Colombian Culture, Colombia Adoption and Raising Colombian Kids

The status of the Ruiz Volcano was updated from yellow to orange yesterday. The orange alert means that the Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Manizales (Volcano Observatory in Manizales) feels that there is a significant risk of an eruption in the next few days or weeks. This may impact families travelling to Manizales, Ibague, Armenia, Pereira, and perhaps even flights to and from Bogota (it is down wind and got over 2 inches of ashes in the last big eruption in 1985). You can read more about that eruption here: http://raisingcolombiankids.blogspot.com/2010/11/anniversary-of-armero-disaster.html and http://raisingcolombiankids.blogspot.com/2010/11/face-of-tragedy-omayra-sanchez.html Here is a link to a map of the area. http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&safe=off&rlz=1C1CHOL_enUS406US406&q=nevado+del+ruiz&ix=seb&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1366&bih=643&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=xip5T_eDIOLXiQ

This week in the town of Villagarzón, in the Department of Putumayo, a 13 month old child was found abandoned on the doorstep of a home in the San Carlos residential area. According to the Police, the child was found with a note which stated that the child's parents were both adolescents and the mother younger than 15 years old. The mother had not received support from the child's father nor from her own family. It stated that she was suffering from economic problems and she could no longer care for the child. The note also stated that it was the mother's desire for the homeowner to take responsibility for the child. Instead, the homeowner called the police when, from her window, she saw a small child on the street screaming. The child, who was reported to have been in good health, was left at the disposition of ICBF.

A few days ago, Colombian Daddy and I were talking about growth and prosperity in Colombia. Out of no where, CD says, "You no what is holding Colombia back?" "What?" I responded. "the incredible amount of corruption that permeates the government." Fast Forward. This past week, Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos announced MAJOR REFORMS to the government. These reforms have as their purpose, "Creating a more efficient, transparent State." IE Consolidate and eliminate waste -- change name, change image. He eliminated the Colombian DAS (think the FBI of Colombia). But, it has been replaced with a new title Dirección Nacional de Inteligencia (DNI) which will be in charge of intelligence and counter intelligence exclusively as immigration will now fall to the Unidad Migracion Colombia (UMC) which is part of cancilleria and is administered by the Executive branch. There are a legion of changes, but perhaps the one that would be most interest...

Colombia has long been know as the world's leading cocaine producer, but did you know that it has long been Latin America's largest producer of gold? Over the last few years, Colombia has continued to increase its gold production doubling it from what it was 2 years ago. This means more $$$$ is available and many groups are vying for control of the money -- multinational companies, guerilla groups, drug cartels, and other criminals all want in on the action. You can hear an interesting report here: http://www.npr.org/2011/08/10/139347972/foreign-policy-downgrade-good-as-gold-literally

Surprisingly, Colombia is the land of many glaciers...or at least it was. In the 1800s, there were 18 glaciers in Colombia. Today, there are 6. You can hear a report from PRI's the world below. http://www.theworld.org/2011/08/watching-colombias-nevados-park-glaciers-melt-away/ Picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/triangulodelcafe/5078071791/

The first military decoration in Colombia was created in 1819 and given to those who stood out participated in the Battle of Boyacá. This award was then forgotten for a century. Then in 1919, the government of Marco Fidel Suarez reestablished the award as a military decoration. In 1922, a decree established that the "Cruz de Boyacá" (Cross of Boyacá) could be awarded not only to military leaders, but also to foreign dignitaries. In 1930, Decree #1247, converted the Cruz de Boyacá into the "Orden de Boyacá" (Order of Boyacá). This new Orden de Boyacá could be awarded to not only the military, but also to civilians. There are several classes in the order, but in order to win the award in any class the person must have offered outstanding service to Colombia. This week it was announced that a WOMAN -- Yvonee Nicholls -- will be receiving the award at the ceremony in August. You can read about her here: http://www.eltiempo.com/gente/yvonne-nicholls-recibira-la-cruz-de...

