Monday, February 24, 2003 Online Edition 8

Theater Review: The lighter side of plumbing

By LUCY CRISFIELD

TEGUCIGALPA — Mi mujer es el plomero (my woman is the plumber) is the hilarious story of a group of four women, a plumber, a caretaker, and a widower who with the help of the magical, spend their time working at cross-purposes. When the plumber, Daniel arrives at the widower, Sergio’s house to fix a leak in the bathroom, the spirit of Sergio’s dead wife enters his body. The obvious set of confusions that a woman’s soul in a man’s body lead to are perpetuated by the chaos that already exists in Sergio’s life: he not only has two women trying to lure him, but a disapproving mother who is constantly reminding him that he has been a widower for only a year.

The play was staged in Sergio’s living room, where good use of the numerous doors was made in order to keep everyone’s bewilderment alive. This was achieved by Sergio who spent his time hiding everybody from everybody else, even the audience would sometimes loose track of who was behind which door. However, the dramatic movement was not quite as fluid as it should have been, with pauses between people’s entrances creating stagnant moments.

The denouement is reached when the women in Sergio’s life finally meet, unite, and confront Sergio about his antics in a scene where the widower’s desperation was palpable throughout the theater. Despite an amusing twist at the very end, the play is neatly concluded when the inexplicable forces once again prevail, and another visit to the bathroom return the plumber’s true psyche to him.

The part of the plumber, played by Gustavo Meza was sustained with confidence throughout. Eloisa Palma Florentino, who took the part of Sergio’s mother, found just the right tone of provocation and grievance in her voice to successfully create a character any son would be scared to disobey. It was a debut performance for the two women being juggled in Sergio’s life. Although not always focused, Melissa Carcamo gave a gusty performance as Laura, which only hinted of her potential. However Nilsa Godov’s performance as Maribel contained far too many affected mannerisms which, accompanied by an alternation between the choice of two facial expressions she possessed, was at times highly irritating.

The dialogue was fast moving, and the script solid; the play-write, Argentinean Hugo Daniel Marco won the Rio de la Plata award for best comedy of the year with this play in his home country seven years ago. Although not a polished production, the enthusiasm of the actors alone made for a very enjoyable performance.

The Argentinean play-write Hugo Daniel Marco has written over 16 plays, and numerous extracts for television. This work was one of his first successes, and was nominated for the first prize in the “Best Comedy of the Coast” awards in Argentina in 1990. Although this was not a polished production, the script was solid, and the enthusiasm of the actors alone made for a very enjoyable performance.

The knowledge business

Honduras needs to find an industrial sector that will hire massively and raise the educational level of our work force. Well, look again, because we already have it: The knowledge business. The largest government work force is the 50,000 teachers that are employed by the Ministry of Education. Still there are 20,000 teachers without jobs, 2,000 new ones graduating every year and only 450 job openings each year.

Human knowledge is a vast and growing natural resource. Now, developed countries are making it one of their primary export products. Knowledge services – education and corporate learning for the U.S. economy – are a two trillion dollar industry globally and everyone wants more of it.

The knowledge business (KB) is a growing venture in developed countries. For instance, printing companies have developed educational courses in the traditional areas of knowledge, such as, math, science, language, social studies and foreign language.
We spend time and money designing local curriculums that we would best spend on designing a framework to encourage KB investments in Honduras, turning teachers into the “maquila” or factory workers of the knowledge business. This we can do with ordinary school curricula.

Methods to certify completion of courses have been developed in e-learning that are models for any formal education system. For instance, students are locked into a “certification bubble” where they are tested under the supervision of an accredited institution. Instead of a local “Licenciado en Informática,” the university could facilitate making them Microsoft Certified Engineers (MSCE). Which would a business probably hire?

The prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) recently began putting its courseware into the Internet and making it freely available to all. You can learn the same as any M.I.T. scholar. Other universities in Spanish speaking countries will probably follow suit. You can’t graduate unless you register and take the tests, of course, but local universities could accredit themselves to do the local testing, bringing the costs down for Hondurans. Some teaching must also occur in local classrooms, but e-learning could quadruple our university graduates and raise the quality of studies in record time without great investments in new buildings and new campuses.

Providers of content are one of the many key KB ventures. However, for export are the “content developers.” Mix authors of Honduran courseware with the appropriate software and some teaching experience and you could have an exportable knowledge product. Aside from local history, social studies and geography lessons, courses can be developed in Mayan culture, biology of coral reefs, Honduran cooking and Garifuna dancing.

Currently, all major Honduran universities have distance-learning programs. Some are taking the step into e-learning. Community Technology Centers (CTCs) are needed on the (student) receiving end of these programs to make those investments effective.

Honduras needs visionary entrepreneurs who can invest in creating local content courseware. We need government incentives that will allow this industry to grow. We need to promote Community Technology Centers that will give access to all the population, rich or poor.
Making education the primary industry of Honduras is a rapid path to economic growth and development.

To support a CTC network in Honduras, write to: jgallardo515@yahoo.com

The Grid Iron in Honduras

By LEONARDO E. BLANCO
Troyanos Number Seven

For some time now there have been numerous rumors about Honduras having an American football team. Here’s a quick run through of how it came to be.

About approximately one and half years ago, a few guys got together to toss the pigskin (football) around. Little did they know that they were at the break of something new. So it became a weekend thing. Then, as the player attendance grew, so did the objectives as a team. The guys decided to call the team Cacique. Just the idea of having an organized American football team, at this time, was only an excellent idea. Other Central American nations (Guatemala, Nicaragua, and El Salvador) had already established organized teams that were strong competitors. So, the partially organized team decided to take a giant step forward by asking for help from none other than the NFL.

A gentlemen named Tom Kelly came to the rescue. Kelly, a NFL marketing representative, helped the Caciques receive the equipment they needed to compete in the Four Nation´s Cup, 2002 (Honduras´ first time competing as well as hosting the tournament). Honduras received third place in that tournament. That same year, the Central American Football League initiated. As difference of opinions came to be, the Caciques decided to change their name to Troyanos. The 2002-year of play was above the expectations of many viewers. Sponsors at the time were very skeptical about the public’s response to American Football. As the team progressed, so did the results ending the season with a 3-3 record. Many would agree that this overall record is not bad at all considering Honduras was the only country in Central America to have never competed in international matches.

