The Swedish Quiteña

2011-11-05T10:26:00.000+01:00

Alfonso Cano is dead, so what? The problems of Colombia will not go away by killing yet another top Farc commander. How about directing our attention to the fact that the HDI released earlier in the week recognized Colombia's EXCEPTIONAL levels of inequality. Cano was just a man in a country that is falling apart due to corruption, high levels of impunity, and political dynasties that prefer the status quo.

The Political Potential of Social Media

2011-07-20T18:31:00.001+02:00

Wrote an article on the Swedish Wiki Newsmill about the use of Social Media during the Egyptian revolution. The article is based on literature and interviews I made in Cairo at the end of April.

Here's the link:
http://www.newsmill.se/artikel/2011/07/10/the-role-of-social-media-during-the-egyptian-revolution

My love story with Sweden

2011-06-03T23:36:00.003+02:00

When I left, it broke your heart. It broke the connections I had with friends and family, with my culture and with my society. I would come see you. I would. But only for short periods, and always with my heart left in another place. Then came the time, the time that I started to question where my heart belongs. I had lost ground, and I knew I had to come back, and I did. This time I brought my heart with me: a heart that had taken several beatings on its journey so far away. I took my heart with me and I fell in love. I fell in love again with you. With Sweden. With my home. It’s not an easy love story. I still have the need to escape every now and then. To go far, far away, because, you see, I have a romantic relationship with the rest of world. I have to see it, explore it, and learn about it. But in the end, the real love story, that is with you. Even though I would never admit it, Sweden, you are the love of my life.

Förra helgen var jag i Damaskus - läs mitt reportage därifrån

2011-05-14T09:11:00.008+02:00

Helgen den 7-8 maj 2011 lyckades jag med en vän ta mig från Beirut till Damaskus. I Damaskus träffade vi på journalister som har försökt arbeta i landet men som var mycket uppgivna...

Läs min artikel om situationen här

Frihetslängtan i mediaskugga

Igår (den 13 maj) så öppnade militären eld igen mot demonstranterna och journalister släpps fortfarande inte in i landet.

Läs mer här:

Militärer mot protester trots löfte

Sex personer dödades i Syrien

Dödsskott i Syrien

Child present at bombing by Colombian military January 2010 dies

2010-03-07T23:04:00.003+01:00

The bomb that the Colombian military “accidentally” bombed the home of an indigenous family on the night between the 29th and the 30th of January, 2010, destroyed the house and the crops of one indigenous family of five, and left the dad of the family paraplegic. A 20-day-old baby who was present at the site died a few weeks later. The COD was never determined but since the day of the bombing the child suffered from breathing problems and vomited blood. The bombing also caused severe damage to Mother Nature and the site of the bombing was left contaminated and inhabitable. The indigenous population in the area, who recently returned to their homes after being forcibly displaced a few years ago, now, again, lives in fear. This video was taken during the verification committee’s visit to the area less than a week after the bombing.

Colombian Military Bombs the Home of an Indigenous Family

2010-02-02T05:23:00.003+01:00

This past weekend, the Colombian military bombed the home of an indigenous family in the Department of Antioquia. The president of Colombia, Alvaro Uribo, defends the actions of his Armed Forces by saying that they are normally “very careful’ with regards to the civilian population and that many times they abort missions when they find that “terrorists” are hiding in the houses of civilians. However, so was not the case this time around and another Colombian family has now been deeply affected by the violent conflict in Colombia.

The militarization of the indigenous territory Urada Jiguamiando in the northwestern Colombian province of Antioquia started right before Christmas. Since the arrival of the Seventh Division of the Armed Forces, the local population have various times heard and seen helicopters in the area; one white helicopter and one military helicopter.

On the night between the 29^th and the 30^th of January, 2010, the people in the indigenous Embera community Alto Guayabal heard the helicopters hover of the area for several hours. Shortly after 3 am in the morning, one of them dropped a bomb that destroyed the house and the crops of one indigenous family of five. Three hours later, the military came to the site to discover that they house they had bombed belonged to civilians, not guerillas.

The Seventh Division of the Armed Forces assumed responsibility for the bombing and translated the injured to the hospital. The husband, José Rubiano Bariquira, who is 23 years old, will most likely be left paraplegic due to the incident. One of the couple´s two children, a 20-days-old baby was also injured.

The family lives on the land of the Emberá-Katío group next to the Atrato River in northwestern Colombia. They have a long history of being victims of the armed conflict as several of the armed groups, legal and illegal, operate in the area. The community where the family lives has earlier been displaced due to the conflict, but they returned to their land a year ago. Now there are fears that the community will once again have to leave their land out of fear.

The Organization of the Indigenous of Antioquia (OIA) now fear that displacement will lead to that large companies enter the land of the indigenous to exploit its natural resources. The US Company Muriel (which exploits minerals) has already shown interests in the region and only the firm resistance of the indigenous community has stopped them from entering their land. Despite having the legal right to the land, the displacement of the population would certainly leave the door open for outsiders.

According to the indigenous population, the place of the bombing is located very close to the base of the Seventeenth Brigade and the 600 men of this base have very detailed knowledge of the guerilla movement in the area and therefore they do not put any faith in the Armed Forces’ explanation of having thought they attacked the guerilla. The OIA plans to demand that the guilty of the Armed Forces are brought before international law and they ask for the international community to support them in their struggle for their right to live on their land.

The Organization of Indigenous Colombians (ONIC), which is the umbrella organization of the regional indigenous organizations in Colombia, is planning to put together a verification committee that will travel to the area on Friday, February 5th. The committee will include several international representatives, the ombudsman for Human Rights, journalists, and members of other regional organizations. Members from the board of the Chocó-based Asociación OREWA will also travel to the area, and they will most likely be accompanied by our team here in Chocó. More to follow…

The real face of the Colombian conflict

2009-11-08T19:54:00.017+01:00

People in the Colombian capital Bogotá say that the Colombian Province of Chocó is more like Africa than like the rest of Colombia. Those who have spent some time in Chocó argue that the region is indeed Colombia; it is the hidden part of the country – the uncared for backyard the host is always hesitant to show its visitors.

After an early morning start in Bogotá and a less than one hour flight west, first crossing Colombia’s most western Andean mountain range and then flying over what seems to be endless jungle, I arrive in Quibdó, the capital of the Province of Chocó. When I walk of the airplane at small Quibdó Airport, I walk straight into a wall of heat and humidity. This is one of the most humid places on earth and from now on I will have to get used to having a constant layer of sweet and dirt on my body.

It will soon be evident that mopeds (“rapimotos”) are the preferred means of transportation in this town of 100 000. They dwindle down the streets at such speeds that I feel like crossing the street is a game of Russian Roulette; a game based on luck rather than on rational logics. Once I have gotten over the initial chock I find that this colonial town founded in 1648 has its charm. The large cathedral, the convent, and the river walk along the River Atrato - characterized by its rapid flow and its brown waters - soon became waterholes for those, like me, who thirst for tranquility.

Tranquility, however, is never more than a false smoke curtain in this region. Chocó’s isolation, long coast line, border with Panama, and natural resources makes it an attractive region for all of the armed groups involved in the Colombian conflict. Twelve percentage of the population in Chocó, which is mainly Afro-Colombian and indigenous, has been internally displaced due to the conflict and the Agency for Social Action estimates that more than 6000 internally displace people (IDP:s) live only in the town of Quibdó.

