“Rock the Vote” a la Mexicana

MTV Latin America will create a series of news specials in an effort to encourage Mexican youth to vote in July’s presidential elections. The latest poll shows former Mexico City mayor Andrés Manuel López Obrador bumped down to second place behind government candidate Felipe Calderón.

Andrés Manuel López Obrador , Felipe Calderón , MTV Latin America , mexico, election, suffrage

Intelligence chief calls for more spies in Latin America

The head of U.S. intelligence, John Negroponte, told Time magazine that more spies are needed in Latin America. “We're beefing up in places where we hadn't been, where we'd allowed things to atrophy after the end of the cold war--in Latin America and Africa,” said Negroponte, who was U.S. ambassador to Honduras in the early 1980s.

central america, john negroponte, bush administration, honduras, intelligence, international politics, latin america

Bloggers reacts to May 1st “Day without Immigrants”

Some bloggers attended rallies held in Chicago, Miami, and New York City as part of yesterday’s “Day without Immigrants”. Other bloggers resented the May 1^st protests as a sign of ingratitude towards the U.S. led by “irresponsible opportunists”. One political blogger feels that a lot of the anti-immigrant vitriol is “Mexiphobia” while another political blog makes a tongue-in-cheek observation on President Bush declaring May 1^st as “Loyalty Day” in the U.S.

Many images of the May 1st rallies can be found in the flickr tags in this post.

immigration, bush administration, international politics, latin america, may 1, day without immigrants

Colombians remember anniversary of massacre

Today marks the four-year anniversary of the massacre in Bojaya, Colombia where a FARC bomb killed 119 villagers seeking refuge in a church.

colombia, bojaya, armed conflict, massacre

Bolivia nationalizes gas fields

President Evo Morales ordered Bolivia’s army to occupy gas fields as part of a government plan to nationalize them. Foreign companies have six months to agree to new contracts for the gas fields or face expulsion from Bolivia.

bolivia, energy, Evo morales, international economy

Caribbean headlines: Elections in Haiti; government shutdown in Puerto Rico; ex-PM

High abstentionism marred Haitian legislative elections last month won by the political party representing President Rene Preval.

Thousands of Puerto Ricans protested a partial government shutdown that started today as its government faces a $1 billion budget deficit and the laying off of nearly 100,000 public workers.

Former Trinidadian Prime Minister Basdeo Panday will serve two years jail time for failing to properly disclose financial information.

haiti, election, rene preval, caribbean, puerto rico, Trinidad and tobago

Mexican bill allows for personal possession of some narcotics

A bill passed by the Mexican legislature would allow for the possession of small amounts of cocaine heroin, and other drugs solely for personal consumption. A post to the Houston Chronicle’s immigration blog worries about the wrong message this measure sends to the U.S.

mexico, drugs, international politics

Latin American economy expected to grow, says IMF

The economy in Latin America is expected to grow by 4.3% according to a report released by the International Monetary Fund. Argentina and Venezuela are expected to grow the most this year, according to the IMF's data.

latin america, argentina, imf, Venezuela, international economy

Former rebel challenges Chavez for Venezuelan presidency

Teodoro Petkoff, a 74-year-old ex-leftist rebel and newspaper editor, announced his presidential candidacy last week. Petkoff and three other rivals face a difficult battle to unseat Chavez by Election Day on December 3^rd.

Venezuela, election, hugo chavez, teodoro petkoff

“Soccer War” spat finally put to rest

The presidents of Honduras and El Salvador met earlier this month in order to settle a border dispute that caused the brief but bloody “Soccer War” 37 years ago.

central america, soccer war, el salvador, honduras

Brazil nuclear program benefits from attention towards Iran

The similarities are uncanny- both Brazil and Iran have signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, secretly planned key parts of its nuclear programs, and have the capacity to enrich uranium. Yet Iran has been in the global eye due to its belligerent stance against other states while the Brazilian government is trying to calmly show that their nuclear capabilities are only for an alternative energy source.

brazil, nuclear energy, iran, international politics

Trinidadian murder rate skyrockets

Trinidad and Tobago has become one of the top six homicidal nations in the world as crime has grown rapidly over the past two years. The homicide rate in Trinidad and Tobago is between 25 and 30 murdered per 100,000 people.

caribbean, crime, trinidad and tobago

Films from Mexico, Argentina, and Paraguay to be screened at Cannes

Several movies from Iberoamerican countries will be shown during the 59^th edition of the Cannes Film Festival next month. “Pan’s Labyrinth”, co-produced by Mexico, will be one of the 19 films competing for the prestigious Palm D’Or.

latin america, cannes film festival, mexico, paraguay, argentina

White House report: Increased coca growth in Colombia

A report made by the by the White House's Office of National Drug Control Policy shows that coca growth in Colombia increased by 26% in 2005. Skeptics of U.S drug policy note believe that spraying coca with herbicide is insufficient to combat drug growth, while U.S. officials claim the larger number comes from more land being included in the surveys.

international politics, drugs, bush administration, colombia, coca

English only: Brits have not warmed to foreign-language music

The Guardian’s Sophie Headwood notes how the mainstream British audience ignores critically acclaimed yet non-English music from abroad. She exalts the popular and critical acclaim of Colombian singer Juanes, (who performed at the European parliament last week), but worries that his singing in Spanish will bring low sales of his latest album in the U.K.

latin america, music, juanes, language

So which left is right? Castañeda and Forero view leftist shift differently

Jorge Castañeda, Global Distinguished Professor of Politics and Latin American Studies at New York University, believes that Latin America is being transformed by two distinct left-wing movements according to his article in Foreign Affairs. Meanwhile, New York Times reporter Juan Forero has written a piece solely targeting leftist populist movements as the catalyst for political change in Latin America. (Image from The Economist highlights ideological leanings of recent Latin American governments).

international politics, latin america, juan forero, Jorge Castañeda