Ecuador

Ecuador

Part # 1 Cities and other places in Ecuador

Ecuador

City

Population

Guayaquil

2.7 million people.

Quito

2.3 million people.

Cuenca

330,000 people.

Santo Domingo

300,000 people.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecuador https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ec.html

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ec.html

Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city and main port.

Palacio de Carondelet, Quito.

The seat of the Government of Ecuador.

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ec.html

https://www.vayable.com/experiences/5288-experience-quito-from-a-local-s-eyes

A banana tree at Puerto Baquerizo, San Cristobal island.

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ec.html

Sea lions communicating with each other at Galapagos

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ec.html

The Galapagos islands are among the wonders of the earth – not least due to the over 700 species of plants introduced to the 19 islands which are situated about 1,000 km. from the South American continent. http://sevennaturalwonders.org/south-america/galapagos-islands https://unesco-world-heritage.silk.co/page/Gal%C3%A1pagos%20Islands

Part # 2 People who live in Ecuador

Population

16 million people.

Life expectancy Languages

Literacy Children aged 5 – 14 who work

76 years.

Spanish: 93%.

Quechua: 4%.

Foreign languages: 2-3% 92% of people over 15 can read and write.

220,000 children.

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ec.html

Since the early 1980s, Ecuador has experienced 2 major waves of emigration, during which 10% - 15% of Ecuadorians emigrated to other countries.  Wave # 1 originated in southern Ecuador and departed in the early 1980s, heading mainly to the USA.  Wave # 2 left in the late 1990s and early 2000s and mostly went to Spain, the USA, and Italy.

Today, between 1.5 and 2 million Ecuadorians live abroad. http://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/ecuador-mass-emigration-return-migration

http://geert-hofstede.com/ecuador.html

Very strong power distance and very low degree of individualism in Ecuador

Ecuador is moving towards the top on the gender cap index

http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GenderGap_Report_2013.pdf

Part # 3 Some innovation happening in Ecuador

http://senescyt.boostlatam.com/

More than USD 1 billion is being invested to build Yachay, a city of knowledge, about 2 hours outside Quito.

President Rafael Correa refers to the investment as “the most important project for the country in the last 100 years.� http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/natural-labs-a-magnet-for-ecuadors-city-of-knowledge/2016321.article http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/article3925884.html

The Amazon Mycorenewal project developed low-cost, effective, and natural systems for addressing pollution and health issues related to industrial petroleum extraction. http://amazonmycorenewal.org/ http://www.pachamama.org/blog/amazon-mycorenewal-project-teaming-up-withecuadorian-locals-to-clean-up-oil-contamination https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/bioremediation-of-industrial-pollution

We want to break the label that the floral culture industry has - that they use pesticides, that they go against the environment, that they hire kids, that they don’t pay for incomes.

Alejandro Henao Sissaluna

http://www.businessinsider.com/sisaluna-roses-from-ecuador-2014-4

http://www.businessinsider.com/sisaluna-roses-from-ecuador-2014-4

People working for Sissaluna

Ecuador's electronic money system will be controlled by the government and tied directly to the local currency - the dollar. Users will be able to make payments with the aid of a cellphone and store value in their accounts.

The electronic money system does not require Internet access or an account with a financial institution, and it can be redeemed for physical money at any time. http://www.cnbc.com/id/102397137

Thanks to the second highest level of public investment in higher education in the world, Ecuador now guarantees its people free university education as well as free schooling. http://friendsofecuador.co.uk/public-meeting-ecuadors-education-transformation-investing-in-a-new-people-powered-economy/

A study shows that the quality of education in Ecuador has improved considerably since 2006.

Ecuador showed the best improvement in maths education as well as language and writing skills education in Latin America. http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Ecuador-Shines-in-Education-20141205-0020.html

https://rsf.org/index2014/en-index2014.php

Satisfactory press freedom situation in Ecuador