Friday, September 12, 2008
Jorge Granados - Mid-14th Street Business Association (DC)
Jorge is the President of the Mid-14th St Business Association in Washington D.C. His daughter is writing her Grad Thesis
on the impact of Salvadorans in Washington D.C.
on the impact of Salvadorans in Washington D.C.
Nelson Hernandez - DC - Realtor
Nelson was born in El Salvador and is a Realtor in Washington D.C. His bio is coming soon.
Markos Moulitsas Zuniga (www.dailykos.com) - Greek/Salvadoran
Known as the Original Political Blogger, Markos started dailykos. His bio is below courtesy of wikipedia entry. He
will be providing a few words of support to our Org in the days to come.
Moulitsas was born in Chicago, Illinois to a Salvadoran mother and Greek father, and grew up in El Salvador. (Following the Spanish language custom for surnames, his last name is "Moulitsas", not "Zúniga".) His family moved back to the United States in 1980 due to the Salvadoran civil war. He served in the U.S. Army from 1989 through 1992; while stationed in Germany, and after missing deployment to the Gulf War "by a hair",[1] he changed his political affiliation from the Republican to the Democratic Party. He has described the American military as "perhaps the ideal society – we worked hard but the Army took care of us in return."[1]
After leaving the army, he attended Northern Illinois University and wrote for (and eventually managed) the Northern Star college newspaper.[2] Moulitsas is a 2007 inductee into the Northern Star Hall of Fame, an honor bestowed by the alumni association of his college newspaper.[3] Moulitsas earned two bachelor degrees at Northern Illinois University (1992-1996), where he majored in Philosophy, Journalism, and Political Science. He earned a J.D. at Boston University School of Law (1996-1999).
full bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markos_Moulitsas_Zúniga
will be providing a few words of support to our Org in the days to come.
Moulitsas was born in Chicago, Illinois to a Salvadoran mother and Greek father, and grew up in El Salvador. (Following the Spanish language custom for surnames, his last name is "Moulitsas", not "Zúniga".) His family moved back to the United States in 1980 due to the Salvadoran civil war. He served in the U.S. Army from 1989 through 1992; while stationed in Germany, and after missing deployment to the Gulf War "by a hair",[1] he changed his political affiliation from the Republican to the Democratic Party. He has described the American military as "perhaps the ideal society – we worked hard but the Army took care of us in return."[1]
After leaving the army, he attended Northern Illinois University and wrote for (and eventually managed) the Northern Star college newspaper.[2] Moulitsas is a 2007 inductee into the Northern Star Hall of Fame, an honor bestowed by the alumni association of his college newspaper.[3] Moulitsas earned two bachelor degrees at Northern Illinois University (1992-1996), where he majored in Philosophy, Journalism, and Political Science. He earned a J.D. at Boston University School of Law (1996-1999).
full bio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markos_Moulitsas_Zúniga
Emilio and Dora Ruiz - New York - La Tribuna Hispana
Emilio and Dora are the owners of La Tribuna Hispana (www.latribunahispana.com) a daily Latino Newspaper
in the NorthEast.
Full Bio coming soon.
in the NorthEast.
Full Bio coming soon.
Miguel Menendez - CEO COSASE, MECAFE, KAWAKI
Miguel Menendez is a Salvadoran born Entrepreneur and Professional Car Racer. He is the CEO of COSASE (Security Firm), MECAFE (Coffee), Kawaki (Manufacturing), and HP Horse Power (Petroleum).
Finland could teach Latin America
THE OPPENHEIMER REPORT
Finland could teach Latin America
BY ANDRES OPPENHEIMER
aoppenheimer@MiamiHerald.com
ELSINKI, Finland -- Like many other foreign journalists, I made the obligatory pilgrimage to Finland to learn how this country has climbed to the top spots in key international rankings measuring economic, political and social success. The answer, I was told, is amazingly simple.
First, the facts. Finland ranks first among 179 countries in Transparency International's index of the least corrupt nations in the world (the United States is No. 20); No. 1 in Freedom House's ranking of the world's most democratic countries (the U.S. ranks No. 15); No. 1 in the world in 15-year-old students' standardized test scores in science (the U.S. ranks No. 29), and is among the 10 most competitive economies in the World Economic Forum's annual competitiveness index (the U.S. topped the list this year).
A small country of 5.3 million, which only two decades ago was by most measures the poorest country in northern Europe, Finland also boasts the headquarters of the world's biggest cellphone maker -- Nokia -- and cutting edge paper and pulp-technology firms.
The Finnish success story has triggered curiosity around the world, especially in Latin America, where most countries have yet to make the transition from exporters of raw materials to producers of high-tech goods that sell for much higher prices in world markets.
THE KEY
How did you do it, I asked Finnish President Tarja Halonen in an interview.
''I can sum it up in three words: education, education and education,'' she said.
Finland invested more than most other countries in recent decades to create an excellent tuition-free education system. That has helped it make the jump from an agrarian, timber-based economy into a technological powerhouse, she said.
And what is the secret of your education system, I asked. Among other things, highly trained elementary-school teachers, she said.
''We have a long queue outside our ministry of education with all kinds of experts from different countries who would like to learn more from our system,'' Halonen said. ``But what they don't normally believe is that the answer is as simple as having good teachers.''
WELL-PAID
Indeed, from what I saw during my five-day visit to Finland, teachers are relatively well-paid and enjoy great social respect. You need at least a master's degree to teach in elementary school, and a college degree to teach in kindergarten. Only one of every 10 applicants is admitted to the Finnish universities' teachers colleges.
''The profession of teacher is becoming increasingly popular, especially among women,'' said Ossi Airaskorpi, principal of the Juvanpuisto School, nearly an hour's drive from Helsinki. ``In the 1980s and 1990s, everybody wanted to go into business. Now, they want to be teachers. They can do part of their work at home, get a relatively good salary and have a two-and-a-half-month vacation.''
Dropping into a first-grade classroom at the Juvanpuisto school, about an hour outside Helsinki, I saw a teacher tutoring her students, while an assistant sat at one of the tables with a group of children, whispering into their ears to help them understand something they had missed.
ONE-ON-ONE
Next door, there was a little room where a ''special teacher'' was giving a one-on-one lesson to a girl who needed extra help.
One-on-one classes help narrow the gap between good students and those lagging behind, which helps explain why Finland does so well in standardized international tests that measure the learning skills of all students, not just the best ones.
In addition, Finnish schools use a special computer program where parents can log in every night to get the latest news about their kids -- whether they missed school, were talking on cellphones during class or need to do extra homework.
My conclusion: Granted, Finland also rates high in other rankings in which it would rather not be, such as having one of the world's highest suicide rates. Halonen was quick to add that Finland's suicide rates have dropped in recent years and are similar to those of Japan and other countries.
But Finland could be an excellent example for Latin American commodity exporters who want to become high-technology producers. They could help themselves by remembering this country's three little secrets: education, education and education.
Finland could teach Latin America
BY ANDRES OPPENHEIMER
aoppenheimer@MiamiHerald.com
ELSINKI, Finland -- Like many other foreign journalists, I made the obligatory pilgrimage to Finland to learn how this country has climbed to the top spots in key international rankings measuring economic, political and social success. The answer, I was told, is amazingly simple.
First, the facts. Finland ranks first among 179 countries in Transparency International's index of the least corrupt nations in the world (the United States is No. 20); No. 1 in Freedom House's ranking of the world's most democratic countries (the U.S. ranks No. 15); No. 1 in the world in 15-year-old students' standardized test scores in science (the U.S. ranks No. 29), and is among the 10 most competitive economies in the World Economic Forum's annual competitiveness index (the U.S. topped the list this year).
A small country of 5.3 million, which only two decades ago was by most measures the poorest country in northern Europe, Finland also boasts the headquarters of the world's biggest cellphone maker -- Nokia -- and cutting edge paper and pulp-technology firms.
The Finnish success story has triggered curiosity around the world, especially in Latin America, where most countries have yet to make the transition from exporters of raw materials to producers of high-tech goods that sell for much higher prices in world markets.
THE KEY
How did you do it, I asked Finnish President Tarja Halonen in an interview.
''I can sum it up in three words: education, education and education,'' she said.
Finland invested more than most other countries in recent decades to create an excellent tuition-free education system. That has helped it make the jump from an agrarian, timber-based economy into a technological powerhouse, she said.
And what is the secret of your education system, I asked. Among other things, highly trained elementary-school teachers, she said.
''We have a long queue outside our ministry of education with all kinds of experts from different countries who would like to learn more from our system,'' Halonen said. ``But what they don't normally believe is that the answer is as simple as having good teachers.''
WELL-PAID
Indeed, from what I saw during my five-day visit to Finland, teachers are relatively well-paid and enjoy great social respect. You need at least a master's degree to teach in elementary school, and a college degree to teach in kindergarten. Only one of every 10 applicants is admitted to the Finnish universities' teachers colleges.
''The profession of teacher is becoming increasingly popular, especially among women,'' said Ossi Airaskorpi, principal of the Juvanpuisto School, nearly an hour's drive from Helsinki. ``In the 1980s and 1990s, everybody wanted to go into business. Now, they want to be teachers. They can do part of their work at home, get a relatively good salary and have a two-and-a-half-month vacation.''
Dropping into a first-grade classroom at the Juvanpuisto school, about an hour outside Helsinki, I saw a teacher tutoring her students, while an assistant sat at one of the tables with a group of children, whispering into their ears to help them understand something they had missed.
ONE-ON-ONE
Next door, there was a little room where a ''special teacher'' was giving a one-on-one lesson to a girl who needed extra help.
One-on-one classes help narrow the gap between good students and those lagging behind, which helps explain why Finland does so well in standardized international tests that measure the learning skills of all students, not just the best ones.
In addition, Finnish schools use a special computer program where parents can log in every night to get the latest news about their kids -- whether they missed school, were talking on cellphones during class or need to do extra homework.
My conclusion: Granted, Finland also rates high in other rankings in which it would rather not be, such as having one of the world's highest suicide rates. Halonen was quick to add that Finland's suicide rates have dropped in recent years and are similar to those of Japan and other countries.
But Finland could be an excellent example for Latin American commodity exporters who want to become high-technology producers. They could help themselves by remembering this country's three little secrets: education, education and education.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
McCain and the Mortgage Meltdown
McCain and the Mortgage Meltdown
www.thenation.com
BY ROBERT SCHEER
September 10, 2008
Ignorance is bliss, which perhaps explains Gov. Sarah Palin being so confidently wrong about the root cause of the federalization of most of the nation's mortgage market. But what is Senator John McCain's excuse? Both act as if the financial meltdown of the US economy has nothing to do with the policies of the political party they represent--but she at least may not know any better.
