COLOMBIA: NOBEL PRIZE WINNING AUTHOR SARAMAGO

Описание: (25 Feb 2001) Spanish/Nat

Nobel Prize winning Portuguese author José Saramago is touring Latin America publicizing his most recent work 'The Cavern'.

Throughout the book Saramago criticizes the global economy and consumerism.

The story revolves around a potter who sees his way of life change when a shopping mall is built near where he works.

Saramago won the 1998 Nobel Prize for literature for his body of work and is a noted left-wing intellectual.

While in Colombia promoting 'The Cavern', (La Caverna) which is the number one seller here, the author commented on the war in Colombia, saying that the cycle of violence had made the people there develop a thick skin in order to protect themselves.

Last year, Saramago signed a letter along with 75 other artists and European intellectuals which decried American intervention in Colombia in the form of the one point three (b) billion dollars in U-S aid given to the military aspect of Plan Colombia.

But his main point centered around the globalisation of the world economy which he believes is affecting human rights.

He said he felt that multinationals were not accountable in any way and acted with impunity.

He said he felt this was a new kind of totalitarianism - one which would be difficult to combat.

Saramago continues with his Latin American tour on Saturday.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
' The violence in Colombia is part of the everyday. It is part of the everyday - when one becomes accustomed to something you get thick-skinned, which is the only way to protect oneself from something that otherwise would be insupportable."
SUPERCAPTION: José Saramago, Nobel Prize winning author

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"I am clear that this economic globalisation is a form of totalitarianism which doesn't need police or censure or jails or torture. All is under the table and goes unnoticed. There is a basic incompatibility between globalisation and human rights. If we are going to have globalisation, human rights are over with. In my opinion the battle of the 21st century, the human battle of the 21st century will be the defence and not only the defence but the vindication of human rights."
SUPERCAPTION: José Saramago, Nobel Prize winning author

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
" We are losing one of ourselves from the others. We are not only losing ourselves but also one from the other. The only solution is this one, solidarity and responsibility. I am not a prophet or a seer, I am simply human, simply a writer."
SUPERCAPTION: José Saramago, Nobel Prize winning author

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