The low-oil-price 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.

This week's big story: Oil prices.
As of the writing of this post, oil is trading at $43.45. This signals a huge change in Latin American politics. Miguel makes a prediction on the internal effect in Venezuela in his post As oil cycle overshoots on the downside the worst effects of The Devil's Excrement will be in play, (via A Colombo-Americana)

LATIN AMERICA
Special Report: West Africa welcomes Latin America's drug barons

Canadian envoy does not foresee G-20 replacing G-8 as major forum

CARIBBEAN
A sea change in the Caribbean

ARGENTINA
Going pinker on the Plata: A new destination for gay tourists

In photos: Buenos Aires architectural details

BOLIVIA
Aumenta la pobreza con Evo Morales de presidente

BRAZIL
Fall of an opportunist: Justice for a controversial financier

Brazil's Decision on Deforestation Draws Praise

COLOMBIA
The Ingrid show

Love in the time of Cartagena

Via IBD Blog, FARC kill 8 Colombian police

CUBA
Saving the Revolution

Cuban political prisoner named RSF's Journalist of the Year

Castro Brothers Want to Meet Obama

Fine sand

From beyond the grave: Fidel offers to meet with Obama

We talk, you just listen and send money

Cuba tightens restrictions on bloggers

Cuba da su aprobación al Che de Soderbergh via Spanish Pundit

ECUADOR
Ecuador’s Novel Carbon Storage Method

Mean and Petty Ecuadoreans Swear Allegiance to Cartels and Denounce Each Other

Ecuador to Boost Trade in Iran

Iran to impart high technology to Ecuador And what kind of technology would that be? “space science and satellite technology.”

HAITI
Rape looms large over Haiti slums

MEXICO
Responding to Mexican Drug-Related Terrorism

Morgue is only safe place in Mexico

AP Feels Sorry for Mexico Over Drop in 'Money Sent Home' By Returning Illegals

Japan, Mexico agree on efforts to resist protectionism, climate change

NICARAGUA
Nicaragua and the MCC

PANAMA
First Russian warship uses Panama Canal since 1944

PERU
To the barricades: The politics of non-stop protest

PUERTO RICO
Illegal immigration from the Dominica Republic: 2 survivors bring relief to family, but 49 missing

Oscar De La Hoya leaves hospital, heads home to Puerto Rico. I don't know much about boxing, but it looks like De La Hoya should retire.

VENEZUELA
With revolutionary students like these who needs conservative old farts?

As Chavez attacks, the whole Venezuelan Government becomes offensive against its enemies

‘Boligarchs’ rise to top in socialist Venezuela

A Nuclear Venezuela

Chávez government handed out millions in exchange for votes

Opposition damns Chavez vote bid

Body of Cubs catcher Blanco found in Venezuela

US POLITICS
The Obama Administration and U.S.-Cuba Policy

NY City’s useful idiots

Pro-Amnesty Activist Joins Obama White House Staff

US Trade Representative nominee in cocaine pardon scandal

Special thanks to Ada, the Baron, Eneas, Larwyn, Maggie, Maria and SamK.

THIS WEEK’S POSTS AND PODCASTS
Yoani’s troubles: 15 Minutes on Latin America
Russian warship to cross Panama Canal
Hugo busts the opposition: 15 Minutes on Latin America
Rape in Haiti: 15 Minutes on Latin America
China sneezes; will Latin America catch a cold?





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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.



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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The plundered pensions 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 the next Carnival please email me: faustaw2 "at" gmail "dot" com.

The week's big story: As the country is about to default again on its debt, Argentina’s leftist President Cristina Kirchner signed a proposal nationalizing the country’s private pension funds in what could be seen as a grab for cash and power amid the global economic crisis. Read more about it in the section for Argentina below.

