Puerto Rico Sun

New Years Wishes Originally uploaded by Pandarine . Photo by "Pandarine." View her collection at flickr. For my Puerto Rico Sun friends, happy new year!! Peace, love, joy, happiness, health, wealth and everything good in the new year. Clarisel

Oceano Atlantico Visto desde El Yunque Photo by Gilda D. Padilla, puertoricosun Originally uploaded by clarisel .

SOURCE: Hispanic PR WIRE Technology Online Holiday Shopping Not So Feliz for Latinos (HISPANIC PR WIRE - CONTEXTO LATINO)--Area malls and retail stores are often brimming with holiday shoppers come this time of year, hoping to find the perfect gift for loved ones and friends. But as any hurried shopper can attest, sometimes the crowds at the stores and long lines at the checkout counters can take the "merry" out of the holiday season. That's why many shoppers look for alternative ways to do their shopping that don't involve the hassle of getting in the car and spending all day at the store. Online retailers offer the convenience of fast shopping from the privacy and comfort of your own home. With the click of a button you can purchase gifts and have them shipped directly to your house. Some will even do the wrapping for you. However, as Latinos and other ethnicities are learning, not all of these online retailers make shopping convenient for those who speak

El Yunque Originally uploaded by GinoPR . Stop in and view scenic photos of El Yunque as well as surfer-in-action shots by photographer Gino Ferreira on flickr. Just click on "GinoPR" for more information about Gino.

Urban Train Originally uploaded by clarisel . SAN JUAN -- Puerto Ricans are finally boarding the famous "Tren Urbano" with officials offering free service for the first few weeks. Passengers are definitely taking advantage of the free weekend service of the Urban Train, which runs 11 miles from Santurce to Bayamon. While many passengers are now taking the train to just go out for the day to sightsee, others are using it to go to work, shop and do business. The train was scheduled to open in 2001, but has faced construction delays, safety problems and rising costs. The price tag has nearly doubled from $1.2 billion to $2.3 billion, with the federal government paying about 40 percent. The cost of a train ride will be $1.50 single fare, which also includes a connecting bus ride, sometime next month.

La Pava Originally uploaded by clarisel .

Puerto Rico has a new governor-elect: Anibal Acevedo Vilá of the pro-commonwealth Popular Democratic Party. Results will be certified next week, but Acevedo Vilá will be the island's next governor. Acevedo Vilá has won the recount challenge to the governor's seat. This comes a month and a half after the Nov. 2 elections and a host of legal challenges and controversy.

Health St. Jude Halloween Promotion Raises More Than $3.2 Million to Help Save the Lives of Children Fighting Cancer Worldwide MEMPHIS, Tenn., Dec. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Businesses across the country united to help fight childhood cancer through the 13th annual Halloween Promotion benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital(R) and helped to raise more than $3.2 million. During the month of October, participating establishments recognized a $1 donation to St. Jude by writing the donor's name on a pumpkin-themed wall pinup. Hundreds of thousands of pinups were posted throughout the country on the days leading up to Halloween. Sponsored by Coors Brewing Company, the month-long promotion involved restaurants and retail outlets. Since the promotion's inception in 1992, more than $24 million has been contributed to the hospital's mission of finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. "Our Halloween Promotion partners did a tre

FYI: Puerto Rico Sun is listed in the "links directory" of boricua.com.

Source: PRLDEF statement December 20, 2004 REVIEW OF 2004 ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE PRLDEF INSTITUTE FOR PUERTO RICAN POLICY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- At the PRLDEF Institute for Puerto Rican Policy, 2004 was a year of much activity as our small crew worked tirelessly to promote a positive policy agenda for Puerto Ricans and other Latinos. This included: Promoting increased civic participation and discussion of critical issues facing Latinos in this Presidential election year by: ● Challenging the television networks’ inaccurate exit poll findings that 44 percent of Latinos voted for the President, when the actual figure was closer to 39 percent and the Democratic challenger probably received the same level of support as he did in the 2000 election. IPR wrote op-eds on the subject in newspapers like the New York Post and participated in forums sponsored by think tanks like Demos. ● Providing and participating

