Today’s Video: Messi wows Madrid

Can Argentine soccer wonder Lionel Messi do no wrong?

Lionel Messi hit a hat-trick as Barcelona triumphed 3-1 in their Spanish Copa Del Rey last-16 first leg tie at 10-man Atletico Madrid on Tuesday…

Messi completed his treble 10 minutes from time before leaving to a standing ovation with record 24-time winners' Barcelona facing a comfortable task in next Wednesday's return leg.

Receiving a standing ovation for a stellar performance is lovely. But getting it from the opposing team’s fans is something truly special.

(Hat tip: The Offside).

Sources- The Offside, YouTube, CNN

Mexican masticators decide - spit or swallow?

Apparently Mexico City’s government is giving up on its efforts to curb kidnappers and murderers and is instead targeting the real criminals: gum chewers.

Now Mexico is responding with innovations ranging from expensive sidewalk steam-cleaners to natural chewing gum that breaks down quickly. It's even telling its citizens (gulp!) to swallow their gum.

The general in the war on discarded chewing gum is Ricardo Jaral, Mexico City's director for conservation of public spaces. He bemoans the blackened gobs that mar the newly restored 700-year-old downtown area and litter the lovely but porous hand-chiseled sidewalks along the city's main boulevard.

He has purchased a fleet of German machines that clean sidewalks with steam and chemicals, and is looking at launching a public-awareness campaign.

Methinks señor Jaral is trying a little too hard to emulate Rudy Giuliani’s campaign against “quality-of-life” crimes during his time as New York City mayor. (Is it no coincidence that Giuliani served years ago as a consultant in a mostly failed attempt to lower crime in the Mexican capital?)

Image- Univision
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, MSNBC, CBS News

Critics blast Homeland Security reality show

Last night was the debut episode of a reality show that looks at the work of Department of Homeland Security officers. The show may turn out to be a hit, yet critical reception to “Homeland Security USA” has been largely negative. Here are a few choice quotes from some critics:

• Tom Shales (Washington Post)

It's doubtful that very many viewers will feel more secure after witnessing that and other Keystone Kop-like operations; there's little about "Homeland Security USA" that's warmly reassuring in the post-9/11 world …Even if it's better to be safe than sorry, however, "Homeland" still seems a sorry excuse for a television show.

• Richard (Gawker)

If a TSA agent cries after making you take off your shoes or throw away expensive makeup, will you still be mad at him?

• Verne Gay (Newsday)

Not particularly exciting, and it does occasionally feel like a commercial for the government agencies that helped produce it. But it is nominally instructive and engaging.

• Linda Stasi (New York Post)

While we're all used to these sometimes silly, sometimes humiliating, often over-the-top but usually necessary security measures imposed since 9/11 that are about as much fun as a two-hour MRI…But are these measures worth a whole series? Not really.

• Carrie Kahn (NPR)

At first, the show has the feel of a glitzy public service announcement or a fast-paced recruitment video. But within minutes, the feverish pitch slows slightly to show off the unprecedented access given to ABC's producers.

• Mark A. Perigard (Boston Herald)

While “Homeland Security” displays the dedication of agents, it also quite inadvertently could be giving tips to train a better class of criminal.

Did you watch “Homeland Security USA”; if so what did you think of it?

Image- New York Times
Online Sources- Washington Post, Gawker, Newsday, New York Post, NPR, Boston Herald

Bill Richardson’s advisors under investigation

This hasn’t been a good week for Bill Richardson.

On Sunday the New Mexico governor withdrew his nomination for Secretary of State under incoming president Barack Obama. Richardson cited an ongoing federal investigation over a possible “pay-for-play” scheme with California firm CDR Financial Products.

Now it's been reported that a former Richardson top advisor is also being investigated for his ties to CDR:

A witness who testified before a federal grand jury in Albuquerque last month said he was asked if David Contarino, the former chief of staff, ordered New Mexico Finance Authority officials to hire Beverly Hills, California-based CDR Financial Products Inc. Another person familiar with the investigation said Contarino, 47, is a subject of the inquiry and that prosecutors are looking at whether he solicited contributions from firms that worked on finance authority bond deals.

On top of that, the AP cited “longtime friend and political adviser” Mike Stratton who worked as a consultant to CDR and earned nearly $1.5 million in fees for helping the firm secure contracts in New Mexico.

