UN General Assembly
2010

I would also like to recall that only weeks ago my country was shaken by an event heard around the world. A rockslide of more than 100 million tons left 33 miners trapped deep under a mountain in the Atacama desert. From that moment, our Government and country committed themselves body and soul and made their very best efforts to launch a search-and- rescue operation. Seventeen anguishing days later, we were able to reach the trapped miners. They sent up a message that filled all my compatriots’ hearts with joy: “We are okay, we are safe, the 33”. This represents the whole paradox of our country. We have struggled so hard to save the lives of the 33 miners, and yet at the same time we have 34 Mapuche herders who are on a hunger strike that is killing them. I wish to conclude by telling those assembled here that the example of courage and perseverance set by our 33 miners will light the path to the future. The future is always an adventure. For pessimists, it means