Video of the Day: Soda’s back!

Tonight marked the first concert in the reunion tour of legendary Argentine rockeros Soda Stereo. A crowd of over 70,000 fans in Buenos Aires’ Estadio Monumental marked the triumphant return of the seminal rock group for the first time in a decade. Two more concerts will take place over the weekend at the Argentine capital before the “Me verás volver” (“You will see me return”) tour makes stops in Peru, Colombia, Mexico, ands the U.S. over the next two months.

Argentina’s Telecom Personal created an ad in honor Soda’s return that highlights the impact the group has had on music. It’s a smart, touching, and fantastic commercial that hits all the right notes (pun intended).

Video link:

(By the way, we happened to catch the piss-poor tribute to Soda Stereo at the end of Thursday’s MTV Latinoamerica Awards. Click here if you masochistically want you ears to bleed).

Don’t forget to send in your suggestions for the fifty greatest songs of the 1990s in the Americas! (More details here).

p.s. Please sign this “petition” to suggest that Soda Stereo perform in New York. (If they can have gigs in Los Angeles and Miami then surely they can stop by La Gran Manzana!!!)

Sources (English)- The Latin Americanist, YouTube, NYRemezcla.com

Sources (Spanish)- La Tercera, Clarin, La Razon, sodastereo.com

Quote of the Day: Candid camera

"These are not people who have been found guilty."

--Lucia Pinochet's defense lawyer wasn’t a happy camper after mugshots of her and three other relatives of ex-Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet were leaked to the media today.

Chile’s government vowed to investigate the publication of the photos of the four members of Pinochet’s family who were arrested two weeks ago on corruption charges. (They would be freed on bail shortly after).

Image- La Nacion

Sources (English)- Reuters UK, canada.com, Canadian Press

Sources (Spanish)- La Tercera

Argies, Chile vs. Brits over Antarctic claim

Southern Cone neighbors Argentina and Chile have each strongly criticized the U.K. due to the British government’s plans to extend their sovereignty over Antarctic seabeds. The territory is very valuable because of its vast oil and gas reserves, yet all three countries have issued previous claims over the land.

Argentine foreign minister Jorge Taiana warned that his country will try to thwart Britain by applying for sovereignty over the ocean floor around Antarctica as well as the Falkland Islands.

Meanwhile, Chile's Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that Britain should honor the 1959 Antarctic Treaty that prohibits extracting fuels in the Antarctic:

Chile "reiterates its full adherence to the purposes of the Antarctic Treaty and is confident that they will continue to rule the actions of all member countries," the communique said. Extracting fuels in Antarctica is currently prohibited by the treaty.

Despite the opposition (including from environmentalists), a spokesperson from Britain’s Foreign Office defended the claim as a “safeguard (to) our interests”.

Image- Telegraph.co.uk

Sources- Reuters, International Herald Tribune, The Latin Americanist, Guardian UK

Commentary: Chavez, Uribe aren’t media’s odd couple

*Cue theme music*

One is the conservative president with a heavy hand against rebels and alleged ties to right-wing paramilitaries.

The other is a far-left leader leading a socialist revolution in a country awash in petrodollars.

Yet they are now best friends despite their differences.

Alvaro Uribe and Hugo Chavez star in “El Odd Couple” (right after an all-new episode of “Cane” on CBS).

*End theme music*

Two articles came out today from Reuters and the International Herald Tribune (IHT) that highlighted the unique relationship between the presidents of Venezuela and Colombia. Though they are ideological opposites, the articles cite how relations between both countries are at an all-time high manly due to the ties between both leaders.

