Happy N Y E report: Could Ecuador be the most radical and exciting place on Earth?

Could Ecuador be the most radical and exciting place on Earth?

A decade ago, Ecuador was a banana republic, an economic basket case. Today, it has much to teach the rest of the world- 

President Rafael Correa's approval ratings are in excess of 70%. Photograph: Guillermo Granja/Reuters

 

  Ecuador must be one of the most exciting places on Earth right now, in terms of working towards a new development paradigm. It shows how much can be achieved with political will, even in uncertain economic times.

 Just 10 years ago, Ecuador was more or less a basket case, a quintessential "banana republic" (it happens to be the world's largest exporter of bananas), characterised by political instability, inequality, a poorly-performing economy, and the ever-looming impact of the US on its domestic politics.

In 2000, in response to hyperinflation and balance of payments problems, the government dollarised the economy, replacing the sucre with the US currency as legal tender. This subdued inflation, but it did nothing to address the core economic problems, and further constrained the domestic policy space.

 A major turning point came with the election of the economist Rafael Correa as president. After taking over in January 2007, his government ushered in a series of changes, based on a new constitution (the country's 20th, approved in 2008) that was itself mandated by a popular referendum. A hallmark of the changes that have occurred since then is that major policies have first been put through the referendum process. This has given the government the political ability to take on major vested interests and powerful lobbies.

 The government is now the most stable in recent times and will soon become the longest serving in Ecuador's tumultuous history. The president's approval ratings are well over 70%. All this is due to the reorientation of the government's approach, made possible by a constitution remarkable for its recognition of human rights and the rights of nature, and its acceptance of plurality and cultural diversity....read more: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/jan/19/ecuador-radical-exciting-place

Will Manta Be Ecuador's Third International Airport? - December 30, 2013

Monday, December 30, 2013

Will Manta Be Ecuador's Third International Airport?

Reports pop up periodically, mostly on websites and blogs aimed at potential expats, that Ecuador is about to designate Manta as its third international airport, after Quito and Guayaquil. A few years ago, a popular move-overseas site tipped off its readers to a screaming real estate deal; buy property around the Manta airport quickly, it advised, before flights from Miami and Houston start arriving. Recently, another site pushing a Manta real estate development noted that new international flights were sure to make property prices soar.

What's the real story? We talked to an official at Ecuador's Dirección General de Aviación Civil to find out.

Ecuador actually has 11 airports with international designations, the official pointed out. Beside Quito and Guayaquil, airports in Cuenca, Manta, Santa Rosa (Machala), Salinas and Baltra (Galapagos) and five others, are classified as international. The international tag, he said, simply amounts to planning for the future and does not mean flights from the U.S. and Argentina are imminent. In fact, he says, it will probably be years before Ecuador needs another international passenger airport and, when it does, Cuenca would probably be the top choice based on demand.

He added: "Manta is already an international cargo airport and we expect it to grow in this capacity. As far as passenger service goes, Manta is the seventh or eighth largest city in Ecuador so there is minimal demand for international service."

For the record, the official said that the top five airports in Ecuador based on passenger traffic are (in order): Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, Baltra and Manta.

Ecuador struggles to keep drug trade out of the country while activity increases in the jungle and northern coast

Posted By Admin | Published: December 22, 2013 22:04

Although Ecuador has managed to keep most of the drug trade outside of its borders, there are increasing signs that it is making inroads along its northern border with Colombia and on the Pacific coast.

The dreaded Mexican drug cartels have allied with former paramilitaries and guerrillas in Colombia and frequently encroach across the border into Ecuador. Although the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) officially claims that it is not involved in the drug trade, overwhelming evidence suggests it is, mostly for the purpose of financing its military activity. In many cases, it appears that drug cartels have joined forces with FARC and use remote northern Ecuadorian jungle areas as drug collection and distribution sites....read more:

The expat life as seen through the eyes of an Ecuadorian; battling stereotypes and adapting to new environments

Posted By Admin | Published: June 28, 2013 06:32

Editor's note: Adapting to life in Ecuador is an on-going topic of conversation among North American expats. Yolanda Reinoso Barzallo turns the tables and tells the story of being an Ecuadorian living in the Middle East and the U.S. She is a native of Cuenca and the author of a novel, Días de Arena y Dátiles and a collection of short stories, Muros de Papel: Cuentos. 
By Yolanda Reinoso Barzallo

I have been an expat for the last 10 years of my life.

This may not seem remarkable to many people in Cuenca, a city with thousands of North American and European expats. My story, however, has a different twist.

