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Happy Birhday!

The La Reserva Biopark, one hour from Bogotá, cares for a hundred wild animals rescued from illegal trafficking. This also pioneering educational project emulates various ecosystems in the country and wants to lay the foundations for "another form of conservation" Sitting on a wooden log and under a relentless sun, a boy about eight years old enthusiastically raises his hand and asks: -Teacher, why does the vulture king have those little holes in his head? The environmental communicator takes off her mask a little to relieve the heat and responds to the student, looking askance at the huge white bird, which limps closer to a piece of meat that smells from afar: -Do you remember when I told you that the little animals here were rescued from various trafficking networks? We don't know exactly what happened to them, but we do know that they were not treated well. Perhaps the trafficker of this bird of prey did not like or was afraid of scavengers and that is why he was beaten. But those holes are not normal… It shouldn't have them. It's Wednesday and for more than 20 students at The Victoria School today is a special day. They are on an excursion in the Bioparque La Reserva, in Cota, about 30 kilometers from Bogotá, and the emotion is uncontrollable. This space of 1.5 hectares built and 19 reserved, emulates seven of the typical Colombian ecosystems; ranging from the tropical rain forest to the high Andean forest. That is to say, spaces were created imitating the humidity, temperature and the specific smells of the territory. This green labyrinth also cares for a hundred confiscated animals – rescued from mafias and traffickers. These, after the mistreatment received, could no longer survive in their natural habitat; that is why this corner is the second (and only) opportunity for them. The message of this educational expedition for Colombian biodiversity is forceful: the fauna and flora are in danger (because of humans).

The Spanish journalist and professor Ignacio Ramonet warned today about the repercussions -mainly economic- in Latin America and the Caribbean of the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine. According to the renowned political scientist, Latin America is not a relevant actor in the scenario where the main geopolitical tensions linked to the military operation initiated by the Russian government in the neighboring country are taking place. Except in its relations with Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, Moscow does not have the influence in the region that the United States has always had, and that China has lately acquired, Ramonet indicated in his opinion piece Latin America and the war in Ukraine, published this Friday on the portal of the multinational television station Telesur. In this sense, the expert indicated that the current global situation will have repercussions in Latin America and the Caribbean, especially in the economic aspect, due to the increase in prices of raw materials such as gas and oil, some metals and also food products such as wheat. , sunflower oil, corn, in addition to fertilizers. "All importing countries of these inputs are going to be strongly affected," said Ramonet. In a global context of rising inflation, these cost increases will contribute, in some nations, to a sharp rise in prices, particularly in transport, electricity, bread and other food products, said the Spanish journalist. He specified that in Latin American societies hit hard by the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, po[CENSORED]r protests could be generated against the increase in the cost of living. "Inversely, the exporting states of hydrocarbons, minerals or cereals - for example, Venezuela, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil - will benefit from the current significant rise in prices, the analyst predicted. He also pointed out that the new sanctions imposed on Moscow and the closure of airspace throughout the North Atlantic to Russian planes will also affect the tourist powers of the Caribbean, in particular Cuba and the Dominican Republic, the main recipients in the tourist area. from the Eurasian nation. In Ignacio Ramonet's opinion, no country in Latin America unconditionally aligned itself with Russia's positions regarding Ukraine; "Everyone has defended International Law, the Charter of the United Nations and advocates a diplomatic understanding to resolve the crisis," he estimated. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced last February 24 the beginning of a special military operation in Ukrainian territory, after the authorities of the self-proclaimed people's republics of Donetsk and Lugansk requested help in the face of Kiev's aggression.

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