In conclusion, many spectators and sponsor’s questions and doubts were answered this past Sunday, February 16. During Honduras´ classic soccer match between Motagua and Olimpia, the Troyanos had the opportunity of doing a half-time exhibition of one minutes of non-stop football action. The crowd’s response was overwhelming. This might demonstrate that Honduras is ready for American football. There is still much hard work to be done with the Four Nations Cup right around the corner. What the 2003 season will bring is yet to be seen. The Troyanos are on a quest to bring home the Four Nations Cup, as well as become, for the first time ever, the Central American Football League champions. Their motivation expresses their triumph to victory.

CULTURAL EVENTS  

ARTS

PAINTING EXHIBIT — THROUGH FEBRUARY — Honduran painter Miguel Angel Ruiz is presenting an original painting exhibit titled “Adelante selección... sin barreras”, featuring images of exciting soccer game moments. It is taking place at the National Art Gallery in Tegucigalpa’s downtown.

CARTOON EXHIBIT — THROUGH FEBRUARY 28 — The Mayor Office of San Esteban, Olancho is sponsoring a cartoon exhibit by Honduran artists Bey Avendano, Allan McDonald, Napoleon, Sergio Chiuz and others, at the town’s cultural house.

THEATER

UNOS CUANTOS PIQUETITOS — FEBRUARY 28, MARCH 7, 14, 21, 28 — Director and actor of the Teatro Taller Tegucigalpa, Mario Jaen, will present the play titled “Unos cuantos piquetitos”, at the Houses of Cultures of different communities in the following order: on February 28 at San Juan de Flores, Cantarranas; on March 7 in San Pedro Sula; on March 14 in Juticalpa; on March 21 in Tela and on March 28 in El Progreso, Yoro. The Ministry of Culture, INAM and the Canadian Cooperation Office support the activity.

COMEDY — FEBRUARY — The members of Teatro Renacimiento, in Plaza Millenium, Comayaguela, invite you to enjoy the comedy play titled “Mi mujer es el plomero” (My woman is the plumber), Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 5 and 8 p.m. For more information, call 225-5517. Admission is Lps. 70. Funds raised will be used to finance the social projects conducted by the First Lady.

THEATER FESTIVAL — MARCH — The “Festival de las Artes Escenicas Bambu 2003” will take place next month in Tegucigalpa with a variety of performances by national and foreign actors.

MUSIC

CONCERT — FEBRUARY 26 — The facilities of the Foundation for the Museum of the Honduran Man in Tegucigalpa’s downtown will host a lyric concert titled “Paises Unidos Cantan”, sponsored by the Damas Voluntarias and the Ministry of Culture.

VIOLIN CONCERT — FEBRUARY 28 — Honduran musician Fernando Raudales will offer a violin concert at Café La Plazuela, in Tegucigalpa at 7:30 p.m. Admission is Lps. 100 for two people.
For more information, call 237-0501.

BOLSHOI BALLET IN HONDURAS — MARCH 5 — The Ministry of Culture and the Cerro de Plata Foundation are sponsoring the performance of the Bolshoi Theater Ballet, to take place at the Real Clarion hotel parking lot in Tegucigalpa from 8 p.m. Nearly 40 dancers will present the play “Don Quijote”, with the music of Ludwing Minkus and choreographs under the direction of Pepita and Alexander Gorsky. Admissions range between Lps. 170 and 1000. Tickets already available at the hotel’s lobby.

PIANO AND VIOLIN CONCERT — MARCH 14 — Artists Jorge Luis Banegas from Honduras and Lucy Crisfield from England will offer a piano and violin concert with works by Mozart and Bartok, from 7:30 at Café La Plazuela in Tegucigalpa’s downtown. Admission is Lps. 50. For more information, call 238-8570/8571.

LEARNING

THEATER CLASSES — Honduran professional actor Mario Jaen will offer acting classes soon at the Moliere Acting School. For more information, call 221-1692, 221-4529.

DANCE CLASSES — The Danza Libre Foundation offers professional courses on ballet, creative movement, aerobic dance and contemporary dance. For more information, call Alex Zavala at 239-1955.

COOKING LESSONS — MARCH 3, 4 — Chef Walter Andres at the Real Clarion Hotel in Tegucigalpa will teach how to make real paella from 3 to 6 p.m. For more information, call Katia Simon or Tania Duron at 220-5100 to 06, ext. 2185.

MUSIC AND LIBRARY TRAINING — The authorities of the House of Culture of El Paraiso invite you to participate of their education outreach activities, which will include a music education technical workshop as well as a library services training journey. Carlos Roberto Romero will be happy to offer you details on these events, or call the Ministry of Culture headquarters in Tegucigalpa at 221-3924, 221-3928.

PIANO, VIOLIN AND FLUTE CONTEST — THROUGH MARCH 12 — The Embassy of Japan is sponsoring a piano, violin and flute contest among people aged 12 to 25. Inscription will be open until March 12. For more information, call the embassy at 236-5511.

FESTIVALS

NUEVA ARMENIA — FEBRUARY 27 - MARCH 1 — The friendly residents of Nueva Armenia, Francisco Morazan, invite the public to celebrate their 146th anniversary of foundation. An attractive cultural and recreational program will be offered at the site all day long, including artistic performances, horse parades, soccer matches, folkloric contests (Palo encebado and Carrera de cintas), dancing parties and religious acts. Tourists can also visit the “Cueva del Sapo” cave which features primitive art, waterfalls or the Cerro de la Cruz mountain. Nueva Armenia is located south of Tegucigalpa, turning to the left when passing in front of Sabanagrande, in a 40-minute additional drive through a well-conserved dirt road.

