TABLE OF CONTENTS VENEZUELA
INTRODUCTION 12-13 ACTIVISM 14 HUGO’S MISSION 15 IMPACTS OF GLOBILIZATION15 RELIGION 16 CULTURE/ ENVIRONMENT 17
COLOMBIA INTRODUCTION 32-33 CULTURE 34 AFRO COLOMBIAN PEOPLE 35 INFOGRAM 36 ACTIVISM 37 ECONOMICS/ POLITICS 38
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CUBA INTRODUCTION 18-19 CULTURE 20 ECONOMY 21 GOVERNMENT 22 EDUCATION 22 RELIGION 23
JAMACIA INTRODUCTION 4-5 CULTURE 6 MUSIC 7 HISTORY 7 RELIGION7 EDUCATION 8-9 INFOGRAM 10 ECONOMICS 11
HAITI INTRODUCTION 24-25 INFOGRAM 26 ECONOMY 27 POLITICS 28 CULTURE 29-30
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JAMAICA “Technology has changed things, same as everyone. But the economy has changed drastically. When Jamaica has first one its independence, our dollar was stronger than the U.S. dollar. Now ours is aobut 90 to one. That’s had a big impact on crime on crime and poverty.” Damian Marley
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Emperor Haile Selaisse 1892-1975
Marcus Garvey 1887-1940
CULTURE No other cultural phenomenon has attracted worldwide attention like the Rasta movement has. Rasta has reached from to teenagers to scholars. The Rastafarian phenomenon connects with many varieties of people.
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THE RASTAFARIAN MOVEMENT The name Rastafari comes from the combined expression of “Jah Ras Tafari,” which refers to Emperor Haile Selaisse the first (Ethiopian emperor) and Rastafari just refers to the movement. Rastas usually replace that name Jah Ras Tafari with just Rastafari. This was done by the early founders of the Rasta movement. Rastas believe that true black people are “Rasta” which means that they have a connection to their African roots. Seretha Rycenssa of Jamaica stated that a true Rasta “believes in the Ethiopian monarch, sees black liberationist Marcus Mosiah Garvey his prophet…
sticks to [his path], does not shave, cut or straighten the hair, rejects the customs of “Babylon society,” and looks on his blackness and sees that it is good and struggles to preserve it.” Many people do not know the true meaning the movement or what being Rasta truly is. They only see what’s on the outside of the movement. They’ll see that it is about smoking marijuana and rejecting certain standards of society, but its actually about the preservation, the spread, creating a connection with their African roots, and rejecting the idea of colonialism and neo colonialism.
MUSIC The main reason why the movement became popular was because of the reggae music. One of the most popular artists to carry and catapult the popularity of the Rasta movement and culture was Bob Marley. It is through reggae music, chants, oral testimonies, and text that the Rastas share their experiences and talk about social aspects of their society. Other popular Jamaican folk music is mento (which greatly influenced reggae), calypso, jazz, Ska, Dj’s, rocksteady, Dub Music, ska jazz, and reggae fusion which is a mixture of reggae music and other genres such as hip hop, rock, R&B, jazz.
BOB MARLEY
HISTORY The Jamaican culture is also rich because of the struggles the island has gone through and the history that it holds. In the past, Jamaica had their indigenous population wiped out and replaced with afrrican slaves. It has gone through colonization, and has fearlessly fought against colonialism and for autonomy. It is these struggles that define such a proud significance of the Jamaican culture.
RELIGION As for religion in Jamaica, the most practiced religion is Christianity (62% protestant and 2% roman catholic). Then it’s followed by 2 % Jehovah Witness, 3% unstated, and 10% other.
European plantation owners did not accept the African religion because they thought that it would unite the African slaves and revolt against them. Christianity was then implemented to Jamaica to abolish their African religion. Rastafari is also a religion in Jamaica that is practiced by about 10% of the population. They worship the Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie, they believe in reincarnation, and emphasize nurturing their inner spirit.
