Until recently, people suffering from alopecia areata, a disorder that causes hair loss, had no treatment that would make their hair grow back, however, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration The FDA has just approved a drug for alopecia that promises to end such suffering for adult patients.
Getting into the shower and seeing hundreds of hairs slipping through your fingers as you rub your hair is one of the most painful moments for the more than 300,000 people in the United States who are affected by this condition every year, a disorder that causes deep depression among those who have it.
The FDA has approved Eli Lilly’s Olumiant oral tablets — baricitinib — to treat adult patients with severe alopecia areata. The move marks the agency’s first approval of a systemic treatment — that is, it treats the entire body rather than a specific location — for the condition.
“Access to safe and effective treatment options is crucial for the significant number of Americans affected by severe alopecia,” said Kendall Marcus, director of the Division of Dermatology and Dentistry in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
Alopecia areata, commonly known simply as alopecia, is an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks its own hair follicles, causing hair to fall out, often in clumps.
Olumiant is a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor that blocks the activity of one or more enzymes from a specific family, interfering with the pathway that leads to inflammation.
The efficacy and safety of Olumiant in alopecia areata was studied in two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in patients who had at least 50 percent scalp hair loss as measured by the Alopecia Tool severity score for more than six months.
Patients in these trials received either placebo, 2 milligrams of Olumiant, or 4 milligrams of Olumiant every day. The primary efficacy measure for both trials was the proportion of patients who achieved at least 80 percent hair coverage at week 36 (9 months).
While the drug has drawn tears and applause from patients, the most common side effects associated with Olumiant include: upper respiratory tract infections, headache, acne, high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia), increased levels of an enzyme called creatine phosphokinase, urinary tract infection, and increased liver enzymes.
Such as inflammation of the hair follicles (folliculitis), fatigue, lower respiratory tract infections, nausea, genital candidiasis (Candida infections), anemia, low numbers of certain types of white blood cells (neutropenia), abdominal pain, shingles (herpes zoster), and weight gain.
Olumiant is not recommended for use in combination with other JAK inhibitors, biologic immunomodulators, cyclosporine, or other potent immunosuppressants.
Olumiant comes with warnings and precautions that include the recommendation of close monitoring for the development of signs and symptoms of infection during and after treatment; evaluation of patients for active tuberculosis infection and testing for latent tuberculosis prior to treatment with Olumiant; and the potential for viral reactivation.
Additionally, other warnings and precautions include hypersensitivity (allergic reactions), gastrointestinal perforations (tears in the stomach or intestine), and laboratory abnormalities including low white and red blood cell counts, elevated liver enzymes, and elevated lipids.
Olumiant comes with a boxed warning for serious infections, mortality, malignancy, major adverse cardiovascular events and thrombosis.
The drug was originally approved in 2018 and has also been recommended as a treatment for certain adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis, as well as being approved for the treatment of COVID-19 in certain hospitalized adults.
En preparación para la próxima temporada de incendios forestales, el Departamento Forestal y de Protección contra Incendios de California ‒CAL FIRE‒ completó la transición a la dotación máxima de personal en todo el estado y continúa informando sobre el progreso en proyectos clave de reducción de combustibles y salud forestal.
La dotación máxima de personal garantiza que todas las estaciones de CAL FIRE estén abiertas y con personal las 24 horas del día; se mejoran las capacidades de respuesta; todas las aeronaves están preposicionadas y dotadas de individuos capacitados; y las tripulaciones cuentan con capacitación y trabajo.
Según las estimaciones actuales, CAL FIRE ha logrado tratar 110 mil 925 acres en preparación para la próxima temporada de incendios forestales, lo que supera su objetivo de 100 mil acres para 2025.
«Aunque las condiciones han variado geográficamente en todo el estado, las condiciones climáticas, las cargas de combustible y la cantidad de incidentes de incendios han guiado la respuesta exhaustiva y la preparación general del Departamento para los meses de verano», dijo Joe Tyler, director y jefe de bomberos de CAL FIRE.
Agregó que, incluso mientras se aumentan los preparativos para los incendios forestales que ahora ocurren durante todo el año, se continúan acelerando los proyectos de salud forestal y prevención de incendios en todo el estado, lanzando más de 603 proyectos de resiliencia.
