Scalestick has left 61 comments

Scalestick comments on Rebels And Paramilitaries

Market I also feel that as long as there is a market for drugs, especially a once, and maybe still so, socially accepted drug like cocaine, that there will always be obscene amounts of money to be made in this trade, and innocent deaths along the way. I only wish users would see beyond their own little world and see the consequences their habit has at the other end of the trail. It's a shame.

Scalestick comments on Fair Trade Coffee

dwmte I think we're all in agreement here that the poor guy slogging the bag around the side hill is getting the short end of the stick in this deal. I agree with you that Free Trade is probably a misnomer but does it cleanse our conscience thinking that by supporting this we're helping out in at least a small way, or is there a way to actually help out in a more direct way? By reading some of these latest posts regarding those trying to give workers an honest shake, including yourself, which is very commendable, it also sounds extremely dangerous to do so, to upset the status quo so to speak.

It just pisses me off that a lot of people work their ass off for next to nothing or the priviledge of growing a few vegetables. Man, we don't know how lucky we have it some parts of the world, and people complaining because they aren't making enough to pay for their RVs, boats and off road toys. I still think people should travel more, and not to Club meds or just beach resorta, but real travelling to see how the other side lives. It may open a lot of eyes, and at the very least help people decide to support the small guy and not big conglomerates that make their dough off of cheap labour from less fortunate countries. Maybe then when the 'Big Boys' start to feel it in their profits, or lack of, something they understand, they may spread a little more of the wealth to those doing the work. It's up to us to socially conscience of our purchases. Will this help?

Scalestick comments on Fair Trade Coffee

adrimm Thanks a lot for that site! I gave it a quick run through, (taking a quick break from a kitchen reno I'm doing next door) but will give it a good look later on. A quick glance at the site showed promise that they were pretty cool. I believe you're right about it being available here on the Coast as I know I saw San Miguel coffee in Vancouver at an IGA and bought it a few times, seemed decent and the price was fair. I'll check out the local store when I go shopping today and get back to you on that.

Thanks again.

Scalestick comments on Fair Trade Coffee

beans and more beans Lionheart, I use to buy my beans from a place where they were taken from bins and put in a bag for you, but because it was out of my way (hate wasting gas driving) I've been buying beans where it's already been bagged. That Kickinh Horse brand comes sealed. But no more of that. I agree it's better to see and feel what you get.

Platano, You don't drink coffee? And here I thought you were a decent guy! We all know it's not all that great for the body, but it tastes great and it's my only vice. It is addictive and if I sleep in or late getting that first cup of jo in me, I can feel it. But hey, at least it's legal!

Miguel, What are the chances of seeing these phtotos? Thanks.

Scalestick comments on Fair Trade Coffee

oily beans The dark roasted beans I normally buy are very oily and shiny black, but that being said, the beans I have now, are not as oily. How do I tell? When I grind my beans and the powered black gold doesn't stick to the inside of the grinder, then I know they are not that great. Which means what I have in my fridge now is burnt shit. Hate paying top dollar for crap which means I have to be more careful of the products I buy. But as I've said before, sometimes we can be too fussy, but that doesn't mean people should get ripped off.

Lionheart, enjoy your coffee! Wasn't there a solar eclipse visible down that way recently?

Scalestick comments on Hostages are alive, say Colombian rebels

GIB I'm not here to crap on you as I believe everyone is entitlted to their opinion and I for one probably have very little right to be commenting on an issue I have not experienced first hand. But I am planning to visit Colombia and feel I should know as much as I can about it culturally as well as politically, not to stick my nose in where it doesn't belong but to be aware. So I have been doing a lot of reading and research, from both sides of the camp, to try and reach a balanced picture - or at least to the best one can obtain from publications.

I am also concerned about human injustices whereever they occur. I agree with your comment about ideals and the methods used to obtained them often clash with each other - I suppose clash is a mild word in this context.

With all due respect, read this article that doesn't put a very shining light on the PARAs either, from some people who have had first hand dealings with this. I'm treading lightly here, I repeat that I'm not trying to crap on anyone, I'm just trying to get an objective opinion.

I think everyone on this forum would like to see an end to all this human destruction. I don't know the answer, I'm only concerned.

Anyway, here it is:

Bush's Other Oil War
Commentary, Brad Miller,
Pacific News Service, Oct 26, 2004

Editor's Note: As the presidential candidates continue to wrangle over Iraq, another war rages closer to home, where America's thirst for petroleum empowers vicious paramilitaries in the Colombian countryside.

BARRANCABERMEJA, Colombia--Out of the swamps of Colombia's Magdalena Medio rises the "Cristo Petrolero," a metal statue depicting Christ the oil worker. His outstretched arms offer salvation to the city of Barrancabermeja, a gesture that appears to release a flock of black vultures circling above.

Since oil was first discovered along the Rio Magdalena in the early 1900s, companies such as Texaco, Occidental, British Petroleum and Harken Energy, where George W. Bush sat on the board of directors, have arrived to stake claims throughout Colombia. Their investments brought an initial economic surge. The largest refinery in the country was established here in the "Petroleum Capital" of Colombia, which is now one of the most militarized cities in the country. It is also one of the most violent, since oil exploration also brought pollution, conflict, paramilitary violence and most recently, Plan Colombia.

