REPUBLICA DE COLOMBIAIMPORTANCE OF COLOMBIA

Alejandro RestrepoGeology 40005/02/2013

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MAPS OF COLOMBIA

COLOMBIA COLOMBIA WITH RELEVANCE TO “SPANISH AMERICA”

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY Located in Northern South America Borders Panama, Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru, and

Brazil Only South American country with coastlines on both

the Pacific and Atlantic ocean Area comparative : slightly less than twice the size of

Texas Very Tropical climate Rich in natural resources (petroleum, coal, iron, gold,

natural gas, emeralds, copper) Tropical climate (equatorial country)

A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY Prior to Spanish colonization, Colombia was

inhabited by local Native Indian tribes 1525 begins Spanish Colonization

Exploited for its massive amounts of gold and other natural resources

Originally named Vice Royalty of Nueva Granada

Later became Gran Colombia (Ecuador, Venezuela, Panama, Colombia)

Bogota uprising 20 de Julio, 1810

SIMON BOLIVAR : THE LIBERATOR 1819 secured Independence for Gran

Colombia Slowly, but surely Gran Colombia

breaks apart forming individual countries

EL BOGOTAZO Y LA VIOLENCIA Fast forward to 1900’s Colombia has been torn by political violence

and social inequality April 9th, 1948 popular leftist Jorge Eliezer

Gaitan was murdered in Bogota El Bogotazo – massive riots after the death of Gaitan 3000 to 5000 injured or dead in 10 hours of riots

Effects of El Bogotazo spread throughout Colombia, therefore receiving the title “La Violencia”

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EL BOGOTAZO

EL PUEBLO QUERIA MAS! The outcome of the death of Jorge Eliezer Gaitain

HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=T0LY31W84VC

Small clip of some pictures of El Bogotazo

MODERN DAY COLOMBIA Despite the political upheaval and

violence that has consistently tormented the country, Colombia and its people continue to come together, economically and socially

ECONOMY Colombia has a free market economy, very similar

to that of the US Major American and foreign investment Colombia is becoming more and more a

capitalistic society and economy with free trade agreements with neighboring countries and the US

Having two coastlines gives Colombia a huge maritime opportunity for trade, opening up its options for more trade with countries on both sides of the world

ECONOMY CONT. In recent years Colombia has had a an aggressive

expansion of its economy Aggressive free trade with the US and China

Colombia-US Free Trade Agreement, also with Mexico, EU, Japan… Market friendly economic prices have led to…

GDP has grown at a level of more than 4% over the last few years Over a decade of strong performance This due to foreign investment and US aid

Relies heavily on oil export (Ecopetrol) According to heritage.org, Colombia has the 37th freeist

economy in the world

ECONOMIC ISSUES Relies heavily on oil export (Ecopetrol)

Also relies on many other commodities In order to maximize business, Colombia needs to

adjust to the commodities boom Important reforms need to be enacted

Income inequality needs to be reduced Income inequality largely driven by unemployment

and informality Boost productivity and sustain growth

Government policies should be adjusted to promote productivity across the economy

2013 INDEX OF ECONOMIC FREEDOMSLOWLY BUT SURELY…

Gradual increase over time

MAJOR CITIES One interesting feature about Colombia is

that its two most important cities, the capital, Bogota and Medellin are not near the coast

Cartagena, Santa Marta, and Barranquilla are also very important coastal cities A lot of trade comes in and out of these cites, to

include de Port of Buenaventua and Tumaco http://www.worldportsource.com/ports/COL.php

Map of Colombian ports both scattered on the Atlantic and Pacific

BOGOTA Capital and largest city of Colombia

7.3 million people as of 2010 Amongst the 30 largest cities in the world

Center of administrative, economic and political influence in Colombia

MEDELLIN : CUIDAD DE ETERNA PRIMERVA

Located in “El Valle de Aburra” Capital of the Department of Antioquia Northern Andes Mountains Second largest city in Colombia

