With controversy, the large floating bookstore arrives in Argentina – 17/05/2019

With the greetings of the national government and the porteño, who declared their presence interesting, the boat "Logos hope" will arrive from May 31 to the port of Rosario and will dock for nearly three months, also in Buenos Aires and del Plata with a promise full of charmThey say that it is the largest floating bookstore in the world, that it travels the seas with a cultural message and values ​​and that in each destination, those who visit it can read the 5,000 titles that populate its shelves. However, This is not the whole truth. The ship deploys an evangelistic campaign in each city to which above with widespread delivery of religious material although none of this has been clarified before. It is for this reason that the booksellers of Buenos Aires yesterday found in a communication their dissatisfaction with the misinformation on the ship and the unfair competition with the local trade.

"The booksellers of Buenos Aires watch with concern that he was spreading with innocent enthusiasm and highlighting the attractions of bookstores, the arrival of Logos Hope is a ship that presents itself as a floating library (A library that loads the entrance!) and as a tourist attraction but that will offer books of religious prejudice without explicitly explaining it in its summons, "they denounced in a statement to citizenship.

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Logos Hope is home to 380 volunteers from more than 60 countries. "These people, of very different ages and cultures, have chosen to work onboard to meet the needs of others around the world. We are known as the largest floating book fair in the world and we sell more than 5,000 different titles. at a reduced price in all the ports we visit. We also have an international cafe and a theater on board, and the ship's teams visit each community for concrete help and help, "she explains on the ship's website.

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However, the booksellers bring to the fore what seems disguised both on the Internet and in the dozens of journalistic notes of the ship: It is an evangelizing mission. "We do not know what taxes will be paid in Argentina, but the $ 1 million project is funded by OM Ships International, a Pentecostal organization".

None of this is whitened in the information provided by the ship. In the Frequently Asked Questions about Logos Hope, about its funding, they say elliptically that they have three sources of money"The first are generous donors who believe in our vision of bringing knowledge, help and hope to the world, and the second is through the volunteer members of the crew who raise the funds to live aboard. The third is selling books at the book fair.We are a non-profit organization and the benefits are used to operate the ship (fuel, food, etc.). "

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In dialogue with ClarinEcequiel Leder Kremer, director of Librerías Hernández, explained: "We understand that the Argentine Republic is one of the richest countries in bibliodiversity. Even in times of crisis, the catalog of Argentinean publishers is very complete, complete and multithematic. And we have a network of booksellers across the country. On the other hand, nobody escapes the fact that publishers and bookstores must comply with a tax regime, register with the AFIP to be able to bill the public. In addition, we must register our employees and pay the fees each month. social security contributions. The Pentecostal floating bookstore works with volunteers and is not really part of the tax scheme in Argentina for what seems to us a competition in the inequality of the conditions ".

The idea is not new at all. Hope Logos is the most recent example of a fleet that began in the 1970s with ships Logos, Logos II and Doulos. From that moment and until now, the family of O.M. They have visited more than 435 ports in 140 countries around the world, to which they have taken a look more than 30 million people who bought books on board. In addition, when downloading, everyone "has the opportunity to take a book for free by explaining the need that the man has a relationship with God"they say. But they say little, by the way.

About the books on board, which can be purchased during a visit, a catalog of some 5,000 titles is displayed. But they are not bulky: "All these have been carefully selected to interest each member of the family and to meet the educational, social and moral needs of the community," said the project leaders. Therefore, Leder Kremer believes it is important for the public to know that Bookstores in Buenos Aires offer catalogs of 10,000 to 50,000 titles, often reaching funds of 70,000 and 80,000 titles..

However, the amount is only part of the question. "The most important thing is to warn the public that only the work of professional and independent booksellers guarantees the diversity of themes and ideas as well as the circulation of works from different sources and published by hundreds of publishers. It is there, in the diversity and the sieve of the cultural base, that the professional booksellers are the main attraction of a bookstore, "they explain.Some Logos Hope, even if it carries mainly books religious theme, "does not include in his bibliographical offer books of religions other than Christian as Talmud, the Koran, the Bagadvitha where the Popol Vuh"They say.

And Ecequiel Leder Kremer comments: "I think it's worth remembering the role these ultra-conservative sectors play in their activism and what kind of governments are working and getting along very well with them." The case of Brazil is close and more than # 39; obvious. Here is an authoritarian thought, there is a deeply homophobic and anti-feminist thought and that, personally, is a sign of alarm. Here, there is not only joy, love and spiritual thought. Behind and hidden, a specific political model seems to be pursued, "he said. Clarin.

For the moment, the ship's crew invites to visit. In each destination, organizes cultural activities, conferences, concerts, plays and workshops. It will dock in the ports of Rosario from May 31 to June 25, Buenos Aires from June 26 to July 23 and Mar del Plata from July 24 to August 19. "We hope that by visiting the ship, you will not only enjoy your time at home, but you will also experience the love of God for you."they warn.

PK / DC