Throughout Latin America the “Latin American Festival of Installation of Free Software” (FLISOL 2008) recently concluded. This event, which has been held since 2005, has as its main objective to promote the use of free software, presenting its philosophy, its scopes and development. During the event, the diverse local communities of free software (in each country, in each city/locality), simultaneously organized events in which they set up, in a free and legal way; free software on the computers that the public brought to the event. In addition and simultaneously, lectures, presentations and workshops on local, national and Latin-American subject matters concerning the Free Software, in all its range of expressions were also provided.

In Ecuador, this event gathered a lot of attention, especially since the President of the Republic, Rafael Correa, by means of decree No. 1014 of April 10, 2008, ruled that the computers in the public administration should utilize free software. This decree fulfills a promise made in a speech in 2007 that would migrate all of the country's computers to these free systems.

In the case of Ecuador, 14 cities participated this year. Coordination was done through mailing lists and IRC chats, where promotional materials were distributed to the smaller cities.

Rafael Bonifaz [es] is one of the pioneers in the country and writes a post in which he explains with details about and how the FLISOL works in Ecuador:

El FLISOL lo organiza las comunidades de Software Libre de América latina. En el caso de Ecuador los organizadores son gente de las comunidades de: ASLE, Ecualug, Equinux, OpenEcuador, Ubuntu-ec, entre otras. Básicamente estas comunidades de software libre son listas de correo o foros donde la gente que comparte el interés del software libre comparte sus conocimientos a través del Internet.

FLISOL organizes the communities of Free Software in Latin America. In the case of Ecuador the organizers are people of the communities of: ASLE, Ecualug, Equinux, OpenEcuador, Ubuntu-ec, among others. Basically these communities of free software are mailing lists or forums, where the people who share this interest of free software shares his or her knowledge through Internet.

Jhon Calderon [es] tells us what cities participated in the country and relates what occurred in the city of Loja where he was personally involved with the organization of the event:

En el marco del evento Flisol Loja se distribuyeron variantes del sistema operativo GNU/Linux de manera gratuita y también a un dólar por cd para cubrir gastos que conlleva el mismo. La instalación se realizo en cerca de 20 maquinas, la distribución de los cd’s al publico alrededor de 80 cd´s y la concurrencia del publico fue masiva quedando muy satisfechos por lo expuesto en el evento.

Within the framework of FLISOL-Loja, several variants of the GNU/Linux operating system were distributed for free and for a dollar by CD to cover expenses. The installation was made on approximately 20 machines, the distribution to the public was about 80 CDs and the attendance of the event was massive, and the public came away very satisfied.

One of the participants in Ecuador Southern City, Loja. Picture taken by jhcladeron and used under CCommons license.

Eduardo Palacios [es] writes in his blog of about what took place in the city of Guayaquil, and he includes photographs of the event at the ESPOL. He adds that their expectations, in respect to the attendance in comparison to 2007, were not met:

Esperaba que por realizarse en el Campus Peñas -que está dentro de la ciudad a diferencia del Campus Prosperina-, la cantidad de asistentes a este evento superara a la del FLISOL 2007, pero creo que no fué así, al menos no durante el tiempo que permanecí en el campus (hasta cerca de las 14h00).

I hoped that since the event would be held on the Campus Peñas - which is within the city, unlike Campus Prosperina- the number of attendees at this event might surpass the number who attended FLISOL 2007, but I believe it wasn't the case, at least not during the time I remained in the campus (until near 14h00).

People Ecubuntu [es] talks about the way that people can follow the activities for FLISOL through the creatio of FLISOL TV, which is a grouping of video streams. Not all the sites had streaming videos, but it was a way to follow the events from other countries.

Esteban Mendieta [es] linked to some of the events around Ecuador, but one of his commenters found open software to be not what it is cut out to be, specifically in regards to the installation:

Me quedo con el sabor amargo de esta ingrata experiencia, pense que istalar WIN yUBUNTU seria mas facil que instalar WIN y LEOPARD, (los he instalado un sinnumero de veces en PCs y en MACS particionadas) pero WINDOWS con UBUNTU definitivamente no se llevan, un enigma para mi… Bueno esperare otra FLISOL o que el sistema sea MAS AMIGABLE, o esperar pacientemente la lenta marcha del software libre.

The launching of Creative Commons (CC) Ecuador was scheduled to be part of this meeting and was organized by the Loja's Technical University (UTPL), member of CREAD. After months of hard work, mentors Juan José Puertas Ortega and Carlos Correa Loyola saw their hard work pay off.

GVO has been following the events as Eduardo Avila posted on this posts here and here..

Creative Commons 3.0 [es] in Ecuador, is the 45th jurisdiction worldwide to adopt the Creative Commons licensing and according to the press release, they are “interested in promoting cultural production and research, so we have taken the initiative to launch the Creative Commons licenses as an alternative to ‘all-rights-reserved’ copyright. To achieve this, we have been going through a process of adapting the international license to our legislation, in discussions both public and private, and we have worked together with our community stakeholders and notable representatives in the field of copyright to reach a public presentation of its launch.” More can be read in the new Scripta (pdf).

For those Ecuadorans who couldn't attend the launch of the CC Ecuador were able to follow the developments, Loja's Technical University website Open UTPL [es] contains more information. For some videos about the all progress of what we are reporting, please head over to the university's YouTube Channel..

As we said at the beginning most of Ecuadoran bloggers supported this process, which started on March 10, 2008. Nelson Piedra along with Palulo were live blogging the ceremony which was followed by hundreds of people not only in Latin America but worldwide. Here the first reaction of local blogosphere:

Angel Gualán [es] a blogger and also member of Saraguro's community says the CC Ecuador was entirely sucessful:

Con total satisfacción se cumplió el lanzamiento de Creative Commons Ecuador, para ver la cronología del evento aqui en el blog de Nelson Piedra.

With total satisfaction was fulfilled the Creative Commons's launch, Ecuador chapter; to see the chronology of the event here in Nelson Piedra's blog.

Blogger and Creative Commons user, Palulo [es] was quick to liberate the content of his blog:

Todos los creadores de arte, blogs, etc. de Ecuador están llamados a compartir sus creaciones o ceder ciertos derechos de ellas, todo en bien por crecer juntos y generar más conocimiento.

Ecuador's creators of art, blogs, etc. All of them are called to share their creations or to yield certain rights of it, everything for the benefit of growing together and generating more knowledge.

The Blog of the Department of Educational Information Technology of Loja National University says:

…Estamos por buen camino con lo de otros paises llevan en lo relacionado a la Web 2.0, e-learning, EVA, etc……..Un deber como docente es compartir con todos ustedes nuestra experiencia.

We are doing well, same as the other countries that are pursuing and relating to the Web 2.0, e - learning, VLE, etc … ….. The duty as a teacher is to share with everyone your experience.

Logo of the launching of Creative Commons 3.0 -Ecuador.

These are only some of the inconsistencies being revealed in the press, and now the most recent controversy deals with a possible infiltration by the U.S.' Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The Commander-in-Chief and President Rafael Correa asserted that the national intelligency system had been inflitrated by the CIA and that there are illegitimate links between the secret service and foreign agencies. Some revelations have found that some Ecuadoran agencies had handed over information to the CIA following the attack by Colombian armed forces on FARC camps in Ecuadoran territory.

In fact, it also brought back memories of the work of Philip Agee, a former CIA agent who had worked in Ecuador, and subsequently left the Agency due to disagreements with the CIA's tactics and mission. This has generated widespread discontent within the Armed Forces and National Police due to the statements made by their own commander. For those nationals, who have always felt honor and respect for the Armed Forces, the country is now experiencing a serious dramatic moments of shock.

