Colombia

Country Page: Colombia

**Wikispace Assignment 1, Begin Here: **
Insert "horizontal lines" to separate individual student work.

//The ancient, nutrient-rich crop of the Andes, quinoa, is experiencing global popularity for first time, but not without a cost //
 * New Miracle Crop of Southern Bolivia Raises Excitement and Concerns **

 Main entry: Dan Collyns - "Quinoa brings riches to the Andes " January 14, 2013; and Joanna Blythman - "Can vegans stomach the unpalatable truth about quinoa?" January 16, 2013

United Kingdom news source The Guardian's Joanna Blythman criticizes vegans and other humane-type dieters about the surge of quinoa's impact on the global market in "Can vegans stomach the unpalatable truth about quinoa?" With the growing popularity of eco-friendly alternative lifestyles, this gluten-free, protein-rich, and highly-demanded food product, Blythman argues, has forced Bolivian quinoa farmers to fall victim to the the basic principles of capitalism's "supply and demand." She suggests that the expensive costs of the grain per "tonne" have become too high for Bolivian farmers and their Andean neighbors who are now buying junk food for cheaper than the healthful staple food they once relied on for essential nutrients. While recent discoverers of quinoa are in favor of the grain's rich protein content (it is perfect for those opting not to eat meat or for those looking for more healthful food choice alternatives), the //Guardian//'s Dan Collyns suggests in "Quinoa brings riches to the Andes" that indigenous peoples of the Andes who have for thousands of years harvested and subsisted off this crop are now jumping ship and embracing taste buds they'd never been able to try before. As the grain's value has about tripled in the past 6-7 years, quinoa farmers in Bolivia are now choosing to sell the coveted grain rather than continue eating it: "'Ten years ago they had only an Andean diet in front of them. They had no choice. But now they do and they want rice, noodles, candies, coke, they want everything!'" (Collyns). In fact Bolivian citizens who once migrated to the cities to find better opportunities are now relocating back to old farmlands to take a stab at the promising gains the popularized grain now has to offer. Despite Blythman's concerns about Bolivian quinoa farmers' wealth and health, Collyns suggests that the irony seems to be that wealthy Western cultures - notorious for obesity and over-consumption of fatty foods (the United States, to name a prime example) - are now helping turn the tables in the Third World's economy by turning to healthier food options. Bolivian President Evo Morales is celebrating this surge in economic potential for quinoa, which, "'after so many years...is reclaiming its rightful recognition as the most important food for life,'" (Collyns).

=additional reading:=

PETA's response to Blythman's article - Mimi Bekhechi - "Eating quinoa may harm Bolivian farmers, but eating meat harms us," January 22, 2013

Bekhechi, instead of harping on the economic exploitation of Bolivian quinoa farmers due to the grain's rising value, suggests that the costs of growing other grains (like soy beans) for raising meat for human consumption are far more disruptive to human poverty and starvation than the rising prices of quinoa: "It would take 40m tonnes of food to eliminate the most extreme cases of world hunger, yet nearly 20 times that amount of grain – a whopping 760m tonnes – is fed to farmed animals every year in order to produce meat."

I chose this news story for several reasons. Americans are often criticized for their ignorance towards what's really going on in the world, and I think the Third World, which is so distant from the everyday experiences and expectations of U.S. citizens, is always a great topic to dig into. While I'm torn about the implications of Bolivians and other South Americans missing out on such a healthy food source, I think the real danger here is what will happen next. Is this just another fad in the highly-marketed health food sector, or can we expect to see more gains for Bolivia from this special plant?

-Alexis Astolfi

News Source: ==[|Renewed FARC violence exceeds pre-peace talks levels] ==

This article, posted in January 27, 2013 concerns the relationship between the Marxist-guerrilla group FARC and the Colombian government – primarily the recent negotiations to attempt to end an armed conflict that has lasts for half a century. FARC is an acronym for “ //Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia” //(the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia). Despite the highly discussed peace talks between the two parties, FARC has recently “stepped up its attacks against security forces and infrastructure to a level that exceeded the level of violence preceding the announcement of peace talks with the government in August.”

The victims of the most recent attacks were the Southern departments of Putumayo and Cauca, the Northwestern Antioquia department, and Northeast in Norte de Santander. Additionally, many of the attacks were directed at Columbia’s oil and gas industry. <span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style,serif;">This article is highly relevant to the myriad of issues faced by the Colombian government on a daily basis. As a country struggling to gain traction in the global market, the Colombian government desperately needs to attain a level of peace – a need signified by the willingness to “come to the table.” However, the recent increase in violence is a great hindrance and shows there is still much to be done.

<span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style,serif;">-Kristen Pellow

=Ailing Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Survives Respiratory Infection=

Still undergoing treatment for cancer in Cuba


==[| Dana Ford, Nelson Quinones and Marilia Brocchetto - "Venezuela's Chavez beats respiratory infection, minister says", January 27, 2013]==

This article by CNN is an update on the current condition of Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez. The president, who first took office and has held it ever since 1999, has been ailed with cancer since 2011 and has received much of his treatment in Cuba. Last month, after his fourth cancer surgery in Havana, the Venezuelan president contracted a life-threatening respiratory infection. Chavez, 58, has been declared successfully recovered from this infection and continues to undergo treatment for his cancer.

The charismatic leader has not made a public appearance in six weeks even on his state television show, which is rare. Information Minister Ernesto Villegas stated, "The general evolution of the patient is favorable...the severe respiratory infection has been overcome, although there remains a certain degree of respiratory inefficiency, which is being treated." (Brocchetto).



I chose this article because Hugo Chavez is one of the most well-known figures outside of Latin America, especially in the United States, whom he has heavily criticized in public. His fate and the nature of it will have repercussions not only in Venezuela and Latin America but the wider world.

His notoriety stems from his controversial actions in Venezuelan and world politics. He entered onto the political scene after a failed coup attempt on his part. In exchange for his surrender, he received television time with which he used his charisma to sway the working class of the nation to vote him into the presidency in 1998. Since then he has survived a coup attempt, which he accused the United States of orchestrating in 2002, and in 2009 he successfully removed term limits in all Venezuelan political offices effectively making him president for life unless he loses an election. He maintains close diplomatic ties with tradition western enemies in Cuba, North Korea, and Iran.

Never one to mince words, he has long been an outspoken critic of the United States and its policies even going so far as to call then president George W. Bush "the devil" in 2006 at a United Nations meeting in New York.

Additional information on Hugo Chavez: [|Hugo Chavez Political Highlights]

-Chris Wuerstlin