Chinatown and the Latin Quarter in London

This week, just two months in which officially the City of London, the most populous and cosmopolitan city in Europe, celebrates the coming of Chinese New Year. From Trafalgar Square, the largest in the former British Empire, and where did a show with oriental dragons to Chinatown and its surroundings have been filled with posters and banners alluding.

Latin American communities in London have a population five or more times greater than that which comes from the Far East. Latinos and Andean well might have their own neighborhood where people come to buy your products or soak up the Latin American culture. This not only could serve as a social and cultural center but as a tourist attraction and support to enhance London as a multicultural capital and Olympic Games.

The possibility of a Latino neighborhood exists because of the rise of a new community and the boom of new shopping centers Latinos, especially around the districts of Lambeth, Southwark, Islington and Haringey.

However, our community faces some obstacles. One of these are plans for redeveloping demolished seeking land for new buildings attractive, modern and exclusive. Elephant and Castle have managed to impose its model, but in Seven Sister is a strong rejection of the local community who strongly defends Pueblito Paisa market and the strategic point of the metro.

Forge alliances with other sectors and communities and move to the local population is an important lesson that has been showing the Pueblito Paisa.

Another larger ourselves. London Latinos do not have confidence in themselves. Many of them have just as fearful walking granted citizenship or residence and others because their situation is temporary or irregular.

On the other hand the media and community organizations do not coordinate among themselves, or want to use, for example, the London elections for pressure. Many communities go devoting themselves locked into long for their homelands or diplomats, but without looking like more integrated into society.

It's time for Latinos in UK can make a coordinator of all its organizations and media and take advantage of these elections to be felt.