LATIN AMERICA
The Hezbollah-Latin American Ties Become More Evident, also at Counterterrorism blog

ARGENTINA
Argentina Allows Pension Funds to Resume Trading

Juan Forero summarizes the suitcase trial in Miami, which is now gone to the jury: Court Case in Miami Casts Light on Corruption in Venezuela

If it feels good, do it!

Cristina's looking-glass world: A plan to nationalise private-pension funds looks like a cunning but short-sighted government effort to stave off another debt default

Asco de gente

BOLIVIA
While the US cuts off trade benefits with Bolivia because of cocaine, Evo Morales goes for nose surgery:
U.S. Cuts Off Trade Benefits to Bolivia Over Drugs

Via Lucianne, Bolivia's president to undergo nasal surgery

BRAZIL
Licensed to scribble: An end to journalism’s closed shop?

Brazilians vote in key city polls

CHILE
Consumer groups call on FDA to test Chilean salmon

COLOMBIA
Suspected Hezbollah Operatives Nabbed in South America, Congress Should Approve FTA

Huge cocaine bust in Colombia

Colombian army frees Farc hostage but he says he escaped with his guard: Farc hostage escapes with guard

Via IBD Blog, For every hectare of coca planted, 3 to 4 hectares of forest are actually cut down: POINT OF VIEW/ Francisco Santos Calderon: Colombia battling cocaine, preserving nature

Colombia's indigenous protest against Uribe

Small explosions wound 18 in Colombian capital

CUBA
Surprise! Cuban DGI helped Ayers and the Weather Underground

Hirám González Torna, Cuban Political Prisoner of the Week, 10/26/08

ECUADOR
Vicious attack turns couple’s dream trip to nightmare: Oregon man critical but stable after being stabbed on Ecuadorian beach

Iran's Financial Scams: Ecuadorean Fiscal Astroturffing for Criminals

HAITI
Read about Fusion Technology's dealings in Haiti: Democrats for Despotism Party figures had a profitable relationship with Haiti's dictator. Video at the article.

JAMAICA
Illegal immigration, and Jamaican ganja for Haitian guns: Haiti and Jamaica's deadly trade

MEXICO
Declining conspicuous consumption for drug thugs

Mexican Senate Passes Energy Reform

PERU
Return of Peru's Shining Path as terror movement kills 19 soldiers

Jaime Bayly, in Spanish, talking about South Park’s Andean bands


PUERTO RICO
Via Jeremayakovka, The Republican Party of Pennsylvania and PA's Secretary of State are trading barbs over voter registration.

Nearly 1,000 pounds of coke seized in Puerto Rico

After the San Juan Star's closing, the government will be subsidizing a new English-language daily: English-language daily to debut in Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - A group of journalists in Puerto Rico said Tuesday they are ready to launch the island's first cooperative-style newspaper this week with a $1 million boost from the government.

The new English-language tabloid would replace the Pulitzer Prize-winning San Juan Star, a nearly 50-year-old daily that closed two months ago amid declining revenues and disputes between the publisher and union over layoffs and benefit cuts.

Roughly 15,000 copies of the Puerto Rico Daily Sun will be printed on Wednesday and about 2,000 subscribers have already signed up, editor Rafael Matos told a news conference in the U.S. island's capital, San Juan.

The Puerto Rican Department of Labor and Human Resources will contribute $1 million to help cover salaries and benefits. Half that amount will be available under a local law that provides incentives to companies that create new jobs, Secretary Roman Velasco said.

Matos said the paper's objectivity would not be compromised by the government help.
"We are subject to the strictest of journalistic canons," Matos said. "This is not an investment from the government - it is a contribution."

Matos said 90 former Star employees agreed to buy a minimum of $200 in shares of the United Press Cooperative to help start the paper/

VENEZUELA
Via Grouchy Old Cripple, Chavez raises whisky prices


Via Venezuela News and Views, Sacrificios bolivarianos

U.S. Treasury Designation Targets Iran's WMD Financing, Alliance With Venezuela

News from Europe: thumbs down on Chavez

Chavez' folly: He owns and controls everything, but they don't work. It can only get worse

A letter to Sean Penn

AMERICAN POLITICS
"I was born in Colombia, but I was made in the USA"

The more things change: The neighbours’ tepid enthusiasm for Barack Obama

The Conservative Rebellion

Would There Be Change in Obama's Americas Policy?