Distracted momentarily from her campaign revelries of maverick opposition to the "bridge to nowhere," which she had supported until it became a public relations debacle, and congressional earmarks for which she, as a small-town mayor, had hustled piggishly at the federal trough, Palin made the mistake of dealing with an unscripted subject.
Referring to the government's bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Palin opined that the two had "gotten too big and too expensive to the taxpayers," displaying abysmal ignorance of the fact that only now will those privately owned banks become a huge taxpayer obligation, as the federal government takes them over. Nor can the meltdown of home values be traced to those two beleaguered institutions, because they did not make the original subprime mortgage commitments.
The housing bubble was the result of the Ponzi-scheme antics of those other financial entities: commercial banks, stockbrokers and hedge funds, which were allowed in a GOP-deregulated market to get into the "swap" business. Through the rampant reselling of loans, the obligation to collect on a loan was divorced from the act of selling it in the first place, so who cared if the recipient of the loan was not at all qualified or the appraisal of the property value was inflated, as long as the paper was traded away, or insured, before the moment of foreclosure?
As with any Ponzi scheme, the perps, who included the legislators as well as the bankers who exploited the loopholes they provided, expected to bail long before the bubble burst. The role of the legislators, Republican-led but with far too many Democratic running dogs, was critical to the success of the scam.
The mortgage swaps distancing the originator of the loan from the ultimate collector were made legal only as a result of theCommodity Futures Modernization Act, which former Senator Phil Gramm, R-Texas, pushed through Congress just hours before the 2000 Christmas recess. Gramm, until recently co-chair of the McCain campaign, also had co-authored theGramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which became law in 1999 with President Bill Clinton's signature. That gem, which Gramm had pushed for years with massive financial industry lobbying, destroyed the Depression-era barrier to the merger of stockbrokers, banks and insurance companies. Those two acts effectively ended significant regulation of the financial community, and no wonder we have witnessed an even more rapid and severe meltdown in housing values than during the Great Depression.
Not surprisingly, Gramm was rewarded for his service upon retirement as a senator and as head of the Senate Banking Committee with a top position at the Swiss-based UBS bank, which is close to drowning in the subprime mortgage nightmare he helped create. These folks have no shame, as was evidenced when the senator's wife, Wendy, was named a director of Enron, whose roiling of the energy market had been made possible only through yet another provision of Gramm's Commodity Futures Modernization Act.
While neophyte Palin can claim ignorance of such matters, that would be particularly difficult for McCain, who as a senator consistently lined up with Gramm in his deregulation crusade. Clearly McCain had not learned much from his previous involvement with the savings-and-loan debacle about the risks to consumers in unregulated banking.
McCain served as chair of Gramm's abortive 1996 presidential campaign, and Gramm returned the favor, providing critical support for McCain with the hard-line Republican base, including the editorial board of the Wall Street Journal. It was assumed in the business press that Gramm was the front-runner to be Treasury secretary in a McCain Administration. Gramm left his role as the top economic person near McCain only after he made an embarrassing statement blaming the current economic downturn on "whiners," an awkward reference to the victims of his disastrous legislation.
Amazingly, the turmoil in the housing market, which has led to the socialization of the nation's revered homeownership market in a massive expansion of the role of big government, has apparently not troubled McCain's conservative supporters. As I said, ignorance is bliss, and evidently not just for the newbie Palin.
www.thenation.com
BY ROBERT SCHEER
September 10, 2008
Ignorance is bliss, which perhaps explains Gov. Sarah Palin being so confidently wrong about the root cause of the federalization of most of the nation's mortgage market. But what is Senator John McCain's excuse? Both act as if the financial meltdown of the US economy has nothing to do with the policies of the political party they represent--but she at least may not know any better.
Distracted momentarily from her campaign revelries of maverick opposition to the "bridge to nowhere," which she had supported until it became a public relations debacle, and congressional earmarks for which she, as a small-town mayor, had hustled piggishly at the federal trough, Palin made the mistake of dealing with an unscripted subject.
Referring to the government's bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Palin opined that the two had "gotten too big and too expensive to the taxpayers," displaying abysmal ignorance of the fact that only now will those privately owned banks become a huge taxpayer obligation, as the federal government takes them over. Nor can the meltdown of home values be traced to those two beleaguered institutions, because they did not make the original subprime mortgage commitments.
The housing bubble was the result of the Ponzi-scheme antics of those other financial entities: commercial banks, stockbrokers and hedge funds, which were allowed in a GOP-deregulated market to get into the "swap" business. Through the rampant reselling of loans, the obligation to collect on a loan was divorced from the act of selling it in the first place, so who cared if the recipient of the loan was not at all qualified or the appraisal of the property value was inflated, as long as the paper was traded away, or insured, before the moment of foreclosure?
As with any Ponzi scheme, the perps, who included the legislators as well as the bankers who exploited the loopholes they provided, expected to bail long before the bubble burst. The role of the legislators, Republican-led but with far too many Democratic running dogs, was critical to the success of the scam.
The mortgage swaps distancing the originator of the loan from the ultimate collector were made legal only as a result of theCommodity Futures Modernization Act, which former Senator Phil Gramm, R-Texas, pushed through Congress just hours before the 2000 Christmas recess. Gramm, until recently co-chair of the McCain campaign, also had co-authored theGramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which became law in 1999 with President Bill Clinton's signature. That gem, which Gramm had pushed for years with massive financial industry lobbying, destroyed the Depression-era barrier to the merger of stockbrokers, banks and insurance companies. Those two acts effectively ended significant regulation of the financial community, and no wonder we have witnessed an even more rapid and severe meltdown in housing values than during the Great Depression.
Not surprisingly, Gramm was rewarded for his service upon retirement as a senator and as head of the Senate Banking Committee with a top position at the Swiss-based UBS bank, which is close to drowning in the subprime mortgage nightmare he helped create. These folks have no shame, as was evidenced when the senator's wife, Wendy, was named a director of Enron, whose roiling of the energy market had been made possible only through yet another provision of Gramm's Commodity Futures Modernization Act.
While neophyte Palin can claim ignorance of such matters, that would be particularly difficult for McCain, who as a senator consistently lined up with Gramm in his deregulation crusade. Clearly McCain had not learned much from his previous involvement with the savings-and-loan debacle about the risks to consumers in unregulated banking.
McCain served as chair of Gramm's abortive 1996 presidential campaign, and Gramm returned the favor, providing critical support for McCain with the hard-line Republican base, including the editorial board of the Wall Street Journal. It was assumed in the business press that Gramm was the front-runner to be Treasury secretary in a McCain Administration. Gramm left his role as the top economic person near McCain only after he made an embarrassing statement blaming the current economic downturn on "whiners," an awkward reference to the victims of his disastrous legislation.
Amazingly, the turmoil in the housing market, which has led to the socialization of the nation's revered homeownership market in a massive expansion of the role of big government, has apparently not troubled McCain's conservative supporters. As I said, ignorance is bliss, and evidently not just for the newbie Palin.
Salvador Gomez Gochez (SANA) (Read LA Times Article)
His full bio is coming soon...with youtube profile.
Southern California's dual citizens see little conflict (LA TIMES ARTICLE)
With dual citizenship on the rise, many U.S. residents who are also citizens of other countries say their status doesn't make them any less loyal to the U.S.
By Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
7:28 PM PDT, September 10, 2008
Salvador Gomez Gochez was 25 when he first came to Los Angeles with $3 in his pocket and painful memories of his Salvadoran homeland torn apart by repression and war.
Working his way up from a parking lot attendant to a manager, he learned English, bought a home, volunteered for a Salvadoran community organization and became a U.S. citizen, grateful to the country he says saved his life.
But Gomez Gochez, now 54, also retained his Salvadoran citizenship. Now, as a dual citizen, he has made the dramatic decision to return to his impoverished hometown in El Salvador and run for mayor after nearly three decades away. His hope: to revive his town's agricultural base with his U.S. contacts and empower the villagers with U.S. practices of participatory democracy.
"America is the country that gave me the opportunity to be alive, and I'll be loyal to it until the end of my life," said Gomez Gochez in a phone interview from his home in Atiquizaya, a bedroom community of 52,000 about 50 miles west of San Salvador, the capital. "But I also want to give something back to my hometown. I want to teach them about the U.S. political process and how we as U.S. citizens use our rights, respect the Constitution and participate in the democratic process."
As international business, travel and communications explode, a growing number of nations are allowing dual citizenship, and more immigrants are claiming it. Some, like Gomez Gochez, aim to use their bilingual and bicultural experiences to infuse their homelands with U.S. values and strengthen bonds between both countries.
Others cite personal benefits, such as easier travel and better business opportunities. At a U.S. citizenship ceremony last month in Los Angeles, Ben Raposas, 38, a Simi Valley nurse, said he would apply for dual citizenship from his native Philippines to save tax dollars, have wider job choices and retain the right to return and retire. As an American, he said, it will be easier to get visas to travel and qualify for more jobs.
But the trend is also stirring some unease. Some argue that dual citizenship weakens a person's commitment to the United States, threatens a common national identity and violates the oath of allegiance taken by every naturalized citizen to "absolutely and entirely renounce" fidelity to any foreign government. A person cannot be loyal to two countries any more than to two spouses or two religions, critics say.
"For me, the idea of being American means your primary attachment is to the United States and not your country of origin," said Stanley A. Renshon, a political science professor at City University of New York Graduate Center. "The harm that comes from dual citizenship reflects the question of which identity will be primary."
Although the U.S. government does not keep statistics on dual citizens, some studies suggest that the number is large and growing. A 2007 study by Florida and Chicago researchers estimated that 77% of first-generation Latino immigrants who are U.S. citizens have dual citizenship. Renshon estimated that more than 90% of immigrants from the top 20 sending nations between 1994 and 2002 who are naturalized U.S. citizens had dual citizenship.
More than 150 nations allow some form of multiple citizenship, including Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and France, according to Renshon. The number has particularly increased in the last 15 years in Europe and Latin America.
The U.S. government does not require a person to renounce the former country when becoming a citizen. But it does not recognize or encourage dual citizenship because of the problems it could create over potentially conflicting obligations for military service and the like, said Chris Bentley of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. He cited as one example Japanese Americans in Japan during World War II who were drafted into the Japanese military.
"There are serious ramifications, and that's why we don't encourage it," Bentley said.
Both sides in the dual-citizen debate see validation for their arguments in recent studies by Florida State University political science professors Jeffrey K. Staton and Robert A. Jackson, and Damarys Canache of the University of Illinois. In a 2007 study examining claims that dual citizenship weakens ties to America, the researchers found that Latino immigrants who were dual citizens were less likely to be fluent in English, identify as U.S. citizens, consider the United States their homeland, register to vote and vote in a U.S. election than Latino immigrants who were sole U.S. citizens.
But the researchers' latest findings, scheduled for publication this year, show that those differences disappear among the U.S.-born second generation, Staton said.
"If these differences go away across generations, it doesn't strike me as a matter that is all that worrisome," Staton said.
And community activists assert that the massive energy invested in the last two years to register immigrants to vote, get them to the polls and better integrate them into U.S. society has deepened their connections to their new nation.
Renshon, who argues that citizenship without emotional attachment is the "civic equivalent of a one-night stand," advocates deepening the integration of new U.S. citizens through free universal English classes. He also argues that dual citizens should be discouraged from voting in foreign elections, holding foreign office and serving in foreign militaries.
But many dual citizens themselves dismiss such concerns and say their binational connections richly benefit both nations.
"The U.S. is my home and El Salvador is my home. It's not either/or, it's both," said Mario Fuentes of the Salvadoran American National Assn. in Los Angeles.
The organization actively promotes binationalism as a way to connect people to the riches of their joint heritage. The group hosts frequent delegations between the two nations, holds an annual Salvadoran Day, sponsored a historical tour to El Salvador last month and brought El Salvador's most important religious icon, a statue of the Divine Savior of the World, to Los Angeles churches. The group promotes immigrant participation in U.S. civic affairs with voter registration drives and other activities.
Salvadoran association members aim to share their U.S. democratic experiences and know-how with compatriots in El Salvador. Gomez Gochez' mayoral campaign, for instance, is based on grassroots organizing skills he learned on the streets of Los Angeles.
Gomez Gochez said he had so far met with more than 4,000 people in 167 home meetings to ask for their input -- a new political style, he said, in a country with a history of repression and political oligarchy.
"No one ever did that before in El Salvador," he said. "I learned a different kind of politics in the United States."
Some dual citizens admit to emotional twinges, however, at the ultimate moment when they raise their right hand, renounce all fidelity to other countries and pledge allegiance to the United States.
"You get a little ripped in the middle. You say you're putting the other guys behind you," said Gene Hernandez, 40, a Valencia P.E. instructor who became a U.S. citizen last month.
But Hernandez said there was no question where his primary allegiance lies. He left Mexico when he was 5 and has never returned. He grew up on U.S. football and speaks English with his wife and three children. Although proud of his native Mexico, he said he became even more patriotic toward his adopted homeland after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
"I love America and I hold it really close to me," he said. "You mess with America, and you're messing with me."
teresa.watanabe@latimes.com
Southern California's dual citizens see little conflict (LA TIMES ARTICLE)
With dual citizenship on the rise, many U.S. residents who are also citizens of other countries say their status doesn't make them any less loyal to the U.S.
By Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
7:28 PM PDT, September 10, 2008
Salvador Gomez Gochez was 25 when he first came to Los Angeles with $3 in his pocket and painful memories of his Salvadoran homeland torn apart by repression and war.
Working his way up from a parking lot attendant to a manager, he learned English, bought a home, volunteered for a Salvadoran community organization and became a U.S. citizen, grateful to the country he says saved his life.
But Gomez Gochez, now 54, also retained his Salvadoran citizenship. Now, as a dual citizen, he has made the dramatic decision to return to his impoverished hometown in El Salvador and run for mayor after nearly three decades away. His hope: to revive his town's agricultural base with his U.S. contacts and empower the villagers with U.S. practices of participatory democracy.
"America is the country that gave me the opportunity to be alive, and I'll be loyal to it until the end of my life," said Gomez Gochez in a phone interview from his home in Atiquizaya, a bedroom community of 52,000 about 50 miles west of San Salvador, the capital. "But I also want to give something back to my hometown. I want to teach them about the U.S. political process and how we as U.S. citizens use our rights, respect the Constitution and participate in the democratic process."
As international business, travel and communications explode, a growing number of nations are allowing dual citizenship, and more immigrants are claiming it. Some, like Gomez Gochez, aim to use their bilingual and bicultural experiences to infuse their homelands with U.S. values and strengthen bonds between both countries.
Others cite personal benefits, such as easier travel and better business opportunities. At a U.S. citizenship ceremony last month in Los Angeles, Ben Raposas, 38, a Simi Valley nurse, said he would apply for dual citizenship from his native Philippines to save tax dollars, have wider job choices and retain the right to return and retire. As an American, he said, it will be easier to get visas to travel and qualify for more jobs.
But the trend is also stirring some unease. Some argue that dual citizenship weakens a person's commitment to the United States, threatens a common national identity and violates the oath of allegiance taken by every naturalized citizen to "absolutely and entirely renounce" fidelity to any foreign government. A person cannot be loyal to two countries any more than to two spouses or two religions, critics say.
"For me, the idea of being American means your primary attachment is to the United States and not your country of origin," said Stanley A. Renshon, a political science professor at City University of New York Graduate Center. "The harm that comes from dual citizenship reflects the question of which identity will be primary."
Although the U.S. government does not keep statistics on dual citizens, some studies suggest that the number is large and growing. A 2007 study by Florida and Chicago researchers estimated that 77% of first-generation Latino immigrants who are U.S. citizens have dual citizenship. Renshon estimated that more than 90% of immigrants from the top 20 sending nations between 1994 and 2002 who are naturalized U.S. citizens had dual citizenship.
More than 150 nations allow some form of multiple citizenship, including Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and France, according to Renshon. The number has particularly increased in the last 15 years in Europe and Latin America.
The U.S. government does not require a person to renounce the former country when becoming a citizen. But it does not recognize or encourage dual citizenship because of the problems it could create over potentially conflicting obligations for military service and the like, said Chris Bentley of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. He cited as one example Japanese Americans in Japan during World War II who were drafted into the Japanese military.
"There are serious ramifications, and that's why we don't encourage it," Bentley said.
Both sides in the dual-citizen debate see validation for their arguments in recent studies by Florida State University political science professors Jeffrey K. Staton and Robert A. Jackson, and Damarys Canache of the University of Illinois. In a 2007 study examining claims that dual citizenship weakens ties to America, the researchers found that Latino immigrants who were dual citizens were less likely to be fluent in English, identify as U.S. citizens, consider the United States their homeland, register to vote and vote in a U.S. election than Latino immigrants who were sole U.S. citizens.
But the researchers' latest findings, scheduled for publication this year, show that those differences disappear among the U.S.-born second generation, Staton said.
"If these differences go away across generations, it doesn't strike me as a matter that is all that worrisome," Staton said.
And community activists assert that the massive energy invested in the last two years to register immigrants to vote, get them to the polls and better integrate them into U.S. society has deepened their connections to their new nation.
Renshon, who argues that citizenship without emotional attachment is the "civic equivalent of a one-night stand," advocates deepening the integration of new U.S. citizens through free universal English classes. He also argues that dual citizens should be discouraged from voting in foreign elections, holding foreign office and serving in foreign militaries.
But many dual citizens themselves dismiss such concerns and say their binational connections richly benefit both nations.
"The U.S. is my home and El Salvador is my home. It's not either/or, it's both," said Mario Fuentes of the Salvadoran American National Assn. in Los Angeles.
The organization actively promotes binationalism as a way to connect people to the riches of their joint heritage. The group hosts frequent delegations between the two nations, holds an annual Salvadoran Day, sponsored a historical tour to El Salvador last month and brought El Salvador's most important religious icon, a statue of the Divine Savior of the World, to Los Angeles churches. The group promotes immigrant participation in U.S. civic affairs with voter registration drives and other activities.
Salvadoran association members aim to share their U.S. democratic experiences and know-how with compatriots in El Salvador. Gomez Gochez' mayoral campaign, for instance, is based on grassroots organizing skills he learned on the streets of Los Angeles.
Gomez Gochez said he had so far met with more than 4,000 people in 167 home meetings to ask for their input -- a new political style, he said, in a country with a history of repression and political oligarchy.
"No one ever did that before in El Salvador," he said. "I learned a different kind of politics in the United States."
Some dual citizens admit to emotional twinges, however, at the ultimate moment when they raise their right hand, renounce all fidelity to other countries and pledge allegiance to the United States.
"You get a little ripped in the middle. You say you're putting the other guys behind you," said Gene Hernandez, 40, a Valencia P.E. instructor who became a U.S. citizen last month.
But Hernandez said there was no question where his primary allegiance lies. He left Mexico when he was 5 and has never returned. He grew up on U.S. football and speaks English with his wife and three children. Although proud of his native Mexico, he said he became even more patriotic toward his adopted homeland after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
"I love America and I hold it really close to me," he said. "You mess with America, and you're messing with me."
teresa.watanabe@latimes.com
Monday, September 8, 2008
Daniel Joya - Washington DC - Attorney
Daniel Joya Canditato Diputado Suplente
Datos generales:
- Nació en Santa Rosa de Lima, El Salvador, el 15 de abril de 1967
- Casado
- Cristiano Bautista
- Doble nacionalidad: El Salvador- United States
- Abogado de la Republica. Pendiente de incorporación a barra en Estados Unidos
Estudios realizados:
- Bachillerato Industrial en el Instituto Nacional Isidro Menéndez
- Licenciatura en Ciencias Jurídicas en la Universidad de El Salvador
- Diplomado en Formación Docente, Universidad Cap. Gral. Gerardo Barrios, San Miguel
- English as a Second Language en Prince George’s Community College, Maryland
- Maestría en Derecho Internacional, American University, Washington, DC
Escritor. Ha publicado en:
- Takoma Voice, Takoma Park, MD
- El Pregonero, Washington, DC
- Editorial Nuevo Enfoque, San Salvador
- Raíces en Línea y otros medios virtuales
- Mantiene blogs literarios y de opinión política
- Obras principales: “Suenos de un Callejero” & “Deportado”
Activista y organizador comunitario en El Salvador y los Estados Unidos. Ha realizado trabajo voluntario para organizaciones como:
- FMLN
- Codelun
- Padecoms
- Padecoes
- CASA de Maryland
- CARECEN, DC
- Action Langley Park
- Asociación Cultural Milpa
Algunos trabajos desempeñados:
- Verificador de tierras para el departamento de San Miguel por el FMLN ante la Comisión Especial Agraria de COPAZ, 1,993
- Secretario del Tribunal Primero de Sentencia de San Miguel, 1,998- 1,999
- Juez de Paz de Poloros, 1,999- 2,000
- Instructor en la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad de El Salvador y Docente universitario en la Universidad de Oriente, Universidad Capitán General Gerardo Barrios, Universidad Modular Abierta y Universidad Interamericana Simón Bolívar, 1,997- 2,000.
