THE METRO-PEOPLE

By Esteban Burgos and Mauricio Escobar

400 thousand people of different social classes are mobilized every

day by the Metro. Its objectives are to offer the possibility of mobilizing

all the people of different incomes, safely, quickly, without

discrimination and with a low environmental impact.

The saving of using this

transport medium

An inquiry that was made

with 40 people from different

social and economic conditions

reveals that 37.5% of the people

saved between 0$ and 500$

(Colombian pesos) and showed

also that 85% of the people think

that the security is good.

For the people of Medellin the Metro is not just a way of travelling but

rather a part of their culture. According to the same inquiry 31

qualified the Metro as important and essential for Medellin.

The Metro Culture is a phenomenon that has spread through the valley

since the appearance of the Metro. This is attributed to the Metro-

Culture:

1. Walk down the right as indicated by the arrow.

2. Walking is better than running

and so you avoid falling.

3. If you want to take care of your life,

avoid crossing the yellow line.

4. Let people off the Metro first.

5. If the signal starts to ring, wait for

the next train.

6. If you want to show your kindness, give your seat to the ones needing

it (elderly, pregnant ladies, children).

7. Change the wagon when yours is too crowded.

The Metro certainly meets its main goal: the transport of thousands of

people at a low cost. Thanks to projects like this in our city you can

see a brighter future with more pride and sense of belonging for its

citizens.

TRAFFIC IN ABURRÁ VALLEY By Valentina Mansur and Eduardo Díez

Speaking of mobility in the Aburrá Valley involves different means of

transportation, like buses, private cars, taxis, motorcycles, bicycles and

even ordinary walking people.

The Aburrá Valley has increased its number of means of transportation in

the last couple of years a lot. Because of that the number of accidents and

traffic violations has grown, too.

So the Government has implemented different measures to control it. The

most important are “Pico y Placa” and security cameras.

PICO Y PLACA

Pico y Placa is a measure that was implemented in the Aburrá Valley by

the Government in 2005. It is not working very well and does not give the

results the Government expected.

That is why in 2013 it was reformed:

The “Pico y Placa” time is from 7 o’clock to 8:30 h in the morning and

from 5:30 to 7 o’clock in the afternoon. There are also areas from the

Aburrá Valley, where it was removed.

The system of Pico y Placa will gradually be put out of practice.

Here is a map of the areas where it applies:

The Government has got problems with the Pico y Placa system for many

reasons:

- In the hours before and after the Pico y Placa time the city is impassable.

-People don´t use more public transport because of that.

-People are buying more cars to have different days off Pico y Placa.

-The areas were the Pico y Placa does not apply are always full of cars.

-There are many accidents because the people drive faster to get out of the

Pico y Placa areas.

SECURITY CAMERAS

Security cameras are being implemented gradually in the Aburrá Valley.

At the moment the Aburrá Valley counts with 46 security cameras that

control different traffic measurements like Pico y Placa, speed limit, lights,

appropriate conduct of drivers at traffic lights and zebra crossings.

It is possible to reduce your traffic penalty by taking a traffic course. The

problem with that is that the people who go to those lessons are almost

always not the people who committed the breach, because the cameras do

not have the appropriate technology to show the driver.

Here is a list of the location of the cameras from the Aburrá Valley:

Carrera 64A - Calle 114 A Solla

Autopista Norte - Solla

Carrera 64AA – Calle 111 A

Autopista Norte - Deprimido Feria de Ganado

Carrera 64C - Calle 104 Zenú Autopista Norte - Zenú

Carrera 63 - Calle 104 A Avenida Regional (La Paralela) - detrás de la Feria de Ganado - Quebrada Tinajas