The billion-dollar aid package known as Plan Colombia, initiated by the Clinton administration under the guise of the "war on drugs," has always stressed military force and the destruction of illicit crops, virtually ignoring development and crop substitution to reduce the drug trade. But under the Bush administration, U.S. tax dollars are now being used directly for counterinsurgency purposes, with $98 million being allocated to train elite units to guard oil pipelines and infrastructure. Colombia is one of the top eight oil exporters to the United States.

On Oct. 9, Congress voted to raise the cap on the number of military advisors allowed in Colombia from 400 to 800, and the number of contract workers from 400 to 600.

According to Francisco Ramirez, president of the miner's union Sintraminercol, the strategy of the military and paramilitaries under Plan Colombia is to "enter the areas, get rid of the people and secure the region for multinational corporations." Ramirez says the petroleum and mining industries have direct connections to the paramilitaries, armed groups such as the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia that commit over 70 percent of the human rights abuses in the country, as documented by Amnesty International.

In addition, according to Human Rights Watch, the Bush administration continues to break the law as specified in the Leahy Amendment, which states that Colombian military units may not receive U.S. aid until they break ties with the paramilitaries. The "paras" work in collusion with the military, feeding off and gaining strength from U.S. military aid, paychecks from wealthy landlords and their own illicit drug operations.

"They (the multinational corporations) clearly pay the Autodefensas for security," confirms Jorge Gomez, who serves as the government's public defender for the Magdalena Medio Region, which comprises the districts where Harken Energy's subsidiary, Global Energy Development, operates.

Bush's connection with Harken started in 1986 with a six-figure consulting job, a seat on the board of directors and $2 million in stock options. Six years later, Global Energy Development was awarded five contracts in Colombia by the Director of Mines and Minerals Rodrigo Villamizar, who Bush met at a fraternity party in Austin, Texas, in 1972. In 2000, Bush recruited Villamizar, who had taken exile after an unrelated corruption scandal, to develop a strategy for Colombia. Villamizar recommended an expanded U.S. role to eliminate the leftist Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionario de Colombia and Ejercito Liberacion Nacional guerrillas, who were impeding the investment of multinational corporations.

In a crackdown on the 40-year-old insurgency that has seen the guerrillas involved in kidnapping, extortion and the drug trade, Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe initiated several "Zones of Rehabilitation and Consolidation" in Autumn 2002, escalating military operations in the more economically important areas of the country. Uribe and the Colombian Congress also passed their own "anti-terror" legislation, granting the military judicial police powers as they conducted mass detentions of rural activists, indigenous leaders and trade union members.

In the town of Buturama, Global Energy Development has operated several wells since 1997. According to the ex-mayor, the area is controlled by paramilitaries, who arrived a year before the corporation.

Paramilitaries also rule the city of Aguachica, which is located in the center of Global's Bolivar concession, developed with the help of $55 million from the World Bank.

"They kill a lot of people here," says German Bueno. "Quietly." Bueno, who works for the Corporation Centro de Estudios para el Desarollo Alternativo, a community development organization, describes times when the killing was done openly, when paramilitaries massacred an entire cooperative and stuck their heads on fence posts.

Global's investment brought a temporary boom to Aguachica, as local workers were hired in the initial development and construction phases. But it was a "fictitious boom," says Vicente Sarmiento, a professor at the Escuela de Cuidania, because oil companies enjoy large tax breaks and don't transfer technology to local workers or invest heavily in the community. Global's money also brought inflation, prostitution and crime, and Plan Colombia's military operations and fumigation filled the outskirts of the city with squatters as campesinos displaced from their farms.

It is unclear exactly what a John Kerry administration would change in Colombia. Kerry has been a supporter of Plan Colombia, and as the United States looks to free itself from its dependency on Middle-Eastern oil, it will look elsewhere -- to Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia -- to satisfy its thirst for petroleum.

But the Bush-Cheney administration, with its close ties to oil companies, has little reason to stop the civil war that has killed over 4,000 non-combatants per year and displaced 3 million people.

PNS contributor Brad Miller recently returned from his fourth trip to Colombia's Magdalena Medio.
Comments
MARK RAINES on Nov 15, 2004 06:53:22, said:
Having been in Colombia myself now for years, and yes worked under the auspices of 'Plan Colombia" I must admit I never put this formula together as completely as you did in this column. Now I know the real reason why Bush/Cheney is so intent on letting this war continue under cloak and dagger. This war is part of Colombia’s culture and Society and it will never end. The Colombian military as with the USA has no intent to end this 40 plus year war. Without it where would those who really control the country that being the armed forces go for jobs/advancement to general? I have never seen such a clumsy attempt by a government military to defeat a guerrilla force whom they out number/ and now most certainly outgun with over 70 new helicopters ($500 million ) upgrades to their entire Air Force ($300 million )knows where they are, interviews their leaders, even socializes with them. We are only adding to the longevity to this war as neither side within Colombia wants to see an end to it.

Do not even let anyone compare these guerrilla’s to those we now face on the GWOT. This is all about oil…….and though I conclude that the USA does need to break its dependence on Middle East oil, why do we have to lie about our intentions in Colombia. This was a favor to Oil Companies, not to the Colombians, and for that part Americans.

