Hugo Chavez backs Russia in Caucasus crisis

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez supported Russia’s position in its dispute with Georgia. “We support Russia. Russia is right and is defending its interests,” remarked Chavez on Friday as he backed Russian recognition of the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions from Georgia. Chavez also accused the U.S. of exploiting Georgia to try to counter Russia.

Venezuela and Russia have established closer political and economic ties; last month, Chavez visited his counterpart Dmitri Medvedev where both signed agreements on energy and arms.

Coincidentally, on the same day Chavez made the above remarks the Wall Street Journal published a scathing (perhaps too harsh?) editorial declaring a new “axis of evil”:

The term "axis" has been overused in recent years, and in misleading contexts. But Russia, Iran and Venezuela are acting very much as Japan, Italy and Germany did in the 1930s, when each took advantage of each other's aggressive moves to extend their own regional power at the expense of liberal democracy -- and, as a result, propelling the world to the brink of war.

The chessboard of traditional competitive geopolitics is back with a vengeance…The third player in this new axis, Venezuela's President Chavez, hopes for an oil and natural gas monopoly over the natural resources of neighbors like pro-Chavez satellites Bolivia and Ecuador.

Image- BBC News

Sources- PRESS TV, IHT, The Latin Americanist, Reuters UK, Wall Street Journal

U.N. report: Positive growth in LatAm and Carib.

The global economy may be slowing down yet increased growth is expected for latin America and the Caribbean according to a recently released report.

The U.N. Economic Commission for Latin America and Caribbean predicted that the region’s economy would expand by 4.7% this year; the sixth straight year of positive growth for the region. Peru (8.3 %), Panama (8.0%), and Uruguay (7.5%), will post the highest increases as the report also notes a steady decrease in regional unemployment since 2003.

Not all was good news in the study as some economic indicators are unfavorable in the region:

Still, inflation could average as much as 10 percent, led by rising food prices, which may push 15 million more people into poverty – leaving 190 million people in poverty, or 35 percent of the region's population, CEPAL said.

Widespread interest rate hikes could also boost local currencies, making exports less competitive and further slowing regional growth to 4 percent next year amid continued volatility in world financial markets, CEPAL warned.

In April, the World Bank issued its own report which predicted that Latin America’s economy would keep being strong and “better prepared for an economic slowdown in the United States.”

Image- Agencia Peruana de Noticias (Peruvian textile factory)

Sources- SignOnSanDiego.com, The Latin Americanist, MercoPress, Dominican Today

Daily Headlines: August 30, 2008

* Argentina: A pair of former generals was sentenced to life in jail for the roles in the disappearance of a provincial senator during the “Dirty War.”

* Brazil: Actress Reese Witherspoon helped promote a campaign to combat domestic violence during a trip she made to Sao Paulo.

* Chile: According to a car rental company Chilean roads are among the worlds most dangerous.

* Bolivia: President Evo Morales set December 7^th as the date for the country’s constitutional referendum.

Image- Los Angeles Times (“Relatives of people who disappeared during Argentina's 1976-83 military dictatorship hold placards with images of their missing kin in court in San Miguel de Tucuman, in the northern province of Tucuman.”)

Sources- IHT, AFP, The Telegraph, BBC News

McCain picks Sarah Palin as running mate

Earlier today, Republican presidential hopeful John McCain introduced Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his choice for Vice President.

The mother of five becomes the first female vice presidential candidate since 1984 and has been a widely popular governor since she came to power in 2006. Yet she is under investigation for her firing of the state’s former Public Safety Commissioner and her staunch social conservative views could turn off Hillary Clinton supporters who are considering backing the GOP.

In terms of foreign policy experience hers is practically nonexistent. Palin’s biography in the very useful ontheissues.org describes “no issue stance yet recorded” on foreign policy. Her lack of foreign policy experience pales compared to the Democrats choice for vice president.

In the end that may be a moot point since international affairs will be touted as one of McCain’s strong points. Yet it is worrying that someone who aspires to be the second-in-charge in the U.S. have such little knowledge in international affairs.

