Victor Bugge has been the official photographer of the Argentian President since 1978.
He has, therefore, had the chance of capturing the most intriguing moments of the different governments. From militar dictators to elected presidents.
Not much has escaped from his sharp lens. The magic world of photography gives us the chance to see a million different things in the very same picture, and also show us the escense of a difficult country's politics from behind the scenes.
Here are some of his pictures for you. I hope you enjoy them.
•Trying to take a picture.
• Walk in autumn after signing a peace treaty between president Alfonsín (right) and future President Menem (left)
• President Alfonsín in his free time.
• Hard times for Alfonsin.
•Death of former President Nestor Kirchner, husband of current president (by the coffin)
César Milstein was an Argentine biochemist winner of a Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine in 1984, in the field of antibody research, and a great human example.
Quite apart from his own achievements, Milstein acted as a guide and inspiration to many in the antibody field as well as devoting himself to assisting science and scientists in less developed countries. It is also worth mentioning, that even though the Nobel Prize would have made him a wealthy man, Milstein did not patent his enormous discovery since he believed that it was mankind's intellectual property. According to his beliefs, his work did not have any economic interest, only scientific.
He was forced into exile by the militars by then in power, (as he explains with pain in the video at the bottom) and he claimed he'd return to Argentina the day this country proved stability. He could never return.
Milstein was born in Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, in a Jewish family. He graduated from the University of Buenos Aires and obtained a PhD in Biochemistry in the Medical School on kinetic studies with the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase.
In 1958, funded by the British Council, he joined the Biochemistry Department at the University of Cambridge to work for a PhD on the mechanism of metal activation of a specific enzyme.
The major part of Milstein's research career was devoted to studying the structure of antibodies and the mechanism by which antibody diversity is generated. It was as part of this quest that in 1975 he, together with Georges Köhler (a postdoctoral fellow in his laboratory), developed the hybridoma technique for the production of monoclonal antibodies—a discovery recognised by the award of the 1984 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine. This discovery led to an enormous expansion in the exploitation of antibodies in science and medicine.
Milstein died on 24 March 2002 in Cambridge, England at the age of 74 as a result of a heart condition from which he had suffered for many years.
In 2010, his own niece made a film about her heroic uncle's life and named it after a quote by the Uruguyan writer Eduerdo Galeano who once said that we all have a little fire inside of us, and that if we want to, we can make that little fire burn inside more people. The film is then called "Un fueguito" (A little fire) in memory of Milstein's ideal of inspiring others to learn and passing his own reaserch to others in order to keep that little fire of scientific knowledge in others.
Here's the trailer of "Un Fueguito":
Friday, September 17, 2010
One more World Cup, one more desperate attempt to convince ourselves it's our time to win it?
This last week, the media in Argentina has been invaded by the following data in a (desperate?) attempt of massive conviction that we will win the World Cup thanks to some coincidences. Have a look, at see what you think!:)
1) In both World Cups, Argentina had Maradona and Bilardo (Bilardo was the coach of the national team in'86, and is now the manager)
2) South Korea has been one of our rivals in both tournaments.
3) Both in '86 and 2010, there's been an Argentinian film winner of Oscar for best foreign film: "La historia oficial" in '86 and "El secreto de sus ojos", with an actor in common (Pablo Rago).
4) Argentina barelly made it to the World Cup in '86, having done awfully in the qualifiers. Just like for 2010.
5) In those qualifiers, we won the last match thanks to a last minute goal under the rain (against Peru). Again, same story for the 2010 qualifiers (Gareca in '86 and Palermo now).
6) Both teams, have been terribly criticised by the media and the people in general before the World Cup (not common in Argentina)
7) For both World Cups, Argentina had the best players in the world at the moment (Fifa awarded): Maradona in '86 and Messi today.
8) The world champion previous to Mexico '86 was Italy. The world champion previous to South Africa 2010 is Italy.
9) The two best players in history are Maradona and Pelé. Brazil only won a World Cup again, 24 years after Pelé. In 2010, it's going to be our 24th year without a World Cup.
10) If you add the numbers that consitute 1986 (1+9+8+6) the result is 24.
11) In 1986 the captain of the Argentinian tennis team in the Davis Cup was Tito Vásquez. So is he today.
12) 2010 is the year of the tiger, according to chinese horoscope. So was 1986.
13) Player number 9 of the current Argentinina Team is Higuain, who's one of Real Madrid's figures. Just like Valdano in '86 (figure of Real Madrid and had shirt no9).
15) Before both World Cups, the champion of the Argentinian league was Argentinos Jrs. Being the figure of that team in '86, the coach of today's champion.
16) Before both World Cups, the exact same teams that got relegated in the argentinian league. (Rosario Central and Chacarita)
17) The president of the Argentinian Football Association was in both World Cups Julio Grondona.
18) After Mexico '86, Argentina hosted America's Cup. After South Africa 2010, Argentina is hosting American's Cup again.
19) In 1986, there were 13 Europan teams, just like now.
20) In Mexico '86, the matches were played in 9 diffrent cities. Just like in South Africa now.
21) In both World Cups, Denmark was in group E.
22) In both World Cups, the ball has been Adidas.
23) Maradona was the figure, top scorer and champion in the under 20 World Cup in '79. Played his first World Cup in'82 but wasn't very good, and then had all his glory in the following World Cup: 1986.
Messi was the figure, top scorer and champion in the under 20 World Cup in '05. Played his first World Cup in'06 but wasn't very good and is now in this World Cup...
25) Both winners of the Champion's League previous to both World Cups, have been Italian teams. (Inter and Juventus)
26) Mexico played both opening matches of both World Cups.
27)In 1986 Argentina's scored in its first match in the 6th minute. Just like In South African against Nigeria.
