Stop Procrastinating!

Too funny!

Attitude

I just found again this beautifully simple reflexion of Swindoll about attitude.


"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude to me is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than success, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, gift, or skill. It will make or break a company...a church...a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable.

The only thing we can do is play on the string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it.

And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes."

Charles Swindoll

Back to study!

In two days "school" will start again for me! I was selected by the Alianza Social Uniandina to participate in a 17 session program on "Institutional Strengthening" (hope the translation makes sense!). They funded this year in total 8 students like me to get trainning on how to make organizations, specially those in the social sector, stronger through consulting. After the program ends, we shall still provide consultancy to some organizations they will assigned to us on a volunteer basis.

Looking forward!

Love on the Streets - a propo of St. Valentin´s day

St. Valentin´s day (even if worldwide known) is not precisely "the most celebrated day" in Colombia, we celebrate the love "day" in the month of September ... still today I found a very nice set of stories - actually videos - narrated by former homeless and current homeless people ...

"Love that brings you to the streets" and "Love that takes you out of the streets" are two of the most impressive and touching stories ... (all in spanish)

Random B-day pics

So, maybe bit late to report, but I turned 27 last 23.01!

Below some random pictures of the day! It was a working day, so there was not much space for wild party, still was a very special one ... as always, the winning gift of the day was Javier´s: a wonderful 2-hour wine-therapy (all kinds of messages and aromatherapies based on grapes/wine)!

Hope to make it to this great wedding!

http://www.veroandjoost.com/

And hopefully our first AI 05 06 Team reunion!

For all you fishetarians and sushi lovers - be aware of this new study

From the NY Times

January 24, 2008, 2:40 pm

National Study Finds High Levels of Mercury in Tuna
By Marian Burros

The international conservation group Oceana has issued a report that found levels of mercury in fresh tuna in stores and restaurants across the United States that were as high as those reported yesterday in a New York Times article on tuna sushi sold in Manhattan.

Like those samples tested by The Times, many of the Oceana samples had levels of mercury exceeding those that would allow the Food and Drug Administration to take legal action to remove it from the market.
Mercury is believed to affect neurological development of fetuses and young children. Some studies have suggested it may cause health problems in adults, too. Since 2004, the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency have recommended that women of child-bearing age and young children eat no more than 12 ounces of fish a week, including no more than 6 ounces of canned albacore tuna, and avoid swordfish, tilefish, king mackerel and shark because they are high in mercury.

Oceana tested samples of fresh tuna, swordfish and tilapia, as well as tuna and mackerel sushi bought in 26 cities and found that the average mercury concentration of tuna steaks in 23 grocery stores was 0.68 parts per million, even higher than the 0.57 parts per million that was the average for tuna sushi that The Times bought in stores. Swordfish levels were even higher; tilapia and mackerel were very low.

The mercury content of tuna sushi from the 24 restaurants in the Oceana study was 0.86 parts per million, quite similar to the average of 0.88 parts per million that The Times found in tuna sushi in restaurants. One third of the tuna sushi in the Oceana study had more than one part per million of mercury, the level that would allow F.D.A. to remove the fish from the market, something it rarely does.
In 2005 Oceana launched a campaign to make major grocery chains post at their fish counters government warnings about tuna. Since then several chains, including Whole Foods, Vons, Dominick's, Safeway and Trader Joe's, have agreed to post some information.

But Oceana said that when seafood counter attendants were asked what the FDA advice is for those women and children, they found that 87 percent either gave an incorrect answer or incomplete information or simply said they did not know.

Oceana is asking the FDA to require warnings at seafood counters, to add fresh tuna to its "do not eat" list and to increase the frequency of its testing of fish.

One Red Paper Clip

What an amazing story!

Join us! For a peacefuly Colombia

A million voices against FARC...

We need our voices to be heard.

Let’s not be silent anymore, let the world hear us; let every guerrilla man or woman hear us: We repel FARC - EP (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - People's Army).

We DON’T want more armed fight.FARC have deceived the world once again by not freeing the thousands of kidnapped people they have kept captive for almost a decade now, recurring one more time to all kinds of tricks and evasive lies.Kidnapping is the worst of acts against human dignity, and FARC have kidnapped and kept captive thousands of people over the last years, while they keep growing their drug production and drug traffic business, perpetrating all kinds of crimes and terrorist attacks against people, bringing poverty and misery to our country, which has suffered this plague and humanitarian tragedy for more than forty years now.

