Parque Calderon upgrades underway; Public hospital needs donations for neonatal unit; Noboa hobnobs in Davos; Cuenca Guardia Ciudadana gets a new look

Bored? –
(De El Mercurio del jueves, 22/1) Cultural agenda for el sábado, 24/1 –
13:00 – Performing arts functions – Pasaje Pedro Toulop.
15:30 – Cultural activation with live performing arts and choir performances – Pedestrian street next to the Cristo Salvado church, Calle Presa de Labrado y Jorge Carrera.

(De El Mercurio del jueves, 22/1) Jornada de Solidaridad (Solidarity Day) – The Empresa Municipal de Movilidad EMOVPaute, and the Queen of the Canton of Paute are planning a day of sports and solidarity to close out the “Huellas de Amor” (Footprints of Love) project. The project is collecting money to care for the dogs in the municipal shelter. The event will be el sábado, 31/1 a las 8:00 in the Parque Lineal (av. Luis Enrique Vásquez). Register with a donation of pet food. The race will have 2 categories: a 4k with pets and an 8k open to all runners.

Work begins Monday on renovations to Parque Calderon. The major job involves replacing the park’s tile flooring, which is slippery when wet. (El Mercurio)

(De El Mercurio del viernes 23/1) Cartel internacional en el Carnaval de Paute (International lineup for the Paute Carnival) – The Municipio de Paute is the first to announce the international artists that will perform in its Carnaval festivities which will occur on el domingo, 15/2 and lunes, 16/2 in the Parque Lineal, next to the Estadio Municipal, “Eduardo Crespo Malo.” El 15/2, after the parade, Colombian bands and artists such as Los Inquietos del Vallentao and Luis Mateus y la Sonora Dinamita will perform. On el domingo, the Argentine rock band Vilma Palma e Vampiros and the Ecuadorian orchestra Don Medardo y sus Players will perform. The official Carnaval agenda will be launched el miércoles, 4/2. To commemorate the independence of Paute, there will be the “Noche de Confraternidad Pauteña” on el jueves, 26/2 in the Plazoleta 10 de Agosto with a performance by Aguilar y su Orquesta. The concerts start at 16:00 on the banks of the río Paute.

Hungry? –
(De El Mercurio del miércoles, 21/1) “Gomitas de pescado” contra la desnutrición (“Fish gummies” against malnutrition) – The World Wildlife Fund-Ecuador and its Goodwill Ambassador, Ecuadorian chef Rodrigo Pacheco, have joined forces to develop fish gummies using fish with little commercial but high nutritional value. The goal is to develop a product attractive to kids, easy to store, and with high protein levels and essential nutrients. They will also support sustainable use of marine resources, boost the economy, and help fight chronic child malnutrition. These are the first prototypes for “Blue Food” in Ecuador. <And here I thought the only blue “food” besides blueberries, was chicle (chewing gum) ice cream.> Although Ecuador is the 2nd largest processor of tuna in the world with the largest artesanal fishing fleet in the region and next to an ocean overflowing with life, it still suffers high levels of child malnutrition. This initiative is an opportunity for Ecuador to lead a new form of understanding food security, care for the ocean, strengthening fishing communities, and protecting the most vulnerable children.

Textura, color y sabor (Texture, color and flavor) – The main challenge is to hide the fishy flavor without losing the nutritional value. Along with Chef Pacheco, professors and students of the Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí, and the WWF, 12 different formulations of the gummies have been made. They organized sensory evaluation tests, and a technical analysis of the protein values. <I hope they tested the gummies on Mikey. Can you imagine a kid getting a blue gummy, thinking it was candy and getting a hit of fish flavor instead? Bwaaaa!>

Curious? –
(De El Mercurio del miércoles, 21/1) El reemplazo del piso del parque inicia el 26 (Replacement of the park floor begins on the 26th) – The renovation of the paving in the Parque Calderón will start el 26/1. The work will be done progressively in designated areas so that use of the park in general will not be affected. Other work will include adjustments to the lighting system, drainage and the base under the paving. The quadrants of the park will be fenced off while they are undergoing improvement with each section taking about 6 weeks to complete. <So, the only interruptions you might suffer is the temporary loss of your favorite people watching bench for 6 weeks.>

(De El Mercurio del jueves, 22/1) Guardia Ciudadana cambia ‘look’ (The Citizens’ Guard changes its look) – The Guardia Ciudadana has been reinvented with a new institutional image oriented towards strengthening its role as municipal agents of control and to improve its compliance with its functions to benefit the community. Commander Alfredo Tosi said the new uniforms are navy blue and verdigris blue with the navy symbolizing authority and stability, and the verdigris adding a touch of modernity. He said that the change is not just aesthetic, but implies strengthening the institutional promise to improve controls in public spaces. <An instance of clothes making the man (or woman)?>

(De El Mercurio del viernes 23/1) Piden más donaciones para el Vicente Corral (More donations requested for Vicente Corral) – The personnel in the neonatology unit of the Hospital Vicente Corral Moscoso made a 3d request for donations of medicines and supplies so they can guarantee timely treatment for newborns. They are asking for 1 cubic centimeter syringes for insulin with detachable needles, sterile gloves <not those yellow kitchen ones you were about to throw out>, gallon jugs of disinfecting alcohol at 70%, and 300 milliliter containers of sterile water <and not some water you’ve boiled and poured into an empty juice bottle>. You can bring the donations directly to the neonatal unit at the hospital or call 099 143 5258.

(De El Mercurio del viernes 23/1) 4 pescadores detenidos en Fiyi (Four fishermen arrested in Fiji) – 6 men including 4 Ecuadorians were transporting cocaine when their boat was intercepted in Fiji. The Ecuadorians were identified as fishermen. The other 2 were from Veisaru en Ba. <Where ever that is. Google maps says no results found.> The men appeared before the Court of Magistrates of Rakiraki which sentenced them to preventive prison. Authorities said that the drugs were in a semi-submersible vessel. The interception happened el 15/1 after 3 months of intelligence about a transnational narco trafficking operation detected in the water of Vatia between Ba and Tavua.

(De El Mercurio del viernes 23/1) Noboa va de Suiza a Bélgica (Noboa goes from Switzerland to Belgium) – Pres. Noboa attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and participated in the “Leadership Reflections from Young Heads of State and Political Leaders” where there was an analysis on the theme of leadership in a complex world marked by simultaneous crises, insecurity, polarization, technological changes, geopolitical tensions, inequality, and distrust of institutions. He also met with Tharman Shanmugaratnam, President of Singapore about a strategic partnership to access Southeast Asian markets. <Like for bananas? I wonder if he could have gone to Davos on his own account as heir to the Noboa banana empire?> He started his visit to Belgium el viernes where he plans to meet with the President of the Parliament, the Prime Minister, King Phillip, and business people. <And since he’s in the area, maybe he’ll stop in to say hi to ex- Pres. Correa.>
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Information in this column, including dates, times and locations, is courtesy of the El Mercurio newspaper. Comments between the carrots, or guillemets (< … >), are the personal opinions of the author and not part of the news translation.