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The official blog of Fausta's Blog Talk Radio show.

Monday, November 17, 2008

The third Monday in November Carnival of Latin America and the Caribbean

Crossposted


Welcome to the Carnival of Latin America and the Caribbean, the weekly roundup of news items and blog posts on the region. If you would like your posts included, please email me: faustaw2 "at" gmail "dot" com.

This week's big story: The G20 weekend meeting in Washington DC. While Washington commuters had to put up with the traffic jams, and the leaders pledged to work together to restore global growth, that pledge is probably worth the paper it was signed on (since it wasn't signed on paper), and nothing much else happened. On the bright side, oil is trading in the $56 range.

I'll be talking about the G-20 in today's 15 Minutes on Latin America podcast.

LATIN AMERICA
The Latinobarómetro poll
Democracy and the downturn
Latin Americans are standing up for their rights


ARGENTINA
Menem faces court over bomb probe

Decálogo del asaltado

BRAZIL
The Forest Jihad

COLOMBIA
Pelosi Serves Up Colombia To Europe

Last Chance for a Colombia Pact

UPDATE:UAW Won't Support Colombia Trade Pact For Big-3 Aid

FARC se infiltra en universidades para entrenar a milicianos

Rooting out cocaine production in Colombia

CUBA
To save the ants

From the official Communist party organ, Castro writes a book about Colombia

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Dominicans charged with organizing fatal journey

ECUADOR
Correa amenaza con incursionar y bombardear territorio de Colombia

ECUADOR
Soros's Narcostate Promotional Team Does Ecuador

JAMAICA
"Driven Life" and others in a dynamic conversation about faith and its impact on the world.
Spurning Europe, Caribbean pushes death penalty


MEXICO
Mexico's War: The Iraq Next Door

Mexico stock exchange says drug war scaring off IPOs

Criminal insurgency strikes Mexican media

NICARAGUA
How to steal an election
Daniel Ortega sets an ugly precedent


Preliminary thoughts on Nicaragua

U.S. Should Cut Foreign Assistance to Nicaragua

PARAGUAY
Landing on our airstrip

Meeting with other Paraguay bloggers in Paraguay

PERU
The Re-Emergence of the Shining Path: The Criminal-Terrorist Nexus

PUERTO RICO
Puerto Rico to eliminate Electoral Fund in 2009

URUGUAY
Uruguay head vetoes abortion bill

VENEZUELA
On Sunday, Venezuelans will be voting for 23 governors across the country. Mary O'Grady writes about Chávez's threat to bring out the tanks if people don't vote for his candidates: Dodd's 'Democrat' Tightens His Grip

Venezuela News and Views has been posting on the elections. Here's the latest: The Venezuelan 2008 election: update 16 - Holding Margarita

Chavez says Venezuela is moving toward developing nuclear power

The clueless and strange tale of the expelled Venezuelan Diplomats

US POLITICS
The only way is up
After eight years of neglect by Bush, relations between the US and Latin America can only improve under Barack Obama


The NYT has a lame article about how Obama's athletic abilities make him qualified to discuss foreign policy with the likes of cigar-yielding tyrant Castro (I wonder when was the last time Fidel even saw a baseball) and coca leaf growers' union leader Evo Morales, For Obama, a Scouting Report on Athletic Heads of State. James Joyner aims, shoots, and scores in his comment on the puff piece.

SCIENCE and EDUCATIONAL
The 'Secret Jews' of San Luis Valley

An introduction to Spanish nouns and genders

This week’s posts and podcasts
Today's 15 Minutes on Latin America: The G-20.

Listen to Faustas blog on internet talk radio

Huge weapons cache on Mexican border drug wars
“What Obama Might Do?”, on Latin America
Postcards from the edge: Sandalistas {heart} Hugo


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Monday, November 10, 2008

The Monday-after-election-day Carnival of Latin America and the Caribbean

Crossposted


Welcome to the Carnival of Latin America and the Caribbean. If you would like your posts included, please email me: faustaw2 "at" gmail "dot" com.

While we were watching the election and its outcome, there were several big stories in the hemisphere:
The most dramatic, by far, was the airplane crash in downtown Mexico City last Tuesday at 7PM during rush hour. The airplane, which was carrying Interior Minister Juan Camilo Mourino, burst into flames. Amazingly, only fourteen people died. While Mexican authorities insist there was no foul play involved, many Mexicans are suspicious, since among the passengers was the country's former top anti-drug prosecutor Jose Luis Santiago Vasconcelos. Additionally,
The burst of conspiracy-theorizing came from more than the crash alone: Many Mexicans feel their leaders have lied so many times about so many things over the years that it's hard to believe them, even when they might be telling the truth.

Some of the most significant events in Mexico's modern history -- from the 1968 massacre of demonstrators in Mexico City to the 1994 assassination of presidential candidate Luis Donaldo Colosio -- are synonymous with cover-up or farfetched official conclusions.

