Camila Vallejo in English

Camila Vallejo: "We have pushed the limits of the possible"

Via LaSegunda.com: CAMILA VALLEJO, la líder estudiantil "Hemos corrido los límites de lo posible". ["We have pushed the limits of the possible"] Excerpt, with my translation:

El año pasado a nadie se le pasaba por la cabeza lo que vendría el 2011. Nadie se imaginaba que un movimiento se levantaría con tanta fuerza como lo hizo el movimiento estudiantil. Y que, además, plantearía temas tan sentidos por todos como la educación gratuita de calidad, que de una manera u otra había quedado en el baúl de los recuerdos. 

Last year no one could have imagined what would come in 2011. No one imagined that a movement would artist with such force as that created by the student movement. And that it would also pose issues felt by everyone, such as free quality education, which one way or another had been left in the trunk of memories.

Pero lo que hemos visto, lo que hemos vivido durante estos meses, me hace sentir muy orgullosa, al igual que a muchos otros dirigentes estudiantiles. Hemos sido protagonistas y testigos de un cambio cultural muy importante en la sociedad chilena. Hemos corrido los límites de lo que creíamos posible y ese es claramente un triunfo del movimiento. 

But what we have seen, what we have lived during these months, makes me very proud, just like other student leaders. We have been proponents and witnesses of a very important cultural change in Chilean society. We have pushed the limits of the possible, and this is clearly a triumph of the movement.

Creo que contribuimos a que la gente superara el conformismo, el individualismo, la apatía, la despolitización y la creencia de que nada es posible y que tenía que conformarse con el modelo existente. 

I believe we helped the people to overcome conformity, individualism, apathy, de-politicalization, and the belief that nothing is possible and we would have to conform to the existing model. 

La ciudadanía tomó conciencia y ya no tolera las injusticias, las desigualdades ni tampoco la exclusión o que se lucre con sus derechos. Eso es cada vez más intolerable. Y la capacidad de indignarse ha llevado a tomar acciones más concretas, a buscar formas de organizarse y a plantear propuestas en relación a las cosas que no nos gustan. 

The citizens have felt their conscience and now don't tolerate injustices, inequalities, or exclusion and profiteering from their rights. This is more intolerable every time. And the capacity for outrage has led them to organize and to pose proposals in relation to things we don't like.

Si bien, no logramos cambios estructurales en el orden de nuestras demandas, no podemos negar que hubo avances en cuanto a la organización de base, la forma de entender la democracia y más recursos en algunas áreas. 

Even if we haven't achieved the structural changes we've demanded, we can't deny we have advanced in organizing our base, in understanding democracy and other resources in some areas.

En otras palabras, constatamos que Chile cambió, ya no es el mismo, y eso se ve en las calles, la gente quiere discutir, quiere ver las vías para solucionar sus problemas. Eso nos da esperanzas de alcanzar el éxito en nuestros objetivos y estoy convencida de que el 2012 el trabajo del movimiento estudiantil va a dar sus frutos.

In other words, we find that Chile has changed. It's not the same, and this can be seen in the streets. People want to talk, they want to see ways to solve their problems. This gives us hopes of achieving success in our objectives, and I am convinced that in 2012 the work of the student movement will reap its fruits.

Camila Vallejo, other student leaders take demands to new minister Beyer

Via La Nacion.cl: Estudiantes dejaron carta gigante con demandas al Ministro Beyer. [Students leave gigantic card with their demands for Minister Beyer] My rough translation:

Student leaders of CONFECH and high-school representatives arrived this Friday at the Ministry of Education, where they left a gigantic letter with their demands for the new minister of this portfolio, Harald Beyer.

Camila Vallejo, vice-president of FECH, explained that it is "a letter that presents the strategic horizon guiding education reform that we have called for this year, the same for the cabinet change as a new year begins.

"We want to remind them of our demands, that the movement will continue because we haven't seen concrete structural solutions from the ministers who preceded Harald Beyer, and therefore this struggle will go on," she added.

Others taking part included Noam Titelman, president of FEUC, and José Soto, leader of the Centre of Students of the National Institute, who said "He has us a little worried about his relationships with owners of particular schools," alluding to Beyer.

Nevertheless, the scholar said, "We recognize his academic work and we hope he will be a real change, really guaranteeing a fruitful dialogue aimed at finding a solution to the serious crisis going on in our country's public education."

It was said that Minister Beyer offered to meet immediately with the university and secondary students who had arrived in the hall of Education, but the leader rejected the proposal because it didn't extend to their colleagues in other universities and schools. The bases, they said, should observe this dialogue and its terms.

