"Medellín gets nod from UN: The United Nation's UN Habitat Representative, Fernando Patiño, announced that Medellín is among the Scroll of Honor Award winners for its accomplishments in three social work programs: Medellín Solidaria, Buen Comienzo (Good Start) and the Calidad de Vida (Quality of Life) survey. Medellín is the only Latin American city among the winners; the award will be bestowed on October 4th."
Please, ladies and gentlemen, stop thinking aloud in Escobar-era-influenced anachronisms and take a deeper look at what is really happening on this continent. I'm sick and tired of hearing that Medellín is the "most dangerous city in the world" and that Colombia is unfit for receiving North American tourists. If you don't believe me, just take a look at Western Hemisphere homicide statistics in the Economist: you will surely see that at least Caracas, San Salvador, and Rio de Janeiro are ranked as more dangerous. For those of you begging an illustrated version (for the kids), just take it from this 2009 article in Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/04/most-dangerous-countries-lifestyle-travel_dangerous_countries_slide.html?thisspeed=30000
Excuse me, but did anyone see Colombia on that list? I don't think so... Did anyone see any Latin American country, besides Haiti (which, as a former French colony, has a history largely distinct from its neighbors to the West and South)? Nah uh.
Okay... Just some Friday night food for thought. Enjoy the pondering...
No comments:
Post a Comment