CONDITION CRITICAL: The Absence of Latinos Among Policymakers in New York City’s Voluntary Hospitals by Annette Fuentes (New York: PRLDEF, December 2004), 66 pages To download a copy of the full report as a PDF file, go to: http://www.prldef.org/lib/Condition_Critical.pdf Key Findings ● Six of 13 New York City voluntary hospitals surveyed had no Latinos on their boards of trustees; one hospital had two Latino members (representing only 2% of their trustees) and two hospitals had one Latino member (1% of trustees). ● One of 13 hospitals had a Latino president/CEO; the same hospital had Latinos in 33% of its senior management positions. ● 12 of 13 hospitals had no Latinos in any senior management positions. ● The Greater New York Hospital Association and the Healthcare Association of New York, the two largest industry lobbying/trade groups, had just one Latino each on their boards of trustees, representing 3% and 2% of members, respectively. ●

The Reading Life By Vivian Lake, Puerto Rico Sun Book Editor Memoria de mis putas tristes by Gabriel García Márquez Vintage Books, $10.95) This is the first novel from the author in ten years. Anticipation was so feverish that bootlegged copies of the book hit the streets in his native Colombia weeks before the official publication date. A revised ending written at the last minute has made the pirated versions obsolete. When the book finally hit the stores, sales were clocked in at 1,000 volumes per hour. One wonders what his compatriots have to say about this unexpected story. A few guesses: Offensive, sad, misogynistic, ridiculous. Not words usually associated with the beloved Gabo. A 90 year-old man wants a last fling with a young virgin for his birthday and falls in "love" for the first time. Not even García Márquez's formidable talent (still very much in evidence here) can make this story poignant or compelling. Set in the Colombian coastal city of Barranquilla

Originally uploaded by minusbaby . Photo by "minusbaby." Check out minusbaby's work at flickr.

Felicidades. In this month of sending holiday wishes, consider sending an e-card of Puerto Rico. Reminder -- My photos are now part of the photo collection at the Escape to Puerto Rico site. My work is located under the categories: Old San Juan escape.topuertorico.com/postcards/oldsj8.shtml Churches escape.topuertorico.com/postcards/church4.shtml Folklore escape.topuertorico.com/postcards/folklore3.shtml Please visit and send an Isla del Encanto e-card. Thanks.

In the News COMING UP ON DEMOCRACY NOW! Thursday, December 9: * A look at the contested Puerto Rican election of 2004: The candidate narrowly leading in last month's governors race is charging the U.S. government with acting as a colonial ruler for seizing control of ballot counting in the protracted election. A Boston-based federal judge has decided to step in and overrule Puerto Rico's Supreme Court on how to run the recount. Last week 20,000 people protested outside the federal courthouse in San Juan to denounce the decision of U.S. District Judge Daniel Dominguez. Some demonstrators held signs reading "Stop the federal coup, respect Puerto Rico." Gubernatorial candidate Aníbal Acevedo Vilá said the U.S. judge's move "tortures the island's residents and holds them hostage." * A discussion on the future of the nation's labor movement For more information, www.democracynow.org.

Guitar, maracas, oh my! Originally uploaded by clarisel . !Feliz Navidad! Thanks for your support of the Puerto Rico Sun project. Peace and love always. Clarisel

Community News IPR Policy Forum BORICUAS IN GOTHAM Puerto Ricans in the Making of Modern New York City Wednesday, December 8, 2004 6:00 pm (followed by a book signing reception) PRLDEF Conference Room 99 Hudson Street, 14th Floor (between Franklin and Leonard Streets in Manhattan; #1 or 9 subways to Franklin St.) This forum will critically examine issues in the writing of the history of the Puerto Rican community in New York City as presented in the newly-published book, Boricuas in Gotham: Puerto Ricans in the Making of Modern New York City -- Essays in Honor of Dr. Antonia Pantoja (Princeton, NJ: Markus Wiener Publishers, 2004). Boricuas in Gotham, edited by Gabriel Haslip-Viera, Angelo Falcón and Félix Matos-Rodríguez, attempts to recover that history from 1945 to the present through the writings of leading scholars in the field. The book’s contributors are: José Cruz (SUNY-Albany), Angelo Falcón (PRLDEF and Columbia University), Fernando Ferrer (NYC Mayoral Ca