Scalestick comments on Fair Trade Coffee

adrimm, miamimike and the rest Right now I'm looking at a pack of coffee beans a friend gave me called Kicking Horse, a roaster from the rockies that has certified organic from the Canadian Organic Certification Co-operartive stamp on it, for what that's worth. They advertise on the front "Fresh roasted with 100% pure Canadian Rocky Mountain Air ~ whatever the hell that's suppose to mean! I have another pack, plain brown wrapper bought from a local roaster who advertises Free Trade. But you know what, who knows? This is what gets me, how do you really know if you're supporting Free Trade Co-ops and how much have they paid for the coffee beans?

There's so many brand names out in the market now claiming Free Trade status and charging a mighty buck for it. I agree with miamimike in that consumers pay WAY too much for a cup of jo here and you ahve to know that the guy doing all the grunt work is making diddly squat.

And as for the quality of beans and price, I like a dark roast but have read it's made from inferior beans and bits and pieces roasted dark to hide the fact. But the price is the same as the other beans so what gives? Just more evidence that everyone except the farmer is making a killing.

Miamimike, you hit another one on the head about Starbucks stockpiling but still charging top dollar. It's like gas, even when the price of crude drops, prices don't drop at the pump or very slowly if they do, but if the price goes up, even with old supplies the price immediately starts to skyrocket. It's price gouging any way you slice it. But at least the guys at the other end of the oil pipe line aren't hurting for dough ~ far from it, unfortunately, the same can't be said about the poor coffee bean farmer.

Starbucks is off my list for more than one reason but one of those reasons is them pushing out the Mom and Pop operations.

One thing I know for sure, is now when I have my cup of coffee I reflect a little bit more on the contents I'm enjoying. And I'm switching from dark roast.

Scalestick comments on Condoleezza Rice says Plan Colombia to be abandoned!

Platano, smiles92600 Dittos, no harponing here on my part either, you obviously put a lot of thought into your comments and I respect you for that. In regards to your posting and four options. It's always amazed me that we can put a man on the moon, several times, send machines to circle mars and send back pictures but we can't seem to come with an alternative for the combustion engine. I've got a pretty good idea why but we'll let it go at that.

smiles92600: I am not religous either, but agree with what you say. I think this is where Buddhism strikes a chord with me.

Scalestick comments on Condoleezza Rice says Plan Colombia to be abandoned!

smiles92600 I agree whole heartily with what you say. I'm not a communist either and I would also like to see more of a balance in the world. Us Canadians aren't exactly innocent either when it comes to being selfish and if you look at the whole picture, just about every strong nation has their finger in someone elses pie. I guess I may even be somewhat of a socialist at heart as there is no way I could or would screw anyone over to make a buck and I don't like it when our governments do. I think we've all been spoiled somewhere along the line and don't always think or care of the consequences our needs have on others, or at least our governments certainly don't. Perhaps one day, we'll all wake up and see the light and realize we don't need to depend on the big oil machine to keep us churning forward. I sure hope so.

Scalestick comments on Condoleezza Rice says Plan Colombia to be abandoned!

smiles92600 I'm neither American or Colombian but that was a pretty well balanced point of view and I have to agree with you although I personally disagree with U.S. goals in SA. Just my opinion, not meant to set anyone off.

Scalestick comments on Condoleezza Rice says Plan Colombia to be abandoned!

Independent.co.uk is a pretty good source. I just checked the site and it is as stated in the original post. However, I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I hope it is gone and a new approach is used. Just an outsiders point of view but someone who cares enough about my fellow man to know that airial bombardment of chemicals is not the answer.

Scalestick comments on

b bruce, here you go I believe this is dated 1997.


[[ From Reuters ]]
===================================================

Sunday July 6 7:39 AM

Che's Remains Said Positively Identified


BONN (Reuter) - Remains found in a remote Bolivian village
have been positively identified as those of legendary guerrilla
Ernesto "Che" Guevara, according to the German magazine Der
Spiegel.

In a news release on Sunday it said the head of a Cuban team
of excavation experts had confirmed "without doubt" that
Guevara's remains were among a group of seven skeletons exhumed
on Saturday.

The Argentine-born leftist icon and hero of Cuba's
revolution was trying to export communism to South America's
mainland when he was captured -- wounded and starving -- on
October 8, 1967 and shot by a soldier in the school at
Vallegrande, 480 miles southeast of La Paz.

Der Spiegel said dental records as well as the skull
features helped the experts confirm the remains were those of
Guevara.

The magazine said the hands were missing, cut off by a
doctor before Guevara was buried so security agencies could
examine his fingerprints.

It said the corpse was found buried face-down. Remants of a
uniform and a belt were also recovered, the magazine said.

The skeleton will be taken to hospital in Vallegrande prior
to transfer to Cuba, Der Spiegel said. It added the mayor of the
village wants the corpse to remain in Vallegrande until the 30th
anniversary of Guevara's execution on October 9.

Bolivia began the quest for Guevara's bones in December,
1995 after retired Gen. Mario Vargas Salinas broke two decades
of military silence to say he could identify the spot where he
ordered the burial of the guerrillas.

He failed to locate the exact spot and the search has since
been repeatedly suspended and resumed, with excavations
centering on an airstrip outside Vallegrande.