Whether the investigation clears Richardson remains to be seen though eyebrows are certainly being raised over the actions of some of his confidants.

Image- AFP
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, AP, Bloomberg

Barcelona to feature atheist bus ads

Atheist groups in Barcelona plan to emulate the example of their British counterparts and pay for ads on city buses. "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy life," will be the slogan running on a pair of Barcelona buses starting on Monday. Officials in other Spanish cities like Madrid and Valencia are considering whether or not to permit similar campaigns.

As you might imagine, not everyone is thrilled with the atheist ad campaign:

The campaign has provoked a reaction from the Catholic archbishopric of Barcelona. "Faith in God is not a source of worry, nor is it an obstacle for enjoying life," it said in a statement…

"It is an attack on all religions," said Javier Maria Perez-Roldan of the church's Tomas Moro centre, blaming the socialist government for the privately funded campaign. "The government has created an atmosphere of belligerence."

Despite Spain’s strong Catholic tradition a 2006 Harris Interactive poll found that 11% of Spaniards are atheist and that slightly less than half believe in God.

The British Humanist Association and book author Richard Dawkins recently launched a massive atheist ad campaign that includes posters on hundreds of London buses and subway cars.

Image- The Age (“Author Richard Dawkins, who wrote The God Delusion, lends his support as the London bus atheism advertising campaign is launched.”)
Online Sources- AHN, Monsters & Critics, Guardian UK, Harris Interactive

Israel to boot Venezuelan diplomats?

Israel’s Foreign Ministry is reportedly considering expelling Venezuelan diplomats in retaliation to a similar move from the South American country. Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said that the government will decide later today whether or not to make the tit-for-tat gesture with Venezuela.

Venezuela’s decision to boot Israeli diplomats was taken hours after Israeli attacks killed over forty people seeking refuge at a Gaza U.N. school. "The Israeli army is cowardly attacking worn-out, innocent people" said Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez as his country becomes the first to take such actions since the Israeli offensive began in late December. During a visit to a Caracas children hospital, Chavez also added that Israeli military strikes constitute a “Holocaust” against the people in Gaza.

The Israeli army claimed in a statement yesterday that “among the dead in the school were members of the military wing of the Hamas terror organization.” Yet U.N. investigators denied that with one official saying that he was "99.9% certain" there were no Hamas militants in the school.

Several Latin American governments continued to condemn the ongoing violence in the Middle East:

"Mexico condemns the excessive use of force associated with the Israeli army operation in Gaza,” a statement from the Mexican Foreign Ministry said late Tuesday.

It also condemned "the continued launching of mortars into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip"…

The governments of Chile, Nicaragua and Peru have also officially condemned the bombardments.

Image- BBC News (“An Israeli attack on a UN-run school killed more than 40 people who were seeking shelter there from the fighting.”)
Online Sources- BBC News, Bloomberg, CNN, Al Jazeera English, Reuters, PRESS TV

Daily Headlines: January 7, 2009

* U.S.: Univision could lose millions of dollars in ad revenue from programs like prime-time telenovelas should it be defeated in a royalties trial with Mexican media giant Televisa.

* Guatemala: Rescue workers have called off their search efforts for victims of a large landslide that killed at least 35 people.

* Venezuela: President Hugo Chavez stopped a three-year program that supplied cheap heating oil to underprivileged U.S. neighborhoods.

* U.S.: Ex-Florida governor Jeb Bush has declined running in 2010 for the Senate seat vacated by Mel Martinez.

Image- Los Angeles Times (“A Televisa crew shoots an episode of the telenovela "Un Gancho al Corazon" ("A Hook to the Heart") in Mexico City. Ads from Televisa programming generate a significant chunk of Univision's TV revenue.”)
Online Sources- Voice of America, Bloomberg, Reuters, New York Times, The Latin Americanist

Today’s Video: Salma on the small screen

Note: I sincerely apologize for the lack of posts on Tuesday. I've been battling a pretty bad stomach bug and, as you might imagine, blogging was pretty low on the list of priorities.

Regular posting will resume bright and early on Wednesday. (Hopefully!)

In the meantime, the following is a snippet from the AP highlighting Mexican actress/producer/activist/Latina extraordinaire Salma Hayek's guest stint on "30 Rock." Her role opposite Alec Baldwin showcases her many talents (double entendre not intended!) and serves as another feather in her cap.

