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Costa Rica: Call for Collaborative Christmas Video

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Costa Rican online collective nosedecirlaerre.com which translates into “I can´t pronounce the R” has set out a call for participation from Costa Ricans and those familiar with their culture to create a collaborative video for Christmas. The campaign is called Uniting Ticos for Christmas and the requirements are quite simple: dancing in the Costa Rican style of “swing criollo” the popular end of the year song Jugo de Piña and saying something in Costa Rican slang, on video.

They have uploaded a sample video on YouTube as an invitation to all the Costa Ricans who can, to send in their videos before December 27th so they can put them together and publish the collaboration on the 30th, as a Christmas and New Year's present for the community.

For those who may not know, Jugo de Piña is a Mexican cumbia song by the Hermanos Vásquez which has become a Christmas staple in the end of the year festivities in Costa Rica. Cumbia or Swing Criollo is a Costa Rican dance that uses cumbia music with a skipping step, involved footwork and lots of turns. You can view a couple dancing Costa Rican swing in this video of a dance presentation:

Nosedecirlaerre's name plays on the fact that Costa Rican's unlike most of the Spanish speaking countries, don´t roll the R when they speak.

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Mexico: Anti-Kidnapping Expert is Kidnapped

Eduardo Avila · 18:24, December 17th, 2008 · Americas

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Mexico is facing a crime wave, in which both national and foreign citizens are being targeted for kidnappings. A recent case took place in Saltillo, Coahuila, when U.S. anti-kidnapping expert Félix Batista was abducted by masked gunmen. Batista was in the country providing seminars as a consultant for the Texas-based security firm ASI Global LLC. His experience throughout Latin America dealing with this crime is sought after for groups wanting to learn how to avoid this crime. However, his kidnapping proves that anyone is risk.

The Mex Files has a few questions about the kidnapping case:

If Batista was an expert, how did he get himself kidnapped?

Batista was an employee of a Houston Texas “security consulting” firm called ASI Global. He reportedly was in Saltillo on personal business, but who
was he working for?

Is ASI Global one of the U.S. companies receiving funding for “Plan Merida”… and what does this say about the competence of the trainers?

Some statistics place kidnappings as occurring approximately 2 per day and especially prevalant in the northern border states. Mexico has the highest number of kidnappings per capita of any country in the world. These cases affect friends and family of the abducted, such as blogger Tony Scotti, who is a friend of Batista:

I know Felix, and he is a highly competent individual. Felix has more than 20 years of experience in the K&R business. Felix is a high profile guy, often quoted in the newspapers and in fact quoted in this month’s issue of Security Management Magazine. His high profile might have been the catalyst for the abduction. After reading the newspaper accounts it would be my guess that Felix was set up, and set up by someone he trusted.

El Nahual of México Para Los Mexicanos [es] is worried about what this act may mean for the rest of the country:

Mi primera reacción es de risa, por lo irónico. Mi segunda reacción es de miedo… si un experto ex militar con 24 años en el campo de la seguridad es secuestrado ¿Qué oportunidades le quedan al resto de los mortales de que no seamos secuestrados?

My first reaction is laughter, but in the ironic sense. My second reaction is fear… if an ex-military expert with 24 years of experience in the field of security is kidnapped, then that chance do the rest of us of that we won't be kidnapped?

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Western Sahara: Cubarawis

Renata Avila · 16:15 · Middle East & North Africa

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Can be loved the desert after living in the Caribbean? …the desert is the face of each Saharaoui and if you don't love your face, to whom you will be able to love someday? -From the film Caribbean Sahara

What is the first impression of a Bedouin in a Caribbean Island? On his visit, blogger Ali Salem Iselmu shared the experience on a lovely story called "A Bedouin in the Caribbean ":

Era de noche y se veía en medio de la oscuridad aquel precioso poblado de casas de madera de color blanco y rojo. El ambiente a fiesta y carnaval era total, la música a todo volumen y la gente bailando salsa y sudando, nosotros lo único que hicimos a pesar del cansancio que teníamos era incorporarnos a la fiesta.

Cuando llegamos a la plaza de Banes después de bajar del autobús comprobamos con nuestros ojos aquella famosa frase que dice "con una lata y un palo bailan los cubanos" porque la naturaleza del Caribe y su alma son bien distintas a aquella sobriedad que a un nómada beduino, reconvertido en caribeño a través de los ritmos que marca la humedad de la noche.

It was night and one could see through the darkness the precious village with houses made of white and red wood. The party and carnival-like ambiance was complete with loud music and people dancing and sweating. We were really tired but had no choice but join to the party.

