Viernes, 8/1/2016: Road closure for the tranvia, Cuenca without noise campaign, Land reform, Inflation in Ecuador

Documental – “Con mi corazón en Yambo” will be projected Friday 8 in the Sala Comunitaria del Museo Pumapungo at 10:00 and at 18:30.  Free.

Articles about  –

The winner of the concurso de comparsas (comparsas contest) in the institutional category is the U of Cuenca for the 2nd year with their Andean theme of “Pumataqui.”  They also won the “Máscara Dorada” (Golden Mask) for the best acting.  Second place went to the UPS (Universidad Politécnica Salesiana) for their Star Wars theme.  In 3d place was the U of Azuay with “La inmovilidad en Cuenca” (Immobility in Cuenca).  600 people dressed cars, buses, transit cops, and streets represented “caos” vehicular.  (Which I think make good words for the day – vehicular chaos – as well as a good description of Cuenca’s streets.) In the comparsas category, the winners were the Vanegas family, the Flores family and the inclusive school Nova. In the individual category, Santiago Illescas won for the theme of “Cuenquita también quería papita” (The little Cuencana also would want a little potato) and 2nd place went to Iván Palacios for his “Baile árabe con Cantinflas.  (Arab dance with Cantinflas whom I am sure you know.)

The OSC will be conducted by Venezuelan Manuel Campos Friday 8 at 20:00 in the Teatro Pumapungo.  The First Concert Season of 2016 will feature young conductors from Latin America.  (Does this sound like auditions for a permanent conductor to you?)  The program will include the Danza Bachanalle by Saint Saens, Pavana para una Infanta Difunta by Ravel and the Symphony No. 5 in mi menor (as in do-re-mi, but I can’t remember what note “do” starts on – if it’s middle C or A.)

Casa de la Cultura elections – the presidential candidate from List 1, Iván Petroff Rojas, challenged the candidate from List 2, Carlos Vásconez Gomezcoello, who is running for re-election. The election committee is processing the challenge.  The call by the List 3 candidate, Bolívar Ávila Vanegas, for a public debate with all 3 candidates, was turned down because the CCE doesn’t have the “competencia” (capacity/ capability) to do this. They suggested contacting other entities such as the media or guilds.  The elections will be on 14/1 from 9-16:00 in the planta baja (ground floor – ever noticed the elevator buttons that use PB?  Well it stands for planta baja – another Ecuadorian mystery solved.) of the CCE.Otras cosas –

Titular – Ley normará propiedad de la tierra rural (Law will regulate rural land).  The law was passed after 4 years with criticism from the indigenous and union sectors. Indigenous organizations feel the law favors industrial farmers to the detriment of poor, small farmers. The goal of the laws is to make land productive, and prepare the rural sector for a post-petroleum epoch.  It permits and promotes investment and redistribution of land to organizations of poor campesinos to promote production. Land subject to “eminent domain” would have to be unused and over certain sizes. Communal land and territories and ancestral villages would not be expropriated and environmental value of land is recognized. There are restrictions on foreign ownership of land, but co-ownership with the national government or local businesses and communities is excepted. (I hope that companies like Monsanto are kept out.)

Otro cierre por el tranvía (Another closure for the tranvia) – This time the closure is of the south to north lane of Las Americas from calle del Batán  to Paseo 3 de Noviembre so work can start on the reinforcement of the bridge over the Tomebamba.  South to north traffic will be bypassed to the north-south lane (probably similar to the bypass at the Yanuncay bridge.)

An anti-noise campaign – “Cuenca sin Ruido” (Cuenca without Noise) was announced yesterday to build public awareness about the effects of noise pollution.

An inauguration – of improvement work (maybe a groundbreaking?) at the U of Cuenca School of Hospitality Sciences (Tarqui y Vega Muñoz) will be at 17:00 Friday 8th in the auditorium.

Inflation – in Ecuador was 3.38% in 2015 v.s. 3.67 in 2014. Cuenca had the highest monthly inflation rate at .63% followed by Ambato at .34% while Esmeraldas and Santo Domingo had negative rates of .09 and .07%. The minimum monthly income for a family of 4 with 1.6 workers was $660.80 while the “canasta familiar” (family basket – I’ve also seen canasta basica – basic needs) was $673.  (Another day older and deeper in debt)

Business – 

Hypoo – part of the Eljuri group will introduce 3 new ecological toilets. (Shouldn’t that be called Bye, Poo?)

Grupo Ortiz is planning a new centro commercial (shopping center) on Remigio Crespo y El Batán which will be anchored by a new Coral of more than 6,000 sq. meters.  Also being considered are movie theaters, a food court, 50 retail spaces and 400 plus parking spaces.

Amenidades – 

Movies – as usual, go to www.multicines.com.ec for show times and locations.  The following movie opens this weekend.
2D – Juegos Demoniacos – Esp and Sub.
The following movies are continuing.
2 & 3D – Snoopy – Esp.
2 /& 3D Star Wars 7 – Esp.
2D – En el Corazón del Mar – Esp
2D – Bus 657 – Esp & Sub.

Descuentos –

Municipal taxes – 10% discount on property taxes paid in the first 2 weeks of Jan, 9% in the 2nd two weeks, and so on until the discount is 1% in the second 2 weeks of June.

Sukasa – Big Bang Sale with up to 60% off – 9-17/1 – applies to affiliates (I think your Supermaxi card counts).  Non-affiliates get 50% off.  (I’m going shopping before everything’s gone.)

RM – Sale with 30, 50 & 70% off selected merchandise and 10% off everything – in Monay and Mall del Rio.  Go to www.modaRM.com for more info.

And that´s all for today so Hasta Domingo –

Jeanne