Manifesto from a Nomad

    In these moments where the uncertainty of the future dawns upon us and hits is right in the face, forcing us to wake up and make certain decisions that will affect us down the road. Senior year can be classified as an emotional roller coaster that drives is trough paths of euphoria and melancholy at the same time.  At times it's where nostalgic feelings become stronger than our will to advance and become independent adults. 

For a girl that is hardly attached to anything (being either emotional or material) I have to admit that this transition will not be easy. 8 schools in 12 years have gotten me to learn how to adapt quickly and attempt to get de attached emotionally with the people and places that I encounter along the way.  Colombia was a turning point in the life of this young nomad. I found people on the inside and outside of CP that changed my perception of life as well as the idea I had  about myself, making it verydifficult for me to leave again.

For this assignment we were to explain how after we leave this school, we are going to change

the world.

 I don’t know, the world is a pretty huge place. And the idea that a life well lived means one that has impacted the world, has always haunted me. Until I read something that explained that by imprinting yourself to one person, you would have already changed their world.

I still don’t know what I want to do with my life or received that celestial call that will tell me about why am I on this earth. It is something that will be figured out with time and experiences, I guess.

  
     Or at least hope

 I want never ending learning for as long as I shall live. Exploring other cultures, meeting people and keeping an open mind. Family will always be first. The ones I have near to me, the ones far away and also the ones that have adopted me and added me to their  own families.

  
I won’t deprive myself from life simplest pleasures. From small to gigantic I will  notice the world that surrounds me. I will share everything that I have to offer. And help everyone that needs a hand in order make their world better. I won’t worry about oblivion and allow things to come and go as they should.

I know money is important in this society yet this will not be something that will drive me away from what I love the most. The idea of monetary stability will not impair my happiness and goals.

While I write this I can’t help to think if I am able to accomplish them or even to believe in them after a couple of months. In the real world, will I succumb to the pressure this will put onme?  Or will I live a life well lived?  (For whatever that means)

One of the hardest things for me it’s to write about myself and I think that is in fact pretty obvious right now. But the thing is that this assignment was created for two reasons. One of them being for the teachers. For them to have an idea about the human beings that they have had to deal with for the past two years.  And the second one and most crucial is for us. To reflect about the life we want with the values that we will embrace. In order for us to admire who we have become and to accept a near future that it is approaching faster than we ever imagined it to.

 I can’t help to think how scary it all sounds for me, and while some of my peers are ready to jump into this so called real world, I am a little apprehensive. But this is a rite of passage that everyone goes through differently. Each one of us with its own set of fears and ambitions.

I like to think that one day I will look back at this assignment and laugh at my 18 year old self.

Also there are a lot of “I” in this and for some reason I dislike that greatly. Don’t know why.

This doesn’t look like a manifesto at all, but I guess you could see the similar format of a written reflection.

 So from this girl who is about to enter legal adulthood in exactly 48 hours. I have to say good luck to all of us. For whatever path that we may choose to go down, I hope that it will be one that fill us with the happiness that you can only get while being yourself and doing what you want and love in the process. 

The lightbulb conspiracy

This documentary centers around the events and ideas that have lead us to how our perception of goods have changed and modified. It all started with a lightbulb. In the 18000 when this product was starting to become a  mass produced good, a common lightbulb could last for more than 5 years. When the companies that made ligthbulbs found that people where not buying ligthbulbs ( because they did not needed them ) they created a strategy to keep the making and selling of such product. They made a worst product that lasted less than a year, a more fragil glass that would brake easily and keep the consumers coming back to purchase more. 

During the Great Depression, business tried to pass a law that would require the devolution of a prosaic and the purchase of that same product after a certain amount of years. To keep factories open and an stable workforce.In the 1950's it was discovered how the human nature can affect positively the market. People like new stuff,brighter colors, different design and even just a different symbol. When business learned this, they took advantage by creating products with the same interior and function but with a different exterior and shape. This has stuck with us and now it's normal for an iPhone 6 to come only after a year than the iPhone 5 version S. 

This tendencies not only have taken a toll in our generation but also in the environment. Once discarded these objects end up in trash dumps across the world, where they serve part of an underground economy of need. Children in Ghana, instead of attending school, spend their days at these dumps in order to find scrap pieces of metals that they will later sell to support their families. The majority of the world is not aware of this while others just play dumb. 

When have been turned into a society where a persons worth is determined by what they own, and who has the newer and better upgrade. It is incredible to think that these currents of belief started only with a ligthbulb. 