Correa himself recognizes that he would be in hot water because of these public declarations. In BPLE [es], the author of this post collects some of the statements made by the president:

No lo voy a permitir y si tengo que caerme por eso (la denuncia), me caigo. Hay casos vergonzosos en que la CIA financia ciertas unidades de Inteligencia ecuatoriana, cuyos informes eran remitidos directamente a la CIA…

I am not going to allow it and if I have to fall because of it (the accustation), I fall. There are shameful cases in which the CIA financed certain units of Ecuadoran Intelligence, which reports were submitted directly to the CIA…

Somos Latinos [es] a platform of channels to publish content not only about Ecuador but South America, also covers the state of this situation, which saw the removal of many of the top-ranking leaders from both the military and police.

El martes, en un acto inédito, la totalidad de la cúpula militar difundió una carta abierta demandando un diálogo directo con el presidente. Fue la gota que rebasó el vaso. La respuesta fue inmediata y, según fuentes gubernamentales, recién empieza. Cayó el ministro de Defensa y la mitad de la cúpula militar y penden de un hilo el resto de los jefes de las fuerzas armadas y de la policía.

On Tuesday, in an unknown act, the entire military published an open letter demanding direct dialogue with the president. It was the drop that overflowed the glass. The response was immediate and, according to governmental sources, it is only begining. The minister of Defense was removed and the half of the military and the rest of the Armed Forces and police chiefs are hanging by a thread.

Press Conference by new Defense Minister, Xavier Ponce. Photo by Presidencia Ecuador and used under a Creative Commons license.

It is necessary then to take the word to the new minister of Defense Javier Ponce, who offered for the Ecuadoran Armed Forces to become more transparent, but hopefully this specific investigation does not focus only on the possible links with this organization but with those of other countries. Espionage on the Constituent Assembly and other persons should be investigated. That's precisely what's been promised by Ponce in a interview published by in the newspaper El Universo from Guayaquil. Aswering the question of what are the immediate changes within the security forces, Ponce said:

Primero: cambiar la articulación que no solo la Fuerza Pública ecuatoriana sino también las del continente han estado dependientes en gran medida de EE.UU. Estar en posibilidades tecnológicas de llevar adelante una política de disuasión, defensa y protección de la soberanía…

First of all, change the fact that not only the Ecuadoran public forces, but those of all of the continent, have been largely dependent on the United States. To be in technological possibilities of taking forward a policy of dissuasion, defense and protection of sovereignty…

All in all, Ecuadorans expect their president to explain in detail precisely what was the reason why he let go his officials in charge of the mainland security. He announced the changes from Mexico, from where he trasmitted his habitual radio address and anounced that he will explain more in detail on television.

Both large print media in Ecuador as La Hora [es] and political writers, such as Vladimiro Álvarez Grau columnist of Diario Hoy write and explain what's going on with this scandal with a reserved prognosis. Another well linked and commented article related to this matter is a document written by Kintto Luccas who writes regularly for many press associations.

Picture by Presidencia de la República del Ecuador and reproduced under authorization

Ecuador has been in the headlines a lot in 2008 so far. First, torrential rains have fallen and have left much of the country under water. Then, the controversial dispute involving national sovereignty and its neighbor, Colombia, has also been in the news recently. Finally, the announcement that has left Ecuador's government in hot water [es] indicates that the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) has found shelter in the country. However, something that has not been in the news, but may be just as worrisome is the question of security on the internet and the recent incidents of hacking.

The hacking of the page of the presidency occurred in the middle of February, and was committed by a hacker who openly mocked [es] the security of government systems and assures he will get into other media portals. Carlos Jumbo [es], who works in this profession explains that it is not the first time this happened in Ecuador and problems like this can be solved:

Fácil de ubicar y detectar con prevención, el problema está en los responsables de las seguridades de estos espacios gubernamentales, deben saber qué hoy en día las verdaderas batallas se libran en el ciberespacio…. se tiene que aprovechar la reforma a la ambigua Ley de Seguridad Nacional que se debatirá en la Asamblea Constituyente, introduciendo nuevos artículos que conlleven a la protección de los recursos naturales y para la lucha contra el Ciberterrorismo, una amenaza creciente en América Latina debido al poco esfuerzo de los países en dedicar su esfuerzo en diseñar y planificar estrategias para contrarrestar estas amenazas latentes, mientras tanto, una cultura de Ciberseguridad puede convertirse en un elemento indispensable para el desarrollo de los pueblos con menor desarrollo.

It's easy to locate and identify with prevention, the problem lies with those responsible for the security of these government's entities, they should know today that the real battles are being fought in cyberspace…. They need to take advantage of the reform of the ambiguous National Security Law that is being debated in the Constituent Assembly, which introduces new regulations involving the protection of natural resources and the fight against Cyberterrorism, which is a growing threat in Latin America because of the little effort made by countries to devote their efforts to design and plan strategies to counter these latent threats. In the meantime, a culture of Cybersecurity can become an indispensible element for the development of lesser developed countries.

People and bloggers were concerned of this incident and Palulo [es] while visiting southern Ecuador tried to look for a technical answer from the experts at the Technical University of Loja. He interviewed two professionals who have deep knowledge of ASP applications, ISS servers y hacking. The following are Fausto Loja's opinions:

La servidores ISS pueden ser atacados por fallos en el sistema operativo utilizado para gestionarlo. En el caso de la página de la Presidencia se utiliza Windows, que no es tan seguro, y eso se manifiesta en la publicación de parches de seguridad (service packs) por parte de Microsoft; además “cuando los desarrollos no son hechos por quienes sepan de seguridad, pueden dejar muchas puertas abiertas”, y esto puede provocar que personas se introduzcan en las aplicaciones y hagan alteraciones,…

The ISS servers can be attacked by bugs in the operating system used to manage it. In this case, the page of the presidency uses Windows, which is not as secure, and this is manifested in the publication of security patches (service packs) by Microsoft , besides “when developments are not made by those who know the facts, security may leave many doors open,” and this can allow others to enter the applications and make alterations…

Some of these violations are common in Ecuador, but not when the company allows the opening of private data. A major telephone company in the country allows the public see all sensitive information about its customers. La Bitácora de Calú [es], warns:

Precisamente eso sucede ahora mismo con Pacifictel, uno de los operadores estatales de telefonía fija del Ecuador. Cualquiera está en capacidad de llegar a conocer no solamente el nombre, el número de cédula o la dirección de un abonado a partir de su número telefónico, sino incluso los números telefónicos a los cuales ha llamado, la duración de las llamadas y otros detalles más [..] Sin duda que para el propio abonado esta información le puede ser útil, pero Pacifictel debería crear un perfil con usuario y contraseña para que cada abonado pueda ingresar a un entorno donde se provea esta información, de lo contrario -tal como sucede ahora- todas tus llamadas -y las de tu vecino/a- efectuadas y recibidas pueden ser espiadas por cualquier persona que tenga un simple acceso a Internet.

This is happening with Pacifictel, one of the state-owned fixed-line telephone operators in Ecuador. Anyone is able to know not only the name, identity card number or address of a subscriber from your listed phone number, but even the telephone numbers to which you have called, duration of calls and other details [..] Certainly for the customer itself, this information can be useful, but Pacifictel should create a user profile and password for each subscriber to enter where such information is provided, or else-as is happening right now-all your incoming and outgoing calls - and those of your neighbor- can be spied by anyone who has a simple Internet access.

Picture by i-ren ishii and used under Creative Commons license.