Zero Improvement for Hispanic Workers: Hispanic Unemployment Rate Unchanged, Significantly Higher Than National Rate WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the government reported that the Hispanic unemployment rate continued to be disproportionately higher than the national average. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for Hispanics was 6.7 percent, with 1.3 million Hispanic Americans looking for work -- a 16 percent increase since President Bush took office. The national unemployment rate was at 5.4 percent; with today's weak job numbers, 1.2 million private-sector jobs have been lost over the last four years. The average length of unemployment is at a 20-year high, and manufacturing jobs have been lost three months in a row remaining at a 54-year low. Americans working hard to provide for their families need good jobs and a growing economy. "Today's lackluster jobs report makes clear that the economy has not 'turned the corner,

Community News Event: 2004 CT LATINO LEADERSHIP SUMMIT Date: December 3rd, 2004 Category: CT FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT Rita Rivera Ortiz Program Director Leadership Greater Hartford 860.951.6161, ext. 15 rivera@leadershipgh.org 400 Connecticut Latino Leaders To Convene for Third Summit Dirigiendo Con Nuevo Ritmo November 22, 2004 (Hartford, CT)On December 3, Latino leaders from across the State will convene at the Hartford Marriott Hotel in Farmington for the third biennial Connecticut Latino Leadership Summit. Impacto Latino: Leading With New Rhythm, is an outstanding opportunity for learning, networking, and celebrating for emerging and current leaders in the Latino community. The program features morning and afternoon workshops and keynote addresses from U.S. Congresswoman Nancy Johnson and Rossana Rosado, Publisher /CEO of El Diario- La Prensa. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. and the day concludes with a reception at 4:00 p.m. Latino Leadersh

waiting for the bus Originally uploaded by carlosmorales . Rincon -- 413, "Road to Happiness" Photo by Carlos Morales

Corcega At Sunset Originally uploaded by carlosmorales . Photo by Carlos Morales. Stop in an view his photos of Rincon and more at flickr.

New: The Puerto Rico Sun online newspaper http://www.crayon.net/read.cgi

REMINDER Happy Thanksgiving! Happy Holidays! Please take a moment. Website: Puerto Rico Sun URL: http://flickr.com/photos/clarisel/ Encourage users to give your site a rating on www.prosphotos.com. To have people rate your site, have them go to this URL: http://www.prosphotos.com/links/rateit.php?LID=2124

3 Reyes Magos Originally uploaded by RicanGeek . Have a good Thanksgiving. The Christmas season has begun here in Puerto Rico, so happy holidays to all. This photo of the Three Kings is by "RicanGeek," a boricua in San Francisco. Check out his work at flickr. Thank you for your support.

Picture MH Originally uploaded by Manny .

Education Corner Commentary Where do we go from here? By Manuel Hernandez There has been a lot of talk about the results of the November 2nd elections and the role Latinos played in the general outcome. According to the founder of The National Hispanic/Latino American And Migrant Agenda Summit, Peter Fontanés, “the victory of President George Bush has resulted in some very interesting developments, and they will certainly impact our communities in ways never before seen.” I agree and foresee further developments in the days ahead. Notwithstanding all the post-election events and post-electoral debate, I am sure all agree that Latinos made an impact like never before and are now ready to contribute and take their place in American history. But where do we go from here? Education is the key that unlocks the door to a new world of opportunities here and anywhere in the world. Without education, Latinos merely survive and risk their existence and role. Assessment is a proc

