English: Derived from the French surname Chauvin, which was derived from chauve “bald”. The surname was borne by Jean Chauvin (1509-1564), a theologian from France who was one of the leaders of the Protestant Reformation. His surname was Latinized as Calvinus (based on Latin calvus “bald”) and he is known as John Calvin in English. It has been used as a given name in his honour since the 19th century. (Behindthename.com)

Continuing on with our Did you know…Tweets, here are the latest from @parishideaways

Did you know…Boiled hedgehog tastes similar to wild rabbit – and was a common dish in Paris in the 16th century.

Did you know…the Eiffel Tower ‘grows’ in Summer due to heat expansion, making it taller, vice versa in the Winter.

Did you know…in Paris you are never more than 400 meters (1/4 mile) away from a Metro (subway) station.

Did you know…there are more dogs in Paris than there are children. Approx dog population – 300,000

Did you know…Chauvinism (extreme loyalty to group) comes from Nicola Chauvin, a soldier in Napolean’s army who was fanatically loyal.

Some day during the past week marked the one year anniversary of my arrival in Chauvin, LA. I can’t actually recall the specific date. According to my first blog post after arriving here, I said that I had arrived 11 days earlier. If the post on September 28th was correct, then I guess I arrived on the 17th since 28 minus 11 is 17. But since WordPress goes by Greenwich Mean Time for upload times, I might have actually made that post on the 27th, which would mean that I arrived on the 16th because 27 minus 11 is 16. But, then again, I stated that I only thought that I had arrived 11 days earlier.

You’d think I would have written this momentous occassion down somewhere. Oh wait, I did. I was keeping a journal of all the crazy things I experienced, like the giant pig running down the middle of the debris strewn highway straight at my car and almost hitting a downed telephone pole to avoid it. And seeing and smelling the dead pig in the bayou that didn’t survive the flood waters. And seeing televisions in trees. And the old Bayou People talking in Cajun French about the crazy Yankee girl unloading semi trucks of supplies. And shoveling seven inches of mud out of flooded homes.  And being scared that the alligator that people saw a few days earlier in the field behind where I was staying in a borrowed RV from Idaho or Texas or someplace would eat my dog. And driving across a road collapsing in the water in order to help tarp roofs and gut out homes damaged by wind and high water. And eating fried alligator for the first time and deciding that it was really, really good and hoping that maybe it was the gator that people saw in the field behind where I was staying in a borrowed RV from Idaho or Texas or someplace. And hundreds of other amazing, tragic, humorous, crazy things. But long story short, my laptop got completely wiped out about three weeks in to this adventure and I lost everything. Yes, I do know that I should have backed everything up, but I barely had time to sleep in those first few weeks following the devastation of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, let alone back up my computer.

So let’s just say I marked my first anniversary on the bayou somewhere between September 15th and September 18th. But I guess I can’t really say that I “marked” it if I don’t actually know when it was. Anyway, I thought I would spend some time sharing the wisdom I have gained during this past year (give or take a few days). But unfortunately, my brain is completely fried after helping with three Bayou Bash fundraising parties in two days for the local kids and I need to hit the shower so I can help out with two more today. So for now, let’s just say that I am probably the most blessed person I know to have had the opportunity to meet the most amazing people I have met and experience the most amazing experiences I have experienced. Wouldn’t have traded one minute for anything in the world . And here’s hoping for another amazing year, minus shoveling mud and tarping roofs and gutting homes and crying with people who no longer have homes.

I’ve had the opportunity to photograph some unbelievably beautiful and amazing things during the past year, but this is my favorite. Most people probably wouldn’t give this photograph a second glance. Technically, it’s not a particularly great picture. The lighting isn’t too good. It’s not framed well. One of the subjects has her eyes closed. But to me, this photo is priceless. And every time I look at it, tears of joy and sadness stream down my face.

