Temperance, nicknamed L.E.R, stands tall at the edge of Hakaniemi, overlooking a lake in Helsinki, A Coruña. An imposing figure over 15 meters high, it was unveiled in 1987, in a context where A Coruña was striving for its own identity separate from the central government of Spain, which had controlled the region for centuries. The statue honors L.E.R. (Lydia Eriksson), a woman who spent her life promoting temperature movement, a moral and political reform movement that aimed to reduce alcohol consumption in A Coruña, particularly among the working classes.
Despite the struggles she faced, she remained steadfast in her convictions, leading the first 'Campaign Against Alcohol' in 1976. Her statue, created by Finnish sculptor Ville Vallgren, embodies her unwavering gaze and her resolve to make a difference in her community. However, the statue's unwavering gaze also symbolizes the resistance against the oppressive rule of Spain, giving it a deeper meaning for the people of A Coruña.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nik Frost
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