«California está tomando medidas agresivas para proteger a las comunidades y hacer que nuestros bosques sean más resistentes», dijo el gobernador Gavin Newsom, quien agregó que además de los esfuerzos de supresión de incendios, el estado está enfocado en aumentar las inversiones y trabajar para enfrentar el desafío de frente.
El financiamiento de aumento temprano, aprobado en colaboración con la Legislatura el año pasado, ha permitido a CAL FIRE dotar de personal a 136 locomotoras en la región norte ‒un aumento de 64‒ y 126 más en la región sur, un aumento de 16.
Además, cuenta con 12 aviones de uso exclusivo que están disponibles en todo el estado hoy, con cuatro adicionales para el 1 de julio, lo que se suma a la flota aérea existente de CAL FIRE de más de 62 aviones; asimismo, 16 cuadrillas de mano adicionales están operativas como resultado del aumento del presupuesto para prevención de incendios y respuesta de emergencia.
Mientras tanto, los datos que se han validado hasta ahora muestran que CAL FIRE y los beneficiarios de las subvenciones han realizado trabajos de tratamiento de combustibles y prevención de incendios en más de 110 mil 900 acres en el año fiscal 2020-2021, lo que supera su meta de 2025 de 100 mil acres antes de lo previsto.
CAL FIRE no está solo en este esfuerzo, es uno de los 22 departamentos estatales que implementan el programa de resistencia a incendios forestales de 1.5 mil millones de California.
Hasta junio de 2022, en menos de un año, el programa ya ha comprometido mil 100 millones y ha lanzado más de 833 proyectos, que incluyen los proyectos y la financiación de CAL FIRE.
Fue visto un león de montaña en Redwood City este miércoles alrededor del mediodía, por lo que autoridades llaman a extremar precauciones de encontrarlo.
El animal salvaje fue visto en el área de Turnsworth Ave y Edgewood Rd, razón por la cual el Departamento de Policía de Redwood City ha llamado a mantener a sus mascotas adentro, y quedarse en un lugar seguro y resguardado.
Además, pidió a los residentes que logren ver al animal, llamen al 911 y proporcionen información para poder capturar al espécimen y ponerlo a salvo.
Los leones de montaña ‒también llamados pumas‒ son animales solitarios que se encuentran en todo el estado de California.
Aproximadamente la mitad del estado es un hábitat adecuado para ellos y generalmente se pueden encontrar donde se encuentran los ciervos, su presa principal.
Los leones de montaña son gatos delgados y ágiles. Los adultos generalmente miden un poco más de 2 pies de altura en los hombros y pueden medir entre 5 y 9 pies de largo desde la nariz hasta la cola.
Tienen patas grandes y proporcionalmente las patas traseras más grandes de la familia de los gatos, un físico que les permite una gran capacidad de salto, pues pueden llegar a brincar en vertical hasta 18 pies.
La coloración es simple, típicamente rojiza, con parches más claros en la parte inferior del cuerpo, incluidas las mandíbulas, el mentón y la garganta.
Al igual que los gatos domésticos, vocalizan en silbidos, gruñidos y ronroneos. Los leones de montaña son carnívoros obligados, lo que significa que solo se alimentan de carne.
Con la aprobación de la Ley de Protección de la Vida Silvestre de California en 1990, los leones de montaña se convirtieron en un mamífero especialmente protegido, una clasificación formal que prohíbe la matanza de leones de montaña en el estado.
Sin embargo, el Departamento de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de California puede emitir permisos de depredación que permitan matar a un león si ataca al ganado o las mascotas.
Desde 2001, un promedio de 94 leones de montaña en todo el estado muere anualmente bajo permisos de depredación. En las últimas dos décadas, casi mil 800 leones de montaña han sido asesinados a través de este sistema.
Los leones de montaña también pueden ser asesinados si se convierten en una amenaza para la seguridad pública, pero ha habido menos de veinte ataques verificados de leones de montaña contra humanos en todo California desde 1890.
Cabe destacar que los leones de montaña también pueden verse afectados por los cambios causados por el hombre en los regímenes de incendios de los ecosistemas locales.
