Cell phones and Social Networking

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Johannica

How have things changed in the last twenty years. I remember that back then cell phones were a luxury that was 5 times heavier that what they are today. No one imagined that a few years later (about five) we could set our phones to not only wake up us, but also use these incredible applications, “apps” that would help us do everything from cooking to convert pounds to kilos.

Another big surprise of our times are the famous social networks. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined how easy it would was to reconnect with my best friend from childhood, that I located by doing s simple a “search” on facebook, although she has been living in Europe for the past 10 years. That was the beginning of a very healthy addiction that was aimed at reuniting the whole “gang” from the good old days. Everyone is now a little older, and a little wiser and eternally grateful to facebook for bringing us together.

And what can I say about twitter that allows us to be “follow” those people who otherwise we would never been able to access without our modern social network tool.
But every great work or invention comes hand in hand with great responsibility and in this case is the social responsibility to make good use of it. We must not forget that social networks are not selective, which allows anyone to access them, no matter what their intentions are, and also a lot of users are young and even children who are exposed to too much information and not always have the maturity to process it properly.

Unfortunately social networks have been the scenarios to an increasing amount of cases of bullying or cyberbullying as it is known today. It is worrisome that the phenomenon had to adopt its own name. Statistics are frightening, the figures are alarming (12.1% of youths between 10 and 18 have experienced some form of cyberbullying).

The only way to turn this situation and change these figures is to talk to our kids and monitor their network activity to ensure that they are neither victims nor victimizers.
Like everything in life, advances of our time have their pros and cons and the trick is to use them wisely.

The Panamanian Camels

Posted on March 3, 2012 by Johannica

Two new extinct species of camel have been found by scientists working around the construction of the Panama Canal expansion project. The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute were given a five-year window of opportunity to excavate areas set aside for the Panama Canal expansions plans. Since 2009, and with the help of funding from the National Science Foundation, University of Florida paleontologists and geologists have been working with the Panama Canal Authority and the Smithsonian. The new camel species are the first major finding announced by the team and were published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

The discovery by Florida Museum of Natural History researchers extends the distribution of mammals to their southernmost point in the ancient tropics of Central America, being the first published description of a fossil mammal discovered in Panama.

The tropics contain some of the world’s most important ecosystems, including rain forests that regulate climate systems and serve as a vital source of food and medicine, yet little is known of their history because usually the lush vegetation prevents paleontological excavations. “We’re discovering this fabulous new diversity of animals that lived in Central America that we didn’t even know about before,” Bruce MacFadden, co-author of the study, said. “The family originated about 30 million years ago and they”re found widespread throughout North America, but prior to this discovery, they were unknown south of Mexico,” he said.

Researchers described two species of ancient camels that are also the oldest mammals found in Panama – Aguascalietia panamaensis and Aguascalientia minuta. The study shows that despite Central America’s close proximity to South America, there was no connection between continents because these (and other) mammals that roamed the area 20 million years ago all had North American origins. According to MacFadden, the Isthmus of Panama formed around 15 million years later and that the first opportunity that animals had to cross to South America was around 2.5 to 3 million years ago.

The Indigenous Panamanian Peoples – The Ngäbe

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Johannica

There has been a lot in the news recently about the ‘Ngäbe-Buglé’, but who are they? Regardless of your views of the rights and wrongs of the current arguments (and people carrying laptop computers and cellphones who say they have no use for electricity), there is a lot of fascinating history.

The Ngöbe–Buglé are a actually two different indigenous groups from western Panama, the Guaymí (Ngöbe) and the Bokota (Buglé). They live in the highlands of Bocas del Toro, Chiriquí Province and on the arid plains of Veraguas, and have a joint reservation, the Ngöbe–Buglé Comarca.

Guaymí is the traditional term for the Ngäbe and is derived from the Buglere term for them (guaymiri). Local newspapers and other media often alternatively spell the name Ngäbe as Ngobe or Ngöbe because Spanish does not contain the sound represented by ä, a low-back rounded a. There are approximately 200,000-250,000 speakers of Ngäbere today (including large numbers in Costa Rica). Ngäbere and Buglere are distinct languages in the Chibchan language family. They are mutually unintelligible. The Spanish conquistadors found three distinct Guaymi tribes living in Panama, each being named after its then chief and each speaking a different language.

