JOSÉ "PEPE" MUJICA
A book to rethink your role in today's democracy
-click here for the Spanish version-
In the United States, the president comes to power essentially because three out of every ten citizens vote for him. Of the remaining seven, four do not vote and three vote against him. In the midterm elections, these figures are even more drastic: the entire House of Representatives and a third of the Senate answer to the “popular will” of just two out of every ten citizens.
It is with this backdrop that we sought out José “Pepe” Mujica, President of Uruguay from 2010 to 2015 and labeled as “the poorest president in the world” during his presidency.
Through the lens of his experience as an activist, revolutionary, political prisoner, legislator, and president, Mujica helps us view politics in a different way. He invites us to reflect on the power an individual can wield by voting. On the power an individual forfeits by not participating in elections. On the importance of at least being able to say you tried.
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"Vote and See: A Conversation with Pepe Mujica, spells out deep concerns about the political climate of the U.S., from the perspective of Pepe Mujica, who served as the 40th President of Uruguay from 2010 to 2015. Foremost among Mujica's worrisome observations is America's low voter turnout, particularly during non-presidential elections. Here also are discussions about how consumerism is increasingly taking control of daily life; the impact of man-made climate change and why efforts to mitigate it are so important; the basic concept that "freedom means having free time"; and much more. A handful of simple cartoons illustrate this thoughtful, thought-provoking, and highly recommended call to reevaluate one's life priorities - and to make one of those priorities going to the polls to vote one's conscience! Highly recommended." - MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW
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Article at Hoy en Delaware - Wilmington
Article at Al Día - Philadelphia
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DARÍO KLEIN (1969) is an award-winning journalist who has been a correspondent and chief editor for major news agencies and networks such as AFP and CNN. He has covered a wide range of international news stories, from the Syrian civil war and refugee crisis to Hurricane Katrina, and is currently a correspondent for CNN en Español in Uruguay and co-director of the online journal www.sudestada.com.uy.
Klein has directed and produced documentaries for National Geographic, Discovery Channel and CNN. He has received the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award and the NAMIC Vision Award. He holds a PhD in Investigative Journalism from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and is a professor at the Universidad Católica del Uruguay.