POTPOURRI

PAELLA FESTIVAL — FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 2 — The Hotel Real Clarion in Tegucigalpa invite the public to a delicious paella festival. Assistants will be able to taste several kinds of paella such as: Paella valenciana (chicken, rabbit and pork), Paella Fidegua (Noodles, squid and codfish), Paella Hortelana (vegetables) and Paella Marinera (shrimp, mussels, clams, squid), prepared by Chef Walter Andres.

IHCI PORTRAIT GALLERY — The Honduran Institute of Interamerican Culture (IHCI) have just inaugurated the Gallery featuring the Portraits of this entity’s Board of Directors Presidents since 1940, from Jorge Fidel Duron to Alberto Galeano. This way, the IHCI celebrates its 64th anniversary of foundation. The exhibit can be seen at its new facilities in Blvd. Suyapa, Tegucigalpa at 7 p.m. For more information, call 220-1393.

The Maya Calendar is a public service for our readers.  If you would like to announce an event taking place in Honduras, please send the information to: Calendar Editor, Honduras This Week, Fax 232-2300, e-mail: hontweek@hondutel.hn

MUSEUMS & GARDENS

TEGUCIGALPA 

MUSEO DE HISTORIA REPUBLICANA

The Museum of Republican History is located at the Villa Roy building in Tegucigalpa's Barrio Buenos Aries.  It is open 8:30 to 3:30, Tuesdays through Sundays and features portraits, paraphernalia, and other interesting items from past presidents.  Admission is Lps. 20 for non-resident foreigners and Lps. 10 for Hondurans and Central Americans.  For more information, call 222-3470 or 222-1468. 

CENTRAL BANK MUSEUM

The Central Bank of Honduras located at the Comayaguela annex building is open from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday.  It has a permanent coin and painting exhibit.  For special presentations, call the Emision y Tesoreria department at 237-2270 (-78), ext. 2117 (-2120). [CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.] 

NATIONAL ART GALLERY

The Galeria Nacional de Arte features rock art, pre-Columbian ceramics, colonial paintings, religious art and a wide selection of 20th century Honduran painters.  The gallery is located at the Plaza de la Merced in downtown Tegucigalpa.  It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10-5 p.m. and Sunday from 10-2 p.m.  Admission is Lps. 10 for adults, Lps. 5 for senior citizens, Lps. 3 for students and Lps. 1 for children accompanied by adults. 

IGUANA FARM

The Biosfera Ecocentro Iguana Farm in Colonia La Joya invites the public to come and learn everything about iguanas.  Admission is Lps. 5 for adults, Lps. 3 for children.  The facility is open every day (except Wednesday) from 9 to 5.  For more information, call 230-6346.

COMAYAGUA, COMAYAGUA 

COMAYAGUA MUSEUM OF ARCHAEOLOGY

Located in the city of Comayagua, two hours north of Tegucigalpa, the Comayagua Museum of Archaeology is in the building that served as the seat of government in the 19th century.  Exhibits include prehistoric fossils, cave art, ceramics, and objects used by indigenous cultures during the pre-Colombian era.  The museum, which also has a small library, is open to the public Tuesdays through Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

COMAYAGUA RELIGIOUS MUSEUM

Located in the Casa Cural in front of Comayagua's cathedral, this museum features religious paintings and objects dating back to the 16th century.  Hours are 8-12 and 2-4 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.  For more information, contact Leonardo Letona at 772-0348.

LA PAZ, LA PAZ 

LA PAZ HOUSE OF CULTURE

The La Paz Casa de la Cultura is located in downtown La Paz.  It features an attractive exhibit of the Lenca handicrafts and culture.  It is open Mondays through Sundays.

SAN PEDRO SULA, CORTES 

SPS MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY AND HISTORY

The Museo de Antropologia e Historia de San Pedro Sula features exhibits on the development of Sula Valley, from 1500 B.C. to the middle of this century.  The museum is open 10 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays.  Admission is Lps. 10 for adults, Lps. 5 for students and children under 12, and Lps. 2 for senior citizens.  For more information, call 557-1496/557-1798 or fax 557-1874. 

MUSEUM OF NATURE OF SAN PEDRO SULA

Sponsored and managed by the Fundacion Ecologista H.R. Pastor Fasquelle, this new museum was inaugurated last December in its current location at the Biocentro on 3 Avenida and 9 Calle Noroeste.  It has 24 exhibits on the environment, natural resources and biology of Honduras.  Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and 8 a.m. until noon on Saturdays.  Admission is Lps 5 for students from public schools and Lps. 10.00 for everyone else.

YUSCARAN, EL PARAISO 

YUSCARAN HOUSE OF CULTURE

Yuscaran's Casa de la Cultura is located at the former Casa Fortin in downtown Yuscaran, El Paraiso department, just 45 km from Tegucigalpa on the road to Danli.  It is open Mondays through Saturdays.

OLANCHO 

PECH CULTURAL CENTER

The Pech have built a small house in El Carbon, Olancho to display their modern handicrafts.  An exhibit of archaeological finds in the area is planned.  You can ask to see the collection and/or get a tour of a Post Classic era fortified site.  The Pech Cultural Center also offers medicinal plant tours, nature hikes, Pech dinners, etc.  There is no admission fee to the cultural center.  Hours: If you ask, they will open it.

COPAN 

COPAN ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

Located in the village of Copan Ruinas, Copan department, the museum exhibits a splendid assortment of Mayan pieces that have been found in the Copan Ruins Archaeological Park just 1 km away.  

LA PUENTE ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

Featuring a sizeable collection of Mayan handicrafts and photographs as well as a room with Japanese antique ceramics, this museum is located at the El Puente Archaeological Site, about an hour's drive from Copan Ruinas. 

MAYAN SEPULTURAS MUSEUM

Inaugurated in 1996, this is the premier Mayan museum in the Mundo Maya, featuring the finest examples of Copan's tombs, sculptures and architecture.  Located at the Copan Ruins Archaeological Park, the museum is open Monday through Sunday.