Sources - YouTube

TSA agents ill over Honduran-made unis

Some stories speak for themselves:

Some Transportation Security Administration workers are reporting severe skin rashes, lightheadedness, swelling and redness in and around the eyes and lips as a result of the blue uniforms TSA officers started wearing this summer, according to the union representing the workers...

According to workers who have seen their doctors, the problems are caused by the formaldehyde used in the manufacturing process of the uniforms. Formaldehyde is also used by clothing makers to prevent mildew and keep fabric stain-and-wrinkle free.

Workers have noticed that uniforms imported from Mexico do not seem to cause rashes, as opposed to uniforms from Honduras. [ed. Emphasis added]

After hearing the news, a coalition of weary travelers sick of having to constantly remove their shoes and being manhandled by TSA agents has sent thank-you cards to thousands of Honduran uniform makers.*

*No, not really. But if you've ever been hassled at a security checkpoint you may wish it were true.

Image- Chicago Sun-Times
Online Sources- Chicago Sun-Times

Happy Three Kings Day! (Now go shopping)

Today is the Christian feast of the Epiphany were it's said that God revealed Himself in the form of Jesus Christ. This day is celebrated in several Latin American countries as Three Kings Day. Particularly in Mexico and the Spanish-speaking Caribbean, the holiday is celebrated with the giving of sweets and gifts to children (instead of on Christmas Day).

Much like the commercialization of Christmas, Three Kings Day has gradually turned into an occasion for shopping. Wal-Mart has led the push this year with a nationwide promotional campaign. Yet smaller retailers are also trying to recoup losses in the midst of a recession as well as take advantage of Latino consumers:

"It used to be that after Christmas, everything was pretty much dead," says Ignacio Hernandez, CEO of MexGrocer.com, which began offering the traditional Rosca de Reyes (King's cake) five years ago. "Now it's still busy.”

For the first time, actors dressed as the three wise men began wandering through Florida Mall in Orlando on Sunday and posing with children for photos on a repurposed Santa display. "Now we have three thrones," laughs general manager Brian Peters.

If you're in New York City and not in the mood for crass shopping the 32nd Annual Three Kings Day Parade will be held in East Harlem. Several prominent politicos will be there honing their broken Spanish but more importantly it will be a celebration with floats, festivities, and even camels.

The Three Kings Day Parade starts at 11 a.m. at 106th Street and Third Avenue. The parade’s “three kings”/grand marshals will be New York Secretary of State Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez, Hispanic Federation founder Luis Miranda, and Nuyorican poet Jesus “Papoleto” Melendez.

Image- daylife.com (“Men with large masks representing kings lead the annual Three Kings Day Parade (Dia de los Reyes), 05 January 2006, in the East Harlem section of New York.”)
Online Sources- Gothamist, El Museo del Barrio, New York Daily News, USATODAY.COM MyDesert.com, elboricua.com, Wikipedia

Daily Headlines: January 6, 2009

* Haiti: Thousands of shoes mysteriously dumped on a Floridian expressway last week will be given to Haitians.

* Guatemala: Dozens of people reportedly died after a large mudslide covered a heavily trafficked road in northern Guatemala.

* Cuba: Cubans are now permitted to legally construct their own homes according to an edict by President Raul Castro.

* U.S.: Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in Texas are preparing to butt heads over several immigration measures.

Image- AP (“Thousands of shoes were dumped on the Palmetto Expressway causing significant traffic delays in Miami, Friday, Jan. 2, 2009.”)
Online Sources- cbs4.com, Voice of America, UPI, chron.com

Today’s Video: Bourdain’s Mexican odyssey

I’m not a foodie or a gourmand but I love “Anthony Bourdain No Reservations”! The new season starts tonight with the chef/author traveling to Puebla and other areas of central Mexico. Accompanying Bourdain will be the Mexican head chef of the restaurant where Bourdain used to work (Les Halles in New York).

Below is a very brief preview of tonight’s episode including Bourdain noshing on authentic, mouthwatering tacos:

Sources- Huevos Pericos, Travel Channel, YouTube

Hugo Chavez: Rock superstar?

