Colombia Calling - The English Voice in Colombia

In this latest update from Colombia Calling and Colombia Reports, we look at the most recent developments in the lead into the second round of the presidential elections on 21 June.
Ivan Cepeda revives the parapolitica scandal and accuses rival of being a member of the right wing AUC paramilitaries.

Has the Pacto Histórico shifted from its slumbering state?

We look at the different accusations levied at Abelardo de la Espriella, including fraud, bribery, corruption and connections to drug traffickers.

Also, what does it mean that Aberlardo de la Espriella is a US citizen? Trouble ahead?
And tune in to the Colombia Briefing reported by Emily Hart.

Join us for an insightful conversation with Juan Pablo Puentes, a long-time listener and expert from Neiva in Huila, Colombia. We explore Colombia's regional potential, infrastructure challenges, renewable energy opportunities, and cultural insights, offering a nuanced perspective beyond the typical narratives. This feels like a special episode of the Colombia Calling podcast, that's because it is...Juan Pablo has been a listener of the podcast for 12 years dating back to when he was a student in the Netherlands. Some things to consider about Neiva and Huila: "Huila produces 20% of Colombia's coffee" "Colombia has high solar radiation potential" "Tax benefits make solar investment viable"

 
Plenty to think about! Tune in to this and the Colombia Briefing reported by Emily Hart.

On this week's episode, Richard McColl of Colombia Calling and Adriaan Alsema of Colombia Reports dissect the results of Colombia's first round of presidential elections, so you don't have to! 
 
How and why did the far-right "outsider" Aberlardo de la Espriella win? Why were the polls wrong about Ivan Cepeda on the left and what happened to Paloma Valencia? Tune in to this and the Colombia Briefing with Emily Hart.

In this episode of the Colombia Calling podcast, social entrepreneur Francis Gillis shares his journey from the medical cannabis industry in Canada to establishing a premium cigar brand in Colombia. Discover the nuances of Colombian tobacco, the craft of cigar making, and the vision to put Colombia on the global cigar map. With Bribon cigars, he and his business partner have focused on quality and craftsmanship and have opened a cigar factory in Barichara, Santander, that has garnered attention both locally and internationally. The journey hasn't been easy, but seeing the revival of cigar craftsmanship in Barichara has been incredibly rewarding. www.briboncigars.com

 
The Colombia Briefing is reported by Mathew Di Salvo.

Join us as we explore the critical state of Colombia's tropical dry forests with researcher Maria Isabel Arce Plata. Discover the ecosystem's unique characteristics, the threats it faces from deforestation, climate change, and human activity, and the hopeful strategies for conservation and community involvement.
 
Tropical dry forests are among the most endangered ecosystems globally, yet we rarely hear about them. With rainfall patterns shifting due to climate change, these forests are facing unprecedented challenges. In Colombia, the remnants of these forests have dwindled to less than a million hectares from an estimated 9-11 million!
 
Tune in to this week's Colombia Calling podcast and to the Colombia Briefing reported by Emily Hart.