Oscar Arias
Oscar Arias
Óscar Arias Sánchezwas President of Costa Rica from 1986 to 1990 and from 2006 to 2010. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his efforts to end the Central American crisis...
NationalityCosta Rican
ProfessionWorld Leader
Date of Birth13 September 1940
CityHeredia, Costa Rica
alone america central followed human peace political seek shedding someday
We seek in Central America not peace alone, not peace to be followed someday by political progress, but peace and democracy, together, indivisible, an end to the shedding of human blood, which is inseparable from an end to the suppression of human rights.
endless existence human love race song waste
It often seems... the human race has twittered away its existence singing an endless song - a song of waste and hatred, where there should be progress and love.
common-humanity nuclear-disarmament race
The existence of nuclear weapons presents a clear and present danger to life on Earth. Nuclear arms cannot bolster the security of any nation because they represent a threat to the security of the human race. These incredibly destructive weapons are an affront to our common humanity, and the tens of billions of dollars that are dedicated to their development and maintenance should be used instead to alleviate human need and suffering
arms fair health money spend
It's not fair for the U.S. to spend, on arms and weapons, so much money and then not spend on health care the money that is needed.
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In 1995, world military spending totaled nearly $800 billion. If we redirected just $40 billion of those resources over the next 10 years to fighting poverty, all of the world's population would enjoy basic social services, such as education, health care, nutrition, reproductive health, clean water and sanitation.
doubt
You should not have the least doubt that in this, we will not cede.
accustomed country elections four
It's a country that's accustomed to elections every four years. Clean, crystalline, transparent elections.
aid central future increased trade
The absence of significant development aid has only increased the importance of trade for Central America's future.
education lack ruining
Poverty and lack of education are ruining our planet.
certainly peace profits
Our world is certainly dangerous, but it is made more dangerous, not less, by those who value profits over peace.
additional bread combat medicine missiles provide soldiers
More combat planes, missiles and soldiers won't provide additional bread for our families, desks for our schools, or medicine for our clinics.
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Mine is an unarmed people, whose children have never seen a fighter or a tank or a warship.
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Latin Americans glorify their past so ceaselessly that they make it almost impossible to advocate change.
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Latin America has not achieved the development that it deserves... I'm not optimistic for all of Latin America, not only for Central America.