The search was relaunched in May based on new evidence,
including that of a truck driver who said he transported the
bodies of Guevara and his comrades.


--------------------------------- end ------------------------

Scalestick comments on

Motorcycle Diaries and Che and CIA report. I judged Che long before this movie came out. There is plenty of reading on Che (including his speeches to the UN that can be downloaded and listened to with english translation.) You'll find that he was at odds with the Soviet Union and how they used Cuba as a pawn with their cold war with the States, but the embargo by the States forced them into a corner. I believe the man had true vision but got caught up in a situation that wandered from his vision and goals. When he realized this, he renounced his Cuban citizenship and gave away all his belongings to fight for the cause. The rest is history.

Anyway here is the CIA report on the execution of Che. Decipher it any way you wish.

The Final Days of
Major Ernesto Che Guevara

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As Recorded by the CIA in
Southern Command, Activities of the 2nd Ranger Battalion

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7 - 9 October 1967:

The combined units of Company A and the supporting units from Company B [a combined force of 1,300 Bolivian men, tranined by US Special Forces and directed by the CIA for the specific task of capturing Che Guevara. Che's guerilla squad had 17 men.] moved into the area of the Churro Ravine using two squads of Company A as a blocking force a few kms north of the small Geino Ravine. Cpt. Prado set up his mortar section east of the Churro Ravine, with 3rd Platoon of Company B to his rear in support, under the command of Sgt. Huauca. 1st Platoon of Company A, under the command of Lt. Perez, entered the Churro Ravine to the north at the confluence of two small streams. Lt. Perez initiated the pursuit and began driving the guerrilla force south while Cpt. Prado's mortars shelled the ravine. At this point a machine gun was brought up to also cover the ravine and hold the left flank of Prado's mortar section and supporting troops. As the 1st Platoon of Company A pushed south they came under fire and lost 3 soldiers immediately. Cpt. Prado then ordered Sgt. Huauca to move down the small Tuscal Ravine and wait at the entrance of the Churro Ravine. The 3rd Platoon of Company B carried out this order and after finding nothing, was ordered to enter the Churro Ravine and gain pursuit in the direction of Lt. Perez's platoon. Sgt. Huauca immediately encountered a group of 6 to 8 guerillas and opened fire. At this point they killed "Anotondo" and "Orturo", two Cubans. Sgt. Huauca lost one soldier here and another was wounded. "Ramon" (Guevara) and "Willy" tried to break out in the direction of the mortar section. They were sighted by the machine gun crew which took them under fire. "Ramon" (Guevara) was hit in the lower calf and was helped by "Willy" [Sarabia] toward the Tuscal Ravine where apparently they rested for a few minutes. They then moved north, directly in front of Cpt. Prado who ordered several soldiers to chase them. Soldiers Encinos, Cheques, and Balboa were the first Bolivians to lay hands on Guevara. "Willy" and "Ramon" (Guevara) were later transported back to La Higueras with Cpt. Prado and the elements of Companies A and B. The Bolivians did not remain in position after nightfall. From 1900 hrs until 0400 hrs on the 9th, there were no significant Bolivian troops in the area of the fire fight. This gave the guerilla force ample time to escape the area, but either due to confusion after the battle or poor evaluation of the situation by their leaders, the guerilla force remained in the Churro Ravine.

On 30 October 67, at a small pavilion in La Esperanza, Bolivia, Lt. Ral. Espinoza Lord, Company B, 2nd Ranger Bn, stated the following in regards to the handling of Ernest "Che" guevara. Guevara and "Willy" were transported back to La Hiqueras on the afternoon of the 8th, after the battle at the Churro Ravine. Guevara had a slight wound in the lower calf, which was treated upon returning to La Hiqueras. Lt. Espinoza talked at length with Guevara, though Guevara did not reveal any pertinent information. Espinoza felt a high regard for Guevara as a soldier and a man, and was anxious to know more of this "legendary figure". Guevara answered all of his question[s] with remarks such as "perhaps" or "possibly". Early in the morning of the 9th of October, the unit received the order to execute Guevara and the other captives. Previously, Col. Santana, Commander of the 8th Division, had given express orders to keep the prisoners alive. The Officers involved did not know where the order originated, but felt that it came from the highest echelons [A]. Cpt. Frado gave the order to execute Guevara to Lt. Perez, but he was unable to carry out the order and in turn gave it to Sgt. Terran, Company A. At this time Perez asked Guevara if there was anything he wished before his execution. Guevara replied that he only wished to "die with a full stomach". Perez asked him if he was a "materialist", by having requested only food. Guevara returned to his previous tranquil manner and answered only "perhaps". Perez then called him a "poor shit" and left the room. By this time, Sgt. Terran had fortified his courage with several beers and returned to the room where Guevara stood up, hands tied in front, and stated, "I know what you have come for, I am ready." Terran looked at him for a few minutes and then said, "No you are mistaken, be seated." Sgt. Terran then left the room for a few moments.