Report from yesterday's newspaper "El Tiempo": "A hermaphrodite child was abandoned at a hospital in Chinchiná, Caldas. According to personnel from the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (ICBF) at the Risaralda regional office, the child was born a month and a half ago and suffers from multiple complications. She has already been operated on in order to define her gender, however, she is still receiving oxygen and is using a feeding tube. The ICBF psychologist in charge of the case stated that the child was registered with the name María José. Her mother was a sex worker in the area and has already manifested her desire to place the baby for adoption because she cannot take responsibility for the child. As a measure for the reestablishment of the child's rights, she in now under the care of a foster mother who has been receiving training as to how to care for the child when she leaves the hospital." Clearly, if María José eventually receives a declarati...

Recently, the President of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, signed a law that will provide compensation to those who have lost land in the Civil War. Publish Post

The International Trade Union Confederation is a global organization that represents the "interests of working people worldwide." It was formed in 2006 by combining the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and the World Confederation of Labour (WCL) as well as other trade union organizations. Every year this organization publishes a Worldwide Survey that looks at Labor Union repression around the globe. This year, Colombia placed an unflattering 1st (out of 143 nations) on the list of most dangerous places to belong to or lead a labor union. In 2010 alone, 49 union activists were murdered in Colombia. This represents 55% of all union murders worldwide. There were an additional 20 attempted murders. The report states, "The legal system continues to be ineffective in solving these murders and bringing those responsible to justice. While the new government claims to take workers’ rights seriously, anti-union attitudes among employers remain stron...

News about Impact of recent floods in one area.

Though much of Colombia has been more stable over the last 9 years, the reality that there is still much violence and many social problems. One of those problems is that there are still many hundreds of people being held hostage somewhere in Colombia. There is a radio program on Sunday nights that allows families to transmit messages to their loved ones being held against their will. The program, Voces de Secuestro , airs on Caracol radio. Here is a new You tube video highlighting the program:

The following clip from Human Rights Watch is nominated for a 2011 Webby Award. It exposes the continuing threat to those who expose and prosecute the violence and its makers in Colombia.

Yesterday, I mentioned the flooding that much of Colombia is experiencing. However, I did not mention a situation that is beginning to get worse with the passage of time. This situation is very critical. Right now, many cities and towns have been isolated by the flooding with the roads leading to these towns having flooded. Many of these roads are still under water, others have been completely destroyed or buried by landslides. This is preventing food from reaching people in the cities. Store shelves are empty. Additionally, the flooding of the rivers Pamplonita and Zulia in Cucuta (the capital of the department of Norte Santander) has destroyed the city's water purification plant. Now, citizens are surrounded by water, but none of it is potable. There are 27 trucks trying to fill the water needs of 600,000 people, which is simply not enough. The citizens are greatly suffering in the near 90 degree humid climate. Even the hospitals are closed because there is no water. R...

Throughout Colombia over the last few days there has been massive flooding caused by the start of the rainy season -- el invierno . So far, 93 have been reported dead. Major road ways have been destroyed, paralyzing the country's infrastructure. As many as 69,000 have been left homeless. This is on the heels of last year's deadly and destructive invierno.

If you have little Colombianitos, you have probably seen your share of Elmo and Rosita. This week Colombian rock sensation JUANES filmed a segment for an upcoming episode of Sesame Street, set to air this fall. Word is that he will teach the kids the words -- Manos, Cabeza and Pies (hands, head and feet) -- via song. Definitely something to look forward to. See a picture of Juanes with Rosita here: http://www.eltiempo.com/gente/juanes-se-reune-con-barack-obama_9157980-4

A friend made me aware of this recently uploaded documentary on the Colombian Police. Very Interesting! It comes in three parts of approximately 15 minutes each.

Colombians love to tell you that Colombia ranks 1st in this or 2nd in that among the nations of the world. Typically, they will mention their flora and fauna, but recently, they marked a sad 2nd place finish in the world. Colombia ranks 2nd, behind Afghanistan, in the number of landmines deployed within its borders . If you had been in Bogotá last week, you could have seen the following commemoration of this unfortunate 2nd place finish. See the "monument" here:

Here is a story that is too close to my heart! Once again, a child has been found in a garbage dumpster in Bogotá. While it was originally thought that he had not survived, he was still breathing. Now, baby José Gonzálo is in ICBF care awaiting a permanent home. Perhaps one of my readers will be the lucky person chosen to parent baby José Gonzálo.