Today’s
Enlightening Entertainment
will be presented
in Spanish,
with subtitles in Arabic,
Aulacense (Vietnamese),
Chinese, English,
French, German,
Indonesian,
Japanese, Korean,
Malay, Mongolian,
Persian, Portuguese,
Russian, Spanish
and Thai.
Greetings, kind viewers.
Today, we are pleased
to present the
inspiring transformation
that Bogotá, the capital city
of Colombia,
has had in recent years.
Colombia is a country
located in South America
and internationally known
for being one of the top
biodiverse countries
in the world
with abundant plant and
wildlife; and for having
one of the most extensive
freshwater resources
on the planet!
Colombia’s development
has been increasing rapidly
through participation
of diverse sectors
of the community
in the creating and
implementing of various
beneficial social policies.
The case of Bogotá
is particularly interesting
because some of its
development strategies
have gone beyond borders.
They have succeeded
in demonstrating
that policies aimed at
environmental preservation
and the improvement
of people’s quality of life
are urgently needed to
ensure a comprehensive
and sustainable progress.
Bogotá is literally
at the core of Colombia.
Today the capital has
about 11 million people
and is a cultural, economic
and educational center
of the region.
But it has not always
been so.
Just within two decades,
the city showed
surprising development
in its alternative
transportation, its
educational opportunities
and its cultural offering.
Bogotá has been
recognized for its policies
many times.
At the Venice Biennale
of Architecture in 2006,
Bogotá was awarded with
the Golden Lion prize in
the category of Best City
for its urban
and architectural projects
over the past 15 years.
The Golden Lion prize
is one of a number
of awards
that Bogotá has received
in recent years.
Among the main ones are:
Recognition in 2002
by the United Nations
Development Program
as an exemplar
in urban management;
The Cities for Peace Award
by the United Nations
Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO);
and the 2004
City with Heart Award
from the United Nations
in recognition
of the promotion
of volunteerism,
emphasizing the policies
of “Bogotá
without Indifference” and
“Bogotá without Hunger.”
Around the world,
pictures have been seen
of the 300 km
of permanent bikeways
and 120 km
of weekend bikeways
that have been created
in Bogotá.
This environmentally
friendly alternative
transport benefits
thousands of people daily,
along with
the mass transit system,
TransMilenio,
which moves 39,000,000
passengers per month!
These have transformed
the pace and rhythm
of city life.
At least 10 years ago,
we didn’t have the mobility
that Bogotá now has
at this moment.
Along with citizens
of Bogotá,
Supreme Master
Television
spoke with Bogotá
City Council Member
Ms. Ana Lucia Sandoval
to find out more.
We have been working on
the task of giving Bogotá
alternative forms
of mobility.
I think many have seen
the benefits of bike paths
in the city.
On Sundays, holidays
in Bogotá
when the streets
are closed, so that
only the people move
who want to walk, jog
or bike or skate.
It is a unique, exciting
space that the city offers
that of course all Bogotá
citizens thoroughly enjoy.
This initiative, which has
also been implemented
in other cities in Colombia
such as Cucuta and
Pamplona, helps to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions
and create a healthy
recreational option
for everyone.
Also, in Bogotá
and across the country,
a series of programs
in education has been
started to encourage higher
school attendance rates.
Bogotá City Council
Member Mr. Celio Nieves
kindly explained
some of the city’s
accomplishments that
have dramatically raised
the quality of education.
Our boys and girls in
educational institutions
have a wellness policy
that did not exist before.
There, boys and girls
receive health care.
In terms of support and
educational assistance,
they are offered a grant
to remain ensuring
that there are
no dropout children due to
the economic situation
of their families.
In the past,
many children
could not go to school
because they did not even
have breakfast in the place
where they live.
So, with a few economic
studies, we have been
making progress,
many new schools
with optimal
on-site infrastructure,
with laboratories,
with environmentally
protected areas,
with libraries,
with laboratories,
with sports fields,
with good teachers
who are intensely
devoted to the formation
of those children
who come from almost all,
the low-income families.
Of 1.02 million children
who are enrolled in
our official institutions,
approximately 700,000
are benefiting from these
nutritional supplements.
Over 50 new institutions,
and more than
200 fully reinforced
so that today they have
become new institutions,
and almost all
have been improved
so that children are
in a much nicer space.
In addition to the dedicated
government officials,
many women
and students, etc. are also
seeking to protect
what is everyone’s
shared responsibility.
In the south of Bogotá,
near a river
called Tunjuelito,
whose waters were
highly contaminated,
a strong neighborhood
and youth movement
has sought to protect
the river basin and
decontaminate its waters.
Their work has inspired
young people
from other localities
to join together to protect
the city’s wetlands,
native forests
and ancestral heritage.