- Proporciono asesoria legal y en su caso representación para diversas ONGs del oriente de El Salvador, 1,993- 2,000
- Miembro del equipo investigador sobre crimen y calidad de vida en Langley Park, Maryland, 2,001- 2,002
- Organizador y Especialista de empleo en el programa de jornaleros de CASA de Maryland, 2,001- 2,004
- Analista de Personal y Reclutador para seguridad publica en Prince George’s County, Maryland, 2,004 al presente
- Docente de Español en Frederick Community College, Maryland, 2,008
Otros datos relevantes:
- Militante de los movimientos estudiantiles revolucionarios, 1,986- 1,996
- Radicado en los Estados Unidos desde el año 2,000 para vivir de primera mano la experiencia de la diáspora y trabajar en función de nuestra comunidad inmigrante
- Participante activo en la lucha por la reforma migratoria en los Estados Unidos
- Actualmente sirve como Comisionado de Derechos Humanos en Montgomery County, Maryland
- Bilingüe (Español- Ingles)
Publicado por Daniel Joya en 18:59
Etiquetas: abogado, activista comunitario, daniel joya, escrito
0 comentarios:
Publicar un comentario en la entrada
Entrada más reciente Página principal
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Datos generales:
- Nació en Santa Rosa de Lima, El Salvador, el 15 de abril de 1967
- Casado
- Cristiano Bautista
- Doble nacionalidad: El Salvador- United States
- Abogado de la Republica. Pendiente de incorporación a barra en Estados Unidos
Estudios realizados:
- Bachillerato Industrial en el Instituto Nacional Isidro Menéndez
- Licenciatura en Ciencias Jurídicas en la Universidad de El Salvador
- Diplomado en Formación Docente, Universidad Cap. Gral. Gerardo Barrios, San Miguel
- English as a Second Language en Prince George’s Community College, Maryland
- Maestría en Derecho Internacional, American University, Washington, DC
Escritor. Ha publicado en:
- Takoma Voice, Takoma Park, MD
- El Pregonero, Washington, DC
- Editorial Nuevo Enfoque, San Salvador
- Raíces en Línea y otros medios virtuales
- Mantiene blogs literarios y de opinión política
- Obras principales: “Suenos de un Callejero” & “Deportado”
Activista y organizador comunitario en El Salvador y los Estados Unidos. Ha realizado trabajo voluntario para organizaciones como:
- FMLN
- Codelun
- Padecoms
- Padecoes
- CASA de Maryland
- CARECEN, DC
- Action Langley Park
- Asociación Cultural Milpa
Algunos trabajos desempeñados:
- Verificador de tierras para el departamento de San Miguel por el FMLN ante la Comisión Especial Agraria de COPAZ, 1,993
- Secretario del Tribunal Primero de Sentencia de San Miguel, 1,998- 1,999
- Juez de Paz de Poloros, 1,999- 2,000
- Instructor en la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad de El Salvador y Docente universitario en la Universidad de Oriente, Universidad Capitán General Gerardo Barrios, Universidad Modular Abierta y Universidad Interamericana Simón Bolívar, 1,997- 2,000.
- Proporciono asesoria legal y en su caso representación para diversas ONGs del oriente de El Salvador, 1,993- 2,000
- Miembro del equipo investigador sobre crimen y calidad de vida en Langley Park, Maryland, 2,001- 2,002
- Organizador y Especialista de empleo en el programa de jornaleros de CASA de Maryland, 2,001- 2,004
- Analista de Personal y Reclutador para seguridad publica en Prince George’s County, Maryland, 2,004 al presente
- Docente de Español en Frederick Community College, Maryland, 2,008
Otros datos relevantes:
- Militante de los movimientos estudiantiles revolucionarios, 1,986- 1,996
- Radicado en los Estados Unidos desde el año 2,000 para vivir de primera mano la experiencia de la diáspora y trabajar en función de nuestra comunidad inmigrante
- Participante activo en la lucha por la reforma migratoria en los Estados Unidos
- Actualmente sirve como Comisionado de Derechos Humanos en Montgomery County, Maryland
- Bilingüe (Español- Ingles)
Publicado por Daniel Joya en 18:59
Etiquetas: abogado, activista comunitario, daniel joya, escrito
0 comentarios:
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Friday, September 5, 2008
Hector Moran - Manager Dole Foods
Hector is the head of the Ethnic Food Market division. His bio and story coming soon.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Alex Segovia - Oxford Grad & Chief Economic Advisor to Mauricio Funes
Alex Segovia: Cambiar la forma de gobernar
Por Juan José Dalton
(www.contrapunto.com.sv)
SAN SALVADOR – Alex Segovia no vivía en El Salvador desde hace algún tiempo. Destacado economista, con estudios en las universidades inglesas de Oxford y Londres, estuvo involucrado en planes de reconciliaciones en Guatemala, Perú y en Colombia. Hoy es el asesor económico de la Campaña de Mauricio Funes y dice que uno de los cambios que éste haría, si gana las elecciones, estaría encaminado a modificar “la forma de gobernar”.
Segovia habla muy claro de las perspectivas de un gobierno encabezado por Funes, al que considera su amigo y con quien comparte las ideas principales de lo que El Salvador necesitaría en caso de triunfar en las elecciones del 18 de marzo de 2009, que sin duda serán trascendentales.
Funes, periodista con más de 30 años de experiencia especialmente en los medios televisivos, escogió a Alex Segovia como su asesor para temas económicos y sociales. Segovia es uno de los artífices del programa de gobierno que recién han asumido Funes y el partido izquierdista FMLN. ¿Pero qué significa el cambio? ¿Hay algo a qué temer? Claro, todos los cambios provocan dudas y temores.
Segovia es un experto en la “mediación”. En sus manos descansarán muchas decisiones de los posibles nuevos gobernantes. Y la palabra clave será la “negociación”, desde su punto de vista. No cabe duda que la “negociación” será también a lo interno del gobierno y del FMLN, partido acostumbrado a las imposiciones y con lastres ideológicos autoritarios. Pero tampoco será fácil frente a una derecha empresarial que ha estado en el gobierno históricamente desde que se fundó la República.
¿De llegar Mauricio a la presidencia cuáles serán los cambios fundamentales que se harían inmediatamente?
“Dos cambios fundamentales: el primero es un cambio en la forma de gobernar. Una cosa que he criticado muchísimo en los gobiernos de ARENA es la forma autoritaria de hacer políticas públicas. Esa forma en la que no se consulta con la gente ni con los sectores afectados; al final las medidas de imponen”.
¿Ejemplo de ello...?
“Hay muchísimos. Desde la dolarización hasta el Tratado de Libre Comercio con Estados Unidos. Hay medidas fundamentales y de impacto de mediano y largo plazo. Esas medidas deben discutirse porque las implicaciones son sumamente graves. En los últimos 20 años hemos visto una forma de hacer política por imposición, lo cual nos está llevando a que se conviertan en políticas de gobierno y no de Estado. El cambio entonces en este aspecto será radical, porque vamos a dialogar y concertar las medias de política pública”.
Será muy complicado ante la falta de costumbre de concertar...
“Será muy bueno. Aquí hay una crisis acumulada de problemas. A esta crisis se le ha venido una crisis coyuntural derivada de choques externos y en ese sentido, la situación que va encontrar el próximo gobierno es tan complicada que un sector por sí solo no va a poder resolver los problemas de manera seria, a menos que un gobierno se dedique a administrar crisis. Pero si un gobierno quiere hacer cosas distintas necesita concertar y llevar a cabo políticas públicas con gran respaldo social”.
¿Cuál sería el segundo cambio?
“Lo segundo es establecer las prioridades. Para quién gobernar. Mauricio creo que ha sido contundente en decir que va a gobernar para todos los salvadoreños. Ha dicho que a los únicos a los que hay que darles una opción preferencial son a los sectores más pobres y marginados”.
Pero esto siempre se dice...
“Claro, pero ARENA no ha gobernado para los intereses del país, sino en función de élites y grupos, y en ocasión en función de personas”.
¿Cómo va a poder gobernar bien si se afectará a los que han tenido hasta ahora todos los privilegios?
“Precisamente, una de las prioridades será desmantelar la política de privilegios. Esto es una demanda de los mismos empresarios que nos han dado muchos ejemplos. No se trata de quitar los incentivos a los empresarios grandes. No estamos hablando de eso. Sino erradicar esa práctica, dentro del gobierno y fuera de él, de utilizar al Estado para sacar provecho y para tomar ventajas en el mercado frente a otros empresarios”.
Ejemplo...
“Por ejemplo, una licitación del Estado que no se da de manera transparente, sino que se da a un amigo o a un pariente. Esos son privilegios. O ponerle límite a importaciones o exportaciones para beneficiar a una empresa local que tiene nexos con el gobierno. Eso es economía de privilegios”.
¿Pero puede haber acuerdos nacionales en este tema?
“Se puede, hay un ambiente bueno. Recién estuvimos con dos cámaras empresariales y sorprendentemente, en términos positivos, ambas cámaras están proponiendo la necesidad de llegar a pactos nacionales. Lo que pasa que para llegar a ello se necesitan dos condiciones que los gobiernos de ARENA no han tenido. En primer lugar, ser democráticos. Uno está dispuesto a hacer pactos cuando está dispuesto a dialogar, a ceder, tomar en cuenta la opinión de los demás. Pero cuando no se tiene esa convicción y tenés una agenda oculta, los pactos hasta te estorban. Lo otro es poner los intereses nacionales antes de los particulares”.
Siempre habrá conflicto
“Claro, en toda sociedad siempre hay conflictos. Pero ese no es el problema, sino que existan métodos institucionales para redimir esos conflictos. Entonces, hay que crear institucionalidad y una forma metodológica para llegar a acuerdos. Creo que sí se puede. Es más, insisto, los sectores empresariales, profesionales y académicos están pidiendo acuerdos”.
(En próxima entrega Alex Segovia se referirá al tema fiscal)
Por Juan José Dalton
(www.contrapunto.com.sv)
SAN SALVADOR – Alex Segovia no vivía en El Salvador desde hace algún tiempo. Destacado economista, con estudios en las universidades inglesas de Oxford y Londres, estuvo involucrado en planes de reconciliaciones en Guatemala, Perú y en Colombia. Hoy es el asesor económico de la Campaña de Mauricio Funes y dice que uno de los cambios que éste haría, si gana las elecciones, estaría encaminado a modificar “la forma de gobernar”.
Segovia habla muy claro de las perspectivas de un gobierno encabezado por Funes, al que considera su amigo y con quien comparte las ideas principales de lo que El Salvador necesitaría en caso de triunfar en las elecciones del 18 de marzo de 2009, que sin duda serán trascendentales.
Funes, periodista con más de 30 años de experiencia especialmente en los medios televisivos, escogió a Alex Segovia como su asesor para temas económicos y sociales. Segovia es uno de los artífices del programa de gobierno que recién han asumido Funes y el partido izquierdista FMLN. ¿Pero qué significa el cambio? ¿Hay algo a qué temer? Claro, todos los cambios provocan dudas y temores.
