talk

These days the latest Olympic scandal is a print ad for a courier company, official sponsor of the Spanish Basketball team, where Spain’s Olympic basketball team players appear stretching the skin on either side of their eyes for an Asian slant with sheepish grins on their faces. That add seems to say “look out Chinese people, here we come!”
The two full-page ads have been running since August in the Spanish sports newspaper Marca. Nobody in Spain noticed anything “inappropriate” until a British newspaper showcased it yesterday.

“Spain’s Olympic basketball teams have risked upsetting their Chinese hosts by posing for a pre-Games advert making slit-eyed gestures.” Wrote Sid Lowe for The Gaurdien. “The failure to recognise the potential consequences is striking in the light of the problems Spain has had with issues of race…”

I am sure the Creatives behind the campaign had no intentions of offend anyone with this ad, nor could they distinguish any offense in it.
It’s an interesting cultural contrast, which is worth examining. continue reading “The Un-PC basketball team”

Wellness is the new big American obsession. It speaks to our country’s hunger for continued youthfulness, focus and purpose as different things continue to exert strong pressure on our personal, family and work lives. We’re frankly all a little bit stressed over many things, including the economy, the state of the world, and the environment.

And while technology helps us to catch up by organizing us a bit more, keeping up with the growing base of gadgetry can also add to the worries. As a result we desperately need some space and time to meditate and take care of ourselves. Welcome to America’s heightened search for balance.

This search for the ‘better self’ was begun by Oprah in the late eighties and has increased over the years. Our quest for calm, ironically, is coming at a time when Americans are forced to work and try harder to keep up with the rest of the world. The Asians are kicking our butts in terms of economic growth, and the Europeans and their stronger Euro are putting a break on our ability to enjoy foreign travel. No wonder we’re looking for an outlet to let off some steam.

But we’re looking for a little bit more than just relaxation; we’re also looking for values and meaning. This feeling was drastically marked by the catastrophic impact on our collective identity after September 11th. continue reading ““I Feel Good” : America’s Wellness Revolution”

As Raul Castro continues to introduce new reforms in Cuba, he is slowly evolving the political ideology of a country that has been Communist for too many decades. We all have the right to pursue life, liberty and happiness in the United States. Although we take it for granted, we are rewarded for our entrepreneurial spirit and our abilities in every aspect of our life. What if someone took away your ability to better yourself or certain aspect of your life?

The equal pay system has been in place in Cuba since 1959. Cuban workers have been earning the same wage for decades with no incentive to excel due to everyone earning the same wage regardless of performance. It is no surprise that Cubans have allowed a government to oppress them for close to 50 years at home, at work and in all aspects of their lives with little resistance.

There is hope! Cuban officials hope to reverse a stagnant economy by adopting a new wage system that will reward workers with a minimum 5% bonus for meeting performance goals and their salaries will have no set ceiling. We will truly see the entrepreneurial spirit of a people that have been oppressed for so long personified in the improved production and services that Cuba can offer in this modern global economy.

What difference does 5% make on a relatively poor society? A new wage system will open the window for improved human rights conditions. That window will slowly become the door for a more democratic Cuban society.

At an Obama rally in Detroit, Michigan last week two Muslim women wearing traditional religious head coverings were asked to sit elsewhere so that they would not appear in the background of any photographs taken by the media. Shimaa Abdelfadeel and Hebba Aref, like many other Arab-Americans, may be getting the cold shoulder from a campaign that talks about unity and bringing together people from all walks of life. The Obama campaign has visited many temples and churches reaching out to all types of religious constituencies. He has even visited small Cuban Jewish communities in South Florida. So where’s the fist pound or the Obama horizon for Arab-Americans who are looking for the same types of political reforms as most Americans today?

It was a great public relations move by the Obama campaign to have Mr. Barack Obama personally call and apologize to these women, but wouldn’t we expect that type of apology from anyone with a publicist. How about a presidential candidate? It is the right move of course. In the end, the Obama campaign volunteers who refused to allow these women to sit behind the stage during Obama’s speech were likely just following the tone and orders set by Mr. Obama or his senior advisers. There is obviously some caution with the Obama campaign affiliating themselves too closely with the Muslim and Arab community.

