Colombia Nationwide Strike Against 'Free Trade,' Privatization, Poverty

Published on Sunday, August 25, 2013 by Common Dreams

Colombia Nationwide Strike Against 'Free Trade,' Privatization, Poverty

Ignored by English-language media, rural uprisings spread across industries as hundreds of thousands protest US-backed govt

- Sarah Lazare, staff writer

Protests in Sincelejo (Photo: Marcha Patriotica)A nationwide strike in Colombia—which started as a rural peasant uprising and spread to miners, teachers, medical professionals, truckers, and students—reached its 7th day Sunday as at least 200,000 people blocked roads and launched protests against a U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement and devastating policies of poverty and privatization pushed by US-backed right-wing President Juan Manuel Santos......

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Meanwhile, the Colombian government is handing out sweetheart deals to international mining companies while creating bans and roadblocks for Colombian miners. Likewise, the government is giving multinational food corporations access to land earmarked for poor Colombians. Healthcare workers are fighting a broad range of reforms aimed at gutting and privatizing Colombia's healthcare system. Truckers are demanding an end to low wages and high gas prices.
"This is the third or fourth large-scale non-military rural uprising this year," Martin told Common Dreams.
Colombian workers organizing to improve their lives are met with an onslaught of state violence: Colombia is the deadliest country in the world for union activists, according to the AFL-CIO Solidarity Center, and 37 activists were murdered in Colombia in the 1st half of 2013 alone, leading news weekly Semana reports.
Santos, who says he refuses to negotiate while the strikes are taking place, has so far been unsuccessful in his efforts to quell the swelling protests that are paralyzing much of the country, particularly in rural areas.
"[W]e just want solutions to our problems,” Javier Correa Velez, the head of a coffee-growers association called Dignidad Cafetera, told the Miami Herald. “The strike is simply a symptom of an illness that the entire agriculture sector is suffering from.”
(Photo: Twitter/@zonacero)https://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/08/25?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
JourneymanJack Comments: This could make for an uptick in Refugees & Immigration from COL to EC....
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Why Are So Many People Choosing To Leave The United States Permanently?

The Economic Collapse By Michael Snyder, on August 11th, 2013- 

Have things gotten so bad that it is time to leave the United States for good?  That is a question that a lot of Americans are dealing with these days, and an increasing number of them are choosing to leave the country of their birth permanently.  Some are doing it for tax reasons, some are doing it because they believe the future is brighter elsewhere, and others are doing it because they are very distressed about the direction that America is heading and they don't see any hope for a turnaround any time soon...

....Yes, life in America is definitely going to be extremely challenging in the years ahead, but the grass is not always greener on the other side of the planet either.
There are a whole host of things to consider before you make a permanent move to another country.  The following is an extended excerpt from one of my previous articles...
*****
The following are 10 questions to ask yourself before you decide to move to another country...
Do You Speak The Language?  If Not, How Will You Function?
If you do not speak the language of the country that you are moving to, that can create a huge problem.  Just going to the store and buying some food will become a challenge.  Every interaction that you have with anyone in that society will be strained, and your ability to integrate into the culture around you will be greatly limited.
How Will You Make A Living?
Unless you are independently wealthy, you will need to make money.  In a foreign nation, it may be very difficult for you to find a job - especially one that pays as much as you are accustomed to making in the United States.
Will You Be Okay Without Your Family And Friends?
Being thousands of miles away from all of your family and friends can be extremely difficult.  Will you be okay without them?  And it can be difficult to survive in a foreign culture without any kind of a support system.  Sometimes the people that most successfully move out of the country are those that do it as part of a larger group.
Have You Factored In Weather Patterns And Geological Instability?
As the globe becomes increasingly unstable, weather patterns and natural disasters are going to become a bigger factor in deciding where to live.  For example, right now India is suffering through the worst drought that it has experienced in nearly 50 years.  It would be very difficult to thrive in the middle of such an environment.
Many of those that are encouraging people to "escape from America" are pointing to Chile as an ideal place to relocate to.  But there are thousands of significant earthquakes in Chile each year, and the entire nation lies directly along the "Ring of Fire" which is becoming increasingly unstable.  That is something to keep in mind.
What Will You Do For Medical Care?
If you or someone in your family had a serious medical problem in the United States, you would know what to do.  Yes, our health care system is incredibly messed up, but at least you would know that you could get the care that you needed if an emergency arose.  Would the same be true in a foreign nation?
Are You Moving Into A High Crime Area?
Yes, crime is definitely on the rise in the United States.  But in other areas where many preppers are moving to, crime is even worse.  Mexico and certain areas of Central America are two examples of this.  And in many foreign nations, the police are far more corrupt than they generally are in the United States.
In addition, many other nations have far stricter gun laws than the United States does, so your ability to defend your family may be greatly restricted.
So will your family truly be safe in the nation that you plan to take them to?
Are You Prepared For "Culture Shock"?
Moving to another country can be like moving to a different planet.  After all, they don't call it "culture shock" for nothing.
If you do move to another country, you may quickly find that thousands of little things that you once took for granted in the U.S. are now very different.
And there is a very good chance that many of the "amenities" that you are accustomed to in the U.S. will not be available in a foreign nation and that your standard of living will go down.
So if you are thinking of moving somewhere else, you may want to visit first just to get an idea of what life would be like if you made the move.
What Freedoms and Liberties Will You Lose By Moving?
Yes, our liberties and our freedoms are being rapidly eroded in the United States.  But in many other nations around the world things are much worse.  You may find that there is no such thing as "freedom of speech" or "freedom of religion" in the country that you have decided to move to.
Is There A Possibility That The Country You Plan To Escape To Could Be Involved In A War At Some Point?
We are moving into a time of great geopolitical instability.  If you move right into the middle of a future war zone, you might really regret it.  If you do plan to move, try to find a country that is likely to avoid war for the foreseeable future.
When The Global Economy Collapses, Will You And Your Family Be Okay For Food?
What good will it be to leave the United States if you and your family run out of food?
Today, we are on the verge of a major global food crisis.  Global food reserves are at their lowest level in nearly 40 years, and shifting global weather patterns are certainly not helping things.
And the global elite are rapidly getting more control over the global food supply.  Today, between 75 and 90 percent of all international trade in grain is controlled by just four gigantic multinational food corporations.
*****
Leaving the United States permanently and setting up a new life in another country can be done, but it isn't for the faint of heart.  It takes planning, preparation and lots of hard work.
However, there are lots of people that have done it successfully, including quite a number of people that I know personally.
In the end, you have got to make the decision that is right for you and your family.  Don't let anyone else tell you what to do.
For many, staying in the United States and preparing for the tough years that are coming is the best choice.  For others, getting out of the United States and heading for greener pastures is the right choice. What about you? What is your choice? http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/why-are-so-many-people-choosing-to-leave-the-united-states-permanently