The decision taken at the Rio Summit benefits the people living in the three countries involved: Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela, but the governments are only slowly returning their relations back to how they were before the incident. The Organization of American States (OAS) has already handed out its resolution and it seems Ecuadorean government is happy with this decision, and even though President Correa has personally said that crisis between these two brother countries has ended, diplomatic relationships are still on hold. Why? Because the Ecuadorean government thinks that Colombia is still untrustworthy. While President Uribe says he wants peace in the region while shaking hands with Correa, the Colombian media is not backing what Uribe says. The newspaper El Tiempo showed a picture with the supposed Ecuadorean Defense Minister and FARC's late leader Raúl Reyes. However, it was later revealed that the other person was not the Ecuadorean official, rather a leader from an Argentine leader from the Communist Party. This event has been widely discussed in Ecuador and the newspaper wrote an editorial apologizing for the mistake that damaged the international image of Ecuador.

Nelson Piedra the author of a blog in Southern Ecuador [es] writes about this huge mistake:

Es más rápido caer por mentiroso que por delincuente, la estrategia de Bogotá se cayó, ya que desde Buenos Aires el secretario del partido comunista de Argentina, Patricio Echegaray, salió a decir que la persona de la foto es él y no Larrea. Probado el error deliberado y mala intención de la foto, el Tiempo de Bogotá debió pedir disculpas a través de un editorial titulado “La foto que no era”. Su explicación “un error lamentable” y reconoce que “falló en sus procedimientos de verificación”.

It is easier to get caught for being a liar, than for being a deliquent. Bogotá's strategy failed, when the secretary of the Communist Party in Argentina, Patricio Echegaray, came out to say that he was the one in the photo and not Larrea (the Ecuador official). With the deliberate error and malicious intent of the photo proven wrong, El Tiempo of Bogota had to apologize through an editorial title “The photo that never was.” His explanation was that it was “an unfortunate error” and recognizes that “it failed in its verification procedures.”

Based in the capital city of Quito is Libertad Ecuador [es] which is maintained by Libertario and whose self-professed purpose is to pursue freedom in Ecuador from all angles. He explains who's responsible for all this crisis:

La única y gran culpable de la existencia de las FARC, paramilitares y bandas de narcotraficantes asesinos es la famosa “Guerra” contra las drogas, que da mas incentivos a los narcoterroristas para continuar con el tráfico. Los precios suben pero el consumo no; las ganancias se disparan y los escrúpulos de las traficantes desaparecen.

The only and great culprit of the existence of the FARC, the paramilitaries and gangs of assassain drug dealers is the famous “War” against drugs, which gives more incentives to the narcoterrorists to continue with the traffic. The prices are raised, but the consumption does not; the profits go up and the scruples of the dealers disappear

Another multi-authored blog is Cambiemos Ecuador [es] and one of its reporters Andres, says that after the conflict and his travels around Latin America, President Correa just opened up a Pandora's Box:

Hemos abierto la caja de pandora, el cuidar la frontera con Colombia es peligroso y cuesta a nuestro estado mucho dinero. Así como Colombia estableció un plan concreto, Plan Colombia y lo vendió a otras naciones, así nuestro gobierno debe, en lugar de extender la mano y esperar limosnas, preparar un plan con compromisos, que busque comprometer a otros gobiernos con apoyo diplomático, económico y de entrenamiento. Esto es, si realmente queremos sacar a las FARC de Ecuador. Ahora si queremos que se muden para acá, entonces sigamos actuando como hasta ahora.

We have opened a Pandora's box, taking care of the border with Colombia is dangerous and it costs a lot of money for our state. As Colombia established a concrete plan, Plan Colombia and sold it to other nations, so should our government, instead of extending the hand and expecting handouts, we should prepare a plan with commitments, which seeks to engage other governments with diplomatic, economic and training support. That is, if we really want to get to the FARC out of Ecuador. Now, if we want them to relocate here, then let's continue acting like we have been doing up to now.

And everyone thought the relations with Colombia were back to normal, some government officials are not ready to lower the tone. The Ecuadoran ambassador in Colombia had some harsh words saying that their citizens have been “kidnapped and assasinated by the (Colombian) army or paramilitary, then later given back disguised as guerrillas, making them believe the opposite.” And the first line in a story in El Comercio, one of the Ecuador's leading newspaper printed this headline after the OAS and meeting in the Dominican Republic, indicating: “The verbal exchanges between the governments of Ecuador and Colombia have risen in tone,” indicating that this is far from over.

The recent diplomatic crisis with its neighbor to the north, Colombia may have took most of the media spotlight off the effects of the heavy rains in Ecuador, but many are still suffering due to these natural disasters. The above picture corresponds to a Ecuadorian locality called Tosagua in the province of Manabi, which was one of at least 15 other provinces affected by heavy floodings. The crisis in this country is such that the President himself has said that for this type of natural events that the government is not well prepared, and what is worse, it has no money. Losses as consequence of the flooding are measured in millions of dollars and it is estimated that it will cost 1 billion dollars for the reconstruction of flooding zones. Crops and livestock have been lost, and it has also claimed 23 lives. To make things worse and more tragic, it is now feared that epidemics, such as dengue will affect the flooded areas.

The Spanish government and the Pope were the first to bring humanitarian aid to the most affected, according to Ecuadorian media. In Guayas and the rest of the Ecuadorian coast, water treatment plants are going to be installed to alleviate some of the possible intestinal problems of the residents of these areas. People from the government, such as Minister of Economic and Social Inclusion (MIES), Jeanneth Sanchez said that ‘this is not an emergency, it is a national tragedy' and invited others to join in the Campaign “Return The Happiness” with the purpose of collecting food and clothes for the victims. In this crusade, Megamaxi, Diners Club International, the National Institute for Children and Families (INNFA), MIES have joined.

The truth is that public safety is threatened in Ecuador not only by floodings, but by other natural forces such as the eruptions of the Volcano Tungurahua and has been reported by El Blog de Palulo [es] with pictures. He is not only using microblogging (Twitter) to keep Ecuador updated, but his last post about the volcano says it's calming down:

Genial! fue lo primero que dije al ver al Tungurahua lleno de nieve en su cúspide y con una fumarola saliendo de su cráter. Cuando niño era normal verlo con nieve hasta las faldas, pero ahora, con un proceso eruptivo en curso, imágenes como estas son impresionantes.

Great! It was the first thing I said when I saw the Tungurahua full of snow at its top and a fumes out of its crater. When I was a child, it was normal to see it with snow skirts, but now, with a current eruptive process in progress, images as these pictures are impressive.

Ecuador Periodístico [es] writes about the Vice-President's campaign to get Ecuadorians' spirits high, makes up an history:

No es que la idea sea mala, sino que ¡qué oportuna!, me pregunto si la agencia de publicidad podrá adaptar unos nuevos artes en los que se vea a la gente de la Costa con el agua en el cuello, ¡pero sonriendo…! eso sí sería bueno, serían unos tipazos de positivos. Estamos en emergencia, 15 provincias inundadas, 22 muertos, 100 mil damnificados y… ahora hay que sonreír. Otro arte alterno podría ser aquel de las faldas del Tungurahua llenas de ceniza y las vacas sonriendo, genial no… unas vacas positivas, que le ríen a la adversidad.

Not that the idea is bad, but how timely!, I wonder if the advertising agency may adapt some new advertisement techniques in which the people of the Coast are shown with water up to their neck, but… smiling! So it would be such a great man of positive thinking. We are in an emergency, 15 flooded provinces, 22 dead, 100 thousand injured and . .. Now we have to smile. Another alternative could it be the sides of Tungurahua filled with ash and cows smiling, cool, right?… some positive cows, which will laugh at adversity.

