1980+Adolfo+Perez+Esquivel



Adolfo Perez Esquivel



Adolfo Perez Esquivel started a non-violent struggle for human rights in Latin America. In 1976 he created “SERPAJ” (service, peace, and justice foundation) which serves as a defense for human rights. Argentina was controlled by Juan Peron, but Argentina remained an economically depressed country. Adolfo went to Brazil in 1975, and was jailed. He went to Ecuador that sa. I believe that this issue is very important and that, if you want something done, violence is not the answer. Adolfo Perez Esquivel did just that. He started a non-violent protest for human rights in Latin America. He went to Ecuador that same year and was jailed again. Intro:

"To create this new society, we must present outstreched and friendly hands, without hatred and rancor." These are the words of Adolfo Perez Esquivel, the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1980. He was working for and still is, working towards human rights in Latin America. He was trying to make life better for all the people there. The people in Latin America were living under harsh conditions, had a low standard of living, and little political freedom, and Adolfo tried to fix that. Quotes of Adolfo Perez Esquivel: "We must apply our humble efforts to the construction of a more just and humane world. And I want to declare emphatically, Such a world is possible. To create this new society, we must present outstretched and friendly hands, without hatred and rancor, even as we show great determination and never waver in the defense of truth and justice. Because we know that we cannot sow seeds with clenched fists. To sow we must open our hands."

"wonder what the engineers, technicians, and worker who make weapons all day long for killing their neighbor can possibly be thinking of. They’re not working for a living, they’re working for dying."

"….To create this new society, we must present outstretched and friendly hands, without hatred and rancor…."

"….a change based on justice, built with love, which will bring us the most anxiously desired fruits of peace"

"If you sow peace, you will reap peace, there is no other way"

Adolfo was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on November 26, 1931. Adolfo was raised by Catholic nuns and priests. His mother died when he was just three years old. His parents emigrated from Spain and his dad was a fisherman over there. Adolfo is married to Amanda Perez and had three sons. Adolfo went to the National School of Arts and later went to the University of La Plata. Adolfo was an architect and a sculptor. He was also a professor of architecture. Adolfo was arrested, imprisoned and tortured for his involvement as a peace activist. In 1977, he himself was “disappeared” and was imprisoned and tortured by the Argentinean military for 14 months. He was released after being named Amnesty International’s Political Prisoner of the Year in 1978, which led to thousands of letters being written to the Argentinean government demanding his release. Upon his release, Adolfo Pérez Esquivel continued his work leading SERPAJ. Adolfo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for promoting human rights in Latin America. [|adolfo perez esquivel timeline]media type="file" key="Adolfo Perez Esquivel.wmv" align="right" width="300" height="300"
 * Adolfo Perez Esquivel **