"Willy", the prisoner taken with Guevara, was being held in a small house a few metres away. While Terran was waiting outside to get his nerves back, Sgt. Huauca entered and shot "Willy." "Willy" was a Cuban and according to the sources had been an instigator of the riots among the miners in Bolivia. Guevara heard the burst of fire in his room and for the first time appeared to be frightened. Sgt. Terran returned to the room where Guevara was being held. When he entered, Guevara stood and faced him. Sgt. Terran told Guevara to be seated but he refused to sit down and stated, "I will remain standing for this." The Sgt. began to get angry and told him to be seated again, but Guevara would say nothing. Finally Guevara told him, "Know this now, you are [only] killing a man." Terran then fired a burst from his M2 carbine, knocking Guevara back into the wall of the small house.[B]


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[A] Excerpt from The Death of Che Guevara, explaining Rodriguez's (the CIA agent responsible for the tactical movements of Company A and B) role in Che's execution:

Although he apparently was under CIA instructions to "do everything possible to keep him alive," Rodriguez transmitted the order to execute Guevara from the Bolivian High Command to the soldiers at La Higueras — he also directed them not to shoot Guevara in the face so that his wounds would appear to be combat-related [to cover up the illegal execution without trial] — and personally informed Che that he would be killed. After the execution, Rodriguez took Che's Rolex watch, often proudly showing it to reporters during the ensuing years.

[B] An alternative version of these events, as told by CIA Agent Felix Rodriguez, who ordered Che's execution:

1:30 p.m.: Che's final battle commences in Quebrada del Yuro. Simon Cuba (Willy) Sarabia, a Bolivian miner, leads the rebel group. Che is behind him and is shot in the leg several times. Sarabia picks up Che and tries to carry him away from the line of fire. The firing starts again and Che's beret is knocked off. Sarabia sits Che on the ground so he can return the fire. Encircled at less than ten yards distance, the Rangers concentrate their fire on him, riddling him with bullets. Che attempts to keep firing, but cannot keep his gun up with only one arm. He is hit again on his right leg, his gun is knocked out of his hand and his right forearm is pierced. As soldiers approach Che, he shouts, "Do not shoot! I am Che Guevara and worth more to you alive than dead." The battle ends at approximately 3:30 p.m. Che is taken prisoner....

Rodriguez enters the schoolhouse to tell Che of the orders from the Bolivian high command. Che understands and says, "It is better like this ... I never should have been captured alive." Che gives Rodriguez a message for his wife and for Fidel, they embrace, and Rodriguez leaves the room.

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB5/#chron


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Written: 28 November 1967
Publisher: Southern Command, Activities of the 2nd Ranger Battalion and Death of Che Guevara
Transcription/Markup: Brian Basgen
Online Version: Ernesto Che Guevara Internet Archive (marxists.org) 1999, 2002

Scalestick comments on

Che and his beliefs If there is a man I admire than more than my father, that man would be Che Cuevera. Che was a man who stood up for what he believed was fair, from his heart, and stood my his word.

His beliefs were basically simple; The agrarian program where people who worked the land should have a right to own that land; and quoted from “Chronology of The Economic Ministry of Comrade Guevara after the Revolution in Cuba” by William Stodden; May 17, 2000 :

Che also instituted a principle known as Voluntary labor, which consisted of men doing work for free during a day. It was the beginning of Che's philosophy of "a new man", where people worked for the benefit of society and from that an individual received his reward. This "moral" incentive (as opposed to a material one, where the worker receives a monetary incentive or a house or something for working hard) was far more important to Che's "New" man because it involved improving the lives of the many over the life of the individual.I have read quite a bit about Che and his actions.
Che stood by this and put in countless hours himself working beside his fellow man. He was a man of his word.

This following except is from the same article:

Che's agrarian program was simple. It was the Zapatista line of "Land for those who work it." This seemed simple to him and was justified by the reality of the countryside, where those who worked the land had nothing and it caused all sorts of problems. This line was subverted by leaders of the national movement which was supposedly coordinating activities with revolutionary aims throughout the country. In reality there were several factions within the national movement that were decidedly against each other, and in fact fought with each other and stole from each other, and there was, as was revealed after the Revolution ended indeed no harmony between those who had different agendas. By November 1958, Che's version of Agrarian Reform was being put into place in the "liberated zone" (the zone controlled by the Rebel Army), which included confiscation of land owned by those who sympathized with Batista, and a granting of land to all those who had worked it or paid rent on it for 2 years or more. This caused all sorts of problems among the revolution's "allies", who turned out to be opportunists and tried to block the reform where they could not gain some advantage. Among those whose agenda ran counter to the Revolutionary program was a group called Front II who operated in the Sierra Escambray Mountains, near the town of Sancti-Spiritu and insisted on collecting dues on the agrarian programs instituted by the Revolutionary J-26 Movement (Taibo, 211). Earlier in the struggle, a provisional government created by the revolution's "allies" in Miami, Florida, was condemned for their opportunistic tendencies by Fiedel Castro. This group of Cuban "Revolutionary" leaders (which included some in the city component of the Revolutionary J-26 Movement) decided, without including representation, or even consultation with those who were actually conducting the Revolution in the Sierra Maestra, that the government would be a coalition government of all the "revolutionary" movements throughout Cuba (Guevara, 211-227). These and several other things, (including banditry in the name of the Revolution and the desire among several other "revolutionary" elements for a military junta in Havana) led to early controversy in the Revolutionary movement of Cuba.

This shows what Che was up against amongst fellow revolutionaries. They certainly didn’t believe in Ches’ beliefs and if he was around today, he would probably be sickened by what he saw in groups like FARC and ELn supposedly fighting for their fellow countrymen in the fashion they are using.

