Colombia - The Trawler.org
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PEARL: “China”, (El Espectador, CO)
188 days ago by Laura.Gomez
China has chosen Xi Jinping as its next leader for the next 10 years this week. William Peal questions in his column in El Espectador if it is possible to consider China a democratic system since the country has different approaches for economics and for its politics. Regarding the political aspects, China still acts as a Communist country, with political prisoners, permission to have just one child per family, only one political party – not enough if it is a democracy. In economic terms, it is the second biggest economy in the world, with high economic growth. However, modern slavery seems to exist, because the jobs are considered inhuman and people sleep in the factories where they work.
Pearl highlights that the wealth can’t be seen everywhere, only in few cities. Nonetheless, China is a great economic power, but it should make the next step to become a real democracy, he argues. The writer points out that if China wants to be recognized for its economic results, it should respect the dissidents and accept the difference. (link to the article)
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EDITORIAL: “La buena noticia: Obama”, (El Espectador, CO)
194 days ago by Laura.Gomez
El Espectador’s editorial discusses Obama’s victory in the US election last Tuesday. According to the newspaper, Obama’s victory is the best thing that could have happened to the US and the world. Some states approved marijuana consumption for medical reasons, others the legalization of abortion, and gay marriage; and all of this just means individuality tolerance.
Social behaviour prohibition should be left behind, and Obama should take advantage of this opportunity to send a clear message about it. Obama will have to confront many problems in his new term. First of all polarization, which was very high in this campaign. Along with this the migratory reform, the withdrawing of troops from Afghanistan, climate change, and unemployment, among others.
El Espectador states that Obama’s biggest challenges are twofold: First, his ability to govern, which will be complicated since the majority in the Congress is still Republican; and, second, a more liberal approach in his administration with more commitment to minority groups. (link to article)
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EDITORIAL: “El nuevo capítulo de China”, (El Tiempo, CO)
199 days ago by Laura.Gomez
Ironically when today the US is deciding who will be its next president, the Editorial of El Tiempo, in Colombia, is focused on China. The communist regime of the Popular Republic of China, that has also been capitalist since 1978, is about to change its leader after ten years. Hu Jintao, China’s president, managed to make China the biggest exporter in the world, and to cover 95% of its population under the health system. This decade is called by many as “the glorious age”.
However, this country is far from being a splendid empire. Despite the censure of the regime, many Chinese in the last years have discovered a way to express their dissatisfaction with the regime, its corruption and inequality.
Apparently, this week China will choose as a leader a man who has been preparing for the leadership: Xi Jiping. It is expected that he will take progressive actions and a more liberal approach to politics. (link to the article)
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VARGAS: “La deriva de Petro”, (El Tiempo, CO)
201 days ago by Laura.Gomez
Vargas writes today in El Tiempo about the critical situation in Bogota, Colombia. He states that despite how poor the situation is in the city, the mayor has a good approval rating, even higher than the initial percentage of the population who voted for him. Among many of the things that are going wrong in the city, Vargas lists potholes, street vendors on all sidewalks, construction issues, and mobility.
Vargas notes that the mayor, Gustavo Petro, seems to be in campaign mode all the time, yet his is not taking any concrete action. Petro announces drugs centres, but then the proposal is forgotten; the same happens with the trams (7th avenue) and subway proposals, which are still in limbo.
Vargas also points out the administration’s instability. In the last months, four secretaries have been replaced. Moreover, the uncertainty about the mayor’s health is disturbing.
However, Petro’s popularity in surveys is between 29% and 40%, which is higher than the percentage of people who voted for him (31%). Vargas concludes that if Petro steps down in May, he could run for the presidency, and then he wouldn’t have to take responsibility for his poor governance of Bogota.