Image- The Telegraph (“As an upholder of gun rights and a fierce opponent of abortion, Sarah Palin will help woo the strong Republican core who still doubt John McCain's record Photo: AP”)

Sources- BBC News, Bloomberg, CNN, Foreign Policy Passport, ontheissues.org, The Latin Americanist

Honduran prez defends ALBA alliance

Honduran president Manuel Zelaya supported his decision to have Honduras enter the ALBA trade bloc. In remarks made to Reuters, the Honduran leader said that the move was necessary in order to combat poverty in his country:

President Manuel Zelaya, a logging magnate seen as a moderate liberal, told Reuters that oil-rich Venezuela's offer to double international aid to the country, one of the poorest in Latin America, is unrivaled.

"I have been looking for projects from the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, Europe and I have received very moderate offers ... that forces us to find other forms of financing like ALBA," Zelaya said in an interview at his presidential palace…

"The war between communists and right-wingers is over, and if what we have now is not giving results, we have to turn to alternatives like ALBA," which also includes Cuba, Bolivia, Nicaragua and Dominica, he said.

The ALBA alliance is spearheaded by Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez who observed that “the courage of President Zelaya has no comparison.”

The move is expected to ruffle some feathers in Washington especially since Honduras was vital as a base for the anti-communist, U.S.-backed Contra rebels in the 1980s. Conservative ex-President Ricardo Maduro warned Zelaya not to “bite the hand that feeds you” by joining the ALBA. Yet “Honduras did not ask permission from any imperialist country to join ALBA," emphasized Zelaya as he accepted joining the trade bloc.

Image- BBC News

Sources- Reuters, PRESS TV, IPS, euronews, MarketPlace

Fat Joe bashes Daddy Yankee over McCain

Puerto Rican rapper Fat Joe bashed reggaetonero Daddy Yankee over his recent endorsement of John McCain. In remarks made to MTV News, the rapper blasted his countryman and called him a sell-out after his appearance with the presumptive GOP presidential nominee:

"I opened the newspaper and got sick to my stomach," Joe continued. "I felt like I wanted to vomit when I seen that. The reason why I called him a sellout is because I feel he did that for a [publicity] look, rather than the issues that are affecting his people that look up to him. How could you want John McCain in office when George Bush and the Republicans already have half a million people losing their homes in foreclosure? We're fighting an unjust war. It's the Latinos and black kids up in the frontlines, fighting that war…

I feel real disgusted that Daddy Yankee would do that. Either he did that for a look, or he's just not educated on politics"…

"If he believes John McCain is the better candidate for the Latinos," Joe said, "we could sit down. Even if he wants to get into a debate, we can debate anywhere — New York, Puerto Rico."

While Democratic nominee Barack Obama wowed over 82,000 followers with his acceptance speech last night in Denver, McCain is preparing to announce who his running mate will be.

Image- MTV.com

Sources- contactmusic.co.uk, MTV News, NPR, Reuters, The Latin Americanist

Daily Headlines: August 29, 2008

An all follow-up edition of Daily Headlines this morning looks at updates to news stories we’ve recently covered:

* Mexico: By an 8-3 vote Mexico's Supreme Court voted to uphold Mexico City’s abortion law that has been in place since April 2007.

* Cuba: The trial of Cuban punk rocker Gorki Aguila is expected to start today after he was detained on Monday supposedly for his outspokenness against the Castro regime.

* Caribbean: The death toll from Tropical Storm Gustav has grown to 60 as the storm continues ravaging through the Caribbean.

* U.S.: In the wake of the Postville raids residents of another Iowan town worry that theirs could be the site of the next immigration crackdown.

Image- Associated Press (“A doll representing a fetus, right, and crosses displayed by anti-abortion activists sit at Mexico City's central Zocalo square during a protest against the legalization of abortion, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008... Signs next to the doll read in Spanish "I want to live" and "Vote for me, vote for life." (AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)”).

Sources- The Latin Americanist, Associated Press, Guardian UK, Reuters, Los Angeles Times

Today’s Video: Richardson at the DNC

We’re very aware that you-know-who will soon speak at the last night of the Democratic National Convention. Yet earlier in the evening New Mexico governor Bill Richardson spoke in front of tens of thousands at Invesco Field. Richardson- who endorsed Barack Obama after his own failed presidential bid- pulled several punches against John McCain and the Bush/Cheney:

Sources- CNN, The Latin Americanist, YouTube

EU to appeal WTO banana ruling

The E.U. will appeal an April decision by the WTO based on a complaint brought up by Ecuador. The panel found that European tariffs on banana imports against Latin American countries including Mexico and Costa Rica were excessive and discriminatory.