Carrera 64 - Calle 97 Autopista Norte - Parque Juanes de la Paz

Carrera 63 - Calle 94 A Avenida Regional - La Paralela - Tricentenario- Quebrada

Minitas

Carrera 64C - Calle 78 Terminal del Norte

Autopista Norte - Terminal de Transporte

Carrera 63 - Calle 77 Puente

del Mico

Avenida Regional (La Paralela) - Puente del Mico - Estación

Caribe

Carrera 65 - Transversal 78 Carrera 65 - Transversal 78 - Castipan - Glorieta Terminal

del Norte

Carrera 64C - Calle 67 Coca Cola

Autopista Norte - Fiscalía -Coca cola

Carrera 57 - Calle 58A

(Fatelares) Carrera 57 - Calle 58 - Glorieta de Fatelares

Carrera 63 - Calle 48 Suramericana

Autopista Sur - Suramericana - Edificio Camacol

Carrera 46 - Calle 52 Oriental

Playa Avenida Oriental - La Playa

Carrera 66 B - Calle 42C Avenida Bolivariana - San Juan - Deprimido Los Músicos

Carrera 62 - Calle 44 Puente San Juan

Avenida Regional - San Juan

Carrera 63A - Calle 38 Autopista Sur - Conquistadores

Carrera 37 - Calle 47 Intersec

Bombero Carrera 37 - Calle 47 - Intersección de Bomberos

Calle 34 - Carrera 64A Calle 34 - Éxito de Unicentro - AV Villas

Carrera 62 - Calle 37 Puente de

La 33 Avenida Regional - Puente de la 33

Calle 37 - Carrera 50 Avenida 33 - Palace - AKT Motos

Av. 80 - Calle 30 Avenida 80 - Calle 30 - Metroplús

Carrera 63 - Calle 31 Autopista Sur - Puente de Guayaquil

Carrera 49 – Calle 30 Bancolombia

Avenida Regional - Puente de la 30 - Bancolombia

Carrera 38 - Calle 26 Avenida Las Palmas - Unidad Residencia Punta Piedra

Carrera 43A - Calle 26 (Astor) Avenida Poblado - Calle 30 - Astor - Dislicores

Carrera 48 - Calle19 Avenida Industriales - Ciudad del Rio

Carrera 70 - Calle 14

Aeroparque Carrera 70 - Aeroparque

Carrera 52 - Calle 14 Avenida Guayabal - Calle 14 - Caribe Motor

Carrera 63A - Calle 15 Avenida Regional - Calle 16 - Home Center - high Light

Carrera 50 – Calle 14 Autopista Sur - Calle 14 - Leonisa

Calle 10 - Carrera 49 Autopista Sur - Calle 10 - Puente de la 10

Calle 16 - Carrera 32 Avenida Las Palmas - Resto- Asia

Carrera 50 - Calle 4 Coltabaco Autopista Sur - Coltabacos

Calle 10 - Calle 32 Vizcaya

Carrera 30 - Calle 10 Transversal Inferior - Calle 10 - Pinar del Rio

Carrera 25 - Calle 10 Transversal Superior - Cola del Zorro

Carrera 48 - Calle 7 Avenida Las Vegas - Calle 7 - Politécnico Jaime Isaza

Carrera 49 - Calle 7 Avenida Regional - Calle 7 - INEM

Carrera 30 - Calle 6 Transversal Inferior - Loma del Tesoro

Carrera 52 - Calle 8 Sur Avenida Guayabal - 8 Sur

Carrera 50FF - Calle 8 Sur Avenida 80 - 50FF - Vivero - Familia

Carrera 49 - Calle 10 Sur La

Aguacatala Avenida Regional - La Aguacatala - EAFIT

Carrera 50FF - Calle 12 Sur Avenida 80 - La FLA

Carrera 43A - Calle 12 Sur Avenida El Poblado - Virgen de La Aguacatala

Carrera 32 - Calle 9 Sur Transversal Inferior - Los Balsos

Carrera 25 - Calle 12 Sur Transversal Superior - Los Balsos

Dim´s centenary Interview with the team Capitan and the assistant

manager By Daniel Uribe and Nicolas Duque

Dim was founded on 15 April in 1913 by

the businessman Alberto Uribe

Piedrahita. It ’s an emblem for the

history of the city and the department,

and is going to celebrate his first

centenary. This is the reason why the

board of “EL Equipo del Pueblo”

decides to bring good signings for the

objective in this year, which is to be

the champion of the league. They

signed an old glory of the team, one

of the most representative players in

history, Giovanni Hernandez G10, one

of the best midfielders in Colombian

history. He played in the team when

he was only 21 years old. Now he is 36,

the captain of the team, and brings quality to the attack.

He answered us a few quest ions about his future and the “Centenary of DIM”.

Which are the differences between today`s DIM and team of thirteen years

ago?