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez is not afraid to sing during his weekly television show and his “growling baritone” was even featured in an album released last year. Perhaps that’s not enough and he’s seeking a larger stage:

Mongrel frontman Jon McClure says he wants to record the band's second album "in Venezuela with Hugo Chavez"…

"The Mongrel thing is just going to roll and roll," he told 6Music. "We've got plans to go and do a second record out in Venezuela with Hugo Chavez. Their culture's kind of exploded, and Chavez has put a lot of his wealth into restoring the indigenous culture and stuff"…

"We're going to do a kind of Buena Vista Social Club-style thing out there with some of their drummers, and hip-hop people and horn sections and stuff. It should be fun man. Venezuela is like the new Jamaica, or Brazil, or Cuba, it's kicking off."

Mongrel is described by the Guardian UK as an indie rock “super group” that includes members of Babyshambles and the Arctic Monkeys. In other words, don’t be surprised if we see Chavez performing at Coachella in a few months.

Chavez follows a rich tradition of Latin American presidents* fronting musical groups like Chile’s Michelle and the Bachelets or the jazz/fusion of the Tony Saca Six.

* Yes, that’s a joke.

Image- BBC News
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, Guardian UK, YouTube, NME

Ballooning priest receives Darwin Award

Remember the Brazilian priest who died after his makeshift ballooning stunt ended in tragedy? Father Adelir Antonio de Carli has been posthumously honored for his misadventure, albeit for all the wrong reasons:

Sitting for more than 19 hours in a lawn chair is not a trivial matter, even in the comfort of your own backyard. The priest took numerous safety precautions, including wearing a survival suit, selecting a buoyant chair, and packing a satellite phone and a GPS. However, the late Adelir Antonio made a fatal mistake.

He did not know how to use the GPS.

The winds changed, as winds do, and he was blown inexorably toward open sea.

De Carli’s voyage was well-intentioned yet his error earned him the name of “balloon buffoon” by one daily. (Compare that to the second place “recipient”: an Italian whose car was stuck on train tracks and who, in desperation, ran towards the train).

(Hat tip: Neatorama).

Image- Montreal Gazette (Adelir Antonio de Carli flying in his makeshift balloon contraption hours before his fatal crash in April 2008).
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, Darwin Awards, Neatorama, Metro.co.uk, The Sun

Politicos clamor for more Hispanic leadership

We told you about Richardson's exit from the nomination process.

Now, Latino leaders are leading the call for more Hispanic leadership in the Cabinet.

The League of United Latin American Citizens provided 10 names of Latino officials and CEOs they say will go to the Obama transition team.

“Let’s face it: In terms of political appointments, Bill Richardson’s was the most important for the Hispanic community,” said Coalition for Fairness for Hispanics in Government chairman Gilbert Sandate, later adding, “It’s kind of back to the drawing board in terms of political appointments.”

Read the story here.

Source and Photo: Politico

LatAm figures angry over Israeli offensive

Last week we mentioned some of the reactions by Latin American leaders to Israel’s air strikes on Gaza; some were angry while others were more reasoned. Now that Israeli troops have invaded Gaza more reactions from the Americas have come forward.

Mexican Zapatista rebel leader "Subcomandante" Marcos blasted U.S. president-elect Barack Obama for not emitting an official statement on the Gaza situation. Obama’s lack of a statement implies that he implicitly "supports the use of force" against Palestinian people, Marcos said last Friday during a ceremony commemorating the fifteenth anniversary of the Zapatista uprising.

(According to his advisors, Obama’s low profile is in deference to current president Gorge W. Bush who remains in office until the 20th).

Meanwhile, the Nicaraguan head of the U.N. General Assembly criticized the defeat of an immediate cease-fire measure in the Security Council. "Once again, the world is watching in dismay the dysfunctionality of the Security Council," said Miguel D'escoto Brockmann after Saturday’s vote was rejected by an alleged U.S. veto.

Protests over Israel’s actions have taken place worldwide including the Americas. Marchers rallied outside of the presidential palace in Santiago, Chile and have called on the government to review its relations with Israel. Colombia’s Arab community has also spoken out:

Hundreds of people from the Palestinian community in the Colombian capital city of Bogota on Friday protested outside the Israeli embassy against Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

The protest came at a time when the Colombian government condemned, in a statement, the Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and expressed its solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Unfortunately, there is a lack of cooler heads to prevail; Hamas’ military attacks on the Israel are without justification. Yet the heavy handed Israeli response is a shortsighted solution that does little too calm rampant violence. In the end, those that suffer most are the civilians on both sides of the border whose lives are turned upside down.