Segovia es un experto en la “mediación”. En sus manos descansarán muchas decisiones de los posibles nuevos gobernantes. Y la palabra clave será la “negociación”, desde su punto de vista. No cabe duda que la “negociación” será también a lo interno del gobierno y del FMLN, partido acostumbrado a las imposiciones y con lastres ideológicos autoritarios. Pero tampoco será fácil frente a una derecha empresarial que ha estado en el gobierno históricamente desde que se fundó la República.
¿De llegar Mauricio a la presidencia cuáles serán los cambios fundamentales que se harían inmediatamente?
“Dos cambios fundamentales: el primero es un cambio en la forma de gobernar. Una cosa que he criticado muchísimo en los gobiernos de ARENA es la forma autoritaria de hacer políticas públicas. Esa forma en la que no se consulta con la gente ni con los sectores afectados; al final las medidas de imponen”.
¿Ejemplo de ello...?
“Hay muchísimos. Desde la dolarización hasta el Tratado de Libre Comercio con Estados Unidos. Hay medidas fundamentales y de impacto de mediano y largo plazo. Esas medidas deben discutirse porque las implicaciones son sumamente graves. En los últimos 20 años hemos visto una forma de hacer política por imposición, lo cual nos está llevando a que se conviertan en políticas de gobierno y no de Estado. El cambio entonces en este aspecto será radical, porque vamos a dialogar y concertar las medias de política pública”.
Será muy complicado ante la falta de costumbre de concertar...
“Será muy bueno. Aquí hay una crisis acumulada de problemas. A esta crisis se le ha venido una crisis coyuntural derivada de choques externos y en ese sentido, la situación que va encontrar el próximo gobierno es tan complicada que un sector por sí solo no va a poder resolver los problemas de manera seria, a menos que un gobierno se dedique a administrar crisis. Pero si un gobierno quiere hacer cosas distintas necesita concertar y llevar a cabo políticas públicas con gran respaldo social”.
¿Cuál sería el segundo cambio?
“Lo segundo es establecer las prioridades. Para quién gobernar. Mauricio creo que ha sido contundente en decir que va a gobernar para todos los salvadoreños. Ha dicho que a los únicos a los que hay que darles una opción preferencial son a los sectores más pobres y marginados”.
Pero esto siempre se dice...
“Claro, pero ARENA no ha gobernado para los intereses del país, sino en función de élites y grupos, y en ocasión en función de personas”.
¿Cómo va a poder gobernar bien si se afectará a los que han tenido hasta ahora todos los privilegios?
“Precisamente, una de las prioridades será desmantelar la política de privilegios. Esto es una demanda de los mismos empresarios que nos han dado muchos ejemplos. No se trata de quitar los incentivos a los empresarios grandes. No estamos hablando de eso. Sino erradicar esa práctica, dentro del gobierno y fuera de él, de utilizar al Estado para sacar provecho y para tomar ventajas en el mercado frente a otros empresarios”.
Ejemplo...
“Por ejemplo, una licitación del Estado que no se da de manera transparente, sino que se da a un amigo o a un pariente. Esos son privilegios. O ponerle límite a importaciones o exportaciones para beneficiar a una empresa local que tiene nexos con el gobierno. Eso es economía de privilegios”.
¿Pero puede haber acuerdos nacionales en este tema?
“Se puede, hay un ambiente bueno. Recién estuvimos con dos cámaras empresariales y sorprendentemente, en términos positivos, ambas cámaras están proponiendo la necesidad de llegar a pactos nacionales. Lo que pasa que para llegar a ello se necesitan dos condiciones que los gobiernos de ARENA no han tenido. En primer lugar, ser democráticos. Uno está dispuesto a hacer pactos cuando está dispuesto a dialogar, a ceder, tomar en cuenta la opinión de los demás. Pero cuando no se tiene esa convicción y tenés una agenda oculta, los pactos hasta te estorban. Lo otro es poner los intereses nacionales antes de los particulares”.
Siempre habrá conflicto
“Claro, en toda sociedad siempre hay conflictos. Pero ese no es el problema, sino que existan métodos institucionales para redimir esos conflictos. Entonces, hay que crear institucionalidad y una forma metodológica para llegar a acuerdos. Creo que sí se puede. Es más, insisto, los sectores empresariales, profesionales y académicos están pidiendo acuerdos”.
(En próxima entrega Alex Segovia se referirá al tema fiscal)
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Oscar Torres - Filmmaker and Writer - Voces Innocentes
Oscar joins PAS Global. He is supporting our movement and the creation
of this organization.
Gracias Oscar.
Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voces_inocentes
From Satya
December 2005/January 2006
Fighting for Innocence
The Satya Interview with Oscar Torres
Oscar Torres
For most kids, 12 is an awkward age, but for kids in El Salvador during the nation’s civil war, turning 12 was frightening. At this age, boys were forcefully recruited into the government’s army or, with no other choice, were swept into the guerilla forces. Children were separated from their families and became victims of a war they did not start. Based on screenwriter Oscar Torres’s childhood in El Salvador, Innocent Voices, directed by Luis Mandoki, captures the spirit of these children in their last days of innocence.
From the vantage point of an 11—turning 12—year-old boy, the film portrays a community caught in the cross fires between government and guerilla combat. Children cry themselves to sleep at night, hiding under their beds when gunshots fire through their homes. We witness military raids of a school where young boys are abducted into the army. While the film depicts scenes no child should endure, Innocent Voices beautifully portrays these children as children. With the joys of young love, the creativity of childhood games, and the defiance of authority, these children fiercely hold on to their youth. Listening to the banned rebel anthem, “Casas de Carton” (“Cardboard Houses”), and hiding on rooftops evading recruitment, kids subtly reveal their resistance to war and also their innocence. The film has received accolades from numerous film festivals and was Mexico’s submission for the 2005 Academy Awards.
In 1985, Torres fled El Salvador at the age of 14 and came to the U.S., where he was reunited with his family several years later. Writing this film was an emotional personal journey. While the film shares his experiences from El Salvador, Innocent Voices speaks universal truths. The UN estimates more than 300,000 children are used by armies throughout the world. Since children are impressionable, their youth is often exploited to mold the perfect obedient soldier. And wherever there is war, children are vastly and deeply impacted.
For Torres, when it comes to children, there should be no borders, and he is committed to advocating on their behalf. Oscar Torres shared with Sangamithra Iyer his warm, honest, and compelling voice for peace.
What prompted you to write this film about your childhood many years after you left El Salvador?
It was a series of things. [Soon] after September 11, 2001, I heard the song “Casas de Carton,” which is a song my uncle sang to me when I was [a boy], and I think that triggered something in me. There was a sense of war again in my life that I hadn’t felt since I left my country in 1985.
I heard the song again in October, and by that point it was clear to me that I needed to tell the story of this song that had changed my life so much, growing up listening to it in a secret way. It wasn’t that I wanted to tell the story of my life. I had to be convinced and actually open up to that.
And then it became more of a personal journey?
Yeah. Many times, I thought, if I knew [writing about] it was going to get this hard I would have never started. I had little glimpses of [my life] in the original script—the rooftop scenes and us walking with the soldiers—but it wasn’t in depth. People read the script and they kept saying the same thing. We want to know more about the boy—what happens to the boy? The director, Luis Mandoki, was no exception to that.
Young boys hiding on rooftops, evading military recruitment.
Photo still courtesy of Innocent Voices
As someone who was exposed to war at an early age, can you talk about your own journey in healing from these traumas?
I can tell you that talking to you like this wouldn’t have been the same two years ago. I would have already broken down on the phone. Now I don’t break down. The love, heart and soul we all started with are [still] there, but the healing has taken place. Which means I don’t talk to you from a victim point of view anymore. I talk to you as someone who has discovered a lot of power in himself, but not power over anyone. I think the healing is complete in a lot of ways, but I never want to heal completely. I never want to stop being sensitive to it. At the same time, I want to lead a healthy life because I know that in doing so, I can maybe help a little bit further.
The healing process was very hard. The first time I heard the song again, I had such overwhelming feelings with all the memories flashing back. It was an [emotional] roller coaster, tears and crying, panic and anxiety attacks. At that time, I hadn’t connected the two. I thought I was going through some really bad things and stress in my life.
Sometimes I would be okay and all of a sudden I would get this anxiety inside of me, and I could hear the soldiers’ boots marching. I had a lot of anger and fear. I awoke all of this in me when I sat down to write [about it]. Even with Luis, as we were working on the rewriting of the script, there were times that I just got so furious with him pushing me. I didn’t want to tell him about the scene when we were at the river and I was about to shoot that soldier boy. He got really upset and stormed out. He left and I broke down, and then he came back and said ‘okay, tell me about it.’ There I was crying, and I had my laptop and started writing while crying at the same time. That’s how a lot of those scenes [were written]. I feel that the reason why [the film] reaches people is that, in a way, the moment that happened while it was being written and remembered is in those scenes as well.
One of the things you mentioned at a lecture at the Open Society Institute was that while these children are sent to fight and robbed of their innocence, they are also fighting for their innocence. Can you expand on that?
I think we were battling the war with the innocence, with the games we played and the fantasies we created around it. The challenging of curfew, for example. The challenging of recruitment, hiding on those rooftops. We found ways to still be children and use our childlike behavior to combat that and try to keep our innocence alive.
What has the response been to the film so far, in this country and in El Salvador?
The people embrace the film, like nobody has ever seen anything like it. It stayed in theaters for over three months in El Salvador. People found ways to get it, and of course pirated it. While it was still playing in theaters, schools were already playing it to students. Now it has become part of the educational program in [some] schools in El Salvador. Also, in Mexico, some colleges and universities adopted it as part of their Latin American history programs. Now here in the U.S., there are very similar things. I’m doing a lot stuff for schools and colleges in the next few weeks.
Speaking of schools, how do you see the U.S. government and its tactics in recruiting children in our public schools? Do you find parallels with what is going on here and your experiences during your childhood?
Absolutely. [There’s a clause] connected to the No Child Left Behind Act that [allows] army recruiters to have access to telephone numbers and home addresses of children—14, 15, 16 year-olds. They are able to call them and start recruiting at this age. It is a very military era.
I don’t have children yet, but I can imagine what I would feel about the possibility of my child getting recruited to fight in an army. This is happening to so many kids and so many parents. It is a waste of my life to not do something [about child soldiers] and it is a blessing that I have the opportunity to do so.
The film suggests how complicit the U.S. government was in funding and training child soldiers in El Salvador. It makes one wonder how much we are involved with the children presently in conflict around the world?