I am a Cuencana. I was born and raised here and my family continues to live here.  I married a gringo from Florida who came to Cuenca to teach English and then moved with him, 10 years ago, when his work took him to the Middle East. Later, we lived in the U.S., in New York and Colorado, before moving back to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

I would like to share with you my perspective on the expat life and how I have changed by being exposed to new cultures....read more:

Ecuador: Tales from the Middle of the Earth: A Tale of an Ecuadorian Night Watchman

Ecuador: Tales from the Middle of the Earth: A Tale of an Ecuadorian Night Watchman: In Ecuador, there is a tradition of the Night Watchman. It took me about a month to completely acclimate to my surroundings before I became ...

Correa slams report on CIA role in Ecuador strike- Quito (AFP) - Dec 23, 2013 -

Correa slams report on CIA role in Ecuador strike- Quito (AFP) - Dec 23, 2013 - Ecuador's President Rafael Correa warned Monday that reports US intelligence played a role in a 2008 Colombian attack on FARC rebels in his country could threaten regional peace efforts.
 

Over the weekend, the Washington Post reported that a secret Central Intelligence Agency program had helped Colombia kill at least two dozen leftist guerrilla leaders.

And, according to the report, it was thanks to US intelligence that the FARC number two, Raul Reyes, was found and killed in a cross-border attack on Ecuador in 2008 that left 24 dead.

Ecuador temporarily broke diplomatic relations with its Andean neighbor following the incident.

On his Twitter account, Correa wondered if these "very serious" revelations and other recent disagreements between his government and Washington were simply coincidence.

He speculated that the report was an attempt to affect Ecuador's relations with the United States and Colombia and "above all, the peace process" under way between Colombia and the FARC.






"At this point, I don't believe in 'coincidences.' Colombia and the international extreme right are capable of anything!" he wrote.

According to the Post, a secret CIA program in Colombia was initially authorized by president George W. Bush around 2000 and has been continued under his successor Barack Obama.

The covert operation provided intelligence to help locate the FARC leaders and supplied a special GPS guidance kit that helped Colombia convert standard bombs into precise smart munitions.

The 2008 incident triggered a diplomatic crisis between Bogota and Quito, with Ecuador suspecting the attack was orchestrated with the help of the United States, despite denial from Colombian authorities.

The governments fully restored relations in 2011....read more: http://news.yahoo.com/correa-slams-report-cia-role-ecuador-strike-213223229.html

The Holiday Issue of Ecuador George- December 24, 2013

The Holiday Issue of Ecuador George 
December 24, 2013

Now here is a great picture I stole from Kimbler’s Exit to Ecuador. From a Christmas Parade a few years ago. Again, you can click on the picture and visit Karen Kimbler’s blog site.



....read more: http://www.ecuadorgeorge.com/ecuador-george/

Dec23 by helpingkidsinecuador - Daniel is home!

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Daniel is home!

Dec23 by helpingkidsinecuador

Daniel arrived at the Cuenca airport this  Sunday evening. He was welcomed by over 50 friends and relatives!

 

As you can imagine Daniel and his mother were overwhelmed by the reception. Talking with his mother she indicated she feels this is like Daniel and her “First ”  Christmas. This gift of life is definitely the most incredible Christmas gift possible!!!

Daniel and mom-


Her gratitude to all who helped in saving her child’s life is so very obvious when speaking with her…she is sincerely grateful to all who participated by contributions, thoughts and prayers. This Christmas miracle is acknowledged by all…family and doctors alike.
We, too, want to thank everyone for your incredible response to Helping Kids in Ecuador. This would never have happened without your support. We especially want to thank our medical adviser, Dr. Victor Astudillo of Clinica Latino whose contact with the Foundation Metropolitano set this entire project in motion.

Daniel and Rocio arriving

 

Read more:....http://helpingkidsinecuador.org/2013/12/23/daniel-is-home/

Lyman's Journey: Budget Analysis To Date (Panama, Costa Rica, Ecuad...

Lyman's Journey: Budget Analysis To Date (Panama, Costa Rica, Ecuad...: Before you go peeking at our expense chart below, I need to make a few statements: * This is OUR full disclosure cost breakdown of every...

Budget Analysis To Date (Panama, Costa Rica, Ecuador & Nicaragua)

Before you go peeking at our expense chart below, I need to make a few statements:

* This is OUR full disclosure cost breakdown of everything we spent money on based on the way WE live our lives. 

* Our goal for a total monthly budget is $1,800 for living expenses ONLY.  Our income is higher but this amount is what we wanted to see if we could live with so that the extra could be set aside for savings toward further traveling......