Today’s Video: Three's a charm for Brazil

With the World Cup starting this Friday it would be fitting to highlight some of the greatest games ever played in that tournament that involved Latin American teams. Tonight we highlight one of Brazil's greatest moments.

Coming into the title match of the 1970 World Cup, finalists Brazil and Italy had won the championship twice. Thus, the winner of that match would not only capture their country's third title but also permanent possession of the Jules Rimet trophy. What unfolded in Mexico City forty years ago this month was a masterclass of soccer by the South American titans.

Pele opened the match with Brazil's 100th World Cup goal though Italy would afterwords equalize via a Brazilian defensive blunder. The Auriverde pressured Italy's backline until Gerson found the back of the net in the 66th minute with a powerful strike from outside the penalty box. Two more goals (including an absolute gem from Carlos Alberto shortly before full time) meant that Pele would be carried on the shoulders of his fans off the field and Brazil would win their third World Cup crown in twelve years:

Online Sources - The Independent, YouTube

Cuban oil production dipped in ’09

Cuban authorities have been deeply concerned over the possibility that crude oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill could find its way to the island’s shores. (For that matter, Venezuela’s government has sent PDVSA officials to help with the possible cleanup efforts). Some analysts believe that what is a catastrophe for the U.S. could be a boon for the Cuban oil industry. But if Cuba wishes to become even a mid-level oil exporter it will have to do a lot better than its output for last year:

Cuba's oil production fell by almost 300,000 tones in 2009 over 2008, while natural gas output stagnated, the National Statistics Office reported on Thursday…

The government gave no reason for the decline, though it coincided with a forced buy-out of concessions owned by Canadian firms Pebercan and Sherritt International (S.TO)…

Output had stagnated for nearly a decade as old wells were exhausted and new ones did no more than take up the slack…

Since 2006, Cuba has shipped small amounts of the crude to Asia.

On a related note, lawyers for Mexican state-run oil firm PEMEX filed a lawsuit against Germany’s BASF and other oil trading companies. The suit alleges that the chemical manufacturer and the other defendants “illegally profited from processing stolen oil.”

Image- BBC News (“Four US states have now been affected by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.”)
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, Reuters, Wall Street Journal, GlobalPost

Argentine “hooligans” deported from South Africa

Some of the main criticisms against South Africa in the run-up to the World Cup is rampant crime and possible security problems at venues. Sunday’s stampede in Makhulong stadium did little to dissuade those fears yet authorities are not taking any chances regarding potentially violent fans from other countries.

On the same day as the aforementioned stampede immigration officials detained as many as ten Argentine fans who authorities claimed to be “soccer hooligans”. "Intelligence indicated that these persons would commit acts of public disorder, engage in acts of violence and provoke conflict with certain fans of opponent teams and other groups from Argentina during the 2010 FIFA World Cup," said a statement from the South African police. Of the ten arrested (and soon-to-be deported) Argentines caught at Johannesburg's main airport was one man reportedly freed on bail for murder.

The Argentine squad-who we predicted would make it to the championship match- is under very tight security at the camp at the University of Pretoria. Over 200 security agents guard the team’s camp and only a very limited number of guests (“select schools and local dignitaries”) are permitted to visit los albicelestes.

In addition, Argentine police worked with their South African counterparts in order to ensure that rowdy fans from the infamous barras bravas are kept far away from the World Cup matches:

“We searched their rooms, took their photos, and asked them how much money they carried. Since they did not have tickets to Argentina matches we warned them that they are not to be within one kilometer of the stadium. We then left and wished them a safe stay in South Africa,” said Argentine Federal Police commissar Hugo Lompisano. – [ed. Translated text]

South African police have also kept a close eye on potential rabble-rousers from other countries like England.

The World Cup starts this Friday with the host country playing Mexico, followed by Uruguay versus France. Argentina commences their quest for a fourth title with a group match against Nigeria this Saturday.

Image- The Telegraph
Online Sources- AP, The Latin Americanist, The Guardian, World Cup Blog, Reuters, Clarin, Christian Science Monitor, BBC Sport

Peru: Protocol and protests

Van der Sloot! Van der Sloot! Van der Sloot!