The Pentagon released a report saying that the number four problem that U.S. soldiers are having is child soldiers. And one of the first U.S. soldiers that went down in Afghanistan was killed by a 14 year-old boy.
It is a very present thing for the U.S., and not only are they refusing to do something about it, they are starting to do the same themselves. It makes you wonder how important it really is for them.
How can people get involved and help the children caught in conflict throughout the world?
Well, in the U.S., they should start here. I think first you start with yourself, your family, and then you can go further to your community, country, and then the world.
I think that if they would just raise their voices against child recruitment in this country, then we can really make some noise in the world. Mothers, for example, can get involved with leavemychildalone.org.
But this country doesn’t take anything personal unless it is happening here. The bottom line is these governments that preach against terrorism, are creating terrorism by going to war. I think war is the laziest and easiest way of governing. It’s easy to take life, but it is not easy to give or maintain a life.
I really question how much we want peace. The countries involved in this don’t really care about peace, they never have. If we really want peace, we have to start young. We have to start with children. And we have to set an example. I learned compassion from my mother’s example. She didn’t teach it to me through words as much as she did with actions—helping a wounded soldier outside of school after they put us in danger at a school shooting. That showed me compassion. I followed that.
How can we help children caught in war to heal?
Love. Somebody needs to have enough love for this child and not give up on them. It took time for me. I opened up to Luis because he had the patience and wanted to provide a place for me to feel safe—to feel that he wasn’t going to use this against me. That is our reaction. We live very defensively after [situations like] this and everything is conflict and enemies. You strike before they strike you. But you [need to] show love and enough patience. It comes from an individual place. One at a time.
When you have a country like the U.S., that has no patience for anything, how are the children here supposed to learn about peace? We have to start with us.
To learn more about the film visit www.innocentvoicesmovie.com. To find out more about child soldiers see www.child-soldiers.org. To help stop military recruitment in U.S. public schools go to www.leavemychildalone.org.
of this organization.
Gracias Oscar.
Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voces_inocentes
From Satya
December 2005/January 2006
Fighting for Innocence
The Satya Interview with Oscar Torres
Oscar Torres
For most kids, 12 is an awkward age, but for kids in El Salvador during the nation’s civil war, turning 12 was frightening. At this age, boys were forcefully recruited into the government’s army or, with no other choice, were swept into the guerilla forces. Children were separated from their families and became victims of a war they did not start. Based on screenwriter Oscar Torres’s childhood in El Salvador, Innocent Voices, directed by Luis Mandoki, captures the spirit of these children in their last days of innocence.
From the vantage point of an 11—turning 12—year-old boy, the film portrays a community caught in the cross fires between government and guerilla combat. Children cry themselves to sleep at night, hiding under their beds when gunshots fire through their homes. We witness military raids of a school where young boys are abducted into the army. While the film depicts scenes no child should endure, Innocent Voices beautifully portrays these children as children. With the joys of young love, the creativity of childhood games, and the defiance of authority, these children fiercely hold on to their youth. Listening to the banned rebel anthem, “Casas de Carton” (“Cardboard Houses”), and hiding on rooftops evading recruitment, kids subtly reveal their resistance to war and also their innocence. The film has received accolades from numerous film festivals and was Mexico’s submission for the 2005 Academy Awards.
In 1985, Torres fled El Salvador at the age of 14 and came to the U.S., where he was reunited with his family several years later. Writing this film was an emotional personal journey. While the film shares his experiences from El Salvador, Innocent Voices speaks universal truths. The UN estimates more than 300,000 children are used by armies throughout the world. Since children are impressionable, their youth is often exploited to mold the perfect obedient soldier. And wherever there is war, children are vastly and deeply impacted.
For Torres, when it comes to children, there should be no borders, and he is committed to advocating on their behalf. Oscar Torres shared with Sangamithra Iyer his warm, honest, and compelling voice for peace.
What prompted you to write this film about your childhood many years after you left El Salvador?
It was a series of things. [Soon] after September 11, 2001, I heard the song “Casas de Carton,” which is a song my uncle sang to me when I was [a boy], and I think that triggered something in me. There was a sense of war again in my life that I hadn’t felt since I left my country in 1985.
I heard the song again in October, and by that point it was clear to me that I needed to tell the story of this song that had changed my life so much, growing up listening to it in a secret way. It wasn’t that I wanted to tell the story of my life. I had to be convinced and actually open up to that.
And then it became more of a personal journey?
Yeah. Many times, I thought, if I knew [writing about] it was going to get this hard I would have never started. I had little glimpses of [my life] in the original script—the rooftop scenes and us walking with the soldiers—but it wasn’t in depth. People read the script and they kept saying the same thing. We want to know more about the boy—what happens to the boy? The director, Luis Mandoki, was no exception to that.
Young boys hiding on rooftops, evading military recruitment.
Photo still courtesy of Innocent Voices
As someone who was exposed to war at an early age, can you talk about your own journey in healing from these traumas?
I can tell you that talking to you like this wouldn’t have been the same two years ago. I would have already broken down on the phone. Now I don’t break down. The love, heart and soul we all started with are [still] there, but the healing has taken place. Which means I don’t talk to you from a victim point of view anymore. I talk to you as someone who has discovered a lot of power in himself, but not power over anyone. I think the healing is complete in a lot of ways, but I never want to heal completely. I never want to stop being sensitive to it. At the same time, I want to lead a healthy life because I know that in doing so, I can maybe help a little bit further.
The healing process was very hard. The first time I heard the song again, I had such overwhelming feelings with all the memories flashing back. It was an [emotional] roller coaster, tears and crying, panic and anxiety attacks. At that time, I hadn’t connected the two. I thought I was going through some really bad things and stress in my life.
Sometimes I would be okay and all of a sudden I would get this anxiety inside of me, and I could hear the soldiers’ boots marching. I had a lot of anger and fear. I awoke all of this in me when I sat down to write [about it]. Even with Luis, as we were working on the rewriting of the script, there were times that I just got so furious with him pushing me. I didn’t want to tell him about the scene when we were at the river and I was about to shoot that soldier boy. He got really upset and stormed out. He left and I broke down, and then he came back and said ‘okay, tell me about it.’ There I was crying, and I had my laptop and started writing while crying at the same time. That’s how a lot of those scenes [were written]. I feel that the reason why [the film] reaches people is that, in a way, the moment that happened while it was being written and remembered is in those scenes as well.
One of the things you mentioned at a lecture at the Open Society Institute was that while these children are sent to fight and robbed of their innocence, they are also fighting for their innocence. Can you expand on that?
I think we were battling the war with the innocence, with the games we played and the fantasies we created around it. The challenging of curfew, for example. The challenging of recruitment, hiding on those rooftops. We found ways to still be children and use our childlike behavior to combat that and try to keep our innocence alive.
What has the response been to the film so far, in this country and in El Salvador?
The people embrace the film, like nobody has ever seen anything like it. It stayed in theaters for over three months in El Salvador. People found ways to get it, and of course pirated it. While it was still playing in theaters, schools were already playing it to students. Now it has become part of the educational program in [some] schools in El Salvador. Also, in Mexico, some colleges and universities adopted it as part of their Latin American history programs. Now here in the U.S., there are very similar things. I’m doing a lot stuff for schools and colleges in the next few weeks.
Speaking of schools, how do you see the U.S. government and its tactics in recruiting children in our public schools? Do you find parallels with what is going on here and your experiences during your childhood?
Absolutely. [There’s a clause] connected to the No Child Left Behind Act that [allows] army recruiters to have access to telephone numbers and home addresses of children—14, 15, 16 year-olds. They are able to call them and start recruiting at this age. It is a very military era.
I don’t have children yet, but I can imagine what I would feel about the possibility of my child getting recruited to fight in an army. This is happening to so many kids and so many parents. It is a waste of my life to not do something [about child soldiers] and it is a blessing that I have the opportunity to do so.
The film suggests how complicit the U.S. government was in funding and training child soldiers in El Salvador. It makes one wonder how much we are involved with the children presently in conflict around the world?
The Pentagon released a report saying that the number four problem that U.S. soldiers are having is child soldiers. And one of the first U.S. soldiers that went down in Afghanistan was killed by a 14 year-old boy.
It is a very present thing for the U.S., and not only are they refusing to do something about it, they are starting to do the same themselves. It makes you wonder how important it really is for them.
How can people get involved and help the children caught in conflict throughout the world?
Well, in the U.S., they should start here. I think first you start with yourself, your family, and then you can go further to your community, country, and then the world.
I think that if they would just raise their voices against child recruitment in this country, then we can really make some noise in the world. Mothers, for example, can get involved with leavemychildalone.org.
But this country doesn’t take anything personal unless it is happening here. The bottom line is these governments that preach against terrorism, are creating terrorism by going to war. I think war is the laziest and easiest way of governing. It’s easy to take life, but it is not easy to give or maintain a life.
I really question how much we want peace. The countries involved in this don’t really care about peace, they never have. If we really want peace, we have to start young. We have to start with children. And we have to set an example. I learned compassion from my mother’s example. She didn’t teach it to me through words as much as she did with actions—helping a wounded soldier outside of school after they put us in danger at a school shooting. That showed me compassion. I followed that.
How can we help children caught in war to heal?
Love. Somebody needs to have enough love for this child and not give up on them. It took time for me. I opened up to Luis because he had the patience and wanted to provide a place for me to feel safe—to feel that he wasn’t going to use this against me. That is our reaction. We live very defensively after [situations like] this and everything is conflict and enemies. You strike before they strike you. But you [need to] show love and enough patience. It comes from an individual place. One at a time.
When you have a country like the U.S., that has no patience for anything, how are the children here supposed to learn about peace? We have to start with us.
To learn more about the film visit www.innocentvoicesmovie.com. To find out more about child soldiers see www.child-soldiers.org. To help stop military recruitment in U.S. public schools go to www.leavemychildalone.org.
Gil Ortega - Serial Entrepreneur - $5 dollars to Millions
Below is the story of a great man whom I have the pleasure to know. He is
Mexican American and is supporting our cause! Bienvenido Gil!
I am both an artist and an entrepreneur. I am the founder of Leads to Wealth, Inc. (LTW). Leads to Wealth has been providing solutions for direct sales companies to prospect and acquire new customers since 2003, by offering customized lead generating services, and training, which are designed to help sales agents manage the complexity of acquiring new customers. I started LTW with only $50 and grew the company to over $12 million in sales within four years. As President and CEO, I built LTW to become one of the largest lead vendors within the direct sales industry.
In February 2007 I was awarded a prestigious and highly competitive business award, the 2007 Entrepreneur of the Year for the San Diego County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SDCHCC). I was honored as the 2007 Entrepreneur of the Year at the annual Iluminada Gala “A Night of Shining Stars,” which is considered one of San Diego’s most celebrated formal business events of the year with over 550 civic, business, and elected leaders in attendance.
