Las Malvinas (The Falklands)

The sign reads 'Las Malvinas are and will be Argentine'

Back in the early 80s when Rach was being born some bright spark in the Argentinian military regime decided it would be a good move to take back 'Las Malvinas' or the Falkland Islands. This nationalist tactic would surely gain popular support and Britain certainly showed no signs of caring much about the islands having downgraded its inhabitants from British citizens to subjects of a British dependency, or something like that. Argentines have always considered the Falklands as their own, to the point where they are always included on the national map. 

Of course, the Argentinian big wigs hadn't reckoned on Maggie Thatcher's own nationalist agenda and need for patriotic fervour to deflect attention from the economic situation at home. The war began when Argentina invaded the islands in April 1982. A naval war ensued and 74 days, nearly a thousands lives and several expensive boats later, the islands were once again British and Maggie's government was well on the way to re-election and the days of Argentina's military dictatorship were numbered.

In the UK, outside of affected families, the Falklands War has been largely consigned to the history books. This is not the case in Argentina. The main square outside the Presidential Palace has a permanent demonstration by people who fought in the war (photo above). There is a large monument in one of the Buenos Aires parks listing the names of all the Argentines who lost their lives in the conflict alongside a flag and an eternal flame. 

 

In addition to this, the metro station in Belgrano that we used most frequently had a Falklands theme with lots of information about the war and a model of HMS Belgrano which was sunk in battle.