More news on Latin America at Wall Street Journal en español and HACER

THIS WEEK’S POSTS AND PODCASTS
Chavez wants to jail rival Rosales
A suitcase full of money from Hugo to Cristina
OPEC cuts production, prices fall, Hugo sweats some more
Colombia smashes drug ring with Hezbollah ties
Argentina: Let’s plunder the pensions!
Sean Penn goes to Caracas



Special thanks to Eneas, Larwyn, Maggie and Maria.


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The “Cuban oil” 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 the next carnival please email me: faustaw2 "at" gmail "dot" com.

This week's two big stories: Cuba and oil, and Obama on Colombia.
Cuba claims massive oil reserves.

The BBC ran the story last Friday, and the numbers come from - where else - the Cuban government, which claims more than double the previous estimate of oil reserves:

The US Geological Survey (USGS) recently estimated that as much as 9bn barrels of oil and 21 trillion cubic feet of natural gas could lie within that zone, in the North Cuba Basin.

However, Cubapetroleo exploration manager Rafael Tenreyro Perez said his company's estimate was higher because it had better information about Cuba's offshore geology.

"I'm almost certain that if [USGS officials] ask for all the data we have, their estimate is going to grow considerably," he told a news conference in the capital, Havana.

If correct, Cuba's oil reserves would be almost the same as those of the US - 21bn barrels, according to the Oil & Gas Journal - and nearly twice the size of Mexico's - 11.7bn barrels.

I asked oil industry expert and former PDVSA board member Gustavo Coronel his opinion on these figures and he replied,

No country can claim oil reserves unless some basic requirements can be met:
sufficient geophysical exploration,
successful exploration,
drilling,
sufficient number of confirmatory wells,
clear definition of the dimensions of the reservoir,
certainty that the production of the oil can be economically done.

All of this and more is necessary before a country can claim to have X barrels of oil reserves.

Cuba, so far, has done NO one of these things. In fact, one of the very few companies looking for oil in this area of Cuban territorial waters, SHERRITT, a Canadian company (I think) just CALLED IT QUITS, gave up its rights to continue exploration. Why would a company do this
if there were the enormous oil "reserves" claimed by Cuba?

Sherritt indeed has canceled its agreement for operations in Cuban waters, saying the ventures were not viable:

Sherritt's evaluation was that exploration activity was not worth continuing, an option available within its contract, said Cupet Exploration Director Rafael Tenreyro. "They have their reasons for not continuing," he said.

That's the same Rafael Tenreyro Perez who claims that Cuba has twice as much oil as anyone else's estimate. Earlier this year Sherritt had relenquished its deepwater blocks off Cuba because it could not attract a partner to share the development costs and risks.

So much for the facts on the Cuban claims. But don't be surprised if you hear about it in the media. After all, they keep praising Cuba's healthcare even when Fidel himself had to import a gastroenterologist/oncologist to save himself.

Oil? More like snake oil.

Obama Is Wrong About Colombia: Labor unions are much safer under Uribe.

It is far safer to be a union member today in Colombia than to be a member of the general population. This is a fact, and it would be interesting to know why Mr. Obama has repeatedly refused to acknowledge it.

Is it because of his heavy reliance on campaign contributions from the antitrade AFL-CIO? Or perhaps, like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Mr. Obama has an ideological bias in favor of Colombia's hard left. If it's the latter, then it is worth asking whether an Obama presidency would change U.S. foreign policy to look more favorably on insurgents of the FARC variety.