According to a statement issued today by the E.U.:

“The proposal on bananas made in Geneva was made in the context of the Doha Round'' of global trade talks, the (European Commission) said. ``The failure to reach agreement in Geneva on the Doha Round also meant no agreement was reached on bananas.''

The EU is basing its challenge to the WTO judgments on two points. The panel ``completely disregarded'' evidence showing that Latin American banana suppliers' access to the bloc rose more than 10 percent, according to the commission, which said it also had ``significant systemic concerns'' about judges' interpretation and application of relevant WTO provisions.

Though the WTO decision came in favor of Latin American banana producers, it may’ve hurt those suppliers in the Caribbean who were receiving referential treatment from the E.U.’s policy.

As we mentioned yesterday, Brazil has appealed to the WTO for sanctions to be placed against the U.S. based on a 2007 ruling.

Image- Sky News

Sources- Forbes, Bloomberg, The Latin Americanist, Reuters

Colombian gov’t under eye of ICC

This week’s visit of the chief prosecutor from the International Criminal Court (ICC) has placed additional attention on Colombia’s government.

Luis Moreno Ocampo’s three-day trip to Colombia concluded yesterday as he examined the alleged government links to paramilitary groups. After meeting with government officials and the victims of paramilitary violence, Moreno Ocampo vowed that he will “go after the people who may be considered among those most responsible.”

The ICC could subsequently open a formal investigation not only centering on Colombia’s “para-politics” scandal but also regarding ties between politicos and the FARC guerillas.

Despite having a 90% approval rating among his countrymen, Moreno Ocampo’s visit comes at a particularly sensible time for Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. In what has been a troubling trend for relatives of senior government officials, the brother of the country’s justice minister was accused of doing illicit favors for drug smugglers. Uribe, meanwhile, continued to reject allegations over a supposed 2006 vote-buying scheme in Congress that would lead to his reelection.

According to Colombia’s Cambio newsmagazine, the political climate is stormy as a result of the attacks between Uribe and who he perceives are his foes:

The (political) environment is hot…accusations and allegations come and go. There’s a feeling of an institutional crisis and the president, symbol of national unity…has acted as an agitator. Although he has enjoyed high levels of popularity, it does not justify that he risks the state of law by delegitimizing the Supreme Court and the opposition.

More so, it could be costly to his public image that he looks for fights with whoever gets in his way especially when the public wonders why the lawyers of paramilitaries were received by Cabinet officials. - [ed. personal translation]

Image- Al Jazeera English (“Santos, the Colombian vice-president, left, accompanies Moreno-Ocampo [AFP]”).

Sources (English)- Colombia Reports, Radio Netherlands Worldwide, Inside Costa Rica, Al Jazeera English, The latin Americanist, Reuters

Sources (Spanish)- Cambio

Wikileaks to auction Chavez’ e-mails

“Document-leaking site” Wikileaks will auction off to the media what they claim is secret information relating to Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez. According to a statement on the website, they will give to the highest bidder three years of e-mail messages between Chavez and an aide pertaining to items such as “CIA activities in Venezuela, an incursion by the Colombian Army and how Chavez has managed his government.”

The controversial scheme may be ethically unsound and could fail according to an article on wired.com’s Threat Level blog:

University of Minnesota media ethics professor Jane Kirtley laughed when told of the scheme.

"Ethically speaking, why don't they just publish it?" Kirtly asked. "They pride themselves on being a new breed of news delivery"…

Stephen Aftergood, who runs a complementary and competing site called Secrecy News that focuses on U.S. government documents, called the e-mail trove a "coup" for Wikileaks. But Aftergood also doubts the auction model will attract quality media outlets.

"It looks like Wikileaks is still looking for the optimal method to distribute its materials," Aftergood said. "I think it will automatically rule out publications like The New York Times and others that might devote significant attention to an in-depth look at such internal e-mails but would not pay for them."

Wikileaks has come under intense scrutiny over its leaking of documents such as a 2003 Guantanamo Bay ops manual. The site had been taken offline in February as part of a lawsuit brought up by a Swiss bank. Wikileaks returned after that lawsuit was dropped in March.