Yet this should come as no surprise if one analyzes several factors:

• “It’s the economy, stupid” – Aside from being neighbors Colombia and Venezuela are vital trade partners; according to the IHT piece, Colombian exports to Venezuela will reach “a record $4 billion” this year alone. In addition, both countries have engaged in energy projects with Venezuela being a happy distributor of natural gas and oil to the Colombian market.
• The gringo factor – there is a regionwide disappointment with Washington’s lack of attention towards the Americas. While it’s well-known that Chavez regularly uses anti-U.S. rhetoric (exhibit A), Uribe has certainly had his disappointment with the U.S. Though Uribe has lashed out publicly at Congressional Democrats who have questioned him, he cannot be too pleased in that Felipe Calderon has become President Bush’s closest buddy in the region.
• Rebel yell – Hugo Chavez’ mediation with Colombian guerillas could yield massive gains for both leaders. Uribe would tout a peace deal as vindication of his policies on Colombia’s civil conflict, whereas Chavez would bring international prestige upon him.

Both Uribe and Chavez understand the huge benefits gained by having such a close political and economic relationship. It makes perfect sense for them to carry such a warm rapport regardless of what one thinks of them individually.

Sources- Reuters, International Herald Tribune, The Latin Americanist, Wikipedia, tmcnet.com, The Economist, imdb.com

Image- New York Times

Bloggers of the world unite and take over (part 2)

With our 1000^th post of the year, we will once again focus on several recent blog posts that have caught our attention. Enjoy!

• Forgive me for being opinionated, but I absolutely cringe at the notion of a third term for Colombian president Alvaro Uribe.
• This is globalization: U.S. politicians are upset that Chinese steel is being used to build the barrier along the border with Mexico.
• Exploring the difference between Latino versus Hispanic.
• Should Congress approve a free trade pact with Peru? One blogger thinks not.
• One gringa’s great advice to attending soccer games in Argentina includes “manage your fear of fire” and “cheer like a madman (even when you have no allegiance to the other team.”
• Is the military claim that Islamic terrorists have made significant inroads in Latin America real or hot air?
• Lastly, how to hack into the blogosphere in Cuba: impersonate foreign tourists online.

Sources- Plan Colombia and Beyond, thehill.com, Latina Viva, Huffington Post, Deadspin, Two Weeks Notice, Latino Pundit

Guatemala: Tight race for presidency

The two candidates vying for Guatemala’s presidency are running neck-and-neck with about 16 days to go before Sunday’s election runoff. Right-winger Otto Perez and leftist Alvaro Colom have been in a statistical dead heat for weeks. Perez has vowed to be tougher on crime and corruption than his rival while Colom accused Perez’ campaign of sending him death threats.

Unfortunately campaign violence has not abated in the days leading to the runoff with politicians and labor leaders slain on a near daily basis.

In another worrying development, the political factions representing Colom and Perez have spent nearly $90 million over the past 18 months on things like renting buses for voters to go to the polls. It is the sparing of no expense by either side that worried one Guatemalan columnist:

These figures can be analyzed from many angles, but they prove an anxiety held by several social groups: the elections are a political game based on money. It’s a pistocrasia and whoever donated the most feels entitled to the best lands.

Image- Al Jazeera (Guatemalans lined up to vote in the first round last month)

Sources (English)- International Herald Tribune, Reuters, Angus Reid Consultants, The Latin Americanist

Sources (Spanish)- elPeriódico de Guatemala, Prensa Libre

Daily Headlines: October 19, 2007

* Besides trying to emulate Giuliani-era New York City, Mexico City mayor Marcelo Ebard has looked across the Atlantic to Paris for ways to improve the Mexican capital.

* Illegal immigrants will be barred from U.S. presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton’s proposed universal heath care plan.

* Pope Benedict talked with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet for forty minutes at the Vatican yesterday.

* Over 480,000 Brazilians were infected with dengue this year according to recent data.

Sources- The Latin Americanist, Christian Science Monitor, Reuters, AHN, Guardian UK

Image- SignOnSanDiego.com (Mexico City residents visited a beach built in the capital last April)

Quote of the Day: Ingrata

"Six hours? I wish. I spend that long getting to and from my job and next month I'm going to start working weekends as well."

--Raiza Barruto- a domestic worker from Caracas, Venezuela- isn’t pleased with the government’s latest proposal to reduce the work day to six hours.