Flooding is still expected to continue for at least one more month along the Ecuadorian coast and major newspapers as El Comercio, La Hora and El Universo confirmed this information. And now these people will suffer from illnesses as a result of the accumulation of mosquitoes bringing malaria and dengue fever due to the accumulation of water. Don Xavier [es] is thoughful about what is expected to be done by national media, which he says is not informing and instead putting on a soap opera:

No sería más útil que se informe por los canales de televisión, que tienen mayor cobertura, donde se puede asistir para buscar refugio o mostraran vías de evacuación y zonas de impacto o por lo menos donde ir para poder abastecerse de alimentos, no he visto en ningún noticiero que estando la gente con el agua hasta el cuello, algún reportero ayudara a esta gente y no me digan que eso no es parte de su trabajo, creo que eso es simplemente HUMANIDAD, que porque puedo decir que no lo hacen, fácil ninguno lo ha mostrado y ya sabemos que por ganar rating cualquier cosa vale, menos informar imparcialmente y con claridad.

Wouldn't it be more useful to report on the television channels, which have greater coverage, where anyone can see where to look for refuge, escape routes, areas of impact, or at least know where to go in order to stock up on food. I have seen no broadcast news that when coming across people with water up to their neck, where the reporter helps these people and don't come and tell me that this is not part of their work, I think this is simply HUMANITY, that why I can say they are not doing it; it is quite easy, nobody has yet to show it and we all know that to win ratings, anything counts, but at least inform impartially and clearly.

Ecuador needs help now, government will import 45 thousand tons of rice to recover the loss in production and with unemployment on the rise the situations calls for international assistance. If netizens can help it is time to do so and if the friendly governments can help, their help will be most welcome.

Ecuadorians are divided regarding the incidents along Ecuador's Northern border with Colombia, when the Colombian army attacked a group of FARC guerrillas, killing a top leader, Raul Reyes. As a result President Rafael Correa decided to break off diplomatic relations with Colombia. Many agree with the president, but others are asking for more explanations about what's really happening under table when Internal and External Security Minister Coordinator of Ecuador, Gustavo Larrea has confirmed that he had a meeting with Raul Reyes this past January at a site that was not either Colombian or Ecuadorian.

Cambiemos Ecuador [es] is the medium with more informative updates and written by different reporters and is generating buzz on the web. Alex Anazco, Omar Vargas and Jaime Izurieta had published their opinions about this conflict among Bolivarian countries.

Hay una incubación que se viene gestando en presencia de todos. Me asombra leer que solamente se recrimina lo actuado por el ejercito colombiano, pero prácticamente nadie condena a la vez la invasión de la soberanía nacional por guerrilleros para unos, beligerantes para otros y terroristas para muchos, que cometen horrorosos crimenes. Que el sentido común y la prudencia se antepongan a las bajas pasiones.
[…]
Solo nuestra tibieza e hipocresía en relación al conflicto colombiano, originó tan incomoda situación, que tiene en vilo la estabilidad en la región. Ni siquiera, Chávez fue tan apático. El sí jugó un rol protagónico a favor de las FARC.

There is an incubation that has been brewing in the presence of all. I am amazed to read that there are only complaints about the actions by the Colombian army, but virtually nobody at the same time is condemning the invasion of national sovereignty by guerrillas for some, for others belligerent, and terrorists for many, who commit horrific crimes. Common sense and prudence are coming before low passions.
[…]
Only our luke-warm reaction and hypocrisy in relation to the Colombian conflict, originated such an uncomfortable situation, which creates instability in the region. Even, Chavez was not so apathetic. He did play a protagonistic role in favor of the FARC.

The very well known Cobertura Digital [es], looks for fresh information by following Tweet Scan. This is what Christian Espinosa, wrote in his page:

En Tweet Scan se puede palpar reacciones en el formato de microblogging sin el problema del ruido que genera una serie de sitios que supuestamente son blogs en Google Blogs y nada tienen que hacer en el tema porque no son más que noticias de agencias trasladadas al formato de bitácoras.

In Tweet Scan you can feel the reactions in the format of microblogging without the problem of noise generated by a number of sites which are supposed to be blogs on Google Blogs and have nothing to do in the matter because there are no more than news agencies changed to the blog format

Crónica Cero [es] thinks Correa and Ecuadorians are living a very difficult moment in a crossroads where all nationals are concerned and complain about the humanitarian procedures of those who took down Reyes:

Uno puede decir ese lugar tan común: “los guerrilleros murieron en su ley”. Pero entrar a un país, para llevarse el trofeo (cadáver de Reyes), dejar el resto, e incluso abandonar a los heridos, es algo que merece otro tipo de análisis. ¿Acaso el derecho a la legítima defensa se ejerce en lugares donde no tienes competencia? Eso solo lo puedes hacer cuando tienes la potestad o protección del imperio. Y aquí está claro que Estados Unidos defenderá a su bastión

One can say this common saying: “the guerrillas were killed according to their law.” But to enter another country, to take the trophy (corpse of Reyes), leave the rest, or even abandon the wounded, is something that deserves another kind of analysis. Is the right to self-defense only exercised in places where you have no lawful competence? That's something you can do only when you have the power or protection of the empire. And here it's clear that the United States will defend its stronghold.

El Federalista [es] is a blog we've been quoted before and today has a very different opinion from other his fellow bloggers and says President Correa is not suited for his position and he even thinks of him as a probable country's traitor because of this document:

..La posición del gobierno ecuatoriano es débil internacionalmente. En la práctica, el régimen de Rafael Correa sólo tiene un endeble asidero político, respaldado localmente por una decreciente popularidad e internacionalmente por la coyuntura configurada por un conjunto de intereses internacionales basados en el alto precio del petróleo y los compromisos políticos con el régimen de Caracas.
[…]
¿Está Rafael Correa dispuesto a aceptar los resultados de una investigación internacional e imparcial sobre los documentos encontrados en los computadores de las FARC?

The position of the Ecuadorian government is internationally weak. In the meantime, the regime of Rafael Correa has only a tenuous political hold, backed by a decreasing popularity locally and internationally based on a set of international interests based on the high price of oil and political commitments with the regime of Caracas .
[…]
Is Rafael Correa prepared to accept the results of an international and impartial investigation regarding the documents found on the computers of the FARC?

La Voz de Guamote [es], quotes a source from the Ecuadorian Army and says thousands of troop's elements were placed along the border, in addition to the 11,000 already posted in the Amazon province of Sucumbios:

Ecuador, que mantiene 11.000 soldados en la frontera con Colombia, concentró a 3.200 de ellos en la provincia amazónica de Sucumbíos, escenario de una incursión colombiana contra las FARC que derivó en una crisis diplomática, dijo este lunes el general Luis Garzón.

Ecuador, which maintains 11,000 troops on the border with Colombia, brought together 3,200 of them in the a
Amazon province of Sucumbios, scene of a raid against Colombian FARC that led to a diplomatic crisis, said on Monday General Luis Garzon.

Libros, Autores y Riesgos [es], a blog that usually publishes about literature and books today calls Ecuadorians to take it easy and starts his post saying, relax, relax… and continues:

¿Se le puede creer a un Gobierno cuya cabeza ha demostrado su no interés en resolver el conflicto de manera pacífica? ¿Se puede creer a un Presidente cuyas relaciones con el cartel de Medellín son más que evidentes? Yo no puedo. Y más allá de defender al Gobierno de mi país, es el hecho de entender cómo la política exterior es un juego de criminales. El peso de las consecuencias y la incapacidad de hacer lo necesario. ¿No era más sencillo avisarle al Ejército ecuatoriano sobre la incursión? No, porque no iban a matar a Reyes, sino echarlo.

Can you believe a government whose head hasn't shown any interest in resolving the conflict peacefully? Can you believe a President whose relations with the Medellin cartel are more than obvious? I cannot. And beyond defending the government of my country, the fact of the matter is understand how foreign policy is a game of criminals. The consequences' weight and the inability to do what is necessary. Wasn't it easier to tell the Ecuadorian army about the incursion? No, because they wouldn't kill Reyes, but instead throw him out.