Now that we’ve added our small grain of sand to the sensationalistic media firestorm over the murder of Stephany Flores, let’s check out two far more important stories involving Peru.

The 40th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) started yesterday in the capital city of Lima and several issues are expected to be discussed. One of the main topics for debate is the international recognition of Honduras, which has been a sensitive issue ever since the ouster of Manuel Zelaya from the presidency nearly a year ago. Countries such as Brazil and Venezuela are opposed to readmitting Honduras into the OAS since Zelaya was replaced for the remainder of his presidency by a de facto regime. On the other hand, the U.S. is in favor of Honduran recognition; "(Current Honduran president Porfirio) Lobo... has been very committed to pursuing a policy of reintegration," said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Other vital topics for discussion at the OAS conference include immigration, relations with Iran, and drug trafficking. Clinton for her part will be in Lima for the meeting and will subsequently travel tomorrow to Ecuador and Colombia, then Barbados on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Peruvian indigenous activists continue their protests on the one-year anniversary of deadly clashes with police over controversial energy proposals. Their claims that the government was heavy-handed against indigenous demonstrators even reached the gates of the White House:

Actress Q'orianka Kilcher, who played the American Indian Pocahontas in the 2005 film "The New World" was arrested (last week) for tying herself to a White House fence.

The U.S. Park Police identified the woman as the 20-year-old actress and said her 41-year-old mother, Saskia, poured a black substance over her.

The two told authorities they were protesting Tuesday's visit by president of Peru, Alan Garcia. Q'orianka Kilcher's father is a Peruvian Indian.

Image- EPA (OAS head José Miguel Insulza at the body’s General Assembly this week).
Online Sources- AFP, Voice of America, CNN, AP, Latin America News Dispatch, CBS News, The Latin Americanist

Daily Headlines: June 7, 2010

* U.S.: Puerto Rican boxer Miguel Cotto is now a champion in a third weight class after thoroughly beating Yuri Foreman to win the WBA light-middleweight crown.

* Cuba: Authorities raided the offices of two major dissident groups and briefly arrested 37 activists.

* Brazil: An estimated three million people marched in Sao Paulo’s gay pride parade and some called for equal rights for homosexuals.

* Chile: According to the Chilean Supreme Court the late dictator Augusto Pinochet’s personal fortune was $21 million and only one-tenth of his salary could’ve accounted for it.

Image – New York Daily News
Online Sources – The Independent, Kansas City Star, Miami Herald, BBC Sport

Today’s Video: Cleaning up is hard to do

Saturday marked the latest observance of World Environment Day, which included activities and events around the world. Though there seems to be general agreement on what environmental problems plague the world there are deep divisions on how to solve them. As one Mexican official noted in the video below, creating a global treaty on global warming will likely (and quite unfortunately) be impossible this year:

Weekend Headlines: June 5-6, 2010

* Costa Rica: The government has forced the shutdown of the country’s largest stem cell treatment clinic after claiming that such therapy doesn’t work.

* U.S.: According to a Pew Research Center report mixed marriages in the U.S. have reached an all-time high partly due to immigration from Latin America.

* Brazil: After being separated for nearly three years a gay Brazilian man reunited with his husband in Massachusetts.

* Panama: Judicial authorities have requested that France extradite ex-ruler Manuel Noriega to Panama where he awaits trial.

Image – The Guardian
Online Sources – AFP, AP, New York Times, MSNBC

World Watch: Standing tall

* China: Officials callously defended the government’s role in 1989’s brutal crackdown of protesters at Tiananmen Square.

* U.S.: Good news – 431,000 jobs were created last month. Bad news – 95% of those posts were for temporary employment.

* Nigeria: At least 163 people died since March as a result of illegal gold mining.

* Japan: New Prime Minister Naoto Kan has a daunting task ahead of him if he wants to fulfill his promise of “rebuilding” Japan.

Image – The Guardian (“A Chinese man stands in front of a line of tanks heading east on Beijing's Cangan Blvd., in Tiananmen Square on 5 June 1989.”)
Online Sources- The Telegraph, BBC News, MSNBC, AP

De Musica Ligera: The return of Silvio Rodriguez

Cuban musician Silvio Rodriguez is scheduled to perform tonight at New York’s Carnegie Hall after a thirty-one year absence from the U.S.

