Pablo Escobar Takes Hollywood

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/30/movies/30pabl.html

-As “Entourage,” television’s fictionalized Hollywood chronicle, wrapped its season last month, the agent extraordinaire Ari Gold saw his client’s dream movie about the Medellín drug cartel hammered by the audience and would-be buyers at the Cannes Film Festival.

-Born to middle-class parents in 1949, Pablo Escobar Gaviria stole and resold tombstones, then cars, before becoming an organizing force among Colombian street thugs who hit the jackpot as the country’s cocaine trade exploded in the 1970s. He bribed authorities, ordered killings and, at his peak, lived with the improbable trappings of a Charles Foster Kane: His possessions included submarines, a fleet of airliners and a vast estate, Hacienda Los Nápoles, complete with a private zoo.

-After the 1989 bombing of an airliner in which United States citizens were killed, American operatives joined Colombian authorities in their war on the cartel and its leader. Driven into hiding, Escobar played cat and mouse with police and the military until Dec. 2, 1993, when he was cornered by 500 police officers and soldiers, and shot to death. The killing led to deep mourning among many of the Colombian poor, for whom he was something of a Robin Hood, turning American dollars into food, housing and jobs.

-This example shows that media has become more globalized and continues to depict movies or televisions shows based on a county's history. Colombia's drug lord, Pablo Escobar, has become a Hollywood character.

Abandoned Animals in Colombia

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2010/03/30/world/americas/1247467487501/abandoned-animals-in-colombia.html

-An animal refuge in Cali, Colombia, that takes in the castoff pets of the country's drug lords

-These animals are rescued and given a chance to live

-Currently cares for about 800 animals

-Funded by private donations; founded a decade and half ago

-Many have been abused, drugged (stoned- fried the animals brain cells), and mangled (cut off limbs, blinded)

-Drug lords believe having a ferocious animal, such as a lion, shows their power and they can intimidate people.

-Animals often fed on the flesh of the militias victims

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/31/world/americas/31colombia.html

Colombia's Next President

-Colombians have long known Antanas Mockus for his antics, such as the time he mooned an auditorium full of rowdy students during his stint as a university president. And how he got married atop an elephant.

-He might just win the presidency in elections to succeed Alvaro Uribe, a US-backed hard-liner who was prevented from running for a third term. A first round of voting takes place May 30, with a second scheduled next month if no candidate wins 50 percent.

-As mayor of Bogota, a city of 8 million, he invested heavily in police and instituted new tactics, resulting in a dramatic drop in homicides.

-Mockus also refused to parcel out posts to supporters or meet with municipal officials and council members — men known for corruption. He raised taxes on the rich and instituted unpopular measures such as closing bars at 1 a.m. to cut down on drunken driving and violence. (It worked.)

http://www.boston.com/news/world/latinamerica/articles/2010/05/09/called_strange_he_may_be_next_colombian_leader/

A Look at Twitter Use

http://globalvoicesonline.org/2010/05/09/colombia-a-look-at-twitter-use-around-the-country/

-Over the course of two months, the community site Twitter Colombia analyzed 3 million Tweets from 20,000 users in the country, as way to take a snapshot of the use of this microblogging tool. The result was a set of statistics about the average Twitterer in Colombia

-On the average, the Colombian Twitterer is following 128 people and is followed by 176, while only 13% users have their Tweets protected. The statistics even looked at which day of the week and time of day the average Twitter used the service, Wednesday and 11:30 a.m., respectively

-The study also revealed which Colombian Twitterers had the most mentions during this time period. These popular users include Camilo Andrés García (@hyperconectado), Colombian rocker, Juanes (@juanes), Nicolás Samper (@udsnoexisten), Sebastian Yepes (@sebastianyepes), and Karem Díaz Robles (@karemvip).

Freedom House

http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=251&year=2009

- Colombia's press is partially free

- A new criminal procedure code took effect on January 1, 2008, raising hopes that it would curb impunity and judicial inefficiency with respect to crimes against journalists

- Remains as one of the world's most dangerous countries for journalists

-According to the Foundation for Freedom of the Press (FLIP), threats to journalists and violations of press freedom diminished by 15 and 20 percent, respectively, during the year

- Most of the country’s media outlets are controlled by groups of private investors. Independent and privately owned print and broadcast media are generally free to express a variety of opinions and cover sensitive issues without restrictions. The government operates one educational and two commercial television stations, along with a national radio network

- There were few reported cases of government monitoring or censoring of the internet, which was accessed by close to 39 percent of the population in 2008. However, indigenous communities in western Colombia complained that their online media pages were blocked following confrontations with the military.

Colombia Local News Media

http://www.mondotimes.com/1/world/co

A list of newspapers, radio and television stations in Colombia by city

Media Conglomerate

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/02/23/colombia.magazine/index.html

"Colombia lost one of its best-known independent magazines...when the parent company of Cambio suddenly announced it was ceasing publication."

There is reason to believe that the closing was not linked to economic results but to nonconformity -- to an editorial line that denounces and criticizes the government."

This movement has all the characteristics of censorship.

Cambio had been a strong voice against the Colombian government, yet Government officials deny its closing due to the government.

"When news erupted in February that national intelligence agents had subjected journalists, politicians, judges and human rights defenders to illegal phone tapping, e-mail interception, and surveillance for much of the decade, it created a well-founded perception that the Colombian government was closely and constantly watching the press and other critics," the report said.

Which raises the question: "To what extent can a media conglomerate be independent if it has so many interests with the government?"