 

“long form” applicants for US passports 12 AUG 2013

After a year-long “review,” the White House on August 12, 2013, approved the State Department’s proposed new “long form” questionnaires for some (unspecified) subset of applicants for US passports.

In approving these forms, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) ignored overwhelming public outrage at these questionnaires.
The most reasonable inference is that the new forms are designed to be impossible to complete, so as to provide a pretext to deny you a passport if the State Department doesn’t like your looks (or your opinions, or whatever)...read more: http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/white-house-approves-new-long-forms-for-some-passport-applicants/

White House approves new “long forms” for some passport applicants

by Edward Hasbrouck on August 22, 2013

After a year-long “review,” the White House on August 12, 2013, approved the State Department’s proposed new “long form” questionnaires for some (unspecified) subset of applicants for US passports.
In approving these forms, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) ignored overwhelming public outrage at these questionnaires.

The forms include such questions as:

• List all your parent(s) residences one year before your birth.
• Parent(s) place of employment at the time of your birth (Dates of employment, Name of employer, Address of employer).
• Did your mother receive medical care while pregnant with you and/or up to one year after your birth? (Name of hospital or other facility, Address, Name of Doctor, Approximate dates of appointments).
• Please provide the names (as well as address and phone number, if available) of persons present at your birth such as medical personnel, family members, etc.
• Please list any schools, day care centers, or developmental programs you attended from birth to age 18 in or outside of the United States.
• Please list all of your permanent residences inside and outside of the United States starting with your birth until age 18.

- See more at: http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/white-house-approves-new-long-forms-for-some-passport-applicants/#sthash.5660Njdg.dpuf

White House approves new “long forms” for some passport applicants

by Edward Hasbrouck on August 22, 2013

After a year-long “review,” the White House on August 12, 2013, approved the State Department’s proposed new “long form” questionnaires for some (unspecified) subset of applicants for US passports.
In approving these forms, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) ignored overwhelming public outrage at these questionnaires.

The forms include such questions as:

• List all your parent(s) residences one year before your birth.
• Parent(s) place of employment at the time of your birth (Dates of employment, Name of employer, Address of employer).
• Did your mother receive medical care while pregnant with you and/or up to one year after your birth? (Name of hospital or other facility, Address, Name of Doctor, Approximate dates of appointments).
• Please provide the names (as well as address and phone number, if available) of persons present at your birth such as medical personnel, family members, etc.
• Please list any schools, day care centers, or developmental programs you attended from birth to age 18 in or outside of the United States.
• Please list all of your permanent residences inside and outside of the United States starting with your birth until age 18.

- See more at: http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/white-house-approves-new-long-forms-for-some-passport-applicants/#sthash.5660Njdg.dpuf

Gringo Tree- Saturday August 24, 2013- Is Correa Turning Right?

Rafael Correa's politics baffle the pundits; elected as a socialist, many see a recent sharp turn to the right

Posted By Admin | Published: August 24, 2013 00:36

Although he claims to be a socialist, Ecuador president Rafael Correa increasingly defies the standard political labels. Many of his opponents claim his tendencies in recent months have been decidedly to the right.

