Green tendency

Well, I’m not a person extremely awkward with the environmental problem. I mean,  it isn’t a constant concern in my life but I think is possible does something about it. So  I try to contribute to protection of environment with small actions.  There are a lot of daily practices to contribute to reduce polution and excessive exploitation of natural resources.  For example, I use cloth bags for supermarket purchases. I also opt for alternative transportation such as cycling. I  reduce energy consumption by unplugging appliances not in use or turning off the light when I don't use it. Finally, I  reduce the consumption of water  with a shorter shower.

 According to ecological discourse people must incorporate 3 concepts: reuse, recycle and reduce. If you reuse or recycle items you contribute to drop the volume of rubbish. And if you reduce your consumption of water or energy with minimal sacrifices you can do a significant difference too. Some people recycle inorganic materials such as paper, glass, cans, carton, plastic, etc.  Well, it sounds good but I don`t know how useful is it.  It`s really difficult to generate a positive attitude about this matter when the means for action are scarce. Recycle is useless if  for example there are so few recycling plants...

It`s true that people can help to improve this situation but it isn`t completely responsibility of individuals. In Chile public promotion of recycling has sometimes been associated with attendance campaigns such as “Coaniquem” or “Un techo para Chile”. Also we have seen some advertising campaigns but I think there is lack of information. People need more formal divulgation for to raise environmental awareness. We don’t need campaigns; we need a permanent and effective political about this matter.  And, we need generate awareness but we need the material conditions  for generate changes too.

Santiago

I was born in Santiago and I’ve lived here all my life. I don’t know If it’s a “good place to live” but I think  as everything it has advantages and disavantages. First, in Santiago there is a lot of places to have fun.  There are a lot of parks, museums, libraries and cinemas.  Here there are lots of really old buildings in the centre.  Definitely there is so much to see and do in Santiago.

Mainly, I like Santiago because here there are an interesting variety of cultural activities throughout the year. You always will find something to do!

My favorite places are the traditional neighborhoods such as “Barrio Brasil” or “Barrio Yungay” because of its great diversity cultural. There are a lot of migrants communities and a lot of young people.  I like it because I think is a place with a very particular atmosphere. I also enjoy frequenting the center of the capital with its old buildings and stressed people...

If you ask me for the disadvantages to live here I would say that Santiago is a really crowded place and I think is unsafe because of crime... but for me the main of those disadvantages is its awful transport system. After years of its implementation we can still complain about its faults. I think just improve this aspect of life in the city, would significantly improve the quality of life for its inhabitants. I also think it would be very important to solve the problem of high pollution. And, last but not least, we desperately need more bike paths!!

Finally, If someone asked me for the most interesting places to visit in Santiago  I would recommend him/her to  visit Natural History Museum, Museum of Memory, Contemporary Art Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts and the magnificent Pre-Columbian Museum.

Nicanor Parra

Nicanor Parra is a person who I admire. I think he is one of the most remarkable chileans of our times. He’s had a strong impact on the national literature because he’s a subversive figure in the artistic field. He’s found different styles, languages and expressions of contemporary art. I think the value of his deed consist in he’s developed his own poetic aesthetic and he incorporated elements of the rural traditional culture.

In 1954 he published his book Poemas y Antipoemas. Doubtless, that’s his more emblematic play. The book represented a deeply change in the spanish american and national literature. His literary proposal uses a daily language and with a good deal of irony. This model has gone evolved through his long trajectory.

Parra inaugurates a New Poetry. This New Poetry tries to present a realistic view of sociocultural reality and at the same time it exposes an eagerness to destroy traditional writing which don’t talk about reality. Antipoesia is a place where poetry can be critical with itself. 

In a recent interview Nicanor Parra was critical of his nephew Angel Parra because of their collaboration in the movie of Violeta Parra. For him, this tape is nothing more than an appropriation by the bourgeoisie of this popular icon, showing a "smooth" version the singer. He’s really cool.

Sadly, I think Parra haven`t social recognition in Chile and I’m not talking about prizes or awards… He’s obtained a lot of international awards. In 1969 he got the Nobel Prize of Literature. The last one was the Cervantes Prize in 2011. Some people says that’s not enough but I think Parra doesn`t mind those things. So, I would like to  ask him which way he wants to be remembered. 

