City hires anti-mining attorney, Ecuador responds to drug trafficker attack, Capital gains repealed, Blood drive

Miércoles, 21/3/2018

Hola, Todos –

Pagina cultural –

Today’s agenda event –

Tango – The Cultural Unit of the U. of Cuenca presented “Tango Nuevo en Universidades” Wednesday in the teatro Carlos Cueva Tamariz. Argentinean singer, composer and pianist Alejandro Bettinotti will be featured.

Articles about –

Poetry – Today is the Día Mundial de la Poesía and will be celebrated with a tribute to Efraín Jara Idrovo and the presentation of his poem, “Sollozo por Pedro Jara (Estructuras para una elegía) (Sob for Pedro Jara (Structures for an elegy). The presentation and discussion was hoy a las 19:00 in the teatro Sucre. The edition is bilingual in Spanish and English. Cost of the book: $20.00.

“Mujereando” – This theatrical work by Juana Estrella will run hasta el viernes. The show has short 8 monologues that talk about the world of women.

Otras cosas –

Titular – Gobierno lanza advertencia por mortal atentado (Government launches warning for deadly attack) – Pres. Moreno condemned an attack on the Colombian border that left 3 soldiers dead and another 7 injured when an explosive device detonated as their vehicle passed. The attack was attributed to Colombian drug traffickers and related groups that shelter that activity.

Mining – Pablo Piedra Vivar, an environmental attorney who represents the Yasunidos in their efforts to prevent oil exploitation in the Parque Nacional Yasuní, has been hired by the Municipality to do a legal review of the mining concessions granted in the canton.

TAME – The airline announced the temporary suspension of a round trip flight to NY due to the snow storm Toby. <If they can’t stay on the runway when it’s just a little wet, one questions their ability to stay on the runway in heavy snow.>

Replacement – Fabián Salazar was named as the replacement for acting AG Thania Moreno who was sanctioned by the Consejo de la Judicatura (CJ – Judiciary Council) yesterday. Salazar served as director of the Unit for the Fight against Corruption in the AG’s office and was criticized for not charging businessman Juan Pablo Eljuri in the Odebrecht case. <Makes you wonder why Eljuri wasn’t charged.>

Street closure – The planned closure of Presidente Córdova entre Padre Aguirre y General Torres has been postponed. Current work in the plaza is the installation of the stone interior floors. During the work, the original flooring was uncovered and will be displayed in 4 “ventanas arquiológicas” (archaeological windows). Another “ventana” will be for a circular area in the middle which used to be a fountain. There are photos of it from first decades of the 20th century.

Blood drive – There will be a big blood drive el viernes desde las 9:00 hasta las 15:00 in the Parque de la Madre. According to the Ministerio de Salud Publica, barely 0.5% of the population donates blood while the ideal percentage is between 2 & 5%. Donations will supply the blood bank at the “Vicente Corral Moscoso” hospital. There be entertainment, prizes, refreshments, and other incentives for donors. Donors need to be between 18 & 65 years old, in good health, not taking any medications that can alter blood coagulation, with a minimum weight of 50 k or 110 lb, and at least 1.5 m. tall.

Gualaceo – The Secretariat of Risk Management gave out first response kits to people who had been victims of disasters in the cantón. The kits contained food and cleaning products.

Empresarial (Business Page)

Ley de Plusvalía – The end of the Capital Gains Tax Law “alienta” (encourages – your word for the day) builders who are hoping people will take their money out of banks and invest in real estate. The government, through the Corporación Financiera Nacional and the Banco del Pacífico, has finance packages. Buyers can get 20 year loans at 4-6% depending on the house, with a 6 month grace period. Builders can get 5 year loans at 8% with a 2 year grace period.

The sno-cone man – 41 year old Fernando Arichávala supports his family selling “granizados” 10 hours a day, 7 days a week. When it’s hot, he can sell more than 200 cups a day, but only 50-80 when it rains. HIs current cart cost $500.00. He walks around schools, parks and areas with high traffic; and on Sundays, he goes to el parque Paraíso. <I wonder if he took the kids when they were little?>

Pagina intercultural – A recuperar valores milenarios para compartirlos (To recover millennial values to share) – October 12 is a day when various ethnicities call for reflection and respect of cultures. <This is well worth the read if you’re interested in an article written from the point of view of the colonized peoples – the “losers.”> A couple of the values were the minga which is work done in a group for a common good and the rescue of traditional agricultural methods and products.

Descuentos y compras –

Chery – Chery Q from $12,990 – at Cuencauto -www.cheryinternational.com, www.cinescar.com.ec.

And that´s all for today so Hasta Mañana –

Jeanne