TELA, ATLANTIDA 

LANCETILLA BOTANICAL GARDENS

Located 2 kilometers from Tela on the Atlantic coast highway, the gardens feature one of the largest collections of tropical and subtropical plants, shrubs and trees in all Latin America.  It is open from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Mondays through Sundays.  There is an admission charge.

LA CEIBA, ATLANTIDA 

TROPICAL BUTTERFLY FARM

The Tropical Butterfly Farm & Gardens of La Ceiba is open to the public Wednesday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  The farm is located at The Lodge at Pico Bonito in the village of El Pino, about 25 minutes west of La Ceiba.  Admission is Lps. 30 for adults, Lps. 15 for children and $6 for international visitors. 

BUTTERFLY AND INSECT MUSEUM

Thousands of butterflies and insects from Honduras and 18 other countries are on display in La Ceiba' private Butterfly and Insect Museum.  It is located in Colonia El Sauce, 2nd etapa, casa G-12.  Visiting hours are 8-12 and 2-5, Monday through Saturday.  The museum is closed Wednesday afternoon.  Fees are Lps. 15 for adults and Lps. 10 for students.  Tel. 442-2874, e-mail: rlehman@ns.gbm.hn

TRUJILLO 

TRUJILLO RUFINO GALAN MUSEUM

A private museum which has a memorabilia section, old chairs, anchors, silverware, beds of famous people locally.  There is an industrial archaeology section on how lights, axes, stoves, sewing machines, typewriters have changed over time.  They have a good collection of Garifuna handicrafts and the best collection of NE Honduras archaeological pieces -- all unmarked.  A written guide to the museum is available at the Trujillo Tourism Office in English and Spanish.  The museum is open 8 to 4, closing for lunch.  Adults Lps. 20, children Lps. 10.  Located on Calle 18 de Mayo, next to the Crystales River and the famous "piscina" or pool, about a 15-minute walk out of town.

ROATAN, THE BAY ISLANDS 

CARAMBOLA BOTANICAL GARDENS

h located in Sandy Bay, Roatan, Bay Islands.  A wide variety of exotic plants is featured here, including "Roatan's most extensive orchid collection."  It is open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.  For more information, call 445-1117 and ask for Bill or Irma Brady. 

BAY ISLANDS MUSEUM

A private museum at Anthony's Key Resort, Sandy Bay, Roatan, Bay Islands, it mostly includes archaeological pieces, but there is a small section on the modern Bay Islanders.  Museum admission is included in the cost of the dolphin show at Anthony Key's Institute of Marine Sciences.  Small buses or taxis will take you to Sandy Bay from most Roatan towns.

Monday, February 17, 2003 Online Edition 7

Free Trade: The great oxymoron

Note: Oxymoron is a semantic condition where an adjective is applied to a noun but the combination of words creates a paradox, such as, a “square circle.”

During the first 5,000 years of human history, the more powerful nation-states would simply enter, conquer and loot the weaker ones. Now, we create more sophisticated instruments such as “Free Trade Agreements.” They should be called Fair Trade Agreements, then the objective would be clear, because there’s nothing free in trade.

In this day and age, you would expect a Free Trade Agreement between the disparate states of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) to include an enormous section devoted to technology transfer. Instead, it includes an enormous section devoted to intellectual property rights, because they’ve got to protect companies like Microsoft and Sony Music. After all, poor guys…

According to Stanford technology law professor Lawrence Lessig, the idea that copyright exists for the benefit of artists, musicians, writers or programmers is now laughable. New laws such as the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act are “not speaking for those who create, but those who hold massive amounts of copyright.”

Five record companies now control 85 percent of music distribution and in 2002, IBM was the company that registered the most patents. Most of the times, these patents are simply swallowed up into a bureaucratic “Black Hole” and the original artist or programmer is left in a dried out limbo. Irish native and Freenet inventor Ian Clarke said he hopes Freenet and other free download sites will help artists and programmers distribute their works and find an audience and market for them. But, he admitted, Freenet will probably come under legal attack “when it gets big enough” as did Napster, Gnutella and FastTrack.

Because copyright law now also precludes “derivative use” of copyright material, people cannot develop new material based on copyrighted work without permission. This restriction stymies technological innovation, as developers cannot follow the long-established practice of taking existing code and enhancing it to produce something new.

Developing countries face various vicious cycles regarding IT. Both the cost of computers and standard software, such as an operating system [OS] or office package, are well beyond the means of most individuals and organizations. For instance, the cost of Windows XP and MS Office is only two percent of the United States GDP but a whopping 25 percent of the average Honduran’s yearly income. As a consequence, developing countries, either forfeit benefiting from technological advances and thus miss the “IT revolution” or they simply infringe copyright laws.

Besides being expensive, Microsoft’s new OS and programs also tend to grow ever more demanding in terms of processing power and hard disk capacity, rendering computers largely outdated after only a few years. Developing countries cannot afford either this second vicious cycle of constant upgrading and investment, or the alternative — obsolescence. Yet, there seems to be little alternative to the current status quo.

Enter Open Source Software (OSS). Today the fastest growing operating system is Linux, an OSS based on Unix, and Java, an OSS programming language, powers the Internet. But our universities are sadly lacking in Linux or Java professionals to help lead the way out of technological obsolescence. Honduras is lacking technological leadership because there is no support for investments in technical and scientific innovation. Can we make a fair trade agreement with the United States under these circumstances?

To support a CTC network in Honduras, write to: jgallardo515@yahoo.com

Monday, February 10, 2003 Online Edition 6

A three dimensional man on Roatan supports local communities

Larry Schlesser with his wife Nancy on Roatan.

By EVA BROOKS

ROATAN — Larry Schlesser came to Roatan with his wife Nancy a little over three years ago. As he made contacts, connections and developed friendships, his love and respect for Roatan and its people deepened. Larry began to contribute in three very important ways: as an intelligent businessman, as a specialist in real estate, and as a constructive advocate for Roatan. He has created a visiting center for rapid orientation, essential for cruise ship passengers and other short-term visitors. He also organized with his wife Nancy, a Children’s Library of some 300 books in Sandy Bay, which has been much appreciated by the Flowers Bay community.