A large part of the population live in very poor conditions and many are without access to such basic necessities such as education and health care facilities. Meanwhile, the money the government invests in the “development” of the region goes to building shopping malls and soccer stadiums. Those yet not displaced fight for their right to the land they live on, a right guaranteed by Colombian legislation. However, due to the richness of their land, their claims get caught in years of bureaucracy and red tape. Displacement continues and the people of Chocó continue to lose part of their culture and the social network and capital they have built up for generations.

While it will take a while for the body to adapt to the extreme conditions of this climate (despite having discovered that a late night rain can bring temporarily relief from the otherwise so sweltering heat), it will be much harder for the heart and soul to adapt to living in the middle of the Colombian conflict. As I contemplate that this will be my home for the coming months I realize that this is indeed Colombia. It might be the backyard of Colombia as it is portrayed to the larger public, but it is the real face of the Colombian conflict.

Diplomatic improvements necessary to improve situation in border region

2009-10-09T22:58:00.013+02:00

While government representatives from Colombia and Ecuador meet in the Colombian border town of Ipiales to discuss the future relationship between the two countries, the people of the border region continues to suffer. The humanitarian problems in the border region become more severe as more and more Colombian refugees cross the border into Ecuador.

Many of the bilateral projects planned for the border region between Colombia and Ecuador have been on hold since the two countries broke off diplomatic relations in March 2008. Projects focused on education, health, and infrastructure are yet to be implemented due to the diplomatic crisis. Projects that are much needed in a region with almost no state presence.

The Ecuadorian population in the small border towns now has to share the very limited infrastructure with the Colombian refugees. This leads to tension in the region and stigmatization of Colombians as lazy criminals. However, some communities stand out as friendly havens were the population is willing to share what little they have with their Colombian brothers and sisters.

One such town is Barranca Bermeja, a jungle town in the Ecuadorian border province of Sucumbíos. In this town a prominent community leader has demonstrated the ability to unify the Ecuadorian and the Colombian population in the community. This leader, named Miguel Lapo, is also a founder of the town and he has dedicated his life to protecting, and unifying, both groups.

Miguel Lapo was murdered by an unknown perpetrator in Barranca Bermeja on September 28th, 2009. James McGovern, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, met Mr. Lapo last year and describes him as “a dedicated, intelligent, and caring man who fought for peace and the rights of both Colombian refugees and Ecuadorians living in his community.”

The murder of Mr. Lapo further demonstrates the necessity of the two countries to end the diplomatic standoff, to ensure the implementation of the projects, and to secure the region. If the two governments cannot live up to this responsibility, the efforts, the energy, and the ability of people like Mr. Lapo might be in vain. The community members of Barranca Bermeja have demonstrated their dedication to peace and reconciliation, now it is up to the national governments of Colombia and Ecuador to do the same.

Miguel Lapo (Picture belongs to CIP)

The Colombian conflict results in humanitarian crisis in Ecuador

2009-10-02T22:20:00.008+02:00

I recommend everybody to read the report “Ecuador’s Humanitarian Emergency - The Spillover of Colombia’s Conflict”, (by the Center for International Policy) for a good overview of how the Colombian conflict has created a humanitarian crisis in Ecuador.

It is estimated that 300 000 Colombians have crossed the border into Ecuador during the last nine years. Over 80 % of them (250 000) have for different reasons not obtained official refugee status and are described as an "invisible" population group. This group does not have legal access to public insitutions such as educational or health care facilities. The Ecuadorian government and the UNHCR work together to implement programs to address the situation, but there is a lack of funding and national, regional, and international understanding of the situation.

One of the reasons for this lack of understanding could be summed up by a quote from the report:

“Ecuador’s refugee crisis is less visible than similarly serious challenges elsewhere in the world because the Colombian arrivals are not concentrated in camps or similar facilities.”

UN report on the situation for HR defenders in Colombia

2009-09-20T16:48:00.005+02:00

On Friday, September 18, 2009, UN Human Rights Expert Margaret Sekaggya released a short statement with regards to the situation of Human Rights defenders in Colombia (a larger report is due March 2010).

Primarly, Ms. Sekaggya recognizes, and strongly condemns, the verbal attacks against HR defenders made by government officials. In these verbal attacks government officials often stigmatize HR defenders as “guerillas” and, hence, enemies of the state. These verbal attacks, Ms. Sekaggya argues, are one of the main reasons for the insecurity of HR defenders. A couple of days after meeting with Ms. Sekaggya, President Uribe did indeed make a public statement in favor of HR defenders.

Further, Ms. Sekaggya expresses grave concern with regards to the recent espionage scandal including the Colombian Administrative Security Department DAS. The DAS scandal, local media reports, does not only include illegal information gathering through espionage of judges, journalists, political opposition members, and HR defenders, but also the provision of this information to illegal armed groups. This has forced the Uribe government to promise to close DAS by January 1^st, and to replace it with a civil administrative authority.

Finally, Ms. Sekaggya comments on the high level of impunity in the country. A recent example of impunity is the massacre which occurred in southern Colombia in August, in which 12 members of the Awa indigenous group were gunned down in their home. The Awa member previously detained has been released and the charges against him were rightfully dropped as the authorities could not place him at the scene of the crime. The perpetrators of the massacre are still operating in the area and are scaring people to silence. More than 300 Awa have left their homes due to threats of a new massacre.

It is only one more month until I will travel to Colombia to work as an International Observer accompanying HR defenders for 1.5 years. I have just finished two weeks of intense training with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), and I still have a few weeks of training left in Stockholm before my departure. However, I doubt all the training in the world will not prepare me for the situation I will meet in the country known as Locombia.

Uribe set for third term as investigation of massacre continues

2009-09-03T09:41:00.002+02:00

The House of Representatives Wednesday voted in favor of letting current Colombian President Alvaro Uribe run for a third term (The Colombian constitution initially only allowed for one presidential term). For the technicalities of the reelection procedures, check out the blog of Center for International Policy’s Adam Isacson.

During my first seven months in the country, the country will go to the polls three times. In addition to the reelection referendum and the presidential elections in May, there are also congressional elections in March. However, most foresee that the elections of 2010 will not lead to any major political changes in the country. Even despite the recent parapolitica scandal, Uribe and his political allies enjoy a lot of support in the country and the Members of Congress who have lost their seats due to the scandal are expected to be replaced by political allies.

In the meantime, the investigation of the massacre in southern Colombia on August 26th, when 12 members of the Awa indigenous group were shot down in their home, “moves forward.” The police are now presenting a petty criminal, himself a member of the Awa indigenous group, as the one responsible. According to the police, the massacre was the result of internal fighting within the group over natural resources. According to the Awa leadership, it is very convenient for the police to come with these accusations as they want to minimize their own incapability to protect the civilian population from the multitude of illegal armed groups that operate in the area. The Awa leadership also points to the evidence indicating that the massacre is connected with the falso positivo case of Gonzalo Rodríguez.

