In today's El Diario/La Prensa, (p. 11) there appears an article about Evo Morales asking that the location of the United Nations headquarters be changed to a 'neutral nation.' Given the complicity of the UN in CIA agression against Latin American countries, going back as far as 1954 when United Fruit took over in Central America, this is a most reasonable request. Switzerland, with its neutrality,
might be a far better choice. Morales then suggests that if they do not change the location, at least rotate its meeting places, "maybe to Geneva or somewhere in Austria is we're talking about Europe; if we're talking about South America, maybe Brazil", he told CNN.
He is presently in NY where he is attending the UN sessions.
One of the reasons for his appeal is that the US does not offer proper security, and he notes that it harbours terrorists. Which is very true. Absolute butchers from Latin America fill the cesspool in Miami.
Alluding to an incident in which the US denied a Venezuelan flight airspace over Puerto Rico, he notes that the US is not friendly to all foreign flights - one recalls the recent stopping of his own plane in Europe, possibly at the instigation of the CIA.
Bolivia in renewing its extradition request for the former president accused of genocide, Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada.
And it has not been that long ago that certain Latin American presidents found that the NSA was eavesdropping on them...and not that long ago either that the US got caught bugging phones at the UN.
So yes, there are many arguments for transferring the UN headquarters to a nation with less controversy about its dealings with Latin America.
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Friday, September 20, 2013
Red-billed Toucan
Red-billed Toucan, also known as the White-throated Toucan Ramphastos tucanus.
One of four Ramphastos toucans in Bolivia.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Bolivian butterflies
The above are Bolivian butterflies, in a case in the collection of Gene and Christine Philcox of Long Island. The Latin names are: Heraclides torquatus, Callicore cynasura, Dione juno, Urania leilus, and Smyrna blomfildia.
Bolivia is renowned for its wildlife, from birds to orchids to insects. It is one of the least explored countries in the world, making it ripe for discovery and adventure.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Kestrel
Pencil drawing of a Kestrel, Falco sparverius; the most common raptor in the New World. The Bolivian subspecies is F. s. cearae, found from northeast Brazil south to eastern Bolivia.
The American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) is the smallest and most common raptor in North America. It has been confused with, and therefore called, a Sparrowhawk, to which it is similar in size. It is the largest of the species of Kestrels, and also has one of the largest ranges.
The difference between the female and the male, or tiercel, as he is known in some circles, is reflected more in plumage than in size. Males have blue-grey wings with black spade-like spots and white undersides with black barring. The back is rufous, with barring on the lower half. The breast and belly are off-white with black spade-like spots spotting. The tail is rufous, with a white or rufous tip and a black subterminal band.
The back and wings of the female are rufous with dark brown barring. The undersides of the females are creamy to buff with heavy brown streaking. The tail differs from that of the male's, being rufous with eight to ten heavy black bars. Juveniles exhibit coloration patterns similar to the adults’. In both sexes, the head is whitish beneath the eyes, where there are to be found two, vertical black facial markings, one in front and one just behind the eye, going down to the neck. Two black spots (ocelli) can be found on each side of the white or orangish nape, which are believed to be a form of natural mimicry, designed to appear as ‘eyes’ to deter predators. The wings are moderately long, fairly narrow, and taper to a point. although both sexes have a rufous back with noticeable barring. Juveniles are similar in plumage to adults.
The bird ranges in size from 12 to 27 cm (4.7 to 11 in) in length with a wingspan of 50–61 cm (20–24 in), the tail is 11–15 cm (4.3–5.9 in) and the tarsus is 3.2–4 cm (1.3–1.6) the female being the slightly larger of the pair. Males weigh 80–105 g (2.8–3.7 oz), while females weigh 100–120 grams (3.5–4.2 oz).
There are four known vocalizations; the klee or kill, the whine, and the chitter The klee is usually delivered as a rapid series – klee, klee, klee, klee when the kestrel is upset or excited. This call is used in a wide variety of situations and is heard from both sexes, but the larger females typically have lower-pitched voices than the males. The whine call is primarily associated with feeding. The chitter is used in activities which involve interaction between male and female birds, including courtship feeding and the feeding of nestlings. Nestlings can produce calls similar to those of adults at 16 days old.
In the wild birds that survive infancy are believed to live for five years or more, with the oldest record being that of a bird was 11 years and 7 months; captive birds have been known to live up to 17 years.
