Meeting up with Francisco Rivera, president of Salvadoreños en el Mundo

By Nicolas Rauline

Third part of our meeting with Latin American bloggers. Today we interview Francisco Rivera, president of the association Salvadoreños en el Mundo (Salvadorans in the World). Many thanks to him, for his sensitiveness and for the time he dedicated to answer me, and many thanks to the team of Salvadoreños en el Mundo. This is the first part of the Salvadoran interview, as I also interviewed another member of this blog, José Manuel, living in the US. I will publish it tomorrow… Let’s go to San Salvador…

Francisco Rivera, president of the association Salvadoreños en el Mundo (Salvadorans in the World)

Could you describe your blog in a few words?

Our blog is a grain of sand to take part to the informative world, expressed by the new technologies. We focus on social and political topics and immigration. We have about 3,000 daily readers worldwide.

What is your profession?

I am fully dedicated to the community, both in El Salvador and Los Angeles. When I do not contribute myself to the blog, I am working with the community, helping with administrative paperwork to open their business.

Which news have you impressed most recently?

The destruction caused by IDA storm. Imagine a 120 kph tropical storm that left 200 dead and more than 13,000 homeless. It is a pity that the most vulnerable citizens pay in a poor country.

Three reasons to worship your country? Three reasons to worry about it?

Worship would be an arrogant word. I would better say that I care for my country for three main reasons: it is the land of my birth, my child’s dreams and failures are there, a large majority of my countrymen are real and poor.

What is your favorite place in your country?

The sea. In “el Puerto de la Libertad” (about 30 km far from San Salvador), the sea is a far horizon. It is the ideal place to get some peace and there are also gigantic waves for surfing.

A singer/artist of your country you would like the world to know?

Alvaro Torres is our great musical representative. But there are many others, maybe less known, like the teacher Carlos Colon-Quintana who created a song to the 1,200 victims of the Salvadoran army in El Mozote Massacre in 1981. It is very worth it.

What does blogging mean to you? Which are the other blogs you read in your country?

Blogging is involving, sharing. It is always good for everyone, for reader, democracy and the inertia of information. I read our collaborative blog and others like Neto Rivas’ blog, La Diaspora Opina or Nora Mendez’ blog.

What does Latin America mean to you?

Latin America is our great common history. That is a great weight for men and women but we Latin Americans are not taking too much advantage of it, especially the politicians. It is sad that disunity is prevailing among Latin Americans.

With Christian Poveda’s death, media have talked a lot about gangs in El Salvador. Do you think it is one of the main problems in your country? Central America is said as one of the most violent places in the world. Do you feel this violence in everyday’s life?

That is right, Central America is a knot of violence. And unfortunately the core of the problem is here, in El Salvador. Mr Poveda came here to make a movie and left it in a coffin. It is so horrible. As a compatriot of Mr Poveda, have my apologies. The problem is that violence has infiltrated the institutions and security forces. We must start from scratch again with a tight balance between containment and prevention measures.

How is the situation in El Salvador now, after Ida hit the country a few weeks ago?

The majority of the help came from the Salvadoran immigrants in the U.S. But the blow of nature has been enormous, it takes $ 600 million to leave everything as it was. The country does not have that amount of money, so people still and will continue to suffer despite the solidarity of governments such as Spain, Mexico, Venezuela, Japan, the USA or France.

Source: Barrio Latino France 7-Dic-2009

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