Loyalists of President Rafael Correa’s “Citizens’ Revolution” have had to face some jarring decisions since he took office for a third time on May 24. In June, a phone call from Joe Biden, America’s vice-president, sufficed for him to leave Edward Snowden, an ex-CIA whistleblower, at a Moscow airport instead of offering asylum. He has switched from opposing to advocating free-trade talks with the European Union. His government has made it harder for people to obtain asylum. That has irked human-rights groups, which have also blasted his Putinesque decision to vet non-governmental organizations....read more: http://www.cuencahighlife.com/post/2013/08/24/Rafael-Correas-politics-baffle-the-pundits3b-widely-seen-as-a-socialist-many-see-a-sharp-turn-to-the-right.aspx

AHHH CUENCA!!: Return to Baños - Part IV of IV

AHHH CUENCA!!: Return to Baños - Part IV of IV: As I said when I last signed off, I headed back to Cuenca (from Baños) via a different route than that I had driven so many times before.   This time, it was along the edges of the Amazon.  I had NO clue what the route might be like.  It was a brand-spankin new adventure.
This leg was a bit of a rarity in that so much of my driving here in EC is in the Andes mountains, which means curve after curve after CURVE!!!  Now I was in the flatlands and I could make good speed.  Or so I thought.

This went on for what seemed like infinity.  However, the views were stunning.   The long, wide lake formed by the Paute Dam was beautiful.   Finally, after winding, and swerving, and passing, and dust, and mud, and racing dumptrucks, I arrived in familiar territory, the town of Paute....about 40 minutes outside Cuenca.  Home was in sight.  I drove past the point on the autopista where my car broke down the last time I returned from a trip to Baños and figured it was all a success.  Dog-tired and my head spinning, I got home about 7pm.

Here's some statistics:

• Kms driven = 1229 (780 miles)
• Total cost of the 4-day trip = $283, which included:
• $60 hotel room for 3 nights
• $60 gas
• $16 breakfasts
• $25 lunches
• $30 dinners
• $14 snacks
• $3 spa pools
• $20 massage
• $20 detox treatments (2)
• $35 train ticket

Enjoy the photos!

PS....Thank you Mary for sharing with me the keyboard tricks for making Spanish puñctuation.

Dano- http://www.danoinec.blogspot.com/

Take care of the environment, don't throw garbage.

U.S. Relations with Ecuador, Analysis, July 2013

Posted on August 15, 2013 • Filed under: Ecuador, Politics, United States

ONE BOOK THAT SHOULD BE READ BY EVERY EXPAT OR FUTURE EXPAT IN ECUADOR
CRS Report for Congress
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress
Ecuador: Political and Economic Conditions
and U.S. Relations
June S. Beittel
Analyst in Latin American Affairs
July 3, 2013
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
Ecuador: Political and Economic Conditions and U.S. Relations
Congressional Research Service
1
The United States has traditionally had close relations with Ecuador, yet tensions in the
U.S.-Ecuador relationship have surfaced in recent years as the left leaning government of
President Rafael Correa (2007-present) has objected to U.S. influence in the region which
it has labeled “imperialist.” Nevertheless, the United States is Ecuador’s largest trade partner and
has extended trade preferences to Ecuador under the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA) since
the legislation’s enactment in 1991. The ATPA provides unilateral preferential access to the U.S.
market for certain products in order to reduce dependence on the illegal drug trade, although the
Correa government in late June 2013 “renounced” its participation in the program. For additional
information on the consideration of trade preferences for Ecuador under the Andean Trade
Preferences Act by the 113th Congress, see CRS Report RS22548,
ATPA Renewal: Background....http://latinamericacurrentevents.com/u-s-relations-with-ecuador-analysis-july-2013/29194/

Tip for exploratory trip to Ecuador before living or retiring there-

Posted on August 13, 2013 • Filed under: Ecuador, TRAVEL

As the author of “100 things to consider before moving or retiring in Ecuador“, I am always looking at new aspects on how a potential expatriate might make a better informed decision about living in Ecuador.
A number of those that decide to live in Ecuador basically just “jump in” and they are off on the adventure. Primarily this group has used many of the resources on the internet and read a few books. Another group of expatriates have the financial ability or interest in doing what is called the famed “exploratory trip” that you see mentioned in so many of the expatriate forums. The exploratory trip is highly recommended and one should spend as much time in the country as possible in order to gauge whether or not it is the best decision for you....http://latinamericacurrentevents.com/tip-for-exploratory-trip-to-ecuador-before-living-or-retiring-there/29183/
  
100 Points to Consider Before Moving or Retiring in Ecuador - 
You Tube:

Published on May 14, 2013

Ecuador is now a major destination for expatriates. Now, Nicholas Crowder the author of "Culture Shock! Ecuador" is releasing a new book specifically designed for anyone considering a move or retirement to Ecuador.
 Most expatriates are not prepared for such an intricate and complex culture. "100 points to consider before moving or retiring in Ecuador" provides a detailed examination of critical factors one needs to anaylze before moving to Ecuador.
Furthermore, if you are already residing there, this new book will provide you deep insight into Ecuadorian culture and mindset.
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE: http://www.amazon.com/Points-Consider-Retiring-Ecuador-ebook/dp/B00DZTZ4HC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1374256381&sr=1-1&keywords=100+Points+to+Consider+Before+Moving+or+Retiring+in+Ecuador