One of the Ecuadorians newspapers with online edition and national coverage La Hora, quotes a long post about the international community support to the Ecuadorian cause and quoted from the EFE., among other things they posted:

Una de las reacciones más fuertes fue la del diputado brasileño Florisvaldo Fier, vicepresidente del Parlamento del Mercosur, quien afirmó que Colombia “no es un vecino confiable”.

“La postura del Gobierno colombiano compromete la integración regional”, sobre todo cuando el ataque a las FARC en suelo ecuatoriano ocurrió cuando está planteada para fin de mes una cumbre de la Unión de Naciones Suramericanas (UNASUR), precisamente en Colombia.

One of the strongest reactions was that one of the Brazilian's Congresswomen Florisvaldo Fier, Vice President of the Mercosur Parliament, who said that Colombia “is not a trusted neighbor,” and “the position of the Colombian government compromises regional integration”, especially when the attack to the FARC in Ecuadorean soil occurred when a summit of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) was scheduled at the end of the month, specifically in Colombia.

These are the first reactions about the ‘Raul Reyes' death in Ecuadoran territory which under another circunstances could have been a hard hit to the insurgent organization, the FARC and, a credit to the Colombian government. Now it is difficult to see how this may resolve itself.

Picture under Creative Commons License and published by Mikelos

Recently the Ecuadorian government wrote a decree, which declares a National Emergency in Ecuador due to heavy flooding in various regions. This decision was made in order to protect and provide assistance to Ecuadorians, as the previous declaration made on January 31 only included certain regions particularly on the coast. Tungurahua was one of these provinces that were declared in emergency because of activities of the Tungurahua volcano but, President Correa signed the document backed by 47th Article of the Ecuadorian Constitution and declared the emergency not for the eruption of the volcano, but for the heavy rains across the country.

Ecuadorian bloggers, of course, are following the events and here a roundup of what are they thinking:

Gaby Salas [es], for example, quotes the article 5 of the government's decree and explains what should be the course of actions for all involved:

Se declara la Movilización Militar, Civil y Económica en todo el territorio nacional en todos los Frentes de Acción de la Seguridad Nacional, de todos los bienes, servicios, empresas, industrias y alojamientos que deban prestar su colaboración para superar la presente emergencia, para lo cual se autoriza al Jefe del Comando Conjunto de las Fuerzas Armadas que determine todas las movilizaciones que sean necesarias y emita las directivas para la ejecución de los trabajos de todas persona natural o jurídica, nacional o extranjera. Eso siginifica, que todos quienes estamos en el país en algún momento dado tendremos que ayudar en todas las formas a quienes estan sufriendo por motivos invernales.

Military, Civil and Economic Mobilization is declared throughout the country on all action fronts of the National Security in regards to all goods, services, companies, industries and accommodations that must cooperate to overcome this emergency, which has been authorized by the Chief of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces, who will determine the necessary mobilizations and issue instructions for those people, national or foreign, to carry out this work. This means that all who are in the country at any given time will have to help in every way to those who are suffering from this weather.

Ciudadanía Informada [es] echoes what's going on in Ecuador and summarizes the list of benefits delivered by the government to those affected:

El Presidente Correa manifestó que los afectados por las inundaciones que reciben el Bono de Desarrollo Humano podrán acceder al “Bono de la Emergencia”, para lo cual trabaja el Ministerio de Inclusión Social en el levantamiento de datos. El bono es de USD90 que serán entregados en dos partes la primera que será de USD45 en los próximos días y la segunda en el mes de marzo por la misma cantidad “para que puedan disminuir en algo la crítica situación en la que se encuentran”, acotó el mandatario. Los agricultores que han perdido su ganado y cultivos serán beneficiados con el “Bono de Emergencia Agropecuaria” el mismo que les permitirá acceder a semillas y fertilizantes gratuitos, una vez pasada la emergencia. A esto se suma la entrega de nuevos créditos a través del Banco Ecuatoriano de Fomento. El mandatario destacó que los municipios podrán utilizar los dineros que el Estado entregó como parte de su presupuesto normal, pues el decreto suscrito permite que estos fondos sean utilizados en acciones de emergencia “y todo se les repondrá, no se les perjudicará en dos reales de su presupuesto normal”.

To show the cruel realities in which some people from the Ecuadorian Litoral have faced, El Blog de Naranjal [es] writes an extensive report about Naranjal, an area of Guayas province and the intervention of the local Red Cross:

El desbordamiento de los ríos Bulu-Bulu y Cañar, invadieron extensas zonas agrícolas del sector. Los muros de contención cedieron ante el impresionante volumen de su caudal. El nivel de la cota llego a 46, (el límite tolerable es 36). La población de las zonas inundadas se vio afectada, ya que se registraron en algunos sectores 3 metros de inundación, perdiendo sus pertenencias. Por fortuna no hubo pérdida de vidas humanas.

Secular groups started preparing early for this kind of situation in Ecuador, considering that it is a cycle Ecuadorians have to live with every year when winter arrives. This is what is being reported by E-zine SUD [es] page, where Ecuadorians are finding ways to remain alert. One of the rescue workers said, “it is better to prevent, than to lament.”

Picture by Carlos Jumbo under authorization.

Many Latin Americans, in one way or another, love sports, and are especially fond of fútbol (soccer). In addition, the middle and lower income people enjoy practicing sports, especially volleyball, indoor fútbol and soccer. It was in these surroundings, that a very charismatic person named Petronio Salazar was born in Quito, eventually became very famous and popular in Guayaquil. He received his start as commentator in the popular Ecuadorian Radio Network (CRE) that has been transmitting in Ecuador and now online to the world since 1940. He's been awarded by various Ecuadorian institutions such as the Board of Ecuadorian Sports Journalists, the Ecuadorian Association of Radio and had received special mentions during the Ecuadorian Commentor's Day. He especially remembered for his commentating for the 1974 World Cup.

In spite of his popularity, it is hard to find a picture of Petronio Salazar (except for one similar to the one pictured above), who lately was away from the microphones because of his illness. He can only be compared with charisma of Carlos Efrain Machado (who doesn't recall his laughing?). Salazar sadly passed away at the age of 70 after a lengthy illness. Bloggers remember with nostalgia how they grew up listening Petronio Salazar, even in places where radio waves barely were received. Blogger Carlos Jumbo cries [es]:

…mucha gente que creció escuchando su original narración de un encuentro de fútbol, en mi natal Potrerillos, un pueblito casi desaparecido en el mapa, era la época dorada de las emisoras ubicadas en la frecuencia AM, CRE (no se llamaba Satelital en aquél entonces y no estaba en FM), llevaba las emociones día a día…

…Many people who grew up listening to his original commentaries of a soccer match in my native Potrerillos, a town almost that disappeared from the map, was the golden age of radio stations located in the AM frequency, CRE (not named Satellital at that time and wasn't FM neither) carried the emotions everyday …

Cronist Sports Manual, an old page created in order to build up the soccer terminology and quotes a very original expression used by Don Petro:

Ese jugador se quedó fuera de juego, pero usted no se quede sin su ……(publicidad). - Petronio Salazar, haciendo publicidad en la C.R.E.

That player was off side, but you should not be left without your ……( advertising). - Petronio Salazar, doing publicity in the CRE

The Universe is one of the major newspapers in Ecuador and its headquarters are in Guayaquil. Its founders were close in business to Victor Emilo Estrada and Rafael Guerrero Valenzuela, both directors of the first and second CRE. Rafael Veintimilla writer of this newspaper, gave us some semblance of Petronio:

…apenas un adolescente que estudiaba en el colegio La Salle en su natal Quito y que no imaginaba ser uno de los relatores más carismáticos del fútbol ecuatoriano, se escondía por la vergüenza.

