The Drum Beat 21 - Colombia

COUNTRY CONTEXT



1. Colombia is a multicultural country of 40 million people. 70% live in urban areas. Commonly identified with drugs, in general, Colombia has a solid economy, democratic politics, high literacy and innovative development programmes. From 1997 there has been an economic crisis with high unemployment. There are 25,000 violent deaths a year, mostly from criminal, including intrafamiliar, violence. NGO and civil society organizations are strong. The 1991 Constitution put consultation and participation at the heart of political and civil life. A long term war between the armed forces, guerillas and para-militaries continues.

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CONVIVENCIA



2. Peace is the top priority for development organizations. The majority
work for "Convivencia" - "conviviality", living in peace, in harmony, in a
spirit of civility and tolerance - a positive vision for Colombia's social
fabric.



COMMUNICATION TRENDS



3. 98% of people access TV. 50% of educational institutions have TVs and
VCRs. Children watch 2.5 hours of TV a day. 30% of programming is imported.
Radio reaches everyone. There are many newspapers. A strong cultural
tradition exists across the many ethnic and geographic communities.
Ownership and control of media are rapidly moving to the private sector.
The two main TV channels no longer have public service slots. In 1998 3 new
TV national channels were allocated to major economic groups. There has
been a similar trend in radio. The major newspapers are now becoming
involved in large scale multi-media operations.



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PROGRAMMES



4. CISALVA - Institute for the Research and Development of the Prevention
of Violence and Promotion of Social Conviviality - Cali - Collects real
life stories of peaceful conflict resolution and communicates those stories
through placements in popular local mass media to prompt positive
discussion and action on problems of violence and health. Photonovellas
carrying these stories are distributed in partnership with corner shops and
beauty parlours. In football the "blue card" - "time out" for aggressive
conduct - has been introduced. A community bulletin 'Con-Vivencias'
["sharing life experiences"] includes: Historias Reales [Real Stories]; and
la Comunidad Habla [the Community Talks].



Luis Fernando Velez Pelaez cisalva@mafalda.eduvalle.edu.co

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5. Fundacion Social - national - Mission includes: "to aid social, moral
and economic improvement of the working classes - help the poor develop
their potential...with initiative, decision-making capacity and control..."
The Fundacion's work is not the sum of 'small or local' developments, but a
"way of seeing" development ("una mirada del desarrollo"). Focus is on
"construction of Integrated Local Development". 200 "workers for change" in
marginal communities in seven cities support people having a voice and
influence in development planning - eg the city government. Communication
is integral to all action, including: Education for community "formation"
through dialogue with leaders/decision makers and community communication
based on "ludico" [artistic, expressive, playful].



Dario Angel/German Rey rey@fundacion-social.com.co

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6. PROYECTO 2000 - national - The Minister of Communication, Mrs. Claudia
de Francisco, is guiding Proyecto 2000, a policy shift from a focus on
telecommunications to a "Ministry of Knowledge". Special attention is being
paid to training decision makers in communication for development and
access to information, including facilitating community access to
information technology. Compaq donated 200 computer "nodes" for access to
the Internet for schools and community centers.



Alberto Lopez cons2000@mincomunicaciones.gov.co

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7. Colegio de Cuerpo - Cartagena - the "Healing Power of Dance" - works
with young people on using the body for the reconstruction of the social
fabric through conviviality and tolerance. Young people come from schools
in the working class sector and the barrio Nelson Mandela, a squatter
district that concentrates all the families displaced from the war in the
north of Colombia.



Alvaro Restrepo/Marie France Delieuvin mafer@fnpi.org

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8. Medios para la Paz [Media for Peace] - national - brings together
journalists for reflection on the role of journalism in a country in
conflict. Seeks to disarm language (desamar la palabra) and break the
passivity and indifference of the mass media and civil society on armed
conflict and peace. Action includes: workshops providing journalists space
for discussion and reflection on their profession; tertulias (discussion
groups) with experts on conflict and peace issues; 'Press Club' for
off-the-record discussions with key 'actors' in the conflict; and
'encounters' with Directors and Owners of the Media.



