Global Voices » Carlos Suasnavas

Ecuador: Government Suspends Television Channel Teleamazonas

Carlos Suasnavas — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:08:55 +0000

On December 22, the Ecuadorian television channel Teleamazonas was taken off the air by the Superintendent of Telecommunications [es], under a provisional suspension of 72 hours. Teleamazonas is a channel that has been characterized as one that does not follow the official governmental line. During those 3 years, it has maintained strong discrepancies with President Rafael Correa's regime, which has called many times for the closing of the television channel.

The Superintendent of Telecommunications justified the channel's closing because of the events of May 22, 2009, when it spread news based on assumptions regarding the exploitation of gas on the Puná Island that will affect the residents of the island, who make a living in the fishing industry. According to the Superintendent, upon spreading the news, Teleamazonas violated Article 18, Number 1 of the current Constitution that establishes the right of all persons to “look for, receive, exchange, produce and spread true, verified, timely, diverse, uncensored facts, events, and general interest processes is and with ulterior responsibility.”

Soon after, there were voices of protest from different sectors in Ecuador, which are also planning marches and protests against the measure. For many, it is an attack on freedom of expression. This recent event is also relevant just as the members of the National Congress are debating the new Communications Law, which was made known after dissolving a previous agreement between assembly members from the governmental party and opposition.

There are also online opinions for and against the government measure. For many, the closing of the television channel is a clear attack on free press and it also becomes an intimidating act. For Xica of the blog La Alharaca [es]:

Por más de que el gobierno ecuatoriano haya decidido sacar del aire a Teleamazonas por solo 3 días, esto es suficiente para enviar un fuerte mensaje a los demás medios y a los asambleístas: podemos cerrar un medio y no necesitamos la ley de comunicación para hacerlo.

For as much as the Ecuadorian government has decided to take Teleamazonas off the air for only 3 days, it is enough to send a strong message to other media and to the members of the assembly: we can close a media channel and we do not need a media law to do so.

The editorial line of Teleamazonas, which is against the government, also has its detractors, and many news anchorman Jorge Ortiz as its visible head, which always makes biting comments against the government. In addition, the fact that the channel is own by banker Fidel Egas also places public speculation about impartiality and information bias. In regards to this, Eduardo Varas of the blog Más Libros, Autores y Otros Riesgos [es] writes:

Aplaudir que sea el Ejecutivo el llamado a prohibir opiniones o a definir lo que es o no una profesión es un acto de lo crueles que confunden todo y no les importa. Todos debemos tener la libertad de decir lo que quisiéramos, así seamos un medio con todo el dinero del mundo y con un dueño que se crea el portador de la verdad, o un presidente que también se crea dueño a la verdad, o un gil como yo, o giles que celebran lo cierres de medios como maniobras justas. Todos.

To applaud that it is the Executive branch that calls to prohibit opinions or define what or what is not a profession is a cruel act that confuses everything and it is not important to them. All of us should have the freedom to say what we want, if we are a media outlet with all of the money in the world and with an owner who thinks of himself as the conveyor of truth, or a president who also thinks of himself as the owner of the truth, or an idiot like me, or idiots that celebrate the closing of media channels as fair maneuvers. All of us.

The suspension is already finalized and it yet to see if this will affect the new Communication Law that is currently being debate in the National Congress.

Translation by Eduardo Ávila

Ecuador: Sharing the Knowledge on BlogDay

Carlos Suasnavas — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:11:36 +0000

For the past 4 years, Blog Day has been celebrated on August 31. Ever since the Israeli blogger Nir Ofir gathered bloggers in 2005 and realized that the date 3108 resembled the word Blog, blogospheres around the world have been commemorating the date by collecting 5 blog recommendations, as a way to encourage unity and spread the word about blogs.

Poster for BlogDay in Ecuador 2009

This year in Ecuador, a group of blogging entrepreneurs, led by María Cristina Martínez of the blog Ciudad @ City [es], started the “Virtual Gathering of Bloggers.” The free event was held in Santo Domingo de los Colorados, where the conference speakers were retransmitted in the form of a virtual BarCamp, and one could virtually participate from anywhere in the country by following the live stream featured on the website or on various social networking sites. The presentations included podcasting, microblogging, and social networks.