The Venezuelan parliament began debate this week over several constitutional changes including lowering the voting age and granting the president broad powers during states of emergency.

MP3: Café Tacuba – Ingrata

Sources- Guardian UK, BBC News, YouSendIt

Image- bannerblog

Spanish newspaper plans expansion into Americas

The owners of one of Spain’s main newspapers- El Pais- said that the broadsheet will expand further into Latin America. According to Editor-in-chief Javier Moreno, the move will be part of a major reformatting of the left-leaning newspaper in order to reach a younger and more global audience:

Moreno told foreign correspondents in Madrid Tuesday "The ultimate aim is to become a global newspaper, a bit like the Herald Tribune, which has no base in a particular country.”

The strategy differs from previous attempts by El Pais’ owners to purchase established newspapers in Latin America such as Colombia’s El Tiempo.

El Pais currently sells around 10% or 40,000 copies outside of Spain and already prints special editions for Mexico and Argentina.

Image- EuroPress

Sources (English)- Editors Weblog, Reuters, Expatica Spain

Sources (Spanish)- El Pais

De Menezes photo “manipulated” says Brit prosecutor

London police digitally altered a photograph comparing slain Brazilian electrician Jean Charles de Menezes to an alleged terrorist, declared British prosecutors yesterday.

Attorneys representing the Metropolitan Police in a civil trial introduced the image to illustrate the difficulties in distinguishing de Menezes to bombing suspect Hussein Osman. Yet prosecutor Clare Montgomery claimed the photo (image) was modified to make de Menezes look whiter and have a similar face shape to Osman:

Giving evidence as a witness, forensics consultant Michael George told jurors that the picture of de Menezes used by the police seemed to have been brightened and lost definition compared to the original.

De Menezes was shot and killed in cold blood by London officers two weeks after suicide bombings killed 56 people in the city’s public transit system in July 2005. Prosecutors have argued that a “catalog of police failures” such as a “noisy and chaotic” atmosphere at Scotland Yard led to de Menezes' death and endangered public safety.

As we mentioned last May, relatives of de Menezes have called for justice to be served despite the lack of criminal proceedings against the officers involved in de Menezes’ murder.

Sources- BBC News, Reuters UK, Guardian UK, International Herald Tribune, The Latin Americanist, AFP

Image- Sydney Morning Herald

Bolivia: “Goni” accused of genocide

Ex-Bolivian president Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada has been accused of several charges including genocide by prosecutors from that Andean country. Head prosecutor Milton Mendoza told EFE that Sanchez de Lozada would face a maximum of 25 years in jail if convicted, which is why the Bolivian government is seeking extradition of the exiled “Goni” from the United States.

The announcement by Bolivian prosecutors coincided with the fourth anniversary of Sanchez de Lozada’s resignation which was observed by thousands of Bolivians who protested in front of U.S. embassy at La Paz.

Despite fleeing his troubles in Bolivia, Sanchez de Lozada has been unable to escape legal battles against him; last month, a civil lawsuit was filed in Maryland by lawyers for ten Bolivians whose relatives were killed in 2003.

“Goni” held power between 2002 and 2003, a turbulent period in Bolivia’s history typified by nationwide protests against his neoliberal economic policies. As Nick Buxton recalled in a 2005 blog post, the Sanchez de Lozada administration was heavy handed in trying to control the ever-growing marches:

The first deaths took place on 23 September, when an attempt by the Government to "rescue" tourists trapped in Sorata led to shootings in Warisata which claimed the lives of 6 people including an 8 year-old girl, Marlene Nanci Rojas Ramos. As protests intensified, La Paz found itself cut off…

On the 11th October, the army arrived in El Alto and the shootings started. David Salinas was one of the first to be killed. Shot whilst trying to help someone had been injured.
The shootings, however, didn't crush the protests. Instead even more people took to the streets demanding Goni's resignation. He eventually resigned and fled the country on the 17th October.