Image- BBC News
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, Xinhua, AP, The Age, PRESS TV, Reuters, LAHT, Prensa Latina

Daily Headlines: January 5, 2009

* Argentina: Heeb Magazine gives a mixed review of the upcoming biopic on famed revolutionary Ernesto “Ché” Guevara.

* Peru: Peru’s Minister of Defense announced that strengthening the country’s military will be “one of the priorities for 2009.”

* U.S.: Another example of why immigration reform is sorely needed: police in Arkansas are having trouble finding out information over a string of arsons since the victims are illegal immigrants who are worried that they will be deported to Guatemala.

* Mexico: How bad is violence in Mexico? Texan charities are increasingly reluctant to lend a hand south of the border.

Image- Times Online (Benicio Del Toro stars in the titular role in the Steven Soderbergh film on “Ché” Guevara.)
Online Sources- AP, Living in Peru, NWAnews.com, Heeb Magazine

Bill Richardson withdraws Cabinet nomination

New Mexico governor Bill Richardson withdrew his candidacy for the Secretary of Commerce under incoming U.S. president Barack Obama.

In a statement issued today, Richardson said to have dropped out due to a federal investigation against him. "I have concluded that the ongoing investigation also would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation process," said Richardson who also insisted of his innocence in the inquiry.

In a joint statement issued with Richardson, president-elect Obama expressed “deep regret” at dropping out yet added that “I look forward to his future service to our country and in my administration.” (Does that imply the possibility that Richardson could serve in an Obama Cabinet should he be cleared of impropriety?)

As we noted last month, the grand jury probe against Richardson has to do with a possible “play-for-pay” deal during Richardson’s gubernatorial bid in 2004. As the Wall Street Journal’s online site detailed:

The grand jury is investigating how the company won more than $1.5 million in work advising the state of New Mexico after making contributions to Mr. Richardson's political action committees. The "pay-to-play" investigation is trying to determine whether the governor's office had any role in the contracting decisions.

The focus is on fees paid to the Beverly Hills, Calif.-based CDR by the New Mexico Finance Authority in 2004 soon after donating $100,000 to Mr. Richardson's voter registration effort. CDR has denied any wrongdoing.

Richardson’s alleged wrongdoing is small potatoes compared to the brouhaha surrounding Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, yet the timing of Richardson’s probe couldn’t be worse.

Richardson hasn’t been the only prominent Latino politico to withdraw from a Cabinet nomination. In 2000, Linda Chavez withdrew her nomination from Secretary of Labor after being chosen by then-president-elect George W. Bush . The right-wing commentator dropped out when it emerged that she housed an illegal immigrant from Guatemala and helped her find work.

Image- The Fix (“President-elect Barack Obama announced New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson as Commerce Secretary during a press conference at the Hilton Hotel in Chicago, Illinois, Dec. 03, 2008.”)
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, WSJ.com, New York Times, CNN, Voice of America, AFP, politico.com, Reuters

The key to deportation: nudity

We end our week with the following story which, yes, speaks for itself:

Juliana Lima, the Brazilian woman who scandalized Bolivians earlier this week when she stripped at the foot of the Christ the

Redeemer monument in the eastern city of Santa Cruz to get police to deport her, got her wish and is headed home, officials said…

Lima stripped early in the morning on Monday, hoping that police would immediately deport her because she lacked documents and a passport, but officers released her after two hours…

The Brazilian woman returned to the monument later in the morning and stripped once again, causing a traffic jam.

The moral: if you don’t succeed, strip again.

Image- hoymujer.com
Online Sources- LAHT

Beyond the Americas: English athletes support Palestine charity

The sport of soccer is sometimes referred to as “the beautiful game”. Beyond glamorous goals and stunning saves, the saying becomes especially true when a charitable effort is involved:

Shirts worn by players in an FA Cup tie tomorrow will be the unlikely advertising hoarding for the plight of Palestinians. Kettering Town will have the slogan Palestine Aid emblazoned on their kit to show their support for Interpal, a charitable organization which distributes aid in the Palestinian territories.

