#faith in the future: venezuela

[louisupdates]

louistvzla28: 📻| Silver Tongues de Louis Tomlinson sonando en la radio 'CAPITAL90.3FM' de Venezuela👀

[Silver Tongues by Louis Tomlinson playing on the radio 'CAPITAL90.3FM' in Venezuela👀]

[starlightbooklove]

Hii

As some of you already know, I am Venezuelan, today in my country the presidential votes are being held, the first in a long time to really give us the opportunity to get out of the d Dictatorship in which we have lived for almost 25 years. I am 17 years old, I study at a government university that did not even have places to sit the first week, I have not known anything different from the lifestyle of knowing that your destiny is directed by a bunch of people who manipulate and buy the population to have votes and their sympathy, I don't know what the Venezuela of my parents, or my grandparents, is like, and for years, the youth of my country has longed for it, and for the first time, they present us with an opportunity to live it, Edmundo and Maria Corina are holding the hopes of an entire country in their hands.

I would fall short to count the number of people who have left the country, to tell the stories of the Protestants whose lives were taken in the marches, to be able to tell each story Known and yet to be known, because there is no way, there is no possible way to quantify the damage that this dictatorship has done to our people. What is happening today, the feeling of hope, of faith, of searching for change, is historic. Believe me, the entire country is experiencing electoral anxiety like never before, As they said there, they took away so many damn things from us, that they took away our fear. The people are no longer afraid to go out and vote and express it out loud

My future as a student depends on these votes, the future of many young people and children depends on these votes, the dignified old age of many elderly people depends on these votes, damn it The lives of a lot of political prisoners depend on these votes.

Soon I will explain the history of my country in more detail, but for now I just want to share with the world the absolute heavy weight that this day is carrying in the hearts of Venezuelans, inside and outside the country, much love to all ❤️

Edit

Sharing what happened yesterday here

[theaviatorthatcouldnotfly]

things that were discussed in omar's Q+ interview

choosing the tracklist was the hardest part of the process because there were a lot of songs to pick from

a track he expects to be a fan favorite: wrong, because a lot of fans as well as his friends love it when he does ballads

he has recorded a live version of wrong, to be released in the near future (!!!!!!!)

he really enjoys lose me because it encapsulates the entire theme as well as his feelings over the last year

he doesn’t feel the need to chose a song to put on a tracklist just because it gives him a writing credit

decided to take the lyric "every night fantasy" from lose me and make it the ep name because the songs are "up in the clouds" and it fit the vibe

every night fantasy in one word: "free" because he has been feeling very free as a person and an artist

there is a new introduction and a new ending to the show, all the songs from the ep will be performed!! "a lot of new stops"

vibes of the show are "more intimate", "sweaty, hot, dance-friendly, emotional"

they will be using the same setlist for every show on this tour

for the fans, he has added one song that he's never performed but all of the fans asked him to add on the setlist (at the end of the video Q+ compares notes and says that fans were begging for que puedo hacer? and omar confirms that this is NOT the song he put on the setlist 😭 rip que puedo hacer, better luck next time)

LANGUAGE CHANGE!! they started talking in spanish because the fans love it (Q+ knows us too well i fear)

there were no english subtitles for this section at the moment that i watched the video and i am NOT a native spanish speaker, so my translations and takeaways from the spanish-speaking part of the interviews are not entirely accurate. take this with a grain of salt, and please feel free to correct me!

it's very important for him to maintain his connection to venezuela in his artistry and to have spanish in his songs

it's been difficult for him to carve out a space for himself in an industry that doesn't always acknowledge people of color (o: "latinos have to do double the work") but he loves music and does everything he can to chase his dreams

he talks about the difficulty of his mother's experience, being an independent woman of color in a country whose language she didn't speak initially

artists he wants to collaborate with (regardless of language): rosalía, bad bunny, karol g (he loves her, but his mom is a superfan)

rihanna mention x1

he began translating red light to spanish after fans kept messaging him to ask for it

red light is very flowy and a bit unclear as to what he wants to say (as in the topic of the lyrics) but the feeling was something he wanted to keep in luz roja and he thinks luz roja is overall on a different level than red light + that it feels more real

he talks all the time with his team about the possibility of doing shows in latin america, it's a step-by-step process right now but he's certain he'll be touring in latin america one day

he's working on an album, working on new show dates, omr beauty is working on new products

what advice would he give to other people who are trying to find their own voice, be free, and express themselves, especially in countries where it can be dangerous to be yourself? "it's a struggle, but you need to have faith... you will find your own people... know who you are and don't be hard on yourself... take your time, because one day you will be thriving"

[tea-with-evan-and-me]

I don't know if you remember me. I'm that anon who talked about being envious of Natalie, and I came back to say that I'm from Venezuela; the world is literally on fire right now. My future is uncertain, and in between stories of my friends bleeding and begging for people to care, posts about how we have friends missing who are probably being tortured by the government as we speak... there is a photo of Natalie and Evan happy and existing.

On days like today, I really am reminded of how easy other people get to live in comparison and that happiness is out there and possible; it makes me sad that I probably won't ever get to experience something as simple and plain as that. I don't know, life seems so bleak today.

All of you hold your loved ones tight for me tonight. I almost lost my father last night. It's been rough for us but we're all trying not to lose faith that we may live to see a free Venezuela.

i'm so sorry, anon. i really wish during moments like this there was more someone could say. you summed it up perfectly and why it's important to get out of our own heads sometimes.. somewhere someone is having a nice, peaceful evening and elsewhere there are folks living in utter turmoil and uncertainty, dealing with the most painful things imaginable. i'm so glad your dad is okay, and i hope that you all manage to remain safe. i'll be thinking of you guys and hoping that more peaceful days are to come. i hope that feeling of bleakness is something you are able to look back at and know you overcame.

[theopulenthq]

Welcome to The Opulent HQ, Lia, Carina, Ghost, Julieta, Pink, Amy, Cathy, Ari, and Elisa! Please review the checklist and send in your account within 24 hours!

NOTE: with this acceptance, we are once again at mun cap & will not be accepting any new members until future notice!

