Fwd: Ecuador vs. Brasil, my apology to the LUG

["BIRKEY, DUANE" <dbirkey@hcjb.org.ec>]

My apologies for Luiz and I getting off on a non-Luggers thread.   My 
only intent in the original posting had been to remind people that 
there is a global market for film based technology.  Even if the US 
(and Brasil) become nearly completely digital, there will still be 
demand for film in many other locations.   I personally don't see even 
the US consumer market completely switching.  But I've been wrong 
before.

Brasil and Ecuador are two different countries.  As are virtually any 
two you might choose.  As Luiz said, all have problems and it is really 
a matter of where you look and what you compare.   I would rather live 
in a relatively poor neighborhood in Quito than a few sections of 
gangland Chicago I've visited.

Chile came to play Ecuador two weeks ago as part of the World Cup 
qualifications.  The Chilean photographers were easy to spot as they 
all had the latest EOS/Digital cameras and the big glass.  There are 
two other Ecuadorian photographers besides myself who use EOS1n's.  A 
couple use worn F4's (no F-5's, no digital)  and other autofocus 
cameras,  but most use old manual focus Canons, Nikons, Minoltas  and 
Zenits.  It was a serious zoo on the field and rather frustrating to 
work with a hundred others crossing the line to get a better shot.

Ecuador does launder several hundred million dollars of drug money a 
year (Per US sources) .  Most of us don't live in grass huts but in 
high rise apartments and condominiums with at least 3 or 4 bathrooms.  
Only a million or so Ecuadorians bathe in rivers and live in very 
substandard housing.   

I know a beach in Costa Rica where monkeys will indeed grab purses and 
cameras and carry them up into the canopy.  

Whether Brasil or Ecuador is considered a third world country by the 
world bank or not does not depend on me or Luiz.  It depends on 
numerous quantitative social, economic and political factors.
Most middle and upperclass Ecuadorians do resent be called a third 
world country too!   

Viva Ecuador! Viva Leica!

Duane Birkey     
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