Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition 1.30.2026: Daniel Ortega “The Most Powerful Weapon to Defeat Poverty is Peace”; New School Year Starts

New School Year Begins: The Sandinista government has given every child from preschool through Grade 2 2,000 cordobas (almost $55) to use for whatever needs they have, such as school supplies and clothing. The Ministry of Education (MINED) in San Juan de Limay shared 42 beautiful photos of local students on Facebook. You should be able to view them all here:  https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=903044598778690&set=pcb.903047202111763

My wife and I (Stan Smith), were leaving Ometepe early the Monday morning the new school year started, and we passed three schools celebrating the first day. The first two were younger primary schools and they were having a party outside to welcome the students. The third was a secondary school, and maybe the principal or mayor was speaking to the students and parents about the importance of education and what the revolutionary government has accomplished in prioritizing educating the people.

Co-President Daniel Ortega: The most powerful weapon to defeat Poverty is Peace That invasion of our sister Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, 300 planes flew over, 150 helicopters, the weapons they had there on the warships. What organization exists in the world that endorses such an act of terrorism? …Meanwhile, the Bolivarian People are resisting, organizing, seeking how to defend Peace, because that is a People which does not want war, that is a People who want Peace, and President Nicolás Maduro wanted Peace. But what has become clear is that the United States is going for the oil, they have already said it very clearly; the President of the United States, he is going to steal it from the Venezuelan people…

We spent 17 years outside of [the Nicaraguan government, 1990-2007], that's a lot of time. In other countries parties break up and disband in 17 years. Not here, the cohesion of the Frente Sandinista, the discipline of the Frente Sandinista did not allow that. Peace had to be defended, stability had to be defended, and the armed institutions were convinced of that.

In the end, when we entered the government we found that there was really no electrical energy in the country, there were not the electricity plants in the country able to cover the country’s needs... A country without energy sinks into chaos. So Chávez said: We have a lot of plants there and we are going to bring some to Nicaragua now…

… we have been maturing, but even more importantly, we set ourselves the goal of forming a great Alliance, a great Alliance of working People, of the labor unions, of peasants, of workers, of businessmen, of traders, of all Nicaraguans, and of course of big business as well. Not on the basis that they became Sandinistas, but simply, letting us make an Alliance so that we all come out winning; because if we all win here, the country will grow, it will continue to develop and we will all come out winning. And that Alliance worked.

And it was in the year 2018, a time when there was no need for any accusations, for war or shootings or barricades, everything they did; they blockaded the country for three months; they murdered a lot of compañeros and compañeras… also set fires... What didn't they set on fire! It was pure terrorism, organized and financed by those who do not understand, or do not want to understand, that the World demands Peace, demands Stability, demands Security. In the end, we acted carefully, even though they were committing atrocities, killing people every day….

Stephen Sefton: Nicaragua – the challenge of a People as President For anyone who has witnessed Nicaragua’s development since the destruction and losses caused by the US terrorist war of the 1980s, the country has unquestionably become a dynamic modern society with strong social cohesion and a robust, competitive economy. Nicaragua is now entering the twentieth year of what people here call the second phase of the Sandinista Revolution. 

The latest survey by the opinion polling… shows approval ratings for the co-presidency of Daniel and Rosario of 89% and 85%, respectively. Nicaragua is by far the safest country in Central America and one of the safest in all the Americas. The country has the best public health system in Central America and the most modern roads. Nicaragua's education system is considered one of the most innovative in Latin America… Last year, more than 80% of the country's electricity was produced from renewable sources.

Sefton then reviews how the FSLN maintained the movement while it was out of power (1990-2006) and finally won the 2006 election, and provides an excellent listing of the accomplishments since then.

John Perry, Roger Harris: Why Nicaragua is not Washington’s Next War – Yet Both Trump administrations have endorsed the designation of Nicaragua, as well as Venezuela and Cuba, as an “unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.” Venezuela and Cuba are under the greatest US pressure. Neither Trump nor Rubio has included Nicaragua in their follow-up threats, but the country is not being ignored. 

“Despite a flurry of positive reports in the travel press, U.S. officials say Americans should avoid Nicaragua because it’s an authoritarian regime,” the New York Times said in June 2025, contradicting its earlier recommendation to visit the country. Perhaps the most bizarre allegation is that Nicaragua’s celebrated religious traditions are threatened by its government. In December, reports appeared claiming that bibles could no longer be brought into the country. But the reports were completely false. Nicaraguan churches confirmed there is no such ban.

The US Trade Representative argued that Nicaragua should be expelled from the regional trade treaty and that punitive, 100% tariffs should be imposed on its exports to the US. Fortunately, after lobbying by US businesses heavily invested in Nicaragua, they were watered down considerably. Juan Gonzalez, a former Latin America aide to President Biden, told Politico: “The lesson from Nicaragua is: Don’t matter too much, don’t embarrass Washington and don’t become a domestic political issue.”

Upcoming Events:

Week of Action for Venezuela January 23-31 https://linktr.ee/handsoffvenezuela

Saturday, January 31, 2:00 pm ET: NYC March for Venezuela.  At Times Square — 43rd St & Broadway. End U.S. War & Sanctions on Venezuela! Free President Nicolás Maduro & First Combatant Cilia Flores!  Abolish ICE!  Flyers in English & Spanish, plus the many endorsing organizations, found here.

Monday, February 9, 2:30 pm ET: Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition monthly meeting on zoom. Email NicaraguaSolidarityCoalition@gmail.com for zoom access

Sarah Woodard 2026 U.S. Speaking Tour, March 10 – May 20. To invite her, or to send questions or offers of travel help (e.g., airplane miles), email sarah@jhc-cdca.org. Sarah Woodard represents the work of the Jubilee House Community, a nonprofit she helped form in 1979. She has worked the last 32 years in Nicaragua, with the Center for Development in Central America.  The JHC-CDCA continues to respond to local needs, seeking resources to help the poor accomplish what they see as their priorities, particularly in the areas of sustainable economic development, organic agriculture, health care, and education. Now, with the world in chaos, Sarah’s U.S. tour is focusing on educating those in the global north on the amazing realities developing within Nicaragua where the social and political will is aimed at helping the majority of the population, the poorest of the poor. The preliminary tour schedule: https://www.jhc-cdca.org/blog/spring-2026-speaking-tour.

Delegations to Nicaragua:

Casa Ben Linder Email casabenjaminlinder@gmail.com to apply:

7 -15 March 2026: Power & Protagonism: Women in Nicaragua

June 2026: Global Health: Family and Community Health in Nicaragua

July 2026: Solidarity in Action: Nicaragua’s Popular Revolution

October 2026: Salud & Solidaridad: Hands-On Healthcare in Nicaragua 

Now offering Spanish classes! Fun and practical language classes at Casa Ben Linder – our model teaches 1/2 day class & 1/2 day practice in a community setting.

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Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition: nicasolidarity.com

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