Checked the cost of gas lately?

It doesn't matter whether you're driving or flying — it costs mucho más! While that's bad news already, it's certainly bad news for those families who have children attending college far from home. The separation between child and parents can be hard for both and can potentially impact the success of the student.

Couple that separation with the likelihood of families foregoing seeing each other more than they normally would because of the cost of gas and it's safe to assume there will be a lot of homesick students and parents.

To help ease the separation, Southwest Airlines and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) have joined forces again this year to provide Latino families the chance to win free airline tickets to wherever their child is in school.

The Lánzate — "Dandole Alas a Tu Exito/Giving Flight to Your Success" annual program awards an eligible undergraduate or graduate student to receive between one and four roundtrip tickets for him/herself and/or parent to use when traveling to/from the university in any of the 64 Southwest Airlines destinations.

Winners will be chosen by national education advocates and community leaders who will look at the student's grades, financial need and a required essay.

The deadline to enter the contest is May 30, 2008. Those who receive the airline tickets will be notified by email the week of July 28, 2008.

To enter, visit the HACU website.

Filed 24 de Abril, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

This week, PBS aired a program about the legendary Puerto Rican baseball player Roberto Clemente. The show was part of the PBS series American Experience.

Baseball player Roberto Clemente

I was planning on blogging about the film but a visit to the web site dedicated to the show can inform you better. And if you happened to miss the broadcast, the web site also promises to show the entire program in a few days in Spanish or English, depending on your preference.

Instead, I would like to focus on what the program's filmmaker, Bernardo Ruiz, wrote in an open letter to his fellow Latino filmmakers of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP).

Though Ruiz was speaking to his peers in the film industry, his points are valid and deserve to be heard, as well as, supported by the entire Latino community.

(The following open letter appeared in the NALIP newsletter.)

Continue reading "Filmmaker of program "Roberto Clemente" urges Latino film community to press PBS to air more shows by or about Latinos" »

Filed 23 de Abril, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Almost 600 languages have disappeared in the last century, according to UNESCO. On top of that gloomy news is the fact that languages continue to disappear at a rate of one language every two weeks.

If current trends continue, it is forecast that up to 90 percent of the world's languages are likely to disappear before the end of the century.

It's a serious issue and only one of several that face the indigenous populations of the world. This week at the United Nations, more than 3,300 people from indigenous populations from around the world will attend the two-week conference of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

The conference theme is the stewardship role of indigenous peoples in relation to climate change, biocultural diversity and livelihoods.

Because of historic and cultural ties that the indigenous have had with the planet, many indigenous people knew before the rest of the world that the planet was environmentally in trouble. However, due to discrimination and a lack of understanding indigenous ways, the mainstream public never heeded the
warnings.

Bolivian President Evo Morales

Part of the reason why the concerns of the indigenous are not paid attention to is because too few indigenous hold high political office.

Yet, "

in the first-ever address to the Forum by a Head of State, President Evo Morales of Bolivia urged the body to develop a model for “how to live well”, to counter an economic system where a thirst for wealth had overwhelmed a sense of respect for sustainable living.

In a speech greeted by cheers from an audience comprising leaders of indigenous groups, representatives of Member States and officials from United Nations specialized agencies, President Morales proposed a set of “10 commandments” that would offer an alternative to “egoism, regionalism and the pursuit of luxury”.

Continue reading "Bolivia's President Evo Morales opens United Nations Session on Indigenous Issues " »

Filed 22 de Abril, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Some believe the Tarot cards had their origin in the western world in Spain. Others believe Italy, but all those who believe agree that the Tarot cards can open the window into how your destiny is to unfold.

In the United States, bilingual Tarot card readers aren't that easy to find, but thanks to technology and the Internet, a newly redesigned site is not only offering Tarot card readings — but in both English and Spanish.

The site is SpellSpace. A visit to the site lets you have a full "Tarot experience." In other words, after choosing which language you want your reading, a quick click on the deck of cards shown on the screen and the fortune teller deals your hand of Tarot cards.

After the reading, you can choose to save it for future reference. The site also offers a diary to keep notes if you should see any "coincidences" between your reading and your daily life. There is also a section that links to interesting psychic and New Age sites, along with, a store to buy any spells you might need.

However, one of the more interesting sections on the site, aside from the readings themselves, is the SpellSpace blog.

The resident Tarot reader delves into some political "forecasting" to see who will win the Democratic nomination and eventually the Presidency.

What's written in the stars may surprise you.