Martínez explains that the event attempted to unite the bloggers in order to create a large collective for fellowship [es]:

Este proyecto (sin fines de lucro) tiene como objetivo generar un espacio de encuentro virtual para bloggers en ocasión del día Internacional del blog; donde se discutan, expongan, compartan – interactivamente - temas en torno a la blogósfera y la Web Social, y aportar de esta manera en algo a su desarrollo integral y evolución; así como a la alfabetización digital de los internautas hispanohablantes.

This (non-profit) project aims to create a virtual meeting space for bloggers on the occasion of the International Blog Day; where they will discuss, present, share - interactively - topics regarding the blogosphere and the Social Web, and in this way, contribute to the its integrated development and evolution; just like the digital literacy of the Spanish-speaking internet users.

The event took place over two days on August 30-31, and included the participation from special invited guests and speakers from Mexico, Spain, and Argentina. In order to promote the event, the Día del Blog [es] site was created, which included forums, free electronic books, and technical assistance for experienced bloggers, but also for those that wanted to open their own blogs. The Twitter account @diadelblog [es] was also used to help others follow along with the event.

The group of bloggers, who helped coordinate the event, know that having a blog also means being able to teach others and share their knowledge, which is something that attendee Nati Wolf of the blog La Chica de la Luna [es] states:

Quienes tenemos un blog sabrán lo grato que es tener uno, pero también sabrán que se debe tener mucha perseverancia y ganas de compartir para poder mantener un blog.

Those of us who have a blog know about how satisfying it is to have one, but we also know how much perseverance and desire to share one must have to maintain a blog.

These types of initiatives help ensure that the internet and the world of web 2.0 stop being for only a few privileged, and that was one of the goals of the event's organizers.

Ecuador: Continuing to Face the H1N1 Virus

Carlos Suasnavas — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 10:38:22 +0000

The number of deaths of the AH1N1 flu virus has reached 1300 across Latin America, making it the region around the world most affected by this virus. The Southern hemisphere has especially suffered a rapid spread of the virus, due to the unusually cold winter and in many countries, the cases of the AH1N1 virus have surpassed the number of cases of ordinary flu. Even the countries of the Mercosur recently talked about the issue during their recent summit [es].

Ecuador is one of these countries that have had to face the reality of this virus. According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Public Health [es], up until August 15, there have been 23 deaths and approximately 800 individuals infected by the flu.

Its impact in the country's health centers has remained on a “moderate” level and according to the Ministry of Health, “the demand for medical attention is above normal levels, but still below the maximum capacity for health services.” There have also been preventative measures such as the “temporary suspension [es]” of anti-flu advertisements because a considerable percentage of the deaths were caused by complications from the consumption of these types of medicines without a prescription.

The public's perception towards the government's management and spread of information by the traditional media has been acceptable, such as the opinion of the blog Annyland [es], which writes:

Ya haciendo un análisis de lo que he visto en otro diarios electrónicos nacionales, uno de los que más información e importancia le da al caso de la Influenza es El Universo, así como el Hoy en su página principal existe una opción que la llaman Gripe Porcina. Al contrario del diario El Telégrafo.

En mi opinión los medio en Internet están dando buena información, acerca de la situación de la Influenza AH1N1 en el país, incluso existen muy buenas notas donde se dan recomendaciones, se informa el origen de la enfermedad y la realidad o los sucesos que pasaron otros países con respecto a este tema que ha acogido la atención a nivel mundial.

Making an analysis on what I have seen in other online national newspapers, one of the papers that provides the most information and gives the issue importance is El Universo, and also in the newspaper Hoy they provide an option on the main page that says “Swine Flu.” This is the opposite of what the newspaper El Telégrafo does.

In my opinion, a lot of good information about the situation of the AH1N1 virus in Ecuador is being provided online, there are also good articles that provide recommendations, the origin of the illness and the reality or events taking place in other countries regarding this worldwide topic.

Even Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa was under medical observation after a member of his security team came down with the AH1N1 virus, according to the Vice-Minister of Health, Marcelo Aguilar. However, one cabinet member was confirmed for having the virus.