Community News WHO DID LATINOS VOTE FOR? New NCLR Publication Examines the Latino Vote in the 2004 Election Washington, DC - Hispanic participation in the 2004 election, including exit poll numbers that have generated considerable debate and controversy over the last two weeks, is the subject of a new analysis released today by the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S. "NCLR's analysis shows first that there was a record turnout of Latinos in this election, and second that Hispanic voters have clearly cemented their status as a swing vote," stated Janet Murguia, NCLR Executive Director and COO. NCLR's paper examines a variety of exit poll data that show a range of support among Latinos: 31-44% for President George Bush and 53-67% for Senator John Kerry. The analysis concludes that, despite discrepancies among the various exit polls, when each poll is compared to its 2000 count

La Providencia Originally uploaded by clarisel . Los Catolicos celebramos La Virgen de la Providencia, la patrona de Puerto Rico, hoy en su dia.

Nov 19, 2004 08:00 ET 20,000 Reached in Nationwide Bus Tour to Increase Number of Latinos Attending College The Sallie Mae Fund Hosts Last of 125 Workshops, Community Events Nov. 19-20 in Miami RESTON, Va., Nov. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sallie Mae Fund's 23-city, coast- to-coast bus tour, On the Road: The Paying for College Tour, concludes this weekend in Miami with a series of events and workshops for Latino families. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041119/DCF002 ) The nationwide bus tour has helped educate more than 20,000 Latino students and parents on planning and paying for college through more than 125 workshops and community events. In Florida alone, nearly 2,000 people are expected to participate. Workshops attended by 150 students will be held this morning at Coral Park Senior High School in Miami. "The Sallie Mae Fund has shown that knowledge of financial aid can mean the difference between attending college or writing it off as hope

Orgullo Boricua Originally uploaded by clarisel .

Featured Site (www.elboricua.com) Next week all my English students from grades 4 to 9 will get school assignments related to Puerto Rico, where they will use their bilingual abilities. I am using a wonderful tool: www.elboricua.com, a bilingual cultural site for Puerto Ricans. The site offers wonderful resources, ranging from Puerto Rico-related lesson plans for teachers to food recipes and interesting articles. Visit the elboricua site. I recommend you stop in. November 19 marks "El Dia de Descubrimiento" de Puerto Rico (Discovery Day), a local holiday here on the island. Puerto Rico was "discovered" November 19, 1493, by Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the Americas.

Community News Did you know that stateside Puerto Ricans (3.9 million) outnumber those in Puerto Rico (3.6 million) for the first time in history? That's according to a new study. Read about it. ATLAS OF STATESIDE PUERTO RICANS by Angelo Falcón (Washington, DC: Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration), 130 pp. To download an abridged version of the report without the state and local maps, visit this link: https://secure.logmein.com/f?TG..q0OSiXC1GztrucCV4hC8yVp6SwYGFdvwXJQ3YRE To get a free hard copy of the full 130-page report mailed to you, order from PRFAA: Celeste Diaz Ferraro at 202-271-7263 (cdiaz@prfaa.com) or Maite Rivera at 202-271-7272 Highlights of the Findings: Stateside Puerto Ricans (3.9 million) outnumber those in Puerto Rico (3.6 million) for the first time in history Stateside Puerto Ricans send an estimated $1 billion a year in remittances to their families and relatives in Puerto Rico The aggregate income of Stateside Puerto Rican

Want to know how the sun is called in other languages? Go to the Sunrise, Sunset -- Anything Sun photo group at flickr, to find out. http://flickr.com/groups_topic.gne?id=4270 Clarisel

Sunset at Zandvoort Beach Originally uploaded by uruandimi . Among the beautiful sun shots in the Sunrise, Sunset -- Anything Sun photo group at flickr. Photo by "uruandimi"

"Old San Juan in Silhouettes" An excerpt from an article posted at the photosofpuertoricosun site. On images from Old San Juan and more, photosofpuertorico wrote: "Clarisel carefully 'painted' them just with pure shadows and silhouettes, producing very compelling images from ordinary objects." Stop in and enjoy the photo gallery at www.photosofpuertorico.com. Site has a wonderful array of photos of La Isla del Encanto from a talented pool of photographers. Definitely worth a visit. Clarisel

Caminito in La Boca Originally uploaded by lujan . Check out the latinoamericanos! photo group at flickr. Beautiful images from different Spanish-speaking countries. This photo is by lujan. It is a "caminito" in Argentina.