Four Horsemen

In the documentary entitled the four horsemen it explains the idea of a crumbling empire in our modern times. The United States is the predominant force of the world, both in economics and social expansion. It's predicted collapse it's based on the idea that follows the death of many empires in the past and  allows an in dept look towards the possibilities of the U.S future. This downfall is created by a certain line of events and ideas that are shared in public     Eye. Some of this ideas are the obsecion with sex, the excessive expending and the creation of a poorer world. The comparison between two problems that can solve one another.

 This hipothetic event could create a worldwide turmoil, affecting populations all around. In the economic sense it could create the shut down of many corporations that are based in the United States. Socially it would change the way that we see and understand the world around us. Me specifically it can affect the way that I would developed once I'm in the workforce.

This also would imply the creation of a new empire to replace the old one. Creating new rules and ideas that would expand around the world.

Comparison between countries and its Monetary system

How Money Works in the U.S.A

The fractional reserve banking system is the way in which money circulates in the United States. Everything begins when the government asks to buy a certain amount of money from the Federal Reserve (which is a central bank).The U.S government prints out bonds which they then trade for money that only becomes official when it is deposited into a bank account. I believe that it is important to know that 97 % of these transactions happen virtually and that only 3 % of the total amount of money is physical, the rest exists only in computers.

After the money is placed in a bank account, the bank has now the opportunity to loan out 90% of said amount. Only leaving inside the bank a small 10 percent. This other 90 % can then be loaned again and placed in different banks, which also carry out this procedure. It is said than from the initial amount it can be replicate nine times after it enters its first bank. But there is something in these process that tends to be hidden and it is easily ignored. Interest

 These hidden fees accumulate with time. And when a loan is created, so its interest. This means that when the United States Government asks for a loan from the Federal Reserve, they receive an interest rate that gets bigger and bigger with time. This creates a debt that it is impossible to pay yet allows the influx and outflow of money. Meaning that money is, in fact, created by debt.

Director: Peter Joseph - Peter Joseph - YouTube - www.zeitgeistmovie.com - 2009 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EewGMBOB4Gg

39 ?

The following article explains how the death toll has risen to 39 in this past April and what governmental measures have been taken. It also gives a voice to some interviewed Venezuela’s that are tired after the foul conditions of the country these past years. They complain over the increasingly insecurity problem and the general shortage of food on a national level. It describes some of the deaths that have happened recently in the national territory.

The fact that the government has gotten stricter and started militarizing zones is a sing (for me) that there are getting more worried as time goes by. The forces controlled by the government are constantly getting bolder in the places close to a barricade. Kids and the elderly have been badly hurt in the last couple of days. Whether  it is by inhaling  smoke and gas from the gas bombs or when they get close to the cross fire, hospital have been felling up more and more each day, and when the hospitals are in an awful state things can get complicated

Photo cred (LA PATILLA)

It is implied that the count is actually higher than 39 but that the government has done everything in its power to hide this facts. The usual deaths by insecurity and lack of a proper health care are still going on at the same time as the complicated situation on the streets.

"Venezuela Death Toll Rises amid New Protests." - Americas. AFP, 30 Apr. 2014. Web. 01 Apr. 2014. <http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2014/03/venezuela-death-toll-rises-amid-new-protests-201432921437393257.html>.

Economic HitMans Interested in Food Inc.

Every day I become surer that the world is moved by economics, while the value of human life and the morals and ethics ere of less importance.

We have analyzed evidence, which support my statement above.

In Food Inc. We see how the food corporations in the United States are more worried about mass producing than the quality of their product. The inhumane treatment of the animals in question and the environmentally hazardous of its procedures, have caused uprising in the United States as well as internationally. This Documentary examines the ethics of the food industry and the consequences that have taken the U.S by storm.

Economic Hit Man is an autobiography of John Perkins where he tells his experiences as an Economic Hit man. He informs us of the process in which by the U.S Corporation’s extortions smaller countries in hopes of being allowed to control part of his natural and economical resources. To this day many countries have been victims of this situation, but not many have been affected in a way as the nations in this book. Panama and Ecuador got their democratically elected presidents assassinated. In Iran they caused an uprising to overthrown the president, which later backfired into another revolution against the U.S.A. Why such drastic measures?  Because if you are not with the United States of America then you are against them.

 Both documentaries give us an idea of how money and power have become synonyms. Whoever has more money then most likely they have more power. With such money involved the hit mans can take control of a country and a farmer can buy off his fellow farmers and company rivals.This world has gotten used to both of this problems and the idea of money above everything.

