Videos – Medellin Living

Un Paso Hacia La Paz

Dave — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 12:00:32 +0000

“Sixty Colombian artists from around the country on Tuesday launched the song “Un paso hacia la paz” (A step towards peace) in an attempt to promote peace and end the country’s 50-year-long armed conflict.

Carlos Vives, Juanes, Andrea Echeverry (Aterciopelados) and Andres Cepeda are among the artists who recorded the song as part of the “Soy Capaz” (I Am Able) campaign.” — Colombia Reports

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WSJ: Is Colombia the Next Global Tech Hotspot?

Dave — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 12:00:46 +0000

Source: Wall Street Journal

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Veo tus Sueños (I See Your Dreams)

Dave — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 12:54:41 +0000

When I was a little kid living in New York, I use to play in a soccer league every year.

I can’t recall if it was my idea, or my parent’s, but it was fun. Some years we’d lose every game, and one shining year we won them all. Either way, there was always a trophy waiting for each player after the last game.

Growing up in the United States during the ’80s and ’90s, every sport seemed more popular than soccer.

But my country was the exception to a worldwide fascination with the sport. As an adult, I’ve since traveled through more than 50 countries, many of them in the developing world, and I can safely say soccer is the one sport uniting countries and cultures more than any other.

Fields are built everywhere, from the poorest nations in Asia and Africa, to the richest of western Europe.

I’ve watched kids at sunset on the beaches of Belize, using driftwood to mark goal posts, play with as much vigor as Lionel Messi and FC Barcelona taking on Atlético Madrid at Camp Nou.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Brazil’s Ronaldinho, Colombia’s Falcao, England’s Wayne Rooney. These are the living legends of today.

Despite the odds of reaching superstar status, soccer gives kids around the world a reason to dream.

With the world’s biggest soccer event approaching this week, Samsung is here to fuel the excitement even further.

In Samsung’s latest campaign, entitled ‘I See Your Dreams’, the brand presents an uplifting video encouraging the children of the world to dream of soccer.

With the brand’s very own song ‘I See Your Dreams’ setting the background, the video epitomizes the beauty of life’s ups and downs.

South Africa’s “Drakensburg Boys Choir” were selected to voice the track, being composed of a multi-racial group of children; they reach out to the youth of our world no matter where they may reside.

Within the video we see soccer as the personification of a child’s best friend. Wherever in the world; children take the ball with them, they play with it, laugh with it, and even experience the joys of their birthdays with it.

Samsung has captured the essence of the meaning of the game to people worldwide stating: “It’s not about where soccer takes them, it’s about how soccer lets them dream”.

With the journey being taken to Brazil this Summer, this video takes us back to our childhood and remind us that the beauty of the game is embodied in our youthful dreams.

I recommend watching it in full screen mode.

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This is a sponsored article.

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A Miracle Called Medellín (City for Life)

Dave — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 12:00:00 +0000

“This video shows the social and urban transformation of Medellin, Colombia´s second largest city. The video was part of the presentation of Anibal Gaviria Correa (mayor of Medellin) at the World Urban Forum 2014. Today, the current and future city project sees Medellin as a City for Life. You can watch it in this video.”

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Colombia Explained: The FARC

Dave — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 13:00:00 +0000

This is a 12-minute history of the FARC, who have waged civil war in Colombia for the last 50 years, and are currently in peace talks with the government.

President Santos is banking on the peace process for his re-election this year, but there are a lot of powerful forces who’d rather see the war continue for idealogical and/or financial reasons.

This is also the first video produced by Colombia Reports, Colombia’s largest English news source. They’re looking for feedback in an effort to make improvements in their future videos.

What do you think? How’d they do with this first one?

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Medellin In Translation (Pilot)

Dave — Thu, 21 Nov 2013 19:00:00 +0000

This is a pilot video for a potential new program about Medellin. Andrew Gold, the presenter, reached out to me to see if I’d share it.

Check it out, and let him know what you think in the Comments here, or on YouTube.