As a former teacher it is easy to appreciate the potential wide range of benefits of the children’s library. Larry’s work in the Flowers Bay community may have long term consequences and will definitely aid reading, comprehension and listening skills for the children lucky enough to attend it. Every Wednesday and Saturday, volunteers read to the children in small groups, ask questions about the story and emphasize to the young listeners the importance of paying attention. Computer games and board games are also provided. Mothers are usually attended also, often picking up teaching techniques to try at home.

The community’s mothers especially impressed Larry, “ they never read Dr. Spock or any other child rearing experts. They are deeply religious and community oriented, they hang together, support each other and their life revolves around their children, their families and their church. They accept what they have and don’t ask for more.”

The community of Flowers Bay and its Reverend Bernard Duncan were appreciative from the beginning. “They accepted and enjoyed the help offered and welcomed the American from Chicago with open arms,” says Larry.

During the following years the Schlesser’s invested as much as US$ 30,000 to renovate the church, and the building next to the church, which now houses the library, and a community center. Both Nancy and Larry are deeply involved in this project and take pride in the fact that the Flower’s Bay Methodist Church is the oldest building on Roatan, some say over 200 years old. It is easily spotted by air or sea on the Southwest shoreline of the island.

For years residents promoting tourism have been talking and wishing for a Tourist Visitor’s Center. Just a few weeks ago Larry has opened such a center. It is right off the main highway in Sandy Bay behind the white gate adjacent to the cemetery perhaps 12 minutes from the airport and ten minutes from the cruise ship dock. According to Larry’s research 75% of the cruise ship visitors travel towards West End, Anthony’s Key, Garambola Gardens and the various great eateries along the way.

The Visiting Center is housed in an utterly charming hand build adobe cottage. A friendly islander acts as the hostess. She is well versed in all aspects of Roatan’s ins and outs. She can suggest restaurants, sight seeing spots, such as the Iguana Farm, the Butterfly Garden and also how to get around by local busses to learn a lot about the real Roatan. As well as what tour operators are available, how to deal with the island’s cabs, and how to find the most interesting gift shop and where to swim with the dolphins. She has maps, brochures and magazines readily available. Roatan and its promoters should be pleased with Larry’s timely and accessible Visitor’s Center in Sandy Bay.

And finally, to the third of Larry Schlesser’s dimensions. He is after all an experienced realtor. I asked him, “Why Roatan?” “In the States everything is in a grid, your street names and house numbers were all determined years ago. It’s all predetermined. But here on Roatan,” he continued, “selling Real Estate is an adventure. You might need a guy with a machete for clearing the land, so a prospective buyer can take a look at it.” Larry is a people person, what he enjoys most is meeting and getting to know a great variety of prospective buyers, from all over the world. While he learns about their specific needs, or sometimes their vague plans, he functions as much as an advisor – a process he enjoys.

Neither does he try to pressure people; “closing that sale” is not uppermost in his mind. Above all, because Larry feels deeply connected with this island and its people, his appreciation for Roatan translates itself to prospective buyers. It may even activate the desire in him or her to want to take roots here and help the island flourish.

Larry Schlesser who could be legitimately called a Three Dimensional Man used all his talents in very productive ways. He has helped the Flower’s Bay Community consistently, much like a missionary, he has lent his energy to create a Tourist Visiting Center in Sandy Bay, whose long term benefits we can only speculate over at this point Last but not least, he is doing his part to develop the island as a Realtor.


“No hay tierra sin dueno”:
The dream of Sami Kafati comes true

Journalist Conchita Montoya (right) played one of the characters in the Honduran film “No hay tierra sin dueno”
 

By SUYAPA CARIAS

The “Le Monde” newspaper called it “a superb, intense work, presented with complete sincerity, bringing aesthetic solutions to the political and moral problems it addresses.”
A few lines below, it mentions that “the combination of black and white with the strong Honduran luminosity offers a superb image, showing that the film maker is able to use all possibilities...”

Eighteen years after film maker Sami Kafati began shooting his most important project, “No hay tierra sin dueno,” the results of his efforts are finally showing, thanks to the determination of his wife and son, Norma and Ramses Kafati, who decided to pick up the unconcluded dream of their late beloved, and turn it into a reality.

Sami Kafati´s wife, Norma Kafati, supported her husband throughout the entire adventure.

Last December, assistants to the 24th Festival of the Three Continents were able to see the world premier of this Honduran film in the city of Nantes, France, where it was received with great admiration and sympathy by film critics and film-lovers. This month, the movie will come to Honduran theaters after a successful screening at the International Festival of the New Latin American Movie in Havana, Cuba.

A long way before hitting the screen

Indeed, “No hay tierra sin dueno,” which in English means “There is no land without an owner,” has come a long way since 1985. It all began in the mind of Sami, who devoted long hours to write, adapt, shoot, produce, direct and edit the film, despite suffering from a deadly cardiac illness. “He was the entire production company,” said Ramses, who visited HTW last week.

At a time when the movie industry was basically non-existent in Honduras (only now the country is taking it’s first steps in this field), Sami took the challenge all by himself, and with the cooperation of friends, theater actors and intellectuals, he gave birth to his passionate adventure.

“No hay tierra sin dueno,” addresses the problems faced in Latin America concerning land titles and other social injustices, especially seen in the countryside. For three years, Kafati and his cast, conformed of a group of talented Hondurans who had no previous experience in films, managed to get together after work or school to shoot the scenes.

After the shooting was done, Sami traveled to New York City to have the film developed at the Duart Laboratories. He was now able to start cutting the copy of the film negatives, a phase that took several years to finish, as he struggled to cover all the expenses and overcome his delicate health condition. “He was really exhausted at the end,” commented Ramses.

Shortly after, in 1996, Sami passed away, at age 58, but his dream remained alive in the hearts of Norma and Ramses. In 1998, Ramses contacted some of his father’s friends in Chile, where renowned editor Carmen Brito agreed to check out the material, and cut the original negatives to complete the final edition. She concluded this job in the year 2000. The already damaged sound was also restored.