English sonnets

We are still waiting to attack 

Because the world is in our youthful hands 

With the hopes of getting in the right track

Embarking on a journey in main land

Letting our chants of happiness be heard 

With no ideas of what the future may bring

Longing for a scream that became unheard

With our broken hearts angrily aching 

Becoming our own generation 

That will always walk trough greatness

Enjoying the rightful coronation 

In the sun we sing in utter blissfulness 

What we here have hardly learned 

We may take in and benign to create 

The power of the people

In life we have been thought that the government holds the power to manage and administrate a country's wealth and it's people.But history has been proving us constantly trough history that when the situation demands it, it takes the citizens of that particular government to take matters into their own hands.

Since the beginnings of time revolutions have encouraged civilians to take a stand against what they believe to be unjust. One of this revolutions that marked a turning point in history is the French Revolution.

Where the starving citizens of the streets of Paris acted against the measure of its monarch Louis XVI.It lasted 9 years in which hundredths of Parisian men, women and children perished.Even thought the road to their long awaited freedom was not easy, the French accomplished what they needed. Overthrown the king and got a fearer treatment.

 

In this modern era that we are living in, there's always people around the world attempting to take back the power that it's government viciously stole.Egypt and Ukraine are recent zones where uprisings  took place and where the results favored the views of the protesters and a change was achived. 

 In the present there are two major displays of protests. Syria and my own country Venezuela. Where power is so poorly managed that it has left both countries with need  for a change and an uncertain future.

An Utopic Resolution

The article gives a personal opinion about what is the perfect solution in order to end the disturbances in Venezuela and he proposes the action of international organization. He says that these international organizations will give an open channel to peaceful discussions in order to find an agreement between the opposition and the government.

 I have to say that I do not agree with this article and its conclusion.

Venezuela is in a difficult situation, socioeconomically.

Where the finding of a kg of sugar has more value than the life of the person sitting next to you.

We are also talking about a country with a decade of political separation induced by the government.

Families have been torned apart by political ideals and the whole country has felt this impact. Divorces and discussions between the parents and their kids, the complete isolation of a families have affected the whole country and my own family.

I can’t help to think ,asmy personal opinion, that for a positive change to happen in Venezuela both sides need to find a common ground and unite. They need to see that the situation of the country is one that affects the vast majority of their country and demand the government to create solutions.

This is not an easy task, but I want t believe that it is not impossible. And that if we unify as a country there is no adversity that we can’t overcome.

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/up-front/posts/2014/02/20-venezuela-crisis-trinkunas

Trinkunas, Harold. "Up Front." The Brookings Institution. Up Front, 20 Feb. 2014. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. <http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/up-front/posts/2014/02/20-venezuela-crisis-trinkunas>.

What is race ?

    The generic vision of race it’ a combination of physical and biological traits that exist to classify people, but after watching the PBS Race: the Power of Illusion, we as a class, agreed that our perception of Race had been mistaken. An idea created by people in a position of power to classify and create more diversity in our world. A strategy to disqualify and over qualify people with certain traits to create a society that is beneficial to certain individuals and detrimental to others.

  

     There are numerous events during history that showed us the impact that race has in the process in dehumanizing certain people because of biological traits. The invention of eugenics which is the scientific way of creating the prefect and superior race has sparked one of the most terrible events in the history of humanity. The holocaust was the persecution and murdered of Jews in Europe during the WWII because they were not pure enough to belong to the human race. This ended up with the death of 6 million Jewish people, just because they did not fit the criteria of the superior race.

  

    The process of classification and differentiation was created to empower a group of people with certain features and diminish another group with different attributes. We have been thought to believe in race because of the way that this society works and also to keep this cycle of categorizing and highlighting our differences rather than the things that unites us as the only predominant race.

 Human.

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

John Perkins wrote “Confessions of an Economic Hit man” this was a huge risk.

  

The book exposed the ways in which the corporations of the United States benefit from smaller under developed countries. It revealed events that changed the history of such countries had an involvement from the U.S or its companies. Detailed explanations about the process used to talk with the heads of state in order to persuade them to take the option created by the economic hit man. If it failed they would spark disturbances or revolutions on the inside of the small nation. When this was unsuccessful they would send the Jackals to terminate the head of state therefore pressuring the country to a complete change of policy and president. Rarely this would fail, but when it did they would send American troops to take matters into their own hands.

 One lasting impact of the revealing of the presented information is the change of perception from the outside countries about the United States. The country that preaches about spreading freedom and democracy around the world is now presented as an imperialist country that takes advantage of countries that try to nationalize its resources.