Massacres in Southern Colombia 2009

2009-08-30T10:59:00.007+02:00

The complexity of the Colombian conflict and its impact on the civil population becomes very evident when one reads about the situation of the Awa indigenous group in southwestern Colombia. During the last six months, this indigenous group has been the target of two different massacres. The first one took place at the beginning of February, when at least 17 Awa indigenous were massacred, with guns and machetes, by the Farc. This due to allegations from the guerrilla group that the Awa had petitioned for a stronger military presence to control the illegal armed groups in the area. The second massacre took place last week, but seems to have its origin in an event that took place several months ago.

On May 23, Sixta Tulia García (35) walked with her husband Gonzalo Rodríguez on Awa territory when armed and masked men showed up separating the couple from each other. Gonzalo was later found dead, shot, and the military later filed reports naming him as a guerilla subversive that had died as he tried to escape. These kinds of incidents are so common in Colombia that there is even a specific name for it, namely “falsos positivos” – “false positives.” The incidents stem from the fact that the military has a system of benefits based on how many dead guerilla members the soldiers report - inevitably leading to the soldiers presenting dead bodies of “false” guerilla members.

In the case of Sixta and Gonzalo, Sixta was determined to honor the memory of her husband by clearing his name of the accusations of being a member of the guerilla. Since the death of her husband, she had therefore pled his case to different judicial institutions. On the morning of August 26th, 2009, Sixta was at home with other members of her extended family when armed men entered her house and shot and killed her and another 11 family members, including 5 children. This massacre is now under investigation and the Colombian government has authorized the presence of the UN during the process. Most evidence today points to that the massacre is connected with the “falso positivo” case of Gonzalo Rodríguez.

The situation of the Awa indigenous group in the southwestern province of Nariño is not unique in Colombia today. The civilian population constantly gets caught between different armed groups, and their right to not take part in the conflict is not respected. Irrespective of political opinion, background, and nationality, we all need to take a strong stand against these kinds of atrocities and take a stand in favor of the respect of each individual’s right to a life free of oppression and fear.

Diplomatic improvements offer hope to thousands of civilians

2009-08-22T10:49:00.011+02:00

After almost a year and a half of a diplomatic standoff between Ecuador and Colombia, which culminated in the last few weeks, both countries are now making strides to try to normalize relations.

The countries broke off diplomatic ties after the March 1, 2008 Colombian bombing of a Farc camp inside Ecuadorean territory (the so called Angostura bombing).The international community condemned the attack as it violated Ecuador’s sovereignty and the events spun off in a series of accusations from Colombia that Ecuador does not do enough to combat the guerrilla group, and that they might even be involved with the group.

The situation culminated in the last few weeks when Colombia released a video from the Farc stating that the guerrilla group had contributed financially to Ecuador President Correa’s presidential election campaign in 2006. Colombian President Uribe then boycotted a Unasur meeting in the Ecuadorian capital at which he was asked to defend Colombia’s new military agreement with the US, which will give the US access to 7 different Colombian military bases.

In the last few days however, both countries have stated that they are willing to start talks to try to normalize relations. Both countries, however, admit that there is no easy solution and that this is not something that may be resolved in the short term. In the shadows of this new hopeful environment you find the Carter Center. Representatives from the Center have traveled extensively to the countries in the last few months meeting with officials from both countries, and the countries have now accepted the Center’s offer to mediate between the two countries.

Improvements of diplomatic relations between the countries could have a positive impact for several thousands of citizens, both Colombian and Ecuadorian. A very large number of Colombians are currently living as refugees in Ecuador and their living conditions present a major humanitarian issue. The border region of the two countries is also in large part controlled by illegal armed groups terrorizing the civilians. A joint effort by the two countries is necessary to try to stabilize the region.

For more information, the August 21 online edition of the Colombian magazine La Semana has an excellent article about the situation (in Spanish).

Blast from the past in Central America

2009-07-19T10:48:00.004+02:00

The ousted Honduran President Zelaya appears to be the most open to the suggestions from the negotiator, Costa Rica’s President Árias. The acting president, Michelleti, has categorically turned down any of the proposed solutions. The situation now even further resembles that of Central American politics of the 80s and 90s.

Why Zelaya is more open to Árias’ solutions is obvious; he is the one exiled and out of power. Michelleti’s reluctance to accept a solution including a coalition government, however, further invalidates the “justification” of his “presidency.” A coalition government would certainly be enough for Michelleti and his crew to stop any further reforms by Zelaya. Hence, their decision to not accept this solution demonstrates that their real fear is not further reforms; but that Zelaya’s return will demonstrate that he is indeed the choice of the people of Honduras.

Sources now indicate that Zelaya is considering to, with the support of the Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega (a former leader of the Sandinistas), secretly return to the country to set up a shadow government. Meanwhile, a source of the New York Times states that the negotiation team of Michelleti includes a US consultant who seems to, according to the paper’s source, play a vital role in the negotiations.

Needless to say, the situation is volatile. A perfect situation for President Obama to step in and show that his remarkable speeches are not just words, but that he actually knows how to put them into action. If he doesn’t, the US risk losing some of its new gained respect, and the people of Honduras risk losing their peace.

Farc video states that the guerilla supported Correa

2009-07-18T10:49:00.006+02:00

Yesterday a video was released with one of the leaders of the Farc Jorge Briceño (‘Mono Jojoy’) stating that the guerilla force contributed monetarily to the first presidential campaign of the Ecuador President Rafael Correa. The government of President Rafael Correa strongly denies having received any money from the Farc.

After the March 2008 raid on Ecuadorian territory, which killed the Farc second in command Raúl Reyes, the relationship between the countries has been tense and the Colombian attack has also been condemned by the international community for not respecting the sovereignty of Ecuador. After the attack, Colombia claimed to have found computers with information that linked both Rafael Correa and Hugo Chavez to the Farc. The government of Rafael Correa has since then stated that one precondition for normalizing relations between the two countries is that Colombia denounces this claim.

Hence, this new video released by the Farc has the potential of having further negative impact on the already strained relationship between the two countries. Something that would of course benefit the guerilla force as one of its main areas of operation is by the border of the two countries. The worst case scenario for the Farc might just be if the countries could actually normalize relations and start to co-operate to gain some control of the border region. All this gives reason to believe that the information on the video is fabricated to serve the purpose of the Farc.

Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito won the Recopa Sudamericana 2008/2009

2009-07-10T16:22:00.006+02:00

The Recopa Sudamericana is an annual football/soccer match-up between the previous year’s winners of the Copa Libertadores (Latin American Champions’ League) and the Copa Sudamericana (Cup Winners’ Cup). Hence, the Recopa is the South American equivalent to UEFA’s European Super Cup.

This year the match-up was between Liga de Quito and the Brazilian team Inter. After having won the away game 1-0, Liga de Quito last night won the home game 3-0 earning the team the title of being the indisputable best club team in South America. It is the first time an Ecuadorian team has won either the Copa Libertadores or the Recopa. Liga managed to win both despite having lost several key players after the end of the last season (for example the MVP of the Copa Libertadores 2008, Joffre Guerrón).

DALE CAMPEÓN!!!