{max irons, thirty-seven, male, he/him} We are so glad to see you safe, HEAD OF THE CITY GUARD PHILLIP WALSH of CARDIFF! It’s dangerous out in the world these days, but I hear that you are SAUVE and GALLANT enough to handle it. Just don’t let your AVARICE bring you down! Stay on your guard, because with your secret being at risk for exposure, you wouldn’t want everyone to find out YOU’RE ACTIVELY PLANNING A COUP AND HAVE ALREADY AMASSED SUPPORT AND LOYALTY, MOSTLY FROM WITHIN THE GUARD. {lia, 29, est, she/her}

{sean teal,34, male, he/him} we are so glad to see you safe, MINISTER OF JUSTICE/PRINCE MATTHIAS RENEE DE LORRAINE of GERMANY(LUXEMBOURG)! it’s dangerous out in the world these days, but i hear that you are VALOROUS and ADROIT enough to handle it. just don’t let your SELF SACRIFICING bring you down! stay on your guard, because with your secret being at risk for exposure, you wouldn’t want everyone to find out YOU ARE THE PRODUCT OF A LOVE AFFAIR, ONLY RECENTLY DISCOVERING THAT THE MAN YOU BELIEVED TO BE YOUR FATHER ISN’T YOUR BIOLOGICAL FATHER.  {carina}

liesel's betrothal wc

{melisa asli pamuk, 34, ciswoman, she/her} we are so glad to see you safe, ATHENA'S TEMPLE MEMBER LADY SAFIYE ARSLAN of ATHENS! it’s dangerous out in the world these days, but i hear that you are INTUITIVE and FAITHFUL enough to handle it. just don’t let your TREACHEROUS NATURE bring you down! stay on your guard, because with your secret being at risk for exposure, you wouldn’t want everyone to find out YOU SOLD VALUABLE TURKISH MILITARY SECRETS TO SECURE THE TRUST OF YOUR NEW HOME; AND IN DOING SO, HELPED TO PREVENT A MAJOR ATTACK PLANNED BEFORE THE RECKONING. {ghostie}

timur's estrangled sibling + nikolai's broken betrothal wcs

{josé ramón barreto, 32, cisman, he/him} we are so glad to see you safe, ROYAL ADVISOR/CROWN PRINCE IGNACIO MATÍAS FALCÓ of BRAZIL(VENEZUELA)! it’s dangerous out in the world these days, but i hear that you are CHARISMATIC and AMBITIONS enough to handle it. just don’t let your RUTHLESSNESS bring you down! stay on your guard, because with your secret being at risk for exposure, you wouldn’t want everyone to find out YOUR ADVISORS HAVE GRANTED YOU ONLY A YEAR TO SELECT A SPOUSE WHO WILL STAND BY YOUR SIDE AS YOUR CONSORT WHEN YOU ASCENDS TO THE THRONE.

winifred's romantic wc

{cote de pablo, fourty-four, cis female, she/her} we are so glad to see you safe, DEBT COLLECTOR + MERCENARY DUCHESS LUCIA DIAZ of FLORENCE ( CHILE ) ! it’s dangerous out in the world these days, but i hear that you are HARDWORKING and BRASH enough to handle it. just don’t let your RAGE bring you down! stay on your guard, because with your secret being at risk for exposure, you wouldn’t want everyone to find out YOUR METHODS TEND TO BE FATAL & YOU HOLD NO REMORSE. {pink}

{Manny Jacinto, 37, cismale, he/him} We are so glad to see you safe, PRINCE LORENZO TOLENTINO OF CHINA! It’s dangerous out in the world these days, but I hear that you are DEVOTED and SENTIMENTAL enough to handle it. Just don’t let your INSECURITY bring you down! Stay on your guard, because with your secret being at risk for exposure, you wouldn’t want everyone to find out YOU ASSASSINATED THE CHINESE EMPEROR. {amy, 24, PST}

{Katie mcgrath, 39, cis fem, she/her} we are so glad to see you safe, HIGH QUEEN CATRIONA STUART of SCOTLAND! it’s dangerous out in the world these days, but i hear that you are SELF-ASSURED and CHARMING enough to handle it. just don’t let your SECRETIVENESS bring you down! stay on your guard, because with your secret being at risk for exposure, you wouldn’t want everyone to find out YOU MADE A PROMISE TO MARRY YOUR LONG TERM LOVER BUT INSTEAD AGREED TO A NO-MARRIAGE PACT WITH YOUR SIBLINGS. {cathy, 26, est, she/her, none}

{Steve toussaint, 59, cismale, he/him} we are so glad to see you safe, KING HARALD OLDENBURG of NORWAY! it’s dangerous out in the world these days, but i hear that you are RESILIENT and ENDURING enough to handle it. just don’t let your MADNESS bring you down! stay on your guard, because with your secret being at risk for exposure, you wouldn’t want everyone to find out YOU ARE SLIPPING IN AND OUT OF LUCIDITY AND ARE NOT SURE IF YOU SHOULD ABDICATE. {cathy, 26, est, she/her, none}

{Li Landi, 27, cis female, she/her} we are so glad to see you safe, VICEREGAL MEILIN FENG of HONG KONG! it’s dangerous out in the world these days, but i hear that you are MESMERIZING and COMPETENT enough to handle it. just don’t let your HAUGHTINESS bring you down! stay on your guard, because with your secret being at risk for exposure, you wouldn’t want everyone to find out YOU DO NOT APPROVE OF YOUR BETROTHAL AND MAY REBEL TO END IT. {ari, 29, est, she/her}

tian feng's betrothed wc

{mimi keene,25, she, she/her} we are so glad to see you safe, (ADOPTED) PRINCESS ESME GLYNDWR of CARDIFF! it’s dangerous out in the world these days, but i hear that you are DETERMINED and COMPASSIONATE enough to handle it. just don’t let your ARROGANCE bring you down! stay on your guard, because with your secret being at risk for exposure, you wouldn’t want everyone to find out YOU HAVE BEEN HAVING PROPHETIC DREAMS BUT YOU KEEP THEM HIDDEN TO AVOID BEING ACCUSED OF WITCHCRAFT OR MADNESS. {elisa, 27, est, she/her}

{abigail cowen, 26, she, she/her} we are so glad to see you safe, PRINCESS AMALIA HATZFELD of GERMANY! it’s dangerous out in the world these days, but i hear that you are INTUITIVE and POISED enough to handle it. just don’t let your QUIXOTIC bring you down! stay on your guard, because with your secret being at risk for exposure, you wouldn’t want everyone to find out YOU OCCASIONALLY ADOPT A SECRET IDENTITY TO MOVE AMONG THE COMMON PEOPLE {elisa, 27, est, she/her}

[memoriae-lectoris]

This isn’t the first time in modern history that populists with anti-democratic leanings have come to power. It is also not the first time that democracies have experienced backsliding. What’s different is the mechanism: Before, autocracy came about when military generals launched coups. But now it’s being ushered in by the voters themselves.