The greatest of the three chiefs was Urraca, who became famous by defeating the Spaniards time after time, and forced Diego de Albitez, a captain of the Spanish, to sign a peace treaty in 1522. He was nonetheless betrayed and sent in chains to the town of Nombre de Dios on the Atlantic coast – according to historian Bartolomé de las Casas – Urraca escaped and made his way back to the mountains, vowing to fight the Spaniards unto death. And he fulfilled his vow. Urraca was so feared by the Spaniards that they avoided combat with his men. When Urraca died in 1531 he was still a free man.

Today the Guaymí are subsistence farmers, and agricultural laborers. On the Pacific slopes, the main crops are rice, corn, yucca, otoy, ñame and species of beans. Small-scale livestock production of chickens and pigs is maintained and in the higher elevations is supplemented by hunting (where permitted). The primary crop for the Guaymí on the Atlantic slopes is green bananas.

Rainy season in Panama

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Johannica

For those of you who arrived to the beautiful Isthmus of Panama during the dry season (December through March) and have enjoyed all the wonderful activities that this country has to offer, you might e in for quiet a surprise when the rainy season begins.

You see during the months of April through October (give or take) it rains a lot and what seems today, February like a harmless highway or a peaceful beach could turn in to a hazardous place that needs you to pay attention and be cautious in order to avoid difficult and even dangerous situations.

The following is a list of recommendations and suggestions to follow during this soon to come rainy season in Panama.

1. Invest in a very good umbrella, believe me, you are going to need it.

2. Please keep in mind that it might be sunny and bright at 11:00 am and a thunder storm might cover the city at 11:45, that’s’ how sudden and unexpected the rain showers are, be prepared.

3. Check tires and windshield wipers on your vehicle. You do not want to find out that they are not working in the middle of the rain.

4. Follow the weather broadcasts and if you plan to go out fishing or swimming, please check the tide and warnings that are often provided by the Servicio de Proteccion Civil (Civil Protection service).

5. What might seem like a perfectly safe place to park your car when it’s sunny could actually be a flood zone. Please take precautions and be on the lookout for signs that it might be one.

6. If you don’t have a dryer, it might be a good idea to purchase one soon, air drying laundry in the rainy season can be a complicated task.

7. Traffic in Panama city is currently a bit of a nightmare, right? Well, brace yourself, rain makes it twice as bad.

Leap Year Traditions

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Johannica

The chance of being born on a leap day is often said to be one in 1,461. Other factors however do reduce the chances somewhat, so it is an unfortunate child who is born on February 29^th(know as a ‘Leapling’).Most countries allow individuals to make their own arrangements for celebrating the birthday of those unfortunate enough to have been born February 29^th. However, the Civil Code of the Republic of China has, since 1929, implied that the legal birthday of a leapling is February 28 in non-leap years. Paradoxically, in Hong Kong, the legal birthday of a leapling is considered to be March 1^st in non-leap years.

The tradition that a woman can propose to a man on a leap year has been attributed to various historical figures. St Bridget is said to have complained to St Patrick in the 5^th Century that women had to wait too long for their suitors to propose. St Patrick then supposedly gave women a single day in a leap year to pop the question – the last day of the shortest month. Another popular story is that Queen Margaret of Scotland brought in a law setting fines (a pair of leather gloves, a single rose, £1 and a kiss) for men who turned down marriage proposals from women on a leap year. It is possible that the right of every woman to propose on this day goes back to the times when the leap year day was not recognised by English law. It was believed that if the day had no legal status, it was acceptable to break with tradition. The tradition did not gain widespread popularity until the 19th Century, and even today reflects different regional variations (in Denmark, it is 24th February, harking back to the time of Julius Caesar). In Greece, marriage in a leap year is considered unlucky.

Explorer Christopher Columbus used the lunar eclipse of 29 February 1504 to his advantage during his final trip to the West Indies, convincing the local indigenous population that a lunar eclipse was God’s punishment. During the eclipse, he said that God would withdraw the punishment if they starting co-operating with him again. The panicked chiefs agreed and the Moon began emerging from its shadow. Also of a supernatural nature, on 29 February 1692 the first warrants were issued in the Salem witchcraft trials in Massachusetts, one of the most shameful incidents in US history.