"Hay dos panes. Usted se come dos. Yo ninguno. Consumo promedio: un pan por persona"

Dragon

Based on my year of birth, I was born under the sign of the Dragon. That’s a great prediction if you consider that the dragon is a mild creature in the Chinese mythology. We all know that in the western culture, dragon is a dark and sinister beast but in its eastern conception it’s related with fortune and positive changes.

Although I’m not an assiduous reader of the horoscope, I think the Chinese zodiac is fascinating as a Chinese cultural symbol.

Today I found out I’m an earth dragon because I was born in 1988.  Dragon in general represents traits as dominance and ambition, but on the other hand, as characteristics of those born under the sign of the earth dragon are mencionated level-headed and supportive of others too. I think I feel more identified with the last ones. Moreover I felt represented when I read dragons prefers to be alone or that we are rational beings.

 I realized Chinese zodiac is more complex I knew. For example, every person is influenced for three different animals. First you have an outer animal (that represents your “social image”) according to your birth year. Then, you have an inner animal (or the person you would like to be) according to your birth month. And, finally you have your secret animal or the person you are but that you prevent the rest of the world knowing it. On that sense, the descriptions become more specific and particular…

Anyway, the sign of dragon always is a good influence because it symbolizes an energetic and powerful spirit. So, considering this is the dragon’s year I’m confident that this will be a good year for everyone. 

Migrations

Hi, today I’m going to talk about a new I read today. It’s about international migrations.  

International migrations are a contemporary phenomenon with powerful  repercussions on the political, economical and cultural field and then  it’s a complex reality to study.

The brief new published on july of the last year was posted on The Guardian. This article is related with the last report published by OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) about international migration. The account shows where migrants come from and their most frequent countries of destination.

The article exposes data about inflows of permanent inmigrants into OECD countries and no-OECD countries 2006-2009. Data show US and UK are the top destination for permanent inmigrants, according to statistics. On the other hand, Mexico was home to 23,900 immigrants in 2009, a rise of 57.9% on 2008. Meanwhile, China has a migratory flow in the opposite direction because this country has 350 emigrants per million population on the ranking.

This article is interesting because it exposes how widespread is the international migration today and it’s tackles the problem considering its two dimensions: inmigration and emigration. However, the article doesn’t exposes data or hypothesis about the reasons of those decisions. So, some questions remain without answer respect to individual motivations.  On the other hand, the two tables showed on the article contain information about different countries, so in many cases you can’t compare the magnitude of emigration and inmigration for a same country.

Well, if you are interested you can revise the new here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/jul/12/immigration-destination-countries-list-migration-statistics?INTCMP=SRCH

“christmas"

Hi everyone! I’m going to talk about of my “christmas”.

Well, indeed, I’m jewish, but a part of my family celebrate Christmas in their own way. Anyway, on that date, we  use to celebrate the birth of my  father and my cousin on december 24th  and december 25 th, respectively.

Every year we are always the same. My Father, mother, sister and me, but this year a friend of my family came too. It was very nice because when we have visitors we get on better… like a happy family. I don’t saying  we aren’t  but  sometimes we are a chaotic family (haha). We met at my house in Santiago and we ate a lot of tasty food.  There were turkey and res beef and many types of salads. Later, we ate ice cream and fruits. I was very happy

My father recieved a new mobile phone and he spent the rest of the evening learning to use it. He is very enthusiastic.  

On the next day, we went to my cousin’s house and we ate more and more cake…

Well, it was fine but I think it was  one of the most sad celebrations we have had because my grandmother died recently, so we missed her.

The power of language

Hi! I watched a exposition by Mark Pagel which he talks about language. Pagel states because of language we can benefit of others’ ideas and the human cooperation is possible. I’m agree with him, but I think the true power of language is related with its  potential manipulation according to particular intentions. When he says that language is useful to promote a “free flow” of ideas I think he is too cynical because  isn’t a mystery that by means of language can be legitimized the most aberrant ways of domination. Moreover, flow of information is something different of “communication”. In a modern theory about this, comunication  is definied in relation with a  symmetric interaction between individuals where is posible a exchange of information.

I think language is a relevant element on the social construction of memory  and identity because by means of an ideological discourse a lot of aspects of the history can be maintained underhand.  Nowadays, when we can talk about “multiculturalism”, the social construction of identities is becoming important. On that sense, when Pagel talks about “a world with one language” in the future he only consider economical and political factors. I think he don't consider the diversity and his thoughts cover a dangerous eagerness of universalism...