Gloria de Castro medipaz@col1.telecom.com.co

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9. Convivencia Ciudadana - Bogota - Mayor's Office seeking to improve the
sense of belonging in a city of 8 million with high inward migration rates
and criminality. Working to recapture public space for citizens. The slogan
is "Bogota is 2600 meters closer to the stars". Activities include no-car
Sundays, free Sunday access to galleries and museums and mass participation
In-the-Park events - eg Salsa, Rock, Rap, Tango. "Rumba Sana" [healthy
partying] is part of the drug/alcohol programme. Fora for communities to
discuss and advocate actions by the city. "Bogota en el Umbral" (Bogota in
the threshold) is the related project for the celebration of the millenium
(1999-2000).



Adrianna Mejia Fax 571 336 5829

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10. Colnodo - national - provides electronic communication services and
facilitates exchange of information and experiences with sustainable
development and human rights organizations. Two main projects are: The
Sustainable Development Network; and, "Neighbourhood Information Units" -
placing new technologies in low income barrios to facilitate telling the
stories of the barrio, sharing community experiences and participating in
the relationship of the barrio to the city.



Julian Casabuenas julian@colnodo.apc.org

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11. The Escuela de Communication Social - Universidad del Valle - Cali -
For the School, communication "is not the space of a discipline
...[but]...the centre of a philosophical, aesthetic and sociological
reflection...on the crisis of contemporary reason and modern society". The
academic programme 'forms' social communicators who [can] not only
understand the problems and processes of communication, but also offer
solutions that coincide with social needs and social demands...are able to
value and stimulate processes of cultural production...and, can handle
critical analytical tools to approach the communication process... The
School is also involved in: Telepacifico, the regional public service
broadcaster; and the community radio network on the Pacific coast.



Contact - Fernando Calero vrex@mafalda.univalle.edu.co

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12. Telemedellin - Medellin - The only local public service TV channel in
Colombia - funded by major public institutions in Medellin. Since 1997 it
has developed a reputation for alternative, quality programming that
facilitates space for dialogue and cultural self-recognition. Participation
and dialogue are central to all of Telemedillin's locally produced
programming, which include: Telemedelin es una nota' - Telemedellin is cool
- supporting homework activities; Metropolitanas' - positive, analytical
treatment of the 'news of the day'; and 'Vida en Video' (Life on Video) -
open space for videos made by the viewers.



Ana Cristina Navarro anavarro@epm.net.co

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13. Primera Convoctoria [First edition] - Iberoamericana Awards for
Communication on the Rights of The Child - cosponsored by the UNICEF
Regional Office [based in Bogota], AGENCIA EFE [Spanish News Agency] and
the Spanish Committee for UNICEF. Awards recognise the work of journalists
and social communicators promoting respect for the rights of the child.
Awards include: The Grand Award and Press, Radio, Television and Graphics
Awards.



Contact: Salvador Herencia - sherenci@unicef.org

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PEOPLE



14. Dr. Jesus Martin-Barbero is a distinguished communication scholar. He
challenges the dominant thinking and paradigms in this field. Excerpts from
the full interview on the web site include: "communication was really never
the starting point. The starting point ... was a political project. I
generally perceive in the First World some sort of belief that
communication processes are the same all over... In Latin America we have
been always aware...to be able to understand communication one can only do
it from the specific culture of those that 'do or make' communication".



Full interview: Click here.



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For Programmes, Impact Data and Communication Trends

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For Planning Frameworks

Click here.



***



The material for this Drum Beat was collected and drafted by Adelaida
Trujillo-Caicedo adelaidatrujillo@cable.net.co from Citurna Productions. Many thanks to Adelaida and all involved.