Here's Mary Anastasia O'Grady:



CARIBBEAN
Trade winds: Finally, a deal with Europe

LATIN AMERICA
Bad Bets: Currency worries in Brazil and Mexico

Rediscovering Latin America

ARGENTINA
Argentina faces court battle over airline

Live search maps for Argentina

BOLIVIA
Letter of the Civil Society of Cochabamba to the International Community - Comite Civico de Cochabamba

BRAZIL
Brazil's Future Going the Way of Oil

Police battle police in Sao Paulo. video

COLOMBIA
The FARC’s shrinking world

CUBA
Defector Recounts Escape: Alcantara One of Two Players to Leave Team During U.S.

Via Babalu, The Ghosts of Communism

The sounds of tyranny



ECUADOR
Ecuador’s New Constitution First to Guarantee Rights to Nature

Correa warns against “illegitimate” debt

Ecuador is not a democracy

Cardenal ecuatoriano ataca al gobierno frente al Papa

Ecuador vs. Democracy

MEXICO
Cae una importante red de narcos colombianos en México

Via LGF linkviewer, State Department warns against travel to Mexico: Deadliest drug zone invites Americans to tour 'land of encounters'

Mexico to deport Cuban migrants

NICARAGUA
Periodistas de Nicaragua cargan contra Daniel Ortega por “dictador”

PERU
Return of Peru's Shining Path as terror movement kills 19 soldiers

Peru’s unloved president: Pursued by the ghosts of the past

PUERTO RICO
A minor earthquake hit Puerto Rico on Saturday, Magnitude 3.0 - PUERTO RICO REGION causing no damage.

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
Enill: T&T has 64 years worth of oil and gas reserves

VENEZUELA
Just as the country is hit by a huge electrical blackout (the third one this year), Sean Penn is back in Venezuela for an unannounced visit: Sean Penn llega a Venezuela y se reúne con Hugo Chávez (+ Fotos) If you’re fluent in Spanish, you’ll love the comments (most not suitable for work!) .

Those exquisite little moments that bring you a big smile on your face

Oil-Fueled Nation Feels Pinch
As the Price of Crude Plunges, Venezuela Is Poised to Face a Lot of Pain

Venezuelans have no Electricity nor Water this October 19, 2008

Feeling the pinch: Chavez Says Oil Between $80 and $90 Is `Sufficient'

What will Chávez do without Castro?

Vivanco speaks out

Terrorist worship in Venezuela

Hugo Chavez Celebrates End of Free Markets, Demands Recipe for Chicken-Fried Bacon

NPR Touts Hugo Chavez, End to 'Free Market Fundamentalism'

Venezuela's government looking to establish new 6-hour workday

VIRGIN ISLANDS
Hurricane fears ease in Caribbean

AMERICAN POLITICS
Palin Thwarts The Gas Cartel

Stances on trade are worlds apart

On trade agreements, Obama's playing with fire

Special thanks to Eneas, GoV, Maggie, and Maria.



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The second Monday in October Carnival of Latin America and the Caribbean

Crossposted

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

This week's top story:
Two seeminly unrelated Venezuelan news stories,
First, Student opposition leader gunned down in Venezuela

Venezuelan authorities are investigating the fatal shooting of a student leader who helped organize protests against constitutional amendments proposed by President Hugo Chavez.

Julio Soto, a student leader at the University of Zulia, was killed Wednesday by unidentified gunmen in the western city of Maracaibo.

Local Police Chief Jose Gonzalez said he believes Soto was specifically targeted because the assailants sprayed his vehicle with gunfire and then fled without taking anything.

But Justice Minister Tarek El Aissami said federal authorities have not yet determined if the killing was a politically motivated hit.

Soto was a member of the Copei opposition party. Voters rejected Chavez's proposed reforms in December.

Hugo Chávez has ordered authorities to quickly solve the murder

Education Minister Hector Navarro told Venezuela's state news agency on Thursday that Chávez wants police to catch those who killed Julio Soto ``as soon as possible.''