…Barely a teenager studying at La Salle school in his native Quito, did not realize that he would be one of the most charismatic Ecuadorian soccer commentors, often was caught hiding out of shame.

The timid young man was a star in the soccer games, acting as ‘reporter' while seated and using his motto “Cántelo y grítelo” (sing it and shout it) where referring to a goal. This is what La boca del pozo [es] would summarize:

“Don Petro”, así lo conocía la afición deportiva del Ecuador, fue un ícono de la voz y relato del país

“Don Petro,” was how sports fans of Ecuador knew him by, and he was an icon for his voice and for his commentary for the country

Other bloggers also criticized some of the Guayaquil newspaper. El ojo en la hoja [es] says those newspapers used euphemisms, and they didn't cover the whole information about ‘Don Petro' death and he reassures:

Me gustaba de Petronio esa forma culta y frontal de decir las cosas, como lo hacen la mayoría de guayaquileños, directo a la vena pero sin mala educación, por eso es que me indigna que se usen eufemismos para explicar la muerte.

I liked Petronio and his cultured and straighfoward way of saying things, which is how most guayaquileños do the same, direct to the point, but without being rude, which is why I am outraged that euphemisms are used to explain his death.

Finally, another ‘broder' (brother) living in the Big Apple called upon his Catholic beliefs to ask for Petronio Salazar eternal rest, Un guayaco en New York [es], writes:

Descansa en Paz Petronio. Parece que alla en el cielo necesitaban un locutor que te mandaron a llamar. Ahora el cielo ya tiene la dupla inmortal: Pepe Murillo y Petronio Salazar. Me imagino en el cielo a Pepe y don Petro narrando los goles de Alberto Spencer, Carlitos Munoz y Jimmy Izquierdo

Rest in Peace, Petronio. It seems that all in heaven needed an announcer and they were asking for you. Now Heaven has the immortal pair: Pepe Murillo and Petronio Salazar. I imagine in Heaven, Pepe and Don Petro narrating the goals of Alberto Spencer, Carlitos Munoz and Jimmy Izquierdo.

Picture by Charlie Perez and used with permission under Creative Commons.

Ecuador is much more than just a country with beautiful scenery and delicious food and drink. It also has its share of problems, and unfortunately the image of the country is falling the eyes of some. There is still hope, and as blogger Pedro Freile of Dentro de Tus Llagas [es] points out, Ecuadorans dream of a different country:

Entonces, discúlpenme si soy tan… digamos, negativo. Pero quisiera un país como el que soñaron Maldonado, Espejo, García Moreno. No este puñado de vulgaridades y peleas intestinas. Un país católico, un país de hermanos.

So excuse me if I am so … let's say, negative. But I want a country like that dreamed of by Maldonado, Espejo, García Moreno. Not this handful of vulgarities and intestinal fights . A Catholic country, a country of brotherhood .

These thoughts followed the events that took place in the city of Guayaquil this past week when the Mayor of Guayaquil called for all people living in his province to come out and protest against the new tax reform recently approved by the National Constituent Assembly. Critics called the reform a marvel of 21st century socialism. Juan José Malo, is the Chief of the Ecuadorian-American Chamber of Miami and writes about this confusing situation involving the tax reform [es]:

Esta Asamblea ahora redacta leyes, como la anteriormente expuesta, y se apresta a redactar otras, que inevitablemente surgirán de un proceso viciado que tarde o temprano podrá anular lo actuado, ya que son leyes emitidas sin estudio previo a su efecto en la sociedad, generando más caos y profundizando el limbo jurídico en el que ahora se desenvuelve nuestra patria.

This Assembly is now drafting laws, as set forth herein, and is preparing to write another, which inevitably arise from a flawed process that sooner or later may cancel the proceedings, because these laws are issued without prior study of its effect on the society, generating more chaos and deepening the legal limbo in which it operates right now our home country.

On January 24th, along the Avenue 9th of October in the principal port of Guayaquil, Ecuador, nearly 100 thousand people congregated to asking for an Autonomous Guayaquil [es]. Many attended because they wanted to be there, but others were asked to come because they worked for businesses associated with Guayaquil's Mayor Jaime Nebot and therefore, were required to be there. Rafael Mendez Meneses [es], who is a blogger living close to Guayaquil, in a small city called Naranjal, writes:

…No olvide ir a la marcha socialcristiana en la que empieza la lucha contra la autonomía (la otra marcha fue finalmente usada para otros fines, y no se sorprenda si esta también) favor llevar banderas grandes para que en las fotos aéreas no se vea vacía la calle.

…Do not forget to go to the Social Christian march, which begins the fight against autonomy (the other march was eventually used for other purposes, and don't be surprised if this will be, as well) Please, carry large flags for the aerial pictures so that the streets do not look empty.

Ecuadorans are divided along three well-marked cultural territories. One is the coasts for people living next to beaches and with temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius, the Sierra with people living away from the Ecuadoran coast and containing very cold climate and finally, the Orient dedicated mainly for those in jungle region. Most presidents in Ecuador have been elected from Guayaquil or Quito, and very few from other provinces. What's going on now is that Guayaquil's mayor and Ecuador's President are from the very same city and have a lot in common. The government's counter-march contained approximately the same quantitiy of people present. Humberto Cholango [es] from the Ecuarunari organization, calls to support the Constituent Assembly and on behalf of his fellows indigenousm he writes and says:

La oligarquía ecuatoriana con ayuda internacional ha iniciado el ataque y agresión al proceso de cambio social y amenaza a la Asamblea Constituyente con la marcha de hoy en la ciudad de Guayaquil. Detrás del discurso “prudente” del Alcalde Nebot,… se esconden los represores y torturadores del gobierno de León Febres Cordero, los responsables de la crisis bancaria de 1999 que se robaron más de 7 mil millones de dólares de los ahorristas, los que se aprovecharon y siguen aprovechando de las privatizaciones petroleras, agua y de las concesiones mineras…

The Ecuadorian oligarchy with international assistance has initiated the attack and aggression on the process of social change and threatens the Constituent Assembly with the march today in the city of Guayaquil. Behind the “prudent” speech of Mayor Nebot, … the oppressors and torturers of the government of Leon Febres Cordero hide, who are responsible of the banking crisis of 1999, when they stole more than 7 billion dollars from the savings accounts of many, they exploited and continue taking advantage of oil privatization, water and mining concessions…

Galo Lara [es] is an Assemblyman for the Constituent representing the province of Los Rios. In his blog, he also mentions the progression of events in Guayaquil:

Si el bloque oficialista, y el mismo Gobierno se imaginaron, que Ecuador entero los respalda, la Marcha de Guayaquil les dice a todos ellos, que los actos que estàn cometiendo no van a quedar en la impunidad

If the official block, and the Government believe that they have the support of the entire country, then the march of Guayaquil said that the acts they are committing are not going to remain with impunity

One of the bloggers who happend to live near the site of the march, the Avenue 9 of October, tells his very own story about the manifestations. He concedes, all people living over this avenue will have to get accustomed to these kind of events. Guillermo Sornoza of El Ecuador de Hoy [es] writes:

Muchos que estuvieron tampoco están de acuerdo con las fundaciones oscuras. Un tanto más no les cae bien Nebot, pero peor les cae Correa. Sea cual fuere la convicción, el hecho es que hay que notar que todavía el presidente, y sobre todo, su carácter y comportamiento, genera rechazo.

Many of who were at the march were not in agreement with the dark forces. Even if they do not like Nebot, they like Correa even less. So whatever their beliefs, the fact remains is that it must be noted that even the President, and above all his character and behavior generates rejection.