Le programme du Off des Rencontres d’Arles est très divers: on a déjà évoqué ici les galeries “amateurs” ou “pros” dont une partie se trouve un peu en marge et ne figure dans aucun programme. On y trouve aussi des individuels qui font en général un peu mieux que des amateurs (même si certains le sont) mais qui pourraient rester sur Flickr. A ce titre, je n’ai pas jugé utile de mettre des illustrations et le seul photographe qui sort du lot a un site web en flash

Les deux premiers sont vraiment Off (inscrits nulle part). William Ropp (au 5 rue du séminaire) montre des portraits de femmes africaines, comme du fusain, de belles photos comme on en voit beaucoup aussi il faut bien le dire, avec bien sûr un livre à vendre. Il y a avait un autre lieu mystère, c’est celui occupé rue des Lices (rien que ça) par Jean et Victor Picon (29 et 19 ans) où le jeune Victor présentait des photos choisies par on ne sait qui comme représentatives de leur vision de “demain”. Mouais, bof. Je ne sais pas combien leur a coûté la location de l’espace mais ils auraient pu viser plus modeste comme lieu. Il est vrai qu’en googlant on découvre un certain goût pour les paillettes (Cannes, Jardins de Bagatelle,…). Il y avait aussi le travail de Arnaud Lajeunie (24 ans), une “compilation”,  donc un peu en vrac (ça se laisse voir ici). Le lendemain ils avaient ajouté un panneau mentionnant Guillaume Chauvin et Remi Hubert (le reportage bidonné à des fins “artistiques” que Paris Match a pris pour un vrai). A oublier et gageons que ce sera vite fait.

C’est une tout autre impression qui se dégage du travail plus mature de Gilles Gal (4 rue de la roquette) qui nous offre des paysages en format panorama de Beauduc, poétiques et vaporeux.

Au PCF (eh oui, il ne faut pas être sectaire) au 1 rue Portagnel on trouve six photos de l’élue communiste de Bordeaux, Natalie Victor-Retali (série désapparences – son site ici). Si vous êtes gentil comme moi et même pas membre, on vous offrira quand même des gâteaux et de l’eau, ils sont sympa les camarades Le plus intéressant c’est peut-être de gravir l’escalier (du 16ème siècle m’a-t-on dit) pour trouver l’expo d’étudiants farceurs autour … d’une gommette rouge: c’est une super idée car la salle est vide sauf la gommette rouge au mur et un petit texte affiché. Le texte affiché peut faire penser à un tract et le rouge de la gommette peut évoquer la lutte ce qui est marrant sur le site du PCF et c’est vrai aussi que la gommette (rouge) indique une vente réussie d’une œuvre dans une galerie, autre clin d’œil au monde marchand et capitaliste, tout indiqué pour le PCF. Et puis les plus intellos verront là comme une suite à l’expo sur les “vides” à Beaubourg Le site est des farceurs est ici.

Circa (2 rue de la roquette) vend plutôt des objets anciens et de créateurs mais présentait le travail de Jordi Cuxart. Une des personnes présentes semblait se gausser d’avoir mouché un visiteur qui s’interrogeait sur la notoriété de l’auteur en lui indiquant que Jordi Cuxart avait été exposé au MoMa (où je ne sais quelle institution muséale prestigieuse américaine). C’est possible quoi qu’étonnant mais ce qui est sûr en tout cas c’est que Jordi Cuxart est inconnu de ArtNet et de ArtPrice: tout est donc dit quant à sa notoriété. Son travail représente un danseur noir sur fond noir (série homenaje al negro), un travail assez convenu.

Et vogue la galère (13 rue Molière) montrait des photos colorées de nuit de Richard b. Dupuy (série milky way) avec les lumières qui filent en raison d’une pose longue. C’est vu et revu cent fois même si l’effet coloré produit est agréable à voir.

La Galerie de poche (27 rue des porcelets) qui est vraiment minuscule et se compose de deux, euh, placards, montrait le travail de Dana et Stéphane Maitec (séries Mémoires d’un dandy et Les pinceaux de Ben-Ami Koller) dont le site web est vraiment pro et se trouve ici. C’est dans cet article le seul travail qui se détache. Visitez leur site web et passez les voir car c’est jusqu’au 15 septembre a priori. Les deux séries n’ont rien en commun et permettent de voir à la fois une caricature de dandy dans un style bling-bling éclatant avec force paillettes et “beautiful people” dans un univers très mode flashy et vaguement décadent (5 tirages géants un peu à l’étroit) et 4 photos hypersobres de pinceaux sur fond noir qui invitent à la méditation et à la réflexion. Les deux photographes sont installés à Paris. Dans les “individuels”, c’est l’expo à ne pas rater.

les collegues ont sorti la V2 de snoupix http://www.snoupix.com , on est trop content, surtout eux. moi au final je m’en branle, j’y vais jamais.