In a press conference on Tuesday Rodriguez expressed his joy at being able to play again in the U.S., a country he “admires in many different directions.” A staunch defender of the Cuban Revolution, Rodriguez said that he still "believes” in its ideals and the social changes created under the Castro regime. Nevertheless he added that Cuba needs to "repairing the decrepitness" and that there are aspects of the island that should be “revitalized.”

Rodriguez plans to perform in a tour of cities like Oakland, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C. His visit to the States is “is the latest addition to a growing list of Cuban performers allowed to enter the U.S. since October 2009.” (One example of this was last February when Los Van Van held a concert in Miami for the first time in eleven years).

While Rodriguez tour could be seen as part of a change in Cuba-U.S. relations, one analyst interviewed for a Bloomberg article sees things somewhat distinctly:

“The fact that we’re willing to grant a visa to Silvio Rodriguez, an icon of the revolution, the bard of the revolution, demonstrates that the Cold War dynamic, the fear, the isolation, the retribution, we’re past that,” (Council of the Americas policy director Christopher) Sabatini said. “Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean this administration is in any hurry to push for a real opening.”

All politics side, here is “El Mayor” as performed by Rodriguez in 1990:

Online Sources- Reuters, Latin America News Dispatch, The Latin Americanist, Bloomberg, YouTube

And the World Cup Winner Is

Six days now until the World Cup kicks off in South Africa and the projected winner, according to the EA Sports 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Video Game, is: Spain.

The knockout rounds features a slew of projected Latin American battles:

Argentina 2-1 over Mexico in 2nd round

Brazil 3-1 over Chile in 2nd round

The semifinals see my project winner, England, go down to Brazil in PKs, which means Wayne Rooney ends up in the "caravan park" instead of being knighted by the queen. But the final sees Brazil crumble as Spain realizes its first World Cup glory.

And the oddsmakers seem to agree with the video game simulators: Spain and Brazil are the bookies' favorites to take home the cup.

What do you think? Will the Cup final play out like the oddsmakers expect? Or will some unexpected teams (think South Korea in 2002) emerge from the high altitude?

Video Source: YouTube, FIFA World Cup: Team Analysis Series Part 1 (via NY Times)

Online Sources: NY Times, EA Sports, Ladbrokes, YouTube/Nike

Daily Headlines: June 4, 2010

* Central America: Survivors of Tropical Storm Agatha attempt to rebuild and recuperate after the wild weather left 180 people dead and thousands homeless.

* U.S.: A coroner ruled that the death of a Mexican migrant killed near the border by a stun gun was a homicide.

* Brazil: Approximately one million people in Sao Paulo took part in the annual "March for Jesus."

* Argentina: Five former military and intelligence officials have gone on trial for suspected Dirty War crimes.

Video Source – YouTube
Online Sources- AP, MSNBC, BBC News, Reuters

World Watch: Targeted in the Congo

* Congo: The U.N. has urged the Democratic Republic of Congo to look into the mysterious death of prominent local human rights activist Floribert Chebeya.

* Middle East: Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu remains defiant as international pressure increases over a military raid against activists at sea.

* Japan: Finance Minister Naoto Kan is the odds-on favorite to be selected as Japan’s next Prime Minister.

* Bangladesh: At least 100 people died when a fire engulfed a neighborhood in the capital city of Dhaka.

Image – BBC News (Deceased African human rights activist “Floribert Chebeya last sent a text to his wife from the police headquarters.”)
Online Sources- CNN, Reuters, Washington Post, BBC News

Musicians focus on Arizona immigration law

We’ll look into the immigration debate over Arizona (including today’s meeting between Gov. Jan Brewer and President Obama) in more detail on Friday. For the time being we’re going to take a quick look at musicians who have interjected themselves into the heated discussion.

On one side of the equation an alliance of artists entitled The Sound Strike are against the law and have vowed not to perform in the southwestern state. Started by Rage Against The Machine’s Zack De La Rocha, the group includes such varied musical acts as Kanye West, Massive Attack, and Sonic Youth as well as Latin American musicians like Los Tigres Del Norte, Calle 13, and Café Tacuba. According to the coalition’s website, artists will not tour there until the "odious" bill is repealed.

Though not part of The Sound Strike alliance other Latin American acts have protested the Arizona law include Shakira, Jenni Rivera and Wisin & Yandel.

In a unique position is the likes of Pink Eyes (real name: Damian Abraham), lead singer of Canadian band Fucked Up. In an opinion piece written last April on the Sterogum music blog, he expressed his opposition to the law but argued that a musical boycott is counterproductive. His views were partially shared by Curtis McCrary- booker of Tucson’s Rialto Theatre- who urged Cypress Hill to perform there “as a rebuke to those (who) would attempt to give the force of law to racial disharmony.” (Cypress Hill would ultimately cancel their planned Tucson concert and are currently one of the acts in The Sound Strike group).

Perhaps the most notable musical effort in favor of the Arizonan law comes from comedic singer Ray Stevens whose video for "Come to the USA" has reportedly become a “new viral hit”. The song focuses on illegal immigration and compares immigration laws in the U.S. to countries such as China and Sudan. “(Illegal immigration) scares me, and it’s going to really hurt the fabric of the country,” said Stevens in a recent interview.

Musicians throughout the Americas have given their views on Arizona’s immigration law. Perhaps it may not matter to the political powers that be yet the abovementioned acts could influence public opinion.

Image- CBS News (“A man leaves an upscale shopping mall in front of metal barricades marking the border with Tijuana, Mexico, June 2, 2010 in San Diego.”)
Online Sources- Too many too list!

Daily Headlines: June 3, 2010

* Haiti: How sad is that two months after international countries pledged $5.3 billion to help in Haitian reconstruction only Brazil has “actually cut a check?”

* Latin America: According to British think tank Chatham House Latin America could take advantage and forge closer ties to Africa at the expense of “the continent's traditional partners.”

* Bolivia: Government data claimed that since Evo Morales became president four years ago coca eradication has fallen by 40% yet cocaine seizures have doubled.

* U.S.: In a letter to the White House sixteen Republican legislators urged the Obama administration to push for free trade deals with Colombia and Panama.

Image –Canadian Press (“People walk inside a camp for earthquake displaced people after a rain in Port-au-Prince, Friday, May 28, 2010.”)
Online Sources – Miami Herald, AllAfrica.com, LAHT, Reuters

Daily Headlines: June 2, 2010

* Mexico: Cancun mayor Gregorio Sanchez has been barred from running for governor of Quintana Roo after a judge charged him with ties to powerful drug gangs.

* U.S.: Univision emitted a public apology after airing a racially insensitive skit supposedly meant to promote the upcoming World Cup.

* Venezuela: For the fourth year in a row the Department of State has placed Venezuela on its list of countries “which do not fully cooperate with US anti-terrorist efforts.”

* Cuba: Officials have started to move some political prisoners to jails closer to their homes though dissident groups still continue to campaign for their prompt liberation.

Image –BBC News (“Gregorio Sanchez denies the charges against him.”)
Online Sources – BBC News, MSNBC, El Universal, Los Angeles Times

Today’s Video: Order at the border?

Last week U.S. President Barack Obama pledged to send 1200 National Guard troops to the border with Mexico with the primary aim to prevent drug smuggling. The deployment includes an additional $500 million in federal funds while the Mexican government supported the move as a security measure.

The issue of so-called "militarizing" the border has always been a sensitive topic and that can be seen in the below video via PBS. "The Ballad of Esequiel Hernández" was a documentary that highlighted the 1997 death of a Texan teen near the border by U.S. Marines. The trailer for the film looks at the complex topic of immigration as well as the efficacy (or perhaps the lack of it) in the "war on drugs".

Online Sources - YouTube, New York Times, Times Online

Daily Headlines: June 1, 2010

* Central America: The death toll in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras from Tropical Storm Agatha has risen into the triple digits.

* Peru: Could recently paroled U.S. citizen Lori Berenson have her sentence commuted and get the chance to leave Peru?

* Cuba: In his latest article ex-president Fidel Castro blasted European and U.S. antidrug efforts and praised Bolivian coca leafs.

* Mexico: As part of Mexico's bicentennial celebration the bones of ten historical figures where exhumed and will be examined.

Image –Sky News
Online Sources – CNN, MSNBC, Bloomberg, The Latin Americanist, Reuters,