In the second item, former Defense Minister Gen. Raúl Baduel, who was instrumental in defeating Chávez constitutional reforms last December, was detained by the authorities on Friday and is now barred from leaving the country:

Rafael Tosta, a lawyer for Mr. Baduel, who was released Friday night, said his client was also required to appear before a military tribunal every 15 days and was prohibited from publicly commenting on the accusations, which revolve around $14.5 million in missing funds.

Mr. Baduel, who helped reinstall Mr. Chávez after a brief coup in 2002, has gone from being a hero of the president’s socialist-inspired revolution to one of its outcasts. Mr. Baduel emerged as one of Mr. Chávez most vocal opponents since resigning as defense minister last year.

Here's the video of his arrest:



Baduel has been charged with robbery:

Military Attorney, Gen. Ernesto Cedeno, said the former minister has been charged with alleged robbery of National Armed Forces funds and properties during his term of over four years at the helm of the military institution.

In a press conference, Cedeno said the decision was taken in the wake of an investigation stemming from an accusation rather than from political reprisal, as stated by Baduel, who assumed opposition stances after his retirement.

"According to the investigation, there are over $31 billion bolivars missing (about $14.50 million), and out of a sense of justice and honor, he oughts to clear up the situation during his term as Defense minister," stressed Cedeno.

Baduel was recently shot at while driving his car but managed to get away.

Does this signal a new crackdown on the Venezuelan opposition? Stratfor sees it at attempts to destabilize the opposition:

A few months ago, the loosely organized and previously unpopular opposition parties began making major gains in public opinion as Venezuela’s economy began souring and Chavez’s socialist policies came under fire. With this in mind, Chavez has gone so far as to have the courts ban 272 opposition politicians from running for office, charging them with corruption.

Chavez has also moved to strengthen the central government ahead of the elections, including implementing a series of reforms rejected in the 2006 constitution vote. Most recently, Chavez — with the help of the National Assembly — enacted the Organic Law for the Organization and Management of the Territory, which gives the central government control over local and state-level governments. In doing so, Chavez effectively negates any gains the opposition leaders might achieve if they are able to score seats in the upcoming election.

LATIN AMERICA
Why Did the Chicken Cross Party Lines?

Latin American Economies: Keeping their fingers crossed

Cómo validar nuestra educación en Los Estados Unidos

Hard economic times may just be starting

World War III knocking at our door

ARGENTINA
Las maletas contenian 6 millones de dolares

BOLIVIA
Young Bolivians fight for their regions

The oppositions criticisms of Bolivia's draft CPE

COLOMBIA
Colombia, U.S. Ally, May Conclude Defense Agreement With Russia

CUBA
Proposed Russian-Cuba-Venezuela Space Cooperation Raises Many Questions

A billboard for shelter

Cuba, FARC may be training guerrillas at Venezuelan camp
Cuban advisors and Colombian rebels are helping train paramilitary fighters, critics and former participants say

Going to hell on a financial handbasketcase: Fidel asesora creación de un nuevo sistema financiero, liderado por Venezuela e Irán Fidel's an advisor on a new financial system led by Venezuela and Iran (whom, by the way, years ago joined forces to undermine the US dollar)

ECUADOR
Nature as a Privileged Minority

US Problems Spread to Ecuador's Dollar Economy

Ecuador’s new constitution: In good faith

USA Backs Russo-Iranian-Soros Cartels running Venezuela and Ecuador; Abandons Honorable Uribe: Throwing Colombia to the Wolves of Deceit

HONDURAS
Protestan contra Ortega a su llegada a Honduras y él se escondió

MEXICO
North America Must Integrate for Trade, Calderon Says

9 bodies found dumped in Mexico

NICARAGUA
Just to make you chuckle a little bit about Nicaragua

Ortega targeting his ex-comrades
With a weakened right-of-center opposition, Nicaragua's president cracked down on former comrades on the left.