“There are a lot of differences: today we are in an organized inst itution. I am

older, in those days I played with old glories of the Colombian Football, like

“Tren Valencia”. In this team I learned from them. Today I am an example for

the young players of our team. There is only one thing that is the same, the fans.

The fans of the team always want the best for us; it is beautiful to share with the

fans of DIM.”

You are the captain of this team of “warriors”, like the manager called the last

year`s team. What can you provide to this team?

“I can provide leadership and enthusiasm: I can accelerate or slow down the

game, give t ime to think; I will always give all.”

A lot of people do not believe in the ethic of football

players….

The people have to understand that we are humans,

that we make mistakes, too. First of all, before they

st igmatize us, they should see how they lead their

own lives.

What does the centenary mean for you?

“Playing in the oldest team of Colombia brings us a

lot of pride and a big responsibility for this group of good players. We know

what the fans want; we will give everything we can to get all these things…”

We also spoke, with the representative former player, and today’s assistant

manager, Edgar “Panzer” Carvajal. He was champion with DIM, after more

than 45 years of drought. He was then champion as assistant manager in 2004

and in 2009.

You know this team, first as a player, and then as a manager. How do you see

the Team today?

“It is a different posit ion. As manager I should be more careful and quiet. In the

past year when I was a player, I did the dirty work, and that’s why I won a lot of

red cards, but the essence is the same: Football is Football”

Which is the meaning of the centenary for

you?

“Being part of this celebrat ion is

incredible. I want the fans to feel well

represented by this team. I am sure that

everybody will give everything for it .”

What will change this year in comparison

with last year’s team?

“Last year’s team had more att itudes;

today we have more skilled players. This

provides different ways of winning a

match. It is not just a corner or a free kick

like last year. We have big expectations

with this group.

DIM will celebrate its hundred years and the team will give everything to make

this year a special and different year.”

Problems in public sport parks

By Carlos Lara and Andres Toro

Lots of people in Medellin usually practice or play soccer in one of the

850 public fields which are free to use. But lately the authorities have

reported more than 320 of these fields are under the control of local

gangs.

The problem is that people have to pay to get access to the field under

the control of the gangs. More than 54 places which are public and

should be free for anyone to use now cost 50,000 or 60,000 pesos per

hour.

Something even worse is that the offenders use these places to sell and

consume all kinds of illegal substances near the kids and sport fans,

damaging the healthy

environments that were created to

practice sports. These situations

bring violence because different

gangs fight for the control of these

fields causing shootings and

causalities in the parks. Something

that worries the authorities is that

there are no official complains

about it

We had the chance to talk with one gang member who controls the drug

market in one soccer field, for his own safety he refused to give us his

name.

We asked him why they chose this kind of place to sell drugs: “Here it is

calm and easy, it’s a place without cops and very lonely at night as well.

Then when people start buying we get to be known and they start buying

during the day, too. Here we can make lots of money just in one day

without any problems with the police”.

We asked him if he charged for the use of the field: “No, we don´t do that

because then the people don’t come back to buy any drugs. That is in

other parts of the city with bigger gangs”.

To change this we advise the people not to go to

places where the public free services are

charged and complain about it at the police.

Son Batá, a project that takes away young people

from the armed conflict

By Susana Ospina and Maria Antonia Zapata

Son Batá is a project that started in 2004 in La Comuna 13 – Medellin,

Colombia. Their principal proposal is to promote the peace by changing guns

for instruments, and thereby creating a group of musicians. Furthermore, to

offer a different way of living with culture, peace, calm, opportunities and

happiness through the artistic expression; instead of living in the middle of

danger.

The music they produce is a combination of Hip-Hop and Colombian

hornpipe. There are seven musical groups and a few groups of theatre and

dance. In 2006 they started an artist school for children to learn music;

nowadays there are about 150 children.

Over the years the group has become very known by society.

Because of their effort and dedication they have been participating in

different kinds of events such as “Q’VivaThe Chosen”, a reality show with

Marc Antony and J.LO in Los Angeles. They were also the openers of the “Red

Hot Chilli Peppers” concert in Bogotá. Last year they performed a big show

with instruments and dance at the “Feria de las Flores”.

Because of their huge performances they are actually nominated for the

shock awards in the categories of: Best Pacific sound and Best artist/music

group.

