Don’t understand your neighbors south of the border? Then why not “Ask a Mexican!”

Metafilter last month posted about “Ask a Mexican!,” a column from the Orange County Weekly where Gustavo Arellano replies to questions on all things Mexican such as “Do Mexicans make better soldiers and Marines?” or “Why does some Mexican music sound just like polka?”

gustavo+arellano , ask+a+mexican, mexico, satire

Eight Latin American nations elected to Human Rights Council

Ecuador, Guatemala, and Peru were among the eight Latin American states that garnered enough votes to serve on the U.N.’s Human Rights Council. Several countries with terrible human rights records gained election to the Council such as Cuba. One blogger examined why Cuba was elected while Venezuela was not.

cuba, human rights, latin america, united nations

“Which left is right?” redux: Chavez vs. Lagos

In a Spanish-language article from the latest edition of Foreign Affairs en Español, New York University professor Patricio Navia examines the different angles of the left in Latin America by comparing the “antagonistic discourse” of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez with the model espoused by former Chilean head Ricardo Lagos (image). (Original “Which left is right?” post can be read here).

Venezuela, chile, patricio navia , ideology, Ricardo lagos, latin america, hugo chavez

U.N.: more jobs needed for Latin Americans

The U.N.’s International Labor Organization reported that more than half of the region’s economically active population are either unemployed or in the informal sector. This work deficit could increase from 126 million to 158 million

by 2015 if governments do not increase employment in the formal sector.

work, united nations , employment, latin america, international economy

Chavez: Let me be prez for 25 years

Venezuela’s president threatened to have a referendum that would decide if he should be in power until 2031 in case the opposition pulls out of December’s general election. A recent poll showed Chavez with a very comfortable lead of nearly 30% over his nearest presidential opponent.

election, hugo chavez, Venezuela

"Is There Racism in Latin America?"

Rutgers University professor Tanya Hernandez looks at the differentiations of race in countries like Brazil to see if racism is prevalent in Latin America. (Previous post on race in Latin America here).

racism, ethnicity, latin america

Mixed feelings for Bolivia’s nationalization plan

Bolivia’s move to nationalize their gas fields last week has alarmed several Latin American governments such as Brazil who receives more than half of their natural gas from Bolivia. As this National Public Radio piece shows, others are worried that Evo is turning towards a less pragmatic political left-wing.

Bloggers have also reacted to Bolivia’s nationalization plan by disagreeing over the supposed split in the Latin American left over the plan. Other reactions range from jubilation to restrained optimism to repudiation.

international politics, latin america, bolivia, brazil, evo morales

Feliz Cinco de Mayo! But what does it celebrate?

Contrary to what some believe, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s independence day. Rather, it commemorates the battle victory in 1862 of 4500 Mexican troops against 6500 French soldiers trying to preserve French intervention in Mexico.

Also on this date, the U.S. invaded the Dominican Republic (1916), Alfredo Stroessner came to power in Paraguay (1954), and Iran-Contra congressional hearings started to be televised (1987).

mexico, france, cinco de mayo, intervention, paraguay, iran-contra, dominican republic

Maria Rita’s “silky, translucent sound” on tour in U.S.

Whose music was described as “cool and refreshing as a chilled mountain stream”? The answer is Maria Rita- Brazilian chanteuse, NYU graduate and daughter of famed vocalist Ellis Regina. Rita will be performing at Irving Plaza in Manhattan this Saturday night as part of her tour of the U.S. (News article via Latin Music News).

music, brazil, maria rita

Fox chickens out on drug bill

In a surprising move, Mexican president Vicente Fox will veto a bill passed a few days ago that would increase the amount of personal possession to several narcotics. Mexican officials deny that Fox’s change of mind was due to U.S. criticism inasmuch as the White House did not hide their delight in Fox’s decision.

Vicente fox,bush administration, mexico, drugs

The Onion: “Vampires in Havana” is a must-see movie

The Onion’s A.V. Club names the 1985 Cuban animated comedy “Vampires in Havana” as one of its 15 animated films for adults by praising the films “unconventional plotline and…goofy good humor.”

cuba, animation, the onion, vampires in havana

Argentina to receive multi-million dollar aid package from Europe

The European Union announced last month that it would give Argentina approximately $31 million in aid in order to help pay for social programs.

argentina, foreign aid, European union

Chavez’ newest target: Alan Garcia

Hugo Chavez called Peruvian presidential candidate Alan Garcia a “thief” and “crook” after Garcia insulted Chavez and Bolivian president Evo Morales. In retaliation to Chavez’ comments, Peru pulled its ambassador out of Venezuela. With almost all votes tallied in Peru’s presidential elections, Ollanta Humala still leads with 30.77%, Alan Garcia is in second with 24.30%, and Lourdes Flores is third with 23.71%.

peru , election, ollanta humala , alan garcia, lourdes flores, hugo chavez, venezuela

“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