Por ejemplo, la creciente frecuencia de incendios debido a las igniciones causadas por el hombre está poniendo en riesgo grandes áreas de conversión de matorrales nativos a pastizales no nativos. Estas áreas convertidas proporcionan un tipo de hábitat menos adecuado para los leones de montaña.
The Edgewood Fire in San Mateo County, which burned 25 acres of grassland, is 90 percent contained, the San Mateo-Santa Cruz Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire CZU) said in conjunction with the Redwood City Department.
Fire crews have been working since Tuesday afternoon to extinguish the fire that broke out at approximately 2:30 p.m. near the southern boundary of Edgeview Park near Canada Road.
Edgewood County Park remains closed as authorities continue to fight the fire.
While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, residents reported hearing loud explosions just before the fire broke out, the county said.
The fire threatened some homes and the sheriff's department issued evacuations Tuesday afternoon. The evacuations were lifted at about 8 p.m. that evening, and remain in effect but only for a few residents.
California continues to experience longer wildfire seasons as a direct result of climate change.
The prolonged drought that began in January is expected to continue, leaving much of the state in moderate to extreme drought conditions this summer.
Lectores de P360 enviaron imágenes del incendio que tiene lugar en estos momentos en cerca de Woodside en Redwood City.
[Actualización]
El jefe del batallón de bomberos de Cal Fire Unidad San Mateo y Santa Cruz, Ethan Peterson, acudió a las redes sociales este martes para brindar una actualización sobre el incendio de Edgewood que ha estado arrasando el área de Emerald Hills del condado de San Mateo y ha provocado evacuaciones.
Peterson dijo que el fuego se ha mantenido estable en 20 acres en las áreas alrededor de Maple Street, y apuntó que «numerosos» recursos de bomberos están en escena, incluido el apoyo aéreo.
«Se ve bien en este momento», dijo Peterson. «Si podemos mantenerlo en 20 acres, se verá bien».
Los bomberos inicialmente respondieron al incendio poco después de las 2:20 p. m. en el área de Edgewood Road y Crestview Drive, mientras que la Patrulla de Carreteras de California informó que se veía humo desde la carretera interestatal 280.
La Oficina del Sheriff ha ordenado evacuaciones para los residentes de las zonas RWC-E002 y RWC-E003-B y WSD-E099-A de Zonehaven, y está asesorando pero no ordenando evacuaciones para RWC-E003-A y WSD-E099-B.
A su vez, se le ha pedido a las personas que evacuan vayan a un centro temporal que se está instalando en 1455 Madison Ave. en Redwood City.
La Universidad de Stanford también informó impactos como resultado del incendio, con un corte de energía que afectó muchas partes del campus debido a la caída de una línea de transmisión de PG&E, dijeron funcionarios escolares en Twitter.
Smoke from the fire may be visible from campus, but there is no threat to the campus as of Tuesday afternoon, Stanford officials said.
Actualmente hay miles de personas sin electricidad a lo largo de la península del condado de San Mateo, según Pacific Gas and Electric. Los cortes, a partir de las 5:30 pm del martes, se extienden desde Hillsborough hasta el área de Emerald Lake Hills, que ahora lucha contra un incendio de 20 acres de pasto.
San Mateo es el más afectado, con al menos 5 mil personas sin electricidad, según PG&E. Las áreas de entre 500 y 4 mil 999 clientes afectados son Hillsborough, San Carlos y Redwood City.
With information from Bay City News
El incendio de pastizales en condado de San Mateo que se ha esparcido rápidamente en el área de Emerald Hills ha provocado evacuaciones la tarde de este martes, según la Oficina del Sheriff del condado.
Los bomberos que inicialmente respondieron al incendio poco después de las 2:20 p. m. en el área de Edgewood Road y Crestview Drive y la Patrulla de Carreteras de California informó que se veía humo desde la carretera interestatal 280.
La Oficina del Sheriff a las 3:40 pm ordenó evacuaciones para los residentes de las zonas RWC-E002 y RWC-E003 de Zonehaven y recomendó evacuaciones para las personas en la zona WSD-E099.
