Interesting Twist: Colombians To Produce First Ethanol In US Plants(La)from Sugar Cane

panthdave says on Jun 8, 2008, 04:03:

Now thats what I am talking about....Colombian Business becoming more involved in the energy and business world.

panthdave Miami

0 funny, 0 helpful.

panthdave says on Jun 8, 2008, 04:25:

Damn Mike you were just going to sleep or getting up..

panthdave Miami

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Monpirri says on Jun 8, 2008, 05:52:

It sounds like a very intersting venture.

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Bill Turley says on Jun 8, 2008, 06:49:

Colombians in the US, unlike the Cubans and others, integrate and effect the host countries in generally positive ways. When I lived in South FL, after I married my Colombiana, I found Colombians everywhere. It was great. With the hostitity towards the Cubans spilling over into all Latinos in So.FL, the Colombians integrate and are frequently unnoticed.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

0 funny, 0 helpful.

sanandressi says on Jun 8, 2008, 07:32:

Bill Turley, I never lived in Florida but my impression of the Cuban community is one of very proud people who have embraced the English language and the culture of the United States. They are very well educated I believe.

I think you should look at the MEXICAN immigrant community as the one that does not really want to integrate, learn English and push education for their children. Then again, many Mexicans are not very educated when they get here while many of the Cubans who arrived in south Florida were an educated bunch and wealthy. Same with many of the Venezuelans in south Florida.

Just an observation...not good to generalize on everybody from either Cuba, Colombia or Cuba. I think that many of the Hispanics in Florida who are not Cuban (Haitians) are resentful of the economic success and political power that Cubans have enjoyed in Miami Dade? Am I wrong?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Monpirri says on Jun 8, 2008, 08:23:

Vote for Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008!

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

0 funny, 0 helpful.

dwmte7 says on Jun 8, 2008, 08:25:

well, there goes the price of sugar. just like corn

dwmte

0 funny, 0 helpful.

tigredelnorte2 says on Jun 8, 2008, 08:51:

Interesting. I read that Brasil produces a lot of ethanol from sugar cane.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Ctg Bound says on Jun 8, 2008, 08:55:

tigredelnorte2,

There isn't much produced from sugar cain in Colombia itself, just around Cali, Colombia has plans and is building approx 22 ethanol plants over the next few years, but they are mostly connected to palm oil.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on Jun 8, 2008, 09:35:

sanandressi says on Jun 8, 2008, 07:32: flag

Bill Turley, I never lived in Florida but my impression of the Cuban community is one of very proud people who have embraced the English language and the culture of the United States. They are very well educated I believe.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sadandressi-Sorry but as a person who lives here in Miami(for over a decade and who has worked in and out of Florida since 1984)I could NOT disagree more with YOUR opinion of the Cubans assimilating into the American Culture and learning the English langauge. True, 2nd generation Cubans learn english due to the fact its taught in the schools so by osmosis they learn it. Look at most Cubans over 35 years old who immigrate here, very few go on to learn english at the technical level. I have Cuban neighbors in my Condo, some who have been here since the 60s(40 years) Otherwise then saying Good Morning, Thank You ect. they know nothing else. And don't care to learn the langauge and don't even cuss in English, only Carajo this, Coño that ect. LOL Conversely instead of embracing the English langauge, they Shun it. On the street, at work or in the home , given the chance, they retreat to Spanish here in the greater Miami area. Now consider the Cubans, above all other nationalities in the area, have more opportunities to learn english then any other Immigrant groups as their tuition to learn English is free, paid for by the Government, so absolutely very little excuse for them not to excel in the learning of our langauge. They simply do not want to be involved in our langauge. The younger Cubans born here embrace the culture more, but not completely as you see other Immigrant groups(latin, europe, asian) embracing our culture. Listen to a group of Cubans taking about Puerto Ricans, Colombians ect when they aren't present--it will set your hair on fire! Most Cubans here in Miami refer to us as "Americanos" and refer to themselves as Cubanos, not Cuban-Americans. If you were to go into the Little Havana and attempt to express your Constitutional Right to free Speech by speaking out contrary to their beliefs and you would be attacked verbally&physically.A Cuban American who did this(spoke in favor of dialogue with castro) and who owned a Restuarant close to the Versaille Restuaranrt in Little Habana on calle Ocho. That Night his Restuarant was Firebombed with Molotov Cocktails by his right wing compatriots-not very embracing of our culture and free speech!

Cubans very well educated,,,,Some, but not all by a long shot. When the Mariels(125,000) came inthe early 80s, Castro opened up his jails and Mental wards and shipped them all to south florida. They Were Crooks and the Mentally insane for the most part. I saw many Marielitos when I worked at the Federal Krome Detention Center-far from well educated. Take a walk through Little Havana of Today and you will see what I mean-not the Cubans of 50s-60s who were well educated, very unlike the Cubans who have come since 1980.

Ms Tancredo is a Colombian American Business woman who is running against Mario Diaz Balart for a Congressional Seat here in south Florida this year. She is a breath of Fresh Air! Hopefully she will win(though its a longshot) as she will represent ALL Immigrant Groups as well as native born Americans. This is not happening now--all 3 Current south florida Congressional Reps are Cubans and they represent Cuban Interests only. Go into their offices and you will see in a blink of an eye, if you are not Cuban, YOU WON'T GET MUCH HELP. Ask any US resident/citizen(colombian, peruvian ect) and they will concur with this. Thankfully this attitude is changing as other immigrants become US Citizens, they are diluting the influence of the Cubans.