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EDITORIAL: “Lo que está en juego en el parque Tayrona”, (El Espectador, CO)
204 days ago by Laura.Gomez
Today’s El Espectador Editorial is about the concerns over the construction of a hotel inside the Tayrona National Park. According to the editorial, what is at risk is not only the conservation of the environment and the indigenous communities that live there, but the natural park figure itself, as it is exposed in the constitution. The park must be under the world management standards of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Natural parks are public goods and therefore it is just allowed to use them for scientific research and controlled visits. It seems to be right to say that in Natural Parks it is possible to do ecotourism, however, the communities of the park should make clear that the park is a public good. It can’t be forgotten that those territories are public goods and that is precisely what is being left behind in this controversy, states the newspaper. (link to the article)
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VALENCIA: “Me duele decirlo”, (Semana, CO)
207 days ago by Laura.Gomez
Leon Valencia in his column in Semana this week states his concern about Angelino Garzón the Vice President of Colombia. He notes that every time Garzon is out on television the questions are not about the situation of the country, but about his health problems. The Vice President always tries to talk about any other topic to avoid the questions related to his health. He still wants to show that he is able to accomplish his mission in the Vice presidency.
Valencia highlights that it is very dramatic because one can see in Angelino’s voice, face and body the marks of his illness. This is the reason why Valencia invites Garzón to put together his dignity and his spirit and renounce to his job. Garzon shouldn’t risk his health and should leave with dignity.
Valencia concludes that the sooner Garzón steps out of office, the sooner President Santos can appoint a new person to fulfil this role and help him in the reconciliation of Colombia. Colombia’s most important task at the moment is the peace negotiations with the guerrillas, and now we understand that Santos appointed Garzón as his Vice President for that reason. Now we will see who can take over his role. (link to the article)
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HERNÁNDEZ: “De vuelta al Cagúan”, (El Tiempo, CO)
214 days ago by Laura.Gomez
There are many who don’t believe in the peace negotiations between the government and the FARC. Hernández Bolívar in his column in El Tiempo states that after listening to Iván Marquéz, the FARC member, talking in Oslo it would be very naïve to keep thinking of the possibility of peace in Colombia.
According to Hernández the FARC don’t have good intentions in this process and all they want is power and they are using this space to gain international recognition. Many voices have risen to demand a peace process without impunity.
Moreover, few others also pointed out that the violence would most likely increase after the peace agreement, therefore people are doubting about the real utility of the process. Guerrilla groups that have signed peace agreements before in Colombia have gone to the negotiations expressing their desire of not only cease-fire but also abandoning their extremist ideology thinking, but not the FARC. , Therefore, according to Hernández, to keep thinking that this is a great chance for peace is a very naïve statement.(link to the article)
PEARL: “China”, (El Espectador, CO)
188 days ago by Laura.GomezChina has chosen Xi Jinping as its next leader for the next 10 years this week. William Peal questions in his column in El Espectador if it is possible to consider China a democratic system since the country has different approaches for economics and for its politics. Regarding the political aspects, China still acts as a Communist country, with political prisoners, permission to have just one child per family, only one political party – not enough if it is a democracy. In economic terms, it is the second biggest economy in the world, with high economic growth. However, modern slavery seems to exist, because the jobs are considered inhuman and people sleep in the factories where they work.
Pearl highlights that the wealth can’t be seen everywhere, only in few cities. Nonetheless, China is a great economic power, but it should make the next step to become a real democracy, he argues. The writer points out that if China wants to be recognized for its economic results, it should respect the dissidents and accept the difference. (link to the article)
EDITORIAL: “La buena noticia: Obama”, (El Espectador, CO)
194 days ago by Laura.GomezEl Espectador’s editorial discusses Obama’s victory in the US election last Tuesday. According to the newspaper, Obama’s victory is the best thing that could have happened to the US and the world. Some states approved marijuana consumption for medical reasons, others the legalization of abortion, and gay marriage; and all of this just means individuality tolerance.
Social behaviour prohibition should be left behind, and Obama should take advantage of this opportunity to send a clear message about it. Obama will have to confront many problems in his new term. First of all polarization, which was very high in this campaign. Along with this the migratory reform, the withdrawing of troops from Afghanistan, climate change, and unemployment, among others.
El Espectador states that Obama’s biggest challenges are twofold: First, his ability to govern, which will be complicated since the majority in the Congress is still Republican; and, second, a more liberal approach in his administration with more commitment to minority groups. (link to article)
EDITORIAL: “El nuevo capítulo de China”, (El Tiempo, CO)
199 days ago by Laura.GomezIronically when today the US is deciding who will be its next president, the Editorial of El Tiempo, in Colombia, is focused on China. The communist regime of the Popular Republic of China, that has also been capitalist since 1978, is about to change its leader after ten years. Hu Jintao, China’s president, managed to make China the biggest exporter in the world, and to cover 95% of its population under the health system. This decade is called by many as “the glorious age”.
