Latin America Happenings

Serious flooding in Brazil

2008-12-08T16:40:00.000-08:00

"Brazil flooding death toll rises"

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (CNN) -- The death toll from historic floods in southern Brazil continued to creep upward Monday, with 112 reported dead, the state news agency said.

Officials say 19 people remain missing and nearly 79,000 residents have been left homeless, according to the state-run Agencia Brasil. Many of the deaths have been caused by mudslides.

The city of Ilhota in the hard-hit state of Santa Catarina has recorded 37 fatalities, the most of any municipality, Agencia Brasil said.

Read Full Article CNN

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Argentina's Airline

2008-12-04T15:16:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since my last post, but here's some information on Argentina's business happenings from BBC:

"Argentina backs airline seizure"

Argentina's lower house of Congress has approved legislation to seize the country's biggest airline, Aerolineas Argentinas, from its Spanish owners.

Deputies voted 152 to 84 for the bill, which now goes to the Senate.

Spanish firm Grupo Marsans agreed in July to sell the debt-laden airline back to the state but the two sides failed to agree on a price.

Read Full Article BBC News

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U.S. Case against Venezuelan

2008-11-03T16:28:00.000-08:00

If you're into international legal happenings, here's an interesting story from Reuters:

"U.S. jury convicts Venezuelan in "suitcase" plot"
By Tom Brown

MIAMI (Reuters) - A Venezuelan businessman was convicted on Monday for his role in a plot to conceal what U.S. prosecutors say was an illicit contribution from his country's leftist government to the election campaign of Argentina's current president.

Franklin Duran, 41, was found guilty by a federal court jury in Miami of conspiracy and acting as an illegal foreign agent in the United States in a case dubbed the "suitcase scandal" by the Argentine media.

Read Full Article Reuters

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Chavez Under Threat??

2008-10-28T15:22:00.000-07:00

Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela, is now claiming a governor from an opposing party is wanting to assassinate him. Interesting that it's right around election time. IHT has the latest:

"Chávez says opposition governor is plotting to kill him"
Associated Press

CARACAS: President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela threatened over the weekend to imprison the popular governor of the western Venezuelan state of Zulia on allegations that the governor is plotting to kill him.

Chávez leveled the accusation against Manuel Rosales, one of four opposition governors in the country, on Saturday, just weeks before gubernatorial and municipal elections scheduled for Nov. 23. Rosales denied the accusation.

Read Full Article Internation Herald Tribune

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Violence in Mexico

2008-10-23T17:22:00.000-07:00

It's getting pretty rough in Mexico with the government versus the drug cartels:

"Four human heads sent to Mexican police"
Associated Press

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico - Police in northern Mexico have received an ice chest packed with four human heads.

The chest that arrived at the Ascencion police station in Chihuahua state was marked "vaccines," but wasn't claimed for a week.

Finally, police opened it and found the heads. The bodies haven't been located.

Read Full Article MSNBC

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Mexico Tightening Immigration

2008-10-20T15:26:00.001-07:00

Mexico has decided to clamp down on a route used by Cubans to get into the United States. BBC has the article:

"Mexico blocks Cuban route to US"

Mexico has agreed to tighten its immigration rules to crack down on the smuggling route used by Cubans who want to flee to the United States.

The agreement, signed at a ceremony in Mexico City, restricts the main exit route for thousands of Cubans as many travel via Mexico.

Mexico's past reluctance to halt the practice has led to tensions with Cuba.

Read Full Article BBC News

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Colombia Human Rights Questions

2008-10-17T13:59:00.000-07:00

A human rights group is alleging that Colombia is preventing investigations about linking the government to militia units there. President Uribe is denying these claims. BBC has the story:

"Colombia 'blocking militia probe' "

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Colombian government of blocking investigations into alleged links between paramilitaries and politicians.

Thousands of demobilised fighters have given evidence implicating more than 60 of President Alvaro Uribe's supporters, including his cousin Mario.

HRW, a New York-based group, said Mr Uribe's government was "sabotaging" the investigation - a claim he has denied.

Read Full Article BBC News

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Peruvian Corruption Story Continued

2008-10-15T09:23:00.000-07:00

I have placed an earlier post about a government scandal in Peru concerning petroleum and government officials. The Peruvian President has eliminated his entire cabinet and appointed a brand new group. Reuters has the latest:

"Peru's Garcia names new Cabinet as popularity sags"
By Maria Luisa Palomino

LIMA (Reuters) - Peruvian President Alan Garcia swore in a new Cabinet led by a prominent leftist as prime minister on Tuesday, hoping to overcome a corruption scandal and regain popularity.

