Mahatma Gandhi

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was an important leader in India during its independence movement, He was born in 1869 in Porbandar in the Indian state of Gujarat and died in 1948. 

After his father died in 1885, he moved to England  and studied law in London to become a lawyer  after he returned to India in 1891 to practice, where he discovered that his mother had died while he was abroad.  In 1893 he took on a one-year contract to do legal work in South Africa, where he saw for the first time the extent of racism present in the world and then decided to stay for 21 years  working to secure the rights of indigenous people.

He developed a method of action based upon the principles of courage, nonviolence and truth called Satyagraha. He believed that the behavior of people is more important than what they achieve.  In 1915, Gandhi returned to India becoming the next 15 years he became the leader of the Indian nationalist movement. 

Using the principles of Satyagraha he led the campaign for Indian independence from Britain. Gandhi was arrested many times by the British for his activities in South Africa and India. He believed it was honorable to go to jail for a just cause. Altogether he spent seven years in prison for his political activities.  More than once Gandhi used fasting to impress upon others the need to be nonviolent. Finally India was granted independence in 1947, and partitioned into India and Pakistan. Rioting between Hindus and Muslims followed. Gandhi had been an advocate for a united India where Hindus and Muslims lived together in peace.

On January 13, 1948, at the age of 78, he began a fast with the purpose of stopping the bloodshed. After 5 days the opposing leaders pledged to stop the fighting and Gandhi broke his fast. Twelve days later a Hindu fanatic, Nathuram Godse who opposed his program of tolerance for all creeds and religion assassinated him.

Gandhi was highly respected before and after his death, he was known as the Mahatma Sanskrit Great Soul   He was also known as The Father of the Nation. Every year the Gandhi Jayanti  (a national holiday)  is celebrated  on his birthday, October 2

In 2007, The United Nations General Assembly declared October 2 as the International Day of Non-Violence.

In my personal opinion if the leaders of our countries think like Gandhi and implement its peace policy the world would be much better, there would be less violence in our country, in our schools and in our homes.  It would be a better place for future generations

RAÚL GONZÁLO CUERO RENGIFO

Sportsman and scientist NASA, a unique history of personal overcoming.

Raúl Cuero was born in Buenaventura –Colombia in 1948, he is son of Felix Cuero and Olimpa Rengifo, who are already dead, Raúl Cuero’s father was a Ship's crew of Flota Mercante Grancolombia's ships, company from which he retired. Since he was a Little kid he loved sports, especially basketball, with his 1.95 m height in this sports he was a outstanding player.   

Raúl Cuero studied elementary school in  “Escuela Ignacio Rengifo” and  high school in “Colegio Pascual de Andagoya”  in Buenaventura. He did his professional studies in “Universidad del Valle” in Cali, in this university he caught the attention of an American visitor who admired to see that the young Cuero had grown a parasitic plant  in the laboratory to the dimensions of 13 cm.

Because it,  he was able to travel to the United States and England where he continued his studies for a career of acknowledgments due to his research results, especially from NASA.

Among his professional training are Biology (Universidad del Valle, Colombia) and Heidelberg College. Plant Pathology at Ohio State University and microbiology at the University of Strathclyde.

With no intention of becoming a scientist, he was the top student of his science classes and earned a scholarship that gave him the opportunity to explore the world.

Between 1971 and 1974 he studied at the Ohio State University, between 1980 and 1986 Cuero studied at the University of Strathclyde, Scotland. Dr Cuero lived half of his life between  United States and Europe, has traveled around the world and knows four languages​​.

Dr. Cuero has become a renowned scientist in the United States internationally, has written the books "Between triumph and survival" based on his 20 years of experience in the field of science, "De Buenaventura a la  NASA"  and  "Cómo ser creativo para triunfar."

Raul cuero is distinguished professor of the University Prairie View A&M of Texas, in 2004 won the technology award from NASA, the Tech Brief Monetary Award and a number more of recognition, in 2004 the Colombian's government recognized him with the "Orden Simon Bolivar" with a knighthood, for his inventions, his brilliant career and his contribution to society.

