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Eurovision Contestants 2015: Israel

Nadav Guedj, Israel’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2015, is only 16 years old. Although he looks like a 28-year-old financial strategy advisor, his age makes him one of the youngest contestants this year. And, as heard in our office, he might well get some older ladies in trouble.

Especially when the “Middle Eastern pop anthem” he will perform, “Golden Boy”, makes Pitbull sound like a nervous little poodle. “Did you say hello, my ladies?” (Did you?), “Pull me baby, I’m your trigger, you know that my love is bigger,” “Hold me tight, we’re not going home tonight, oh yeah, do you like my dancing?” (Do you?) are just a few examples of what this scorching volcano of a song will fire out at what will most definitely be a swooning audience. Because, before anything else, “Golden Boy” is the story of a guy attempting to repair his broken heart by partying and enjoying life. Aaw.

Nadav Guedj, who was born in Paris and raised in Israel, is the winner of season two of “The Rising Star”, Israel’s most popular singing competition. The country participated a total of 37 times in the contest since its first run in 1973, and won three times.

Israel’s Eurovision appearances have often been the subject of heated debates. Not because it’s not a European country — we’re long past that point — but because many Arab states don’t recognize the country and boycott anything Israel takes part in.

Our vote:

Does it make you want to visit that country? 2.5/10

Was there enough glitter? 4.25/10

Ok to quit your day job? 0/10

OVERALL AVERAGE: 2.25/10

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Migrant Lives

They Migrated From Chiapas When Opportunities Dried Up, Orchids Brought Them Home

An orchid rehabilitation project is turning a small Mexican community into a tourist magnet — and attracting far-flung locals back to their hometown.

They Migrated From Chiapas When Opportunities Dried Up, Orchids Brought Them Home

Marcos Aguilar Pérez takes care of orchids rescued from the rainforest in his backyard in Santa Rita Las Flores, Mapastepec, Chiapas, Mexico.

Adriana Alcázar González/GPJ Mexico
Adriana Alcázar González

MAPASTEPEC — Sweat cascades down Candelaria Salas Gómez’s forehead as she separates the bulbs of one of the orchids she and the other members of the Santa Rita Las Flores Community Ecotourism group have rescued from the rainforest. The group houses and protects over 1,000 orchids recovered from El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, in the southeastern Mexican state of Chiapas, after powerful storms.

“When the storms and heavy rains end, we climb to the vicinity of the mountains and collect the orchids that have fallen from the trees. We bring them to Santa Rita, care for them, and build their strength to reintegrate them into the reserve later,” says Salas Gómez, 32, as she attaches an orchid to a clay base to help it recover.

Like magnets, the orchids of Santa Rita have exerted a pull on those who have migrated from the area due to lack of opportunity. After years away from home, Salas Gómez was one of those who returned, attracted by the community venture to rescue these flowers and exhibit them as a tourist attraction, which provides residents with an adequate income.

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