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TO RY H IS
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
When one analyzes Jamaica’s history following political independence in August 1962, they must also consider what the era of national sovereignty meant to the development of education in the country. Long before this, nonetheless, the Ministry of Education (1953) was established in order to usher in a new educated generation that hypothetically could lead Jamaica towards becoming players in the global economy. Thus, such governmental investment and interest in educational development lead to the guiding motto which now reads “Every Child Can Learn, Every Child Must Learn.” As the school system began to expand, children were being schooled, rather the educated, to acquire menial skills that provided young individuals, to at the very least, be skilled-workers. Interestingly enough, this new educational process led to a developing new consciousness, which allowed for these same young Jamaican students to be disinterested in manual labor occupations. Countering the interests of the colonial economy, 8 | Culture Is Resistance | Issue #1
the children moved to the cities, altogether avoiding jobs to be in the agricultural industry. Yet still, the education system was designed in many respects, to highlight the development of Jamaica as needing the assistance of the British, in order to be considered a legitimate developing nation. Similar to the United States, we need to also conduct an in-depth analysis of how the Jamaican abolition of slavery, the development of minority’s right to vote, and the achievement of Independence has led to an education system which now boasts a literacy rate of 88%
amongst a population of 2.715 million people. In much respects, the idea we refer to as the “brain-drain” is an economical phenomena in which a developing countries most highly educated individuals leave the nation for a more developed nation, essentially leaving behind their home country which needs them most. In an article titled “Japan and others gain from Jamaica brain drain” author Baye Mcneil offers unique insight into the life of Dave Collymore, a 34-year old Jamaican who has been a resident of Japan for some 10 years now. As a result of his education, he was recruited to be an assistant language teacher for English to elementary school kids in the rural area of Okayama Prefecture; where he was the only black resident. When asked of the learning curve he’s experience, Collymore shared a story stating “many Japanese here, as well: When I tell them I’m Jamaican, many think Jamaica is in Africa. I had a social-studies teacher who asked me to show his class Jamaica on the globe. I’m trying to turn it to Jamaica and he’s fighting me to turn it to Africa, and I’m like, ‘Nooooo!’” (Mcneil 1) Not long before, globalization during the 1960’s gave way to the rise of
tumultuous era in the Caribbean island’s history. As more individuals grew out adolescence educated, they began a shift for transparency in national politics where affairs could ultimately be determined by the people. In addition, it’s become evident how America is perceived on a global scale, because our nation, more so than any other, relies on racial subjugation as a means of dominance in power. When asked of issues he faced, Collymore replied, “the biggest issues I’ve had with race in Japan,” Dave said, “is not with Japanese; it’s with white Americans. Jamaica is 70 percent black. We have some white people but they’re very Jamaican just like us. We don’t have any race problems in Jamaica. We don’t give a shit if you’re black or white. (McNeil 2) When one deconstructs the social concept of race that is deeply engrained behind the race concept, they elucidate their consciousness and how they apply theories into social actions of change.
Globalization, for many reasons, has obviously stunted the growth potential of Jamaica. Nonetheless, the Ministry of Education seems intent on providing their student with Career Opportunities so to give them valuable experience in leadership positions. From there, they can influence a great deal of change in various avenues, hopefully some that lead back to the redevelopment of Jamaica. Issue #1| Culture Is Resistance | 9
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ECONOMY- GLOBAL RECESSION Jamaica’s main source of income or foreign exchange is mining (bauxite) and tourism. From 1977, Jamaica finally ends its repayment arrangements with IMF in 1996. In the 1980s, IMF was forced to push certain policies such as abolition of food subsidies, which in turn made the cost of food much higher. They kept down wages, health and school systems were forsaken. All this occurred due to an increase in interest rates. IMF investors needed to be paid and the country had to pay for it. Between 1996 - 2003 Jamaica’s GDP rose from 71% to 124%. Around this time it halved its poverty rate
from 20% to 10%. At the end of the fiscal year of 2009 and 2010, Jamaica had a debt of 129.3% of GDP. Mid 2009, Jamaica was also hit with the Global Recession. Unfortunately, the economic slowdown pushed Jamaica to open a new IMF agreement. The agreement consisted of increasing taxes and cutting expenses. In recent years, Jamaica remained one of the most indebted countries in the world. Although the debt was manageable, the high interest rates that IMF implements keep the country in debt.
Economy | Global Exchange Exports & Imports In 2014, the exports of the country are $373,400.00 U.S. dollars, with the import as $1304,900.00 U.S. dollars, leading to the Balance of trade of Jamaica to be - $931,500 U.S. dollars. According to the historical reports by Bank of Jamaica, the country has not had trade surplus in the past 12 years, and the trade deficits go up to – $1,800,000 U.S. dollars in 2008.