mais bon…

par contre je vais souvent aller sur ça http://www.oddcast.com/home/demos/tts/tts_example.php?sitepal

mettez la langue en français et écrivez une phrase, il la dit c’est épatant.

et j’ai cherché des photos d’ingrid bétancourt nue, j’en n’ai pas trouvé. par contre ingrid chauvin gagne en page rank vu que toutes les recherches vont vers des sites sur elles

Ecuadorian soldiers fly over a border area close to Colombia. (AP Photo)

Diplomatic relations between Bogota and Quito remain broken a year after a border standoff. A March 2008 raid by Colombian authorities on a guerilla camp took out the second of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in command and more than 20 others. The attack, made on Ecuadorian territory, also spurred a military buildup by Quito and Caracas on their Colombian borders. Within weeks, the threat of conflict was defused. Still, squabbles continue between Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela, even with mediation by the Organization of American States (OAS).

In recent remarks, Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos justified the raid as an act of legitimate defense, sparking controversy in both Quito and Bogota. President Álvaro Uribe responded by reprimanding the minister. Santos’ strong statements led some to wonder if they serve as an indicator of his intention to run in next year’s presidential election.

Yet Santos’ remarks did little to curry favor in Ecuador. In an interview with RCN Radio, Ecuadorian Vice President Lenín Moreno said that “it is very difficult” to normalize bilateral relations given Santos’ declarations. The comments drew the ire of Caracas as well; the Venezuelan government issued a statement about the remarks, saying that they threaten the stability and sovereignty of countries in the region.

Meanwhile, Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Fander Falconí criticized Uribe’s government for failing to handle the question of displaced people seeking refuge in and near Ecuador. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) oversees a refugee registration project launched by Quito in December. The UNHCR estimates that some 20,000 refugees live in Ecuador but that as many as 130,00 could need international protection. Additionally, the government of President Rafael Correa has stepped up operations along Ecuador’s northern border by dismantling more than 200 guerrilla camps in the last two years, Colombia’s El Pais reports.

But Colombia has its own grievances with Ecuador’s government. Data obtained from a FARC laptop during the raid raised concerns about links between the guerilla group and Ecuadorian officials. Former official José Ignacio Chauvin, a close aide to former Minister of State Gustavo Larrea, admitted that he met with FARC’s late second-in-command Raúl Reyes seven times, reports El Universo. An editorial in Ecuador’s Hoy proposes the creation of an independent commission to steer Ecuadorian politics away from the dark waters of drug-trafficking influence.

World Politics Review explains that after a year, “[B]oth sides’ failure to make progress on reconciliation may be politically motivated.” The article explains that, while Correa gains support by defending Ecuador’s sovereignty at all costs, Uribe has other matters to deal with; restoring diplomatic ties with his neighbor may not stand as a top priority.

Still, despite the controversy, economic ties appear to stand strong between the neighbors. Colombian exports to Ecuador increased 16.1 percent and Ecuadorian exports to Colombia rose 10.5 percent last year, totaling more than $2 billion in 2008, according to Colombia’s Commerce Ministry.

Tensions between the two Andean nations involved OAS mediation over the past year. In an interview with AS/COA Online, OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza likened his OAS role in Latin America as that of a bombero (firefighter) putting out fires across the region. As recently as February 26, Insulza visited Correa and urged reconcilation, to no avail.

A new article by the Economist looks back at raid and calls it a success in terms of inflicting permanent damage to the FARC, saying Colombia paid a small price. Colombia’s Defense Ministry reports on the massive defections facing the guerilla group. Read more about he FARC’s growing weakness and signs—such as hostage releases—that it may be changing course.

Read the article as published on the AS/COA website.

Gustavo Larrea, ex ministro de seguridad interna

Quito (CRE).-

Por: Jorge Boza Ramírez
joanbora1978@gmail.com

Quito (CRE).-

Por: Jorge Boza Ramírez
joanbora1978@gmail.com

By Roger Hollander

www.rogerhollander.wordpress.com

February 22, 2009

John Kennedy was a true cold-warrior, make no mistake about it.  But, like Barack Obama, he was a man of culture and class.  His brilliant creations – the Alliance for Progress (for Latin America) and the Peace Corps – were nothing more or nothing less than instruments to combat Communism in the Third World.  But they were designed to do so with finesse and sophistication and they carried high levels of intrinsic PR value.  Unfortunately for JFK, he inherited from his Republican predecessor, Dwight D. Eisenhower, advanced plans to invade Cuba.  Unable or unwilling (more likely the former, in my opinion) to abort the invasion, his Latin American strategy was all but destroyed by the Bay of Pigs fiasco.