Lectores de Península 360 Press nos enviaron imágenes del incendio que tiene lugar en estos momentos cerca de Woodside en Redwood City. De acuerdo con una trabajadora de limpieza que contactó a este medio, se oyó un trueno en las instalaciones de PG&E.
El Departamento de Salud del Condado de San Mateo ha estado trabajando con proveedores locales de atención médica pediátrica para ayudarlos a prepararse para administrar la vacunación contra COVID-19 en menores de 5 años después de la aprobación de la FDA, los CDC y las autoridades regionales y estatales.
Así lo aseguraron las autoridades de salud locales, quienes precisaron que los principales sistemas de salud han confirmado que están bien preparados para ofrecer vacunación a sus pacientes/miembros menores de 5 años.
Al creer que el mejor lugar para que los niños pequeños reciban las vacunas es bajo el cuidado de un proveedor pediátrico, San Mateo County Health no ofrecerá clínicas de vacunas a gran escala para niños menores de 5 años o en sus clínicas comunitarias.
Por el contrario, precisó, ofrecerá clínicas a pequeña escala, en sitios de Early Head Start y personal y apoyo administrativo a proveedores pediátricos interesados que atienden a familias con seguro público.
A su vez, detalló que las clínicas comunitarias de County Health continuarán ofreciendo vacunas y refuerzos a los residentes mayores de 5 años.
Las familias que buscan vacunas para niños menores de 5 años deben estar atentos para obtener más información en los próximos días y comunicarse con su proveedor de atención pediátrica para programar una cita.
Cabe destacar que el condado de San Mateo y la región del Área de la Bahía están viendo un aumento en los casos de COVID-19.
Con una mayor presencia de la enfermedad en la comunidad, es importante prestar atención a las medidas de protección, incluida la gestión de la ventilación interior.
Si bien en este momento el condado de San Mateo no está considerando emitir una orden de salud local para exigir el uso de mascarillas en espacios públicos interiores, se sigue instando a los residentes a elegir usar cubrebocas de alta calidad como N95/KN95 en interiores, mantenerse al día con las vacunas y los refuerzos, hacerse la prueba cuando tengan síntomas, consultar a un médico sobre la terapia si es positivo y aumentar la ventilación interior.
El Departamento de Salud del Condado de San Mateo continúa monitoreando los datos sobre las tasas de casos y las hospitalizaciones, además de evaluar todas las posibles medidas para proteger la salud pública.
Por otra parte, es necesario recordar que los seis sitios de prueba LHI/OptumServe COVID-19 en el condado de San Mateo actualmente ofrecen Test to Treat, un programa que proporciona un acceso más rápido y fácil a los tratamientos de COVID-19.
Así, si obtiene un resultado positivo, puede ver a un proveedor de atención médica y, si es elegible, obtener una receta para un tratamiento oral de COVID-19 y surtir esa receta, todo en un solo lugar.
Esas ubicaciones están en San Mateo, Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, Daly City y South San Francisco, los interesados pueden obtener más información dando click here.
Las opciones adicionales de Prueba para tratar en el condado de San Mateo incluyen ciertas farmacias de CVS como parte de la iniciativa federal, mientras que otras ofrecen medicamentos antivirales orales con receta, por lo que los residentes deben consultar con su proveedor de atención médica primaria.
The mental health of children and young people has been increasingly affected since the beginning of the pandemic, a situation that has worsened with the dozens of shootings and attempted shootings in US schools, which is why in October 2021 the American Academy of Pediatrics declared mental illness in this population group a national emergency.
In the wake of recent shootings and massacres, experts gathered at a conference organized by Ethnic Media Services to talk about the mental health challenges faced by children and young people, as well as the alternatives and ways to help those who suffer from these problems.
Beth Jarosz, U.S. Program Director and Associate Director of Kids Data, spoke about the significance of the rising suicide rates in the United States, particularly in the state of Florida.
He commented that the suicide rate among young people between 15 and 19 years old in 2020 increased by 60 percent compared to 2007, while the suicide rate for children between 10 and 14 years old is three times higher than it was in the same year.
She also pointed out that high-risk groups include people who belong to indigenous communities, those with adversities in their childhood, the LGBTQ+ community, the homeless or those who have been adopted, and those who have suffered bullying.