Gross Domestic Product In Jamaica, trade accounts are around 50% of GDP. Yet, Jamaica imports most of the goods it consumes, leading to consistent trade deficits of around 20% of GDP. Jamaica is a major exporter of bauxite used for aluminum production. Other exports include ethanol, cane sugar, alcoholic beverages, coffee, scrap metal, cyclic compounds and manioc. Jamaica’s main trading partner is the United States (52% of total trade). Others include Venezuela, Trinidad & Tobago, Canada, China, the United Kingdom, Brazil and Japan.
Interest Rate According to World Bank 2014 report, the interest rate of Jamaica is 5.75%, but the inflation in the same year goes up to 6.4 percent, which indicts the real interest rate to be -0.65%. In other words, every 100 Jamaican dollar averagely devalues up to 0.65 Jamaican dollars in the past year. 52% high interest payment Issue #1| Culture Is Resistance | 11
VENEZUELA “Judge for yourself who’s still fighting for change and who got sick on power, because the person in the Miraflores has forgotten about the people of Venezuela.” - Henrique Capriles Radonski
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M IS IV
AC T
IN POLITICS
HUGO CHAVEZ
Hugo Chavez has been fighting an upVenezuela is an active member of the ward battle against the forces of gloanti-globalization movement. Venezuela balization. Venezuela’s stance against bases their criticisms of globalization on globalization can be seen in Chavez’s a number of related ideas such as opposipolicies and throughout the Venezuelan tion to large multi-national corporations economy. The nation of Venezuela has having unregulated political power and taken a firm stance against globalization. the deregulation of financial markets. President Hugo Chavez has made it clear Chavez accuses corporations of seekthat globalization is a western idea that ing to maximize profit at the expense of needs to be avoided. While international sabotaging work safety conditions, labor trade is still allowed, it comes with a 12% hiring standards, environmental contariff. Chavez’s campaign follows a demservation principles, and the integrity of ocratic socialist program that includes national legislative authority. policies promoting large scale long-term public investment and spending directed at greater employment, social welfare and increased economic growth. Venezuela is highly dependent on the oil industry. Oil accounts for 95 percent of export revenue. The government uses this to stimulate economic expansion. In the first half of 2011 alone, Venezuela has experienced a growth of 3.6 percent. With the costs of oil rising and conservative budgeting by the government, it is predicted that the country will see more “WHAT HURTS ME MOST IS POVERTY AND THAT’S positive changes in the economy. WHAT LED ME TO BECOME A REBEL” HUGO CHAVEZ 14 | Culture Is Resistance | Issue #1
Chaves seeks to put emphasis on the common man. The ideas of large corporations expanding to create more jobs simply will not work. Instead of bailing out large companies, like Obama has, Chavez took the opposite approach. Vast sums of the countries budget were spent on public housing and infrastructure investments. He has also invested in a number of public universities, secondary and primary schools and clinics. The idea is to help the people from the bottom up. From a young age, corporations sell an idea to us of increased money and power. In Venezuela they get a different message; one of increased standard of living for the average person and a nation movement toward an improved economy, and it seems to be working. While Venezuela’s future is blurry, but it appears that as long as Hugo Chavez stays in power, the Venezuelan government will be determined to stand against the forces of globalization. How successful this method will be is yet to be determined.