A French touch
It was then time to do the post-production work, which is also the most expensive part. Fortunately, the Kafati’s found out about the Southern Fund Commission of the National Film Center in France, an entity run by that nation´s government. After competing with many other movies from Africa and Asia, “No hay tierra sin dueno” was selected by the Commission to receive the technical support needed to finish the project.

Once the movie was ready, it was registered at the Three Continents Festival, where it was officially selected to participate, and was finally released last November. “I think this is a beautiful gift, a patrimony of the Latin American movie industry,” emphasized Ramses.

While “No hay tierra sin dueno” has already made it in France and Cuba, this month, viewers in Honduras will have the opportunity to honor the late and so talented Kafati by watching this excellent production in local cinemas.

“The movie has drama, comedy, tragedy, sex, love and social commentary,” says Norma Kafati, without hiding her mixed feelings of sadness and satisfaction around his husband’s film. The cast and crew include Jose Luis Lopez, Saul Toro, Virgilio Guardiola, Daniel Vasquez, Conchita Montoya, Maricela Bustillo, Miguel Martinez, Francisco Andino and others.

About Sami Kafati
Born in Palestine in 1936, Sami moved to Honduras when his father decided to try his luck in Latin America. Then a young boy, he brought his eight-millimeter projector with him.
In 1963, with no formal training, he made a short film titled “Mi Amigo Angel,” which became the first Honduran movie. Afterwards, he traveled to Italy to study film, and was strongly influenced by neo-realism. He then moved to Chile in search of a career, and worked in special documentaries.

Back in Honduras, he raised money by making television advertisements as well as documentaries. Once he purchased the necessary equipment, Sami introduced Honduras to the movie world, and his legacy will remain forever.
For more information, see the website www.nohay tierrasindueno.com

First Honduran popular song festival

By SUYAPA CARIAS

With the purpose of stimulating national composers and performers to write and sing original Honduran songs, the Nacional de Ingenieros Foundation for the Development of Sports together with the Ministry of Culture and the Embassy of China are preparing the First Song Festival entitled “Honduras Also Sings” (Honduras tambien canta).

Sixteen singers from Tegucigalpa, Santa Rosa de Copan, Juticalpa, Santa Barbara, La Ceiba, the Bay Islands, Danli, Cedros and San Pedro Sula will participate in the festival programmed for February 14.

During a press conference held this week in the capital city, the Minister of Culture Mireya Batres regretted the fact that 99 percent of the music we hear on national radio stations today is foreign. “Honduras is a country with tremendous musical potential that deserves all the support we can provide, although this is just the first festival, we intend to turn this activity into something permanent with representatives from every department,” she said.

This year most of the songs presented will originate from a Latin American repertoire. Starting next year, however, they will request original compositions, said Jorge Alvarez, the president of the organizing committee.

Moreover, all funds raised from the event will be used to finance sport activities among children and teenagers from poor sectors. “We will promote a basketball championship among public schools starting in March,” said Lily de Lopez, the foundation’s president.
At the end of the festival, the public will be able to enjoy a dancing party to celebrate Saint Valentine’s Day.

The first edition of “Honduras Tambien Canta” will take place at the Nacional de Ingenieros Coliseum starting at 7 p.m. “This project will help the Honduran people find and strengthen their own musical identity”, said Chinese Press Attaché Juan Carlos Yang. For more details see the Maya Calendar.

Monday, February 3, 2003 Online Edition 5

Ted Danger and the raiders of the lost city: La Ciudad Blanca

Walking on the wild side: Ted Danger facing adventures in the La Mosquita region, Honduras in the search for the ancient city,Ciudad Blanca

By JONATHAN MARCIANO

Like Indiana Jones, the Honduran equivalent lives more than just high-octane adventurism in remote, and exotic locations. Indiana’s sanctuary in the movies is the university classroom, teaching admiring wide-eyed students the pitfalls of learning archaeology by the book. Meanwhile, the man making a small reputation searching for treasure and surprises in the sprawling, mysterious La Mosquita region in Honduras has his fair share of other pursuits.

His name, Ted Danger, an inconceivably theatrical stage title comes from doing the rounds of the professional magician circuit. Less glamorously, he has been a licensed real estate agent, a locksmith, a taxi driver in San Francisco, and a diving instructor in the Bay Islands of Honduras. Last year Danger hit the unbeaten path of La Mosquita into the heart of the 835,000 hectare Rio Platano Reserve of Man Biosphere with a film crew, interpreters and native inhabitants of the jungle in toe.
His aim is to chart the Honduran heart of darkness, searching, in true boys-own style for the land’s most secret hidden treasures.

Commercially driven, to a degree that would baffle Indiana Jones, Danger hopes to market the region, its adventure, (and himself), returning to the Rio Platano Biosphere. He treads the path led by more seasoned explorers dating back to Hernan Cortes in 1526. Many were led to adventure into the wild region, looking as Danger is for the ancient walled city, Ciudad Blanca. Its location is uncertain, shrouded in folklore. Honduran cartographer, Jesus Aguilar could not pinpoint the city. He merely placed the name Ciudad Blanca on the map, tentatively drawing a bold question mark on the spot.

Financial constraints have put pay to other failed expeditions to find the city. Danger intends that his 28-minute video of his quest, analyzing the history and opportunity in the region receives swift distribution.

Foreign explorer Ted Danger is fascinated in giving the myths of Ciudad Blanca a concrete foundation. He shares the passion for learning and raw experience common to famous adventurers and adrenaline-junkies. “I am autodidactic,” says Danger. “I learn independently.”

He suffers the wrath of professional archaeologists who often disassociate themselves with his rough methods, and lack of formal archaeological training. His ‘blacklisting’, in his words in the community is mentioned as a source of pride, and gritty against-the odds adventurism.

The Honduran adventure began in 1992. Bored of life in San Franciso, Danger put his magic tricks back in the chest, and spent most of his money buying equipment to go mining. “I met a guy who had finished reading a book, on finding gold in Honduran forests, by the author of the French Connection,” he says.