Filed 21 de Abril, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1)

Ever hear of Ciudad Nezahualcoyotl in Mexico?

If you haven't, no surprise. It's hardly a place the country is proud to claim as its own. In fact, even the natives are afraid to venture within the boundaries of this low-income, crime-ridden, drug-infested, gang-prone area.

Nezahualcoyotl is build on the ancient shallow lake, Texcoco.
(Source: thedagger.com)

In the 2005 census, it was reported that 1,140,528 people call Nezahualcoyotl home. That makes it the second most populous municipality in the state of México, and the eighth largest in the country — and it's only 10 kilometers from Mexico City but it has a population density 3.4 times more dense than the Districto Federal (Mexico City).

The inhabitants of this infamous area are just trying to survive another day in a world where violence is as commonplace as the trash that blows freely in the streets.

Last October, the monthly Mexico City-based magazine, Inside Mexico, published an article about Nezahualcoyotl. The article, "Notes from a place you won't go: Ciudad Neza," (Neza is what the inhabitants call their city), detailed what life is like for the families that continue to live there.

The story inspired the non-profit group, Project Luz, of San Francisco to choose the children of Ciudad Nazahualcoyotl for their next project. The mission statement of Project Luz is "Seeking to empower and inspire the children of Latin America."

The group does this by supplying children with digital cameras to document their surroundings. By doing this, the group wants to "teach Neza teens photojournalism and story-telling skills, while creating awareness about social issues present in their lives."

In June, Project Luz plans on sending a team of volunteer photojournalists to teach the city's teens (13-17), but they need a few more donations.

- 20 digital cameras.
- Teaching facilities in Nezahualcoyotl.
- Accommodations for volunteering photographers.
- Transportation of students during workshop.

Also, the group has figured out that they will need a budget of $7,000 to make the project a success. So far, they haven't identified any funding sources but according to their website — "Project Luz and photographers are committed to this project on a volunteer basis."

To help out, contact Jasmin at Project Luz.

Filed 18 de Abril, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

On Wednesday, April 30, a historic announcement will be made in San Antonio, Texas.

At that time, Texas Tejano.com, along with, Texas state officials and San Antonio community leaders, will launch an initiative to create the Hispanic Heritage Center of Texas.

It is the first center of its kind in the state to honor the history and accomplishments of Tejanos and Hispanic contributions to the Lone Star State. The center will be built in San Antonio.

José Antonio Navarro (1795-1871) was the most influential Tejano of his generation. He championed Texas independence from Mexico, then fought for the rights of Tejanos as citizens of the Republic of Texas and the United States.

At the launch, organizers will officially start recruiting people to help with the project and solicit ideas to make the Hispanic Heritage Center of Texas not just a reality, but a premier facility that honors and remembers the important role Hispanics played in the formation of Texas.

The announcement will be on April 30, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. at the San Fernando Cathedral's City Centre Cafe.

Filed 16 de Abril, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1)

Out of all the demographics in the country, the Latino population is by far the youngest. In fact, fifty thousand young Latinos turn 18 every month. While a good number of young Latinos have already gotten involved in this presidential election, the numbers are saying that there are 50,000 every 30 days who are not.

What are they doing?

Well for one thing, chances are that while they're going to school or to their jobs or just taking care of business, they're listening to their iPods.

Are they thinking about registering to vote?

Maybe. Likely not. But with only a dozen primaries left in the country, a lot of young Latinos who would have registered eagerly to cast their first vote in deciding who their party's nominee would be, or reinforcing their party's decision, aren't feeling the same momentum to get their voter's card since the only election for them to vote in still months away.

But the get-out-the-vote organization Voto Latino is trying to change all that. But how?

Knowing that music is the quickest way to reach youth, Voto Latino has teamed up with iTunes and Nacional Records to create a special one-of-a-kind album by today's hottest Latin rappers and singers.

The Voto Latino album has 15 tracks of Spanish Rock, Pop and Latin music by such artists as Pitbull & Kurse, Don Omar, Ceci Bastida, David Garza, Hip Hop Hoodies and the list goes on.

Each song was especially chosen for its politically-conscious theme. In one of the featured songs that can be heard at Voto Latino's MySpace page, Pitbull's song "Across the Waters" talks about immigration and Cubans risking their lives to get to the United States.

According to Maria Teresa Petersen, executive director of Voto Latino, the songs are supposed to be a "launch pad for conversations." Since conversations can lead to action, and the easiest action is registering to vote, the hope is that everyone who is not registered to vote will be inspired to do so after hearing the album.