HUGO’S MISSIONS Chavez launched around 29 populist social programs, known as “missions,” to combat the negative effects of neoliberalism (globalization). One of the best-known missions is Barrio Adentro. The healthcare service began as small clinics implanted in poor neighborhoods, run by doctors imported from Cuba. The program now boasts high-tech diagnostic centers and popular clinics, such as this one in a Caracas barrio called Cotoia. During a press briefing this week, the health minister said that since its founding three years ago, Barrio Adentro has administered to 17 million of the country’s 26 million people.” SITE: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?story-
THE IMPACTS OF GLOBALIZATION ON VENEZUELA The five major levels of globalization on Venezuela consist of: the technological, the political , the cultural the economic , and the social aspect . Since countries, such as Venezuela invites tourist for its spectacular natural resources. Foreign countries see this a great investment. With doing so it also opens the trading system of the country to the world. Although, globalization can be seen through the Venezuelan economy. Venezuela is highly dependent on the oil industry. Oil accounts for 95 %of export revenue. The government uses this to stimulate economic expansion. Issue #1| Culture Is Resistance | 15
RELIGION Globalization creates new possibilities for a country like Venezuela in terms of obtaining worldwide knowledge and gives a multinational aspect of the world. Globalization is mainly defined as a new phenomenon that comes with the removal of a country’s borders to bring forth new jobs and opportunities from foreign wealthy countries. What people sometimes forget about is that it comes with migration and immigration bringing along, multiple religions, ethnicity, multilingualism, and lifestyles. To extend ones knowledge and views on different top-
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CULTURE ics is good but with the increase of languages like English, Arabic, Chinese, etc. has seen Venezuela’s native language deteriorate. In Venezuela multiculturalism is common with the acceptance of globalization around the world. With new languages, traditions, and cultures entire native societies are declining and even disappearing.
The cultures of Venezuela have become distinct and complex because of the influence from migration and immigration. The country is 92% Roman Catholic since it was colonized by Spain, but over the years other religious groups have established themselves there like Muslims, Buddhist, and Jewish communities.
ENVIRONMENT The country has suffered from environmental deterioration. It has the third highest erosion rate in South America with a percentage of 1.1 .The environmental pollution has been attributed with the miss management of waste disposal. The issues extend from that of sewage pollution, oil and urban pollution, and soil degradation. Venezuela’s major export is oil so their economy depends heavily of the sale of their product. It is one of the major environmental causes that is negatively affecting their land. With Globalization trending around the world, Maduro is trying to keep the country’s identity intact by governing the amount of imports it receives. He
is aware that Venezuela needs Globalization in order to profit of its natural resource. The country’s environment is having a hard time keeping up with the constant amount of physical man labor being put on it. They are dependent on their exports and know if there is a reduction in the price of oil or its market, their economy will become stagnant and drop. The demand for oil is high across the world since it is one of the most used natural resource. The lack of environmental consciousness is common in the country. Less than 25 percent of water gets treated before it is disposed back into the ecosystem. All the water in the region coast is polluted despite the fact Issue #1| Culture Is Resistance | 17
CUBA “North Americans don’t understand that our country is not just Cuba; our country is also humanity.” - Fidel Castro
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RE LT U CU
5 CULTUTRAL FACTS ABOUT CUBA *Most Cuban people under the age of about 40-45 have been to at least college or even university due to the fact that education is free to Cuban citizens.
*The pilgrimage of San Lazaro is the largest religious event in Cuba. Every December 17, people come from all over the country to pray for good health or to be healed. Many of them go to great lengths to show their dedication. One man dragged a concrete statue on his back for nine miles.
*Cuba boasts one of the DICTATOR best health care systems FAMOUS CUBA’S FAMOUS in the world. The averDICTATOR age life expectancy is comparable with than of UK. Medical technology is one of the most prominent exports.
FIDEL CASTRO
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*No Cuban will ever worry about schooling, food or health – they are all readily available and free.
*Cuba is full of US cars from the 1950’s. This is because they’re the only cars Cuban citizens can legally own. Only pre 1959 cars that were seized form the original owners can be privately owned and worked on. The government owns all newer cars.
ECONOMY Cuba’s economy before the arrival of the Spaniards was traditional economy, meaning that the indigenous people will trade goods among themselves and no money was needed. The Spaniards also introduced a new form of economy, as they will buy and sell slaves by amount of gold and silver as main form of currency. By the 17th century Cuba’s economy was one of the successful economies among the Caribbean islands giving stronger power economically and politically to the Spanish crown. By the 18th century Cuba’s economy started sinking, the Spaniards had many wars in the Americas and in Europe as well most of their money was spent in wars and military artillery putting in jeopardy many of their colonies in the Americas. As the Spanish crown started to become economically weak this gave the opportunity to slaves and indigenous people to try to become independent from Spain.
Although indigenous and slaves fought side by side, they were unsuccessful because they lacked money to buy weapons and although they fought with their work tools the Spaniards successfully overthrown them because their artillery was more advanced.