But not everyone supports the Mayor and his political party “List Six” or supports President Correa. There are people who prefer neither side, and declare themselves in favor or against any of these two politicians: Trying to get her off course, Fatima Ifegenia [es] for example, in her personal blog says she's not against the goverment but neither against the List 6, political party of Jaime Nebot. She admits the ‘reasons' why she was present at the demonstration:

No soy anticorreista consumada, de hecho, considero que el gobierno ha tomado algunas medidas correctas. Tampoco soy pro Social Cristiana (¿existe todavía ese partido?). Sin embargo, estuve ayer en la marcha de apoyo a Nebot y de oposición a Correa. ¿Por qué? Porque me ofrecieron un puesto en el Municipio.

Totalmente falso, fui porque quise ir, sin ninguna presión de ninguna clase, solo la de mi indignación.

I am not consummately Anti-Correa, in fact, I believe that the government has taken some correct steps . Nor am for the Social Cristians (Does that party still exist?). However, I was at the march yesterday in support of Nebot and in opposition to Correa. Why? Because I was offered a job in the municipality.

Totally fake. I went because I wanted to, not press at all, the only press was my anger.

From northeastern part of Ecuador, Phantom pokes fun at and laughs about what's going on in the political arena [es] and asks:

Y hablando de panzones con aires de grandeza ¿no les cabrea la “medición de fuerzas” entre Nebot y Correa?. A la mayoría sí, nos cabrea, pero también hay harta, hartísima gente (de acuerdo a las multitudinarias marchas de lado y lado) que apoya a uno o al otro.

And speaking of fat cats with their arrogance: Don't you get angry with “the testing of might” between Nebot and Correa? The majority yes, we're angry, but there are also too, a lot of people (according to the countless demonstrations side-by-side), which supports one or the other.

We are going to conclude this round up, with the thoughts of an intellectual working for the SUNY at New York who has a great blog and doesn't miss a single event related to his country. Fernando Iturburu [es], says that not all politicians fight as the lords in the UK Congress. The Ecuadorians are thoughtful and love to show off with their language. He extensively explains:

Nosotros, tan acostumbrados a creernos superiores, seguramente pensamos que nuestros ex-abruptos corresponden a las finezas verbales de los lores ingleses, que discuten en el Parlamento en medio de risas y hábil manejo retórico en forma de punteo-contrapunteo verbal. Pues no, lo siento: NO somos así. Lo nuestro es más brutal, más ciego, más autoritario, más vulgar e ignorante. Y eso es un problema que los líderes hacen cada día mayor.

We are so used to think of ourselves as superiors, certainly we think that our behaviour corresponds to the finest of England's Lords, who discuss in Parliament amid laughter and skillful management in the form of rhetorical verbal pointing and counterpointing. Well, no, I am sorry: we are NOT like thatl. Ours is more brutal, more blind, more authoritarian, more vulgar and ignorant. And this is a problem that the leaders become worse and worse.

Photo by Nelson Piedra and used under a Creative Commons license.

The Tungurahua Volcano in Ecuador has experienced a jump in activity in recent weeks. Since 1999, this activity has affected residents of the surrounding areas, especially farmers and those in the tourism industry. Some Ecuadoran bloggers are following these events, as well as other news around the country.

Janvier Samedi, in his blog MC au loi [es] points out a confusing problem that appeared in a Montreal METRO Daily:

En la ultima pagina de la edicion del dia de ayer se publico una impresionante foto de la erupcion del volcan Tungurahua, el problema es que lo titulan: “Espectacular erupción en Perú”, en donde indican que el mismo se encuentra ubicado a 135 km al sur-este de Quito “la capital del Perú

On the last page of yesterday's edition, there was an impressive picture published of the eruption of Tungurahua Volcano. The problem was with the title: “Spectacular eruption in Peru”, which indicates that the volcano is located 135 km south-east of Quito “the capital of Peru.”

As most know, Quito is the capital of Ecuador. The eruption of this volcano has also fascinated some local bloggers. La Voz de Guamote [es] writes about the ashes that are falling on neighboring communities. Nelson Piedra provides a little background of the volcano [es] and what it means to residents of the surrounding areas.

El volcán Tungurahua [es|en], que en idioma quichua significa “Garganta de Fuego”, entró en proceso eruptivo desde 1999, a partir de la fecha ha registrado periodos variables de alta actividad. Los más afectados han sido los hermanos agricultores, ganaderos que trabajan en las faldas del Tungurahua y las personas que atendian la demanda turística en Baños, a punta del sufrimiento de perder sus animalitos, cultivos, pertenencias y hasta familiares, los Ecuatorianos de baños se han ido “acostumbrando” con la actividad volcánida del “Garganta de Fuego”.

The Tungurahua volcano, which means “Fire Thorat” in the quichua language, entered in an eruptive process since 1999 and since then has registered variable periods of high activity. The most affected have been our brothers, the farmers and cattle ranchers that work on the outskirts of the Tungurahua, as well as the people involved in the tourist industry in Baños, to the point of losing their animals, crops, belongings and even relatives. The Ecuadorans in Baños have become “accustomed to” the volcanic activity of the “Fire Throat.”

Some users of Twitter have also provided information on the recent activity of the volcano. Communication studies students from the SEK University have set up a Twitter account called Volcan Ecuador [es] and provides updated news and photos of this activity.

Another blogger, Palulo Panda [es] lives 15 minutes away from the Volcano and has clear views of the activity. His twitter account also provides some viewpoints on these events.

Yo pienso que los que menos ayuda necesitan son los de Baños, solo les llega ceniza… lo siento pero otros son los necesitados.

I think those that least need the help are those from Baños, as only ash is landing there…I am sorry, but there are others more in need.

His latest blog entry provides a first-hand account as a resident living 23 km from the volcano and adds some of the aid that is being provided by local authorities.

El lugar donde me encuentro (centro de Pelileo) está a 23 kilómetros, más o menos a 15 minutos en auto del volcán Tungurahua; se podría decir que es un lugar sumamente peligroso pero no, gracias a la naturaleza existen valles entre donde estoy y el volcán. Pero ya estando en las faldas, se siente el dolor y la angustia de aquellas familias que durante la noche deben salir a albergues o donde amigos, por el sumo peligro que representa vivir en las faldas de la mama Tungurahua.

The place where I am located (the center of Pelileo) is 23 kilometers, approximately 15 minutes in car, from the Tungurahua volcano. One might say that it is a very dangerous place, but no, thanks to nature there are valleys between where I am and the volcano. But being on the outskirts, one feels the pain and anguish of those families that had to evacuate in the middle of the night to shelters or to the houses of friends due to the high risk to those living near mother Tungurahua.

Other News
In other Ecuadoran news, Southern Ecuador has a small group of prominent bloggers that, in association with the local university (Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja and Universidad Nacional de Loja), are developing projects. At the end of the 2007 they gathered on the UTPL campus at a summit that they called: Loxa Bloggers 2007

Piedra [es] also writes the five conclusion after the meeting:

1. Nos comprometemos a reconocer nuestras voces, desarrollar conversaciones horizontales, crear comunidades, romper jerarquías, inspirados en el manifiesto “Tren de Claves.”
2. Somos “open”, creemos y nos comprometemos en promover la Educación, el Conocimiento, la Autoría, los Negocios, la Colaboración, la Participación, la Tecnología y su uso para que sean abiertas y libres.
3. Como latinoamericanos seguiremos trabajando por la inclusión social, la promoción de nuestra identidad, el rescate de nuestras raíces y la mantención de nuestro patrimonio como reserva para un futuro humanista.
4. La participación ciudadana y la democracia ya ha empezado a cambiar. ¿Te quedas fuera o te unes a nosotros?