This is happening in large part because social media allows candidates to sow, or capitalize on, doubts that citizens might have about democracy as a form of government. Disinformation campaigns can be used to attack institutions, undermining people’s trust in representative government, a free press, and an independent judiciary, reducing tolerance and support for pluralism. They can be used to stoke fear, which helps get far-right, law-and-order candidates elected. Finally, they can cause citizens to question the results of an election, claiming fraud and convincing at least some voters that the election has been stolen. To make good decisions about candidates in democracies, voters must have good information, and social media has flooded voters with bad information. As people lose faith in the democratic process, they are more apt to support an alternative system—and to willingly place power in the hands of the charismatic individuals who promise protection and a certain future.

[…] No one wants to believe that their beloved democracy is in decline, or headed toward war; the decay is often so incremental that people often fail to notice or understand it, even as they’re experiencing it. If you were an analyst in a foreign country looking at events in America—the same way you’d look at events in Ukraine or the Ivory Coast or Venezuela—you would go down a checklist, assessing each of the conditions that make civil war likely. And what you would find is that the United States, a democracy founded more than two centuries ago, has entered very dangerous territory.

[michel-tanguy]

New Post has been published on Michel Tanguy

New Post has been published on http://micheltanguy.com/meet-up-with-real-single-ukrainian-women/

Meet up with Real Single Ukrainian Women

Content material

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[locustheologicus]

I had to honor that pain, and you must honor that pain!

Writer Pete Hamill tells the story of hearing his immigrant father weeping at 1am in the morning after a hard working day on a hot August night. He tells us how he reacted upon hearing his father weep with the quote above. Hamill then goes on to say:

And I think that's what the children of immigrants do, all of us. We know what they gave up. They gave up their countries. In some cases, they gave up their languages. They worked at the lousiest, rottenest jobs to put food on our tables. We have to honor that for the rest of our lives.

This reflection is the opening remarks on the fourth installment of the New York documentary. I mentioned this powerful documentary in a post where I reflected on the social values of New York City and its contribution to the American ideal. This episode looks at the years 1898 to 1918, and it reflects on the great wave of migration affecting New York. In the year of 1907 we saw 1, 200,000 immigrants coming to Ellis Island and from there to New York City. The backdrop of this narrative is the poem from Emma Lazarus that is attached to the Statue of Liberty.

Pete Hamill's insight reminds me of the way we all need to honor our own immigrant past and the challenges and struggles that our own families, my own parents, had to go through.

And one way we honor them is by honoring those who undertake the immigrant struggles and challenges today. I have the privilege of serving the immigrants that come to New York today. I am able to honor my parents by honoring those who now enter seeking the same security and opportunities my parents sought. At times, I am able to share my own story as I listen to theirs, I look to their children and tell them what they must do to support and honor their parents' sacrifice. They must take every opportunity to achieve what their parents never could.

I cannot deny that the current immigrant situations seems like a great social challenge to us but our own history suggest that this is an opportunity. An opportunity for them and for the city. As historian Kenneth Jackson tells us in this documentary:

One of the great things about New York is that it is not a static thing. It is not, New York is, instead New York is always becoming. It is becoming physically as buildings are torn down and change much more so than any American city. But it's also always becoming in terms of something we can't see, that being the culture of the city. So, the immigrants came to New York City, especially in these large numbers, between 1880's and 1920's and made it their own, made it a kind of place the world had never seen before.

I have faith that New York City continues to be a city that is becoming. We have to be creative with these new migrants and find creative opportunities for how we can serve this community as they contribute to the future of this city.

But to those of us who have reaped the promises that our immigrant parents hoped for, we must extend our own welcome to these new immigrant workers. This is the way we honor what they went through for us and for our city and country. Immigrants who are welcomed and are allowed to integrate and participate in our nation will give what they have to build a future for the city of their children. This is the tried and tested truth we have experienced throughout our city's history. We just have to continue believing in the words that lady liberty offers to those who migrate here.

The immigrants that come today, over 100,000 in one year, are a drop in the bucket compared to the vast number we saw in 1907. Our situation is different, however, and this does mean that we have to be creative. Finding emergency shelter and developing work permits for them are such creative solutions that we need today. These immigrants, like those of our own past, are leaving desperate situations in Venezuela, Haiti, Russia, Mauritania, and other areas that are undergoing war, civil turmoil or economic distress. They are here to work and find any opportunities for security and stability for their families. For this city and nation to continue becoming, we must be aware and appreciate the global situation. With the aide of these new migrants we should allow the city and nation to continue evolving and develop a more meaningful future for us and the world. Unlike the early 1900s, we have a powerful voice for addressing the global situation. Since we profit from the forces of economic globalization that we have developed since WWII, we also have a responsibility for doing addressing the economic ills that emerge from global economic instability that serve our corporate interest.

As a child of immigrants, I must honor the pain and struggle of my parents in this way. By welcoming those who, like them, are coming here seeking security and opportunities; and by committing myself to the building of a hopeful future for the city, nation, and the world.

The following link from the Jesuit/Ignatian community offer resources for honoring the immigrants who are coming over with various actions and the following prayer.