He is founder and chairman of the Parks of creativity, organization dedicated to the training of young scientists inventors the world. 

George R. R. Martin

George R. R. Martin was born on September 20, 1948, in Bayonne, New Jersey. Actually he is 63 years old and he is a sci-fi writer. He is best known for A Song of Ice and Fire the bestseller book that was adapted into a series for HBO. He began to write since he was young feeding his imagination with monsters stories and selling those stories to the other neighborhood children. He studied first in Mary Jane Donohoe School and later in Marist High School.

At the age of 15^th he wrote a letter to the editor of the fantastic four, that letter was the first of many others that was published. In that way martin was becoming in a big comic’s fan.

In 1970 Martin earned a B. S. in Journalism from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois. The Armageddon Rag a book that martin wrote in 1983 almost destroyed his career as a writer, at that time he began his career in television.

Martin briefly returned to write in 1991, eventually those books were going to become in one of his greatest epic book series A Song of Ice and Fire which will be at least seven volumes, the last year (2011) he published the fifth book of this series A Dance with Dragons, quickly becoming a bestseller. During the completion of A Dance with Dragons Martin got involve in the production of a TV series adaption of the A Song of Ice and Fire books named Games of Thrones just like the first book.

By Eddy H Alfaro Cordoba

HARAH OLOF YLELE

HARAH OLOF YLELE:

He was born in Bojayá, Chocó in 1962, he is an important leader of black community, he did the law 70 of 1993, and this law is for Afrocolombian people. This fact is the most important event in the modern history of the Afrocolombian. The law arises of article 55 of Constitution of 1991; this allowed rights of this population were legally recognized.

He is specialist in black law, he studied in the Autonomy University; he was Deputy, he was Councilor, Parliamentary Counsel and National Consultant of Ministry of Interior and Justice.

His personal life is controversial for this society; because he has been married twice and he has six kids, each child with a different woman. 

He has been also very controversial for his views against social organization, he has been a constant critic of social inequality and ethnic-racial inequalities. Throughout his life has dedicated it to the service of the black communities; He is convinced that Colombia has to be the best country if it wants, he says that if Colombia are going to take well advantage of their cultural and natural wealth and resources it can become world power.

Today he is a great writer; he has published more than six texts and many articles. His latest book is called "LAW 70 OF 1993 - A STATUTE OF AUTONOMY"; in this text discusses the history of the fight of black communities for recognition and respect for their rights, recounts from 1441 years which starts Africans traffic until the conquest of Law 70 in 1993 and what has been the life of Afro after that.

He continues to be a legend about black community.

                                                  

                                                        For:  Leidys Emilsen Mena Valderrama

Sister´s biography.

Her name is Melisa Vanegas and She was born on June 16, 1993 in Medellin, Colombia. She is 19 years old. Her parents' names are Nadina and Pedro. When our mom was pregnant, she thought that She will be a boy, so she started buying lots of things for boys. But when She was born, my mom was surprised that She was a girl and then my aunts returned all the things that she had bought and changed them for things for girls. Our mom wanted to call her Paula Andrea but her godmother told her to call her Melisa. This is one of her favorites stories to tell to others when she was a baby.When She was born, she had a sister very happy wating for her.

Our mom always tells us that She was a pretty spoiled child. My parents always took good care of us. For our birthdays, they always prepared big parties to which the whole family was invited. Unfortunately, she doesn´t remember  these because she was too baby, these because she was too baby, but my mom always took many photos and later she would tell us about what had happened in the pictures. These pictures are very precious!
She was baptized when she was about 5 years old and our godparents, my aunt and her husband were there, too. The baptism ceremony took place in a church near our house. Our parents did a party for this with the family and she remembers that aome people say that if it was her first communion.

In her childhood liked to spend time with me and many people thought that we were twins because we looked very much alike. Some years later, we both went to the kindergarden “Nuestra Maravillosa Infancia”, but She doesn´t remember that time very well. After that, She went to the primary school “Ferrini”, but in 3rd grade, She changed schools. She then went to “La Inmaculada” where She finished her primary school and continued with High School- one of the best times of her life! She says that. During childhood, She met to her first bestfriend, her name is Daniela. They grew up together. They got along very well but later she moved to Spain and it was hard to keep in touch but They are friends still.

