So What Does Joran Van der Sloot Do as a Hobby? Train Graffiti Art

Seems that a certain suspect in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway has been a member of this web site since November 2005 … www.bananarepublik.nl, http://www.graffiti.org/.

If Joran is so into train graffiti art, maybe the below train graffiti will be his next work of art. What say you … Joran Van der Sloot?

Justice_For_Natalee

(Hat Tip: Klaas)

Posted April 1, 2007 by Scared Monkeys
Aruba, Bloggers, Joran Van der Sloot, Natalee Holloway | 88 comments

Aruba: Protests against Chollers and the Drug Addition Problem in Aruba … Safety? … What about Natalee Holloway

Do people still think there is not a safety issue in Aruba? With the increase in drug addiction problems automatically comes an increase in crime. One does not occur without the other. The issue with the homeless, chollers and drug addicts has become so bad that Arubans have taken to the street in protest.

OneHappyChollerIsland

About 500 to 600 protesters showed their support to Michael Saladin, by protesting against the increased problems with drug addiction. The protest march was peaceful; the banners spoke or themselves; the general sentiment is that hardworking people should not suffer under the addiction of others. (Amigoe)

If anyone does not think that this increase in drug addiction and homelessness impacts safety on “One Happy Island”, think again.

In Aruba we have a lot of good things, but of course also some bad things. One of these are the problems of the homeless drug addicts, that we call ‘chollers’. These chollers beg, yell, fight and generally resist any help of the various local NA groups.

Yesterday, a woman was offered by one of those chollers to wash her car. She refused. When she came back the tires of her car were slashed. She called the authorities, a complaint was filed, etc. She also told her husband what happened. The husband, a local businessman whose stores have been held up a number of times, went to look for the choller who he thought slashed his wife’s car. (Arubagirl.ws)

Now imagine this issue of chollers, homeless and drug addicts with unsuspecting tourists. Tourists are told that Aruba is “One Happy Island” with no crime. What recourse would tourists have if confronted as Michael Saladin was? The answer is none. Not only would they not have access to a gun, knife, etc … the fact of the matter is as seen by what happened in the Natalee Holloway case is that the police would hush up the story for fear of hurting their tourism.

OneHappyChollerIsland2

(Where is the Aruban outcry for Natalee and the impact on their tourism?)

One thing certainly comes to mind in that Aruban’s are protesting against this perceived problem with chollers and how in personally impacts them. Where was and still is their outrage to how the Natalee Holloway case was handled? Where is their protests to one of the single most bungled events in Aruba that has cost them dearly in tourism and their reputation around the world? Where is Aruba’s discontent? Why do they not want “Justice for Natalee” that would also provide an image change for Aruba?

Aruba_OneSadIsland

So Aruba will protest if one of their own is impacted by a lesser form of the community, but they will not protest when a tourist like Natalee Holloway goes missing and they aftermath of event damages the Aruban economy? Nice. “One Happy Island” torward tourists.

Posted March 31, 2007 by Scared Monkeys
Aruba, Crime, Natalee Holloway, Travel | 133 comments

Protest Aruba in Boston … A Summary from Richard, “We the People”.

If one ever thinks they can’t make a difference against the establishment, think again. The United States of America is founded on the right of “Freedom of Speech.” This is a concept that Aruba, its officials and the tourism authority learned over this past weekend. Even as our people protested to given Natalee a voice, people with this show tried to take away their right to protest. However, this is America, not Aruba.

Arubans seem unwilling to stand up to their government who know deep down in their hearts that their government tourism officials messed up the Natalee Holloway investigation. A police investigation that can best be described as a joke. Here is a word of wisdom to the many hard working, honorable Aruban’s that have been affected by what their officials have inflicted upon them; people all over the world have stood up to their governments to do the right thing. In the US and abroad expressing one’s freedom of speech and rights is a noble endeavor. You to can speak out about your declining economy and why. If a individual can stand up to a tank and win, imagine what many could do?

Tianasquare

Tiananmen Square protests in 1989

Armed only with the desire to do what was right, inform people of Aruba, its dangers and Natalee Holloway five people set out to take on what is the million dollar tourism industry at the Boston Globe Travel Show. Richard, Hotshot, Observer, J4N and her husband should all be commended for their efforts.

(Special sign made especially for Beth Twitty & Natalee)

Information is a tremendous weapon against those that who would hope to squelch it and keep people uninformed as to the truth. Imagine the money that Aruba spent in marketing for this travel show. Now imagine the publicity that the five Monkeys received by being on local Boston TV getting their word out and informing people as they entered the convention center. Think that did not leave a mark and infuriate many at the ATA? We had asked Richard to write some of his thoughts and experiences in Boston. The following is from Richard, in his own words:

Some blogs are interested in hearing about the vigil at the Boston Globe Travel Show of March 23-25, so here’s my report. None of us knew what to expect (I had never organized a protest like this before), but we all agree that it was a positive event in pressuring Aruba Tourism Authority and in keeping Natalee’s case in the public eye. Apparently some of the TV coverage was played (I was told that my “exclusive” interview with the local Fox News, exclusive only because the other four people weren’t around at the time, did get aired.)

Posted March 26, 2007 by Scared Monkeys
Aruba, Bloggers, boycott, Media, Natalee Holloway, Travel | 422 comments

The Dana Pretzer Show Tonight at 9 PM, Guests: Jaisun McMillian, David Brian Thomas and Monkeys from Boston Travel Show Protest

Sunday March 25th 2007 9pm et

Author, Entertainer, Actor – Jaisun McMillian

David Brian Thomas – Fighting to get back his son that was kidnapped to Japan

And Special Guests from the Boston Globe Travel Show:

Three monkeys “Hotshot, Observer and Richard” they are in Boston showing their support for Natalee Holloway at The Boston Globe Travel Show .. The Aruban Tourism Association is A Major Sponsor.

Standard Podcast [72:01m]: Play in Popup | Download