PUERTO RICO
Pork and rum? Rum Tax Break Report False, Says Distilled Spirits Council of the United States

There is confusion over a provision in the current financial rescue package which benefits the rum-producing territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. This is not a tax break for rum makers as has been reported in the press and claimed on Capitol Hill.

It is fundamentally a revenue sharing arrangement between the U.S. government and the governments of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, which Congress has voted to extend repeatedly over the last 20 years. Under this provision, the federal government rebates to the governments of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands most of the Federal Excise Tax collected on rum imported to the United States.

VENEZUELA
Democrats Shouldn't Coddle Chávez
The prospect of a nuclear Venezuela should be enough to unite allegiances in Washington.

Liberal fascism in Venezuela

Caracas, murder capital of the world

Student opposition leader gunned down in Venezuela

Via IBD blog, Venezuelan town ruled by Colombian guerrillas

Venezuela, France mull nuclear energy deal As IBD blog commented,

Well, why not? /s The U.S. is sending loud signals it doesn't care about Russian nuclear proliferation in the Caribbean, so the French are taking the cue that this is a 'for sale' sign. Or maybe something more negative is going on. France also says it wants Hugo Chavez, that glorious mediator to FARC (who was found to have used FARC contacts not to mediate but funnel cash and arms to the terrorists) now will mediate between the West and Iran. Wonder what he will funnel now? This is insane. Do the French never learn?

The South American nuclear genie

Venezolano con carné: the latest on the "valija gate"

How quickly does Hugo Chavez forget his fake beliefs in democracy or Venezuela, a democracy no more!

AMERICAN POLITICS
Via LGF Linkviewer, William Ayers and Hugo Chavez

Campaigns woo new Hispanic citizens as key bloc

Special thanks to Eneas, GoV, Maggie, Maria and Siggy


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The nuclear Venezuela 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.

The big news this week:
Alvaro Uribe visited the US and spoke at the UN. The American media paid no attention to the US's greatest ally in the hemisphere.

A new oil field recently found in Colombia is larger than expected.

Chavez is back from his tour of China, Portugal and Russia promising he will develop nuclear power "for peaceful purposes" with Russia's help

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin had offered help with a reactor, adding that "we already have a commission working on this issue."

From China, Chavez got agreements on oil, producing oil tankers and a refinery, and launching a Venezuelan telecommunications satellite from China.

A more important result from the trip is that $1 billion military loan and a new oil consortium from Russia. Putin doesn't send you $1billion without expecting really big results: Russia is bankrolling an arms race right in our hemisphere, folks.

In other news, Ecuador's new constitution was approved by a margin of 65%. I predicted yesterday that it would pass by 60%, only because Soviet-style 99%+ margins have gone out of fashion. This is probably the first Constitution in the world which grants inalienable rights to nature

Ecuador’s proposed constitution includes an article that grants nature the right to “exist, persist, maintain and regenerate its vital cycles, structure, functions and its processes in evolution” and will grant legal standing to any person to defend those rights in court.

Conveniently so, considering how it'll be yet another weapon against foreign corporations and political enemies.

And now for the Carnival
LATIN AMERICA
Today's Brazil, Peru, Argentina: Latin America Bond, Currency Preview at Bloomberg.

ARGENTINA
Better late than never: Ms Fernández tries to charm the markets by revisiting the 2005 debt swap

BOLIVIA
The Last Days of a Nazi-Era Photographer

Via IBD Blog, U.S. moves to suspend trade benefits for Bolivia

Bolivia es un paraiso de narcotraficantes

Evo Morales Supports Terrorist Groups

US-Bolivia economic relations hit the skids

BRAZIL
Brazil Booms by Going Lula's Way

Brazil unveils deforestation plan: The Brazilian government has pledged to end net deforestation by 2015.