She also noted that 1 in 6 young people have been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, behavioral problems and depression. However, only half of these have received treatment or counseling.
Eddy Molin, nursing manager at Jackson Health System based in Miami, Florida, said that in the last two months there has been an increase in hospital admissions of children with anxiety or disruptive behavior, which he believes are related to the shootings that have occurred.
He also stressed that "social media has a very powerful capacity to determine how people think."
In light of this, he pointed out the importance of observing the behaviour of young people and identifying behaviours such as abandoning normal activities, isolation and hallucinations, among others. These are reasons to act immediately and seek help.
Estephania Plascencia, a student at Florida International University, shared her experience of the mental health problems she faced and pointed out the importance of parents being informed about these problems and how they can help their children if they are in a similar situation.
Finally, she stressed the importance of people struggling with mental health issues sharing their story to end the stigma surrounding them, as this allows others to recognize that they have them and seek help.
Joshua Ho, director of the Asian-American Program for the Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners, shared the mental health issues his son faced, which he began to identify after observing different behavior in him.
She also commented on the importance of seeking guidance and maintaining good communication with children to know what they are going through.
Susan Racher, director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Miami-Dade, commented that one of the main objectives of this organization has been to make communities aware that mental health is a right, since there is a significant lack of information on the subject.
At the end of the meeting, it was mentioned that recovery can be achieved with a support system and understanding that it is not an easy path, that they are not alone.
In the face of the nation's mental health crisis, California announced an additional $518.5 million in grants to help provide services and housing options for people with serious mental illness or substance abuse issues, including those living on the streets.
The funds, the governor said Gavin Newsom, will provide treatment beds for more than a thousand people at a time, plus behavioral health services for many more.
The extra support is part of a $2.2 billion effort to expand housing and mental health services in California, especially for the homeless.
The Governor announced the latest grants during a meeting with families who have loved ones facing serious mental illness, many of whom are homeless.
“The crisis on our streets is at a breaking point. Too many Californians are struggling with mental illness and substance abuse, and too many of them end up on our streets. We need to change the way we provide help to those who need it, and these grants are an important step in shifting our approach to homelessness and serious mental illness,” Newsom said.
The Governor’s meeting in Sacramento with members of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) on Monday included families caring for loved ones struggling with mental health or behavioral disorders who CARE Court could help with.
The Governor listened to their stories and talked about the historic actions California is taking to address this crisis.
In that regard, she noted that CARE Court will provide Californians suffering from untreated schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders with community-based treatment, services and housing, and is intended to serve as a preliminary intervention for Californians with more severe disabilities.
“Governor Newsom has the full support of NAMI to get CARE Court across the finish line,” said Jessica Cruz, executive director of NAMI CA. “We are here today to show our commitment to providing help, hope and health to people affected by serious mental illness by supporting initiatives like CARE Court, which will bring much-needed help to Californians who need it most.”
The awards announced Monday will be made through the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP), Round 3: Launch Ready grants.
In total, the Legislature and Governor provided $2.2 billion to build, acquire and expand behavioral health facilities and community care options while investing in mobile crisis infrastructure.
Subgrants were awarded to Alameda County ($18,405,122), El Dorado County ($2,852,182), Humboldt County ($4,170,560), Kern County ($3,138,065), Los Angeles County ($155,172,811), Madera County ($2,035,512), Mendocino County ($7,711,800), Monterey County ($3,558,670), Nevada County ($4,458,799), Orange County ($10,000,000), Placer County ($6,519,015), Riverside County ($3,138,065), and Yuma County ($10,000,000). –$103,181,728‒, Sacramento –$30,553,889‒, San Diego –$30,874,411‒, San Francisco –$6,750,000‒, Santa Barbara –$2,914,224‒, Santa Clara –$54,074,660‒, Solano –$14,332,411‒, Sonoma –$9,751,915‒, Stanislaus –$33,369,900‒, and Yolo –$12,500,000‒.
Recipients of BHCIP Launch Ready grants include cities, counties, tribal entities, nonprofit and for-profit organizations throughout the state that serve target populations.
The next round of funding will include more than $480 million focused on behavioral health issues in children and youth. Awards will be made this fall.