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EN T RN M GO VE Cuba has been a communist government since the year 1959. The nation is constitutionally defined as Marxist Leninist. It is a social state through the leadership of revolutionary vanguard. The working class has control of political power in the nation. It means that land, the work-
ing class of the state publically owns resources of production and natural resources. The state is broken up into a legislative, executive and judiciary branches. The Cuban government runs the executive branch, which uses full force on laws and issues regulations and laws. The legislative branch consists of the national assembly of people of power of
EDUCATION All education levels are run by state since 1961. 100% subsidized by the government, Free College! They have the Highest education level in all of Latin America and Caribbean. Over 47 universities in Cuba
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The structure of the universities is much like that of American universities, Bachelors, Masters, and then Doctoral. Communism is a prominent subject in schools, in favor of, of course. The government uses 13% of its annual budget to go to the funding and operations of schools. Cuba has the highest literacy rate of any other country in the world, nearly 100.
RELIGION IN CUBA
SANTERIA!
Also known as Regla de Ocha is usually defined as an Afro-Cuban religion; however Santeria’s origins are found in what is now known as Nigeria and Benin in West Africa. Regala de Ocha came to be known as Santeria when slaves brought to the New World were force to convert into Catholicism. Many of the converted slaves kept their native religion and named it Santeria, which can be translated it as devotion of the saints. The Afro-Cuban’s found a way to synchronize Catholicism and Santeria. Many Afro-Cubans baptized their children and attended church on Sunday, while practicing the rituals of Santeria at home.
Such synchronization of the two religions can be seen in the pilgrimage of San Lazaro. It is one of the largest religious events in Cuba. Every December 17, people come from all over the country to pray for good health or to be healed. Many of them go to great lengths to show their dedication. Santeria is an oral tradition, there are not that many text that tell the details of the religion; instead the religion is pass from generation to generation by the narration of sacred stories by priests and priestesses of the religion.
REGLA DE OCHA!
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HAITI “I WANTED TO CONTRIBUTE MY TIME, MYSELF, MY KNOWLEDGE, MY LOVE, BECAUSE HAITI IS MY EVERYTHING.” -LAURENT LAMOTHE
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Caribbean
Textile factories produce 90% of Haitian exports
GLOBALIZATION:
HAITI
Real wages in Haiti declined
50 Percent Between 1980 and 1990
Over 50%
(AYITI)
Hope I & Hope II
Unemployment in crowded urban cities such as Port-auPrince was as high as
Trade bills require yearly certification that Caribbean countries are complying with World Bank Policies
70-80%
Of the $1billion Haitian budget is derived of foreign aid
Structural adjustment programs implemented in the
1980s
in an effort to open up Haiti’s economy further to foreign investment
HAITI IS CONSIDERED THE POOREST COUNTRY
FD
Nixon administration agrees to provide political support for the ruling dictatorship in return for the implementation of incentives to attract U.S. investors.
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1971
The U.S. begins to mold Haiti into a low-wage, export-friendly economy by using its political influence and development assistance programs
1960s
IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE
Structural adjustment programs included the privatization of utilities and the removal of all state subsidies Structural adjustment program shifted focus from producing food for domestic market to producing for export Elimination of tariffs led to the importation of cheap goods, such as rice which led to the elimination of domestically grown rice Haiti’s wealth is usually distributed amongst Haitian elites who are mostly white, mulattoes and descendants of Immigrants
Y M NO EC O
FACTS Short-term stabilization measures including: • Tariffs reduced, import controls issued • Government spending on health and education cut wage restraints into effect “Real wages in Haiti declined 50% between 1980 and 1990.” Structural adjustment programs included the privatization of utilities and the removal of fall state subsidies.
Haiti is considered the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Economic policy serves interests of U.S investors and exporters. U.S has used its political influence to mold Haiti into a low wage, export friendly economy. Structural adjustment programs implemented in the 1980s in an effort to open up Haiti’s economy further to foreign investment.