Garcia fired all 17 of his ministers last week after audiotapes surfaced linking two of them to a scheme to steer lucrative petroleum contracts to favored bidders in exchange for bribes.

Read Full Article Reuters

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Economic Turmoil Strikes

2008-10-09T10:34:00.000-07:00

In the recent decade, Latin America has shown some distance and even anger with the United States. President Hugo Chavez has been one leading the charge, but many others have sought to reduce American presence. Despite this attempt for independence, U.S. economic problems are having massive effects on Latin American nations. Dropping oil is bound to hurt nations like Venezuela. NY Times has an article:

"From Gleeful to Fearful in Latin America"
By ALEXEI BARRIONUEVO and SIMON ROMERO

SÃO PAULO, Brazil — As America’s financial crisis was gathering speed, Brazil’s president seemed dismissive, almost gleeful, about the troubles up north.

“What crisis?” said the president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, when asked last month about the financial maelstrom. “Go ask Bush about that.”

Like a number of South American countries, Brazil had been flashing a newfound confidence, one born of a deliberate push to decrease political and economic reliance on the United States. But on Monday, shortly after Congress rejected a proposed $700 billion bailout package, Mr. da Silva struck a very different tone, saying in his weekly radio address that Brazil was not immune from the spreading woes after all.

Read Full Article NY Times

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Bolivia and U.S.

2008-10-08T15:02:00.000-07:00

Bolivia and the U.S. continue to have strained relations. President Evo Morales is refusing American help to combat the drug trade in his home country. This is an indication of further declining relations between Latin countries and the U.S. right now. CNN had the story:

"Bolivia doesn't need U.S. anti-drug aid, leader says"

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) -- President Evo Morales said Saturday that Bolivia does not need U.S. help to control its coca crop, stepping up his anti-Washington rhetoric days after rejecting an American request to fly an anti-drug plane over the South American nation's territory.

Morales also compared U.S. counter-drug efforts in the country, including Drug Enforcement Administration flights, to espionage.

"It's important that the international community knows that here, we don't need control of the United States on coca cultivation," the president told a gathering of coca farmers. "We can control ourselves internally. We don't need any spying from anybody."

Read Full Article CNN

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Corruption in Peru

2008-10-07T10:24:00.000-07:00

Continuing with the influence of oil stories, a Peruvian energy official has resigned because of alleged "kickbacks" in oil deals. If it's true, it just shows how high money oil has been, as it's creating political corruption. BBC has this story:

"Oil contract scandal shakes Peru"

Peru's energy and mines minister Juan Valdivia has resigned after a scandal allegedly involving kickbacks for oil concessions came to light.

Mr Valdivia denied any wrongdoing but said he was stepping down as he had to assume political responsibility.

Read Full Article BBC News

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Venezuelan Oil Influence

2008-10-06T10:59:00.001-07:00

President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela uses his nation's massive amount of oil to undercut U.S. influence in the region. He offers cheap oil to many poor nations, in exchange for his hand in matters. Oil is not just a Middle East issue, but Latin America is coming to play a key role as well. Bloomberg has the latest on this issue:

"Chavez's Cheap Oil Gives Him Sway Over U.S. Allies, Aid Funds"
By Matthew Walter

Oct. 6 (Bloomberg) -- President Hugo Chavez has figured out how to use Venezuela's vast oil reserves to increase his regional influence while diminishing U.S. clout: He all but gives it away.

The self-proclaimed socialist revolutionary is allowing impoverished U.S. allies such as Honduras and the Dominican Republic to buy discounted oil with low-interest loans. Then he rebates the revenue back to those countries in the form of aid - - attached to strings he controls.

Venezuela's oil wealth gives it ``much more capacity for an aggressive foreign policy,'' says Jose Manuel Puente, a professor at the Center for Public Policy at the Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Administracion in Caracas. ``You can cultivate and multiply your revolution, and you can create more friction with the U.S.''