Brazilian speeder gets $1.9m fine

Real-politik: Why elections, even to lowly office, are so expensive

Lula’s oil dream

CHILE
A force for good, now: A newly streamlined army polishes its democratic credentials

What We Can Learn From Chile's Financial Crisis. I'll add the video as soon as the code is available.

COLOMBIA
80%'er Meets 80%'er at UN Photos: Sarah Palin meets with Uribe

Solana Says Oil Field in Colombia May Be Larger Than Estimated

New NEFA Report on the FARC's International Support Network

CUBA
Proposed Russian-Cuba-Venezuela Space Cooperation Raises Many Questions

Cuba silent on latest U.S. aid offer
The United States made another offer of aid to Cuba, this time in the form of $6.3 million worth of construction materials. Cuba has yet to respond.

Via Lucianne, Castro’s arrogance blocks aid

Back to normal, also at Babalu

Cuba's ambitions for growth laid to waste yet again.

ECUADOR
Correa's Communism Set to Win on Sunday: Opposition Failed to Tell the Truth; Carter Center Lies about Ecuadorean Constitution

Ecuador Seems Likely to Clear Constitution

Ecuador: New laws, new conflicts

GUATEMALA
U.S. Coast Guard Sinks 60-Foot Cocaine "Submarine" off Guatemala-Mexico Coast

MEXICO
1,000 slain: Juárez drug war death continue to mount

Mexico on the brink?

NICARAGUA
Rewriting the book of Daniel

Nicaragua's stellar record of treatment of dissenting opinions

PARAGUAY
Critters!

PERU
Mitsui Mining to Restart Copper Production at Mine in Peru

VENEZUELA
Chavez says Venezuela will develop nuclear power

The Miami Venezuelan Maletagate trial part X: A Venezuelan court orders the assets of Maionica and Kauffmann seized

Some possible leftovers from the Vene-Russian love affair

Putin says ties with Latin America a top priority

Chavez: Latin States Should Partner With Russia Against U.S.

Venezuelan president arrives in China

Venezuela: Iran to finance 25 factories

Downright lunacy, via IBD Blog, US Department of Energy to deliver oil from strategic reserve to Citgo

La oposición venezolana acusa a la Policía de idear un falso complot para matar a Chávez

Russia, Venezuela to Form Oil Venture, Spend Billions

Newly installed in Caracas: a monument to the FARC’s founder, Manuel Marulanda, who died of a heart attack last March.


AMERICAN POLITICS
Republican quits in Hispanic row

Moscow on the main

Change for Change's Sake isn't Enough

This week’s podcasts and posts


Uribe, Brazil, and the UN: 15 Minutes on Latin America

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


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"The Russians are leaving" Carnival of Latin America and the Caribbean

Cross-posted

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

Two big stories this week:

1. Hugo Chavez expelled the American ambassador and the US expelled the Venezuelan ambassador, while Russian bombers are flying out of Caracas. Going unnoticed: the news that PDVSA is $12billion in the red since last year.

2. Eastern Bolivia is now under martial law as it lapses into what can become a full civil war. 38 people died following rioting in northern and eastern areas of Bolivia in reaction to Evo Morales plans to re-distribute the country’s wealth. Bolivian troops fired into crowds. Bolivia also expelled the American ambassador.

The embassies in all the countries involved remain open and functioning, as of the writing of this post.

In today’s podcast at 10AM Eastern Monica Showalter of IBD talks about these stories.

LATIN AMERICA

Latin America wants free trade

The perils of US protectionism:

ARGENTINA

Argentina’s other drug problem

El FMI dejaria de usar las mediciones del INDEC - Perfil.com

BOLIVIA

La rebelion por la libertad ha comenzado

Bolivia declares martial law in protest hit region

Bolivia rivals ‘reach agreement’

Bolivia’s government has said it has reached a basic agreement with the opposition on ending the violence which officials say has left 28 people dead.

Interior Minister Alfredo Rada said a further 10 bodies had been found in Pando province following the “massacre” of pro-government farmers on Thursday.