Textile factories produced 90% of Haitian exports. Hope and trade bills require yearly certification that Caribbean countries are complying with World Bank Policies. Structural adjustment program shifted focus from producing food for domestic market to producing for export. • Elimination of tariffs led to the Importation of cheap goods, such as rice Unemployment in crowded urban cities such as Port-au-Prince was as high as 70%80% before the earthquake in 2010. In recent years, over 50% of the $1billion Haitian budget is derived of foreign aid. Issue #1| Culture Is Resistance | 27
POLITICS POLITICS 1791 a group of former slaves led in part by Toussaint Louverture organized a full-fledged uprising that toppled the colony—the first successful slave revolt in history. While the initial uprising was finally quelled, the events set in motion what would become the Haitian Revolution. Haiti became the first free black republic in the world, the first independent state in the Caribbean and the second independent state in the Western Hemisphere after the United Sates. Francois Duvalier came to power through elections in 1957, he lost all credibility because of a fraudulent re-election in 1961, a rigged referendum in 1964 that confirmed him as Haiti’s president for life, and the severe and unrelenting repression he dealt out, primarily through the Volunteers for National Security (Volontaires de la Securite Nationale—VSN) or tonton mascoutes (bogeymen). Duvalier (“Papa Doc”) extended his illegitimate rule beyond his death by naming his son Jean Claude (“Baby Doc”) as his successor. In march 1987, a constitution was ratified that provides for an elected bicameral, parliament; an elected president that serves as head of state; and prime minister, cabinets, and Supreme Court appointed by the President with parliament’s consent.
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In 1804, the country declared it’s independence and itself Haiti, which means “mountainous,” with The Haitian Constitution also provides for political decentralization through the election of mayors and administrative bodies responsible for local government.
Culture
CULTURE LANGUAGE
RELIGION
Official language is Creole (kreyol). It is composed of 18th century French with influences of Portuguese, Aramaic, Spanish, Taino, and West African.
Catholic (Elites) • Official State reli- About 1 to 5% of the population speaks French (mostly elites), which is gion, due to Protestant highly esteemed. missionary work reduced from 90% in 1960 to less SOCIAL CLASSES/CASTES than 70% in 2000. Evangelical Protestant (Levanjil) • Growing religious sector Voodoo (Vodun) • Mixture of African and Catholic beliefs and rituals centered in serving the “Lwa” (Spirits, Angeles). Mystified as Black magic by media • Voodoo practitioners are called Houngan (males) and Mambo
Elites: Whites, Mulattoes- descendents of immigrants Middle Class: Growing working class of blacks Rural: Impoverished blacks GENDER ROLES/SEXUALITY Men •Dominate most sectors of prominent employment doctors, teachers, lawyers, and politicians • All church pastors are male • In domestic fields men are mostly responsible for livestock and produce gardens
Women • Making advancement in elite positions, ex: Stephanie Villedrouin current Deputy minister of tourism • Grouping representation in the education field as teachers are dominating nursing industry. • Rural women run the Haiti produce market and play as a viable role in household income Same gender loving relationships and cross dressing although legal are not tolerated due to strong Christian values of
( females). Both are seen as having the same level or spiritual power • Unlike Catholicism and Protestant religion, Voodoo believes in an afterlife free of conquer of reward and punishment. • Voodoo is social taboo, but secretly explored by every class for wishes of health, protection and fortune.
VOODOO FESTIVAL CELEBRATED IN HAITI DURING EASTER: Haitians participate in a ritual, during the Voodoo Festival, at Sourvenance village. Issue #1| Culture Is Resistance | 29
EDUCATION
Literacy race: 72% (15-24 yrs. of age). 49% (24yrs+)
by Patrice Piard
the country. Therefore are not apparent in everyday life. Voodoo however does not discriminate against people who identify as LGBT. Homosexuality was taken off the list of mental illness in Haiti in 1992. July 2013 1000 people marched in the capital in demand of same-sex marriage. Demand but still not addressed. (Side Note): Often misunderstood by outsiders, heterosexual men and mostly women hold hands to signify a deep friendship.
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age of 7 yrs. old.
‘Restavek’ is a fosterage system where a rural Elites and middle class child is sent to live in send their children to servitude in the home of French Catholic private other individuals or famischools. ly members and in return that child’s educational Most rural class parents try expenses will be footed. to send their children to primary school at the least, In the past 30 years, the ones that show the a growing number of most promise will continue youth from rural commuto a higher nities are reaching aceducation level if cess to engineering and affordable. The ones medical schools. Some who don’t, become farm even pursue higher eduhands and as early as the cation oversees.