Camila Vallejo: I'm ready to run in parliamentary elections

Via Emol.com: Camila Vallejo: Estoy dispuesta a disputar elecciones parlamentarias. [Camila Vallejo: I'm ready to run in parliamentary elections] Excerpt, with my translation: 

Por primera vez y tras un año en el que alcanzó un importante capital político, la líder del movimiento estudiantil Camila Vallejo reconoció su disposición a competir por un cargo público. 

For the first time in a year during which she developed important political capital, student leader Camila Vallejo admitted her readiness to run for public office.

En entrevista con radio Universidad de Chile, la vicepresidenta de la Fech dijo que no descarta una eventual candidatura si estuviera respaldada por una propuesta alternativa de consenso con los diferentes actores sociales. 

Interviewed on University of Chile radio, the FECh vice-president said she did not dismiss an eventual candidacy if she were supported in an alternative platform with a consensus of different social actors.

"El movimiento tiene que levantar sus propios líderes y dirigentes tanto en el orden social como para disputar espacios institucionales. Si el movimiento se planteara el desafío de contender en elecciones parlamentarias y tener cinco séptimos para lograr el quórum calificado para hacer reformas estructurales, constitucionales, por ejemplo, yo estaría dispuesta. Siempre he sostenido la tesis de que lo correcto es trabajar por ambas vías: la institucional y la que no lo es", declaró.

"The movement has to raise its own leaders and directors in the social order as much as in institutional spaces," she said. "If the movement offers the challenge of competing in parliamentary elections and has a five-sevenths quorum for creating structural reforms, constitutional for example, I would be prepared. I've always supported the thesis that it's correct to work in both ways: what is institutional and what isn't."

Harald Beyer and Camila Vallejo: The August interview

Harald Beyer was named the new education minister today, producing a swift and negative response from Vallejo: "He's one of the principal ideologues of the neoliberal education model."

Several tweeters linked to this August interview on Chascones.cl: HARALD BEYER... ENTREVISTA A CAMILA VALLEJOS. Since Bayer started out with a reference to Tony Judt, one of my favourite historians, I read it with interest. (Hard to imagine a Canadian education minister who's even heard of Tony Judt!) Here's a rough translation of their first couple of exchanges:

 

Beyer: In his last book, left-wing British historian Tony Judt strongly criticized the European student movement [of 1968]. He says it was narcissistic and rather than find solutions with government, it defended impracticable postures. Judt says the students' motive was more to maintain the movement rather than reach agreements that benefited the students.

Vallejo: That's nothing like what's happening in Chile today. In fact, the student leaders have been looking for an exit from this conflict, but we're dealing with the attitude of our comrades who want to keep this up until the finish. We've repeatedly expressed our desire to reach an accord and advance, but this depends on the decision to change Chilean education. We have not mobilized for three months just to achieve some specific measures. We could have just asked for a meeting with the minister to tell him: "Minister, we have problems with scholarships and we need to improve the system a little, period." No, we're in a much bigger struggle to achieve fundamental changes that have been waiting for 30 years.

Beyer: You feel you haven't gained anything in three months?

Vallejo: Yes, some things have improved, but inside the same model we're criticizing. More scholarships, but under the scheme we don't support. On the issue of democratization, we've achieved freedom of association, which was constitutionally assured but not respected. Obedience to the law that prohibits profiteering in the universities is also something written. So there are advances, but in the heat of this historic moment, more is needed. The movement deserves much more than this: structural changes, and this is what we want to put on the table -- at the least, to obtain the will to move in that direction. We're not asking to end profiteering overnight.

Beyer: But this government won a majority at the polls and all this wasn't in its program. Why can't the Executive defend its own ideas?

Vallejo: The government got a relative majority that society today does not express. 

CEP poll: Camila Vallejo breaks into most-popular politicians' list

Via Emol.com: Encuesta CEP: Camila Vallejo irrumpe entre los personajes políticos mejor evaluados. [CEP poll: Camila Vallejo breaks into most-popular politicians' list] Excerpt, with my translation:

Por primera vez fue incluida en la evaluación que realiza el Centro de Estudios Públicos (CEP) de los principales liderazgos políticos del país y ya figura en el cuarto lugar del listado. La líder del movimiento estudiantil Camila Vallejo logra un 44% de aprobación, que la ubican por sobre figuras de larga trayectoria. 

For the first time she was included in the poll conducted by the Centre for Public Studies (CEP) of the principal political leaders in the country, and now stands fourth in the list. Camila Vallejo, leader of the student movement, gathered 44% support, putting her ahead of persons with long careers.

La vicepresidenta de la Fech sólo es superada por la ex Presidenta Michelle Bachelet (82%), el ministro Laurence Golborne (66%) y el ex secretario de Estado Andrés Velasco (47%), quien en el último tiempo ha explicitado sus aspiraciones presidenciales. 