Another consequence of this process is the creations of coup d’états and revolutions that changed the history of the countries in which this events happened. Would the situations in many of these countries would be different? Would the reprecutions of these actions ,like wars and clashes of ideals, be over by now?. These are all questions of “What if “ That we will never know the answer now.

Lemon Tree

Salma Zidane is a humble widow that lives alone and works on her lemon grove.

Mira Navon is the wife of the minister of Defense; she is rich and constantly surrounded by people.

Salma is Palestinian and Mira is Jewish.

The relationship of these two women is explained in the movie in seconds. Subtle moments where the

intertwining of two opposite worlds is created by a deep stare.

The movie Lemon Tree tells the journey of Salma in order to keep her grove, after the security team of the Minister of Defense deems it “too dangerous”. It shows us the bias ways of the Israeli government and it gives us a glimpse towards the culture that surrounds the Palestinian people.

For Salma the salvation of her grove does not only mean the safekeeping of the legacy of her family, but also an opportunity to take back control of the life that had become monotonous. She challenges the culture that she is immersed in by making the decisions that may seem silly and disrespectful to the ones surrounding her. Ignoring the headscarf, inviting a man to her house and starting a romantic relationship while being a widow, are some ways that she rebels to the world surrounding her.

For Mira , she is hit with the reality of the world surrounding her for the first time. She sees the true intentions and values of a husband that she used to admire. And she sees herself reflected in Salma’s life.

Both woman are lonely and desperate to find the meaning of life in the situations that they have come in contact with. Their children are away and the husbands are absent, with the conflict of the grove comes an opportunity for two women from complete different backgrounds to come together and share moments of understanding, coming together and crossing the borders of a society separated by hate and differences. 

Viva la Patria

Many times something happens in your home country and there is suffering involved. You can do nothing but (if you believe) you pray so that the ones that you love are never affected or involved in the agony of the situation.

I have posted about Venezuela before in this blog but I never saw it as close as I did thursday. When for the first time in the time lapsus of a month my family was directly affected.  

The GNB (National Guard) raided the condominium of my aunt in which she lives in whit her husband. They would scream “Viva Chavez” and drop gas grenades simultaneously. “Viva la Patria” while shooting pellets and bullets all over. They destroyed the cars parked on the bottom level and stole the peace of mind of 3 buildings filled with people.

This is happening all over the country.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GazvLOol2uE 

As a Venezuelan, the news that the men and women that are supposed to protect your loved ones are  now spreading terror in order to keep the people out of the street. To scare them away from from demanding the rights and basic needs  that every nation should offer.

It is awful to wake up with the uncertainty of what your family is going through. Like  I have said before the only medium that we now have to communicate is the social network Twitter, it lets you know from where to find chicken and sugar to the latest detainees and murdered Venezuelans.

  

Every hour I scroll down that page with the hopes of not recognizing anybody in the pictures or lists.

UPDATE (3/9/2014)  4:30 AM .The GNB went back. 2 teenagers are wounded and in critical condition.

A child in War

More than 140,040 people have died In Syria.8.000 children make part of the 140,040.

How do you deal with a conflict that started before you could understand what surrounds you. Over more than two years the Syrian people have gone through a civil war, which in a way has become the “playground” for millions of children. At times this children get involved in the cross fire, are used as human shields. Kidnapping, torture and killings are usual in their surroundings. The lucky ones have the ability to run away with their families and end up being refugees.

International organizations have been creating funds to provide aid specifically for the children’s needs. Education has become something not as important as surviving.

If you care to know more about the struggles that this kids go trougth daily see the link below.

http://news.yahoo.com/un-39-unspeakable-suffering-39-syria-39-children-155121570.html

Citation 

Surk, Barbara. "UN:'Unspeakable Suffering' for Syria's Children." AP. N.p., 5 Feb. 2014. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. <http://news.yahoo.com/un-39-unspeakable-suffering-39-syria-39-children-155121570.html>.

Taking the Carnaval to the Streets

Carnaval is a holy 4 to 5 days for the Venezuelan people of any religion or lifestyle. It’s is that time of the year before the actual Holy Week where you repent for the sins committed during Carnaval. Unlike Colombia whose Carnaval exist only in the beautiful Barranquilla, Venezuelans all over the national territory celebrate, party, get costumes and mainly go to the beach at least twice. This year after almost a month of protest it was uncertain if the festivities were going to take place or if the unrest was going to continue.