MARRIAGE
Marriage is expected home. Wife is the Manager of between elite and middle household and financial deciclass, but not so much sion maker. non-elites. Household can contain memThe provision of a house bers of the nuclear family, to the woman and a adopted children of relatives, child solidifies the union elderly widows and widowers. and makes it respected by the community. Men and women inherit estate equally form both parents. Husband is owner of the ART, MUSIC, LITERATURE, AND NATIONAL CELEBRATIONS Art and music are used to express national pride, voodoo culture, and sentiments on political matters and rural life. Traditional sound of Haiti is Kompa, but the youth has adopted Hip Hop culture, which is frowned upon by the older generation.
Literature is written mostly in French, therefore produced by elites and mostly enjoyed by elites.
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COLOMBIA IT’S COLOMBIA NOT COLUMBIA
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RE LT U
CU From early history there were many Africans in Colombia, mostly slaves. However, some of those slaves escaped to build independent maroon communities called Palenque’s. San Basilio de Palenque, a small village in northern Colombia, was one of the first communities of escaped African slaves during the Spanish Colonization Palenquero language, a Spanish-based Creole language estimated to be spoken by 2,500 people
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5 CULTUTRAL FACTS ABOUT COLOMBIA There are over 30 million mestizo inhabitants with an immense variety of cultural traditions The locals as well as the Indigenous, resist towards this push but the paramilitaries, army and other drug warriors have been quietly pushing them out, using extreme methods.
N A I B OLO
C O R AF
There are over 87 indigenous ethnic groups that represent 1.5 percent of the country’s total population and speak 64 native languages that belong to 22 linguistic families Afro-Colombians attend primary schools at a level higher than the national average, with 42 percent of blacks in school compared to 32 percent of all Colombian Over 5 million are estimated to have been displaced in Colombia by one of the longest running conflicts in the world The communities have back lashed by confiscating and seizing machinery to stop the exploitation of their land They have asked the govern
E L P PEO
ment to step in, but the government has not responded Instead paramilitary and armed men have harassed threatened the leaders of the communities and have had to flee the communities There are approximately 2,000 illegal black holes in Northern Cauca 30-50% of the population in Cauca and its surrounding areas are Afro-Colombian Cauca is also home to over a quarter of a million Afro-Colombians
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M IS IV
AC T
•Human Right Activist
Clemencia Carabali
•Forced to move 5 times due to displacement by armed paramilitaries
•She belongs to ASOM
Francia Marquez Minas •Vice President of La Toma Community council •Works in mines to get herself through college while raising two sons
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ECONOMY The unemployment rate among the indigenous population is estimated at 70% (OHCHR, 2004). Colombia is very important to the global economic order; its oil and mineral wealth have attracted the interest of very huge important global economic players US has aided in this buy sending military advisors, joint training exercises and $290 million in military aid, making Colombia the third largest recipient of such aid after Israel and Egypt. The US has also helped with $1 million allocation to the Colombian struggle against narco-terrorism by the Clinton administration. This money was used to make the Colombian army stronger, the Colombian army that is tied to the drug trade in Colombia. Exxon’s giant El Cerrejon coal mine also have received opposition from local Indian tribes. The Choco are in the Northwest part of Colombia below Panama is rich in minerals and oils and it contains one of the world’s last pristine rain forests. It is being rapidly opened to mining, oil, and timber exploitation, and pipelines, ports, and railroads.
●
With the Pan-African movement across Latin American it is becoming easier to globally address the conditions of globalization and new-liberal capitalism.
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The last 65 miles of Pan American Highway are being pushed forward to bring this region into global market. ● Investors mostly foreign, want to and are according to the local law are illegally opening largescale industrial mining operations 267 mining titles and concessions were authorized by the government without prior consultation, in violation of its legal and constitutional mandate
POLITICS
Afro Colombians realized that obtaining collective land rights has important implications reconstruction within society Efforts to build coalitions with other African descended communities throughout Latin America to build a broader political movement to redress specific problems.
EDITOR’S PAGE EDITORS OF LAYOUT JAMACIA BYLINE- JOHN-MICHAEL ROGERS JEAN-PAUL GOUDEAU
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VENEZUELA BYLINE- SHANIQUA ARCHIE CUBA BYLINE- SOFIASTEPHANIE RODRIGUEZ HAITI BYLINE- NYEHLA IRSHEID COLOMBIA BYLINE- LAURA RIOS
LAYOUT DESIGN CRYSTAL ANDERSON
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$20.00 U.S