Such initiatives of
various citizens’ groups
have encouraged
the country's leaders
to include environmental,
cultural, and also
animal welfare issues
in their agendas.
The first thing we did
was, when
I came to the Council,
as part of the Mayor’s
development plan,
to include the issue
of animal protection,
that is, to be part
of the district’s agenda.
We have made a bill,
which I co-authored
with another councilman,
for mass adoption days
for dogs and cats
in the city.
Right now
we are processing,
in the second discussion,
the public policy
of animal protection
in the district,
which we consider
extremely important.
I found a powerful tool,
and I discovered
that there are thousands
of Bogotá citizens
who love the
animal protection issue.
Last year,
there was a march
throughout all of Bogotá,
a massive march.
We believe
that bullfighting, it would
be a great opportunity
to eliminate it from
the culture of Bogotá.
Also, animal circuses.
All of these issues
are topics
that are an opportunity
for progress for the citizens.
What we are
telling people is
let’s progress
not only on human issues,
but in all areas,
both in matters of animals
as well as
of a healthy environment.
Another issue to which
many Bogotá residents
have responded
with active interest is
“responsible consumption.”
Responsible consumption –
we are trying
to be a city that
consumes goods and
services responsibly for
environmental protection.
Responsible consumption
emerged as result of
another bill that we have,
which I authored,
where it created
a comprehensive strategy
for electrical
and electronic waste.
So people do not know
what to do with the TV,
with the iron, they throw it
in the trash and then
it goes to a landfill.
So, in Bogotá,
there is a bill that makes
all such waste to be able
to have a strategy
to handle them properly.
The changes that
have happened in Bogotá
are recognized by
locals and visitors alike.
Parks, theaters, museums
and a wide network
of public libraries visibly
reflect the transformation
of the city,
and most importantly,
the lifestyle
of those living in it.
I have lived here in Bogotá
since I was born,
so my family is from here,
and I want to
invite everyone to come
to know this great city.
It offers a great amount
of cultural activities.
There is
the Museum of Gold,
the National Museum.
We have our
beautiful historic part
which is the Candelaria.
A very nice trip is
to walk over there
at night time;
have a cup of coffee, ride
the TransMilenio (bus).
We have Monserrate,
the Salt Mines
just outside Bogotá,
in a town called Zipaquirá.
For children, we also have
other cultural activities
like puppets and a theater
in general in Chapinero,
a place called
the Golden Dragonfly.
There are other attractions
like the flea market,
which is a very nice place
to go on Sundays.
Well, for the people
who are health conscious
and take care of
the planet and animals,
you can also find
more than 40
vegetarian restaurants in
different parts of the city.
We had people from
Texas, United States,
and Dublin, Ireland,
and they say to us
that they never expected
to take home
such a good image
from Bogotá,
and that they found out
it has many parks,
big and beautiful parks,
and a well-taken-care-of
city, people
who are very loyal,
people who are very kind.
They love the places
for fiestas (parties)
in Bogotá, the Center,
the Candelaria…
Many of the places
most appreciated
and recommended
by the citizens have been
built or remodeled within
less than the past decade.
The look and
the types of services
currently offered
have become more
inclusive and accessible.
We have the chance
to see the European
Film Festival.
We also have
the French Film Festival.
We have the Festival of
Ibero-American Theater
which features
many countries.
And well, just now,
we are at the
International Book Fair.
The Colsubsidio Theater
is a theater
for musical theater
especially, very important.
The Fine Arts Theater,
too, is another
very lovely place
for listening to music,
also for art.
The Symphony Orchestra
of Bogotá for example
in December
gives free concerts
at different locations.
Also, I am the author
of a project that
promotes artistic works
in public spaces,
and the Bogotá citizens
may perceive it
free and direct
anywhere in the city.
Bogotá is a city
of democracy.
It is a city of many
young people, but also
with a lot of experience,
with many Christians
and people who have
sought refuge in God.
This concludes our report
on just a few
of the many policies
that have led Bogotá
to become a joyful city,
an award-winning city,
and a leading city
in its efforts to constantly
raise its own standards.
We especially thank
Council Members
Ms. Ana Lucia Sandoval
and Mr. Celio Nieves
for their cooperation
and inspiring updates
about the city’s
enlightened policies.
Bogotá is my city
where I was born,
where I grew up,
a city of opportunities,
of course,
with great challenges,
but we are confident that
we will overcome them
to become the city
that we all dream of.
Through the conscientious,
forward-thinking
endeavors of both
its leaders and citizens,
may Bogotá continue to
flourish in God’s grace.
Thank you,
cherished viewers
for your company today.
Now, please stay tuned
to Supreme Master
Television for
Words of Wisdom,
after Noteworthy News.
Wishing you
and your family
peace and love.