Today’s “Cold War” goes by the name of the “War Against Terror.”  But the “enemy” is still whatever or whomever threatens U.S. geopolitical interests.  In Latin America today’s Cold Warriors feel menaced in particular by the governments of three of the five Andina nations: Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador, who are proponents of a progressive nationalism (which they call “socialism”) that directly challenges U.S. commercial and military influence.  With center-left governments also in power in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay and Nicaragua, United States sway in the sub-continent is at a low that has probably not been seen since its proclamation of the infamous Monroe Doctrine.  It’s only two reliable allies are the Calderón government Mexico, which most Mexicans believe stole the election, and the drug and paramilitary infested government of Alvaro Uribe in Colombia, a nation that has been armed to the teeth by the United States to combat (in the name of the phony war on drugs) a leftist insurgency that has its roots in events that took place in the 1950s.

This is what Obama has inherited.  Although he campaigned as a peace candidate, his selection of Clinton (State) and Gates (Defence), his missile attacks on Pakistan, and his troop build-up in Afghanistan indicates to us that he is a Cold Warrior at heart.  But, like Kennedy, his foreign policy rhetoric has been more of a conciliatory nature (from his inaugural address: “And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capital to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity …”).

He would be wise, therefore, to order Leon Panetta to rein in his CIA operations in Latin America – that is, assuming that a United States president has de facto power over its cantankerous and unwieldy espionage Leviathan. 

Virtually no one in Latin America believes that the CIA was not behind the failed coup d’etat attempt to unseat Hugo Chávez in 2002.  The result of that botched coup only served to bolster Chávez’ popularity both within Venezuela and throughout Latin America.  In Bolivia, working through the DEA and USAID contingents, its crude attempts to support the ultra-right violence against the government of Evo Morales backfired and contributed to Morales’ sweet victory in their constitutional referendum.

Today, there are signs that the CIA is at work in Ecuador.  Ecuadorian daily newspapers are packed with news about a potential scandal that could embarrass the leftist government of Rafael Correa (as in Venezuela and Bolivia, the corporate media are virtually unanimous in their opposition to the ruling leftist governments, which thrive on popular support nonetheless).  José Ignacio Chauvin, a former high level ministerial aide who served for three months in the Correa government, is under investigation by Ecuador’s National Police for friendship with alleged drug dealers (the Ostaiza brothers).  Chauvin, a member of an extreme leftist faction of Correa’s Alianza País party, also has acknowledged visits with the Colombian guerrilla leader, Raúl Reyes, prior to his assassination last year in Ecuadorian territory by the U.S. supported Colombian military, which resulted in severed ties between Ecuador and Colombia. 

This information provides lurid grist to the anti-Correa mill, over which the opposition has been salivating.  But Correa has shown himself to be a more than worthy adversary, and is well on to the counter-attack.  Last week his Chief of the National Police suspended three high level police officials suspected of turning over computerized information to the U.S. Embassy.  He also fired Manuel Silva, the Chief of Special Investigations in charge of the Chauvin investigation for failure to capture Chauvin in a timely manner, and he ordered the expulsion of U.S. Diplomat Armando Eslarza for meddling in Ecuadorian police affairs.  

This week Correa expelled Mark Sullivan, a Regional Affairs officer in the U.S. Embassy in Quito, accusing Sullivan of being the CIA’s Director of Operations for Ecuador and attempting to use the Chauvin affair and the media to destabilize his government.  In the aftermath of Colombia’s violation of Ecuadorian territory last March to murder Raúl Reyes and his comrades, Correa alleged that his National Police were thoroughly infiltrated by the CIA, and he vowed to rectify the situation if it cost him his presidency or his life.

None of this is hard proof that the CIA is at work to destabilize the Ecuadorian government, but given past history and the debacles in Venezuela and Bolivia, it is difficult to believe otherwise.

That such activity almost always turns out to be counter-productive, giving more support and legitimacy to the targeted governments both domestically and abroad doesn’t seem to bother their instigators.  Clandestine and overtly military operations seldom achieve the desired results (cf. Iraq and Afghanistan); and most “experts” counsel diplomacy and social development as alternatives.  But these latter strategies do not sell tanks, and guns, and bombs, and sophisticated aircraft and missiles – and many believe that is what it is all about.  