Woman with a View Originally uploaded by clarisel .

Culture & Identity Commentary By Clarisel Gonzalez Puerto Rico Sun SAN JUAN - I was told yesterday that I am not Puerto Rican. Neither is Jennifer Lopez or Marc Anthony I was told. Why? Well, I was told by a "real Puerto Rican" that none of us are Puerto Rican because we were not born on the island. I was offended. This "Puerto Rican sister" told me that Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony and no other person born in New York or anywhere in the states is a "real Puerto Rican." "You just see yourselves that way," she said. It was not the first time I heard comments like that about Nuyoricans, but it was the first time that someone told me that to my face. I heard this coming from the mouth of what I perceived to be a boricua sister who doesn't see me as boricua. I don't see her as a sister anymore even if she was born on La Isla del Encanto and sees herself as a "real Puerto Rican." Whatever. I

Education Corner The Road To Freedom By Manuel Hernandez The November 2nd elections defined Latinos as the vote that marched through the road to freedom. With the highest turnout ever, Latinos have finally opened the gates to their pathway. The road to freedom provoked a lot of before, during and after electoral debate, but Latinos met the challenge and cruised to victory. With an increase of 5 percent of the Republican vote from the 2000 elections, it is clear and present that Latinos will have an opportunity to voice issues and concerns and make their presence felt in all avenues of the American highway. The Latino preschool, elementary, secondary and high school population is growing and has now become part of an important story of the largest minority ethnic group in the United States. Much of the recent rise in minority enrollment in elementary and secondary schools may be attributed to the growth in the number of Latino students. The issue of education is key to Latino

pr politics Want to know more about the three major political parties in Puerto Rico? Want to know more about the candidates running for governor? Take a look at the following sites: The pro-commonwealth Popular Democratic Party (gubernatorial candidate is Resident Commissioner Anibal Acevedo Vila): www.ppdpr.net The pro-statehood New Progressive Party (gubernatorial candidate is former Gov. Pedro Rossello): www.rossello.com The Puerto Rican Independence Party (gubernatorial candidate is the PIP's Ruben Berrios Martinez): www.independencia.net Worth visiting all the sites. The elections in Puerto Rico are Tuesday. Boricua VOTE! The only way to be heard is with your vote!!!

Flags Wave Originally uploaded by clarisel . See collection of photos of the Dominican/Hispanic Parade in Puerto Rico. Dominicans make up a vibrant community on the island. Enjoy.

Trick or Treat Originally uploaded by clarisel . Happy Halloween! Stay safe.

Opinion Aprendamos de las Oportunidades de Crecimiento por Manuel Hernández Rene Descartes dijo que “cada problema se convirtió en una regla para resolver otros problemas.” En una cultura tan agitada y maltratada verbalmente, es necesario un cambio de actitud hacia los problemas que nos aquejan a diario. Cuando lo que vemos y lo que oímos va en contra de la verdad, podemos adaptar la percepción como realidad. Desde que el primer hombre desobedeció, entró la mentira, el engaño y la muerte. Luego vino otro que le ofreció la oportunidad a la humanidad de hacer de cada problema una situación y de cada situación una oportunidad de crecimiento. En vez de llamarlos problemas, son oportunidades de crecimiento que sirven de enseñanza para consolidar la vida en paz, gozo, justicia y poder. Las oportunidades de crecimiento van forjando el carácter y desarrollan el potencial de liderazgo. Oportunidades que llegan esperadas e inesperadas igual de accesibles a todos y tienen como objetivo el

Education Corner Commentary The Latino Nation: An Educational Vision By Manuel Hernández According to the United States Census, Latinos are the fastest growing minority population projected to increase from 39 million to 63 million by 2030. By 2025, 25 percent of the K-12 grades will be Latinos, though in some regions they already make up a far greater percentage. Because of its size and peculiar needs and challenges, many have taken to call Latinos a nation within the nation. In many states within the nation, Latinos have the highest dropout rate and the lowest test scores, and many are not prepared to enter institutions of higher learning. At the present, only 17 percent of Latino fourth-graders at the national level read at their grade level, and the percentage is even lower in mathematics. As a consequence, the Latino nation has become aware that the educational empowerment of their community is intrinsically related to their struggles