The long reach of drug gangs has heightened the public's sense of dark and powerful forces at work beneath the surface, usually in league with crooked police or government officials.
As readers of this blog know, Mexico has been fighting a drug war which has reached a crisis stage at this point.

Two other big stories in the Caribbean: A 3-story school building collapsed in Haiti last Friday, killing 92 people. The BBC has a Slideshow.
Hurricane Paloma, the fifth one this year, hit Cuba. Photos at Noticias24

Another big story that went underreported here in the US: the G-20 meeting in Sao Paolo, which will convene in Washington on Friday

In lighter news, narcissist-Lenninist Hugo Chavez claims that Obama's victory was gestated in South America. Meanwhile, Hugo took from the Canadians and gave to Russia (see below).

LATIN AMERICA
Iran’s Growing Penetration of the Americas, Courtesy of Latin American Leftist Leaders and Interests

Religion in Latin America
Hola Luther: A holiday that is a cultural milestone


New resource on Latin America: Centroamerica21

Don't miss also HACER's excellent roundup of Latin American news, in Spanish.

CARIBBEAN
Caribbean hotel bookings plunge as economy sags

ARGENTINA
A must-read, by Mary O'Grady: Hugo Chávez Spreads the Loot
The exposure of this thuggish behavior of the Venezuelan government is embarrassing enough. What is worse for Mr. Chávez is Mr. Antonini's testimony that he was told by a PdVSA executive that there was another $4.2 million on the same plane and that there had been other operations to smuggle cash into Argentina for political purposes. Kauffman further testified that the Venezuelan ambassador to Bolivia had told him he had "$100 million to spend on Bolivia." Kauffman said he had been negotiating the sale of $12 million of antiriot equipment to Bolivia, to be paid for by Venezuela.
CK viaja a EE.UU para participar en la cumbre del G20 Cristina Kirchner travels to the US for the G-20, but will also make stops in Argelia, Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.

BOLIVIA
Non grata: A tit-for-tat tiff

Evo Morales demands a model against capitalism in Latin America

BRAZIL
Brazil's Lula calls for shake-up of global finance, which the WaPo phrased a little more delicately: Brazil's Lula Urges 'Global Solutions'
G-20 Session Stresses Developing Nations' Role in Solving Crisis


The credit crunch reaches Brazil, Inc. A big bank merger points to a tougher outlook for the private sector, but at least this time the public finances are not the problem

CHILE
Amnesty Int’l leader criticizes Chile

COLOMBIA
The Paradox of Colombia

CUBA
Via Drudge, HURRICANE PALOMA BECOMES 'EXTREMELY DANGEROUS' CATEGORY 4 STORM

Osvaldo Ricardo Díaz Sánchez, Cuban Political Prisoner of the Week, 11/9/08

ECUADOR
Correa's Ecuador Bars Accountability, Transparency and Demands Dishonest Cartels

FALKLANDS ISLANDS
New Falklands constitution agreed
A new constitution for the Falklands has been agreed which the UK government says will "enhance local democracy" for the south Atlantic islands' residents.


GUATEMALA
PNC liga a narcos con muerte de 15

HAITI
Death toll climbs to 82 in Haitian school collapse

MEXICO
Video of the airplane crash site here Data found from Mexico crash jet
The ministry plane - a Learjet - came down during rush-hour in the financial district at about 1900 local time (0000 GMT), and burst into flames.
Zeta arsenal in Reynosa seized by Mexico

NICARAGUA
"Elecciones y perspectiva de la democracia"

From Centroamerica21, Elecciones en Nicaragua, on the municipal elections.

Nicaraguan pilots, soldiers to train in Russia

PUERTO RICO
My post on the election results: Fortuño’s fortune: A Republican’s resounding victory in Puerto Rico

EL SALVADOR
Keeping priests out of politics

THOMSON: A November surprise in El Salvador?

URUGUAY
Uruguayan microbrew

Uruguay’s Zonamerica, massive corporate park, growing despite economic crisis

VENEZUELA
Venezuela’s Houston consulate ordered closed

Venezuela to offer Russians Crystallex gold project
Venezuela said it will offer a joint venture to Russian-owned miner Rusoro (RML.V: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) to operate the Las Cristinas and Brisas gold projects, currently under contract to two Canadian companies, Mining minister Rodolfo Sanz on Thursday.

He told a Russian delegation that a memorandum of understanding would soon be signed with Rusoro.

It appeared that Sanz intends to replace the Canadian companies who operate the projects that contain some of Latin America's largest gold deposits, with Rusoro, but he did not mention their names.
Obama owes to Chavez?

Russian the Ruffian tops himself in sucking up to Hugo Chavez

AMERICAN POLITICS
Via IBD Blog, How Obama should handle Colombia

Via Instapundit, A Chavista at the EPA? Follow the links.