The question then is: will Obama stand up to the Super Spies, the Pentagon and the Military-Industrial Complex in compliance with his campaign rhetoric; or will his administration amount to business as usual in Latin America?

Guayaquil (CRE).-

Por: Sandra Morán Castillo
smoran@cre.com.ec

Mi opinión: ´´El Ecuador es una isla de paz´´ segun el presidente…en que país vive Correa?? Obviamente no lo va a declarar como traición a la patria porque simplemente nunca se confirmará este hecho, dirán seguramente que la reunión fue en Colombia y listo. Hay rabo de paja, si acusan a el ´´Chauvin´´ también cae el Quiquín…

Guayaquil (CRE).-

Por: Andres Omar Meza
cito_bass@hotmail.com

Por: Jorge Boza Ramírez
joanbora1978@gmail.com

I had an enjoyable weekend being a tourist in my new backyard. On Saturday, I took Mark and Debbie to the French Quarter. The only time other time they had been in New Orleans was when they got lost in a not so nice section of town at night, and, well, let’s just say it wasn’t a pleasant experience for them, so I wanted to show them the joy of NOLA. We had a good time walking around the Quarter, taking in the sights, the sounds, and the smells. And, of course, a little coffee and beignets at Cafe Du Monde. Yeah, baby! For pictures, click here.

This morning, after opening the Houma Courier and reading a nice article about Natalie Bergeron, our Wellness and Community Outreach Coordinator at Bayou Grace, I headed on down the bayou to LUMCON (Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium). On my way back, I stopped and had coffee with Mr. Moe and Miss Enola, then headed over to the Chauvin Sculpture Garden. It was incredible! Then I grabbed a bite to eat and headed out in my kayak down the Petit Caillou Bayou, which is the bayou I live on. For pictures from my adventures today, click here.

All in all, a wonderful way to spend a weekend in Southern Louisiana!

Please check out the article about Natalie. Natalie has a true heart of gold. I could go on and on about what an amazing person she is, and how blessed I am to work with her, but click below and you’ll get the picture, and also get to read a few of my comments regarding Natalie.

http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20081109/ARTICLES/811099986

For another article featuring Natalie and her hurricane relieft efforts, visit:

http://blogs.oxfamamerica.org/index.php/2008/09/19/storms-mud-and-no-jobs-whats-next/

Also, if you’re interested in learning more about LUMCON or the Chauvin Sculpture Garden, click the links below:

http://www.lumcon.edu/

http://www.nicholls.edu/folkartcenter/

Xénophobe.

Volunteers try to save the Chauvin Levee. Photo Credit: Matt Stamey/Houma Courier

As Hurricane Ike heads toward the Texas coast, and the eyes of the national media have all their attention focused on that area, please don’t forget about southern Louisiana. The surge from Ike has been, and is continuing to bring mass flooding to Terrebonne and other coastal parishes. Please click the link below to tune in to HTV, one of the only sources that I seem to be able to find that’s reporting what’s happening in this region, and get the word out about this forgotten area.

Link to HTV: http://www.mogulus.com/htvhouma or http://www.kfolkjun.com/htv/WatchNow/tabid/54/Default.aspx

Link to the CNN News Tip site: http://www.cnn.com/feedback/tips/

Contact your elected officials: http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml

Please visit the Equity and Inclusion Campaign website and click the Take Action button to let your voice be heard. The Equity and Inclusion Campaign is a nonpartisan policy advocacy and public messaging campaign advocating for fulfillment of the federal commitment to confront persistent poverty and inequity during the Gulf Coast recovery and rebuilding process.  The vision for the Equity and Inclusion Campaign is to establish sustainable Gulf Coast communities characterized by economic, social and environmental fairness.  The Campaign is working to effect systemic change so that all people are included, valued and empowered.  The Campaign is an initiative of the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation. 

http://www.equityandinclusion.org/

Photo Credit: Matt Stamey/Houma Courier

Drake Sevin, 13, pulls his grandmother, Mona Sevin, 72, to higher ground with the help of Cyrus Sevin, 84, left and Robert Godwin after walking about a quarter mile through Hurricane Ike floodwaters south of Houma La. on Friday, Sept. 12, 2008. The family decided to walk to the road after water started rising around their home.