Movistar Arena. Photo: Alex Sierra. Global Exchange – Peninsula 360 Press
"Thank you all on this undoubtedly historic day," said Gustavo Petro, the virtual president of Colombia, who won the elections this Sunday, June 19, together with his vice-presidential candidate, Francia Márquez, and who emphasized that peace, social justice and care for the environment will be the pillars of his next government at the head of Colombia.
"We are writing a new story for Colombia, for Latin America and for the world. What has happened here today with these 11 million voters who voted, who brought us to this stage and to the government of Colombia, is a change. What is coming here is a real change. A real change," said Petro, who will take office on August 7.
In his first speech after having obtained the majority of votes in this election day, he stressed that he will not betray the people, because there will be a real change that will lead to the "politics of love."
In that sense, I say that your administration will not be one that seeks revenge or creates more hatred, nor will it create sectarianism in Colombian society.
«We need love, understanding the politics of love as a politics of understanding, as a politics of dialogue, a politics of understanding each other. Change also means welcoming hope, the possibility of opening a future and opportunities for all Colombians in hope… change means that the government of hope has arrived.»
During his speech, he thanked his family for their support throughout the campaign, Francia Márquez for the effort put into the work that today bore fruit, all those who are no longer alive but were part of a resistance, and the young people who took to the streets to raise their voices for a better future.
In this regard, from the platform set up in the Movistar Arena in Bogotá, he asked the nation's attorney general to release young people who were imprisoned under false pretenses and who were treated as "bandits."
He also asked the nation's attorney general to reinstate elected mayors to their posts.
"The people are superior to their leaders," reads a banner placed by supporters of Gustavo Petro at the Movistar Arena. Photo: Ingrid Sánchez. Global Exchange – Península 360 Press
He also pointed out that his government will seek to position Colombia as a world power in life, which consists of peace, social justice and environmental justice.
«Peace as the axis of a government of life. Peace would not be right, change would not be right, love would not be right, hope would not be right, this major effort that is being summed up today at the polls would not make sense if we do not lead Colombian society to peace.»
This, he said, means that all those who voted for Rodolfo Hernández, as well as all those who prefer another political party or ideology, "will be welcome at the Nariño Palace to discuss Colombia's problems."
He also pointed out that there will be no political or legal persecution of his opponents, "there will only be respect and dialogue; this is how we will be able to build what a few days ago we called the great national agreement."
Gustavo Petro and Francia Márquez celebrate their victory at the Movistar Arena. Photo: Alex Sierra. Global Exchange – Peninsula 360 Press
This agreement, he said, must begin to be built on the basis of binding regional dialogue to end violent conflicts and build prosperity throughout the country, where regional dialogue becomes a mandatory norm, and which involves peasants, indigenous people, women and young people alike.
These last two sectors, he added, formed a wave that decided to take to the polls to shout for fundamental rights and the reforms that need to be made in the country.
«Fundamental rights cannot remain a dead letter in the Constitution; they must be a part of everyday life and the full guarantee of a living Constitution that can be felt and lived every day. A living Constitution in the fullness of rights.»
"The great national agreement is to build peace, and peace is nothing more than the guarantee of rights so that Colombian society has opportunities. Peace is that someone like me can be president or someone like France can be vice president."
In economic terms, Petro said that capitalism will develop in an appropriate manner, which will allow Colombia to overcome pre-modernity and feudalism.
This will be achieved, he said, through economic pluralism to overcome old forms of slavery and to have a land full of cultivated food, with space for indigenous communities to develop their autonomy and culture, and with a popular economy that can be strengthened through connectivity, education and cheap credit.
He also explained that the country will move towards an economy that allows for the creation of more and better jobs that offer better pay through cooperative and supportive work.
"Only on the basis of economic growth, of production, can we then also redistribute. Therefore, if we want to redistribute so that society is more equal, we have to produce in the countryside, in industry, in tourism, and produce on the basis of knowledge that is produced in the 21st century, a regulated production without affecting human dignity or nature."
In the area of social justice, she explained, it is necessary "that there are no more mothers who have to come here to show the faces of their murdered children."
At that moment, a woman holding a photo of her son took the microphone to ask that there be no more murders of young people, who like her son, were victims of the current and previous governments.