1. We pledge to recognize our voices, develop horizontal talks, build communities, break hierarchies, and be inspired by the Manifesto “Train Keys”
2. We are “open”, we believe and we pledge to promote Education, Knowledge, Authoring, the Business Partnership, Participation, Technology and its use will be open and free.
3. As Latin Americans, we will continue to work for social inclusion, the promotion of our identity, rescue our roots and keep and maintaining our heritage as a reserve for a humanist future.
4. The citizen participation and democracy has already begun to change. Are you on the outside or will you join us?

Finally, the Correa administration is changing gears in the Ecuadoran Trade, B.P.L.E [es] provides a round up about a note most Ecuadoran newspapers have echoed regarding the new administration of the Pacific Bank:

Mauricio Martinez, Gerente del Banco Central ha dicho que proceso de negociación del Banco sigue en marcha pero que los dos, Félix Herrero y Roberto González luego de enemistarse con Correa y de terminar su periodo para el que habian sido contratados, deben irse a su casa. No mas dolares para ellos sino para los profesionales locales, encargado queda el Sr Andrés Baquerizo

Mauricio Martinez, CFO of the Central Bank has said that the Bank's negotiation process is ongoing, but that the two, Felix Herrero and Roberto Gonzalez after antagonizing Correa have finished their terms for what they had been hired, must go home. No more dollars for them, but instead for local professionals, the new man in charge is Mr. Andrew Baquerizo

Pacific Bank is second in importance in Ecuador and thanks to those two Spaniards, the bank returned from a probable bankcarupcy to a sucessful business bank during the last year. How this will affect the Ecuadoran economy is something all Ecuadorans can look forward to.

The SRI (Servicio de Rentas Internas) accused the company of not presenting requested tax information on two occasions. This is associated to a national campaign headed by Carlos Carrasco, Director of Internal Revenue Services, who indicated that tributary evasion is costing nearly 3 billion dollars, which represents 28.6% of the national budget scheduled for the 2008.

El Universo first published the story, and was soon followed by CNN (Who for unknown reason is not linking the note anymore) and bloggers such Erebe.net [ES] and Linux en Ecuador [ES] group.

Eduardo Palacios [ES] writes:

La inteligente sanción del SRI: cerrar las compañías siete días. Siete días que los negocios dejan de producir y que los clientes no recibirán una atención adecuada. No sería una multa lo más conveniente?

The smart SRI decision: close the companies for seven days. It will be seven days that companies do not produce and the customers wouldn't receive proper attention. Wouldn't be more convenient to issue a fine?

Carlos Jumbo [ES] also mentions the other companies in fault with the Ecuadorian government:

Además de Microsoft del Ecuador, otras empresas como Mega Santa María, Panificadora Ambato, Agape S.A., y Laar Cía. Ltda cumplirán con la misma sanción temporal por los mismos motivos.

Beyond Microsoft of Ecuador, another companies like Mega Saint Mary, Ambato Bakery, Agape S.A. and Laar Cia Ltd. will be temporarily sanctioned because of the same reasons.

Blog for Spanish Readers [ES], however points out that Microsoft is back in business:

De todas maneras para los que quieren encubrir el asunto ya existe la nota que la empresa del Sr. Gates está trabajando nuevamente y hasta se publica la nota acalaratoria donde reconocen haber sido sancionados.

Photo of Rafael Correa during the campaign. Taken by Manuel Nieves and used by permission.

This past weekend nearly 9 million Ecuadoran nationals and others who live abroad voted looking for a change in direction of Ecuador politics. Seats for the Constituent Assembly were up for grabs, and the current President Rafael Correa's political party, Alianza Pais, was expected to win a large majority of these positions. Even though the official tally is still being counted, early estimates have given Correa a majority in the 130-member assembly.

EcuadorElige [ES] has been following all the conversation regarding this election and shares with us some links of some of the most recognized Ecuadoran bloggers and what they have to say about the election.

The blogger Don Xavier [ES] writes about the different threats and warnings given to voters if Correa was given increased power in the country's affairs. He makes a reference to childhood saying about witches, old men in coats and a cuckoo that would take small children away if they did not do what they were supposed to.

Ahora ya no dicen CUCO, se refieren a el como CHAVEZ, no me amenazan con la BRUJA en vez de eso me dicen que van a derogar la dolarización y que el VIEJITO DEL SACO no es nada mas ni nada menos que el SOCIALISMO DEL SIGLO XXI.

Now they no longer say CUCKOO, talking about him like CHAVEZ, they do not threaten me with the WITCH, and instead, say to me that they are going to change the dollar currency and that the VIEJITO OF the COAT is nothing more than the SOCIALISM OF the 21st CENTURY.

Libertad Ecuador [ES] is worried about the results and what might happen to the country now that Correa has increased control:

Solo cuando pierdan su trabajo o una posibilidad de negocio y se les haga imposible enrumbarse nuevamente debido a la recesión económica ya iniciada gracias a las políticas populistas del Rafico se darán cuanta del error cometido.

Only when they lose their jobs or any business possibility and for them it becomes impossible to find a path due to the economic recession already initiated thanks to the Rafico's populist policies, will they realize of the mistake that they committed.

El Federalista [ES] sums it up bluntly:

The winer: Correa, the losers: everyone

El ganador: Correa, los perdedores: todos

Cronica Cero [ES], mocks of two of the most senior parties in Ecuador for not acknowledging their defeat:

En la hora de la derrota, ni Jaime Nebot, ni Nicolás Lapentti acudieron a dar la cara. La historia seguramente los marcará como cobardes, faltos de entereza para reconocer que se equivocaron.

…In the hour of the defeat, neither Jaime Nebot, nor Nicholas Lapentti appeared. History surely will mark them as cowards, without integrity for not admitting that they were mistaken.

El Manaba [ES] author of a very popular blog in Ecuador concludes:

Una leccion para los partidos politicos, o se renuevan o mueren

A lesson for the political parties, either they change or they condemned to die.

Ecuador will know if the majority of assembly men and women who were picked up to change the Ecuadoran Constitution were the right people and whether giving Mr. Correa more power will mean a positive change for emigrants, locals and all people living and will grow up in this country.

Photograph of Loja, Ecuador by Milton Ramirez

Ecuador is a country with low access to the Internet and so most Ecuadorian netizens must save enough money to use an Internet cafe or pay for their own costly connection. The situation is even more interesting if we look at the impoverished southern Ecuadorian provinces of El Oro, el Azuay and Loja. It is in the last of these regions where there's been an advancement in the amount of technologist and professional weblogs. The Technical University of Loja has been instrumental in developing what we've come to call citizen journalism. A recognition of the progress being made at the university has been documented by Ecuadorian journalist and blogger Christian Espinosa [ES] who, mentioning the first blogger meetup organized by Calú [ES], asks Ecuadorean bloggers to become more involved with their southern peers.

There exists a “tipping point” of bloggers in the area, as Professor Espinosa likes to call it. In the city of Loja, Viva el Ecuador [ES] has led several online projects that aim to support local businesses and attract tourism to the region. And the Special Technical University of Loja (UTPL) has its own citizen blog portal.

When you come to visit Ecuador, don't leave without getting to know the bloggers of Loja as well as the city and province.

Translated from Spanish by David Sasaki

Union de Bloggers Hispanos claims to be tired to be browsing only English language blogs:

Pues yo estoy cansada, y por ello quiero crear este blog para que todos podamos colocar en él nuestros blogs y navegar por ellos entender lo que decimos, poder dicutir con otros miembros que hablen en nuestra lengua, en fin entendernos.

So we are, and thanks to GVO you can get this piece of information. The blogs that belong to the Hispanic Blogger's Union (UBH) are classified by categories in agreement with the blog's author but you might want to check the whole list in here or participate in an old way to get noticed by search robots through this meme.