VTMBH Article: Body
New York: On Sept. 18, the Ecuadorian president, Gustavo Noboa, received the Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Disability Award for his work helping the handicapped.
Many famous people were present at the ceremony, including the granddaughter and great-granddaughter of former President Roosevelt. One of them lived in Ecuador for a year and a half. She congratulated Noboa in perfect Spanish on the award, which, as she said was well deserved. Actor Christopher Reeve was also there to congratulate the president on this honor.
Ecuador is the first Latin American country to receive the award, which the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute and the World Committee on Disability has given away annually since 1996. The prize is sponsored by the United Nations.
Noboa expressed his gratitude, saying, This award brings to mind the courage of President Roosevelt, a man who turned adversity into a challenge. He was not debilitated by his personal suffering when leading the United States. He remarked that the movement in support for handicapped people started in Ecuador in the 50s by a group of professionals and families.
The next day, Noboa gave a speech at the U.N., criticizing discrimination against immigrants, asserting that immigration is the way big countries create their identities. According to him, developed countries have found new ways to discriminate against smaller countries: financially, socially and ethically. Isnt it true that the bases of capitalism have been hit by corruption in the rich countries? he asked.
They ask the poor countries to have discipline and austerity with respect to the rules of the free market, and also ask them to collaborate in the fight against the calamities in our world; but in exchange they close the doors to our products, he added. He also mentioned that developed countries demand from developing countries a bigger fight against terrorism and drugs without giving us the resources to carry out the plans.
He talked about the contradiction in the demands of international financial organizations, which turn a deaf ear to poor countries that want to negotiate seriously. He pointed that the hypocrisy, injustice, inequality and increase of poverty are the cause of violence and extremism.
Noboa reproached the developed countries that talk about flow of capital, when in reality, the flow is just inverted into the northern hemisphere. The reason is that the North looks at the South with a patronizing attitude, he said. The equality in economic exchange only exists in the speeches, manuals and books of the developed countries.
The president also visited Battery Park to offer flowers in memory of the victims of the attacks of September 11th.
Many famous people were present at the ceremony, including the granddaughter and great-granddaughter of former President Roosevelt. One of them lived in Ecuador for a year and a half. She congratulated Noboa in perfect Spanish on the award, which, as she said was well deserved. Actor Christopher Reeve was also there to congratulate the president on this honor.
Ecuador is the first Latin American country to receive the award, which the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute and the World Committee on Disability has given away annually since 1996. The prize is sponsored by the United Nations.
Noboa expressed his gratitude, saying, This award brings to mind the courage of President Roosevelt, a man who turned adversity into a challenge. He was not debilitated by his personal suffering when leading the United States. He remarked that the movement in support for handicapped people started in Ecuador in the 50s by a group of professionals and families.
The next day, Noboa gave a speech at the U.N., criticizing discrimination against immigrants, asserting that immigration is the way big countries create their identities. According to him, developed countries have found new ways to discriminate against smaller countries: financially, socially and ethically. Isnt it true that the bases of capitalism have been hit by corruption in the rich countries? he asked.
They ask the poor countries to have discipline and austerity with respect to the rules of the free market, and also ask them to collaborate in the fight against the calamities in our world; but in exchange they close the doors to our products, he added. He also mentioned that developed countries demand from developing countries a bigger fight against terrorism and drugs without giving us the resources to carry out the plans.
He talked about the contradiction in the demands of international financial organizations, which turn a deaf ear to poor countries that want to negotiate seriously. He pointed that the hypocrisy, injustice, inequality and increase of poverty are the cause of violence and extremism.
Noboa reproached the developed countries that talk about flow of capital, when in reality, the flow is just inverted into the northern hemisphere. The reason is that the North looks at the South with a patronizing attitude, he said. The equality in economic exchange only exists in the speeches, manuals and books of the developed countries.
The president also visited Battery Park to offer flowers in memory of the victims of the attacks of September 11th.