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Bill Turley says on Jun 8, 2008, 09:39:

My point was that while the Cuban Immigrants have contributed a great deal, they do so with an obviously united community front. Whereas the Colombians disperse and integrate. Fo rexamplke there was talk about a boundry for hispanics ( unofficial but real) near the Fort Lauderdale border. There is or at least was a popular Colombian Resturant North of that line with the name Arepalandia. The boundry seems to be mainly for the unified ethnic groups. As a caucasian I heard much of the resentment in the area North of Miami/Dade County.
On the ethanol front. It can be produced by nonfood material and THAT is what needs to be promoted.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

0 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on Jun 8, 2008, 09:46:

Bill--We here all the time the old saw "We Cubans Made Miami". WRONG! THEY MADE CONTRIBUTIONS, they certainly didn't make it! Far from it! Before they came, we had Flagler,the Grahams, Frank Sinatra, Elvis, Jackie Gleason all who put Miami on the Map LONG before the Cubans ever thought about coming here. They(cubans) never talk about these People, you only hear them crediting their own, Estafan, Chirino ect. Americans(born here) also made a few Contributions, as well as those from other Immigrant groups,,,

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Bill Turley says on Jun 8, 2008, 09:54:

Absolutely I agree with you. I remember Jacky Gleason and still enjoy the theater. I taught some ot the early refugees before the Marielitos and you are totally right about the differneces.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Joel y Luza says on Jun 8, 2008, 11:53:

I read, and I wish i could remember where, that english, is for the most part, becoming a "second language" in south FLA... A lot of hard working anglos are having a hard go of it due to their lack of spanish speaking abilities. From what I understand, the money, in the small business community is follow the language, and to the most extent, the culture of miami, which has a large melting pot of hispanics, namely Cubans.

i am not saying it is good or bad, but it seems like, to do business in So FLA, one must not only learn spanish, but understand the hispanic culture there, to have a competitive advantage.

Mike, I thought Jewish grandparents retiring from Brooklyn, made So. FLA, long before Castro became the grand poo paa of Cuba, and Sinatra, Gleason, Elvis, and company took up residence there? ;)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

miamimike says on Jun 8, 2008, 12:18:

The Large Jewish Community certainly had a large Role, I can't say they made it as way back when you also had people like Henry Flagler of Railroad fame, the like of who played major roles in Miami's Developement.

Burdine's(believe they are of jewish descent)Family put Miami on the Map with their department stores. Now they are no longer having been bought out some 12 years ago(approx). That was a big loss for Miami and all of Florida in General as they really were a Florida Store.

http://www.miamiherald.com/996/story/402118.html

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Simon says on Jun 8, 2008, 14:09:

What a great article! Now that's a true demonstration of Colombian talent and potential! Viva Colombia!!


"Colombians in the US, unlike the Cubans and others, integrate and effect the host countries"

Bill Turley,

What makes you think we're gonna let go of our culture? Sure we'll learn English, but we'll also keep our beloved Spanish.

"Tu vas a ver, llegaras a mi edad y veras que Colombia seguira igual"-----Simon Sr.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Bill Turley says on Jun 8, 2008, 14:15:

Simon
I should hope so. I strongly advocate biculturalism. I am even trying to learn Spanish even tho I am the worlds worst language student. I do live in Colombia aftrer all.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Simon says on Jun 8, 2008, 14:23:

Ok Señor Turley, I hope you are enjoying our country. Saludes.

"Tu vas a ver, llegaras a mi edad y veras que Colombia seguira igual"-----Simon Sr.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

goin_south says on Jun 8, 2008, 14:29:

"Well, there goes the price of sugar, just like corn"......

in the words of my (now deceased) grandfather: BACK TO THE HORSE AND BUGGY.

Where do we go from here?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

goin_south says on Jun 8, 2008, 14:30:

(Then: There goes the price of 'Hay'!)

(no joke de espanol intended.........necessarily)

Where do we go from here?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

CatGirl says on Jun 8, 2008, 17:33:

I had a conversation with someone in Bogota over a year ago who commented on this and said this was already happening in Colombia.

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Joel y Luza says on Jun 8, 2008, 18:05:

going back to the horse and buggy?

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Bill Turley says on Jun 8, 2008, 18:48:

I don't think they ever disappeared from Bogota

Mr. Bill Somondoco

0 funny, 0 helpful.

bufalo says on Jun 8, 2008, 22:06:

We lived in Spanish harlem for a bit, I didn't see anyone trying to learn something knew there. My wife was scared the whole time, he'll I was scared of the females there too.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

0 funny, 0 helpful.

lpdiver says on Jun 10, 2008, 04:08:

The US had a capacity to produce 4.8 BILLION gallons of ethanol in 2006. So I fail to see how there will be any Colombians producing the first ethanol in the US. It is however good to hear.

t

"cook some rice!"

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Ctg Bound says on Jun 10, 2008, 06:41:

lpdiver,

I think its the first ethanol from sugar cain in the US, at least according to the article.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Robert Jorge says on Jun 15, 2008, 16:59:

That's the way I read it also Ctg Bound.

I don't have actual numbers, but I have read and heard from legitimate sources that ethanol produced from sugar cane is MUCH more economical / efficient to produce than from other things like soybeans, corn, and other grains. I also read that ethanol derived from corn costs more in fossil fuels to produce, than if one just used the fossil fuel to begin with. Kind of like: It takes 3 gallons of petroleum gasoline to make one gallon of ethanol from corn. That is just a made up example, but probably not too far off base.

BEWARE of gold diggers.

0 funny, 0 helpful.