[etiennekissborlase]

Michael Saylor Doubles Down On Bitcoin As King Commodity Warns Money Is Dying

Michael Saylor Doubles Down On Bitcoin As ‘King’ Commodity, Warns ‘Money Is Dying’ https://bitcoinist.com/michael-saylor-warns-money-is-dying/ Bitcoin still commands respect and popularity despite the current gloomy economic climate. Michael Saylor, MicroStrategy co-founder, has been particularly vocal in his support for the cryptocurrency, and in a recent interview, he reiterated his optimism for Bitcoin’s potential as a solution to economic instability.  Saylor has been a well-known advocate for Bitcoin since MicroStrategy announced its $425 million investment in the cryptocurrency in 2020, and his views on the digital asset are highly regarded by investors around the world. In an interview with financial journalist David Lin, Michael Saylor highlighted the shortcomings of traditional currencies, pointing out that their value is subject to inflation and instability. He emphasized how “money is dying,” and explained how Bitcoin provides a viable alternative to traditional currencies that is immune to inflation and market fluctuations.  Shift Toward Crypto And Future Of Finance: Michael Saylor Saylor has drawn attention to the growing crisis of confidence in currencies and banking systems across the world. In the interview, Saylor expressed his views on the declining trust in fiat currencies, which he believes is driving a renewed interest in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. According to Michael Saylor, the global economic landscape is in turmoil, and governments are struggling to maintain the stability of their currencies and banking systems. As a result, consumers are losing confidence in traditional fiat currencies and turning towards alternative forms of money.  He said: “Therefore, money is dying, it’s obviously dying in Venezuela, and it’s obviously dying in Argentina, but it’s dying everywhere in the world, even in the United States and Western Europe.”  This renewed faith in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin has become a topic of interest among investors and financial experts alike, as people search for stable and secure alternatives to traditional banking systems. Michael Saylor Remains Confident In Bitcoin As ‘King Commodity’ Despite the recent slump in the cryptocurrency market, the co-founder of MicroStrategy remains optimistic about Bitcoin’s future. According to Saylor, Bitcoin’s digital and scarce nature make it the “king commodity” in the digital world, ensuring that it will ultimately emerge as the winner in the crypto race. While the latest data from CoinGecko shows a 4.1% decline in Bitcoin’s value in just 24 hours, with a 9.6% loss in the past seven days, Saylor believes that this is just a temporary setback. In his view, Bitcoin’s intrinsic value and unique properties set it apart from other cryptocurrencies and traditional fiat currencies, making it the ultimate store of value in the digital age. As the world becomes increasingly digital, the demand for a secure and decentralized form of currency is growing, and Bitcoin is well-positioned to meet this need. Saylor’s unwavering confidence in Bitcoin’s long-term potential underscores the growing trend toward digital currencies and the evolving nature of finance. -Featured image from Signals Matter via Bitcoinist.com https://bitcoinist.com May 12, 2023 at 03:18PM

[alejandra11c]

INMIGRATION STORY

Everything goes back to the year 2018 in Venezuela when the misfortune of a family began. They were poor, they barely had enough to support their home, there were three, a 15-year-old girl, and her parents, who were both 45 years old. In their same neighborhood lived a very bad person, but at the same time very powerful, who wanted to make life impossible for them, did everything possible to make them get bored and leave the country, who even gave them 5 million dollars so that they could have a support. The parents were willing to leave, to look for a better future, not only for fear that they would be harmed, but also for safety, health and their own benefit, because they knew that if they stayed in Venezuela they would not be able to offer the best opportunities to their little daughter. But there was a problem, the daughter didn't want to leave, she wanted to face the problems and obstacles that life put in her way, she didn't want to leave her country for something "so stupid and insignificant" that's how she described the problem; so the parents decided not to leave because they had faith in their daughter, that everything could be solved with the passage of time. But she would soon realize that it was not what she said, because the person who wanted to hurt them realized that they were not going to leave, so she decided to kill her parents. She had two options, leave or stay to do justice and revenge, but in the end she understood the situation she was in, so she decided to immigrate, cross the border with Colombia, she had no idea how to do that. Unfortunately, the authorities decide to shoot her, since they saw her as a suspect of drug trafficking in her stomach. To this day, the events continue to be clarified, since it is still not very clear what happened that day, although it is suspected that was the one who always wanted to hurt her, with her powerful influence throughout the country, she decided to kill her in order to be able to keep the 5 million dollars that she had given her all because of ambition, power and envy.

[necrobeast]

The Golden Hearted

Wendigo: Armando “Mando” Rivera

Describe your character’s personality.

He is very much idealistic, friendly and hopeful, although he struggles with who he is. He also carries a guilt, shame and sorrow about him. He does like to have fun and very much perceives people in Creation Peaks as his extended family. He is humble and the type to go without so others don’t have to.

What is your character like in relationships?

He has never been in a romantic/sexual relationship since he has vowed not to reproduce and can’t commit to non-wendigos. 

Are they clingy?

He could be.

Faithful or unfaithful?

Faithful. 

Do they jump from one relationship to the other?

He wishes.

What kind of things does your character like?

Family, smoking weed, feeding those he loves, comics, dancing salsa & bachata. 

What do they dislike?

Being hunted for something he can’t help. Himself. Anyone who threatens his family or his extended family for that matter. 

How does your character treat their friends and family?

He is caring and attentive to those he love, willing to sacrifice himself to merely see them smile. 

How about strangers?

Mando is polite and friendly. 

Enemies?

It depends on why they are enemies. While Mando can come off as a coward and a non-confrontational, depending on his hunger and if his family is harmed or disrespectful.

What kind of people does your character surround themselves with?

People who love and accept him, even when knowing exactly who he is.

Why?

As a wendigo, his biggest true craving is Love and Family, and a place to belong.  

Where was your character born?

Maroa, Venezuela.

Where have they lived since then?

He moved to Creation Peaks as a teenager and has lived there ever since.

Where is the place that they call home?

Creation Peaks.

Where does your character go when they are angry?

The woods or the graveyard.

What is your character’s biggest fear?

Losing control of his hunger and fully shifting.

Who have they told this to?

Brooke Carter & Betsa Vasquez.

Who would they never tell this to? Why?

Anyone who doesn’t know what his true nature is. He doesn’t really broadcast that he’s a wendigo.

Does your character have a secret?

Yes.

If so, what is it?

He’s a wendigo, so he needs to eat human/humanoid flesh to survive. He currently feeds himself and his family from dead bodies and is why he works at the local graveyard.