The MACRO Festival Comes to Casco Viejo

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Johannica

The drink-fueled Excess of the Carnival may be over, But for Those more interested in art and culture, March Brings the MACRO festival to Panama City’s Casco Viejo from the 13th to the 17th.
The festival MACRO was Launched in 2010 and blends photography and Fashion with art shows. Every year, the festival has proved MACRO popular so That They Have Had to keep moving to larger venues. In 2010, the Festival Took place in Plaza Herrera, the 2011 festival Cathedral was held in the Square in old town, and This Year’s events will be Held in Casco Viejo.
The festival bills Itself as a meeting of visions, ideas, concepts and Experiences. Macrofest is a party! The avant-garde festival links art forms Including music, fashion, art, design and film in a dream scenario is available to all That age groups for five days in the third week March. Together With The National Institute of Culture of Panama, the Organizers Have created a whole to build Macrofest Infrastructure Into an international event, where prominent artists, speakers and Their Participants can share with other visitors and Panamanians, Whether They Are Professionally Involved in the arts, or just curious.
Attracting more than 5.000 people each year, With A program and at other venues distributed THROUGHOUT the city, plays a crucial role Macrofest in showcasing ideas from both established and emerging, presenting a new vision of the city and the national cultural heritage. Casco Viejo, as a place that combine features of ancient and modern, welcomes locals and tourists to an event full of emotion and character, offering an opportunity to get carried through the streets, enjoy fine dining and entertainment venues that will show the magic of a city that never sleeps is marching inexorably and that into the future.
Visit and get closer to Macrofest Panamanian culture, art, music, and fashion.

The Panamanian Who Helped Create Off-Broadway

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Johannica

The death on February 24^th of Theodore Mann, co-founder of Circle in the Square at the age of 87 had highlighted the little-known role that a Panamanian had in the creation of Off-Broadway. In 1951, the young Theodore Mann teamed up with Panamanian director Jose Quintero and a few other investors to create Circle in the Square in a small space just off Greenwich Village’s Sheridan Square.

Jose Quintero was born in Panama City, Panama, the third of 3 children, to Carlos Rivera Quintero, from Spain, and Consuelo Palmerola. He was educated in the United States at Los Angeles City College, and later at the University of Southern California, where he decided on a career in theatre. After notification of his intention, his father, who wanted him to be a physician, declared him dead, leading to a seven year estrangement from his family.

His involvement in the birth of Off-Broadway theatre through the Circle in the Square helped him to become one of the most celebrated New York theatre directors and producers (both on and off-Broadway). His name became closely linked to that of the American playwright Eugene O’Neill. Quintero’s interest contributed to the rediscovery of the playwright through his staging of productions including, The Iceman Cometh in 1956 (which launched the career of Jason Robards), the New York premiere of Long Day’s Journey into Night (which won Tony Awards for Best Play and Best Actor), Strange Interlude (with a cast which included Geraldine Page, Jane Fonda, Franchot Tone, Ben Gazzara, Pat Hingle and Betty Field), More Stately Mansions in both Los Angeles and New York (with Ingrid Bergman) and A Moon for the Misbegotten, at the Academy Playhouse, Lake Forest, Illinois (which won the Tony award for Best Direction).

Quintero did not limit himself to the works of O’Neill. He directed more than seventy productions by playwrights, including Truman Capote, Jean Cocteau, Thornton Wilder, Jean Genet, Brendan Behan and Tennessee Williams. In 1961, he directed Vivien Leigh and Warren Beatty in the film version of Tennessee Williams’s The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone which brought Lotte Lenya an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actress. In 1990, he directed Liv Ullmann in Noël Coward’s Private Lives at the National Theatre in Oslo. He also directed operas for the Metropolitan Opera and the Dallas Opera.

Quintero was also a noted teacher, lectured on theatre and gave master classes in acting at the University of Houston and Florida State University. Quintero died in 1999.

The Third Set of Canal Locks

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Johannica

Currently the Panama Canal has two ‘lanes’ for vessels, each with its own set of locks (one set for at either end for vessels travelling from the Pacific to the Caribbean, and one set for ships travelling the opposite direction. As part of the canal expansion, a third set of locks will be added at either end of the canal, one on the Pacific side to the southwest of the existing Miraflores Locks, the other to the east of the existing Gatun Locks.

As might be expected 100 years after the original locks were built, the new sets are considerably more modern in design. Each chamber will have three lateral water-saving basins, for a total of nine basins per lock and 18 basins total. Like the existing locks, these will be filled by gravity, but unlike the existing locks, the water-saving basins will allow the used water to be recycled, rather than just being allowed to flow into the oceans.

10 Years in design, the new lock chambers will be 1,400 ft (426.72 m) long, by 180 ft (54.86 m) wide, and 60 ft (18.29 m) deep. They will use rolling gates instead of miter gates, the swinging gates which are used by the existing locks. Rolling gates are used in almost all existing locks with dimensions similar to those being proposed, and are a well-proven technology. The new locks will use tugboats to position the vessels instead of locomotives. As in the case of the rolling gates, tugs are successfully and widely utilized for these purposes in locks of similar dimensions.