The bird is distributed from northern Canada to Tierra del Fuego, making use of a wide variety of environments, including prairies, grasslands, meadows, deserts. It thrives both in rural terrain and urban, and any area that provides perches, open space for hunting, and cavities for nesting suits it well. This kestrel is a bird of diverse habitat from spaces above the Arctic Circle to the tropics, from below sea level to elevations of over 4,500 meters (14,764 ft) in the Andes.
The American Kestrel's primary mode of hunting is by perching and waiting for prey to come near, but it also hawks by hovering in the air with rapid wing beats or perching and scanning the ground for prey, which consists largely of smaller birds, mainly sparrows, buntings, warblers; rodents such as mice and voles; lizards and small snakes, and; insects including grasshoppers and dragonflies. There is scant record of such kills as snakes, bats, and squirrels. Prey is almost always caught on the ground. Before striking, the kestrel characteristically bobs its head and tail, then makes a direct flight toward the prey to grab it in its talons.
Despite its small size and rather mundane hunting habits and choice of prey, it is a common bird to be used in falconry, especially by beginners; most falconers prefer larger birds such as Peregrine Falcons and Northern Goshawks when hunting, but Kestrels are easier to keep and breed than their larger kin.
It nests in cavities in trees, cliffs, buildings, and other structures. The female lays three to seven eggs, which both sexes help to incubate. American Kestrels are cavity nesters, but they are able to adapt to a wide variety of nesting situations. They generally prefer natural cavities (such as in trees) with closed tops and tight fitting entrances, as to provide for maximum protection of the eggs and young. Kestrels occasionally nest in holes created by large woodpeckers, or use the abandoned nests of other birds, such as Red-tailed Hawks, Merlins, and crows. They have been recorded nesting on cliff ledges and building tops, as well as in abandoned cavities in cactuses. American Kestrels also commonly utilize nesting boxes.Three to seven eggs (typically four or five) are laid approximately 24–72 hours apart. The average egg size is 32 mm by 29 mm, 10% larger than average for birds of its body size. The eggs are white to cream in color with brown or grey splotching. Incubation usually lasts 30 days and is mainly the responsibility of the female, although the male incubates 15–20% of the time. Eggs which are lost are typically replaced in 11–12 days. Hatching takes place over three to four days. Hatchlings are altricial, and are only able to sit up after five days. They grow very quickly, reaching an adult weight after 16–17 days. After 28–31 days, their wings develop and they are able to leave the nest.
The bird is distributed from northern Canada to Tierra del Fuego, making use of a wide variety of environments, including prairies, grasslands, meadows, deserts. It thrives both in rural terrain and urban, and any area that provides perches, open space for hunting, and cavities for nesting suits it well. This kestrel is a bird of diverse habitat from spaces above the Arctic Circle to the tropics, from below sea level to elevations of over 4,500 meters (14,764 ft) in the Andes.
The American Kestrel's primary mode of hunting is by perching and waiting for prey to come near, but it also hawks by hovering in the air with rapid wing beats or perching and scanning the ground for prey, which consists largely of smaller birds, mainly sparrows, buntings, warblers; rodents such as mice and voles; lizards and small snakes, and; insects including grasshoppers and dragonflies. There is scant record of such kills as snakes, bats, and squirrels. Prey is almost always caught on the ground. Before striking, the kestrel characteristically bobs its head and tail, then makes a direct flight toward the prey to grab it in its talons.
Despite its small size and rather mundane hunting habits and choice of prey, it is a common bird to be used in falconry, especially by beginners; most falconers prefer larger birds such as Peregrine Falcons and Northern Goshawks when hunting, but Kestrels are easier to keep and breed than their larger kin.
It nests in cavities in trees, cliffs, buildings, and other structures. The female lays three to seven eggs, which both sexes help to incubate. American Kestrels are cavity nesters, but they are able to adapt to a wide variety of nesting situations. They generally prefer natural cavities (such as in trees) with closed tops and tight fitting entrances, as to provide for maximum protection of the eggs and young. Kestrels occasionally nest in holes created by large woodpeckers, or use the abandoned nests of other birds, such as Red-tailed Hawks, Merlins, and crows. They have been recorded nesting on cliff ledges and building tops, as well as in abandoned cavities in cactuses. American Kestrels also commonly utilize nesting boxes.Three to seven eggs (typically four or five) are laid approximately 24–72 hours apart. The average egg size is 32 mm by 29 mm, 10% larger than average for birds of its body size. The eggs are white to cream in color with brown or grey splotching. Incubation usually lasts 30 days and is mainly the responsibility of the female, although the male incubates 15–20% of the time. Eggs which are lost are typically replaced in 11–12 days. Hatching takes place over three to four days. Hatchlings are altricial, and are only able to sit up after five days. They grow very quickly, reaching an adult weight after 16–17 days. After 28–31 days, their wings develop and they are able to leave the nest.