What makes your character laugh out loud?

Putting up a very friendly and happy facade regardless of his personal doubts, guilt, etc, almost anything can make Mando laugh. 

What makes them angry?

Getting hungry and having no supplies at home. His loved ones being threatened, disrespected or harmed.  

Has your character ever been in love?

He was in love with Brooke Carter for a long time, but has accepted they could never be together.

Have they ever had a broken heart?

He’s a wendigo, but also a good person so... yes.

Does your character have any flaws?

Yes.

What are they?

He hates himself which damages his self-esteem. He’s idealistic to a fault. 

And the final question, which is more for us Admins than anything else and possible plots in the future, which would never be put in play unless with your permission:

Would you as a mun be okay with the death of this character in play at some point?

Yes.

[xtruss]

Andean glaciers are melting, reshaping centuries-old Indigenous rituals

The Snow Star Festival, an annual religious celebration, has been an integral part of Andean tradition and beliefs. But climate change and COVID-19 are threatening that.

— By Amanda Magnani | Photograph By Armando Vega | April 19, 2021

“It disappeared. And we asked ourselves, what happened?,” says Richart Aybar Quispe Soto, who has taken part in the pilgrimage for more than 35 years. “'Sin, it was sin,' they would say, and it wasn’t sin, it was global warming.”

At night, believers would use the reflection from the moon that cascaded atop snow-capped peaks as a guide to make their way up the sacred Colque Punku glacier. The tradition goes back centuries for pilgrims from various indigenous groups in the Andes who have made the journey through the Sinakara Valley in Peru during four days of religious festivities known as Qoyllur Rit’i, Quechuan for “the snow star.”

“When you go to Qoyllur Rit’i, you’re in a different space,” says Richart Aybar Quispe Soto, who has taken part in the pilgrimage for more than 35 years. “You get there, and you’re transformed. I go there to be in the snow, to be near the stars, to be close to the moon. I go there to see the first ray of the sun at dawn, to wait with great devotion, to return purified. Up there, we are reborn.”

Left: Dancers carry a cross at dawn as part of four days of religious festivities known as Qoyllur Rit’i, Quechuan for “the snow star.”

Right: Right: Only the oldest nations are allowed to climb the sacred Colque Punku glacier to perform some rituals. Dancers known as “Pablitos” who join the pilgrimage for the first time receive three lashes as part of longtime rituals.

Colque Punku glacier in the Sinakara Valley, Peru.

The Snow Star Festival has been an integral part of Andean tradition and beliefs. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, some 100,000 pilgrims would make their way to the Ocongate district in the southern highlands Cusco region of Peru. It is unclear if the festival will be formally held this year.

In recent years, the Colque Punku has lost some of its brilliance. The snow that turns into ice that forms the glacier is melting. Researchers have determined that tropical glaciers in the Peruvian Andes have decreased in size by about 30 percent in recent years.

“The effects of climate change today are not only compromising our survival but our ability to find meaning,” says photographer Armando Vega, who has been documenting the Qoyllur Rit’i tradition since 2017. “I hope the pilgrims' display of reverence to an element of Mother Earth can change people's perception of nature not only as a resource to be exploited for our communal gains, but as a gift that must be preserved, as a window to the human spirit.” (Some of the world's biggest lakes are drying up. Here's why.)

The Snow Star Festival, traditionally in late May or early June, mixes Roman Catholic and indigenous beliefs, honoring both Jesus Christ as well as the area’s glacier, which is considered sacred among some indigenous people. A central part of the pilgrimage is a sanctuary at the base of the mountain where a boulder features an image of Jesus Christ known as the Lord of Qoyllur Rit’i (pronounced KOL-yer REE-chee). Believers dance and pray long into the night, seeking health, peace and prosperity.

“We are not losing the ground we walk on. We are losing our mother,” Hélio Regalado, who has participated in the pilgrimage for 10 years as a Wayri Chunchu dancer, says of melting glacier.

Aybar Quispe, another one of the indigenous dancers known as the guardians of the glacier, says he is saddened by the knowledge that the melting ice means future generations will not experience the same kind of cleansing from the snow he was blessed with growing up.

“If the glacier were to disappear, I wouldn’t lose my faith if I couldn’t go to Qoyllur Rit’i, but I would be heartbroken,” he says. “A part of me would disappear.”

Left: Alejandro Quispe Huaman, an elder, poses for a portrait. Right: “When I walked up years ago, we didn't need, as we do today, lanterns to find the way,” says Richart Aybar Quispe Soto. “We had enough light from the glacier. When we arrived there at night, the moon began to rise—the mother moon—and little by little the area looked as if it were daytime. It was like heaven; it was a dream.”

The Andes, the longest mountain range in the world, spans seven countries — Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina and Peru. Seventy percent of the world’s tropical glaciers are in Peru and various studies have raised alarms at the rapid rate of melting ice in the region. (These Swiss villagers prayed for their glaciers to recede. Now they want them back.)

That has changed some of the longtime rituals.

In 2004, in an effort to slow down the rate of the melting glacier, festival organizers banned the practice of cutting blocks of ice to share with the community, believing the melted water had healing powers. “Many have cried. They broke down in tears, for this was a tradition of hundreds of years—but we had to make the decision to stop,” says Norberto Vega Cutipa, chairman Council of Nations of the Brotherhood of the Lord of Qoyllur Rit’i.

Road to the sanctuary of the Lord of Qoyllur Rit'I through the Sinakara Valley, Peru. On horseback or on foot, pilgrims carry their supplies, musical instruments, tents, bedspreads and everything else they will need during the four-day celebration.

Marcelino Lopez Ancali, of the Wayri Chunchu nation, stands before the Colque Punku glacier on which he was baptized as a child. The rocky area was once covered with ice. "Over the past five or seven years, the climate has changed. The cold and the heat are very different.” He blames pollution for the changing climate. “I do not know how we can prevent it. Sometimes people do not have the conscience to collect or recycle these plastics and we throw them anywhere polluting the environment…Now the sun is no longer as it should be. It is so strong, it's burning you. The cold too. It is not how it should be anymore."