In a recent interview, Nick Pansic, one of the design engineers for the new locks said “The Third Set of Locks project really is the opportunity for the Panama Canal Authority to “unlock the bottle neck” on their current canal system. This project includes the largest water-saving basins ever designed or built and the highest design standards we have come across as international designers for lock projects. Specifically, we are designing for major earthquakes, and the design requirements are extremely high. We’ve been pioneering new technology to advance the design state of the practice – specifically for the lock walls, and also for the lock gates. The lock gates are massive steel structures, over three thousand tons each. Making these lock gates work under a highly seismic event has been a real challenge that the design team has come through with the help of 3D modeling.”

Expanded Panama Canal to Offer Environmental Benefits

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Johannica

Paul Stott, a marine engineering lecturer at Newcastle University, UK has just published a report in which he examines the potential environmental benefits of the current Panama Canal expansion works. The report, published in the International Journal of Maritime Engineering, perhaps surprisingly, predicts that the widened canal could dramatically reduce the environmental footprint of the world’s shipping.

The Panama Canal is currently about half-way through completing its major expansion project. By 2014 (the 100th anniversary of the canal’s opening) ships with a beam of up to 49 meters will be able to travel through the 82-kilometer channel, a significant increase on the current 32.2-meter limit. The beam limit, known in the maritime as “Panamax” will have knock-on effects throughout the shipping industry.

The impacts will be felt beyond just the ships that actually use the canal. Approximately 45% of all larger seagoing vessels built in the last 10 years conformed to the Panamax constraint because, despite the fact that many of these ships may never go near the Panama Canal, their value is based on their ability to do so. “The size of the benefit is much larger than one might think based solely on the canal’s traffic statistics; it has to be viewed in the context of the whole fleet,” says Stott.

However, the industry has just been through a huge boom in building ships, so it could take a while to transition to more efficient hull designs. But, says Stott, “because we built too many ships, freight rates are poor; as a result, the 16% cost savings could, paradoxically, provide enough incentive for ship owners to buy newer, more efficient boats”.

Larger ships will enable the transport of more goods in fewer trips, realizing economies of scale, and larger beams will facilitate the design of more efficient vessel hulls. Overall, Scott predicts that the savings in fuel and emissions could be as great as 16% per tonne-mile. A 16% improvement in efficiency is significant given that the International Maritime Organization estimates that, without major steps to reduce emissions, shipping will be responsible for 12–18% of global emissions of carbon dioxide by 2050.

Haiti and Panama Build Links

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Johannica

A recent mission by the Haitian President Michel Martelly, his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Laurent Lamothe and the Minister of Tourism, Stéphanie Balmir Villedrouin, held a series of meetings with officials of the Panamanian Government and private sector representatives on February 6^th.

They began the day with an official reception at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where the Chancellor Roberto Enriquez received the Chief of the Haitian state with full ceremonial honors. A ministerial working meeting in the presence of various representatives of the Government of Panama followed the ceremony. During this meeting President Martelly and Minister Lamothe discussed various bilateral issues, including topics related to the travels of Haitians to Panama. Several agreements were signed.

The Panamanian President Ricardo Alberto Martinelli, signed a presidential decree reducing the cost of visas for Haitian citizens wishing to visit Panama from $1000 to $50 and the waiting period from four months to just seven days. This is a good news for the Haitian traders who travel to Panama to purchase their stock. Additionally, President Martelly discussed business opportunities and the promotion of tourism in Haiti.

The Haitian and Panamanian chancellors signed an agreement which will help protect Panamanian companies operating in Haiti and vice versa. This agreement should also allow and encourage more direct foreign investment in Haiti and the creation of sustainable jobs. Both ministers also signed a technical assistance agreement in the fields of agriculture, trade, tax collection, promotion of investments, social security and management of ports and airports.

After the meeting, the Haitian delegation attended a lunch hosted by President Martinelli, where the two Heads of State reiterated and reinforced their commitment to strengthen their collaboration and finalized the details for the opening of an Embassy of Panama in Haiti. The two leaders also discussed issues concerning Panamanian investment in infrastructure and the technical assistance in the reconstruction of ports and airports.

In the afternoon, the President and his delegation visited the Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal, where the president was given the honor of opening the locks to allow the passage of a ship. The delegation then went on to the Chamber of Commerce of Panama to discuss business opportunities and investment to Panamanian companies in Haiti, before continuing on to meetings and then a dinner with Panamanian business representatives.

Fifer Carles

Richard Fifer – Father of the Panamanian Mining

Author Archives: Johannica