The Wisdom's on the Wall

Despite their visual pollution, the majority of graffiti I've seen in Quito has been rather feminist, inspirational or just weird.

"What would democracy be like without money?"

"Te quiero mi nina bonita"/ "I like/love/want you beautiful girl". Taken from a song.

"The feminist revolution is underway." OH YES!

"Women, organized, will never be prostituted" (please someone offer a better translation!!)

"The conscience of the people doesn't change the conscience of the state."

The wisdom is on the wall

Context: Bolivia lost its sea-access in 904, following the War of the Pacific, to Chile. Well, it appears that forgiveness is not the Bolivian forte-- especially as the ocean is so vital for commerce-- and the land-locked country continues to pester. They commemorate the loss during the Day of the Sea, every March 23rd. Case in point:

"Nuestra respuesta al usurpador: Bolivia regresara al mar!"

"Our response to the usurper: Bolivia returns to the sea!"

The wisdom's on the wall

"Cusco, more art, less vandalism."

A play on the word "civilizacion" by merging the words "civilization" and "Andean."

The wisdom is on the wall

"No to the strike." Mineral-rich Peru also has strong unions, which often results in calls to strike.

"Return for the unfinished work." (please offer a better translation).

"Crazy life." This I can translate...

The wisdom is on the wall

"Indian power"

"Water is not sold, it is protected" (much better ring in Spanish).

The wisdom is on the wall

Belated wisdom from Cuenca, Ecuador.

"Only hell should burn."

"Recycle, breathe, respect."

Belated wisdom from Cuenca, Ecuador.

The wisdom is on the wall

Context: Abortion is illegal in Ecuador-- save for a few clearly defined cases. "Obligatory motherhood is forced labor."

"In my body, I decide"

Context: President Correa recently closed a US army base in Manta. Regardless of how one judges the American army, it provided drug monitoring in Ecuador. Many people say that since it's shutting, the country has shifted from one of drug traffic to one of drug production. "We swapped a yankee base for a cocaine base."

The wisdom's on the wall

"Free yourself to be able to free."

" No more conformism."

"Lost in myself"

The wisdom's on the wall

"Movimiento Pais has cancer". Movimiento Pais is the same political party as Alianza Pais-- of which President Correa is a member of.

"Break the silence." Clearly multiple interpretations, but quite possibly a reference to the increasing media restrictions in the country.

"Free us FROM the father, the son and the holy spirit."

The wisdom's on the wall

"less flowers, more rights." (this can be interpreted many ways, but it's useful to note that it seems like every single park in Quito is currently being respruced).

"Neither boss nor husband."

"8th of March 2010, the year of feminist mobilization."

"From living I have become lazy." (I think?)

The wisdom is on the wall

"the government lies to you"

"If the press belongs to capial, the walls are ours"

"Die, fatty."

The wisdom is on the wall

Walls for politics.

Context: Fernando Daquilema was an indigenous Ecuadorian who led a rebellion in the 19th century before he was brutally killed by the government. "Dakilema lives and will have his revenge."

"Correa godfather of the FARCs."

"Happiness for all; something simple, something just."


"Mines to the countryside; death to flore and life."

The wisdom is on the wall

Walls and wisdom gallore.

"Fat turkeys, thin kids."

"I have the flu"

"Who many did they kill? Say it yourself, baby Jesus. It's not too late to talk."

"Latin America, destructive and combative"

"End patriarcal terrorism."

The wisdom is on the wall, IV

Full of walls, full of wisdom.

Context: A few years ago, the Ecuadorian congress toyed with the idea of legalizing gay marriage. This sentence was first mentionned during the negotiations, which were a ray of hope for the homosexual community. "If your disguize is asfixiating, seize this moment."

"To survive?" A creative-- albeit cynical-- person replaced the trash being thrown away as an example on this bin with hearts...


Context: A few years ago, President Correa put members of the Marine corps in charge of the various Ecuadorian-owned petroleum companies (Petroecuador, Petroamazonas)-- a very controversial move.
"Marines: do business for Correa the pro-imperialist!"

"Communism without political parties."




"Che: Semillero insurgente, Latinoamerica presente". Very hard to translate, so I'll proceed word-for-word. SEMILLERO= seed-bed. INSURGENTE= rebellion. Therefore: Che is a seed-bed for the growth of insurrections and the man who heightened the continent's importance. Weak in English, but very strong in Spanish.

The wisdom is on the wall, III

So much wisdom, so many walls.

"To organize is to begin victory."

"Torreador and carnivor; the same killers."

The Wisdom's on the Wall, II

More walls, more wisdom.

Must I translate?

"If a woman says NO, its NO".

"Of only bread a man does not live, but without it he cannot."