Colombia, Colombians, friends from all over the world, let’s unite to shout loudly:

NO MORE!

NO MORE KIDNAPPING!

NO MORE LIES!

NO MORE MURDER!

NO MORE FARC!

Let’s commit ourselves to join a million voices in this group so we can make a difference, and let the entire world know that we don’t need that “People’s Army” here in Colombia; that FARC is a terrorist group, led by murderers and enemies of the Colombian and World’s People.

This is a cause beyond all political interests or colors. It’s a humanitarian cause, encouraged by a simple sense of solidarity, for the sake and welfare of our citizens. Join us; We need our voices to be heard.

A million voices against FARC.

Join us on Feb. 04 in a global march against FARC.

PLEASE VISIT www.colombiasoyyo.org AND GET DETAILS!

Meeting points in Colombia

BARRANQUILLA, AtlánticoPlaza de la Paz. Al frente de la Catedral. 12:00 del medio día Contactos: Oscar Morales Guevara nomasfarcbarranquilla@gmail.com

BOGOTA, D.C.Movilización en toda la ciudad. En donde se encuentre salga a la calle y hágase sentir. Puntos iniciales: Plaza de Bolívar y Calle 72 con 7a. Corredor vial: Av Cra 7 Contactos: Pierre Onzaga, Rosa Parra, Cristina Lucena nomasfarcbogota@gmail.com

FUSAGASUGA, CundinamarcaPor confirmar sitio.Contacto: Jenny Angelica Quicano nomasfarcfusagasuga@gmail.com

FACATATIVA, CundinamarcaPor confirmar sitio.Contacto: Catherine Miranda nomasfarcfacatativa@gmail.com

SOGAMOSO, BoyacáPor confirmar sitio.Contacto: Jorge Ferney Cubides nomasfarcsogamoso@gmail.com

MEDELLIN, AntioquiaPlaza de Banderas de la Alpujarra, al lado del Centro de Convenciones Plaza Mayor. 12:00 del medio día Contacto: Edward Naranjo nomasfarcmedellin@gmail.com

CALI, ValleParque del Perro. 12:00 del medio día Contacto: Andrew Cupp nomasfarccali@gmail.com

ARMENIA, QuindíoPlaza de Bolivar. Carrera 14 Calle 21. 12:00 del medio día Contacto: Alejandra Estrada nomasfarcarmenia@gmail.com

BUCARAMANGA, SantanderPlaza Luis Carlos Galán. 12:00 del medio día Contacto: Carlos A. Santiago nomasfarcbucaramanga@gmail.com

OCAÑA, Norte de SantanderPor confirmar sitio.Contacto: nomasfarcocana@gmail.com

SANTA MARTA, MadgalenaPor confirmar sitio.Contacto: Oscar Ortiz Celedón nomasfarcsantamarta@gmail.com

MONTERÍA, CórdobaPor confirmar sitio.Contacto: León Jaime nomasfarcmonteria@gmail.com

VILLAVICENCIO, MetaPor confirmar sitio.Contacto: María José González nomasfarcvillavicencio@gmail.com

International Meeting Points

CENTRO Y SUR AMERICA

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINAObelisco, Avenida 9 de Julio. 3:00 p.m. (Hora local Buenos Aires) Contacto: Laura Puerta nomasfarcbuenosaires@gmail.com

CIUDAD DE GUATEMALA, GUATEMALA Por confirmar Sitio. Contacto: Sergio Ramírez nomasfarcguatemala@gmail.com

SAO PAULO, BRASIL Por confirmar Sitio. Contacto: nomasfarcsaopaulo@gmail.com

PUNTA CANA, REP. DOMINICANA Por confirmar Sitio. Contacto: Maria Catalina Serna nomasfarcpuntacana@gmail.com

MEXICO, D.F. Por confirmar Sitio. Contacto: Jorge Hernández nomasfarcmexicodf@gmail.com

NORTEAMERICA

NEW YORK CITY Al frente del edificio de las Naciones Unidas. 12:00 del medio día. (hora local NY) Contacto: Jaime Caballero nomasfarcnewyork@gmail.com

MIAMI, FLORIDA Parqueadero del consulado de Colombia. 10:00 a.m. (Hora local MIA). Contacto: Adelaida Vengoechea nomasfarcmiami@gmail.com

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA Por confirmar Sitio. Contacto: Carlos Grajales nomasfarcwestpalmbeach@gmail.com