“It made me decide to mine gold in the Mosquita region in a deal with Homestake Mining.” The company paid for the mining for months. But the exploration proved a commercial failure. “We brought back 15 rock samples, four had gold content,” he says.

Despite taking a senior geologist along, all the dig brought forth was barely enough to provide the ring on his left hand, and a gold filling, glinting at a sorry and expensive tale.

But the area exerted a grip on his imagination. during the trips Danger recalls seeing artifacts in the shape of a serpent, linked to the past. Danger beavered away in finding a way to look again at the region. Inspiration came at the Bancroft Library, part of UC Berkley.

“I came across references to a legendary lost city at Mosquita,” explains Danger. “It is named Ciudad Blanca, or the White City. It showed artifacts that must have some history behind them.”

Particular research ignited his interest, “References were found to a group known as hombres Ra, possible guardians of lost treasure. These people were famously tall in appearance. There is very little real historical reference to be found. Legend has it that they were cannibals and ritually ate a child of one of the Pech leaders (Their contemporaries in the region). ”

In retaliation, the Pech ended the gang war with Hombres Ra it is recorded, killing them off by poisoning their wells.

The United Nations has listed the Rio Platano Biosphere as a world heritage site in 1969. The site is 835,000 hectare wide, and in parts is incredibly dense. Danger consults with the Ministry of Tourism on his travels. He has been picked to represent New Forms of Digital Media, to further perform reconnaissance on its potential. Further taskforces may provide commercial gold. “There are some interested in the Cacao fields inside the biosphere. I am interested in magnetic anomalies, and it is difficult to find the cause,” says Danger.

“The final film from the Mosquita is an amazing film,” states Danger. He is confident that the richness of the land can be appreciated by the country. “Most of the interesting historical sites are recognized. Copan, a world-famous region of ancient Mayan ruins) in fact was purchased for $50, by Stevens and Catthawood, explorers in the jungle, who bought the whole site.”

The short story is that Danger did not though succeed against the odds, where other more seasoned explorers such as Astor Acosta failed. The White City was not found.

He claims that greater treasures were discovered, and illumination. There are medicinal plants, broths and medicines vividly brought to life in Technicolor by the natives in the film, and narrated in Danger’s loud San Franciscan accent. “You see fire-flies that change from orange to green,” he says. ‘Then there are poisonous hand-sized bullet ants’.
“Some of these they say die on their back. They then release a seed that becomes a vine.”

“The area is only accessible by mules. To me it all is very exciting and strange.”

The film also touches on the rape of the Biosphere in the shape of black-market looting of the fabled white city. “They are forever taking pieces out of it. It is seen as a way to survive without killing anyone.”

“It takes professionals to arrange to sell it. There is a thriving pre-Columbian antiquities market. My thoughts on looters are that most upsetting is that when a piece is taken it is not catalogued, and it has no source or history. An American was arrested and tried recently, given a jail sentence. There are laws but they are not always enforced. The buzz word is ‘cultural patrimony’, they are items that belong to the culture and the people in general.”

The principal technical assessor of the Park, employed by BRP says: ‘There are a dozen park rangers enforcing the park.’

However, he admits, hunting of animals like jaguars remains prevalent. Danger tells of a traveler offered three baby jaguars.

“We try to make propaganda, and educational campaigns,” says a spokesman wistfully.

“We are linking projects to social infrastructure,” safeguarding it for “every man, woman and child in the country,” he says.
T
he biosphere’s so-called ‘nuclear zone’ is under renovation. Teams attempt to save endangered species. Several inhabitants are being relocated. By the end of the year, many will be relocated.

Ted Danger sees this as a way to enforce the laws. It can only help in his efforts to change the question mark on the old Honduran treasure map to a bold cross. ‘X’ of course as any opportunistic treasure hunter, like Danger will tell you marks the spot.

Off and On

Recently, Mrs. Maduro, the First Lady, expressed interest in acting on behalf of derelict youths that roam our streets. Many times the focus of these efforts is in simply getting them off the street, when the focus should be on turning them into citizens that contribute to the nations well-being. We invite Mrs. Maduro and all well-intentioned persons interested in contributing to this problem to learn about technology projects that have helped similar youths around the world.

The first Community Technology Center (CTC) was created in 1983 in East Harlem and was called “Playing to Win”. It was the first public access computer facility in the United States to be located in a low-income neighborhood. Today, more than 1,000 such centers exist. These organizations have grouped as CTCNet, producing in due course an outstanding manual with more than 15 years experience on starting, operating, supporting, and sustaining neighborhood technology access programs. You can visit their website at www.ctcnet.org.

Also, we suggest you visit www.techsoup.org which provides resources to starting or operating Centers. In includes a full teaching course, with trainer, student and resource manuals, for the volunteers that work in these Centers. CTCs can be well-organized and well-operated in record time, thanks to the contributions of these donors. But the real-life success stories that these Centers can contribute are a true inspiration for any well-intentioned person with means and resources, as is the case of the First Lady of a nation.

In a closer experience with derelict youth in developing countries, we invite you to visit the Kidlink Houses at http://www.kidlink.org/. Brazil was the first country where Kidlink experimented new ways of introducing a social agenda into the Kidlink experience by creating points of access - or KHouses - where poor children could be connected and offered access to the Kidlink educational curriculum and program. The KHouse is a house, a cultural center, with doors open to the public, with a computer lab, and connections to the Internet. It is similar to existing community ‘telecenters,’ or Internet cafés. The Khouses often are also part time schools as they are housed in university or private computer labs that occupy the space by day and cede the space to Kidlink at night or during the weekend. They have worked successfully with projects for street kids in Mexico City, Brazil, and recently in Bolivia. They are searching for partners to establish more centers in Latin America. Kidlink projects are supported by the World Bank.