(Picture courtsey of El Comercio, Ecuador)

Águilas Negras expands into Ecuador

2009-07-06T11:25:00.004+02:00

The Ecuadorian newspaper El Comercio reports that the Colombian group Águilas Negras (a right wing paramilitary organization made up of new and preexisting paramilitary forces) is expanding into northern Ecuador. In the coastal Ecuadorian province of Esmeraldas, there are reports of the group demanding “vacunas” (i.e. contributions to their protection similar to the Italian “pizzo”) from the local business owners. The newspaper also reports that members of Águilas Negras are demanding ”vacunas” from Esmeraldeñan business owners operating in Quito and that a leader of Águilas Negras currently resides in the Ecuadorian town of Ibarra.

During the first six months of this year, 28 assassinations have been reported in the Ecuadorian border towns of San Lorenzo and Eloy Alfaro.

Meanwhile, the countries of Colombia and Ecuador have still not normalized relations since the March 2008 Colombian military raid on Ecuadorian territory, and the countries accuse each other for not doing enough to control the border region.

Dangerous to be a football/soccer fan in Colombia

2009-07-06T10:32:00.003+02:00

I just learned that a Colombia football/soccer player who had just played, and lost, a championship match shot and killed a fan who had uttered negative statements about his performance. Being an avid football/soccer fan I plan on attending several matches while in Colombia, but I’ll make sure to keep my opinions about the players’ performances to myself!

Honduras coup d´état

2009-07-06T10:18:00.004+02:00

The current events in Honduras demonstrate the control the elites still have in most Latin American countries and how fragile the democracy therefore is in the region. The old oligarchy is using its economical power to desperately hold on the political power it feels is slowly slipping out of their hands.

This tension is bubbling just underneath the surface in many Latin American countries and as the new leaders of Latin America are getting braver and braver in terms of acknowledging the groups standing outside of this closed club, and there is always the risk that the tension will explode, as it has in Honduras.

No wonder then that the left-center Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa bravely stated, as he was considering accompanying Honduras President Zelaya to Tegucigalpa that “Honduras would be a good place to die.” He knows that the same tensions exist in Ecuador and to be able to survive politically he has to demonstrate that he is willing, and able to, stand up against the old elite.

Ready for new adventures...

2009-07-04T23:13:00.002+02:00

My stay in Sweden this time will last for about a year as I have just signed on to go to Colombia. From October 2009 until March 2011, I will work as an international observer accompanying HR defenders in Colombia. I will spend part of the time in the capital of Bogotá and part of the time in the Province of Chocó.

While Bogotá is a major city located in the central highlands, the Chocó Province is a jungle province located in northwestern Colombia. There I will live in the “city” of Quibdó and travel on the river to visit with organizations and villages. In Chocó, the majority of the population is Afro-Colombian, and with about 10% indigenous population.

I, together with my colleagues, will accompany local human rights organization in an effort to increase local organizations’ capacity to act and decrease that of the aggressor. We will also collect and disseminate information, nationally and internationally, about the situation in Colombia.

So, for the next 2 years or so, this blog will be focused on the situation in Colombia. I will try to mix it up with some lighter stuff such as sports (of course!), culture, and everyday occurrences and reflections…

Article in Miami Herald about Colombian refugees

2009-05-25T20:20:00.003+02:00

A friend of mine working as a freelance journalist and photographer today got a piece called "Colombian refugees in Ecuador brougth out of invisibility" published in the Miami Herald. Caroline, the author, has become close to the issue over several months living and working in Ecuador. To see more pictures, check out her website www.carolinebennett.com.

Campaign to legalize Colombian refugees in Ecuador

2009-05-19T21:31:00.007+02:00

On March 23rd the Ecuadorian government started a campaign to legalizing the large amount of Colombian refugees in the country. It is estimated that more than 90 000 Colombians live only in the Ecuadorian provinces that border Colombia and many of them have never had the opportunity to seek refugee status in Ecuador. Most Colombians have lived illegally in the country having to take on low paying job in the informal sectorwith no legal protection.

It is estimated that since March 23rd, more than 6 000 Colombians have applied for refugee status in the province of Esmeraldas (north western Ecuador) and the campaign to legalize the Colombian refugees will continue in the border provinces Sucumbíos, Orellana, Carchi , as well as the province of Imbabura, during the rest of the year. The plan is to continue the campaign in the rest of the country next year.

However, most Colombians in Ecuador prefer to not wait for the campaign to reach the province they are staying in, and this past weekend more than 2 000 Colombians travelled to the province of Esmeraldas to apply for refugee status there. A large majority of them camped out on the streets of the city of Esmeraldas for more than 48 hrs.

What if Sweden was Colombia?

2009-05-11T09:21:00.004+02:00

This weekend the Colombian guerilla FARC killed seven soldiers and injured four in an attack in the province of Nariño near the Ecuadorian border. I have been in this province many times, and my best friend grew up right across the border on the Ecuadorian side. This is the same friend who was attacked and beaten by a group of people when he during his university years got involved with a student movement.

Three hours south of the Colombia border, another friend of my lives. He was lucky enough to be able to escape and survive when three men tried to murder him on a Sunday afternoon. He has for several years been active in political organizations trying to restore the indigenous population’s ancestral right to water. This is not looked favorably upon due to the huge profit that can be made by selling the water to the flower plantations in the area.

This is the reality on the Ecuadorian side of the border, and it is only a hint of what it looks like on the Colombian side. Colombia has for more than 40 years suffered from a civil war and everybody and anybody working for a better Colombia risk getting caught in the “middle” (the fronts are many and so are the groups, “middle” does not refer to the middle of two sides, but the middle of a big mess).

As I learn more and more about the situation in Colombia, there is one realization that will just not escape me anymore. I cannot get it out of my head. The brutal truth is that had I grown up in a country like Colombia at least one member of my extended family, and probably several, would, because of their political activity, have been murdered, disappeared, or kidnapped. My family members have received death threats from the extreme right here in Sweden, but thanks to the service of the Swedish Security Police, nobody ever got hurt. But what would have happened in a country where you cannot be sure if the extreme right and the Security Police work together or not?

This thought haunts me and makes me even more determined to do my part, how small it may be, to assist, and show my solidarity with, people who have not had the same good fortune as I have.

Colombia and its neighbors

2009-04-30T18:48:00.005+02:00

Last night I started attending a study group focusing on the conflict in Colombia. Despite knowing a lot in general about Latin American history and politics I have never before taken the time to really dig deep into the situation in Colombia.

However, last night I got a fairly comprehensive, however quick, overview of the last 150 years or so in Colombia. It really fascinates me how things have developed the way they have in the country. Many other countries in Latin America had a similar start to that of Colombia, but the outcome, what we see today, is completely different.

With regards to Colombia and its neighboring countries, I can mention that Ecuador is still not ready to normalize relations with Colombia (which have been tense since the Colombian raid on Ecuadorian territory in March 2008 that killed the second in command of the FARC, Raúl Reyes).

The US former president Jimmy Carter is currently in Quito talking to the Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa about what is needed to normalize the relations. President Correa restated that he will not normalize the relations until Colombia meets the following four criteria:

1. the end of the Colombian campaign trying to connect the Ecuadorian leaders with the FARC,

2. better control of the border,

3. hand over information about the March attack, and

4. collaborate with regards to the situation of Colombian refugees in Ecuador.