When we arrive to the Plaza de Banes, after getting off the bus, we could see with our own eyes the famous phrase that says "with just a metal can and a stick Cubans can dance" because Caribbean nature and their souls are very different from the sobriety that fills a Bedouin nomad, who has become a Caribbean thanks to the rhythms of the night, felt with a hint of the humidity.

Cuban - Western Sahara cooperation is an early example of international aid. For example, back in the late seventies, 99 girls were chosen to study and improve their life conditions through education in Cuba, as Hernan Zin tells in "Saharaui Women" . One of the girls was Maima Mahamud from Dajla:

Permaneció en la isla caribeña el resto de su infancia y toda la adolescencia, estudiando, preparándose para el futuro, con la idea insoslayable, a pesar de su corta de edad, de que volvería al Sáhara para luchar por la independencia de su pueblo.

She remained in the Caribbean island her entire childhood and her adolescence, studying, preparing for the future, with the fixed idea, even when she was so young, that she would return to the Sahara in the future to fight for her people's independence.

And she returned home as an educated woman, and created the Dajla School for Women to improve education and possibilities for girls in her homeland. This is a admirable action promoted by educated women, as according to the latest UNESCO report, it utilizes the resources of the country with the best educational standards in Latin America to counteract a country with a 50% literacy rate.

The bilateral cooperation is still active in spite of precarious situation in the island, as blogger El Porvenir del Sahara shows, with pictures of saharauis sipping tea in Cuba and Cubans dancing in Western Sahara. Ebnu, another blogger that shared his experience arriving together with other children from Argel to Cuba, brings us back to those days on 1978 when he arrived as a child to the Caribbean:

Aquellos primeros días los recuerdo con esa sensación triste y amarga. De estar perplejo ante una experiencia que apenas comenzaba y la curiosidad por descubrir un mundo nuevo lleno de ilusiones y sorpresas.

El mango, la guayaba, el mamey ¡Qué delicia!, la "Pelota", el Baseball, "¿cómo es posible que jueguen una cosa así, es que no conocen el fútbol o qué?" El contraste entre lo dulce y lo salado. Lo dulce y era muy dulce y lo salado muy salado. ¿Cómo comer arroz todos los días, día y noche? Si a mí no me gusta el arroz.

I recall those first days with a sad, bitter sensation. With the perplexity and the curiosity of a new experience that was just starting, a different world full of expectations and surprises.

Mango , guayaba , mamey .. Delicious!, the "ball", the baseball How can they play such game? Do they ever know football?. The contrast with sweet and salted. The sweets were too sweet, the salty food was too salty. How can someone eat rice every day, day and night? When I do not like rice…

If you like to see a movie about it, bloggers recommend Caribbean of the Sahara . The next time you meet a Bedouin dancing with rhythm or a Cuban offering you three cups of tea then you will know the reason.

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Subscribe to Global Voices

Solana Larsen · 07:24, December 17th, 2008 · Announcements

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Global Voices now sends daily, weekly, and special announcement emails (in color) to readers who would like an easy and attractive way to keep up to speed with international events according to bloggers.

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Fiji and New Zealand Bloggers Debate Diplomatic Row

John Liebhardt · 05:36 · Oceania

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Bloggers from Fiji and New Zealand are discussing an ongoing diplomatic row between their governments that intensified when New Zealand refused to grant visas to three family members of senior officials in Fiji's government who came to power in a coup in December 2006.

When the son of a secretary who works for Fiji’s president was denied a visa to return to university in New Zealand this November, rumors started flying that Fiji was preparing to expel New Zealand’s High Commissioner. If that happened, it would be the second Kiwi High Commissioner expelled from Fiji in the past 18 months.

As the diplomatic language became more pointed, Fiji’s government refused a New Zealand television journalist, Barabara Dreaver, from entering the country, claiming she was blacklisted after reporting a story “totally the opposite to what was actually happening on the ground.”

Dreaver was taken into custody shortly after arriving Monday night at the international airport in Nadi, making her the fourth journalist from New Zealand to be deported from Fiji in recent years. After spending the night in a detention center, she was placed on the first plane the next morning.

The growing quarrel may have cooled somewhat by Tuesday when Murray McCully, New Zealand’s foreign minister, placed a call to Fiji’s leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama. No agreement was reached on the visas, and New Zealand said they would uphold the travel bans. But both countries indicated they will continue talks.

Let’s step back, to follow story this from the outset:

On December 15, Raw Fiji News argued that the New Zealand travel bans should continue to apply pressure on Fiji's government.

The travel ban is working and is affecting Frank’s regime and their cohorts. We know the international community understands that and we can only hope that the NZ Prime Minister will not give in to the whims of Frank the dictator. NZ should stick by its decision not to issue visas to anyone associated with the regime, not even to the three children who are causing this commotion. Should Frank decide to still go along with his delayed plan to deport NZ’s Acting High Comm to Fiji, then let it be paving the way for NZ to do the same with Fiji’s Acting Ambassador in Wellington.

…So NZ and the rest of the international community, yes please, step up your sanctions against Frank. The people know how to get to you directly but please, squeeze the bugger even more!!!

At the Fiji Live story on Dreaver’s deportation, there are a few comments supporting Fiji’s regime.

Arnold sees fault with New Zealand:

Diplomacy at its worst. Why did the NZ government refuse student visas for those wanting to complete their studies? That is indeed childish and they have not learned the lesson from the expulsion of Green, the former NZ diplomat. If Fiji's High Commissioner is expelled from Wellington who cares? But if the NZ diplomat is expelled for the second time from Fiji it will be embarrassing for NZ. Grow up guys, this is international politics.

And david1005143 says that New Zealand's travel ban targets the wrong people.

Travel ban on the perpetrators of the coup would be real and acceptable. But to the families who have no other choice, this is blatantly punishing the innocent and the poor. We need to help the country to move forward and to democratic elections. So please the smart, educated big brothers show your sense of judgment.

Moving to New Zealand, David Farrar at Kiwi Blog argues that if Fiji does kick the High Commisioner out, Fiji will suffer a far greater loss than New Zealand will.

Commodore Bainimarama seems to be very misguided if he thinks he is in a position to demand NZ issue visas to various family members of Fijian officials.

Such a demand would guarantee the Government won’t issue a waiver. If he wants waivers, then you have to make concessions, not threats. Such as a firm timetable for elections.

The threat is very lame - expelling our Acting High Commissioner. So what? It hurts Fiji far more not having NZ diplomatic presence, than it does NZ.

And this morning, they have expelled TVNZ’s Barbara Dreaver. Again, the Commodore is getting bad advice if he thinks this upset the Government at all.

I’m open to persuasion that the Commodore has good motives - his planned reforms to get rid of race based voting are laduable. But the longer he remains the self-appointed ruler, without taking concrete steps towards elections, the longer sanctions will remain. The way ahead lies with him.

At least one commenter at Kiwi Blog thinks the detained journalist story is a bit overblown.

From big bruv:

I do find it hilarious that our press treat the expulsion of a journalist as a big news story, it lead the morning news on TV One and was delivered in the most serious tone by Paul Henry, it just proves that all media have a massively over inflated opinion of their value or importance to us.

Mostly the general public could not give a toss if some silly little girl is given the boot from a country that does not want her there.

Peterwn does not agree:

Barbara had an anxious night. I am not surprised - the poor woman was probably scared stiff of being bashed up or worse by out of control cops or soldiers.

big bruv - of course the media will treat it as a big news story. A major objective is to heap scorn on those who try and attack the freedom of the media.

If people do not like her style - they can always watch TVNZ news. Her style is a minor issue compared with media freedom.

Moving on, one commenter in Kiwi Blog argues for improving relations with Fiji so the country does not wind up befriending China instead.

kiwiscouse says:

Bananamarama does not possess political skills and is trying do deal with those who have. The big danger is that he will turn to China for support. They would love a deep sea port in Fiji. The Chinese are already well established in Raratonga, see the new police station there. Oz and Nz are being very short sighted.

From

Baxter:

In my view the new Goverment should extend a helping hand to Bananarama to overcome the obstacles he is facing in establishing a corruption free regime. Banning students or sportspeople because of who their relatives are is the hallmark of the previous NZ Regime and is in the interests of neither NZ or the Pacific. As others have stated the vacuum in the middle of the Pacific can easily be filled by our free trade partner Communist China.

Getting back to bloggers, Adolph, writing in No Minister, claims the tensions between the two countries are, “much ado about little” and will soon simmer down.

So the Commodore kicked out the smart arse TVNZ reporter who had been up there before, stirring up trouble; and he's threatened to boot out the second NZ High Commissioner if New Zealand persists in denying an entry visa to the son of one of the Fijian President's secretaries. The Commodore is also demanding an end to all travel sanctions.

…Adolf's pick is that Mr McCully will realise that the President is not in fact part of ‘the regime.' After all, he has been President since 2000 and the coup took place in 2006.

So, the deal will be that the sanctions stay for the time being, NZ recognises that the secretary's son is not technically part of the regime and gives him a visa and the High Commissioner stays. Mr McCully might also ask the Commodore what NZ can do to assist the completion of elections at the earliest possible time, under a new non racist constitution, which is what the whole silly argument is about anyway.

Meanwhile Thailand prospers and enjoys full diplomatic privilege under it's non democratic government installed at the point of demonstrators' guns and mass violence..

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