Right now we are in Sunday of Carnaval and it makes me immensely proud to say that today the streets of Caracas look like this:

 

 Credit: (lapatilla.com)

This year carnival is canceled nationwide by the Venezuelan people. Famous national artist have canceled their appearance in various festivals, the beaches are empty and are being used as protest sites and most importantly the streets are filled by people and barricades. The government’s incentive to make this year’s celebrations bigger than ever failed abruptly. The desire for a supermarket stocked with its necessary goods it is bigger than the need of a Venezuelan to party (trust me, it is a big deal).

In this article by the Washington Post it explains the national and international worry about the dissolvent of the conflict. It explains the causes and effects of the situation that Venezuela is going through and the measures that have been taken by the government. If you want to see more I will leave the link below.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/carnaval-could-sap-venezuela-protests/2014/02/26/50088b96-9f10-11e3-878c-65222df220eb_story.html

Citation

Diaz-Struck, Emilia, and Nick Miroff. "Carnaval Could Sap Venezuela Protests."Whashington Post. N.p., 26 Feb. 2014. Web. 2 May 2014. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/carnaval-could-sap-venezuela-protests/2014/02/26/50088b96-9f10-11e3-878c-65222df220eb_story.html>.

The last few days.

The last few days my friends tell me that I haven't been myself.Thant it looks like I'm somewhere else. 

It is true.                

I'm facing the never ending conflict of a person that lives out of its country when such is facing a life changing, history altering situation. 

That terrible feeling where you know that your place is on the streets with your fellow compatriots, but instead you are refreshing a web page 24/7.

And that moment when you are so emotionally exhausted that you need to disconnect but out of nowhere comes some event that reminds you of what it's happening while you are not looking.

And even tough you know there is nothing you can do to help the cause you can't help but wonder what is to come or what is next in the daily ordeal of the ones you love

                  

Where my head is.

If there is one random fact that you need to know about the Martinez family, it is that whenever there is an international competition on we are glued to the TV. Screaming every goal, following every medal and cheer there is. Today the Sochi Olympics of 2014 came to an end, and I can honestly say, that I have no idea about any of the events that happened in the last couple of weeks in Russia.

Because in the last few weeks my head has been 400 miles away from Bucaramanga. And it seems that nothing else in the world needs my attention .

Let me try to explain what is happening in Venezuela.

   We had a character in the presidency for the last 14 years who preached about ending hunger, insecurity and inequality across the country. He stud up for “socialist” and anti-imperialist ideas and condemned to anyone that was against him to be a traitor.

   Last year, he died of terminal cancer.

       But before leaving to Cuba to get treatment he appointed  , Nicolas Maduro as his rightful successor in national TV.  He was the one  to keep his legacy alive.

     A bus driver who likes talking to little birds was now the next in line in the chavista monarchy.

According to the Venezuela constitution if a president dies during the his term, within 30 days there needs to be new elections and a new official president. There were 15 days of political campaign were,in a sense, hope was recovered by the Venezuelan opposition. But when a government has complete and utter control of its country it was clear who was going to win. By .8 percent Nicolas Maduro was claimed the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

   And that is where hell broke loose and one of the most traumatic years in Venezuelan history started.

     A scarcity of basic food and care products. Milk, sugar, vegetable oil and the precious flour that makes the holy arepa in every household. Medicine, baby formula and things that that would seem  normal  became gold, that could only be found in a treasure hunt.

 

 Photo Credit (Lapatilla.com)

  Insecurity claimed the life (only in 2013) of 25000 Venezuelans. The hospitals and services are worse than ever. The country’s infrastructure has decayed in such a way that it is painful to see.

 After almost 15 years the citizens of my dear country have awakened, and decided to fill the street with the hope for a change. The students of various Universities and high schools raise their voice and demand the president of Venezuela to step down.

   10 of them have been murdered and never will be able to see the possible change. More than 325 injured teens and adults. They have become the fire and drive of the protest.

     There is a bittersweet feeling that invades the heart of every Venezuelan. There is a need for a change and the students are helping to achieve it but our preoccupation with their wellbeing hasn’t let us rest in the past weeks.

An Introduction

         17 year old  Venezuelan, lived in the United States and currently living in Colombia. Addict of the arts, passionate about her family and the things surrounding her. Dramatic since birth, cinephile, pasta lover and rocky road Ice cream aficionado. Attempting to graduate high school. Uncertain about the future while trying not to lose hope. Novice writer and average guitar player. Math dummy. Fond of her friends. Hates writing about herself. Disney fanatic and puppy lover. Musical theater enthusiast.