Pilgrims remember the thick layers of ice from years past when the glacier was just a short distance from the site of the sanctuary and the moon illuminated the way. (Indigenous protectors of Colombia's sacred peaks have kept others out—till now.)

“When I walked up years ago, we didn't need, as we do today, lanterns to find the way,” says Quispe. “We had enough light from the glacier. When we arrived there at night, the moon began to rise—the mother moon—and little by little the area looked as if it were daytime. It was like heaven; it was a dream.”

“Describing how the glacier used to be is like trying to explain colors to a blind man,” says Quispe’s son, José Isaac Quispe Peralta,” also a dancer. “It’s impossible.”

“When I walked up years ago, we didn't need, as we do today, lanterns to find the way,” says Richart Aybar Quispe Soto. “We had enough light from the glacier. When we arrived there at night, the moon began to rise—the mother moon—and little by little the area looked as if it were daytime. It was like heaven; it was a dream.”

— The National Geographic Society, committed to illuminating and protecting the wonder of our world, funded Explorer Armando Vega’s work. Learn more about the Society’s support of Explorers working to inspire, educate, and better understand human history and cultures.

[rightsinexile]

News on Countries of Asylum

Global

Deadly practice of migrant ‘pushbacks’ must cease: UN Special Rapporteur

How vaccine passports could imperil LGBTQ+ refugees

Africa

Experts call for increased inclusion of refugees in health, education, sports in Africa

BOTSWANA: As universities begin to offer scholarships, refugee students look forward to a more secure future

ETHIOPIA: Ethiopia commended for efforts towards inclusive education policies for refugee children and the youth

MOZAMBIQUE: Grave concerns for forcibly disappeared Rwandan asylum seeker 

UGANDA: 

Over 950 refugees from DRC cross into Uganda amid rebel activities in North Kivu province

COVID-19 poses a major threat to the life and welfare of refugees in Uganda

Americas

CANADA: 

Oversight of Canada Border Services Agency requested in case of Egyptian asylum-seeker facing deportation

Government plans to increase the number of protected persons admitted to Canada from 23,500 to 45,000 in 2021

What the Biden administration can learn from Canada’s private refugee sponsorship program

COLOMBIA: Colombia reopens border with Venezuela after 14 months

USA: 

US suspects 4,000 cases of fraud in Iraq refugee resettlement programme, with freeze of refugee programme extended indefinitely 

The Biden administration ends former administration’s Migrant Protection Protocols

US ends policy limiting asylum for gang and domestic violence survivors

US border officials are using a new surveillance app to collect and store information on asylum seekers before they enter the US

The 2021 Spring Regulatory Agenda signals major change to immigration, asylum, and border policy

Asia

BANGLADESH: 

Rohingya Muslim refugees injured in protests on isolated island during UNHCR visit

Concerning conditions reported on remote island of Bhasan Char, housing thousands of Rohingya refugees

UNHCR improperly collected and shared personal information from ethnic Rohingya refugees with Bangladesh, who relayed to Myanmar

INDIA: Over 50 shanties housing Rohingya refugees destroyed in a fire, leaving hundreds homeless

JAPAN: Government withdraws controversial immigration bill after mounting public criticism, following death of an asylum-seeker in detention facility

Asia Pacific

UN shared Rohingya data without informed consent: HRW

AUSTRALIA: 

Immigration detention centres on Christmas Island pose a COVID outbreak risk and should be closed - Australian Human Rights Commission

Asylum seeker family who spent nearly three years in detention on Christmas Island are reunited

130 people still being held in Papua New Guinea’s capital Port Moresby and 110 people on Nauru

Australia's foreign affairs department urged to retract a report, amidst claims of inaccuracy and deportation of Tamil refugees

Anger mounts as Australia declines to fast-track plans to save Afghan translators, who worked with Western troops, from Taliban retribution

Plight of Tamil family fuels concern over Australia asylum rules

NEW ZEALAND: Discussions taking place to resettle refugees from Australia’s offshore regime in New Zealand

Europe

Efforts to stop people from entering the European Union illegally are being ramped up with experimental new digital barriers

DENMARK: 

Amendment to Danish law seeks to forcibly transfer asylum-seekers to third countries for processing

Hundreds of Syrian refugees conducted a sit-in demonstration in front of the Danish parliament, protesting measures aimed at returning them to Syria

Denmark’s Syrian refugee residency move reflects shifting policies across Europe

FINLAND: City of Lahti seeks to evict the only reception centre for asylum seekers with mental health problems in Finland

FRANCE: New app launched in southern France to help asylum seekers with their administrative status, accommodation, health and everyday needs

GREECE: 

Greece should not consider Turkey 'safe' for asylum seekers, rights organizations say

Greece plans to send back asylum seekers from Somalia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria and Bangladesh who arrive from Turkey

Greek plans for refugee camps, including concrete walls and drones, decried

Draconian prison sentences handed to four Afghan youths found guilty of starting the fire that destroyed the Moria migrant camp on the island of Lesbos

ITALY: 

Fishermen in the Sicilian fishing town of Mazara del Vallo targeted by Libyan Coast Guard when rescuing migrant boats

Italy under pressure to reduce arrivals from Mediterranean, as they record a nine-fold increase in arrivals to shore in the past two years

Around 700 people arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa in one day in June, as reception centre reaches full capacity

IRELAND: Housing policies exclude travellers, migrants and asylum seekers

SPAIN: At least three people are dead and four missing after a migrant boat carrying nearly 50 passengers capsized in Spain's Canary Islands

UK: 

Asylum in the UK, by numbers

UK high court strikes down pandemic protections for refused asylum seekers

Plans to impose a ‘good faith’ requirement on immigration lawyers, strongly attacked by Law Society, Bar Council and Immigration Law Practitioners Association 

Temporary ban on accepting new asylum seekers into Scotland could last for years

Conservative-run Kent County Council planning to sue government over number of child asylum seekers in the local authority’s care

Problems with new cash cards, issued through the Home Office, leaves thousands of asylum-seekers at risk

MENA

IRAN: Government formalises access to banking services – including debit cards, for Afghan refugees

LEBANON: 

Lebanese protesters attack Syrian refugees and demanded they "go home," as voting for Syrian election takes place

