The Constitutional Court is near to give its verdict over the possibility of another reform to open the way for a third reelection of President Uribe. I can guess that it will be possible and I can guess that President Uribe will run again for a third period at the Nariño House. An unpopular opposition, a very fanatic Uribista party, the obsession of President Hugo Chávez for Colombia and the fear for the return of the chaotic situation of Colombia before 2002, will play a very important part in the decision of most Colombians. (more…)
On 2009/12/18, In Conflict, By Albeiro Rodas
Surely worst than the long Colombian conflict, it is the reality of its street children in the biggest cities. The Gamín (street boy in Colombian idioms), became almost a traditional character. Even if some people and groups complain of the lack of more definitive projects to end the problem of unprotected children in the Colombian streets, it is possible to find a good list of institutions, private and officials, doing something. The problem stands in the same conflict. Only the growing number of displaced farm families, fleeing from war-zones and taking refuse in the cities, is a definitive source of children on the streets with all its consequences. (more…)
On 2009/12/17, In Conflict, By Albeiro Rodas
Two paramilitary factions, supposedly created to combat guerrillas, killed each other for control of drug trafficking, oil royalties and thousands of hectares of land in Casanare in a paranoiac, hellish war that left thousands of victims – a war still very much kept secret in Colombia. (more…)
On 2009/09/01, In Conflict, By Albeiro Rodas
The defeated of Don Mario, the drugs’ lord of Envigado, created a power vacuum among the several gangs throughout the Metropolitan Area of Medellín. The recent events of violence in different sectors, especially poorest districts like Doce de Octubre, Castilla and Aranjuez, is explained in the ambition of smallest drug lords to control the illegal markets of the city. We got an interview with Jackson, a 20 years old who belongs to one of those gangs. His name has been changed to protect his identity. (more…)
On 2009/08/29, In Conflict, By Albeiro Rodas
The poor quarters of Medellín are technically under war this month. The gangs of northern districts are fighting each other to control the drug deal nets of the city. But the number of security forces have increased in the streets of barrios like Doce de Octubre, Castilla, Aranjuez and many others to avoid the proliferation of violence and murders, especially among young people. We were trying to get any testimonial from persons involved in gangs, but it has been impossible for now. Manuel, 45 (his name is fictional to protect his identity), gave us an impression of the events. He lives in one of the barrios under fire. (more…)
On 2008/04/18, In Culture, By Albeiro Rodas
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3k_XJB0QAo&hl=en]
On 2007/12/30, In Politics, By Albeiro Rodas
Luz Helena and Enrique Peñaloza. Foto de Jaime Ramírez.
The names of Sergio Fajardo and Enrique Peñaloza are well known in the international arena. Both of them are related to the two cities where they proved their skill as mayors and let a print not only in both cities, but also around the world as models of administration. They broke also the history of the two Colombian cities associated to violence in former decades and started a new process in the hope of development and better standard of life for their country.
The International Herald Tribune dedicated an article to Enrique Peñaloza, “Former Mayor of Bogotá Leaves his Mark on Many Cities”, a note of Carolyn Whelan published on last December 28. Whelan said about Peñaloza: (more…)
On 2007/12/20, In Culture, By Albeiro Rodas
The prestigious Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), included Colombia in its Holiday Hot Spots list for 2008. The other countries are China, Australia, Abu Dhabi, Botswana and Israel. The Agency said that Colombia has become a very popular tourist detination and it is supposed that by year 2008 it will have a golden time for tourism thanks to the efforts of the government and its meaningful investments. One of the big factors to decide the inclusion of a country that used to steal headlines of violence and political instability in the past, is also the Mike Newell´s film of Gabriel García Márquez´s novel, “Love in the Time of Cholera”. The movie was shooted in the stuning Cartagena de Indias, which is regarded as the most beautiful city in South America.
The inclusion of Colombia in the top lists of ABTA came after the news of Colombia being as top destination of National Adventure for 2008 by the National Geographic.
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