April 28th marks twenty years since Ben was taken from us.

An article by Witness for Peace cooperante and Ben Linder community member Ben Beachy.

http://www.counterpunch.org/beachy10312006.html

Article I , written by:
Lindsey Stailing- Stonehill College
Erica Felker-Kantor- Boston University

As university students studying in Nicaragua for one semester we have had the privilege to witness the fifth democratic elections in Nicaragua's history. Our academic program, Nicaragua: Revolution, Transformation and Civil Society, studies the political history of the country with a focus on the Sandinista Revolution (1979) to today. Throughout the past two months, we have had the opportunity to meet with each political party, learn their goals and strategies, and attend political forums. Our time here has enabled us to gain a more complete understanding of Nicaragua's political climate.

The Casa Benjamin Linder is run by CEPRHI (Comité Ecuménico de Personal Religioso de Habla Inglesa is our full legal name). To make a US tax-deductible donation to CEPHRI, donate through the Foundation for Sustainable Development. Go to this site, click on “Donation” and look for the box for CEPRHI. Make your donation there.

VERY IMPORTANT: If you would like to earmark your donation for a specific project (example: house renovations, programming, the Vicente Padilla case), please send an e-mail to us at casabenlinder@gmail.com with the amount of the donation and the name you gave so that we can alert our Treasurer, Lillian Hall, that this donation is earmarked for a particular fund. You will receive acknowledgement from FSD for your donation to CEPRHI and you will receive an additional acknowledgement from us that the money went for your desired purpose.

Several members of the community have provided analysis on the ever-changing political situation in Nicaragua.

The Ecumenical Committee describes the arrogant and offensive statements from the US ambassador to Nicaragua and what you can do about it. NicaNet is organizing a delegation to Nicaragua that will focus specifically on US interference. Finally, Brynne Keith-Jennings has an article in CounterPunch on the ambassador.

We are excited to be writing you with news from Nicaragua and the latest happenings with the Casa Ben Linder. The Ben Linder House is currently filled with energy and ideas for strengthening the English-speaking solidarity community, both here and in the U.S., to serve as an ally to the people of Nicaragua in their struggles for social, economic, and political justice. Thanks so much to all of you who have given your time, encouragement, and money in the last year to feed our growth thus far.

Over 250 people from all over Nicaragua and the U.S. came together at Casa Ben Linder to help inaugurate the newly finished ranchon and kick-off the sister-city event hosted by the Nicaragua Network. A wonderful time was has by all (or so we are told by folks who attended) as the attendees ate, drank, socialized and listen to some of Nicaragua's best musicians. Stay tuned for the next event in 2006!

We hammered, sawed, sanded, painted, cleaned, organized and then, we ate (it wouldn't be an EC gathering without food). The house received a much needed face lift and there are more improvements to come thanks to the support of our generous donors and everyone who came to lend a hand and some tools. Come back and visit our site throughout 2006 and see what else has changed.

EC Retreat / May, 2005

Another beautiful weekend at the Laguna de Apoyo (Apoyo Lagoon) and a very productive "visioning" meeting for the Ecumenical Committee. After a year of revitalization activities at the Casa Ben Linder house the EC gathered to celebrate accomplishments and plan for the work of next year. This past year's focus has been on our own internal organizing. This coming year we will focus on how to best accompany Nicaraguans and protest the US interference in Nicaraguan internal affairs. See our fundraising letter on this site for more information!

We are excited to be writing you with news from Nicaragua and the latest happenings with the Casa Ben Linder. The Ben Linder House is currently filled with energy and ideas for strengthening the English-speaking solidarity community, both here and in the U.S., to serve as an ally to the people of Nicaragua in their struggles for social, economic, and political justice. Thanks so much to all of you who have given your time, encouragement, and money in the last year to feed our growth thus far.