Scalestick comments on lets talk about us americans

Platano I guess at the end of the day when everything is tallied up we're all brothers and sisters. No wonder we can't get along!

Scalestick comments on lets talk about us americans

GIB No more fuses lit here. Does this mean we can still meet up and buy each other drinks when I land in Bogota? I certainly hope so because the way I see it is, people are people and as long as everyone respects each other, well that's just the way it should be.

"Everyone" have a great day.

Scalestick comments on lets talk about us americans

Sorry I meant GIB for an earlier reply to this post.

Scalestick comments on lets talk about us americans

GIG The reason why we call ourselves Canadians is because we're from Canada. With all due respect, we aren't called Americans as people take that to mean US citizens, which we aren't. It's the same as a person from Germany saying he's German. What's wrong with that? You obviously love your home country and that's fine but don't call it pathetic because we call ourselves Canadians, we have our own identity.

Scalestick comments on Fair Trade Coffee

Lionheart, thanks for the reply. I can understand a farmer wanting to produce the highest qyuality they can for both profit and pride but I strongly believe as consumers we are too damn fussy sometimes.

Scalestick comments on Fair Trade Coffee

Tinto Thanks. I just checked that site out and watched the videos. I'll get back to it but my first reaction from the videos was that I heard the words "high end" and "speciallty market" a bit too much for my liking. By that I mean as consumers we're too damn fussy! That woman buyer testing the coffee like she was testing fine wine and thought she tasted a green bean so she agreed to buy only part of the crop.(I can appreciate the organic concept) I've had so-so cups of coffee from less than stellar beans but I didn't let it ruin my day. It's like going to the super market and seeing people pick over the apples and if there's one little bruise, they don't buy it and in the end a whole lot of apples hit the garbage bin while people all over the world starve. I think people from countries that are considered better off should travel more to poorer countries so we can appreciate what we have and how out fussyiness can affect the lives of others.
Anyway, it's back to the bean trail so I can find out who makes what but I've already figured out who gets the short end of the stick in this deal.
Thanks again for the great site. Although it deals with Guatamala and Mexico, I'm sure it's the same all over.

Scalestick comments on Fair Trade Coffee

Always seems to be the way The middlemen make all the dough from the sweat of some poor workers brow. I wonder what their profit margin is? I only hope there is some degree of honesty amongst these thieves and the farmers make a decent peso at the end of the day. I believe the Fair Trade program is on the right track as long as it does what it is suppose to do, but at the end of the day ~ who really knows?

Lionheart: Can the farmers only offer a max percentage of high end coffee beans to keep the price high which makes for more profit for the exporters/importers?

Scalestick comments on Fair Trade Coffee

Importing, Starbucks and such. Personally I don't buy from Starbucks anymore for a couple reasons; I found their coffee a little bitter and I believe in supporting the small Mom and Pop operations rather than the big conglomerates.

Ipdiver: That's not a bad idea but there are quite a few people who now doing that; here on the Sunshine Coast, Vancouver, Vancouver Island and even from the Rocky Mountain areas, everyone seems to have their own brand and are charging an arm and a leg for it. Since I plan on visiting the coffee region when I come to Colombia, I might just check that out. At least I would know I was paying a fair price. I wonder how one would go about that? Something to think about. I may have to do a little local research to find out why everyone charges so much locally, probably because it's the status quo. And if it's just because they can get away with it then perhaps it's time to do something that.

Scalestick comments on The Good Gringo

Sounds like he was a good man. It's always gratifying to know that such people exist in the world. Hopefully he didn't suffer too much before he went away.

Scalestick comments on positive side of Colombia

manual eradication gets my vote. I don't like the concept of dropping chemicals. I really can't believe any propaganda that says it does no harm.

Scalestick comments on Temperatures and Central Heating in Bogota

La gripa I haven't travelled to Bogota yet, or Colombia for that matter, but I know when I was travelling through Peru y Ecuador by bus that it was hard to keep a window open especially if there was a baby on board. It would be blistering hot but if you opened your window, even just a crack, it was soon closed again. I always thought that fresh air was good for you but since I was in another country I respected their wishes and didn't argue. (sometimes when it got really hot I would discretely slide the window open just a bit but it would soon become closed again.)At first it seems strange in a country where there is no central heat how people can be so sensitive about cold or cool air but I guess it's because they're always feeling the cold and aren't used to the creature comforts we take for granted in other parts of the world.

Scalestick comments on Information on flights please

Ipdiver You mentioned that Continental allows three bags? When I travelled with them to Peru a couple years ago, it was only two bags allowed. I am positive this is what it was because I bought a guitar in Quito, where I was flying home from, and I had to stuff my guitar with clothes and basically use it as my second bag otherwise it would have cost me an extra $150 or so, I can't remember the exact figure. Maybe they've changed their requirements.

Scalestick comments on Rice: Coca Eradication Program Is Effective By GEORGE GEDDA, Associated Press Writer

I agree. If those billions of dollars spent on this program, and other sceptical programs, were put to use in education and agriculture to help better life for all, not just a few, the whole planet would be better off. I don't see how spending billions of dollars for a questionable eradication program and military arms can be considered aid. The poor still suffer and the rich keep getting richer.