In April 2007, on the heels of the Entrepreneur of the Year award, I sold LTW to start a new company. Currently, I am building an innovative advertising network, scheduled to launch in 2008.
Prior to my position at LTW, I was VP of Sales at Pixels3D, a garage start-up 3D software company. I built the company from 62 to 45,000 users within 9 months. Over the next 2 year period, during the dot com boom, I cut my teeth on technology sales and learned to leverage my off-line marketing experience to a new height with the use of the internet. At the end of 2000, I found my self as a dot casualty as Pixels3D went back into the garage.
In late 1995 I started Beyond Profit, my first lead generation company. Beyond Profit was a successful telemarketing based lead generation company I built and sold over a 2 year period of time to pursue Pixels3D.
I started his first business, Chili Productions at the early age of 15 year old. At the time, little did I know, over the next 10 years, Chili Productions would become one of Southern California’s top music and event promotion companies.
Chili Productions helped me learn the art and value of grassroots promotion and marketing early in my career. I am destined to be a life long entrepreneur and intend to develop many new companies in my lifetime.
Today, I balance a successful business life while I pursue my hobby and passion as an artist. I paint and sell my work to raise money for several charities. See RickBliss.com
Within this blog I will attempt to chronicle my life in business. The process I know will take some time to get on track. I’m hoping this writing process will get easier and more fluid as time goes, I think it’s just the natural progression. Thank you for your interest and please let me know you’re here.
All the best,
Gil Ortega
Mexican American and is supporting our cause! Bienvenido Gil!
I am both an artist and an entrepreneur. I am the founder of Leads to Wealth, Inc. (LTW). Leads to Wealth has been providing solutions for direct sales companies to prospect and acquire new customers since 2003, by offering customized lead generating services, and training, which are designed to help sales agents manage the complexity of acquiring new customers. I started LTW with only $50 and grew the company to over $12 million in sales within four years. As President and CEO, I built LTW to become one of the largest lead vendors within the direct sales industry.
In February 2007 I was awarded a prestigious and highly competitive business award, the 2007 Entrepreneur of the Year for the San Diego County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SDCHCC). I was honored as the 2007 Entrepreneur of the Year at the annual Iluminada Gala “A Night of Shining Stars,” which is considered one of San Diego’s most celebrated formal business events of the year with over 550 civic, business, and elected leaders in attendance.
In April 2007, on the heels of the Entrepreneur of the Year award, I sold LTW to start a new company. Currently, I am building an innovative advertising network, scheduled to launch in 2008.
Prior to my position at LTW, I was VP of Sales at Pixels3D, a garage start-up 3D software company. I built the company from 62 to 45,000 users within 9 months. Over the next 2 year period, during the dot com boom, I cut my teeth on technology sales and learned to leverage my off-line marketing experience to a new height with the use of the internet. At the end of 2000, I found my self as a dot casualty as Pixels3D went back into the garage.
In late 1995 I started Beyond Profit, my first lead generation company. Beyond Profit was a successful telemarketing based lead generation company I built and sold over a 2 year period of time to pursue Pixels3D.
I started his first business, Chili Productions at the early age of 15 year old. At the time, little did I know, over the next 10 years, Chili Productions would become one of Southern California’s top music and event promotion companies.
Chili Productions helped me learn the art and value of grassroots promotion and marketing early in my career. I am destined to be a life long entrepreneur and intend to develop many new companies in my lifetime.
Today, I balance a successful business life while I pursue my hobby and passion as an artist. I paint and sell my work to raise money for several charities. See RickBliss.com
Within this blog I will attempt to chronicle my life in business. The process I know will take some time to get on track. I’m hoping this writing process will get easier and more fluid as time goes, I think it’s just the natural progression. Thank you for your interest and please let me know you’re here.
All the best,
Gil Ortega
Monday, September 1, 2008
Welcome Letter
Dear Friends, Business and Professional Associates,
I hope this letter finds you in good health and with ambitious spirits.
The history of our native El Salvador is marked by numerous revolutions and subsequent triumphs that led to the earning of our independence from Spain in 1821. History has documented that Salvadorans are recognized as hard working, resilient and brave individuals. To this day we carry that tradition and we have our predecessors to thank for that. Through their efforts and examples, applicable qualities such as courage, civic pride, strength, and a solid work ethic were exhibited to be inherited by future generations.
In addition to our common ancestry, we share the determination and unfailing passion to succeed in our respective businesses and interests. As Professionals, we direct our time, energy, patience and intellect to reach our prescribed goals. Which ever role you compete in, success is a common thread that connects us all. Our plan of action is to prosper.
With that being said, allow me to take the time to introduce to you as well as share with you some information about outstanding and successful Salvadorans that operate and our a welcomed benefit our community.
I will begin by introducing Marta. I had the pleasure of meeting Marta at a CAFTA briefing at the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce.
Marta is an accomplished individual with impressive credentials that include a Bachelor’s degree from Loyola Mary Mount University (Magna Cum Laude) and a Juris Doctor degree with honors from USC Law School. Marta is currently a partner at the prominent Law Firm of Jeffer, Mangels, Butler and Marmaro, LLP (JMBM).
Santiago Siliezar is an exemplification of an entrepreneur. He allowed his instincts and his risk taking spirit to go against persistent advice to locate his business in the Pico-Union district rather than an area in the west side of Los Angeles. He could have chosen to offer his services in an area that was familiar to him, but instead he invested in a high rent location and opened the doors to his business to clientele that would yield higher profits.
His decision paid enormous dividends. He now operates a successful business in Brentwood, CA and services elite decision makers in the entertainment business and high powered executives.
Another note-worthy person I’d like to introduce to you is Renato Cartagena who came this country with a dream and a vision. Today, he is the Principal Engineer at Disneyland and co-founder of the theme park engineering program at Cal State Long Beach, the only such program in the nation. He is also the CEO of Espino Beach Resort that will be built in Bahia de Jiquilisco in El Salvador.
The afore-mentioned individuals are a minuscule sample of successful Salvadoran-Americans. Accomplished Salvadoran-Americans reside through out the world.
We are an accomplished group of people that hold prestigious positions such as Engineers, Doctors, Scientists, Attorneys, and influential Politicians in this great nation. We our owners of our own struggles, historic events and accomplishments. We are a nation within ourselves.
The primary objective of this letter is to introduce you to the idea of establishing a global network of Salvadorans that will be recognized as the Professional Association de Salvadoreňos. This organization will serve a multitude of purposes. Its central intention is to advance the status and improve and sustain the overall quality of life for Salvadorans around the globe. We will search for innovative ideas and create a plan of action to achieve our goals.
The areas of focus will include, but will not be limited to, education, employment, business, politics, and socio-economic conditions .
I am inviting successful individuals such yourself to construct such an organization. It will take a group of motivated, determined, educated, and accomplished Salvadorans to formulate a blueprint and architect the foundation of this organization.
I welcome your input and thoughts in engineering an organization whose sole purpose will be to improve the quality of life for Salvadorans Americans.
Saludos,
Hugo A. Hernandez
PAS | Global
Nace La Esperanza...Viene el Cambio
3334 E. Coast Hwy, Suite 203
Corona Del Mar, CA USA 92625-2328
email: pas.global08@gmail.com
web: pasglobal.blogspot.com
I hope this letter finds you in good health and with ambitious spirits.
The history of our native El Salvador is marked by numerous revolutions and subsequent triumphs that led to the earning of our independence from Spain in 1821. History has documented that Salvadorans are recognized as hard working, resilient and brave individuals. To this day we carry that tradition and we have our predecessors to thank for that. Through their efforts and examples, applicable qualities such as courage, civic pride, strength, and a solid work ethic were exhibited to be inherited by future generations.
In addition to our common ancestry, we share the determination and unfailing passion to succeed in our respective businesses and interests. As Professionals, we direct our time, energy, patience and intellect to reach our prescribed goals. Which ever role you compete in, success is a common thread that connects us all. Our plan of action is to prosper.
With that being said, allow me to take the time to introduce to you as well as share with you some information about outstanding and successful Salvadorans that operate and our a welcomed benefit our community.
I will begin by introducing Marta. I had the pleasure of meeting Marta at a CAFTA briefing at the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce.
Marta is an accomplished individual with impressive credentials that include a Bachelor’s degree from Loyola Mary Mount University (Magna Cum Laude) and a Juris Doctor degree with honors from USC Law School. Marta is currently a partner at the prominent Law Firm of Jeffer, Mangels, Butler and Marmaro, LLP (JMBM).
Santiago Siliezar is an exemplification of an entrepreneur. He allowed his instincts and his risk taking spirit to go against persistent advice to locate his business in the Pico-Union district rather than an area in the west side of Los Angeles. He could have chosen to offer his services in an area that was familiar to him, but instead he invested in a high rent location and opened the doors to his business to clientele that would yield higher profits.
His decision paid enormous dividends. He now operates a successful business in Brentwood, CA and services elite decision makers in the entertainment business and high powered executives.
Another note-worthy person I’d like to introduce to you is Renato Cartagena who came this country with a dream and a vision. Today, he is the Principal Engineer at Disneyland and co-founder of the theme park engineering program at Cal State Long Beach, the only such program in the nation. He is also the CEO of Espino Beach Resort that will be built in Bahia de Jiquilisco in El Salvador.
The afore-mentioned individuals are a minuscule sample of successful Salvadoran-Americans. Accomplished Salvadoran-Americans reside through out the world.
We are an accomplished group of people that hold prestigious positions such as Engineers, Doctors, Scientists, Attorneys, and influential Politicians in this great nation. We our owners of our own struggles, historic events and accomplishments. We are a nation within ourselves.
The primary objective of this letter is to introduce you to the idea of establishing a global network of Salvadorans that will be recognized as the Professional Association de Salvadoreňos. This organization will serve a multitude of purposes. Its central intention is to advance the status and improve and sustain the overall quality of life for Salvadorans around the globe. We will search for innovative ideas and create a plan of action to achieve our goals.
The areas of focus will include, but will not be limited to, education, employment, business, politics, and socio-economic conditions .
I am inviting successful individuals such yourself to construct such an organization. It will take a group of motivated, determined, educated, and accomplished Salvadorans to formulate a blueprint and architect the foundation of this organization.
I welcome your input and thoughts in engineering an organization whose sole purpose will be to improve the quality of life for Salvadorans Americans.