"We are trying to raise awareness and charitable funds for the refugees in Palestine," Imraan Ladak, the Kettering chairman, said of the association with Interpal that began before the escalation last month of the conflict in Gaza.

Ladak, 30, chief executive of a recruitment business based in Milton Keynes, has no personal links with Palestine. "I just think there are certain areas in the world that are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance, for whatever reason," he said, "and Palestine is the one that's suffering the most.

Some soccer club uniforms are littered with all sorts of sponsors which makes a player look like a walking billboard. Other clubs (like my favorite team) are actually named after a particular sponsor. Yet in recent years some clubs have opted to enter into partnerships with charitable groups like the case of F.C. Barcelona and Argentine side Boca Juniors with UNICEF.

Image- Guardian UK
Online Sources- UNICEF, The Offside – Red Bull New York, mlsnet.com, Guardian UK, IHT

Venezuela oil income boosted in ‘08

The price of oil may have plummeted over the latter part of 2008 and Venezuelan oil output may have fallen by nearly 1 million barrels over the past decade. Yet Venezuelan officials claimed that oil income skyrocketed last year.

Officials with Venezuelan state-run oil firm Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) said that oil income grew by 225% over the first nine months last year. Despite the troubles with oil prices in the latter part of 2008, PDVSA saved $10.8 billion of the $12.14 billion profit which will be used to pay for the country’s vast social programs:

President Hugo Chavez's socialist government relies on Venezuela's vast oil reserves for roughly half its federal budget and 94 percent of exports.

PDVSA payments to Chavez's numerous social programs dropped 52 percent to $2.1 billion in the first nine months, the report said. But Caracas-based economist Pavel Gomez said Chavez can fulfill his promise not to slash public aid projects by drawing on other resources.

"The government has money saved in funds that can finance social spending," he said.

In addition, PDVSA officials boasted that Venezuela’s oil reserves will allow the country to be the world’s top oil producer by the end of the year.

Despite the massive oil income, Venezuela’s government is planning an “austere” budget for 2009; one step in that direction was Wednesday’s edict by President Hugo Chavez to slash the foreign currency allotment for Venezuelans traveling abroad.

Image- BBC News
Online Sources- Prensa Latina, Bloomberg, AP, The Telegraph, forbes.com

Zapatistas Celebrate 15 Years Since Chiapas Uprising

It was 15 years ago that the Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional began a new era in grassroots struggles in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas.

The Zapatistas made themselves known and linked the poverty that exists among the communities of Chiapas to the global economy the same day that NAFTA went into effect, January 1, 1994. The EZLN took a revolutionary approach against the Mexican government to reclaim indigenous rights in the area and while the Mexican mainstream media focuses on how no official agreement between the Zapatistas and Mexico's government has been reached since the San Andres Accords, that acknowledged some Indigenous rights, the ELZN was successful in creating 32 autonomous areas and building a movement that has global support.

Sources : Global Voices, VivirMexico, el Universal

Evo Morales defends ambassador’s expulsion

Last September, Bolivia was involved in a diplomatic row against the U.S. that included the expulsion of Ambassador Philip Goldberg (image) from La Paz. Shortly after being booted from Bolivia, Goldberg defended his actions and denied accusations that he encouraged Peace Corps volunteers to act as spies.

Earlier this week, Bolivian president Evo Morales backed his decision to remove Goldberg:

Bolivian President Evo Morales said Tuesday that the September expulsion of U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg was "a success and not a mistake because it "thwarted” an opposition coup plot.

At an evaluation meeting of his third year as president, Morales said that he did not make a mistake in deciding the "ambassador had to go," after his party "had endured the assault of the (Bolivian) right-wing."

Though the diplomatic crisis represented one of several low points between Morales and the White House in 2008, Morales admitted that relations could improve under an Obama administration. "I'm really hopeful ... We need the United States although maybe they don't need Bolivia," Morales mentioned roughly a month before Barack Obama ascends to the U.S. presidency.

Image- BBC News
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, Xinhua, Reuters

Guatemala: Thousands deported from Mexico, U.S.

Oftentimes the immigration debate regarding Mexico emphasizes those who cross the country’s northern border into the U.S. Yet that overlooks the problems regarding migrants from Central American countries like Guatemala crossing into Mexico.