Correa, while welcoming Carter to discuss the situation, said that relations with Colombia will not normalize until these criteria are met.

The new US administration and the "War of Drugs"

2009-04-26T18:00:00.003+02:00

Carlos Rojas, correspondent in Bogotá for the Ecuadorian newspaper El Comercio, notes that with the new US administration the attitude towards the “War on Drugs” in the Latin America has changed in two principle ways.

The first is the change of focus from Colombia to Mexico. This is not only due do the recent rise of crime and violence in Mexico (which, according to César Páez, at Universidad del Externado in Bogotá, has now surpassed Colombian levels of crime and violence), but also due to the basic fact that Mexico shares a long border with the US. Colombia does not.

The second change is that the US now acknowledges that they too are responsible for the rise of crime and violence in drug producing Latin American countries. Hillary Clinton has officially acknowledge that her country is not only the main user of the Latin American produced narcotics, but that the country is also responsible for supplying a lot of the weapons used (smuggled into Mexico).

Despite this change in attitude, Rojas sites that sources in Bogotá do not believe that it will have a major impact on the US involvement in the country and that President Uribe will continue to receive the same level of support from his ally in the north.

2009 Presidential Election in Ecuador

2009-04-24T23:14:00.005+02:00

This weekend presidential elections are to be held in Ecuado r. President Rafael Correa is poised to win the elections, maybe already in the first round. This is unique in a country where it is more common that presidents are overthrown before they finish their term. However, the future of the country is still very uncertain.

President Correa, a left-wing president with a middle class background, is widely popular in the country. He has spent a lot of money on, for example, improving education efforts and health care (the health care was two years ago declared as being in a "state of emergency", which I would claim that it still is).

However, since Ecuador’s economy is based on the export of oil, bananas, flowers, and shrimp, the global economic crisis has hit the Ecuadorian economy hard. The global economic crisis has also had profound negative effect on two other major bases of the Ecuadorian economy: tourism and remittances sent from abroad.

There is a worry in Ecuador that if the declining income of the government, due to the global economic crisis, leads to cut backs in social spending, the Correa administration (assuming the win on April 26th) will lose a lot of its popularity. In a unstable democracy like Ecuador, that might lead to social unrest and the overthrow of the government - which would put the country back on square one again.

Underskatta inte biståndets komplexitet

2009-04-21T10:28:00.006+02:00

(Insändare i SvD 23/4 som svar på insändare i SvD 21/4)

Som svar på Yvonne Bergs insändare om Sida (SvD 21/4 - 09), där hon argumenterar för att Sida borde satsa på ett mer fokuserat bistånd, så vill jag komma till Sidas och Mia Horn af Rantziens försvar.

Det är riktigt att biståndet under många år inte har varit tillräckligt fokuserat, och det gäller inte bara Sida utan hela biståndsvärlden. Sida har dock, som Mia Horn af Rantzien poängterar, på senare tid fokuserat biståndet genom att, bl.a., reducera antalet samarbetsländer.

Yvonne Berg anser dock att arbetet i Moçambique inte är fokuserat eftersom Sida arbetar inom flera områden, som t.ex. kultur, hiv/aids, jämställdhet och fattigdom. Enligt Yvonne Berg bör Sida enbart fokusera på vattenförsörjning för att ”se till att bönderna får en chans att producera mat till befolkningen så att barnens hjärnor får den näring det behöver för att kunna tänka”. ”När det är klart kan det vara dags att utveckla skolväsendet, sjukvården och så småningom börja tala om revision och budgetstyrning”. Hon menar att om Sverige de senaste 40 åren enbart fokuserat på vattenförsörjning så hade den nuvarande ”befolkningen inte behövt svälta utan varit redo för högtflytande mål i demokratins och jämställdhetens anda”.

Problemet med Yvonne Bergs argument är uppenbara: det är svårt att ”vara redo för högtflytande mål” när ytterligare en generation inte har fått någon utbildning, eller sjukvård (!), i väntan på att vattenförsörjningsprojekten ska bli klara, något som förövrigt tar 20 år längre än planerat på grund av utbred korruption.

Yvonne Berg har i så stor grad underskattat biståndets komplexitet att man får intrycket av att hon aldrig har besökt ett land i behov av biståndsinsatser, något som jag kan garantera att alla handläggare på Sida har gjort.

EU customs confiscate medicine

2009-03-21T17:18:00.006+01:00

The Swedish Newspaper DN today reports that the EU customs in the Netherlands has confiscated several containers of medicine. The particular example mentioned in the article is of generic medicine produced in India and passing by Europe on its way to Brazil.

It was stopped due to allegations of it not being up to code with regards to patent protection, something that was disputed by several members of the EU Parliament. According to the article the patent is so old that it has no ruling anymore. It is a very interesting article bringing up a problem that most people working with in the field is already well aware of.

I’m looking forward to the day when the discussion is not focused on patents (i.e. money) but instead on how well the medicine will work to ease the life of the people it aims to cure (it actual contains the right ingredients, the expiration date, etc), this should be the only concern for the EU customs. I’m sure if the same thing had happened in a country in Africa, Asia or Latin America, the EU would be the first to accuse that government of corruption…

Crime and ignorance

2009-03-19T08:59:00.010+01:00

The Ecuadorian newspaper El Comercio reports that the increase in crimes was again marginal in the south of Quito, while further north it rose with almost 23 %. This despite the fact that southern Quito has the reputation of being the "poor and dangerous" part of the city and most foreigners never even think of going there. Having spent a year working in southern Quito I have to agree with the experts reasoning for the differences in crime increase; the community spirit that exists in the south. The people stick together and look after each other's backs. I had the opportunity to really get to know several neighborhoods in southern Quito (some of which in the article are listed as the most dangerous in southern Quito) and I never felt more secure during my time in Quito than when I was in these neighborhoods. Southern Quito does not deserve its bad reputation and it is a shame that not more people get to experience it.

A true crime is this map that today was published in one of the major Swedish newspapers with regards to the FARC release of a Swedish hostage.

"La patria ya NO es de todos?"

2009-03-13T12:29:00.006+01:00

För de som har varit i Ecuador de senaste två åren och hört den överanvända slogan "la patria ya es de todos" ("fosterlandet tillhör redan alla") som används av regering Correa kan det nu meddelas att enlig El Comercio så kommer slogan inte att användas under den stundande valkampanjen. Efter valkampanjens slut ska man börja använda de igen och man planerar då också att betala de $2400 för rättigheterna till att använda Beatles låten "Hey Jude" i sina reklamfilmer (vilket man tidigare inte gjort). Verkar som Pirate Bay skulle fungera bra i Ecuador där inte ens regeringen har brytt sig om att betala för rättigheterna...

CL

2009-03-12T08:59:00.006+01:00

Ja, det blev som befarat att Inter inte klarade av Man U. Zlatan gjorde en bra insats, men har var alldeles för ensam. Inter lyckades inte hålla ihop lagdelarna och många gånger fick Zlatan stå och vänta på sina lagspelare. Mourinhos beslut att starta med den gamle Viera kan ju säkerligen ifrågasättas. Även om det tar emot så måste jag erkänna att Man U förtjänade att gå vidare, det är ett riktigt bra LAG. Man hjälps åt i både defensiven och offensiven. Tråkigt att inget Italienskt lag gick vidare, men så spelar de också i "lunka-lunka" ligan Seria A.