PHILADELPHIA, PA Capilla de la Catedral. 12:00 del medio día. (Hora Local Phily) Contacto: Maria Martinez

BOSTON, MA Plaza de Government Center, en frente del City Hall. 12:00 del medio día. (Hora Local Boston) Contacto: nomasfarcboston@gmail.com

CHICAGO, IL Por confirmar sitio. Contacto: Paola Susan nomasfarcchicago@gmail.com

WASHINGTON, DC Por confirmar sitio. Contacto: Laura Busche nomasfarcwashington@gmail.com

SAN FRANCISCO, CA Por confirmar sitio. Contacto: Marcela Junguito nomasfarcsanfrancisco@gmail.com

HOUSTON, TEXAS Por confirmar sitio. Contacto: Javier Saavedra nomasfarctexas@gmail.com

STATE COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA Por confirmar sitio. Contacto: Natalia Santamaria nomasfarcstatecollege@gmail.com

IOWA Por confirmar sitio. Contacto: William A. Montoya nomasfarciowa@gmail.com

TORONTO, CANADA DUNDAS Square. Centro de Toronto. 11:00 a.m. (Hora local Toronto). Contacto: Luis Orellano nomasfarctoronto@gmail.com

CALGARY, ALBERTA - CANADA Por confirmar sitio. Contacto: Daniel Vargas nomasfarccalgary@gmail.com

EUROPA Y ASIA

PARIS, FRANCIA Place de l'Hotel de Ville. 75004 PARIS. 1:00 p.m. (Hora local París) Metro: Hotel de Ville. Lineas de metro: 1 y 11. Contactos: David Velilla. Heider Pardo (Bordeaux). nomasfarcparis@gmail.com

MADRID, ESPAÑA Plaza Mayor en Madrid. Contacto: Camilo Garavito nomasfarcmadrid@gmail.com

TORINO, ITALIA Por confirmar Sitio. Contacto: Jorge Tobón nomasfarctorino@gmail.com

DÜSSELDORF, ALEMANIA Por confirmar Sitio. Contacto: Javier Amaya nomasfarcdusseldorf@gmail.com

HAMBURGO, ALEMANIA Por confirmar Sitio. Contacto: Camilo Palacios nomasfarchamburg@gmail.com

MUNICH, ALEMANIA Marien Platz. Contacto: Susana Vélez Haller nomasfarcmunich@googlemail.com

LONDRES, INGLATERRA Por confirmar sitio. 5:00 p.m. (hora local Londres) Contacto: Carmelita Hurtado nomasfarcengland@googlemail.com

LA HAYA, HOLANDA Plein al Frente del Parlamento. 11:30 a.m. (Hora local Holanda) Contacto: Alejo Bernal nomasfarclahaya@gmail.com

COPENHAGEN, DINAMARCA Contacto: nomasfarccopenhague@gmail.com

TEL-AVIV, ISRAEL Por confirmar Sitio. Contacto: Juan Valenzuela nomasfarctelaviv@gmail.com

DUBAI, EMIRATOS ARABES Contacto: nomasfarcdubai@gmail.com

Highlights of family holidays 2007 - 2008

Last Xmas and New Years festivity were very family oriented ... well, it was about time after so many years randomly travelling around the world!

Xmas (24th of december) we spend in Manizales at Javier´s family. It was fun, it was the first time that I spent such a date in Manizales and also the first time that I ate really home made natilla, instead of buying it ready to make from the package! Natilla is typical desert for Xmas in the center of Colombia, and it´s a custard-like pudding made with corn starch instead of eggs.

For new years we came back to Bogotá and received my family that came from Barranquilla. It was a really different experience (I guess specially for them!). Normally when you think of Xmas and new years holidays you rather imagine you going to your parents house and letting them hosting you and taking care of you in all senses ...! well, this time was the opposite, it was them who came to our flat and Javier & me the one that took care of them for a week.

What better than pictures to show some highlights of those days!

One recommended site to go around Bogotá, where we took my family, and also was the first time for me to visit:

PANACA - http://panaca.com.co/: Which in spanich means PARQUE NACIONAL DE LA CULTURA AGROPECUARIA (National Park of the agricultural/farming culture) is one of the best and more structured options that one has to experience the agro sector without needing to have an own farm. It´s a well dotated place with fauna and flora that you can closely appreciate and interact with. Panaca, a colombian enterprise, has parks in Colombia (2) and also one in Costa Rica and one in Mexico.

Cheers!