Vital aid needed for around 1.5 million Lebanese and 400,000 migrant workers living in increasingly critical conditions

[alegotic-twelve]

As you know, I’m from Venezuela, and you know that Venezuela is going through one of the worst humanitarian crisis in history thanks to the narco-terrorists that govern my country.

the scarcity of all resources (food, medicine, money, etc.) is terrible, and now even water and light are part of the scarcity, as you know, even this month the light has gone out more than 3 times at the national level, where the country has been in a darkness not for hours, if not for days even weeks, causing chaos and even deaths in hospitals

I wanted to endure this because I believed that I could have faith, but the only hope of the country seems to be mocking in my face, I do not want to hope in politicians, I do not believe in any of them, so I want to ensure my safety and future and also that of my family, my mother, my uncles, and my little cousin, who suffers from convulsions, and there are times we do not get their medicine I ask these donations not to donate 200 or 300 dollars, with a dollar is enough, be one now, or the next month, everything you need to help me out of this hell led by greedy murderers

I ask you that although you can not donate, spread this wherever you can, share it and help me with this huge problem

donate in paypal to dona.alejandra12@gmail.com or my Ko-Fi

[alexsmitposts]

Faith in a Biden Presidency Likely to be Misplaced The United States presents an unedifying sight at the moment as gleeful Democrats celebrate the second condemnation of Donald Trump, and the latter’s apparent concession of the United States’ presidential race to Joe Biden. It is difficult for the external observer to see what they have to be glad about.Certainly, the presidency of Donald Trump has not been a happy experience for the people who really control the United States and its foreign policy. Although the past four years of the Trump presidency have been fraught, replete with threats and much blustering, the fact of the matter is that for four years he has resisted actually physically invading another country.That may seem a small achievement, but it is unprecedented in post- World War II United States presidencies, where the attacking of third countries was an essential part of United States foreign policy.That is not to say that the Trump years were full of peace and love for their enemies, real and imagined. Throughout his four years in power Trump has waged war by different means, including against Venezuela, going so far as to recognise the pretender to the Venezuelan presidency as the legitimate holder of that office. In this folly he was joined by a number of western nations, including Australia. That exercise seems to be finally dying a death, but the associated sanctions against Venezuela have caused enormous hardship and suffering for the country and its people. Their crime seems to have been no more than to elect a president unwilling to accept American dominance of his country.The Trump administration’s treatment of Iran has been even worse. There, the United States abandoned the agreement worked out by his predecessor Barack Obama and some western European nations. The incoming Biden administration seems willing to re-join the Iran deal, but wants improvements to it. The Iranians, quite rightly, have flatly refused and it will be interesting to see how much the Biden administration continues to push for amendments to the original deal. In this, the attitude of the Israeli government, a bitter opponent of any concessions to Iran, will likely be a dominant factor.It would be extremely unwise to expect any major improvement in United States foreign policy under the incoming Biden government. There are several reasons for this pessimistic view. The first is that Biden has a long history to serve as a guide to what his future policies might be. There is nothing in that history to inspire any confidence.As Obama’s vice president Biden was at the forefront of that administrations aggressive policies. This included the 2014 coup in Ukraine, the consequences of which still plague those hoping for a peaceful Europe.A resolution of the Ukrainian situation is unlikely under a Biden administration. The United States and western government in general continue to misrepresent the sequence of events in Crimea, treating it as if Russia had acted aggressively in resolving Crimea’s conflict with Ukraine. In the now more than six-year conflict I have yet to see any acknowledgement in the western media of the circumstances under which Crimea came under Ukrainian control in 1954, or any of its relevant history as an integral part of Russia.Joe Biden also has a personal link to the Ukrainian government through the activities of his son Hunter Biden, the details of which are another area that the western media prefers to ignore. Biden is unlikely to have a favourable view of Russia as a consequence of these events.Nor can one expect any significant changes in United States foreign policy in the Middle East. While vice president Biden took no steps to acknowledge the gross error of President George Bush in attacking Iraq, and certainly no steps to reduce United States involvement in the country during his eight years as vice president. It was also under his reign in 2015 that the United States attacked Syria, and again there has been no commitment to end that conflict, or indeed to end United States support for the multiple rebel groups that plague both Iraq and Syria.Biden has promised to “return” to Europe but the truth of the matter is that the United States never left there. Rearranging the deployment of United States forces is far from a withdrawal, and that is essentially all the Trump administration did. Neither has Biden made any commitment to reducing the interference of the United States in countries such as Belarus where the United States is a current supporter of the former presidential candidate now living in exile.A question the western media is also unable to confront is the very real issue of Biden’s mental health. There is very convincing evidence that Biden displays symptoms of mental incapacity. Whether he will survive the whole four years is an open question. In the event he is disabled or dies then the character of his vice president Karmela Harris becomes highly relevant.Quite why she was chosen is unclear. Her record as a top California legal officer is notable for its highly conservative features and relentless pursuit of black persons. She was the first to drop out of the presidential primaries barely registering in voter support. Her main attractions to Biden seem to be her race, her sex and her geographical location. None of those features provides a clue as to her capabilities and nothing she has said or done through the presidential campaign invite any particular confidence.The dominant feature of Biden’s appointments to his main foreign policy areas is his reliance upon people with whom he was friendly when he last held office. None of them are known for any particular sympathy to either Russia or China, the two countries whose relationship with Biden will define the success or otherwise of his presidency.While there may well therefore be some changes in the style of the Biden presidency over that of his predecessor, it would be a grave error to expect substantial changes. Coupled with that is Biden’s obvious commitment to a past era. The world has changed in the past four years, and almost none of it to America’s liking. That process is likely to continue. The big question will be the United States’ response to those changes, and in particular its willingness or otherwise to accept that the period of United States hegemony is now well and truly over.

[drawingconclusions]

THE 2020 ELECTION

Again, everyone and their gerbil is chiming in about the upcoming election, so I figure I should join in, too. Before continuing, you should know I haven't been studying anyone else's reasoning for which candidate they'll support. What I'm writing now is something I've been planning on doing for several weeks. So enough with the preliminaries, let me come right out with it.