Liverpools utskåpning av Real Madrid var härlig. Liverpool är bevisat ett bra cuplag, önskar man vore lika bra på ligaspel också. Tror att ett tränarbyta måste ske för att Liverpool ska vinna ligan; Raffa Benitez har tagit några rigtigt konstiga beslut nu på slutet. Truppen måste breddas också; man kan inte bara förlita sig på Torres där framme.

I kväll spelar Liga de Quito sin nästa match i Copa Libertadores borta mot det Chilenska laget Colo Colo...och inte att förglömma; på fredag börjar kvalserien i ishockey då SSK börja med att spela borta mot Leksand.

Sveriges roll i multilaterala biståndsorganisationer

2009-03-09T09:30:00.014+01:00

Idag presenterade biståndsminister Gunilla Carlsson en debattartikel i DN som har fått rubriken: ”Vi omprövar bidragen till trotsiga biståndsorgan”.

Gunilla Carlsson hävdar i debattartikeln att Sverige behöver se över sitt multilaterala bistånd till organisationer som inte lever upp till de svenska idealen om mänskliga rättigheter, demokrati, miljö och jämställdhet. Andra element som regeringens utredning har studerat för att bedöma de multilaterala organisationerna är effektivitet, transparens och toppstyrning. Fint så. Vad som slår mig under den tid jag läser debattartikeln är dock att det inte läggs mer fokus på mottagarländernas chans att påverka arbetet inom de multilaterala biståndsorganisationerna. Förklaringen till detta kommer precis i slutet, där Gunilla Carlsson skriver:

”Att vi som givare samordnar våra resurser ligger i mottagarnas intresse, då ökar möjligheten att främja verklig utveckling”.

Borde det inte vara så att både givarländer OCH mottagarländer samordnar sina resurser för att minska världens fattigdom? Eller menar Gunilla Carlsson att det är ok att de multilaterala biståndsorganisationerna är toppstyrda så länge som Sverige sitter med i toppen? Jag undrar hur man tror sig kunna ”främja verklig utveckling” utan att de länder som ”ska utvecklas” får vara med i diskussionen. Sveriges roll inom de multilaterala biståndsorganisationerna borde vara att lyfta fram mottagarländernas röster och se till att även de respekteras.

Champions League 2009

2009-02-21T19:03:00.005+01:00

Vi får hoppas att Liverpool har krafter kvar att slås för titel även fast man i år faktiskt också har lagt lite krut på för att försöka vinna ligan; något som uppskattas! Tror att The Reds har en mycket bra chans mot Real Madrid. Tror tyvärr dock inte att Inter klarar av Man U. Inter har en chans om man kan hänga med i det höga tempot. Den individuella skickligheten finns hos Inter men att hålla ett högt jämt tempo som lag är en annan sak. Med Premier League- titeln i åtanke kanske det vore bäst för Liverpool att Man U går vidare, men det är helt omöjligt för mig att heja på Man U, och Inter har alltid varit mitt favoritlag i Italien.

Kan också nämnas att LDU de Quito redan har börjat marschen för att försvara sin titel i Copa Libertadores. Liga vann först matchen på hemmaplan med 3-2 mot brasilianska Palmeiras. Det är väl dock ingen som räknar med att det ska kunna försvara titeln, speciellt inte med tanke på de spelare de tappat, som t.ex. Joffre Guerron som utsågs till turneringens bästa spelare förra året. Skulle vara kul om dom ändå kom hyfsat långt i turneringen så att dom får bevisa att dom faktiskt är ett bra lag, och om Joffre kunde ta steget från Getafes bänk in i startelvan.

Välkommen till Sverige Adil!

2009-02-18T16:25:00.009+01:00

Adil Hakimjan, en före detta Guantánamofånge, fick idag permanent uppehållstillstånd (PUT) i Sverige. Han kommer ursprungligen från Kina men flydde därifrån därför att den kinesiska staten förföljde honom på grund av hans etnicitet. När han tagit sig till Pakistan blev han angiven som terrorist (på felaktiga grunder) och skickades först till ett fängelse i Afghanistan och sedan till Guantánamo. När USA efter FYRA år tillslut erkände att han var oskyldig tvingades han av de amerikanska myndigheterna att söka asyl i Albanien (han kunde inte åka tillbaka till Kina och tilläts inte komma i in USA). Hans enda släktingar utanför Kina är hans syster och hennes familj i Sverige; därför ville han av förklarliga skäl stanna här. Kvar i Kina har han en fru och tre barn, som nu, tack vare att han fått PUT också har möjlighet att få uppehållstillstånd i Sverige.

Här har vi en man som har blivit orättvist behandlad hela sitt liv, av flera olika stater, och han ser det som sin sista utväg att försöka få stanna i Sverige. Att han idag har beviljats PUT får en att tro på att vi faktiskt lever i ett land som står upp för de som är mest utsatta och att migrationsdomstolen faktiskt är kapabla att ta förnuftiga beslut.

Som svensk medborgare vill jag säga till Adil: Varmt välkommen till Sverige, jag är jätteglad att du vill vara en del av vårt samhälle och jag hoppas att din familj snart också har möjlighet att komma hit. Jag önskar dig all lycka och välgång i ditt nya liv i Sverige!

Uthållighet och envishet

2009-01-21T17:21:00.007+01:00

Var ute och joggade i Haga parken idag. Många av gångvägarna jag brukar jogga på har en skylt där det står ”snöröjes och sandas ej”, något som fick stor betydelse idag då det var SNORHALT (vilket ord, svenska är allt bra rolig ibland). Jag var super laddad för joggingrundan eftersom jag fått en ny överdragsjacka i en för tidig födelsedagspresent (vet inte om det är normalt att bli så glad över detta, men jag tycker det var jättekul att få). I vilket fall som helst. Min joggingrunda tog längre tid än vanligt för jag var inte bara tvungen att gå på vissa ställen där det var så halt, jag hade dessutom problem med skorna (kanske skulle önskat mig nya skor istället!) och blev nästan överkörd av en stor lastbil (dom håller på att beskära träden i parken). Så det tog lite längre tid än beräknat att ta sig runt min vanliga lilla route.

Medans jag sprang så tänkte jag på att denna runda är som ett mikrokosmos av livet självt. Även om man är utrustad till max och superladdad så händer det saker man inte kan kontrollera. Detta gör att man behöver tålamod att ta sig igenom svåra tider då det kan gå hur som helst, insikten om när det är dags att pausa ett par sekunder för att fixa något som inte fungerar, modet att möta de största motståndarna, och framförallt uthålligheten och envisheten att inte ge upp oavsett hur många hinder som finns på vägen till ens mål. Hindrena kanske gör att man kommer fram senare än beräknat, men erfarenheten och styrkan som man bygger upp på vägen gör att det i slutändan känns oviktigt.

Busy week

2008-12-04T20:25:00.014+01:00

Puh! What a week so far. I have been on two interviews for a really interesting position; I will find out next week if I get the job or not. All I know for know is that we are 7 candidates left (it started with 167).

