Page 12 - aruba-today-20171111

A12 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 11 November 2017

Pigeon competitions take flight over rooftops of Cuba

times known by colorful breeder. There are no firm
monikers such as “White numbers, but the practice
Tail,” ‘’The Mexican,” and appears to be undergoing
“The Ripped One.” For a boom in Cuba, with clubs
those involved in the sport, proliferating around the
it can be an obsession in country. So far the govern-
which they spend hours ev- ment has taken a hands-
ery day sending their birds off stance. It is easy to find
out to conquer and mate, people pausing during their
hoping for a bonanza of daily activities to stare up
chicks from the exchange. at the sky to admire what’s
“I pigeon every day, no going on with the pigeons
matter what happens,” up above.
said Edison Campos, a On thousands of roofs in
28-year-old barber who Havana, boys and men
has raised the birds since — it doesn’t seem to at-
he was a child. tract many women — can
“It’s a vice.” be found working on their
Hobbyists trade or sell birds coops or taking care of
to other aficionados, add- their birds and discussing
ing to the ever-growing the intricacies of a sport in
stock of available birds in which the pigeons are of-
the market and keeping ten referred to as “thieves”
the pigeon craze dynamic or “killers.” Neighbors erect
and growing throughout bridges of zinc plates to
Cuba, where it is an ideal walk from one rooftop to
In this Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017 photo, pigeon breeder Eduardo Montufar lets loose his pigeon sport because it requires another.
named The Mexican, whose wings were dyed red and blue, from his home’s roof in Havana, only a small space on a Various non-official groups
Cuba. Contesting breeders release their birds to see who can out-fly and out-maneuver their rooftop for a coop and have emerged to regulate
rivals and win over females. little cash, which is in short the sport, setting standards
(AP Photo/Desmond Boylan) supply on the island. for the care and treat-
By A. RODRIGUEZ city. The gray and white the island, attracting thou- “First of all, it’s my hobby, ment of birds, including a
Associated Press birds dart through the air in sands of enthusiasts who not so much an addic- ban on traps, and organiz-
HAVANA (AP) — It may feats of aerial acrobatics, breed birds for speed and tion, but for entertainment. ing competitions involving
be a tranquil day on the competing to see which stamina to compete in When I don’t have any- hundreds of breeders with
streets of the Cuban capi- can out-fly and out-ma- yearly contests, and some thing else to do, I go up as many as 20 birds each.
tal, but up in the sky it’s an neuver their rivals and win even for export to markets to the roof and see the pi- They are in conflict with
avian war zone. over females in contests around the world. geons, see how they com- the “street breeders” like
Pigeons lovingly raised and that draw huge audiences Many Cubans are seem- pete and try to make them Campos, who chafe at the
trained in rooftop pens are on the ground. ingly transfixed by the con- better every year,” said regulations and sometimes
turned loose across the The sport has taken off on tests between birds some- Ernesto Eng, a 49-year-old trap the birds of others.q

Brazilians protest changes to labor rules, pension overhaul

By SARAH DiLORENZO single digits. Trade unions set fire to a car they parked draped around his neck. to override current labor
Associated Press called for a day of action on the bridge that spans Temer says the reforms are law. Supporters say that
SAO PAULO (AP) — around Brazil, but protests the city’s Guanabara Bay. necessary to return the will provide much-needed
Brazilians took to the streets remained relatively small Next to the car, a banner economy to robust growth flexibility; critics say it will
on Friday to protest the despite the unpopularity of read: “Rotten power. The after its deepest recession leave workers vulnerable to
implementation of new Temer and his agenda. worker resists.” in decades. The economy pressure to cede important
labor rules and express their Several hundred union “No one is going to be began growing again this rights.
opposition to proposed members, teachers and able to retire, so it’s year, but unemployment The pending pension
changes to the social civil servants marched from really imposing modern- remains high at 12.4 overhaul, meanwhile,
security system. a central square in Sao day slavery,” said Sergio percent. would set a minimum
The labor law goes into Paulo to a major avenue. Ricardo Goncalves da One of the labor law’s retirement age, ending a
effect Saturday and has In Rio de Janeiro, nearly Silva, a 45-year-old who signature measures is system in which workers
been championed by 1,000 people gathered works in a candy store and to allow negotiated can retire solely based
President Michel Temer, downtown Friday evening, was protesting in Sao Paulo agreements between on the number of years
whose approval rating is in hours after some protesters with a fake ball and chain employers and workers worked.q