As a Democrat and a former Hillary supporter, I continuously wonder if a two year senator from Illinois has the experience to lead this great country. Is this campaign of change for real or just a slogan created by the great David Axelrod? I for one will vote for substance over style everyday of the week, thus I remain undecided until November.

Over the past few years the cost of clothing has not increased at the rate of inflation, but it looks like the tide is finally turning. From the credit crunch here at home and in the West, the rising costs of raw materials, surging oil prices with no cap in sight and the soaring price of food; the clothing industry is collapsing. So what does the price of oil have to do with my designer jeans?

Well, most synthetic fibers used in clothing are made of, you guessed it, oil. Soaring oil prices are making it difficult for manufacturers to operate their factories and cover the costs of shipping to foreign markets. The wages paid to factory workers are also increasing at a steady rate, especially in developing countries like China and India.

Food shortages are being reported all over the world as increased amounts of rice are being used to create ethanol for fuel. Subsequently, food prices have shot have shot up in response to shortages and a surge in crop prices. Fertilizer costs are also soaring, adding to the costs of raw materials used in the production of clothing. The credit crunch at home and in the West is only adding to the squeeze as low-margin clothing manufacturers are finding it harder and harder to turn a profit.

Consumers should get ready for clothing prices to follow suit as importers are faced with greater overhead costs. They will either have to raise prices for the clothes they make or go under - which in turn will reduce the supply. For consumers in Europe and the U.S. the outcome is crystal clear; prepare to pay more for clothes in years to come. I can kiss my discretionary purchases good-bye.

Ok, so with all thats been going on in the democratic party, i couldn’t resist one political rant.If Barack Obama wants to make a transformative impact on the politics of this country, he will start with his choice in Vice President. This choice will say a lot about him. Whether he’s truly seeking someone who will complement him ideologically and otherwise to help win over those that do not trust him. Whether he can stand up to the strong enclaves of power within his own party and look to what’s really right for him, his team, and the country at whole.Hillary Clinton is a brilliant woman, a strong leader and a good public servant, but Hillary Clinton is not the right VP choice for Barack Obama. Even though this “dream team” may unite the party for a moment, chances are great that it will fraction it further in the long run.And at the end of the day, it’s not just the democratic vote Barack needs. He needs the independent vote, the vote of people who are pro-family but are concerned about gas prices, the economy; the vote of antiwar Republicans that are upset with their party. He needs to show that he understands their moral concerns, and can bridge and foster dialogue in areas where more is needed.This two party system must evolve with the needs of the country, and Barack can champion that evolution with a solid if controversial ticket that truly showcases a solid team that can lead the country, not just half the country.

When a reporter El Universal called me up to interview me for the 99th anniversary edition of the paper I was flattered. I’ve been in this country so long, most of my Venezuelan friends consider me “Gringa” and though I’m a proud co-founder and CCO of the vox collective, I can’t really say that I’ve done anything that deserved this kind of special recognition from my country of birth. This left me thinking, what could i do for my paternal country. How could I best serve Venezuela from my unique position on the outside. Could others do the same with out becoming some sort of partisan group with a political agenda? I believe it is possible to do good without serving a politically polarizing agenda. I believe sustainable positive change be fostered by actively pooling together the right resources, be it limited to social services and communication arts. I’ll be spinning my wheels to see what i can do on this front. If you have an opinion on the subject or would like to get actively involved in “doing good” for Venezuela with out a political agenda feel free to contact me at sjaramillo@thevoxcollective.com

http://www.eluniversal.com/aniversario/99/99a6_art_susan-jaramillo_28A1538305.shtml

Aaahhh, nothing like a fresh sex scandal to get Americans involved in “public life”, or more appropriately, in someone else’s private life.

The recent news surrounding Governor Spitzer’s shenanigans have had amazing resonance and omnipresence in the last few days. I suddenly started asking myself why this affair was so present in my mind, and realized that it is because we are fairly being bombarded with news on it. Now of course, Spitzer’s transgression is undeniably of public importance because:

1. He is a public figure known for his valiant efforts to battle prostitution rings, who has now completely invalidated and ridiculed his own efforts.