Today I also managed to go to a chat about civil society's role in the conflict in Colombia. I must say that it was really interesting and the two invited Colombians did a really god job of relating to us how it is to live in the middle of a conflict. The nature of the conflict in Colombia is must more complex than how it is portrayed in the mainstream media, and, as always, innocent peaceful civilians get caught in the middle.

On a lighter note, this weekend I will go to a traditional Swedish Christmas Smorgasbord ("Julbord"). There are definitely some advantages to being back home in Sweden...

PARA MIS PANAS

2008-12-02T11:56:00.012+01:00

Gracias por echar una mirada a mi blog, aunque no lo entienden. Por el momento lo escribo en sueco porque estoy intentando a descubrir mi identidad sueca, ¡o vikinga! Me encanta escribir en sueco, un idioma tan simple y bonito, pero, claro lo malo es que la mayoría de mis amigos no lo entiende.

Hay que decir que aunque me interesa mucho por la cultura sueca en esto momento, una parte de mi corazón siempre esté en mi segunda tierra; el Ecuador. Este fin de semana voy a ir a una “fiesta ecua” acá en Estocolmo. No sé si tal vez la fiesta está relacionada con las fiestas de Quito, pero lo interesante va a ser a conocer ecuatorianos que viven acá para ver que ellos piensan sobre este país y esto sociedad.

También estoy viendo con curiosidad como nuestros últimos queridos migrantes a España, Javier Cevallos y Joffre Guerrón, se van en Europa, y hasta ahora parece que El Diablo se ha adaptado mejor que el centrocampista. Bueno, así vean que uno puede sacar una Lotta del Ecuador, pero es imposible sacar el Ecuador de la Lotta.

Ooops!

2008-12-01T16:37:00.008+01:00

Jag håller också på att ta körkort (har haft körkort från USA i 9 år men bara kört automat tidigare). Även om jag måste erkänna att det inte alltid går så bra, och jag kan bli lite frustrerad, så känns det ju bra att veta att jag klarar mig mycket bättre än den här övningsköraren...

http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1298&a=858423

Mind your own

2007-08-02T21:41:00.005+02:00

Ecuadorians are some of the most open and friendly people I know, which may make the following sound kind of weird. However, one thing you have to get used to while living here is seeing people, usually young men and many times drunk, laying flat down on the sidewalk for hours. It's not that they live in the street, that you can tell from their clothing, is just that they probably had too much to drink and just fel asleep where they were at. What hits me is that everybody just ignores them. Imagine a regular 3o year old man in Sweden laying on the said walk, out. Somebody would help him. They would not let him lay there on the street. However, here people just walk buy them, in a way of saying "you have your problems, I have mine." Maybe this symbolizes the way rich Ecuadorians many times look at less fortunate Ecuadorians: "I can see you have problems, but I'm just going to mind my own business."

San Pedro/Inti Raymi in Ecuador

2007-07-28T18:07:00.006+02:00

The summer months in Ecuador bring some very special cultural traditions and festivities. One of the best known ones is the San Pedro Festival, with its most famous celebrations being in the northern highlands of Ecuador. The traditional name of these festivities, which fills the purpose of celebrating nature (the earth, the sun, etc) and what it brings us, is Inti Raymi (San Pedro is the name the Spaniards gave it). While the celebration of San Pedro/Inti Raymi started as an indigenous celebration long before the arrival of the Spaniards, the festivities in many places now include a mix between the two cultures, and is celebrated by both and indigenous and mestizo Ecuadorians. For example, in the town of Cayambe, the official celebrations of San Pedro/Inti Raymi lasts for about a month (beginning of June to beginning of July) and includes everything from traditional celebrations, sport activities, running of the bulls, and workshops about the environment, cultural traditions, education, and food.

One of the most exciting events in the different towns that celebrate San Pedro/Inti Raymi is the “toma de la plaza” (the taking of the plaza). Different groups from the towns and the surrounding communities, dressed in traditional clothing (usually chaps for men and traditional skirts and blouses for women) dance through the streets singing traditional songs, celebrating their town and their community. The actual taking of the plaza used to be a violent affair, with deaths and injuries every year. However, this used to be an important part of the celebrations, because it was seen as a rebellious act of the indigenous towards their colonial overheads; the space of the plaza used to belong to the indigenous, but with the arrival of the Spaniards, they did no longer have control over it. However, during the present day celebrations, this has been changed to a “symbolic” taking of the plaza, and everything passes calmly in a festive spirit.

When the official celebrations in the larger towns are over, the celebrations continue in the smaller communities the weeks that follow. One example of such a festivity is “la entrega de las ramas.” (“the bringing of the poles”). This is a continuation of the San Pedro/Inti Raymi festival, and the same clothing and songs are used. After having had several discussions with people in these communities, it seems like nobody knows why or how this specific tradition started, so one have to assume that it is centuries old. The story goes, that if one year during the festivities, you receive 4 roosters, the next year you have to bring 12 rooster (tied to a pole) to that community and you have to bring them dancing and singing. Several members from your community and/or family dress up (in the traditional San Pedro/Inti Raymi clothing described above) and then you will bring the roosters, while singing and dancing, to the community center. There the host community will serve you traditional food. This food will consist of the farm products that are the most abundant and common for the season: hen, cuy (guinea pig), pork, potatoes, and mote (a white kind of corn). Of course, with this you will be served the traditional corn drink, chicha. The dancing and the celebration will go on until dawn.

An incredible place...

2007-06-16T20:35:00.007+02:00

Imagine an educational center for kids with mental and physical disabilities, and with the majority of the children attending suffering from both. The center is located just outside the city in a tranquil area. After being picked up in specialized vans, the 80 children of this center are served breakfast and lunch; they are divided into small classes where their teacher is specialized on helping children with their specific needs. The center also provides several different types of individualized therapy for these special children, including music therapy, physical therapy, water therapy, horse therapy (i.e. riding horses), light therapy, speech therapy, art therapy, etc.

Sounds like a pretty nice place doesn’t it? Well, what makes it even more special is that these kids come from some of the poorest families in the Ecuadorian capital Quito. The families pay $5/month to keep their kids in this center, and the waiting list is long. The center is run by the Ecuadorian foundation Tierra Nueva, founded by an Italian priest a couple of decades ago, and this center is only one Tierra Nueva’s accomplishments. Obviously, the center cannot run on what the parents are paying, but it survives thanks to donations and through working together with organizations such as the Indiana based organization the Timmy Foundation.

Yesterday I visited this center for the first time, and I left in awe at the work that is put into it. Everybody that works at the center puts their heart and soul into making sure that these kids can develop to their full potential, even if many of them only will reach a cognitive ability of a two year old. They do everything they can to make sure that these kids will have a dignified life. Most of the children have been turned down by other educational centers, and if they did not have THIS center to go to, they would most likely be confined to their homes for the majority of their lives. Their caregivers would have to stay with them all the time, meaning that these already poor families would lose one person’s income to provide for the family.