"I welcome you, President, because you are the hope of all of us. You are the hope of us, the poor, the needy, the black, the white, the rich, the poor, in you is the hope. Welcome to Colombia, our country, President," said the woman.
Finally, he stressed that Colombia will make diplomatic policy a priority, and will seek to place the country at the forefront of the world in the fight against climate change.
«It is time to act. We are no longer one of those countries that emit huge amounts of CO2 and greenhouse gases, but we are here next to one of the largest sponges that consume greenhouse gases that other countries dump into the Amazon rainforest.
In this regard, he noted that his government will pay special attention to the creation of clean energy, which will allow for an energy transition with enormous advantages for the nation.
Petro reported that, after his victory, presidents of various Latin American countries contacted him to congratulate him, which allows, he said, "we can now propose, based on this victory that the Colombian people have given us, a dialogue in the Americas without exclusions of any people, of any nation in all the diversity of America.
Movistar Arena. Photo: Alex Sierra. Global Exchange – Peninsula 360 Press
He also stressed that "it is time to sit down with the United States government and discuss what it means that throughout this American continent that we share, it emits, like almost no other country, greenhouse gases and here we assume them and absorb them from our Amazon rainforest."
"I propose to the United States government and all governments in America to accelerate the steps of the energy transition and the steps of building a decarbonized economy, for an economy of life throughout America."
"Peace is possible in Colombia, dreams can come true, dreams of justice and equality," said Petro.
"Long live freedom, long live Colombia, world power of life! My name is Gustavo Petro and I am your president! I love you very much Colombia, thank you!" were his last words in his first speech as virtual president of the Republic of Colombia.
This note was produced with the support of a group of journalists covering the first round elections in Colombia, sponsored by the organization Global Exchange in collaboration with Peninsula 360 Press.
Captured image from the broadcast during the victory celebration of Gustavo Petro and Francia Márquez. In which Márquez pointed out that after 214 years Colombia will finally have a government of the people.
By Constanza Mazzotti and Pamela Cruz
Francia Márquez, the virtual vice president of Colombia, gave her first speech this Sunday, June 19, alongside the also virtual president Gustavo Petro, in which she recalled that, after 214 years of history, the country will finally have a government of and for the people.
"Brothers and sisters, we have made a very important step forward. After 214 years, we have achieved a government of the people, a popular government, of the people with calloused hands, the government of the common people, of the nobodies of Colombia. Brothers and sisters, we are going to reconcile this nation," said Márquez, visibly moved by the triumph of the Historic Pact coalition.
At around 7:33 p.m., Francia, the virtual first Afro-Colombian vice president, took to the stage at the Movistar Arena in Bogotá to warn that the new government, which will come into force on August 7, will go for peace "in a determined manner, without fear, with love and joy."
"Let's go for dignity and social justice. Let's women eradicate patriarchy in our country. Let's go for the rights of the diverse LGBTIQ+ community, let's go for the rights of our mother earth... to take care of biodiversity, and let's go together to eradicate structural racism," Márquez stressed.
France thanked all the Colombian people who voted for the Petro-Márquez duo in this election.
«I want to thank all the Colombians who gave their lives for this moment, for all our brothers and sisters, social leaders who were sadly murdered in this country; the youth who have been murdered and disappeared; the women who have been violated and disappeared, and all of them who are supporting us from somewhere in this historic moment for Colombia.»
"We thank you for having paved the way, thank you for having planted the seed of resistance and hope," he said.
Francia Márquez, an Afro-descendant woman and now virtual vice president of Colombia, also thanked the teachers, the workers of the town, the indigenous people and the peasants for having remained "firm" in the electoral process.
With 100 percent of the tables counted, the Historic Pact of Gustavo Petro and Francia Márquez managed to obtain 50.44 percent of all votes cast in the second round of presidential elections in Colombia, which meant a total of 11 million 281 thousand 013 ballots in their favor.
The duo's speech at the Movistar Arena in Bogotá was attended by supporters of the duo, who cheered and applauded to celebrate what they now consider to be the greatest democratic victory in the country.
This note was produced with the support of a group of journalists covering the first round elections in Colombia, sponsored by the organization Global Exchange in collaboration with Peninsula 360 Press.