About the school, She’ve always liked mathematics and art classes and She still like them. Also, She liked to participate in cultural events and to tell jokes. She feels a little bit nostalgic when She thinks about these times because this was a big part of her life in which She has experienced a lot of nice things. But She is very satisfied and happy that She was able to experience all that and She really appreciate having had this time. Before of her 15 years, She wanted a big party with all the people tha she wanted, party with a dress like those in fairy tales , and so was, this is a one of the best moments in her life, was wonderful.

In 2009, She graduated from high school with a great finishing ceremony in which all her teachers and classmates participated. In 2010 she did one of the best things in her life, a exchange pregramm to Canada, she learned english, met many people and  new culture, she learned many things. Finally, She started her studying food engineering at the Antioquia University and She is now in  4th semester. She is very happy with her Bachelor program, even if it’s pretty hard. She have always had many interests, except for sports, and She is planning many more things for the future!

FRIDA KAHLO

FRIDA KAHLO

“I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone because I am the person I know best”

Frida Kahlo was a famous and controversial Mexican painter who is best known for her self-portrait. Her work has been celebrated in Mexico as emblematic of national and indigenous tradition and she is still admires as a feminist icon.

She was born on July 6, 1907 in Coyoacan, Mexico city.  Kahlo`s life began and ended in Mexico city in her famous home known as the blue house.  At the age of six, Frida contracted Polio which caused her right leg to appear much thinner that the other, she suffered lifelong health problems many of which derived from a traffic accident she experienced as a teenager these issue are represented in her work.

Kahlo enrolled at the renowned national preparatory school, she was one of the few female students to attend the school and she became known for her jovial spirit and her love of traditional and colorful clothes and jewelry.

Her work has also been described as “surrealist” one of her most famous and largest work was the two Fridas (1939). Of her 143 painting, 55 are self-portrait which often incorporates symbolic portrayals of physical and psychological wounds.

Kahlo had a volatile marriage with the famous Mexican artist Diego Rivera who has a great influence on frida´s painting style; Frida had always admired Diego on his work.

Frida Kahlo died on July 13, 1954, since her death Kahlo´s fame as an artist has only grown, her beloved blue house was opened as a museum in 1958

Today, more than half a century after her death, her paintings fetch more money than any other female artist. A visit to the Museo Frida Kahlo is like taking a step back in time.

One of the best football players ever: Zinedine Zidane

Biography about: Zinedine Zidane.

This excellent football player was born in June 23th/1972 in Marseille, France. The youngest of five siblings, his fathers were Algerian immigrants who emigrated to Paris avoiding Algerian War. He was a succesful midfielder, whose professional debut was in 1989 at AS Cannes against Nantes when he was 17, and scored his first official goal in 1991 against the same team. Four years after his debut, Zidane was transferred to Girondins de Bourdeaux and stayed there for four years in that team. Then he played UEFA Champions League with the italian club Juventus, and won the local tournament Serie A, and the Intercontinental Cup with them during 1996-1997 season, but lost the Champions League. In 2001 he signed a four-year contract with Real Madrid, and became one of the best players in this team, helping them winning the 2002-2003 Champions League and Spain League. Because of these tournaments, he was named as the FIFA World Player in 2004. Concerning to his National Team, France, Zidane was the leading figure of a generation of French players that won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship. During the 1998 World Cup, he was named as the best player of the tournament, mostly because of his two goals scored against Brazil in the final game, which France won 3-0, winning the first World Cup in french football history. Zidane was considered like a hero. His successes continued two years later, winning the European Chanpionship and becoming the best player of the tournament. Next two worldwide competitions, 2002 and 2006 World Cups, were not good for him and his team. First, french team was eliminated in the group stage, and four years later, they lost the final game against a difficult Italy. In this year, Zidane decided to retire from football leaving lots of successes and fans around the world.