Population of 2.7 million 3.5 million in the metropolitan area Metropolitan area consists of 9 cities

Medellin, Envigado, Sabaneta, La Estrella, Caldas, Copacabana, Giradota, Barbosa

WSJ named it the world most innovative city

MEDELLIN CONT. Civic spaces Rich culture Increased mobility amongst its citizens

Metro, MetroPlus, MetroCable, highway and tunnel systems through and around the mountains

“The Urban Land Institute said Medellin had seen one of the most remarkable urban turnarounds in modern history.” -BBC

MODERNIZATION IN MEDELLIN

MODERNIZATION CONT.

SANTA MARTA Y CARTAGENA These coastal cities have been driving

Colombian tourism sky high Not only are commodities a big part of the

GDP, but these tropical areas are the destination of many wealthy Latin Americans, Europeans, and now American spring breakers

PUERTO DE BUENAVENTUA

PUERTO DE BUENAVENTURA Key Colombian hub to connect it to the

rest of the world Import/export capital of Colombia Colombia’s busiest and most important

port, located on the Pacific, outside of the city of Cali

Not only a key port used by the Colombian government, but also by drug smugglers to launder money

NEGATIVE IMAGE/CONNATATION Drug violence has consistently given Colombia

a negative image Drug Cartels since the 1970’s have had

enormous power and influence Medellin and Cali Cartel during the 80’s and

early 90’s Guerilla and Paramilitary forces FARC, ELN,

AUC now control the billion dollar cocaine trade

DRUG TRADE… Colombian ports are not only used for legal reasons,

but also for the drug trade (both Pacific and Atlantic ocean)

DRUG TRADE LEADS TO VIOLENCE Colombia, no matter were you go is plagued by

lower class violence While traveling in Medellin in December, there was a

massacre in Medellin between rival gangs, 9 were found dead, including two models

Guerillas use violent force in order to continue to produce cocaine in mountainous areas Fighting for control and legalization of the drug business

Ex president Alvaro Uribe dramatically reduced the influence of both drug cartels and guerilla forces

NOT EVERY THING ABOUT COLOMBIA IS NEGATIVE!

“We already knew Colombians were people with a lot of flavor, delicious dishes and high-spirited, so for many it won’t come as a surprise that being happy and hopeful would also be one of their greatest characteristics.” - Huffington Post

Colombia took first place on the “Global Barometer of Hope and Happiness” Study of 54 countries, 55,718 men and women responded to the question “As

far as you are concerned, do you personally feel happy, unhappy, or neither happy nor unhappy about your life?”

Twice as happy as the global average Colombian, whether in poverty or rich, find ways to remain happy,

optimistic, and enjoy their everyday lives Here is 21 reasons why Colombia is the happiest country in the world

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/17/reasons-colombia-happiest-country_n_2490813.html

TO CONLUDE Although the negative image exists and

will be extremely tough to get rid of that negative stigma, Colombia continues to move forward, no matter what the past may dictate. Not only did I chose to do this topic because I am Colombian, but to also raise awareness of what kind of country Colombia is. Colombia is moving forward economically, politically, and most important socially.

WE WELCOME YOU WITH OPEN ARMS

WORKS CITED CIA World Fact Book. "Central Intelligence Agency." CIA. Central

Intelligence Agency, n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2013. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia. "Colombia." Infoplease.

Infoplease, 2012. Web. 28 Apr. 2013. OECD. "Newsroom - Organisation for Economic Co-operation and

Development." Newsroom - Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. OECD, 31 Jan. 2013. Web. 01 May 2013.

Ramos, Zuania. "Colombia Was Happiest Country In The World By The End Of 2012, Survey Finds." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 07 Jan. 2013. Web. 02 May 2013.

"Colombia Official Travel Guide." Colombia Travel: Official Guide. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 May 2013.

W, T. "Why Is Less Cocaine Coming From Colombia?" The Economist. The Economist Newspaper, 2 Apr. 2013. Web. 01 May 2013.