Blogger and author Raúl Farias of Al Lado del Camino [es] writes about some close calls after returning to Ecuador after spending time in South America:

En Guayaquil, el calor me hizo sentir a salvo hasta hace dos viernes, cuando después de un concierto me encontré con el Ministro Ricardo Patiño y hablé un par de palabras con él sobre unos proyectos (a veces te toca bailar con el diablo). El mismo día mi hermana llegó con los ojos reventados, la garganta inflamada y con malestar de cuerpo. Dos días después me enteré que Patiño era portador de la gripe AH1N1 al igual que el presidente de Costa Rica. La cagada, esta gripe no tiene preferencias, me dije enseguida… Ya han pasado quince días desde el último encuentro con la plaga y no hay síntomas. Si esta es una pandemia al estilo I am legend, donde perecerá una parte importante de la raza humana, después de algunos roces con la enfermedad, creo estar entre los elegidos para salvarse. Eso pienso mientras un moco se me sale de la nariz.

In Guayaquil, the heat made me feel safe up until two Fridays ago, when after a concert, I met up with the government minister Ricardo Patiño, and we talked about some projects (sometimes one needs to dance with the devil.) The same day my sister arrived with her puffy eyes, inflamed throat, and with aches in the body. Two days later, I found out that Patiño was a carrier of the AH1N1 virus, like the president of Costa rica. The bad part of it, is that this flu has no preferences, I told myself later… It's been 15 days since the last meeting with the virus and there are no symptoms. If this is a pandemic, like from the movie ‘I am Legend,” where a large part of the human race perishesm after some brushes with the illness, I think I am among the chosen ones to be saved. This is what I am thinking, meanwhile my nose begins to run.

Thumbnail by Guerry-Monero

Ecuador: The Cry for Independence 200 Years Ago

Carlos Suasnavas — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 21:00:52 +0000

On August 9, 1809 a group of men in Quito, in what is now the Republic of Ecuador, participated in “Hispano-America's First Cry.” This act was a cry for independence from the rule for the Spanish King and was the first of many all across the region by those wanting the same independence. Even though Ecuador did not achieve full independence until 1822, the cry helped start the Ecuadorian War of Independence. This year, Ecuador is celebrating the Bicentennial in remembrance of the event that took place 200 years ago.

Photo of Quito, Ecuador by L. Marcio Ramalho and used under a Creative Commons license.

One of the men, who helped lead this movement was Eugenio Espejo, who used his influence to take this step for the future of Hispano-America, and whose dreams came true in the early hours of August 10, 1809. Belén Proaño of Temas Para Debatir [es] writes about Espejo's role in eventual independence:

Las ideas de Espejo, fueron el punto de partida de una nueva concepción de lo que hasta ese entonces se entendía por patria, afirma el historiador Jorge Núñez, autor del libro Eugenio Espejo y el pensamiento precursor de la independencia . “Se empieza a entender por patria a Quito, y ya no a España. Nace una toma de consciencia sobre lo que será después la nación ecuatoriana”.

Espejo's ideas were the launching point for a new concept of what was then understood as homeland, states historian Jorge Nuñez, author of the book Eugenio Espejo and the Thought for the Precursor to Independence. “There was a start to think of homeland towards Quito and no longer towards Spain. A consciousness was born for what would soon become the Ecuadorian nation.”

On the night of August 9, there was a great amount of activity throughout the city of Quito, and many went to the “Resistance Room” owned by Doña Manuela Cañizares. The next morning, many of the most important people in Quito at the time, assembled and created the Government Sovereignty Board and elected its officers. Later on August 16, 1809 a General Assembly was convened and the first document of the Independence of Quito was signed.

After the first uprising, the city of Quito was given the nickname “Luz de América” or (America's Light) and served as an inspiration to other peoples striving for independence. Quito sowed the seed and the rest of the Americas followed suit. The blog Brigada Quetzalcoalt [es] also provides a review of this date in Bolivia, which is also celebrating a Bicentennial for their own Cry for Independence.

Following the Quito’s example, Caracas launched it Cry for Independence on April 18, 1810, Buenos Aires on May 25, Bogotá on July 20, Mexico on September 16th, and Santiago de Chile on May 18. The American continent was on fire, and had been sparked by the people of Quito.