Living with the Consequences

In the 1980s, popular movements in Central America attempted to democratize their societies and to direct a larger portion of each country's resources, in the form of food, housing, healthcare, and education, toward the well-being of the poor majority; at the same time the U.S. government, under the banner of peace, freedom, and democracy, sponsored wars that blocked local efforts for change. Two decades later, the poor of Central America continue to experience the effects of these wars and to struggle for basic subsistence with little hope that their children will have schools, health care, or even adequate nutrition. Many U.S. citizens still do not recognize the role the U.S. government played in stopping these movements towards democracy.

From early 1985 through mid 1990, Paul Dix used his camera to document the effects of the U.S.-funded contra war on the poor of Nicaragua. In 2002, from the thousands he had photographed, Paul selected approximately 100 Nicaraguans for follow-up. He and Pam Fitzpatrick had amazing luck when they returned to Nicaragua on three separate trips for a total of fifteen months, and located nearly all of these individuals. They were able to share the earlier photos with family members, take new photographs and record testimonies.

Paul and Pam shared this material in colleges across the U.S. for two academic years and are currently putting their material into book form. Their bilingual book will include photos and testimonies from approximately thirty of the nearly one hundred Nicaraguans they re-contacted.

This website shares a few of the photos that will be included in this book.

As you can imagine, producing a photography book of high quality is extremely expensive. If you would like to make this project a reality, you are most welcome to send us a gift of personal support through PayPal. If you would like your gift to be tax-deductible, your check can be written to Bozeman Friends Meeting, marked Nicaragua Project, and mailed to Pam Fitzpatrick, P.O. Box 948, Eugene, Oregon 97440.

To be placed on a mailing list for news about the availability of the printed book please send an email to phototestimony[at]earthlink.net .

Please see the next page for links to organizations concerned about the people of Nicaragua.