Hit song about 'death train' of Central America that has killed thousands of illegal immigrants was

[Judi Lynn]

Hit song about 'death train' of Central America that has killed thousands of illegal immigrants was 'propaganda made by the US government' to dissuade border crossings

'La Bestia' is a popular song about the freight train 'The Beast' that hundreds of thousands of migrants risk their lives riding to try and get into America
Sung in Spanish, it tells of the dangers of using La Bestia as a migrant
Song was commissioned by U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Part of the multimillion dollar 'Dangers Awareness Campaign'
There is no disclaimer that comes with the song so listeners are not aware the song was created for them by the U.S. government

By Joel Christie
Published: 18:10 EST, 14 July 2014 | Updated: 18:15 EST, 14 July 2014

The U.S. government's latest attempt to stop illegal immigrants crossing the border comes via the radio.

As part of a new multi-million dollar 'Dangers Awareness Campaign', the U.S. Customs and Border Protection campaign commissioned a catchy Spanish song to be written and produced to discourage families in Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador from sending their children with smugglers to cross the U.S. border through Mexico.

That song - La Bestia - has subsequently become a major radio hit in Central America, with its legion of fans unaware it was created to 'teach' them something.

La Bestia - translated as 'The Beast' - refers to the notoriously dangerous freight train that migrants ride from Southern Mexico - risking robbery, kidnapping, rape, and murder - just to make it to the U.S. border, reports The Daily Beast.

More:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2692236/Hit-radio-song-Central-America-commissioned-U-S-government-secretly-discourage-immigrants-crossing-border.html

[elehhhhna]

1. propaganda. wonder what else we've sponsored?

not sure how I feel about this

[Bacchus4.0]

2. Sounds like the songwriter did well for himself n/t

[Judi Lynn]

3. Hit song 'La Bestia' about Mexican death train released by US border agency to deter prospective mig

Hit song 'La Bestia' about Mexican death train released by US border agency to deter prospective migrants from making the trip north
Tim Walker
Los Angeles
Tuesday 15 July 2014

It is one of the most popular songs on Central American radio, frequently requested from stations across Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. But what most of its listeners don’t know is that “La Bestia” (The Beast) – a ballad about the treacherous train journey across Mexico towards the US border – was commissioned by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency to deter prospective migrants from making the trip.

Since October last year, more than 52,000 children, many unaccompanied by adults, have arrived in the US illegally after crossing its border with Mexico. Most are refugees fleeing endemic violence in Central America.

President Barack Obama has asked Congress for $3.7bn (£2.2bn) in emergency funding to address the humanitarian crisis, including $5m to be spent on a media campaign advising people not to come to the US.

The CBP has already launched a $1m advertising drive to put off Central American parents who plan to send their children north. According to a report by The Daily Beast, a news website, the “Dangers Awareness Campaign” unveiled this month was conceived by Elevation, an advertising agency based in Washington DC, whose Mexican-born creative director, Rodolfo Hernandez, wrote the Spanish-language lyrics to “La Bestia”.

More:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/hit-song-la-bestia-about-mexican-death-train-released-by-us-border-agency-to-deter-prospective-migrants-from-making-the-trip-north-9608152.html

[center]~ ~ ~[/center]
07.12.14

The Government Is Using Subliminal Songs To Scare Immigrants

Guess who commissioned “La Bestia,” a Central American radio hit about the dangers of the journey to America?

“Migrants from everywhere, entrenched along the rail ties. Far away from where they come, further away from where they go,” singer Eddie Ganz croons in Spanish over the Caribbean beat of the marimba, a wooden xylophone-like instrument from Guatemala. “They call her the Beast from the South, this wretched train of death. With the devil in the boiler, whistles, roars, twists and turns.”

People throughout Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador call their local radio stations to request this song, a harrowing tale of violence and death set against the backdrop of Central America’s traditionally upbeat cumbia music. “La Bestia,” or “The Beast” refers to the notoriously dangerous freight train upon which thousands of migrants ride from Southern Mexico, risking robbery, kidnapping, rape, and murder just to make it to the U.S. border. It’s a familiar tale told by an expected source. In fact, the popularity of “La Bestia” owes itself in large part to the fact that its audience is not aware of its origins. The song, and others like it, are part of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection campaign to deter illegal immigration to the United States.

Last week, CBP announced plans to launch a new, million-dollar “Dangers Awareness Campaign,” aimed at discouraging families in Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador from sending their children with smugglers to cross the U.S. border through Mexico. A press release described billboards and public service announcements to be aired on television and radio in those three countries as well as U.S. cities with large Central American populations. Not highlighted was “La Bestia,” the song written and produced for the sole purpose of spreading CBP’s message through music.

More:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/07/12/how-the-government-is-using-subliminal-songs-to-scare-central-american-immigrants.html