Mexico’s seemingly out-of-control drug violence has spilled over into neighboring countries south of its border. "If the Guatemalan authorities are unable to stop the infiltration of Mexican drug cartels in two years they could take over Guatemala City," said the chief of the UN's International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala to BBC News. Guatemalan officials plan to deploy several hundred troops along the border to contain the incoming violence.

The increasing violence and the weakening economy are two of the main reasons why Guatemalans into Mexico. Some of these migrants subsequently try to make their way into the U.S. though the immigration crackdown in both countries has made it much more difficult:

Mexico deported more illegal Guatemalan migrants than the U.S. in 2007 and 2008, according to information reaching here from Guatemala City on Thursday.

In 2008, Mexico repatriated 36,362 Guatemalans, a 26.5 percent reduction from a year ago, while the United States deported 27,929people, which represented a 21 percent increase, the General Direction of Migration from Guatemala (DMG) said.

In 2007, Mexico deported 49,475 Guatemalans and U.S. deported 23,062.

One of the downsides to the increased migration from Central America is the reported abuses committed by Mexican immigration authorities.

Image- daylife.com (“A Guatemalan deportee has his US ID tag removed by a Guatemalan immigration official after disembarking from the plane upon arrival 06 August, 2007 at a Guatemalan Air Force base south from Guatemala City.”)
Online Sources- Latina, MSNBC, BBC News, AFP, Xinhua, Americas Society/Council of the Americas

Cuba: Fifty years of revolution

Yesterday marked the fiftieth anniversary of the Cuban Revolution where Fidel Castro led his rebel army to overthrow dictator Fulgencio Batista.

Cubans on the island celebrated to mark the occasion as President Raul Castro praised the revolution while noting that “it is time to reflect on the future.” Castro’s remarks came during a ceremony that included an 18-minute documentary on his brother Fidel who has not been seen in public since July 2006.

For Castro and his supporters the past fifty years have been successful and have brought great social and economic prosperity to Cuba. The mood is far different for exiles that have left the country:

Miami restaurant owner Ailin Fernandez left Cuba more than 20 years ago. She longs to return home and open a restaurant in the beach town of Varadero, but not under the current government…

Others, like Giselle Palacios, 18, have come to Miami to escape political persecution on the island. As the daughter of prominent dissidents, she fled after being kicked out of college for her political activities.

The future of Cuba remains to be seen; several Latin American nations have strengthened ties with the island and are shying away from isolationism. The recent discovery of offshore oil fields may boost the country’s sagging economy. The incoming Obama administration could help ease the hard line in U.S.-Cuba relations though that will also depend on the Cuban government’s efforts.

Cuba’s revolution has reached the fifty-year mark despite seemingly insurmountable odds. Will it make it to its centenary anniversary in 2059?

Image- The Age
Online Sources- BBC News, AFP, Voice of America, Reuters, Xinhua, NPR

Daily Headlines: January 2, 2009

* Colombia: Warner Brothers and Sony Pictures are vying to make a film based on the July 2008 rescue of Ingrid Betancourt and fourteen other hostages from the Colombian jungle.

* Nicaragua: This month Nicaragua will begin operating 19 windmills designed to contribute 6% of the country’s power.

* Peru: Peru’s main stock index plunged by 60% in 2008, more than any other Latin American index.

* El Salvador: Salvadoran troops stationed in Iraq are expected to start returning home by the end of this month or early February.

Image- Guardian UK
Online Sources- AFP, Reuters, Xinhua, MSNBC

Daily Headlines: January 1, 2009

* Mexico: Mexican immigration agents commit a litany of abuses against Central American migrants according to a damning report by the country's National Human Rights Commission.

* Chile: Chilean unions vow to boycott the country’s biggest grocer which was recently purchased by Wal-Mart.

* Venezuela: A Venezuelan man is suing U.S. immigration authorities after he claimed that he was illegally deported twice.

* Nicaragua: Could President Daniel Ortega become Latin America’s version of Robert Mugabe or is the author of this op/ed piece exaggerating?

Image- boston.com (“Illegal immigrants travel in a train heading north, on their way to the U.S. in Arriaga, southern Mexico, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008.”)
Online Sources- Brownsville Herald, Bloomberg, csmonitor.com, MSNBC