This amazing project is growing every day and calling more and more young

people so they drop guns and trade them for music and art, which is

something good for the whole community and a way of fighting for peace

without hurting anyone.

Interview

with

Alejandro

Arango

By Pablo Angel and Simon Hoyos

Lelo (Alejandro Arango) is recognized as a musician and producer in

Medellin. He is mostly recognized as the singer in the band

"Popcorn". He is also a soloist.

Why did you dedicate yourself to music?

Because the music generates satisfaction, and this is what I really

like, I can't imagine my life without music.

What did you do before doing

music?

I studied electric engineering.

When I finished my carrier I

continued working in the same.

Because of my work I had to do

many sacrifices like: leave my

family for weeks and leave music.

Now I don't have time for this.

Why did you decide to leave your work and dedicate all your time

to music?

Because I didn't feel satisfied with what I was doing and I got tired.

With the music I feel new things and I receive everything I want.

Why did you decide to be a single

singer?

I decided to be a single singer

because I like to experiment and

have new experiences by myself.

How was your first album as a

soloist?

It was a big experience for me

because it made me grow up musically and it made me understand

that music is everything to me.

Which is the albums name and why?

The album is called Adaptation: it’s because at that moment I was

adapting to live of the music. It was a new experience for me. This

album explains a very important part of my life.

What is the name of the new Popcorn album, and why is it

important to you?

The album’s name is Drama and Action. It is important to me

because it is the first after so much time without making music in

the band. We show in this album our musical evolution. It is also very

important because rap singers and other musician of Medellin have

collaborated with this one.

The German School

library By Ana Maria Gomez and

Santiago Molina

The School library was built in 1990.

There the students can do research and

get information about a lot of things

they want to know.

It was a conventional library, that means it had the basic equipment a library needs to

have; for example the books that the students have to read, a place to read on the

floor, the basic software to search for books, and an old-fashioned architecture.

The German School of Medellin and the rest of German Schools around the world need

to fulfill certain requirement to be a certified “GERMAN SCHOOL”.

Last year a team of inspectors of the German Government visited our school and they

evaluated what the school should change.

One of the proposed changes was dealing

with the library because of the books and

the spaces it offered. The requests was to

modernize the library and have more new

books. That’s why the inside of the library is

now refurbished.

One of the proposals were the places for

reading. The library did not have

comfortable places to read quietly. Another

proposal was to get new books because

many of them were too old.

In 2012/2013 the school decided to make these changes.

The tasks were:

Reform of the main outside.

Redistribution of furniture.

Buy some furniture to make the library look more modern.

Optimization of existing resources.

In the future: expansion of the library entrance hall and reform of the space

between the administration and the library.

Those tasks were sent to the architect

Carlos Molina. He had a lot of

proposals, so the changes started. The

middle of the library will be free to use

it like a quiet space to read books,

newspapers, magazines or documents

and will be used to hold parents’ and

teachers’ meetings. The place to store

the books will be located at the same

place, but it will be bigger for the new

collection of books.

The computer center for digital consulting has

been rebuilt. There are 24 computers. The

architect designed this place like a crystal

cube inspired of the New York Apple Store.

The library will have new software to

search for books. With this software the

students can also visit the library and look

up new information about it.

The idea is for everybody to say: this

is a fantastic place to go!

The architect didn’t change the space for the children because the inspectors did not

request it. He did not change the outside; however, only the inside is being rebuilt

because the facade keeps the same corporate identity of the other buildings of the

school.

The school bought a lot of new books with a lot of topics like: drama, action,

documentary and language books.

The first section of the library

opened on 3rd February 2013. The

reception and the crystal cube are

not ready yet.

Rebuilding Las Palmas By Sebastian Herrera and Ernesto Correa R

Las Palmas is the fastest connection between the city and the international airport. 14,000 cars drive along Las Palmas every day. Although the road has a speed limit of 60 km per hour, it is a road with many accidents. In 2010 the road got damaged once again. The rebuilding of only 2000 sqm of damaged road has a cost of 10,600 million (Colombian pesos). The problem is that two rivers are crossing the street which are constantly eroding its foundation. San Jose de la Salle a school in Las Palmas was affected by this problem, and that is why they are going to help with some money.