The vice-president of FECh was outranked by ex-President Michelle Bachelet (82%), minister Laurence Golborne (66%), and former State Secretary Andrés Velasco (47%), who has recently expressed presidential aspirations.

Sin embargo, a diferencia de estas tres figuras, Vallejo marca también un alto nivel de evaluación negativa, que alcanza el 30%.

Nevertheless, in contrast to these three persons, Vallejo also gained a high level of negative evaluation -- 30%.

Judging from many comments on Twitter, the negative rating should be no surprise. Vallejo is a polarizing figure: those who like her, love her. Those who don't, tend to hate her.

BBC: Camila Vallejo among "the overnight famous"

Via BBC Mundo, a list of persons who in 2011 became Famosos de la noche a la mañana en 2011 [famous overnight in 2011]. About Camila Vallejo, in my translation:

A los 22 años, Camila Vallejo Dowling se transformó en la segunda mujer en la historia en presidir la federación de estudiantes más importante de Chile. 

At age 22, Camila Vallejo Dowling became the second woman in history to be elected president of the most important student federation in Chile.

Durante todo este año encabezó las movilizaciones de los jóvenes en demanda de una educación pública, gratuita y de calidad. 

During the whole year, she headed the mobilization of young people demanding a public, free and quality education.

Militante del Partido Comunista, algunos la acusaron de estar manejada por esta colectividad de izquierda o de radicalizar las posturas, lo que a su juicio es sólo un intento por desacreditar las movilizaciones. 

As a militant member of the Communist Party, some have accused her of being managed by this leftist collective, or of radicalizing her followers' positions; she says such attacks are only an attempt to discredit the mobilizations.

Tras su meteórico ascenso a la fama internacional como líder del movimiento estudiantil chileno, en las últimas elecciones de la federación pasó a ser vicepresidenta.

After her meteoric rise to international fame as leader of the Chilean student movement, in the last federation elections she moved to the vice-president's position.

Camila Vallejo's first book

Via the website of Ocean Sur, a publishing house specializing in left-wing Latin American politics: Podemos cambiar el mundo [We Can Change the World], a forthcoming book by Camila Vallejo Dowling. A translation of the publisher's blurb:

During her time as president of the University of Chile Federation of Students and representative of the Confederation of Student Federations of Chile, between 2010 and 2011, the face, voice and thought of Camila Vallejo became the international calling card of the movement against increased mercantilization of Chilean education, at a time when she became one of the leaders with the most promising future in the young generation of leftist social and political fighters emerging today in Latin America.

In these pages readers will find first-hand information on epic campaigns that transcend the limits of education and national frontiers and become a symbol of rebellion against the forces of the Latin American right that try to start a new cycle of wealth concentration while increasing social exclusion.

I'll try to acquire a copy as soon as it's published. 

Camila Vallejo, Chilean student leader, named Person of the Year by 'The Guardian' readers

Via Univision News Tumblr: Camila Vallejo, Chilean student leader, named Person of the Year by 'The Guardian' readers. Excerpt:

So it’s somewhat refreshing to see British newspaper The Guardian take an “Occupy The Polls” approach by asking their readers to name their own Person of The Year. The result: 23-year old Camila Vallejo, the charismatic student leader and member of the youth arm of the Chilean Communist Party, the JJCC, whose personal drive and mass appeal turned a national movement against the privatization of education into a revolution with international resonance. 

Power to The Guardian’s readers? Maybe. 

But The Guardian, one of Britain’s most influential newspapers – whose coverage of the News International phone hacking scandal proved to be instrumental in shutting down News of the World – has proved to have a special relationship with Vallejo in the past, describing her as an “eloquent and attractive young woman who exudes self-confidence and style.” 

Vallejo previously defeated President Sebastián Piñera in the national polls for the title of ”Person of the Year” in her homeland with 35.5% of the vote, compared to Piñera’s 20.4%. In The Guardian’s poll, she beat out individuals such as Mohammed Bouazizi, the Tunisian street vendor whose self-immolation sparked the Arab Spring (14.9%), who came in second. 

While her popularity is undeniable, her true result of her efforts are still yet to be seen. As of December, the youth movement’s demands remain unresolved, and Vallejo was defeated in her reelection bid for president of the Universidad de Chile student federation. 

This Guardian poll has been a big deal on Twitter, but it was far from scientific. As far as I could tell, anyone could vote, and perhaps vote more than once. So the results could reflect a well-organized effort by a few supporters, rather than a weighted sampling of opinion. Given the near-total lack of coverage of Chile's student protests outside the country (except for the Guardian itself), it does seem strange to see Vallejo take 78 per cent of the votes.