The Colombian Flag

Colombian Flag Meaning:
There is no official meaning of the Colombian flag; however there are two popular theories on the meaning behind Colombia's flag's colors. One states that the yellow symbolizes sovereignty and justice; the blue stands for nobility, loyalty and vigilance; while the red represents valor, honor, generosity and victory through bloodshed. The second interpretation states the yellow stands for universal liberty; the blue for the equality of all races and social classes before God and the law; and red means fraternity. There is also a popular Colombian children's song which resonates - "yellow is our gold, blue is our vast seas and red is the blood that gave us our freedom".

Colombian Flag History:
The Colombian flag was adopted on November 26, 1861, making it one of the world's oldest flags. Colombia declared independence from Spain on July 20, 1810

Embera

An Embera family

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/04/21/world/americas/20090422-colombia-indians/index.html

In Western Colombia, the Embera find themselves at the mercy of Armed groups fighting each other for control of the cocaine trade and forcing thousands of indigenous people to flee.

Cultural Imperialism in Colombia

"Cultural imperialism manipulates and westernises the psychology of people in Third World countries, aligning them with US imperialist interests. It is incredibly effective because it dominates people from the inside, disguised as their own free will."

Cultural imperialism has a vast hold of Colombian society. Many who are unaware of its negative effects. The Western society has been so heavily promoted that it artificially injected their culture of society into that of Colombia. With cultural imperialism, its powerful influence is economically driven to invade and set to conquer/dominate a third world countries culture. Particularly aimed towards up and coming generations. The general attitude of Colombia's youth is to rebel via drugs, alcohol, parties, and consumerism.

"...the old customs and ancient wisdom of his ancestors has reached its final generation and will soon be lost."

It is devastating to see a society loose its indigenous culture. In addition, it deeply saddens me to see that when a person continues to practice their native traditions, it is seen as "old fashioned." It speaks volumes to have a culture depleted. A culture should never 'go out of style.' It is a part of history and should continue to be taught and passed down generation to generation. Mass media is a seductive tool where countries, like Colombia, are mesmerized and see media outlets (TV for example) for them to escape from reality, when it reality, it is false hope.

http://www.colombiasolidarity.org.uk/content/view/197/54/

Globalization

For example, Coca-Cola is being sued for alleged involvement in the deaths of eight labor leaders

"Colombia, a mostly poor and struggling oligarchy afflicted with serious civil violence for the past 57 years, possesses valuable mineral resources and oil, coal and gas deposits. U.S. and multinational corporations — taking advantage of the weakness, lawlessness and desperation of the country — have been maneuvering themselves into powerful positions in the Colombian economy."

As a third world country Colombia lives with poverty stricken communities and continual violence. This has allowed the powerful U.S. to take advantage of the countries precious resources. The United States has put "Plan Colombia" into place since 1999, to help aid the country by providing a considerable military to fight guerrillas and terrorists and for eradicating illegal drug crops. In addition, it substantially funds the paramilitaries and security forces that protect corporate interests and infrastructure.

"Three million people have been forcibly displaced in Colombia since 1985. As corporations - with the complicity of crooked officials - enlarge mines, build pipelines, divert water and log forests, their paramilitaries and mercenaries threaten, torture, kill and abduct the local inhabitants as needed to clear an area. Similarly, paramilitaries often intimidate or murder journalists, clergymen and women, union organizers, judges and any other activists who attempt to resist or point out the abuses being perpetrated."

Colombians have been forced out of their homes and even killed, all in the interests of the U.S. companies. This is allowing multinationals to absolutely loot the resources and wealth of Colombia Furthermore, there is little anyone can do to stop this. If one were to seek resistance to this movement they to are in danger

"...Our actions in Colombia are in service to corporate globalization, a phenomenon that is increasingly being revealed as a multipronged assault on the environment, labor, diverse cultures, indigenous peoples, democracy, and the very notions of justice, equality and healthy living."

http://www.killercoke.org/salem0510.htm

Colombian Overview

For my first blog I would like to familiarize you, as well as myself, on an overview of the Republic of Colombia. When you hear the word Colombia, what comes to mind? When I think of Colombia I picture two things: sultry Colombian native singer Shakira and the drug cartels. These two images are all I recognize when it comes to Colombia. Of course, there is much more to fourth largest country in South America.


Basic Facts:
-Population: 45.7 million
-Capital: Bogota
-Major Language: Spanish
-Major Religion: Christianity
-Monetary Unit: 1 Colombian Peso = 100 centavos
-Main Exports: Petroleum, coffee, coal, gold, bananas, cut flowers, chemicals, emeralds, cotton products, sugar, livestock
-GNI per Capita: US $4,660 (World Bank, 2008)
-President: Alvaro Uribe came to power in May 2002 in a first-round election victory and secured a second, four-year term in May 2006

According to BBC News, Colombia is one the most dangerous places in the world for journalists to operate. This must play into the fact why I do not hear news of happenings in Colombia. Media workers face intimidation by drug traffickers, guerrillas and paramilitary groups. It seems as if the life of a journalist in Colombia is a life risking career. Constantly fighting the issues the country is faced with today. In the 1990's, over 120 Colombian journalists were killed! They were particularly dealing with reports on drug trafficking and corruption. The media-freedom organisation Reporters Without Borders has denounced armed groups, corrupt politicians and drug barons as "enemies of press freedom". One of the main covert stations is the Farc-operated La Voz de la Resistencia, which media rebels described as another battlefront. However, most Colombians choose television for their main media connection.

Now that I had an overview of the Republic of Colombia, I can better understand the coming of current events.

¡Adios Amigos!