Image- Time

Sources- Threat Level, editorsweblog, The Latin Americanist, BBC News, Guardian UK

Daily Headlines: August 28, 2008

* Puerto Rico: Daddy Yankee’s publicist denied reports that the reggaetonero originally offered to endorse Barack Obama before giving his allegiance to John McCain.

* U.S.: Controversial Latino artist Andres Serrano is working on a new exhibit centering on crap (literally, not so much critically).

* Venezuela: Ex-London mayor Ken Livingstone visited Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in order to “act as an advisor” on Caracas.

* Dominican Republic: A representative of the Dalai Lama cited “exhaustion” as to the reason why the spiritual leader cancelled his upcoming visits to Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

Image- AFP (“John McCain (L) is endorsed by Latin recording artist Daddy Yankee during a news conference in Phoenix, Arizona” last Monday).

Sources- AFP, Village Voice, The Latin Americanist, Wonkette, Guardian UK

Today’s Video: Sweden’s greatest export

Eat your heart out ABBA; I’ll take Nina Persson (a.k.a. the blond who sang 90s one-hit wonder “Lovefool”) any day of the week. Here she is singing bossa nova classic “Desafinado”:

Sources- abbasite.com, YouTube, cardigans.com

Mexico: Top court learning towards abortion law

Mexico’s highest court appears to be leaning in favor of a Mexico City law that decriminalized certain forms of abortions. After three days of deliberations, seven of the eleven Supreme Court judges have backed the controversial law:

José Ramón Cossío Diaz y Juan Silva Meza pointed out that the Constitution doesn’t explicitly mention anything over the right to life…

Cossio said that the project presented by Sergio Salvador Aguirre Anguiano came from the premise that the right to life is an absolute condition.

Yet he believed that the right to life doesn’t exist either constitutionally or internationally. [ed. personal translation]

A minimum of eight judges are needed to uphold the law which was passed last year and decriminalized first semester abortions in Mexico’s capital. Not only is the Supreme Court expected to uphold the law, but according to El Universal they will create a “series of jurisprudential criteria” backing a woman’s right to abort.

The law has been opposed by several influential groups including Mexico’s federal government as well as the Roman Catholic Church.

Since the law went into affect in April 2007, an estimated 12,262 women aged between 18 and 29 have had abortions legally in Mexico City clinics. Yet a New York Times article found that those who have sought abortions face numerous obstacles including from doctors who claim to be conscientious objectors.

Image- BBC News (Pro-choice protestor carries a sign saying “In favor of the right to choose").

Sources (English)- MSNBC, New York Times, The latin Americanist, Fox News

Sources (Spanish)- Milenio, El Universal

WTO talks must resume says Brazil’s Amorim

Global trade talks that stalled last month must resume ASAP said Foreign Minister Celso Amorim earlier today. “I'm still hopeful that we can still make an effort, but it has to be very fast,” observed Amorim during a visit to Canberra where he met with his Australian counterpart.

The Doha Round of trade talks broke down in July when countries could not reach a compromise over agricultural tariffs. One of the sticking points during negotiations revolved around biofuels with Brazil pressing the U.S. and E.U. to permit increased ethanol imports.

Earlier this week, Brazil appealed to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to impose sanctions against the U.S. over cotton subsidies. The request was made after a WTO panel upheld a 2007 ruling that concluded that U.S. subsidies unfairly undercut foreign competitors.

Image- abc.net.au

Sources- Xinhua, IHT, Guardian UK, Forbes, Reuters India

Cuban punk rocker arrested says bandmates

Cuban punk rock musician Gorki Aguila of band Porno Para Ricardo was detained by authorities according to members of his band. A statement on Porno Para Ricardo’s website said that police arrested Aguila in Havana while the band was recording their latest album. A more recent entry on the band’s site expressed worry that Aguila will be jailed for his beliefs:

Aguila was detained without motive several hours after his father found out that he would be put on trial for dangerous citizenry. (For those that don’t know that term, it has to do with a law that sanctions those convicted with one to four years of jail based solely on their political beliefs…

Gorki Aguila is about to be sentenced based on his real motive of expressing songs against the Cuban political system and his right to be human. [ed. personal translation]

Aguila’s criticism of the Cuban government was documented in a 2007 CNN interview where he observed that “communism is a failure.”

Image- rock.com.mx

Sources (English)- CNN, UPI, BBC News

Sources (Spanish)- Porno Para Ricardo