Read Full Article Bloomberg.com

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World Markets Struggling

2008-10-02T10:54:00.001-07:00

All over the world, stocks and currencies are going down from the troubled U.S. financial situation. It definitely shows how interconnected all of us are. I wanted to post this article from Reuters as it's not only pertinent to Latin America, but rather the entire world:

"GLOBAL MARKETS-Global stocks, oil slide on economic stress signs"
By Herbert Lash

NEW YORK, Oct 2 (Reuters) - New signs of stress in the U.S. economy drove down stocks on both sides of the Atlantic and sent oil lower on Thursday even as the U.S. Congress worked toward passing a revised bill to rescue the ailing financial sector.

U.S. and euro zone government debt rose in a renewed safe-haven rally as a new batch of bleak economic data in the United States rekindled fears of a U.S. recession and slower world growth.

Read Full Article Reuters

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Tensions in South America

2008-09-30T15:25:00.000-07:00

President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela continues to dominate news coming out of South America. After months of deteriorating relations with neighboring Colombia, Chavez is now claiming possible attack against Venezuela. Fox News has the latest:

"Chavez: Colombia Plotting Attack Against Venezuela"

Associated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez on Friday accused neighboring Colombia and the United States of plotting a military "aggression" against Venezuela.

"I accuse the government of Colombia of devising a conspiracy, acting as a pawn of the U.S. empire, of devising a military provocation against Venezuela," Chavez said.

"A military aggression is being prepared," Chavez added, saying that Washington aims to "oblige us to respond, and later a war could be set off."

Read Full Article Fox News

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Brazil Environmental Efforts

2008-09-26T10:48:00.000-07:00

Brazil is seeking to eliminate deforestation in the coming years to address climate change. BBC has the latest:

"Brazil unveils deforestation plan"

By Tim Hirsch, BBC News, Sao Paulo

The Brazilian government has pledged to end net deforestation by 2015.

It is one of the key commitments in a draft climate change plan, which stops short of setting specific targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Read Full Article BBC News

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Mexican Congress

2008-09-24T10:48:00.000-07:00

Apparently in Mexico, their Congress had control over whether or not the President there could actually leave the country. They still have some control, but Felipe Calderon now has more freedom. That's an amazing power for a legislative body to have in a country. Check out the NY Times article:

"Mexican President Enjoys Newfound Freedom to Fly"

By MARC LACEY
Published: September 22, 2008

MEXICO CITY — On his way to New York for the United Nations General Assembly meeting on Tuesday, President Felipe Calderón of Mexico will hop on his presidential jet for the very first time without having to ask permission to fire up the engines and go.

Until the Constitution was changed over the summer, Mexican presidents had to seek approval from their nation’s Congress every time they sought to touch a toe on foreign soil. If the Congress was in an ornery mood, as it was during former President Vicente Fox’s term, it could — and sometimes did — say no.

Read Full Article NY Times

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Hurricane impact

2008-09-23T10:48:00.000-07:00

Despite a large amount of attention on U.S. problems with this fairly active hurricane season, Cuba has suffered a major brunt of some of the Atlantic's worst storms this year. Unfortunately for the people there, they do not have the resources belonging to America, and many will have a long wait for a home. If the United States and Raul Castro can start thawing this trade freeze, maybe America can help out. MSNBC has the news in Cuba:

"Storm-hit Cubans wait, and wait, for homes"
Associated Press

HAVANA DEL ESTE, Cuba - When Hurricane Charlie tore through her apartment, Marcia Escalona considered herself lucky to land temporary housing on the Cuban capital's remote outskirts while communist authorities pledged to help her rebuild.

But four years later, it no longer feels temporary.

"They told me it would be six months, but that was in 2004, and I want out of here already," said the 48-year-old kindergarten supervisor who lives with her husband and 22-year-old son in two rooms with concrete walls and a leaky roof in Bahia, a community of temporary homes in Havana del Este, or East Havana.

Read Full Article MSNBC

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Developments in Bolivia

2008-09-22T11:04:00.000-07:00

Bolivia continues to struggle with internal violence. Wealthier classes seek distance from a government that is in control of more indigenous areas with less wealth. CNN has the story:

"Peace talks aim at easing Bolivia tension"

LA PAZ, Bolivia (CNN) -- An air of anxiety clutches Bolivia this weekend amid high-stakes talks designed to end bloodshed and keep the country whole.

The central government of leftist President Evo Morales, Bolivia's first leader from an Indian majority centered in the western highlands, is conducting talks with governors of largely white provinces in the east who want autonomy.

Tension between the two sides erupted into violence that killed at least 30 people in September. In addition, differences about the country's future have threatened to split the country.