What Camila Vallejo can teach our Occupiers

Via The Tyee, an article I published late in October: Occupy Movement: After the Tents, Water Cannons? Excerpt:

While the rest of us were focused on the European debt crisis, the demand for better post-secondary education has convulsed Chile for six months, shutting down campuses and sending students and professors into the streets in the scores of thousands. 

A political superstar 

Far from being a leaderless gathering with no explicit goals, the Chilean students have been highly organized on one issue: "free, good public post-secondary." 

"We understand the struggle of the indignados," says their leader, 23-year-old Camila Vallejo in an interview with BBC Mundo, "but in Chile we've passed the stage of discontent." 

Vallejo argues that the students' demands, far from being spontaneous, "follow a long process based on a profound analysis of what is happening in Chile, of the injustice." And she wants to "project this movement politically, because for the first time a sectoral demand has become a social movement that includes many sectors." 

In six months Vallejo has become a political superstar in Latin America, far outpolling Chile's President Piñera. Mexican students create videos supporting her. Brazilian students invite her to speak, and she's just returned from a quick European visit where she and her student-leader colleagues got a rapturous welcome at the Sorbonne. Her admirers post videos and songs about her. 

Surfing the media 

Like the Occupiers, Vallejo and her movement are surfing on the social media. As of Oct. 19, she had 314,000 followers on Twitter, a number growing by roughly a thousand a day. And she herself is a topic of lively twiteando by others. 

On Chilean TV, Vallejo speaks calmly and confidently, even a little pedantically, about the "profound inequality" reflected in a "market-driven post-secondary." 

But Vallejo also understands that her movement is contending with the potential for serious violence. Student marches have repeatedly been broken up by the Carabineros, well-equipped riot police. A profile of Vallejo in The Guardian describes how she was recently hit with a one-two punch: blasted with a water cannon and then doused with tear gas, triggering a severe allergic reaction. 

Marches have also seen violence from "descapuchados," or "hoodies," who go on vandalism binges that include burning buses. One such incident on Oct. 18 led to President Piñera invoking the Law of State Security, with draconian powers for the police. Vallejo responded by criticizing the Carabineros for not controlling the hoodies during the Oct. 18-19 student strike, and the president for criminalizing students. 

According to another Guardian report, the Chilean students are already moving on to other sectors -- banks, genetically modified crops, and a dam project in Patagonia. Their latest marches have also included teachers, unions, civil-rights groups and environmentalists. 

This suggests at least one option for the Occupiers: to make the one demand a series of escalating demands, starting with a local issue and aiming for a "social movement with many sectors."

Camila Vallejo's December 20 post, in English

After seeking re-election as president of FECh, Camila Vallejo had to settle for the vice-presidency. Chile's media and twittersphere made a fuss about this, though it seemed to me just another stage in what is likely to be a long political career.

On her website on December 20, she posted a long Discurso Cambio de Mando FECh 2011-2012. [Speech on the FECh Change of Mandate 2011-2012] This seemed like an opportunity to understand her political views and her means of expressing them. Until now I'd watched a number of her video clips and read online interviews. But I learned my Spanish in Mexico 60 years ago. Rapid-fire modern Chilean Spanish is hard for me to follow. (The slang in Chilean tweets is beyond me as well.)

So I decided to translate this farewell address, and you can Download Camila's Farewell Address in English as a PDF.

A few comments: I realize Spanish rhetoric is not always like English rhetoric, and Spanish speakers may find her style and content very acceptable. For English speakers, it will almost certainly come across as highly abstract and even impersonal. I was surprised to discover this, given the tumultuous year that Vallejo and her comrades have experienced. 

On reflection, I assume this impersonal style reflects her politics; as she was quoted recently about a possible cabinet shuffle, "We don't care about the faces, just the foundations." So she does not invoke any heroes of the marches, or demonize individuals in the government or the Carabineros. 

Vallejo's style also includes a lot of what we call "run-on sentences," where commas try to do the work that only semicolons and periods can do. I taught English for over 40 years in our community colleges, so force of habit obliged me to break up some of these long-distance sentences. I hope I haven't damaged her style in the process.

Camila Vallejo's remarkable use of social media brings up another issue. In studying web writing for almost twenty years, I've learned that English-language web text should usually be concise. It should use short words in short sentences in short paragraphs separated by blank spaces. Otherwise the sheer density of the text on the screen discourages attentive reading.

I don't know if this is equally true of Spanish web text. If it is, then Vallejo is likely to lose some readers -- partly to her deliberately abstract style and partly to the way she displays her text in long paragraphs. No doubt native Spanish speakers can set me straight on that issue. I look forward to your comments on this and other posts.