer to the integration process in the region.

The statue, which will be Argentina’s largest once officially revealed, was made by sculptor Andres Zerneri, who began working on the statue three years ago with the help of a team of 45 assistants.

Zerneri said Azurduy led battles that were fundamental for South American independence and her legacy is part of the longstanding regional defense of Patria Grande.

Morales and Fernandez will also further consolidate bilateral ties with the signing of various agreements, including energy integration deals laying the foundation to build an electrical line connecting Yaguaca in southern Bolivia to Tartagal in northern Argentina.

Government sources have said that the meeting reinforces the relationship between the two South American nations linked by trade, political ties, and Bolivian immigration to Argentina, according to Prensa Latina.

After concluding talks in Argentina, both Morales and Fernandez will travel to Brazil for a summit of the regional organization Mercosur, during with Bolivia could be welcomed as a full member of the bloc.

July 15, 2015 - Posted by | Economics, Timeless or most popular | , , , ,

21 Comments »

  1. Thank you for recognizing one of our own. Yes we had many great warriors in North and South America.

    Like

    Comment by Patrick | July 17, 2015 | Reply

  2. Reblogged this on bayareaintifada.

    Like

    Comment by bayareaintifada | July 18, 2015 | Reply

  3. Reblogged this on enemymindcontrol.

    Like

    Comment by enemymindcontrol | July 18, 2015 | Reply

  4. When will the day come that we can finally be Filipinos and see the world through the perspective of our heroes who fought for our freedom in 1898?

    We cannot even change the Great Seal of the Republic on our passports which includes the US Bald Eagle and the Spanish Red Lion which many argue should be retained because that is part of our history. If that is the justification then that argument is historically inaccurate since Japan established the 2nd Philippine Republic and even predated USA in reclaiming the raising of the 1898 Philippine Flag on Philippine soil. There should be no colonial symbols in our symbols of national unity and patriotism- for we should only be beholden towards the sovereign will of the Filipino people and not towards foreign invaders.

    Think colonially-act shamefully.

    Our brothers and sisters in South America continue to be our inspiration.

    Like

    Comment by laducla | July 18, 2015 | Reply

    • Very true.

      The only thing I disagree with is:

      “Our brothers and sisters in South America continue to be our inspiration.”

      The preference for light/White skin over Brown/Black is stupid.

      Like

      Comment by John Lindsay | May 3, 2016 | Reply

    • I hope one day soon that will happen for your country!

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      Comment by Caterina | August 6, 2016 | Reply

  5. DIOS PATRIA O MUERTE
    Abrazo.

    Like

    Comment by Leo Perez | July 18, 2015 | Reply

  6. HOPEFULLY IT WILL HELP A LITTLE…AS ARGENTINIANS ARE THE MOST RACIST PEOPLE OF THE AMERICAS…

    Like

    Comment by KBNB World News | October 12, 2015 | Reply

    • this is not truth flaco. wtf with you??

      Like

      Comment by Natalia H. Ramirez | October 14, 2015 | Reply

    • LMFAO! Argentinians the most racst people of the americas? what about USA? uhm? Please, shut your fucking mouth up

      Like

      Comment by Fran | January 3, 2016 | Reply

  7. In Haiti we threw it back to the ocean back in 1987.

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    Comment by Paolo Hollant | October 18, 2015 | Reply

  8. without my countries Queen Isabella to sponsor the voyage the only thing there would be a statue of mud or chipped stone.

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    Comment by Brandon M | January 3, 2016 | Reply

    • How poorly informed about the advances indigenous peoples of the “Americas” had made before Europeans misread a simple map. Trust me, we’d have preferred that your queen, and church, kept their greedy fingers out of our lands. Your people started a genocide, and that is nothing to be proud of. The bastard spaniard monarchy, and their italian dog, should be remembered along the same lines as Hitler.

      Like

      Comment by SwampMom | January 10, 2016 | Reply

    • Absolutely! Regard the marvels that the incas and Mayans produced. If the europeans had stayed out, they would all still have their gold, their culture, no European disease, and mostly their pride. Pride has come back but it took hundreds of years.
      What a tragedy the horrendous genocide committed to get the gold.

      Like

      Comment by STAN BURNS | May 5, 2016 | Reply

  9. esto es una pelotudez mas grande de CFK. para mi, tendrian que haber dejado la estatua de colon y punto.

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    Comment by Roliver | January 6, 2016 | Reply

  10. Good to see actual heroes beginning to replace the thief, child slave trader & genocidist, who came about 10,000 years late to the “discovery” party & rather than imagine there could be anything to learn, instead perpetuated a tradition of wanton destruction & sheer waste that we are just barely beginning to rein in, unless the Trumpites get their way.

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    Comment by post60 | January 6, 2016 | Reply

  11. I guess this is a good…. first proof that Argentina has a conscience.

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    Comment by knc165 | May 4, 2016 | Reply

  12. great! hope all Latin America countries follow this lead.

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    Comment by Gustavo Veira | May 4, 2016 | Reply

  13. Both statues should be there as they both represent the two great nations (in generalized terms, Europeans and the First Americans) which still currently form the majority of the populace. Hating on Columbus is just a sign of institutionalized hatred towards Europeans. South American culture is largely European culture, and it’s much better off that way.

    Like

    Comment by Harold | August 7, 2016 | Reply

  14. Many thanks to the people of Bolivia for making this beautiful statue, it will bring many inspiration today and on to the future generations to honor the true hero.

    Like

    Comment by Eugene | August 7, 2016 | Reply


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