News
Cuenca leads the country in English proficiency but Ecuador still ranks low overall
Despite some improvement in recent years, Ecuador ranks 90th among 112 countries surveyed in the 2021 EF EPI English Proficiency Index. Giorgio Iemmolo, EF Director of Academic Standards, said the poor showing is due in part to the addition of 12 more countries in the latest survey but says...
Cuenca is buzzing again as the hard work resumes
Some of the photos in this series have been saved for a long time; others are as fresh as the week. In every case, these are our neighbors doing what they like to do best: being productive… The clatter of workers climbing aboard the bus from Paute to Cuenca was the first indicator that today was...
Dead man gets one last motorcycle ride
A group of friends took the body of their murdered pal out of his coffin to give him one last ride on a motorbike as a bizarre send-off in Ecuador. The body of Erick Cedeno was removed from its coffin by a group of his friends in Portoviejo, in Manabi Province. Cedeno, 21, died last weekend after...
Under court order, legislation legalizing some abortions advances in the National Assembly
The National Assembly’s Justice Commission has approved the draft of the Organic Law to Guarantee the Right to Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy, sending it to the full Assembly for debate and a vote. The legislation would allow abortion in cases of rape and when a woman’s life is at risk. The...
Constitutional Court rules that cloud forest mining violates the rights of nature
By Patrick Greenfield Ecuador’s highest court has ruled that plans to mine for copper and gold in a protected cloud forest are unconstitutional and violate the rights of nature. In a landmark ruling, the Constitutional Court of Ecuador decided that mining permits issued in Los Cedros, a protected...
New vaccine centers open; Nativity displays at Old Cathedral and CIDAP; Sink hole closes Pan Americana sur; New cafe features coffee and cereals
Jueves, 2/12/2021 Hola, Todos - Actividades - Artesanas presentan su nacimiento de toquilla (Craftswomen present their straw nativity scene) - For 7 months, 18 women have been weaving the garments for a giant nativity scene with the Angel Gabriel, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus. They wanted to show that...
Fear and loathing fuel the vaccine wars but it’s the larger culture that’s at stake
By Paul Kingsnorth Perhaps it’s my age, or perhaps it’s just blind prejudice, but when I wake to the news that the Austrian government has interned an entire third of its national population as a danger to public health, a chill runs down my spine. I look at the news photos of armed, masked,...
U.S. will require travelers to show negative Covid tests taken within 24 hours of flying
International air travelers arriving in the United States from anywhere in the world, including American citizens, will be required to show proof of a negative Covid test taken within 24 hours of their departure, U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Thursday. The new plan, going into effect...
Oil production encroaches deep into Ecuador’s Amazon to feed California’s thirst for engery
By Rich Schapiro, Christine Romo and Santiago Cornejo The bulldozers rumble through after sunrise, clearing out massive amounts of trees in this remote and remarkable section of the Amazon rainforest. It’s a place where giant otters patrol the waterways and endangered white-bellied spider monkeys...
Taxes are reduced for medical supplies, cell phone and internet service but go up for booze
Tax reductions went into effect Wednesday for a variety of products and services, including cell phone plans, feminine hygiene products, diapers and a variety of medical devices and supplies. Taxes increased, however, for other products, including alcoholic beverages. The changes are included in...
Omicron concern delays school openings; City crews clear storm drains; Buses resume nighttime service; Boosters are available to everyone starting today
Miércoles, 1/12/2021 Hola, Todos - Actividades - Nada. Titular - Adelante tercera dosis (Third doses advancing) - Although the ómicron variant has not been detected in Ecuador yet, the Government has decided to adopt preventive measures such as speeding up applications of 3d doses and slowing down...
Hunger in Latin America is at a 20-year high, according to a UN survey
By Stefano Pozzebon Tens of millions are going hungry in Latin America and the Caribbean as the Covid-19 pandemic sharpens a regional malnutrition crisis to its worst levels in decades, according to the United Nations. In just one year -- from 2019 to 2020 -- the number of people living with...
Expat Life
Cuenca is buzzing again as the hard work resumes
Some of the photos in this series have been saved for a long time; others are as fresh as the week. In every case,...
U.S. will require travelers to show negative Covid tests taken within 24 hours of flying
International air travelers arriving in the United States from anywhere in the world, including American citizens,...
What are the benefits of adopting a vegan diet? What about the downsides?
By Jessica Brown The number of people cutting down on meat and dairy, or cutting these foods from their diets...
Tuesday is the big day! Please give generously to support Children’s dreams in Cuenca
By Leita Hulmes Hi, this is Leita again, a volunteer with Hearts of Gold. I told you back in September about Hearts of...
Health News
What are the benefits of adopting a vegan diet? What about the downsides?
By Jessica Brown The number of people cutting down on meat and dairy, or cutting these foods from their diets...
Walking and hiking both offer big health benefits but what are the advantages of each?
By Melanie Radzicki McManus Walking is the most popular aerobic physical activity in the United States, with...
Opinion
Fear and loathing fuel the vaccine wars but it’s the larger culture that’s at stake
By Paul Kingsnorth Perhaps it’s my age, or perhaps it’s just blind prejudice, but when I wake to the news that the...
Ecuador and the U.S. should strengthen ties to fight drug violence and illegal Chinese fishing
By Ryan C. Berg and Margarita R. Seminario Ecuador is experiencing a rapid rise in homicide rates. A failure to stem,...
Some thoughts on getting old
By Caitlin Flanagan I turned 60 last week, and I feel vaguely embarrassed about it, like I’ve somehow let myself go,...
Community Posts
Need Legal Contracts for apartment/house rentals, construction, employees, housekeepers or anything else?
Contract law in Ecuador is quite different than what you are used to. And every situation is...
Solidarity Garage Sale
Dear All, We are a group of friends that every year make special programs for kids in need in...
Temporary and Permanent Visas: 100% GUARANTEED!!!
If you are filing for a Temporary/Permanent visa, I offer a 100% money back guarantee. That’s...
Thirty five special Christmas meals! – Fundacion Nur
Can you help us with the purchase of food for the 35 families that Fundacion Nur supports? You can...