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Three Riders

Dave — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 13:00:00 +0000

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Scopolamine: Dangers of the Devil’s Breath in Colombia

Dave — Tue, 15 Oct 2013 12:00:00 +0000

I’m regularly asked about potential scams that can affect tourists to Medellin and Colombia. I always respond the same, that common street crime (pickpockets, robberies) are the greatest threat to the average visitor.

But, there’s another more insidious danger called Scopolamine, known colloquially as the “Devil’s Breath.”

While Colombia’s unfortunate reputation is built on cocaine, by and large that’s a recreational drug. If you’re a tourist who doesn’t do it, then you needn’t worry about it getting into your system.

That’s not the case with scopolamine. This odorless, tasteless drug derived from an abundant plant is similar in some ways to Rohypnol, also know as “roofies” or the “date rape drug.”

Thieves and prostitutes in Colombia use it to drug their victims, most often for the purpose of robbery, but sexual assault is also a possibility.

Because the drug, when given at the proper dosage, allows the person to remain conscious and talking, it’s possible for the thieves to effectively kidnap the victim, and have him/her empty out their ATM accounts, and/or home of valuables.

The next day, the victim may not remember anything of the encounter, which means any official incident statistics are A LOT lower than actual cases.

A US Department of State report from March 4, 2011 states the following:

One common and particularly dangerous method that criminals use in order to rob a victim is through the use of a variety of drugs. The most common has been the drug Scopolamine.

Unofficial estimates indicate there are approximately 50,000 Scopolamine incidents in Colombia per year. Scopolamine can render a victim unconscious for 24 hours or more. In large doses, it can cause respiratory failure and even death.

It is most often administered in liquid or powder form in foods and beverages, however, in powder form, it can also be blown into a target’s face. The majority of these incidents occur in night clubs and bars, and usually men, perceived to be wealthy, are targeted by young, attractive women.

To avoid becoming a victim of Scopolamine, one should never accept food or beverages offered by strangers or new acquaintances or leave food or beverages unattended. Victims of Scopolamine or other drugs should seek immediate medical attention.

The video above, released by Vice in 2008, brought the danger of scopolamine to light.

In Colombia, based on what I’ve read, its use is more common in Bogotá than Medellin or other parts of the country. People traveling or living in Bogotá need to exercise extra caution, but I suggest we all stay aware.

I personally know of one person who I believe was drugged with scopolamine in Medellin, and suspect another friend experienced the same in a different city.

Unfortunately, unless you go straight to the hospital, and get toxicology reports, I don’t know that there’s a definitive way to prove scopolamine was used, but the hallmark effects are the same.

Waking up the next day, unaware of what happened to you. You have probably been robbed of your valuables, either on your person, and/or at the place you’re staying. If not, you may have been lucky. The dose might not have been strong enough, or you potentially escaped your captors.

More recent coverage of scopolamine includes articles on the Huffington Post, Global Post, and Daily Mail.

Do you suspect you or someone you know has been affected by scopolamine?

If so, please share your story below. In this instance, it’s OK to use a fake name, or comment anonymously.

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Travelocity’s Let’s Roam Colombia

Dave — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Back in late July, Travelocity’s Courtney Scott and crew arrived in Colombia to shoot new episodes of their web program, Let’s Roam.

They began in Cartagena, and then flew to Medellin to catch the end of Colombiamoda, before moving on to the coffee region, and ultimately, Bogotá.

Each week since the start of September, they’ve released a new episode from Let’s Roam Colombia on their YouTube page, and I’m thrilled to have been featured in this week’s episode from Medellin.

In it, Courtney learns to dance a little salsa in a studio, before moving on to Dulce Jesus Mio.

Below is the Colombiamoda episode, and further down one on La Feria de las Flores and a charity called Angeles de Medellin.

If the runway show looks a little familiar, it’s because as luck would have it, I attended the same one!

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Longboarding

Dave — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 12:00:00 +0000

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