Cuatrocientos cincuenta

In the 1980s, old-age pensioners in Argentina began to realise the string of governments that had been in power had high-handedly whisked away a large part of the contributions they had paid to finance their pensions under the state welfare system set up in the late 1940s. Despite their protests, they found themselves “entitled” to a monthly 150 pesos, hardly enough to cover the basics. Faced with the government’s indifference, their struggle became more radical and turned into weekly demonstration in front of the Parliament buildings. With the slogan “the force of the insuppressible”, they are claiming a 450-pesos pension that would enable them lead a decent life. Each Wednesday for the last ten years, even though death has thinned their ranks, they are still there…