Topic: PR | VivirLatino

Alberto Gonzales: "We need to explain ourselves"

Wed, 25 Oct 2006 12:43:09 -0500

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is in Madrid this week attending an anti-terrorism work group, and had a few things to say about the United States' image in Europe and what needs to be done about it.

He blamed the country's deteriorating image on misunderstanding in Europe about what the U.S. is doing to fight terrorism.

"Part of the misunderstanding is the fault of the United States in the sense that we need to be out there more, talking about what we are doing and why," he said.

Gonzales is talking about the U.S.'s "anti-terrorism actions" in Iraq and in other parts of the world, and how the country's respect for rule of law is often questioned.

"The notion that the United States does not fully support the rule of law is one I find very disappointing," Gonzales told reporters, especially given that President Bush "believes the Unites States is the leader, is a beacon of hope in the world and it's important that our actions should reflect a total commitment to the rule of law."

What I find disappointing is that this man is no more than a puppet for W and is spreading the same old line of "you just don't understand us" in Europe, a place where people understand exactly what we are doing. That's why they hate us. Saying "we know you hate us, and this is why..." isn't going to help matters but hey, who needs allies, right?

Via / The Washington Post

Daddy Yankee suing his PR gal

Tue, 18 Jul 2006 12:24:11 -0500

Following in footsteps of fellow Rican JLo, Daddy Yankee is going to court to sue his former publicist for allegedly duping him out of over 30 thousand big ones. According to People en Español, he loaned her money and never got it back, so he and his wife are taking it before the tribunales.

The publicist isn't making any comments about the controversy except to say that it's Daddy who owes her the money, telling another magazine: “I'm not going to make comments and will wait until the case gets to the appropriate forum.” Meaning court, I guess.

Anyway, if this means Daddy Yankee is in need of new publicist, I think I know someone who wouldn't mind having him as a client.

Via / People en Español

Image via People en Español

Thalia's trip to NASDAQ

Tue, 21 Mar 2006 19:19:05 -0500

(File under WTF) Do my eyes deceive me or is that Thalia I see closing the trading day at NASDAQ? Why, yes, it is the star of Maria Mercedes ringing the closing bell, with some March of Dimes people and a K-Mart executive. Struggling to find the tie-in...doh, there it is:

The reason she was there wasn't financial but humanitarian: the Mexican superstar is part of a campaign that looks to inform pregnant women on ways to avoid premature births.

Apparently Thalia is a spokesperson for both the March of Dimes and K-Mart. I also remember her hawking some Hershey's chocolate a while back.

I always have wondered about the "closing bell" ceremony and why it's so often used as a PR platform. I mean I can see the relevance if a company is going public, but what does Thalia ringing the bell at NASDAQ do to promote the March of Dimes? If anything, it will just have a bunch of business men thinking "who the hell is this person?" when it dawns on them "oh, that's Tommy Mottola's wife."

The mean, mean person inside of me wonders if Thalia even knows what the NASDAQ is.

Check out more photos of Thalia's field trip to NASDAQ.

Via / Univision.com

Mexico Needs PR

Wed, 01 Feb 2006 13:45:50 -0500

Mexico's looking to shine up its image in the eyes of the U.S. and it's going to do it through the age-old craft of Public Relations:

Fed up with the drumbeat of news stories about drug wars, police corruption, border mayhem and illegal immigration, the government of Mexico has followed a time-honored course for anyone seeking an image makeover: It's hired a PR firm.
Rob Allyn, a prominent Dallas public-relations craftsman who helped shape Mexican President Vicente Fox's stunning election victory in 2000, now shoulders the burden of pushing aside a largely negative U.S. perception of Mexico as a land of drug lords and economic hardship.

NYC Boricuas Remember Filiberto

Mon, 21 Nov 2005 07:30:58 -0500

On Friday, November 18th, nearly 600 people filled the Martin Luther King, Jr. Labor Center of New York City to remember slain Puerto Rican nationalist leader Filiberto Ojeda Rios. Filiberto was killed by the FBI on September 23. The keynote speaker of the evening was another Puerto Rican nationalist leader Rafael Cancel Miranda, who received a standing ovation. Other Nationalist leaders including Edwin Cortés and Antonio Camacho Negrón were also present. A message from the widow of Don Filiberto, Elma Beatriz, who was present at the FBI raid that took her husband's life, was read.

Lluvia Poetica

Fri, 14 Oct 2005 10:00:00 -0500

It’s been pouring for days here in New York City, but water isn’t the only thing flooding the streets. Words, sounds, beats and rhythms, in English, Spanish and variations between have been saturating the Latino scene thanks to the presence of Poetas en Nueva York : el Segundo Encuentro de Nueva Poesia. The four day poetry and spoken word series brings not just local Latino poets together; a group of spoken word spitters and poetas direct from la isla del encanto, Puerto Rico, are taking part as well. The series, sponsored by a variety of Latino and literary institutions and organizations, includes performances, exhibitions, and lectures at various lugares throughout New York City.

I had the pleasure of attending and participating in the first event in the series on Wednesday, La Tertulia de Fusion Atómica. D’Antigua, a bar/restaurant in Jackson Heights, was packed. Poetas weren’t going to let a little bit of rain ruin their night. It wasn't about traditional iambic pentameter either. All the poets that performed mixed politics with pride and sometimes even threw in a Reggaeton beat.

As the rain promises to continue to fall through the weekend, show your love and open your mind to some incredible talent and their ideas from New York and Puerto Rico.
Saturday, October 15
2 pm-Intervención Urbana
Jackson Heights, Queens
37th Ave 75-90 Street

7 pm- Nueva Poesia en St. Marks Church
Exhibición de pintura y caricatura
St. Marks Church
2nd Ave and 9th Street

Sunday, October 16
11 am- Poetas en la Misa
St. Marks Church

12 noon- Lunch and Lecture
St. Marks Church

6pm - Poetry Celebration
Lava Gina
Ave C and 7th Street