VZCZCXYZ0014
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #4158/01 3232215
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 182215Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5638
INFO RHEHOND/DIR ONDCP WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHDC
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL

UNCLAS BOGOTA 004158 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR INL/LP 
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/AND 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: SNAR PREL PGOV SCUL EAID CO
SUBJECT:  EMBASSY BOGOTA USES ARTS AND SPORTS DIPLOMACY IN DRUG 
DEMAND REDUCTION CAMPAIGN IN CARTAGENA 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1.  (U) SUMMARY:  The Ambassador launched "Do not turn off your 
light," a drug demand prevention campaign, on November 7 that will 
provide community development and social mobility opportunities via 
education, work, arts, and sports to children at risk of drug use. 
The main event was followed by a baseball game between the 
Ambassador and Sports Diplomacy Envoy Barry Larkin's teams that 
emphasized the importance of sports and healthy living as an 
alternative to drugs.  The events had high-level participation and 
received wide regional media coverage.  On November 8, Ambassador 
Brownfield and Sport Envoy Larkin continued the Sports Diplomacy 
Program in Barranquilla participating in a baseball clinic for 
coaches, several press events, and a lunch hosted by the American 
Chamber of Commerce. END SUMMARY. 
 
 
 
 
 
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DOMESTIC DRUG DEMAND IS GROWING 
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¶2.  (U) While Colombia is a major supplier of illegal psychoactive 
substances, Colombian drug consumption appears to have increased 
also.  The results of the currently-underway National Household Drug 
Consumption Survey (the first such survey to take place since 1996) 
will not be analyzed until the beginning of 2009; however, various 
first-hand accounts already point to an increasing rate of drug 
consumption in Colombia as the middle class is expanding and has 
disposable income.  Successful interdiction efforts are also forcing 
narcotraffickers to target the local market. 
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NO APAGUES TU LUZ 
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¶3.  (U) "No Apagues Tu Luz" ("Do not turn off your light") - 
Colombia NAS's Drug Demand Reduction campaign - pursues Colombia's 
FY2009 Mission Strategic Plan's goals of working on counternarcotics 
and counterterrorism efforts by fostering community development and 
social mobility opportunities via education, work, arts, and sports 
for children at risk of getting involved in drug use. 
¶4.  (U) On November 7, the Ambassador, Aldo Lale-Demoz (UNODC 
Representative), Mayor of Cartagena Judith Pinedo Florez, and 
representatives from the Ministry of Social Protection, the National 
Directorate of Dangerous Drugs, and various NGOs launched the "No 
Apagues Tu Luz" initiative.  The participants sought to raise 
awareness of the problem of drug consumption in Colombia and asked 
the audience to provide "espacios de luz" ("spaces of light") in 
education, work, sports, and the arts for children.  The audience 
included community leaders and the Governor of the Bolivar 
Department Joaco Berrio Villarreal. 
¶5.  (U) Regional media gave the event extensive coverage.  The 
participation of the 2008 National Beauty Pageant candidates (all at 
least two feet taller than the Ambassador), well-known musicians, 
and social activists assured that the message of the drug demand 
reduction event reached diverse audiences.  Barry Larkin's visit was 
covered by all major North Coast daily papers and on regional and 
national radio and television channels. 
 
 
 
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SPORTS DIPLOMACY 
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¶6.  (U) In the afternoon, the Embassy organized a baseball game 
between Ambassador Brownfield and Sports Diplomacy envoy and former 
Cincinnati Reds baseball player Barry Larkin's teams, composed of 
children from the NGO "Ninos de Papel," to emphasize the importance 
of sports as a means to stay away from drugs and violence.  Larkin 
traveled to Colombia as a Department of State Sports Envoy from 
November 5-12, 2008, to speak to schools and give baseball clinics 
in Bogota, Cartagena, and Barranquilla.  Also joining Ambassador 
Brownfield and Larkin in the game were Sports Envoys Steve Laska and 
Joe Logan.  Before the game, Brownfield and Larkin presented gifts 
of baseball equipment to the participating children donated by the 
Major League Baseball program "Pitch In."  Team Brownfield decimated 
Team Larkin, despite several obviously wrong umpire calls going 
against them. 
¶7.  (U) On November 8, Ambassador Brownfield and Larkin traveled to 
Barranquilla to participate in Sports Diplomacy activities which 
included a baseball clinic for coaches, a press conference, 
 
television interviews, and a lunch hosted by the American Chamber of 
Commerce.  Barry Larkin, Steve Laska, and Joe Logan worked with 60 
coaches on infield, outfield, and pitching techniques in a clinic 
held at Tomas Arrieta Stadium. At the beginning of the clinic, the 
Ambassador received a plaque of appreciation from the Colombian 
Professional Baseball League for his dedication to the promotion and 
development of the league.  After the clinic, the Ambassador and 
Larkin participated in a press conference answering numerous 
questions about sports and U.S. policy related to Colombia by local 
media. 
¶8.  (U) In the afternoon, Ambassador Brownfield and Larkin were 
interviewed separately by a local television journalist and then 
attended a lunch hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce and 
attended by numerous local business leaders.  During several of 
these events, Ambassador Brownfield described his wish to assist the 
development of Colombian baseball at both the professional and youth 
levels. 
BROWNFIELD