This center is one of the most incredible places I have seen in my entire life, and it is PART of the work of Tierra Nueva and the Timmy Foundation. If you want to support the work of the Timmy Foundation, please add the “cause” application to your Facebook page and join the cause: The Timmy Foundation. Or visit their webpage at: www.timmyfoundation.org

Both rich and poor

2007-06-10T22:31:00.005+02:00

This morning, as I am jogging on the top of one of the hills/mountains (everything is relative) surrounding Quito; I could not stop to think about the beauty of the place. As I am jogging by the little family of domesticated llamas living in the park I just felt completely at peace. This part of my route is completely removed from the sounds of the city, and as I looked to the left, I could see Quito with the Pichincha volcano right behind it. The other side of this volcano hides widespread cloud forest, and if you continue a few hours after that, you will eventually reach the white beaches of the Pacific Ocean. As I looked to the right, I saw one of the populated valleys outside of Quito, this particular one filled with flower plantations. On the other side of the valley, I could see the mountains which form the natural border between Ecuador’s sierra region and Ecuador’s oriente region. In other words, if one goes past these mountains one will shortly find oneself in the Amazon jungle.

It really hit me this morning how rich this country is, but at the same time I know, that if one just takes a closer look, one will see that this country is full of poverty. In this country of tremendous beauty, not even the so-called “middle class” has enough money to buy the overpriced western-made medicine when they get sick.

Then it hit me: maybe this country is too beautiful for its own good. One of my best friends here in Ecuador is the leader of a large indigenous organization fighting to maintain the traditional right of the campesinos to use the melt water from the snow capped volcanoes (without the government charging them for the water they have been given by their ancestors). As I was talking to him about the paradox that his country is both rich and poor at the same time, he told me:

“Lotta, I know my country is tremendously rich. We have been robbed of our natural resources for the past 500 years, and we are still labeled as one of the most naturally rich countries in the world.”

FIFA bans high-altitude soccer/football games

2007-05-29T23:59:00.007+02:00

FIFA, soccer/football's governing body has announced that no international games will from now on be permitted at above 2, 500m. This directly affects the Andean nations of Bolivia, Colombia, and Ecuador, who's capital cities are all located higher than this.

It also affects Peru who will be very limited to where they can play their international matches within the country. The decision taken by FIFA came as a shock; no discussions on the subject preceeded the decicision. Most likely is that the two powerhouses in South American soccer/football, Argentina and Brazil, has forced the decision in order to avoid having to play their coming World Cup Qualifying games at these locations. The countries have struggled some at these locations at previous qualification games, but nonetheless, have had NO problem qualifying for the World Cup.

However, FIFA says the decision was made because it is too dangerous to play at this altitude. Hmmm...I wonder if it's not too dangerous to play when it is too cold as well...or too hot for that mather (I would know, I have played soccer in Texas when it was 120F/48C and 98% humidity!) . I'm sure there are a million other conditions under which it would arguably be dangerous to play soccer/football; and any country with enough leverage within FIFA could use that to their advantage.

Future of roses in Ecuador

2007-05-20T17:44:00.012+02:00

The US congress is now discussing whether or not to extend the trade benefits to the Andean nations with regards to the export of flowers. These benefits are given to these nations to boost legal trade (instead of drugs). Since Ecuador has not signed on the a fair trade agreement with the US, and has elected what is seen as a leftist president, there is now discussion about whether to punish Ecuador for this and not renew these benefits when they expire on June 30th (see link for more details). I have worked for a Flower plantation in Ecuador, and I have lived with the poor people working on other plantations. To cut of the benefits would be a disaster for these people. What is needed are regulations that ensure that the flower plantations that export flowers have environmental and social policies. The regulations need not be too strict, but based on reality, and help should be giving to the platations that really want to live up to these regulations.

Media in Venezuela

2007-05-20T17:16:00.006+02:00

BBC reports that the president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, will not renew the license of a private TV station, and he will replace this TV station with a government station. This piece of news demonstrate the trikcy situation with regards to media in Latin America. Most private TV stations here are in fact not neutral stations, but in fact reflect the views and opinions of their owner (much more so that in Europe or the US, hence, it's even more one sided that US station FOX News - imagine that!). Of course, the government run stations in Venezuela is completly controlled by Hugo Chavez himself. Hence, neither one of these stations would probably show a fair and neautral picture of the situation in Venezuela. However, in the end, Hugo Chavez decision to not allow this private station is a huge violation of the freedom of press. This is just another step towards turning Venezuela into an authoritarian socialist state. BBC Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/americas/6673513.stm

No more Wolfowitz

2007-05-18T02:33:00.004+02:00

World Bank Chief Paul Wolfowitz "resigns," and it's not a day to early. My only worry is who the US (who traditionally appoints it president) will now pick...well, can't get much worse I guess.

CNN

2007-05-17T18:23:00.003+02:00

Hmmm....can somebody explain to me why CNN's international web page has not posted any news about Latin America in the last 4 days. Thought CNN was a NEWS agency. There are almost 550 milion people living in Latin America, so you know the lack of coverage is not just because "nothing happened." Boycott CNN. http://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/americas/

Visa Issues

2007-05-16T20:51:00.008+02:00

Ok. So I'm slightly stressed out. Not because I really find myself that occupied these days, but becuase my visa expires on the 26th of May and I am not making a lot of progress on fixing my new one. I am missing some documents from the foundation I will work with, and it seems like they are all currently "outside" of Quito working. Nobody is replying to my messages. Then, when I try to contact the lawyer who is helping me, to see if she still thinks we will have everything in time, she doesn't even remember who I am. Rather worrying as I left my passport in her care last time I saw her. Hmm...when I finally have all the paper work, I need to cross the Colombian border to actually get my visa. Then when I get back, I need to first register my visa, then get a censo (ID card for foreigners), which means a lot more paper work, and a "salida" (permission to leave the country), before I can travel. Seems like my hopes to do some traveling before my new jobs starts July 1st are just that, hopes. Why does everything have to be so complicated????!!!

About Quito

2007-05-15T22:36:00.006+02:00

Quito is the world's second highest capital (La Paz is the highest) at an altitude of 2850m (about 9000 ft). The city is in a valley, and it is more than 10km long, but only about 3km wide, which makes it feel a lot smaller than it is. The city's historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here are some pics I took in the historical center early a Saturday morning.

How I ended up in Quito

2007-05-15T21:20:00.006+02:00

I first came to Ecuador in December of 2003. I had a few weeks break from grad school and decided I wanted to brush up on my Spanish. I spent very intense weeks in Quito, and I was hooked. From then on, my goal has been to move to Quito and work for a NGO down here.

The next time I came to Ecuador, after grad school, I stayed three months to volunteer with a foundation in the countryside about 1.5hrs north of Quito. I lived in a rural community, and among other things, assisted in the local school. Today, I can look back on this experience and say that it was one of the hardest, yet definitely most rewarding experiences, of my life.

I made so many friends during my first two visits here that I came back over Easter 2006 for a quick visit of two weeks. Then, finally, at the end of November 2006, I finally made the move to Quito. It had now been three years since my first visit, and I was not close to being ready to give up on my dream. After five months in Ecuador, first working for the South American Explorers Club and later for a flower exporting company, I finally got what I first came here for: a job with a NGO.

From July 1^st 2007 until July 31^st 2008, I will work for a foundation in the south of Quito focusing on offering health services to the city’s poorest neighborhoods. Monetarily, the reward for my work will be very small, but I am sure it will be an awarding experience that will enrich my life.

"Never let the odds keep you from pursuing what you know in your heart you were meant to do"