Obama se convierte en el 4to presidente negro de los Estados Unidos, translated by Miguel here

More on Cuban-American Voting Patterns

Venezuela News and Views writes to president elect Barack Obama

To Mr. Obama: Great opportunities await in Latin America

This week’s posts and podcasts
Mark Groubert saw Che so you won’t have to
Pray for Cuba
Iran’s Latin America push
World newspapers’ reaction to the Obama victory

TODAY AT 10AM EASTERN:
Today's podcast at 10AM Eastern will be on last week's top stories in Latin America. Chat's open at 9:45AM and the call in number is 646 652-2639. Join me!

You can listen to the podcast here

Listen to Faustas blog on internet talk radio

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Monday, November 03, 2008

The day-before-the-presidential-election Carnival of Latin America and the Caribbean

Crossposted

Welcome to the Carnival of Latin America and the Caribbean. If you would like your posts included in next week's Carnival please email me: faustaw2 "at" gmail "dot" com.

This week's big story: The US presidential election. If McCain wins, it'll be interesting if the Latin American media will acknowledge McCain's existence.

LATIN AMERICA
Latin America, Emerging Market Funds Suffer Brunt Of Global Financial Crisis

XVIII Cumbre Iberoamericana: Alan Garcia pone a Evo Morales en su lugar - Noticias24.com

Forecast for Latin America: Cold (War) Winds from Russia

ARGENTINA
Argentina: Ya no hay "doble comando": todo lo decide Nestor Kirchner

La “cultura” kirchnerista cuesta cara

Argentina’s new money grab, and it’s not the pensions.

Argentina Impoverishes Itself Again: What happens when government meddles with private wealth.

BOLIVIA
Bolivia halts US anti-drugs work

Hugo sent Evo 16 SUVs for his personal security: Venezuela le regala a Evo Morales 16 camionetas “último modelo” para su seguridad

BRAZIL
Los planes de Lula para crear una nueva OEA sin EE.UU. pero con Cuba

Brazil's Petrobras to search for oil offshore Cuba

CHILE
The writing on the wall
And it points to the right


Chile's right-wing gains electoral ground

COLOMBIA
Upping the body count
Not that hard, when any body will do


Via IBD Blog, Bush finally sends aid to Colombia

“Una llamada de la CIA anunció el ataque al campamento de Reyes”

CUBA
Claro Fernando Alonso Hernández, Cuban Political Prisoner of the Week, 11/2/08

Cuban Digest: All Embargo All the Time

Cuban political prisoners were sent to Venezuela through secret deal
Under a secret deal, thousands of Cuban political prisoners and dissidents were expatriated to Venezuela in the 1970s, according to some who were involved.


ECUADOR
Ecuador terminates contract with Spanish oil company Repsol

Petroecuador OKs Transfer Of Rights From Petrobras To Teikoku

HONDURAS
Zelaya plays the Chávez card
Why Honduras wanted 4m light bulbs


JAMAICA
Jamaica may suffer ... If US lifts Cuban embargo

MEXICO
The drug war rages on:
Spot the drug trafficker
The arrest of senior officials shows the government’s resolve in fighting drug traffickers—and that the rot in law enforcement reaches the top


Policemen gunned down in Mexico

Fairness for emerging markets, an essay calling for yet more handouts, by the executive head of the U.N. Development Program.

NICARAGUA
Political Unity and Violence Precede Nicaraguan Municipals

Nicaragua Wants New Russian Toys, Risks Breaching Compact With U.S. Taxpayers

PUERTO RICO
Exclusive Public Opinion Survey

VENEZUELA
Chavez’s New Election Strategy: Threaten Opponents with Jail

You better believe the threat to jail or ban Manuel Rosales in the next few days

In praise of Punto Fijo and why is Chavez is so afraid of a Punto Fijo "bis"

UNA CARTA DE UN TRAEDOR CARABOBEÑO PARA EL TRAIDOR CHÁVEZ.

Chavez: Biz related to scandal may be expropriated

What’s up with Venezuela’s diamonds?

Army Intelligence Officials Are Among 6 Held in Student’s Death

ONU: Cargamentos de droga proceden más de Venezuela que de Colombia: The UN says that more drug shipments come from Venezuela than from Colombia.

OTHER TOPICS
Spanish Verb Conjugation

Improving Verbal English Speech Patterns

US POLITICS
Chavez anuncia que esta dispuesto a reunirse con Obama

Obama and FARC

Notes on Obama's Coming Caracas on the Potomac

Evita Peron Obama

Special thanks to Alek, Eneas, Larwyn, Maggie, and Maria.

THIS WEEK'S PODCASTS AND POSTS
Cubans, and Obama: Not your “typical Hispanic Democrat vote”

I was on Radio Caracol last night

Meanwhile, over in Ecuador...



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