The Intel Computer Clubhouse is a successful model that uses technology creatively to enable under-served youth to acquire the tools, problem solving skills, and confidence necessary for successful lives. In partnership with the Museum of Science, Boston, its award-winning Computer Clubhouse, and the MIT Media Lab, Intel will support the establishment of 100 Intel Computer Clubhouses in under-served communities worldwide. The goal of the Intel Computer Clubhouse Network is to proliferate the highly successful Clubhouse learning model and establish it as a replicable model for technology learning. Over five years, the Intel Computer Clubhouse Network will touch the lives of more than 50,000 young people.

Finally, at the Sustained Development Observatory, a site funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) at this site: www.sdnp.undp.org/observatory/, there is a menu option about “Telecenters” which presents news items about how CTCs are being used to help people around the world, specially in Africa and Asia.

For 20 years, community technology centers have demonstrated success in helping poor and street youths acquire the knowledge and abilities to become successful members of society. We hope this brief report will help all good hearted people find a way to help needy youths in Honduras.

To support a CTC network in Honduras, write to: jgallardo515@yahoo.com

Honduras given timely injection of funds to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria

By JONATHAN MARCIANO

Honduras is to receive a $20.5 million injection of funds towards the fighting of AIDS, TB and malaria, as part of a Global Fund package announced this week. The Geneva–based Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria announced the signing of an $108m agreement to fund programs combating the spread of the diseases in six countries- China, Honduras, Laos, Malawi, Morocco and Sri Lanka.

The agreement is the first in a round of proposals approved by the board of the Global Fund, committing $616 million over the next two years to battling the sharp rise of cases. The $20.5 million check to Honduras represents one of the largest amounts ever granted to a Latin American country, reflecting the serious situation. Historically the majority of the Global Fund purse goes to African countries which are ravaged, particularly by AIDS.

“These signings demonstrate that the systems of the Global Fund are up and running”, said Richard Feachem, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “This is a strong start to 2003 as we take the Fund from operation to achievement, delivering to communities all over the world and supporting the common fight against these three deadly diseases.”

Ricardo Maduro, President of the Republic of Honduras, used the opportunity to stress his commitment to eradicating the illnesses in Honduras, “Today we are fulfilling our people’s mandate”, he said. “AIDS is a world reality”.

The Global Fund is an independent, public-private partnership. It aims to dramatically increase funding, building prevention and treatment programs in countries at the greatest risk from the diseases. Jove Oliver, a spokesman for the Global Fund described the Honduran proposal as “particularly impressive,” under the Fund’s criteria, which includes the need for a clear and sustainable program, an effort to make quality drugs and products available at cheap prices, and the ending of stigmatization and discrimination against those infected with the illness in these countries.

The first known Honduran victim of AIDS died in May 1985. Since then over 8200 cases have been diagnosed.

The World Health Organization estimates that almost two percent of adult Hondurans have the HIV virus. San Pedro Sula, in Honduras is considered the AIDS capital of Central America. Honduras, with only 16 percent of Central America’s population, has 60 percent of its AIDS cases. Of the cases of disease reported in Central America as a whole, 28 percent are Malaria, and 30 percent, TB.

The rise of AIDS in Honduras is partly through the repeated use of disposable needles. Hondurans in poor areas rather than visit a doctor built up a traditional backstreet medical service, paying 50 cents a time to those advertising ‘injections applied’, and no questions asked. Nurses and hospital aides collected disposable syringes and needles from hospital trash baskets taking them home to their moonlighting business.

Maralee Garcia, Honduran representative of the Global Fund added, “The grant is part of a combination of the health ministry, society and health organizations fighting disease on three fronts, and bringing internal attention to those living with such diseases in Honduras.” The funds principal aim to cut TB and AIDS by 25 percent in the country, and bring instances of Malaria down to 50 percent.

Operation Smile returns to Honduras this month

By SUYAPA CARIAS

TEGUCIGALPA — What began in 1997 has since become a tradition, and this year will be no exception. On February 13 and 14, volunteers from Canada, Venezuela, Panama, the United States and Honduras will gather at the San Felipe Hospital in Tegucigalpa to screen all the children present, and select and perform free reconstructive surgery on 120 of them.

Scheduled from February 13 to 26, this will be the seventh international mission held by the members of this non-profit medical organization to the country. So far, a total of 1,136 patients, mostly children born with cleft lip and palate, have benefited through this ongoing cause both during the main international missions, as well as in smaller missions that have been conducted exclusively by Honduran personnel.

The 2003 mission will be headed by Venezuelan plastic surgeon Wilfredo Martinez. Together with his Honduran colleague Oscar Sarmiento, medical director of Operation Smile Honduras, Martinez will be conducting the surgeries programmed from February 17 to 21 in all of the hospital’s five operating rooms.

Consulted by HTW, Sarmiento encouraged parents from all over the country, especially from the rural areas, to come and give their children a chance to have their lives changed positively forever. Nevertheless, he recommended not to bring children under three months old, as their weight is generally too low to administer anesthesia.

“It is important for children to be as healthy as possible, if they have any type of lung or cardiac problems, it would not be safe for them to be operated on.” However, children who do not make it to the selection list this year will have the opportunity to receive surgery in the near future, as the San Felipe hospital is almost ready to open a permanent clinic for this purpose, with the additional support of the Ministry of Health and the hospital’s pro-help foundation (Comite Pro Ayuda).

People who do not reside in Tegucigalpa and do not have family or the money to pay a hotel while in the capital city, are welcome to stay at the shelter that stands across the street from the hospital, where they will only have to pay a symbolic fee if they can. The Comite manages the shelter.

According to the statistics provided to HTW, each surgery has an approximate cost of US$750, but this work is done for free thanks to the cooperation and joint efforts of many enterprises, institutions and volunteers in the U.S. and Honduras, including the Rotary Club, that participate with enthusiasm in giving these persons a new life through their own smile.

It is estimated that one in every 600 children is born with the congenital anomaly in developing countries. A specific cause has not been identified yet, but experts are convinced that factors such as the mother’s malnutrition, alcohol and drugs consumed by one or both parents, exposure to some agricultural chemical products as well as hereditary factors, are related to this health problem.

For more information, call the Social Work department in San Felipe Hospital at 236-9268, or the Operation Smile Honduras offices at 235-7719, 235-7988.