2. He might have been using campaign money to buy prostitutes.

3. The criminalization of prostitution continues to be a controversial issue.

However, other than that, I do not see how his infidelity is of anyone’s concern, except for his own and his family’s. What really mystifies me is not so much the reaction to Spitzer, but the way “Kristen”, the last high-priced prostitute he was reported to have met with, has been projected in the media. I don’t want to make any moral judgments here, because what this girl does with her body is really her own business. I am, however, puzzled that a woman’s choice to prostitute herself could become a reason for her glorification and upheaval.

The last time I checked, selling your body was not a trait to be admired, much less a passport to stardom and fame. It seems, though, that as of late, sleeping around and exposing private parts is enough to put you on a pedestal along with the Paris Hiltons of the world. “Kristen”, an aspiring singer, will not attain fame through talent, but, incredibly, by sleeping with important men. Yey for feminism. Meanwhile, in the midst of all this, there are so many other minor, unimportant things happening in the world, like deaths in Palestine and frisky South Americans getting into disputes.

But hey, why would the media cover stories like those when they can dish out tabloid-worthy material on one hell of an expensive gal pal.

There are few presidents that can act as flamboyantly as our dearest Hugo Chavez. Last Sunday, during his program Aló Presidente, Chavez declared in classic Chavez style: “Mr. Defense Minister, move me ten battalions of tanks to the border immediatelly. Send tanks and military aviation”.

All this after Colombia’s military had ventured a mile into Ecuador on Saturday to kill the number two FARC leader Raul Reyes . It could actually be a sketch from SNL if it weren’t true: President X gets mad at President Y for going into President Z’s country and killing a guerilla leader from country Y.

Hard to follow? That is what makes Garcia Marquez a genius, he takes every day life from Latin America and shares our craziness with the rest of the civilized world. Makes for excellent drama and magic realism.

Both Uribe and Chavez suffer from macho egos but neither can afford an armed conflict, still, it seems Latin America is undergoing a escalating arms race. Political tensions are on the rise day by day with commentaries from Chavez such as: “President Uribe is a criminal, not only a liar, he is a gangster – a paramilitary that leads a terrorist State. He is a criminal, that leads a band of criminals at the Presidential Palace”. Strange choice of words coming from Chavez… I guess it takes one to know one.

Our very mixed group includes both Colombians and Venezuelans living in close quarters, I wonder what this conflict should mean for us. Should we send a battalion to the creative team? We could bombard them with paper planes flying through the office. Maybe close our PR department and send our account executive back to her country as has been done with the embassy staff?

As tensions run high during this ridiculous situation, our only recourse is to laugh laugh laugh. We have to remember we all speak the same language, eat the same food, dance to the same music, have the same background and prefer a cold beer at the beach on a slow day than to get up in arms. No matter how ‘bravo’ a pueblo we are – the ‘rumba’ comes first.

As of February 24^th Fidel Castro is no longer the president of Cuba. Can you hear the chants? “Cuba si, Castro no!” “Cuba si, Castro no!” He has stepped aside and let his younger brother Raul assume the title of “America’s largest thorn in the side of democracy”. While the United States hopes that Raul Castro paves the way for more liberal reforms, certain prominent figures like Felipe Perez Roque (a longtime confidant of Fidel Castro) feel that Raul is merely Fidel the 2^nd. I, like many Cuban Americans, beg to differ.

In the interim period that Fidel the 2^nd has held office there were signs of hope that this regime may be one of hope and reform for the Cuban people. Raul has sought the opinions of his countrymen on Cuba’s high unemployment and stagnant economy. He has acknowledged that the $19 a month government wages do not satisfy basic human needs for an individual, so one can only imagine families trying to survive on the same income. Fidel the 2^nd himself has commented on Cuba’s inevitable transition from a communist country to an evolved form of socialism with the possibility of democracy on the horizon.

So how has the United States of America responded to hints of progress? The Bush administration has classified Raul Castro as “Fidel Lite” which means that the nearly five-decade U.S. embargo of Cuba will remain in place for now. I, like many Cuban Americans, dream of the day when trade with Cuba is not a dream but a reality. Trade will not only improve their economic well being but with favorable regulation may balance out the ridiculous trade deficits that we are currently experiencing in this country. The United States should be a catalyst for change, not an oppressor to the oppressed.