Spider orchid
Pencil sketch of a Brassia, or spider orchid. 5 species of Brassia are found in Bolivia.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Ronald McDonald gets his booed in Bolivia
(NaturalNews) McDonald's happy image and its golden arches aren't the gateway to bliss in Bolivia. This South American country isn't falling for the barrage of advertising and fast food cooking methods that so easily engulf countries like the United States. Bolivians simply don't trust food prepared in such little time. The quick and easy, mass production method of fast food actually turns Bolivians off altogether. Sixty percent of Bolivians are an indigenous population who generally don't find it worth their health or money to step foot in a McDonald's. Despite its economically friendly fastfood prices, McDonald's couldn't coax enough of the indigenous population of Bolivia to eat their BigMacs, McNuggets or McRibs.
One indigenous woman, Esther Choque, waiting for a bus to arrive outside a McDonald's restaurant, said, "The closest I ever came was one day when a rain shower fell and I climbed the steps to keep dry by the door. Then they came out and shooed me away. They said I was dirtying the place. Why would I care if McDonald's leaves [Bolivia]?"
Fast food chain remained for a decade, despite losses every year
The eight remaining McDonald's fast food shops that stuck it out in the Bolivian city's of La Paz, Cochabamba, and Santa Cruz de la Sierra, had reportedly operated on losses every year for a decade. The McDonald's franchise had been persistent over that time, flexing its franchise's deep pockets to continue business in Bolivia.Any small business operating in the red for that long would have folded and left the area in less than half that time. Even as persistent as McDonald's was in gaining influence there, it couldn't continue operating in the red. After 14 years of presence in the country, their extensive network couldn't hold up the Bolivian chain. Store after store shut down as Bolivia rejected the McDonald's fast food agenda. Soon enough, they kissed the last McDonald's goodbye.
Deep cultural rejection
The McDonald's impact and its departure from Bolivia was so lasting and important, that marketing managers immediately filmed a documentary called, "Why McDonalds's went broke in Bolivia."Featuring, cooks, nutritionist, historians, and educators, this documentary breaks down the disgusting reality of how McDonald's food is prepared and why Bolivians reject the whole fast food philosophy of eating.
The rejection isn't necessarily based on the taste or the type of food McDonald's prepared. The rejection of the fast food system stemmed from Bolivian's mindset of how meals are to be properly prepared. Bolivians more so respect their bodies, valuing the quality of what goes into their stomach. The time it takes for fast food to be prepared throws up a warning flag in their minds. Where other cultures see no risk, eating McDonald's every week; Bolivians feel that it just isn't worth the health risk. Bolivians seek well prepared, local meals, and want to know that their food was prepared the right way.
This self respect helps Bolivians avoid processed "restructured meat technology," often used by fast food joints like McDonald's.
The McRib: 70 ingredients all restructured into one
Did you know that the McRib is processed with 70 different ingredients which include azodicarbonamide, a flour-bleaching agent often used in producing foamed plastics? McRib's are basically "restructured meat technology" containing a mixture of tripe, heart, and scalded stomach. Proteins are extracted from this muscle mixture and they bind the pork trimmings together so they can be molded in a factory. The McRib is really just a molded blob of restructured meat, advertised and sold like fresh ribs. There's nothing real about it, the preparation or the substance. In fact, McRibs really came about because of a chicken shortage. The restructured meat technology approach kept the McRib on the menu, despite the shortage, and the profits continued rolling in.This is the very disgusting idea that the Bolivians have rejected in their country.
The Bolivian rejection of McDonald's has set a proper example for the rest of the world to follow.
Sources for this article include:http://www.hispanicallyspeakingnews.com
http://www.globalresearch.ca
http://www.theblaze.com
http://www.trueactivist.com/mcdonalds-goes-belly-up-in-bolivia/
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