Image- MWC News

Sources (English)- The Latin Americanist, Associated Press, Wikipedia, BBC News, Prensa Latina

Sources (Spanish)- El Diario/La Prensa

Follow-up: Abortion bill fails in Uruguay

A proposal on reproductive health that would’ve decriminalized abortion in Uruguay was not passed by the country’s legislature. President Tabaré Vázquez warned that he would veto the bill though all fifteen members of the ruling coalition in the upper house voted for the proposal. Yet the bill failed after the final vote yesterday in the chamber was tied 15-15.

Political opponents of the bill want a referendum over whether or not to decriminalize abortion. Meanwhile, backers of The Sexual and Reproductive Health Bill will meet today over the possibility of reintroducing the measure without the clause on legalizing abortion.

Source (English)- The Latin Americanist

Sources (Spanish)- El Pais, Observa

Image- Flags Online

Daily Headlines: October 18, 2007

* “The (Venezuelan) government is reducing more and more the room for dissent”, said Marcel Granier- CEO of the “shutdown”-affected Radio Caracas Television.

* Pope Benedict XVI named 23 new cardinals Wednesday including one each from Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil.

* Twelve people were killed during raids conducted by police in two Rio de Janeiro favelas.

* A report by the International Monetary Fund warned that economic growth in latin America may slow down over the next 14 months.

Sources (English)- The Latin Americanist, El Universal, Associated Press, Guaridna UK, Bloomberg

Sources (Spanish)- El Diario/La Prensa

Image- mediachannel.org

Video of the Day: Vicente Fox loses it on TV

Former Mexican president Vicente Fox lost his temper during an interview with Rubén Luengas- reporter for Telemundo’s Los Angeles affiliate. Luengas tried to address accusations of corruption made against Fox due to his and his wife’s land holdings and luxury homes. Yet as you can see in the video below Fox acted belligerent during questioning, insulted Luengas, and abruptly ended the interview before storming off in a huff.

(Video link):

Fox’s interview was part of his U.S. tour to promote his recently released autobiography (i.e. the book that bashes George W Bush).

(Hat tip: VivirLatino).

Sources- The Latin Americanist, YouTube, VivirLatino

U.K. music fest helps L. American banana farmers

The Glastonbury Festival is known worldwide as one of the premier annual music gatherings. The Who, Arctic Monkeys, Bjork, Cansei de Ser Sexy and Rodrigo y Gabriela were just a few of the dozens of varied musical acts who appeared in this year’s version of the festival last June.

Last week the organizer of the Glastonbury Festival donated approximately $150,000 to Banana Link- a charity working closely banana farmers from Latin American nations including Honduras, Peru, and Ecuador. According to Banana Link’s website:

Banana Link works for a socially just, environmentally sound and economically viable banana industry. We aim to contribute to the alleviation of poverty in the major banana exporting regions of the world and create a sustainable banana economy.

Most of the Glastonbury Festival’s profits go to charity; this year, about $4 million was raised and distributed to groups like Greenpeace and Oxfam.

Sources- Wikipedia, BBC News, Banana Link, NME.com

Image- NME.com (Cansei de Ser Sexy lead singer Lovefoxxx at the 2007 Glastonbury Festival)

Costa Rica and U.S. sign debt-for-nature deal

$26 million in debt from Costa Rica to the U.S. was forgiven in exchange for tropical forest conservation according to a deal signed by the governments of both countries and two environmental groups. The idea is part of the U.S. Tropical Forest Conversation Act which has helped countries around the world create similar debt forgiveness plans for nearly a decade.

The head of The Nature Conservancy- one of the parties involved in the Costa Rican debt forgiveness deal- praised the agreement:

"Costa Rica is teeming with natural beauty, biodiversity and threatened species," said Stephanie Meeks, The Nature Conservancy's chief executive. "And as an increasingly popular tourist and retirement destination, it faces increasing development pressure."

Sources- earthtimes.org, scoop.co.nz, International Herald Tribune

Image- Pravda