I guess aid actually stands for arms income development.

Scalestick comments on This is the new me!!!!

What can I expect when I travel to Colombia as coffee is my one last remaining vice? I guess I'm about to find out. Since I haven't been to Colombia yet, I have no info to offer, but I do remember while travelling through Peru y Ecuador a few years ago how one had to hunt out coffee shops, which were starting to spring up, as the stuff passed off as coffee at eateries was either instant, el Diablo, or a vile syrup looking concoction that you added hot water to. Hopefully life will be better in Colombia and I can look forward to a nice rich cup of coffee with breakfast to start the day.

Scalestick comments on Cycling Colombia for charity

Pretty interesting Checked out the site, it's a pretty cool thing they're doing. They're going to have some great memories from this as well as the satisfaction of knowing they helped people out. It's too bad though that we are now just aware of it as their journey is drawing to an end, well almost, probably seems like a long way to go for them. I wish them luck.

Scalestick comments on my website has a new permanent home

Looks good Looking forward to reading through it and looking at your pictures.
Muchas gracias

Scalestick comments on I find this hard to believe

El Chiggerdero If this is true, I think we can file it under "shooting oneself in the foot"

Scalestick comments on I find this hard to believe

Re: my last posting I shouldn't isolate biker gangs in this matter as there are certainly other criminal elements involved and it's all pretty high tech.

As a side note: even though I don't smoke anymore I wish they would make it legal (pot)so this criminal activity would stop. I can't remember the last time I heard of someone getting killed over a hop crop or a vineyard. Blow is a totally different story and I believe one of the reasons I quit partaking, besides the outrageous price and nil benefits of the whole endeavor and watching some friends of mine spend their last dime on it, was sitting back one day and having some light go on in my head as regards to all the people involved and the destruction along the cocaine trail. Lets just say I wasn't too proud of myself for using and promoting this activity. Since that day of "enlightment" I haven't used it since. Not trying to preach, only expressing my own personal point of view.

Scalestick comments on I find this hard to believe

Cocaine is hardly an organic crop Well I believe it has been grown for how many hundreds of years for domestic use such as tea and for stomach ailments and for enegry to combat lack of food. I drank the tea myself all the time while travelling through Peru and never uffered altitude sickness.

That aside, I don't promote or endorse the use of the crop for the making of cocaine but there has to be a better way of destroying the crops used for this purpose without indisciminate spraying. Since they suppoedly know where these crops are, why not send in troops to hack the stuff down by hand and distribute seeds and promote the benefits of growing different crops. And if you think grow-ops and some pot plantations (except small personal crops) here in Canada are not controled by heavily armed biker gangs, you're sadly mistaken. There's no way we would ever put up with airial bombardment of pot crops here in either Canada or US so why is it acceptable to do it in other countries. And if it is safe, why not do so here at home in Canada or US?

Scalestick comments on I find this hard to believe

Seems to me Platano that one can get whatever result from whateve research he/she is looking or paying for. I hate the use of chemicals on crops for whatever reason. I fail to see how chemicals that can kill other forms of life are good for human consumption. I feel this is one of the reasons for the rise in diseases like cancer in Society today. But to use certain rational to blitze poor unsuspecting people and their neighbouring crops is nothing short of criminal.

Scalestick comments on Taking of Panamá

ps for that matter, just go into Google or another search engine and look up The Panama Deception.

Scalestick comments on Taking of Panamá

Good documentary The Panama Deception is an award winning documentary that deals with the real reason for the Panama fiasco of 1989 when the US were supposedly going after Noriega to get rid of the drug lord king, one their ex pals: the US did not want to return the canal to Panama, too valuable.
Go to the following sight for more and footage from this video: www.informationclearinghouse.info/article4078.htm

Scalestick comments on Notarized document copies.

You're forgiven Plantano it was a good story, no harm in that! And I did end up getting the info I needed. Thanks to ALL for the advice, it's exactly what I was looking for.
Muchas gracias

Scalestick comments on Notarized document copies.

PABLO G. It sounds like a straight forward process. Gracias.

Scalestick comments on Notarized document copies.

Well Platano that certainly is a creative solution and I thank you. However I don't know any lawyers and I don't think that with my limited knowledge of the spanish language if a conversation on the side of a road with "someone of authority" asking about the authenticity of my papers would be in my best interest. Then again, I have heard about people who have used alternate forms of id other than an official cedula for such said document, of which I won't have any use, but I think with passport copies and such I'll keep it on the straight and narrow just to be safe. You did answer my question though as I now know there are noratios in Colombia. Gracias.

But on the subject of official seals and such, it's interesting how some POWs in the WW2 could use rubber heels of shoes to create "official seals", perfect replicas for false documentation used by escapees. A little bit of inginuity will go a long way in the right hands.