I'll be voting for Trump and Pence this election. As I've said before, there are some of Trump's tweets that makes me wince, and certain public spats he gets involved in which I sometimes find completely unnecessary. But it's my opinion that the Trump/Pence ticket is the best choice for America at this point in time.

I suppose I could focus on the positive things Trump has done and act as a cheerleader for his campaign. But there are people who get paid to do that. And besides, you can look all that up for yourself (although you may have to do some digging, considering how the mainstream media hardly talk about it). But right now I'm going to mostly focus on something else, on why I can't vote for the Democrats.

First of all, it took far too long for the Biden campaign to denounce the violent protests that occurred throughout America over the past summer. In fact, some of Biden's staffers even chipped in to provide bail for the destructive anarchists who were causing the damage. So that makes me seriously wonder about their commitment to peace and whether their campaign will engage in machiavellian tendencies to anarchy, which you know I can't support.

If you're concerned about censorship in social media or in other aspects of life, then you may want to reconsider supporting a Democrat in the 2020 election. If you recall, the tech companies who have been engaging in censorship of conservative content or content that could potentially harm Democrat candidates are the same ones who were nearly brought to tears when Hillary Clinton lost the election in 2016. They've made no secret of their support for left-leaning causes and candidates, and if Biden & Harris are elected, I suspect dissidents and people with what they consider the "wrong ideas" will likely experience censorship on a more widespread level. I heard a report that the Biden campaign actually requested that Facebook begin to censor the Trump campaign. And remember, the left is the party that in some quarters declared that "speech is violence" and actively engaged in silencing speakers (sometimes violently) on American campuses. Freedom of speech is a bedrock of America. If you value it, then you should really stop and consider which candidates will fight for it and which ones will casually erode our treasured freedoms without even batting an eye.

I cannot support the left's abhorrent disregard for human life and I can never forget Governor Northam's talk about keeping a newborn baby "comfortable" while the parents gibly decide whether to keep it alive or not. Infanticide is still infanticide no matter how you may describe it. Many Democrats support unlimited abortion (or infanticide) for any reason, and I can't embrace that. And as for the thousands of elderly coronavirus deaths from nursing homes in Democrat-run states, that's an issue for another day that deserves its very own post.

The left has repeatedly made clear their disdain for people of faith. Just look at how Democrats treated Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearing in 2019 and how they treated Amy Coney Barrett during her previous confirmation. Take some time and do research on how many companies & organizations besides Amazon follow the Southern Poverty Law Center's guidelines for charity giving, etc. According to them and others, many faith-based organizations are considered some kind of threat to society for simply believing (as I do) that marriage is defined as a relationship between a man and a woman. And does anyone remember how some Democrat localities and states treated churches & people who tried to attend services during the pandemic? It's just a hunch, but I have a feeling that would likely continue and possibly increase under a potential Democrat administration.

I know there are some Republicans who pay lip service to faith, if only just to gain votes. And I'm not terribly concerned about either the right or the left trying to stamp out people of faith. God is sovereign and He's in control of it all, not them. Christianity & Judaism have persevered for centuries despite severe persecution at times. God's kingdom is the rock from the vision of the book of Daniel, the heavenly kingdom that will supersede and outlast all earthly kingdoms. I speak out for freedom of religion because I don't want to see America become another communist China or socialist Venezuela where both Muslims & Christians alike are targeted for what they believe.

This not-so-recent behavior of the left to attempt to change the rules if you don't like how something turns out is another reason why I can't vote Democrat this election. Look, I'm not naïve enough to believe that Democrats are the only ones who are willing to do this. Republicans have likely also been guilty of this in terms of redistricting of voter precincts, etc. But I'm just a bit astounded (and not astounded) by the fact that Nancy Pelosi & others have proposed creating an oversight committee to decide any President's fitness for leadership, and by the various calls from the left to literally pack the Supreme Court by adding more than nine judges (and likely potentially left-leaning judges). Presidents are decided by the public & the electoral college, not by a Congressional committee & unelected board members, and the Supreme Court isn't meant to be some kind of factory for churning out legislation. They're there to evaluate laws, not make them.

And I know I'm being long-winded here, but if you would just bear with me for just a little more. The progressive left have made it public that electing Joe Biden is "a doorway to a destination". In other words, Biden isn't liberal enough for them, and if he is elected, they'll push to enact their own aggresively liberal agenda in all of its toxic forms. In my opinion, there are too many far-left liberals in all aspects of government already who have done lasting damage to America. Do you really think Lt. Col. Vindman is the only liberal in the military who strives to advance their own agenda at the expense of the country? What could have been if Lt. Col. Vindman & the Democrats in Congress had chosen to focus on preparing for this pandemic instead of spending time on an unnecessary impeachment in November & December of 2019? And do you really think Sheriff Scott Israel is the only liberal in law enforcement who would rather talk about gun control instead of focusing on the real causes & other potential solutions to society's problems? I know there are good people who work in government, but I've seen others who have become nearly psychotic in their pursuit of baseless investigations and mindless causes, so much so that I'm truly concerned about our national & local security with some of these types of people in charge. And heaven help us if green new deal subjects like cow flatulence become a top priority for America in 2021 and beyond.

Unfortunately, many of these people, or liberal activists to be more accurate, can't be voted out. But that's why I'm voting for Trump & Pence this election. I believe they're the best chance we have for addressing the problems & excesses of unelected bureacrats in government. I know that Republicans sometimes give a free-pass to certain organizations. And I realize that conservatism doesn't always equal Christianity. Sometimes they do a disservice to America's other immigrants by lumping the bad ones with the good ones. The Bible says to lookout for the alien or immigrant (...but I agree with Republicans that doesn't mean open borders or being lax on immigrants who have committed heinous crimes.) And sometimes conservatives become far too chummy with corporations at the expense of the common people, when they should be fighting injustice wherever it's found. But this is how I'll be voting in this election. Of course there are some local Republicans I still can't support, and if the Republican party ever veers off into a completely crazy zone, I'll drop my support. I'm not bound to one party or the other.

And I hope you'll take what I've written today and evaluate it for yourself. Don't let me or anyone else do your thinking for you. Do your own homework, look at the issues, and cast your vote. Future generations will thank you for it.