However, this country is far from being a splendid empire. Despite the censure of the regime, many Chinese in the last years have discovered a way to express their dissatisfaction with the regime, its corruption and inequality.
Apparently, this week China will choose as a leader a man who has been preparing for the leadership: Xi Jiping. It is expected that he will take progressive actions and a more liberal approach to politics. (link to the article)
VARGAS: “La deriva de Petro”, (El Tiempo, CO)
201 days ago by Laura.GomezVargas writes today in El Tiempo about the critical situation in Bogota, Colombia. He states that despite how poor the situation is in the city, the mayor has a good approval rating, even higher than the initial percentage of the population who voted for him. Among many of the things that are going wrong in the city, Vargas lists potholes, street vendors on all sidewalks, construction issues, and mobility.
Vargas notes that the mayor, Gustavo Petro, seems to be in campaign mode all the time, yet his is not taking any concrete action. Petro announces drugs centres, but then the proposal is forgotten; the same happens with the trams (7th avenue) and subway proposals, which are still in limbo.
Vargas also points out the administration’s instability. In the last months, four secretaries have been replaced. Moreover, the uncertainty about the mayor’s health is disturbing.
However, Petro’s popularity in surveys is between 29% and 40%, which is higher than the percentage of people who voted for him (31%). Vargas concludes that if Petro steps down in May, he could run for the presidency, and then he wouldn’t have to take responsibility for his poor governance of Bogota.
EDITORIAL: “Lo que está en juego en el parque Tayrona”, (El Espectador, CO)
204 days ago by Laura.GomezToday’s El Espectador Editorial is about the concerns over the construction of a hotel inside the Tayrona National Park. According to the editorial, what is at risk is not only the conservation of the environment and the indigenous communities that live there, but the natural park figure itself, as it is exposed in the constitution. The park must be under the world management standards of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Natural parks are public goods and therefore it is just allowed to use them for scientific research and controlled visits. It seems to be right to say that in Natural Parks it is possible to do ecotourism, however, the communities of the park should make clear that the park is a public good. It can’t be forgotten that those territories are public goods and that is precisely what is being left behind in this controversy, states the newspaper. (link to the article)
VALENCIA: “Me duele decirlo”, (Semana, CO)
207 days ago by Laura.GomezLeon Valencia in his column in Semana this week states his concern about Angelino Garzón the Vice President of Colombia. He notes that every time Garzon is out on television the questions are not about the situation of the country, but about his health problems. The Vice President always tries to talk about any other topic to avoid the questions related to his health. He still wants to show that he is able to accomplish his mission in the Vice presidency.
Valencia highlights that it is very dramatic because one can see in Angelino’s voice, face and body the marks of his illness. This is the reason why Valencia invites Garzón to put together his dignity and his spirit and renounce to his job. Garzon shouldn’t risk his health and should leave with dignity.
Valencia concludes that the sooner Garzón steps out of office, the sooner President Santos can appoint a new person to fulfil this role and help him in the reconciliation of Colombia. Colombia’s most important task at the moment is the peace negotiations with the guerrillas, and now we understand that Santos appointed Garzón as his Vice President for that reason. Now we will see who can take over his role. (link to the article)
HERNÁNDEZ: “De vuelta al Cagúan”, (El Tiempo, CO)
214 days ago by Laura.GomezThere are many who don’t believe in the peace negotiations between the government and the FARC. Hernández Bolívar in his column in El Tiempo states that after listening to Iván Marquéz, the FARC member, talking in Oslo it would be very naïve to keep thinking of the possibility of peace in Colombia.
According to Hernández the FARC don’t have good intentions in this process and all they want is power and they are using this space to gain international recognition. Many voices have risen to demand a peace process without impunity.
Moreover, few others also pointed out that the violence would most likely increase after the peace agreement, therefore people are doubting about the real utility of the process. Guerrilla groups that have signed peace agreements before in Colombia have gone to the negotiations expressing their desire of not only cease-fire but also abandoning their extremist ideology thinking, but not the FARC. , Therefore, according to Hernández, to keep thinking that this is a great chance for peace is a very naïve statement.(link to the article)
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