Kuwait Times

Published Date: March 25, 2009

It is a small miracle happening in the middle of a crisis: Argentine cooperative "Eloisa Cartonera" manages to publish exquisite, unique books from cardboard boxes picked up in the street. And its example has now found followers in Europe. "I passed by every day but did not dare enter because my boxes were not beautiful enough," says Miriam Merlo, 23, a "cartoneros"-the people who try to scratch a living collecting paper or cardboard for recycling from municipal waste in Buenos Aires. Her eyes light up whe
n she remembers the day that changed her life. An "Eloisa" team suggested that she decorate a book cover and since then she has not stopped working. "Before, I never read. Now I have my favorite books," says Merlo nicknamed "Bear"-proudly, without stopping to design covers that workers bring to her.

You are the happiest 'Bear' in the world!" shouts 35-year-old cooperative co-founder Washington Cucurto from the other side of the room. "Eloisa Cartonera", created in 2003 in the aftermath of Argentina's 2001-2002 economic crisis, publishes recognized authors, such as Caesar Aira, or younger ones like Alejandro Lopez. The writers are ready to give up their copyrights to help the community of "cartoneros". Thanks to author donations, the cooperative is able to publish 5,000 books a year and pay the "carto
neros" five times more than the garbage processors.

Cucurto has even become a celebrity, the subject of lectures and doctoral dissertations in American universities. Last October, the University of Wisconsin in Madison organized the first meeting of "cartonera" publishing houses. The idea of "Eloisa" has spread throughout Latin America-picked up in Peru by "Sarita Cartonera", in Bolivia by "Yerba Mala Cartonera", in Mexico by "Cartonera and Santa Muerte", in Paraguay by "Felicita Cartonera and Yiyi Jambo", and in Brazil by "Dulcineia Cartonera".

But Cucurto keeps his head cool, monitoring Multilith 1250, a printing press that hums at full speed, churning out the unique works. Outside, on tables installed on the sidewalk, Colombian national Juan Guillermo Gomez, 34, and Chilean Alejandro Miranda, 30, using big brushes, glue notebooks to the inside of book covers.

They have two volunteer assistants, Veronica Tells, 32, and Joana Bertholo, 25, who came here from Montijo, close to Lisbon, and extolled the cooperative's inclusive vibes. "The Internet site of Eloisa Cartonera does not give us the exact sense of how precious this big 'cartonera' family is," said Bertholo.
When evening falls, Italian can be heard along with the Spanish as Massimo

Roccaforte, a 38-year-old distributor for small publishing houses, says his company, NDA, would like "to try to market these books through about a dozen Italian bookstores". "We are not talking of just selling a product but of circulating a message to help a 'cartonero'," says Roccaforte who views the books also as objects of art. "The commercial logic is to support a cultural project." Cucurto listens, but does not want to appear weak in commercial matters.

You can sell them for 20 euros (27 dollars) a piece in Europe!" he exclaims. "Never!" replies Roccaforte. But a trade is quickly agreed to. Massimo buys 70 copies for three euros, 20 more for five and says he plans to order thousands more if Italians let themselves to be seduced by Eloisa. He leaves with a poster that the Multilith 1250 has just printed for him. It reads: "Eloisa Cartonera, now even in Italy." "Eloisa Cartonera, now even in Italy." - AFP