Read Full Article CNN

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Venezuela

2008-09-19T14:03:00.000-07:00

President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela has continued to tighten his grip on the country. The leader is not very receptive to criticism. BBC News has an interesting story:

"Venezuela expels rights activists"

Venezuela has expelled two key Human Rights Watch activists for a report that criticised the country's rights record under President Hugo Chavez.

The foreign ministry said Jose Miguel Vivanco, HRW's Americas director, and his deputy Daniel Wilkinson had committed "serious violations".

Read Full Article BBC News

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Violence

2008-09-18T10:58:00.001-07:00

Mexico continues to struggle with drug-related violence. Reuters points out some extreme violence near the border at a prison. The article, however, is not clear if the riot was drug-related or not.

"Prison riot in Mexico border city kills 19"

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Nineteen prisoners were killed and a dozen wounded in the second riot in less than a week at a jail in the Mexican border city of Tijuana, local officials said on Thursday.

"Up to the last count, there are 19 dead and 12 wounded," Daniel de la Rosa, Baja California's state police chief, said in a televised news conference following the riot on Wednesday at one of Tijuana's main jails.

Read Full Article Reuters

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So Sad...

2008-09-16T11:21:00.001-07:00

Apparently severe violence greatly damaged a Mexican Independence Day celebration. I feel awful for the families, and hopefully the rest of the country can celebrate indepence happily.

"Attack Kills 7 at Mexican Independence Day Celebration"
AP Article on Foxnews

MEXICO CITY — A Mexican governor said Tuesday that organized crime was responsible for explosions at an Independence Day celebration that killed at least seven people and injured 101 in the colonial city of Morelia.

The attack happened just as Gov. Leonel Godoy was delivering the traditional "grito," or shout for independence, in Morelia's main plaza, where thousands had gathered to celebrate.

Read Full Article FoxNews

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Potential cause for concern in the U.S.

2008-09-11T16:33:00.000-07:00

"Eight killed in Bolivia clashes, U.S. tensions rise"
By Eduardo Garcia

SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia (Reuters) - At least eight people were killed as violent anti-government protests flared in Bolivia on Thursday, creating havoc in the natural gas industry and raising tensions with the United States.

Washington ordered out the Bolivian ambassador in response to Bolivia's move a day earlier to oust the U.S. envoy whom President Evo Morales blamed for the escalating violence.

Read Full Article Reuters World News

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"Brazil oil boom to 'end poverty' "

2008-09-09T13:39:00.000-07:00

BBC News article: Will the politicians here actually disperse the wealth or maintain it among the elite? We'll have to see!

Brazil will use revenue from newly discovered offshore oil fields to eradicate poverty, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has vowed.

In a TV address, President Lula said Brazil would not squander the money but invest in technology and education.

The exact scale of the deepwater fields, discovered last year, is not known but President Lula believes they could triple Brazil's reserves.

Read Full Article BBC News

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"Angry Argentine commuters torch train in rush hour"

2008-09-05T10:32:00.000-07:00

(REUTERS)

BUENOS AIRES - Furious commuters in Argentina set fire to a train on Thursday over delays during the morning rush hour, incidents the government later blamed on leftist activists.

Television images showed black smoke and flames engulfing the train at the station of Merlo, in the western suburbs of the capital, Buenos Aires. At nearby Castelar, passengers hurled stones at the ticket office and blocked the rails.

Read Full Article MSNBC World News

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"Violentos incidentes por cancelación de servicio ferroviario en Argentina"

2008-09-04T14:56:00.000-07:00

BUENOS AIRES (AFP) - Centenares de pasajeros enfurecidos por la cancelación el jueves del servicio de una línea de ferrocarril que conecta la periferia oeste con la capital argentina quemaron cuatro vagones y una máquina expendedora de boletos, y apedrearon oficinas de la empresa concesionaria.

Los incidentes comenzaron cuando una formación que viajaba hacia la terminal de Once, en Buenos Aires, quedó varada por una falla técnica cerca de la estación Castelar (periferia oeste), lo que derivó en virulentas protestas por parte de cientos de pasajeros que se dirigían a su trabajo.

Los pasajeros apedrearon las oficinas de la concesionaria Trenes de Buenos Aires (TBA) en Castelar, y bloquearon las vías del ferrocarril para impedir el paso de las formaciones en sentido contrario, hacia el oeste de la periferia.

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