Saludos,
Hugo A. Hernandez
PAS | Global
Nace La Esperanza...Viene el Cambio
3334 E. Coast Hwy, Suite 203
Corona Del Mar, CA USA 92625-2328
email: pas.global08@gmail.com
web: pasglobal.blogspot.com
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Luis Reyes, Washington D.C. Entrepreneur
Luis is from San Miguel and owns one of the most successful restaurants in the
D.C. area were Senators and high powered executives eat. His full story is coming
soon.
http://www.lauriolplaza.com/
http://www.cactuscantina.com/
President Bush visits Cactus Cantina:
http://www.cactuscantina.com/reviews.html
D.C. area were Senators and high powered executives eat. His full story is coming
soon.
http://www.lauriolplaza.com/
http://www.cactuscantina.com/
President Bush visits Cactus Cantina:
http://www.cactuscantina.com/reviews.html
Rogelio Cervantes - CEO Hotel Beverly Hills El Salvador
A man who has been fighting for change for many years. He founded Urgente Express and has
now built a successful hotel in one of the most prestigious areas of El Salvador, Santa Elena.
His full bio is coming soon.
now built a successful hotel in one of the most prestigious areas of El Salvador, Santa Elena.
His full bio is coming soon.
Pablo Cruz - Lehman Brothers IPO's
Pablo assumes the role of Director in our group. His bio and story is coming soon.
Nikki Orellana - Nikky's Sports
One of the most successful entrepreneurs in the the L.A. area. He owns of the largest soccer apparel stores in the U.S. thru retail and web operations. We will publish is courageous story in the coming weeks and you will find out how he managed to survive a death squad invasion into their home in El Salvador. The intruders were armed with submachine guns, high powered rifles and the three of them were able to hold them off with a .22 caliber revolver. An incredible story of survival from a great human being!
Dr Leonel Flores - Scientist
His bio a story will be coming soon. He has also accepted my invitation to be
the Vice-Chairman of our group.
the Vice-Chairman of our group.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Manuel Garcia - CAL Grad & University of Barcelona
Manuel García
Manuel García es asesor en posicionamiento estratégico y comunicación. A través de un coaching personalizado, Manuel ofrece a empresas herramientas para potenciar la comunicación a nivel empresarial y social. Una lista parcial de clientes incluye: Iberdrola, Dr. Esteve Laboratios, Club Ciudad Diagonal y McDonald’s España.
Manuel es asesor de la Universidad Francisco Gavidia en El Salvador para asuntos internacionales. En esta capacidad, él ha facilitado convenios de cooperación entre la Universidad Francisco Gavidia e instituciones de Estados Unidos, incluyendo la Woodbury University, en Burbank, California.
Manuel es columnista del Diario El Mundo de El Salvador. Él aborda temas de trascendencia para los salvadoreños en el mundo.
Manuel mantiene afiliaciones en Estados Unidos y Latino América, mientras reside en Barcelona, España.
Manuel es Licenciado en Ciencias Políticas por la Universidad de California en Berkeley. El completó el Master de Formación en la Empresa de la Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, España.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Felipe and Carolina Telona - World Dancing Champions- A Salvadoran Mexican Success Story
Carolina & Felipe
CarolinanfelipeATaol.com
Titles
World Mambo Champions
2 Time World Salsa Champions
5 Time American Rhythm Grand Finalists
Current
Theatrical Arts Champions
Argentine Tango Champions
Performing Credentials
Currently Featured Dance Artists on
Seen on PBS
Featured Performers for the Gracie Allen Awards
Featured Performers for the “dancers for Life Tribute” at the
Latin Choreographers for American Express Industrial Film.
Soloists aboard the “Queen Elizabeth 2” Swing Review with Ann Hampton Callaway
Soloists with Peter Nero and the Philly Pops orchestra live at the
Assistant choreographers for Celine Dion Music Video and 2008 World Tour
Our Story
Carolina Orlovsky-Telona and Felipe Telona have been devoting their lives together in developing the ability to touch, move, and inspire both audiences and students of all ages thru the art of dance.
However, it was not until she met Felipe in the basement of a Dance Studio in
A year later,
A 3rd Degree Black Belt, Felipe was offered both a football and baseball scholarship but his heart was set on dancing when he decided to turn professional after only three years of dancing as an Amateur, during which time he won the 1999 Blackpool Latin Formation team title.
He began his professional Career in
William Campos- Real Estate Developer/Designer/Builder/Investor - Luxury Estates/Mansions- A Salvadoran Success Story
William Campos was born in a small town in Usulutan, El Salvador. He came to the U.S. at the
age of 12 with an ambition to succeed and live the American dream. He moved to Downey, CA
in 1986 and put himself through school eventually graduating with a Marketing degree from
Cal State Long Beach.
He took a corporate sales job but quickly realized that he was born to be an Entrepreneur. He started
helping his father who had a small custom painting business. He quickly fell in love with the trade
and decided to get into stucco and other areas of construction.His passion for home building was
born and he decided to start building small homes in Orange County and then decided to bring
business expertise to Downey, CA. where he saw potential for his Craftsmanship.
As the years passed he had the skill and knowledge to pass all of the licensing as a General Contractor/
Builder. Four years ago he started building Estates in Downey and financing the projects himself.
Each Estate/Mansion is personally supervised by him and he spares no expense to make sure
that they are a work of perfection, beauty, and master craftsmanship.
I am including a link for the latest home that he has built…
William is 35 Years old, he is an Eligible Bachelor, he has never been married and does not have
any kids. In the near future he will venture to other Affluent areas of Los Angeles.
Jose Renato Cartagena- Principal Engineer Disneyland - A Salvadoran Success Story
Jose Renato Cartagena came to this country with a vision and determination not to be a statistic. He arrived like most of the immigrants of the 1980’s with
very few material possessions but with a strong desire to achieve the American dream.
He put himself through Cal State Long Beach eventually earning a Bachelors in Engineering and postgraduate stadies in Control Systems.
Renato has accomplished the following:
· Principal Engineer at
them that a Latino/Salvadoran had something to do with the new recently opened and existing attractions. He has been with Disney for over 20+ years and leads
the Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in the A&FE department at the Disneyland Resort.
· Registered Professional Engineer in the State of
· Certificate in Quality Management from
· Co-founder of the Theme Park Engineering Program at Cal State Long Beach, will be the only of program of it’s kind in the nation.
· Chairman, Advisory & Development Committee in the Electrical Department at
· Energy Conversion, LLC – Co-Founder, Solar Energy and Energy Efficiency Systems one of very few Latinos/Salvadorans in this field.
· CEO/Co-Founder – Espino Beach Resort, to be a Luxury Hotel in
· In his spare time he has developed/built residential properties in Cerritos/Artesia,CA.
Dr. Sonia Molina - UCLA/Harvard - Oral Surgeon - A Salvadoran Success Story
Sonia Molina, D.M.D., M.P.H. serves as President of Molina Endodontics, a dental office specializing in root canals and servers as President of NassillonDevelopment Inc., a company specializing in real estate development in Southern California. Additionally, she is a well respected clinical lecturer in the dental community as well as an active community leader.
Fleeing political turmoil in
Dr. Molina attended
Dr. Molina has been involved in various community based organizations. Most notably, she was a founding member of The Salvadoran American Leadership and Educational Fund (SALEF). This non-profit, non-partisan, civic organization is committed to expanding the political and economic contributions of the Salvadoran and other Central American communities in the
She is active on the Board of the Los Angeles Dental Society, Latin American Dental Association, Harvard Alumni Association, Women Dental Society. Additionally, she is a commissioner on the Los Angeles Health Authority Commission. At the state level, she is currently on the California Dental Board, and is a house delegate, as well as a legislative representative for the California Dental Association. Dr. Molina has served as president of the
Dr. Molina has received various awards and acknowledgements for her accomplishments and community involvement. Univision, KMEX 34 has named her el “Orgullo Hispano”; Telemundo, KVEA 52 has honored her as the “Hispanic Business Salute 2000”. She has also received the “Faculty of the Year” by the UCLA Endodontic Department, and the “Woman of the Year” by the City of
Dr. Molina is married to H. Francisco Leal, Principal Partner, Leal & Dominguez LLP. They have two Daughters Marcela and Andrea and reside in the City of
CURRICULUM VITAE
SONIA MOLINA, D.M.D., M.P.H.
EDUCATION
Postdoctoral Endodontics, 1992
General Practice Residency Program, 1990
Boston, MA
D.M.D., 1989
Boston, MA
M.P.H., 1989
Biomedical Sciences, B.A., 1983
EXPERIENCE
Molina Endodontics President 11/92 – Present
Suite: 103
Nassillon Development Inc, President 1999 – Present
Department of Endondontics
Licensed Practitioners Clinic Staff Dentist 8/88 – 5/89
Harvard Health Professions Program Cell Biology Instr. 6/88 – 8/88
United Concordia Consultant 8/98 – Present
RESEARCH
Experimental Studies of the Application of the Excimer Laser on Dental Hard Substances.
Research Sponsor: Dr. Chutima Mangkornkarn, Program Director
Post Doctoral Endodontics
Longitudinal Study of the Presence of Fluorosis in School Children in Non-Fluoridated Communities.
Research Sponsor: Dr. Paul DePaola, Assistant Clinical Professor
A Study of Hispanic Versus Non-Hispanic Women: Attitudes and Practice of Oral Health.
Research Sponsor: Myron Allukian, Director
Bureau of Community of Dental Programs, 7/87 – 5/88.
Summer Research Fellow
APPOINTMENTS
Firebaugh Free Children’s Dental Clinic, Board of Directors, 2004
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
SALEF, Chair, Board of Directors, 1997-2003
California Dental Association, Judge of student’s research
Latin American Dental Association, Board Member
Clinica Monsenor Romero, Past Member, Board of Directors
Harvard Alumni Association, Member, Regional Admissions Interviewer
Latin Business Association, Past Member
Woman’s Dental Society, Past Treasurer
HONORS
“Women of the Year”, 2007
International Association of Salvadoran Woman
“Women of Distinction Award”, 2007
Office of the Speaker Fabian Nunes
“Business Service Award”, 2005
National Latina Business Women’s Association
“Salvadoran of the year Award”, 2005
Salvadoran American Leadership Educational Fund
“Entrepreneurial Achievement Award”, 2005
“Orgullo Hispano”, 2001
Univision, KMEX 34
“Hispanic Business Salute”, 2000
Telemundo, KVEA 52
“Faculty of the Year”
The UCLA Endodontic Department, 1999
“Scientific Award”
Indian Dental Association, 1998
“Special Contribution”
Women Dentist Association
“Woman of the Year”
City of
“Outstanding Achievement in Dentistry”
“Outstanding Contribution”
“
American Association of Public Health Dentistry”
Student Merit Awards Competition.
“Crusade Scholar”
United
National Hispanic Scholarship
Kellogg Foundation Fellowship
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Country of Origin:
Immigrated to the
Bilingual Fluent in Spanish and English
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