But what is even more amazing about this album is that it only costs $3.99 and is available exclusively at iTunes starting today - April 15. Both iTunes and Nacional Records are donating their proceeds from the benefit album. All proceeds will benefit Voto Latino's voter registration, education and empowerment initiatives.

And if you're already registered to vote - the album is a good reminder that there are a lot of issues that need our attention and a good way to start getting our voices heard is with a simple vote.

Filed 15 de Abril, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

For most third, fourth and fifth generation Latinos, telenovelas are as foreign as the land their abuelos immigrated from. How does one seriously take over-the-top acting, politically incorrect sexual innuendos and plots so convoluted that suspending belief is a requirement just to watch?

Unfortunately,and understandably, the popularity of telenovelas, aside from making fun of them, wanes with each new generation. Yet, a new "reality" show that debuted last night on VH1 hopes to show those viewers, who have only channel surfed over the telenovelas, just exactly what it's all about.

While it's a bit of an oxymoron to call Viva Hollywood a reality show when the whole premise centers on recreating the most popular cliche scenes that telenovelas are famous for, it does offer an excellent, not to mention fun view into what goes on behind recreating such scenes.

The reality show has 12 bilingual Latino and Latina wannabe actors trying to master the "7 Deadly Sins of Telenovelas" — passion, lust, charisma, drama, fire, seduction and scandal. Each are vying for the title "America's "Numero Uno Telenovela Star," along with, a prize package that includes $100,000, representation by a known Latin talent agency plus a starring role in a Telemundo telenovela.

These young Latinos represent the major Latino subgroups: Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Colombian, etc.

Of course, they're all sexy, gorgeous and have back stories that are as interesting as any telenovela writer could create. While competing for the grand prize, they live as a "familia" in La Casa de los Locos (The Crazy House).

Maria Conchita Alonso, assisted by Puerto Rican crossover star Carlos Ponce, and other guest judges, must decide who stays and who — dies.

In true telenovela style, each of the guests are given various scenes to act out with one another. Though the scenes are acted in Spanish, there are English subtitles. The scenes are death scenes where two characters are pitted against one another and only one lives. However, nobody knows who lives or dies until Maria Conchita Alonso declares someone "muerto."

Once they're killed off, they're banished from la casa forever.

It was interesting to note that in the premier episode, the first contestant to get axed was a young mother named Jainmy Martinez, a 30-year-old (the oldest woman) plus-size model from New Jersey who also is a mother of a 9-year-old. It was evident from the beginning that Jainmy didn't have the "usual" telenovela glamour, and obviously that made a difference.

No doubt, there's going to be a lot of drama with this show.

Viva Hollywood airs every Sunday night on VH1. If you miss it, full episodes of the Sunday show are available to watch on the VH1 website, but only on Mondays. They also run a repeat of the Sunday episode on Monday - check your local listings.

To get caught up on who all the characters are, and just what it takes to be a telenovela star, check out the series sneak premiere.

video.vh1.com

Filed 14 de Abril, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

While YouTube has been the premier choice outlet to post videos, the audience is not always so kind in their remarks when seeing those videos that promote human rights or deal with issues like immigration, police brutality, etc.

As a way to counter that negativity that seems to sprout on YouTube in response to such films, viewers and filmmakers who would like to see/post video, pictures or hear audio dealing with important humanitarian issues now have a new outlet.

It's called The Hub and it's being billed as "the world's first participatory media site for human rights." It's run by the non-profit group Witness which encourages the use of multimedia to document human rights violations.

Though it's still in the beta stage, they're inviting people to upload their videos/audio/photos that deal with human rights violations so as to help draw global attention to these issues.

In this way, the hope is that through such a visual and audio mediums, real change can occur.

We can only hope.

Filed 13 de Abril, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1)

Houston is the first Texas city to host the national awards ceremony honoring the best in Latin music.

Houston Mayor Pro Tem Adrian Garcia, Barbara Bermudo, Gabriel Abaroa, Houston Mayor Bill White
Source: Bob Levey/WireImage.com

Following in the footsteps of Miami, New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Houston will host an international list of top Latin singers as they vie for recognition at the ninth annual Latin Grammy Awards to be held on November 13 at the Toyota Center in Houston.

The awards ceremony will be broadcast by the Spanish-language network Univision and will be entirely in Spanish.

Filed 9 de Abril, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)