Community News source: National Council of La Raza New Report Finds that U.S. Criminal Justice System is Unjust and Unfair to Latinos Latinos are Disproportionately Incarcerated and Face Systemic Discriminatory Practices Washington, DC - The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Latino civil rights organization in the U.S., released a report (last week) which found that Hispanics are overrepresented in the U.S. criminal justice system, with Hispanic defendants imprisoned three times as often as Whites and detained before trial almost twice as often as Whites, despite being the least likely of all ethnic groups to have a criminal history. According to Lost Opportunities: The Reality of Latinos in the U.S. Criminal Justice System, Hispanics represented 13% of the U.S. population in 2000, but accounted for 31% of those incarcerated in the federal criminal justice system. Latinos in the U.S. have one chance in six of being confined in prison during their life

Rincon Sunset Originally uploaded by clarisel .

Havana Streetband Originally uploaded by deVos . See this wonderful collection of photos from Cuba by deVos.

La Rogativa Originally uploaded by clarisel .

Education Corner Marijuana use Negatively Impacts Teen Learning And Academic Success, Experts Say White House Drug Policy Office and Leaders in Education and Health Urge Parents to Protect Their Teens’ Futures Washington, DC--(HISPANIC PR WIRE)--October 8, 2004--With over one million high school juniors and seniors preparing to take college entrance exams this fall, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) today announced a new outreach effort focusing on marijuana’s negative impact on teen learning and academic success. The "Marijuana and Learning" effort features a new “Open Letter to Parents” that will appear next week in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and U.S. News and World Report. The letter will also be available for viewing online at http://www.TheAntiDrug.com and http://www.MediaCampaign.org. The “Open Letter to Parents” is signed by leaders in the fields of education, health, and youth drug prevention including the Center

Community events It is my honor to introduce myself as the representative for the National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) and to humbly request your assistance in helping us promote NSHMBA’s 15th Annual Conference and Career Expo. NSHMBA is a 501(c)(3), which was started in 1988. The mission of the organization is to foster Hispanic leadership through management education and professional development in order to improve society. There are currently 29 chapters through out the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The conference will take place on October 21-23 in Fort Worth, Texas. The national conference attracts Hispanic MBA students and professionals from across the country. Thursday, October 21, offers a full day of professional development. On Friday and Saturday, there is a Career Fair that hosts more than 280 companies, mostly Fortune 500. There is an anticipated attendance of over 6,500 Hispanic professionals. We would greatly appreciate any efforts that you could lend in ed

book Originally uploaded by Manny . Hernandez will speak about his textbook and other Latino issues at an upcoming activity in Rhode Island. Hernandez regularly contributes opinion pieces on education issues to the Puerto Rico Sun.

Comunicado de Prensa División de Asuntos Educativos Puertorriqueños de RI Contacto: Abigail Mesa, Directora 401-785-9533 Fecha: 1ero de octubre de 2004 Asunto: Presentación del Educador y Escritor, Manuel Hernández El educador y escritor puertorriqueño, Manuel Hernández, confirmó su visita a Providence, Rhode Island, para una disertación y presentación de su libro titulado: "Latino/a Literature in the English Classroom", el cual fue nominado como el Libro de Texto Latino 2004. Hernández es una autoridad a nivel nacional, conocido por sus ensayos sobre literatura. Ha conducido un sinnúmero de talleres, simposios, entrevistas televisadas y trabajos periodísticos sobre este tema. Hernández, quien actualmente vive en Luquillo, tiene una trayectoria en el análisis de la literatura latinoamericana a nivel nacional. Dedicado a la motivación a la lectura y la escritura, Hernández se concentra en la preparación y estudio de exámenes a nivel estatal como