A Warning Shake

Office workers on an unscheduled break today along Ave. Jimenez.

Bogotá's office workers received an unscheduled break this afternoon when an earthquake centered on Santander, near the Venezuelan border, was felt in Bogotá. There were no reports of injuries or serious damage in Bogotá, altho some towns in Santander reported widespread structural damage.

The mild quake served notice that, altho earthquakes are rare here, they do happen, and can be powerful. Bogotá is built on a wetland, and the next powerful quake which hits here will inform us about the structural integrity of its high-rises.

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours

From Disaster - Generosity

Instead of self pity - generosity

A lot's been written about the maturity and fortitude with which the Japanese people have handled the triple earthquake/tidal wave/nuclear disaster which has battered the nation. There've always been plenty of reasons to admire the Japanese (as well as lots of ugly things in Japanese history): from a nation in ruins after World War II, with few natural resources except their people, they came back to create the world's second-largest economy. 

A few years from now, this mega-disaster will be a bad memory and Japan will come back better and stronger than ever (and, hopefully, nuclear power will too.)

Amidst all of these needs at home, the amazing Japanese people are still sticking to their foreign aid commitments. Even while Japan's own hospitals are overwhelmed, Japan just donated 700 million pesos in equipment - about US $380,000 - to four Colombian hospitals. 

Of course, Japan can still use help, and here's how: http://www.globalgiving.org/

More than money or equipment, people across the developing world ought to look toward Japan as a model for building a strong democracy and economy, without reliance on natural resources - which inevitably become exhausted.

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours