Daily Headlines: October 27, 2016

* Cuba: Cuban state media hailed as “a triumph of the heroic resistance of the Cuban people” the United Nations General Assembly’s symbolic yet overwhelming condemnation of the United States trade embargo against the Caribbean state.

* Colombia: Envoys for the Colombian government and the ELN rebels are preparing to start formal negotiations in Ecuador, while talks are taking place in Havana over the renegotiation of the peace deal with the FARC that was recently defeated in a tightly contested referendum.

* Brazil: According to Survival International, isolated indigenous groups in northwestern Brazil face “annihilation” over what they view as one of the worst land grabs in decades.

* Venezuela: One police officer was killed and dozens reported injured amid mass demonstrations supporting and opposing the rule of President Nicolas Maduro.

YouTube Source – AFP (Barring abstentions by the United States and Israel, not a single member of the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday voted in favor of the trade embargo against Cuba.)
 
Online Sources – Granma, Colombia Reports, Phys Org, CNN, teleSUR English

Daily Headlines: August 26, 2016

* Bolivia: Protesting Bolivian President Evo Morales accused protesting miners of being part of a "political conspiracy rather than a legitimate social claim" following the beating and death of Deputy Interior Minster Rodolfo Illanes.

* United States: A poll showed 61% of respondents including majorities across racial lines condemned presidential candidate Donald Trump’s proposal for a wall across the U.S.-Mexico border.

* Venezuela: The main opposition coalition called for rallies on September 1st in Caracas to support a recall referendum against President Nicolas Maduro that might be scheduled for next year.

* Uruguay: Has the plan to legally sell marijuana in Uruguay failed before it began or are concerns over limits on production and pricing overblown?

YouTube Source – No Comment TV (From August 13, 2016: “Miners' protest over ‘neoliberal’ agenda of Bolivian President Evo Morales ends in clashes with several people injured and hostages taken”).

Online Sources – Reuters, Latin American Herald Tribune, Bloomberg, NBC News

Daily Headlines: August 25, 2016

* Ecuador: President Rafael Correa of Ecuador and visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif discussed methods both countries can attempt to boost lagging oil prices.

* Venezuela: Organization of American States chief Luis Almagro claimed Venezuelans are a "victim of bullying" from the government the same week President Nicolas Maduro threatened with firing public workers who signed a petition backing a recall referendum.

* Peru: Peruvian investigators officially launched a probe against eighteen police officers accused of participating in the extrajudicial killings of at least twenty people since 2012.

* United States: A group of mothers originally from Latin America and detained in an immigration center ended their two-week long hunger strike purportedly due to “threats from immigration officials.”

YouTube Source – Ruptly TV

Online Sources – Yahoo News, BBC News, UPI, The Guardian

Daily Headlines: May 19, 2016

* Puerto Rico: Relief may finally arrive for Puerto Rico after House Republicans and the Obam administration agreed to a proposal that would help restructure the commonwealth’s $70 billion debt.

* Argentina: The revelations from the Panama Papers leak may have been an embarrassment for Panama and Argentine President Mauricio Macri but it could help alleviate the South American country’s financial woes.

* U.S.: A Government Accountability Office study released last Tuesday found that U.S. public schools have become more racially segregated including an increase in the percentage of Latino children enrolled in “impoverished K-12 public schools.”

* Mexico: Mexican authorities rescued 271 people, including 112 minors, of an overcrowded drug rehab clinic where patients were reportedly tortured and grossly mistreated.

YouTube Source – PBS NewsHour
 
Online Sources – NBC News, UPI, Reuters, The Latin Americanist, Bloomberg

Daily Headlines: April 1, 2016

* Peru: The archbishop of Arequipa has come under fire after he claimed that presidential candidates Alfredo Barnechea and Veronika Mendoza should be barred from running due to their support of abortion and same-sex marriage.

* Brazil: George Hilton resigned as Brazil’s sports minister roughly four months prior to the Rio Olympics, while Cuban defector Orlando Ortega will be unable to compete at Rio due to residency issues.

* Latin America: According to the Food and Agriculture Organization an average of 348,000 tons of food are wasted each day in Latin America, which could feed some 300 million people.

* U.S.: A recent study found that Latinos in the U.S. including those who are native-born have opted to reside away from states that have enacted harsh anti-immigration measures over the past decade.

YouTube Source – Ruptly TV (Mass protests for and against the right to choose have been held in Peru over the last few months).

Online Sources – phys.org, teleSUR English, PRI, Fox News Latino, SBS

Daily Headlines: March 22, 2016

* Latin America: The U.N. concluded that the poverty rate in Latin America and the Caribbean grew by seven million people in roughly one year, while a report found that the region is very vulnerable to cyber attacks.

* Ecuador: The Ecuadoran government announced the creation of a new marine sanctuary that will protect some 18,000 square miles around the Galapagos Islands.

* Mexico: Some 200,000 residents in Mexico have been displaced as a result of dam construction nationwide according to a new study.

* U.S.: The Latino electorate in Arizona could be key in deciding who will win today's Democratic presidential primary in that state.

YouTube Source – DW

Online Sources – Andina, Nearshore Americas, National Geographic, teleSUR English, The Hill

Kerry, Jaua in Spat Over Venezuelan Internet Access

Internet access in Venezuela has become the latest dispute in the diplomatic tug-of-war between the U.S. and the South American state.

On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry labeled Russia and Venezuela as countries with “an absolutely unmistakable pattern” of cracking down on the Internet. 

“The places where we face some of the greatest security challenges today are also the places where governments set up firewalls against some of the basic freedoms online,” he said during a speech given as part of the annual Freedom Online Coalition conference.

“In Venezuela, the government has used security forces to disrupt peaceful protests and limit freedoms of expression and assembly. And this has included blocking access to selected websites and limiting access to internet service in certain parts of the country,” added Kerry who spoke via a Google Plus video chat at the conference in Estonia.

Venezuela’s foreign minister, Elias Jaua, said yesterday to the press that he “rejected” the “false” accusations made by Kerry.

“We are all under threat from a (U.S.) government that believes they have the right to intervene and sanction against countries based on the reality they construct from diplomats at their respective embassies,” Jaua mentioned.

Jaua also referred to the recent political unrest in Venezuela and blamed “hackers” for targeting official websites as part of a “fascist intent to oust” Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro.

Internet access and social media campaigns have become important tools for the Venezuelan opposition to espouse their views against the government and to publish alleged cases of brutality by the authorities. Last February that the government was accused of being behind a brief blackout of images on Twitter while street protests against the Maduro regime grew in major cities across the country.

Daily Headlines: February 8, 2012

* Brazil: Carnival celebrations in Rio de Janeiro could be threatened by police officers that may reportedly join their comrades in Bahia state and go on an illegal strike.

* Mexico: A judge dropped some of the charges against two people accused of trying to smuggle members of former Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi's family into Mexico.

* U.S.: A preliminary deal over state and federal redistricting in Texas might not reflect the state’s growing Latino population according to some local legislators.

* Latin America: Drought conditions in several Latin American countries could lead to a global spike in the prices of corn.

Video Source – YouTube via euronews

Online Sources- NASDAQ, CBS News, Bloomberg, CBC News

Daily Headlines: July 19, 2011

* South America: The long arm of the law recently caught up with former military members in Argentina, Peru and Colombia who are accused of human rights abuses.

* U.S.: In an attempt to capitalize on a number of GOP Latino wins in last year’s midterm elections Republican Party leaders started a new program aimed at recruiting new Latino candidates.

* Honduras: Security has been strengthened around President Porfirio Lobo who claimed that he received death threats from disgruntled business interests.

* Brazil: “Maritime routes” are allegedly being increasingly used for arms trafficking out of Brazil.

Image – AFP via BBC News (“Thousands were killed or tortured during Argentina's Dirty War.” Last week a Buenos Aires court sentenced two ex-army officers to life imprisonment for running “one of Argentina's most notorious prisons” during the Dirty War.)
Online Sources- The Telegraph, BBC News, Politico.com, MSNBC, CSMonitor.com

Daily Headlines: November 30, 2010

* Brazil: President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva praised police and the army for their crackdown on drug gangs in Rio de Janeiro.

* U.S.: Could the “Tequila Party” become the next burgeoning U.S. political movement?

* Central America: Panama and Costa Rica launched a health program to combat the spread of malaria along the border between both countries.

* Mexico: Troops uncovered eighteen bodies buried in a Chihuahua ranch near the border with Texas.

Image – KeystoneUSA-ZUMA/Rex Features via The Guardian (“Security forces were deployed to a poor area of Rio de Janeiro to tackle a wave of gang violence.”)
Online Sources- BBC News, UPI, MSNBC, Xinhua

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

Jeb Bush to run for Senate?

Will Jeb Bush run for Senate in 2010?

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, the younger brother of President George W. Bush, is considering running in 2010 for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by fellow Republican Mel Martinez, an aide said on Wednesday.

"Jeb Bush has not ruled out running. He does intend to give it thoughtful consideration in the coming weeks and months," said his spokeswoman, Kristy Campbell. Bush is also the son of former President George H.W. Bush.

According to Bush’s Wikipedia entry, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Latin American studies and he first met his wife during a student exchange program in Mexico. During his time as governor Bush sometimes butted heads with his older brother, usually over U.S. policy on Cuba.

Martinez’ recognition was announced earlier this week and came as a surprise for some political wonks. Though the Cuban-American is one of the most prominent Republican Latinos in Congress, he reportedly suffered a backlash due to his support of a 2007 bipartisan immigration reform bill.

Image- AP
Sources- Reuters, Wikipedia, csmonitor.com, New York Times

Today’s Video: Bert and Ernie talk politics

It’s silly.

It’s juvenile.

It has no direct relation to Latin American affairs.

Yet it’s funny:

For the record, I’m not gung-ho on any of the presidential candidates.

(Hat tip: Wonkette).

Sources- Wonkette, YouTube

Poll: Mexicans split over Clinton, Obama

A poll by Reforma newspaper showed that Mexicans are evenly divided between supporting the presidential campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. The survey found that the country’s public preferred the two Democratic candidates by 31% each while GOP frontrunner John McCain only got 7%. Also, the poll noticed a geographic gap in support with Obama taking the middle and the poorer south while the northern border states tended to back Clinton.

A poll conducted last month by El Universal showed Mexicans favoring Clinton over Obama by a 41-27 margin. Why such a major change?

It’s hard to say what accounts for the shift. Certainly the flak over Obama’s pastor, Jeremiah Wright, didn’t get as much play down here, and repeated calls by Democratic big-wigs for Clinton to get out of the race may have changed some minds. And there is no doubt that Obama’s name recognition in Mexico grows by the day.

Image- MSNBC

Sources (Spanish)- Reforma, El Universal

Sources (English)- La Plaza, Uncovering Mexico

Daily Headlines: March 26, 2008

* A filmmaker alleged that her documentary on the abuses of Haitian sugar workers in the Dominican Republic is being “blackballed” by a major sugar firm.

* “(I hope to have) better relations with whoever is elected the next U.S. President” said Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez yesterday.

* The Archbishop of Montevideo, Uruguay expressed his resistance to a bill that would allow gay couples to adopt children.

* Mexico’s government has promised to invest $21 billion so that nearly all the population can have access to clean water.

Sources- OrlandoSentinel.com, Bloomberg, BBC News, Catholic News Agency

Image- New York Times (Scene from “The Price of Sugar.”)

Bloggers of the World Unite! – Richardson endorses Obama

Earlier today, New Mexico governor Bill Richardson officially endorsed Barack Obama’s bid for the presidency. Richardson called Obama a “once-in-a-lifetime leader [who] understands it clearly that by only bringing people together and by bridging our differences can we succeed together as Americans.”

Numerous bloggers talked about today’s pivotal endorsement; here’s what a few of them had to say:

The Huffington Post

Governor Bill Richardson's endorsement of Barack Obama today is a big boost for the grassroots wing of the Democratic Party. I thought all along that Richardson was just running to be Hillary Clinton's vice presidential candidate, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that Richardson recognizes the historic direction Obama is trying to take the party. (Where is John Edwards?)

Sharoncobb

This is significant for several reasons.
First, Richardson worked in the Bill Clinton administration, and it was widely expected he would endorse Hillary.

Second, Richardson can help Obama with the Hispanic vote, one of the few groups where Obama isn't strong.

Third, Richardson can swing some superdelegates.

Fourth, Richardson can help Obama win the states in the west.

Fifth, this is a big slap in the face to the Clintons. Richardson has been touted as the VEEP for Hillary, and now that's not going to happen if she's the nominee.

VivirLatino

Richardson had been courted aggressively by the Hillary Clinton camp, even using Bill Clinton, Richardson's former boss when he was energy secretary. I can hear the Clinton disappointment now.

Bill Clinton : Bill, amigo. I thought we had a deal? We watched the Superbowl together!
Bill Richardson: Bill, you act like we were watching futbol futbol. It was just American football.

The Swamp

Being a Hispanic American, Richardson said he was especially touched by the speech [given by Obama on race relations and remarks from Reverend Jeremiah Wright].

"He asked every American to see the reality and the pain of other Americans, so that together we can rise above that which has divided us. He appealed to the best in us," he said. "I have been troubled by the demonization of immigrants -- specifically Hispanics -- by too many in this country."

The News Buckit

Like everything Richardson did this campaign season, his timing was predictably inept: after all the states with a big Hispanic population, just as Easter weekend's beginning, and at the cost of his connections to the Clinton campaign, whose family arguably made him what he was.

The White House Intel Report

… Clinton’s strong name recognition and Latino support has slowly diminished and now I believe Latinos may start taking a look at Barack Obama more seriously. The alternative might still be mildly appealing to Latinos, as John McCain has been fair and favorable to Mexican American heritage with his policies. Since Clinton doesn’t need the Latino support for the general as much, it’s good to see Barack Obama starting to earn the Latino vote.

Blabbeando

The New York Times might be right. Richardson's endorsements might bring in additional support for Obama from Lati.. - ehem - Hispanic voters in the primaries and caucuses ahead. And that's my hope. But I have a feeling that the impact of the Richardson endorsement will be regional rather than national when it comes to the Latino/Hispanic community, much like his appeal as a presidential candidate to specific Latino communities throughout the United States.

In any case, thank you, Bill Richardson.

Wonkette

The point is, no one cares about Bill Richardson, otherwise they would have voted for him. Barack Obama knows this and probably offered Richardson a traveling press secretary's role with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which only exists in your imagination.

My very brief take on today's endorsement: I'm somewhat giddy at the possibility of an Obama/Richardson ticket.

Image - Associated Press

Sources- The Huffington Post, The Swamp, Sharoncobb, VivirLatino, The White House Intel Report, Blabbeando, The News Buckit, Wonkette, Voice of America, AFP

Hillary Clinton’s campaign mariachi

Supporters of Barack Obama have created reggaeton and mariachi versions of songs in honor of their preferred candidate for the White House. Hell, even Ted Kennedy took a shot last week during a campaign appearance. Thus, it was almost inevitable that Hillary Clinton would follow suit.

Presenting the Hillary Clinton campaign mariachi:

On Monday, the Clinton campaign unveiled a Latino campaign theme song entitled “Hillary, Hillary Clinton.”

An accordion-backed cocktail of traditional Mexican cumbia and tropical influences, the Spanish-language song says Clinton is the candidate who can deliver change Latinos want — by ending the war in Iraq, achieving universal health care, improving the economy and bringing about fair immigration laws.

To listen, click here.

The campaign said the song will be played at rallies, parties and other campaign events across Texas.

At this rate the John McCain electropop/rock en español remix will be playing soon at Nacotheque.

Sources- The Border Line, Papermag, Vivirlatino, Gawker, The Latin Americanist

Image- Wonkette

Today’s video: Eat your heart out, Pepe Aguilar

For his next campaign appearance, Ted Kennedy will dress as a charro and do the Mexican Hat Dance with a stunned Michelle Obama.

It could’ve been worse; at least he didn’t try to sing a reaggaeton tune.

(Hat tip: Wonkette).

Sources- Wikipedia, Wonkette, VivirLatino

Obama and Clinton focus on Cuba, immigration in debate

Democratic presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama talked politics during a debate last night from Austin, Texas. Both candidates had their high and low moments; for instance, Clinton’s jab at Obama’s alleged plagiarism backfired though she seemed to rebound with her closing statements. Obama seemed too stoic at times though he was very shrewd in describing his campaign as more than just rhetoric. In the end neither candidate gained a serious advantage over the other.

Latin America was the focus of several exchanges between the candidates in Thursday’s forum. The following are some quotes from the transcript of the debate, as provided by Federal News Service.

• On the future of Cuba:

Clinton - Of course the United States stands ready, and as president I would be ready, to reach out and work with a new Cuban government once it demonstrated that it truly was going to change that direction. I want to bring the region together, our European allies who have influence with Cuba, to try to push for some of those changes, and to make it very clear that if Cuba moves toward democracy and freedom for its people the United States will welcome that…

Obama - So I think that we have to shift policy. I think our goal has to be ultimately normalization, but that's going to happen in steps.

And the first step, as I said, is changing our rules with respect to remittances and with respect to travel. And then I think it is important for us to have the direct contact not just in Cuba, but I think this principle applies generally. I'm -- I recall what John F. Kennedy once said, that we should never negotiate out of fear, but we should never fear to negotiate. And this moment, this opportunity when Fidel Castro has finally stepped down I think is one that we should try to take advantage of.

• On possibly meeting with Cuba’s leaders:

Clinton - I -- I would not meet with [Raul Castro] until there was evidence that change was happening because I think it's important that they demonstrate clearly that they are committed to change the direction.

Then I think, you know something like diplomatic encounters and negotiations over specifics could take place.

Obama - I would meet without preconditions, although Senator Clinton is right that there has to be preparation. It is very important for us to make sure that there was an agenda and on that agenda was human rights, releasing of political prisoners, opening up the press. And that preparation might take some time.

But I do think that it is important for the United States not just to talk to its friends but also to talk to its enemies.

• On immigration reform:

Clinton - We need comprehensive immigration reform. I have been for this. I signed on to the first comprehensive bill back in 2004. I've been advocating for it. Tougher, more secure borders -- of course. But let's do it the right way: cracking down on employers, especially once we get to comprehensive immigration reform, who exploit undocumented workers and drive down wages for everyone else. I'd like to see more federal help for communities like Austin and others, like Laredo where I was this morning, that absorb the health care, education and law enforcement costs. And I personally, as president, would work with our neighbors to the south to help them create more jobs for their own people.

Obama - Number one, it is important that we fix the legal immigration system, because right now we've got a backlog that means years for people to apply legally. (Applause.) And what's worse is, we keep on increasing the fees, so that if you've got a hard-working immigrant family, they've got to hire a lawyer; they've got to pay thousands of dollars in fees...

The second thing is, we have to improve our relationship with Mexico and work with the Mexican government, so that their economy is producing jobs on that side of the border. (Applause.)

• On other points regarding immigration:

Clinton – […]there's a lot we've learned about technology and smart fencing. You know, there is technology that can be used instead of a physical barrier. It requires us having enough personnel along the border, so that people can be supervising a certain limited amount of space and will be able to be responsive in the event of, you know, people attempting to cross illegally…

You know, I have been adamantly against the efforts by some to make English the official language…But I do think that English does remain an important part of the American experience, so I encourage people to become bilingual, but I also want to see English remain the common unifying language of our country. (Applause.)

Obama - Something that we can do immediately that I think is very important is to pass the DREAM Act, which allows children who -- (applause) -- through no fault of their own are here but have essentially grown up as Americans -- allow them the opportunity for higher education…

I also think that every student should be learning a second language because -- (interrupted by applause) -- you know -- so when you start getting into a debate about bilingual education, for example, now I want to make sure that children who are coming out of Spanish-speaking households have the opportunity to learn and are not falling behind…But I also want to make sure that English-speaking children are getting foreign languages because this world is becoming more interdependent, and part of the process of America's continued leadership in the world is going to be our capacity to communicate across boundaries, across borders.

• On foreign aid to Latin America:

Obama - Understand, not only have we been diverted from Afghanistan. We’ve been diverted from focusing on Latin America. We contribute — our entire foreign aid to Latin America is $2.7 billion, approximately what we spend in Iraq in a week. And it is any surprise, then, that you’ve seen people like Hugo Chavez and countries like China move into the void, because we’ve been neglectful of that.

Sources- International Herald Tribune, VivirLatino, ABC News, Wall Street Journal, AHN

Image- CNN

Daily Headlines: February 21, 2008

* Barack Obama’s primary winning streak continues as reports claim that he won the Democrats Abroad primary. (Democrats Abroad is the official organization representing Democratic Party members outside of the U.S. in countries such as Guatemala, Panama, and Mexico.)

* Venezuela’s government wants ExxonMobil to drop its legal cases and negotiate while the price of a barrel of oil crossed the $100 threshold on Wednesday.

* Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa promoted conservation as he toured a new wind-energy park on the Galapagos Islands.

* Police and peasants clashed in Colombia over a plan to manually eradicate coca plants.

Sources- Reuters, Houston Chronicle, AFP, Guardian UK, Wikipedia

Image- Economist.com