Scalestick comments on Platano's Visit to Santana

Platano You have some very interesting and heartfelt memories. I like the way you write: ie the fresh smells of the earth, and the silent beauty of the night sky full of stars. You obviously have a deep love for Colombia. As for corn patches, I remember while travelling through Chiapas in Mexico, how steep the sidehills were where the patches of corn were planted, and the first thing that came to my mind was how hard these people must work. I've also noticed that while travelling through Peru y Ecuador how people in the country are the friendliest, including people working the fields: rather than being resentful of working hard in the fields, most returned a wave with a smile and a greeting. I'm not saying that every one likes working hard and it can't be a very easy life. But there are people who love tilling the soil and growing crops, reaping what the earth allows them. They all have my utmost respect and admiration,

Scalestick comments on Let's give sound advice to people traveling to Colombia

We don't care if you get kidnapped or killed is a pretty strong statement that I don't think you should be using "WE" as I believe most people will try to help other people out by giving sound advice. As I said, advice should be taken with a grain of salt, but if you have nothing objective to offer when someone asks for advice, then don't give it, or at the very least don't call a person an idiot for trying to find out. Also, how exactly does one go about getting friends from Colombia to help guide you if one does not get offf their ass to go see for himself and make some friends there? The trick is not to show up with a guidebook in one hand and your dick in the other, but to have gathered enough reasonable information obtained from those who have been to be somewhat prepared. Information that should be taken with a grain of salt but if you as a person don't want to help people, then what does that say about you as a person?

Scalestick comments on Let's give sound advice to people traveling to Colombia

utopiacowboy It seems a little unfair to call a person an idiot because he/she are looking for advice on a forum about that place. Advice should be taken with a grain of salt for sure, but where else does a person look for current conditions or advice except to ask people who have been there and can share their experiances, good or bad? One can read up on the history of a place or read some news, online or wharever, but personal experiances are useful as well. But when giving advice, please try to be honest so a person can give it an honest assessment of whether to possibly use that advice or not. Gracias.

Scalestick comments on Cedula?

Thanks Platano That's more or less what I figured but I wanted to be sure. Thanks for clearing that up.
Gracias

Scalestick comments on Soccer/football

Football season I love football (even more than hockey and I'm from Canada ~ what would my friends do to me if they heard me saying this? I wouldn't want to guess!) and I was hoping to catch a game or two while visiting Colombia during July and August. From what I read in an earlier comment to this post, I believe by Cessi, that this may not be possible. I may have misunderstood, but could someone please clarify. Gracias

Scalestick comments on A 4/5 week all-bus trip through Colombia too crazy?

5 to 6 weeks....me too I'm sorry but I have no information for you as I have yet to go there but I have a six week trip planned for the the end of June, but after reading about all the great places and seeing so many wonderful pictures, I'm trying to figure out a way to stretch it out a couple extra weeks. A year and a half? You two must have seen a lot of wonderful things along your journey. Have fun, I plan to.
Buena suerte

Scalestick comments on colombia maps online

Maps Thanks for the link.
Gracias
Gerald

Scalestick comments on Re: Spanish translation post from a couple days ago.

kernow62, chevere33 "Colombian Internet stations because the accent is what I want to emulate to some degree" Definitely. Although, as you may know by now, my spanish skills are barely basic, I still think it's important to try to grasp the local dialects and nuances which is probably stretching it in my situation. But when I was travelling through Peru y Ecuador, I could sometimes pick out the difference and found Peruvians spoke slower and more deliberate and I could pick out more of the spoken side of things, except when one got off the beaten track and headed inland. In Cuzco or even Trujillo it was easier to communicate than at Cajamarca (great place)where there are less gringos(actually none at all when I was there) I suppose it goes both ways because what I could pass off in other places didn't quite cut it in Cajamarca where my attempts at conversation were met with queried stares, not that the locals didn't try to accommodate, they did. Sometimes you have to feel sorry for locals trying to deal with travellers like myself with a limited grasp of espanol, but I think the understanding and polite patience is one of the aspects of the people I like and admire so much. But I certainly don't expect to land in Bogota and be greeted in English so I got three months to get it together...that much I know for sure.

chevere33: I do believe there is Direct tv here as whereever you go everyone has a dish mounted on their house somewhere, but it's out of my price range. Probably a lot more interesting informative channels than the normal bunch of trash available on basic cable. One day.

Hasta
Gerald

Scalestick comments on Re: Spanish translation post from a couple days ago.

adrimm, I wasn't aware of the Spanish language radio station in the lower main-land. I am aware that possibly some cable suppliers have a spanish channel as the little restaurant down the street from where I was living in Burnaby was owned by Colombians and they constantly had a spanish speaking station roaring away on their tv, right below a Colombian flag hanging proundly on the wall. (Good people, nice little family operation, I should stop by and tell them I plan on visiting Colombia)But I never thought to ask if it was from cable or dish. Regardless, here on the Sunshine Coast where I live now, no spanish language channels are available on our cable supplier.
Gracias
Gerald

Scalestick comments on Re: Spanish translation post from a couple days ago.

utopiacowboy, not here in BC Canada where I live, none that I know of anyway and it's easy to go online and get on. I often thought that people living in areas of United States that had exposure to spanish were lucky. Never been to San Antonio but heard it's pretty nice.
Cheers
Gerald

Scalestick comments on Translation: which is right or closest

Thanks to all for all the info. Hopefully I will be able to use it to build a strong foundation for some basic language skills and take it from there. Obviously there is a lot to learn but it would be cool if I could communicate, to some degree, on a social level during this trip: sometimes being silent comes across as being rude when it's actually just fear of accidently insulting someone or embarrassing oneself ~ the lesser of the two evils that one can shrug off by laughing at oneself.

Muchas gracias