Pando Governor Leopoldo Fernandez has been accused of ordering the attack.

La Guerra intestina

Fresh violence in Bolivia stokes civil war fears

El responsable y los complices

Anti-Morales protests intensify in Bolivia

BOLIVIANOS - EN BOLIVIA - TORTURADOS POR VENEZOLANOS Y CUBANOS

Enraged Bolivians burn Venezuelan flags

Here’s video of the military firing into a crowd

BRAZIL

Half the nation, a hundred million citizens strong: What the middle class plans to do with its money - and its votes

CHILE

Chile Calls for Summit to Discuss Bolivian Crisis

CUBA

Cuba and Russia: Together again

Open A GiTMO Relief Center for Cuba, Haiti Hurricane Victims

Yordis García Fournier and Izael Poveda Silva, Cuban Political Prisoners of the Week, 9/14/08

It’s simply criminal

ECUADOR

Death Threats [Against] Archbishop and HLI Leader in Ecuador for Opposing “Abortionist” Constitution

Chevron Lawyers Indicted by Ecuador in Oil-Pit Cleanup Dispute

Willfully Ignorant, Chevron Committing Suicide the Ecuadorean Way: UNASUR will Complete their Demise

HAITI

What Haiti needs

HONDURAS

Expulsions stoke US-LatAm dispute

MEXICO

Key gulf cartel leader captured

Mexico’s failure to sort veggies may have led to outbreak

PERU

Connecting to the world: A president goes to market

VENEZUELA

An Empty Revolution

The Unfulfilled Promises of Hugo Chávez

Pdvsa to get USD 1.2 billion loan from a Japanese bank

Morales, Chávez resort to tired tactics

OUR OPINION: UNCLE SAM BECOMES SCAPEGOAT FOR INTERNAL PROBLEMS

Mary Anastasia O’Grady on the Russian bombers:

This week in weapons

Venezuela Plays The Russia Card

Russia says to send nuclear warship to Caribbean

Venezuela’s interior minister, whose ideological sympathy with Colombia’s FARC guerrillas raised serious concerns, is resigning.

Drug flights operate out of Venezuela, U.S. report says

Bush Tightens Squeeze on Chavez With Rebel Aid Charge

Venezuela’s traffic: Jam today

The Russians are here

AMERICAN POLITICS

McCain Attacks Obama Over Venezuela

There is no US sphere

Mexicans vs. Muslims in Greeley

Efecto-Palin

THIS WEEK’S PODCASTS AND POSTS

Venezuela: Russian bombers going bye-bye

Pdvsa to get $1.2 billion loan from a Japanese bank

The US replies to Chavez and expels the Venezuelan ambassador to the US; Honduras joins in the fray. Oil drops.

Mexican Makes NY Times Investment No American Will Do

Venezuela throws out American ambassador, recalls Venezuelan ambassador to the US

Bolivia: Evo Morales Says He’ll Expel U.S. Ambassador From Bolivia

Following up on the Russian/Venezuela military maneuvers in the Caribbean story: Cold War II in time for the election

More on Chavez’s naval excercises with Russia

Special thanks to Eneas, GoV, Kate, Pat, Larwyn and Maggie.

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The last Monday in August Carnival of Latin America and the Caribbean

Crossposted at Fausta's blog.com

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

TODAY'S PODCAST AT 11AM Eastern
How the Latin American media glamorizes Obama and ignores McCain.



ARGENTINA
Clouds gather again over the Pampas
After six years of rapid growth, Argentina’s economy is at a familiar turning-point, in which the president’s refusal to change course threatens to make it poorer

USA'08: Madonna, metete la lengua entre las piernas y cerralas

BOLIVIA
Bolivia set for anti-Morales strikes

Bolivia in turmoil over socialist leaders’ attempt to grab wealth

Evo Morales: “Fidel nos dijo: hagan lo que esta haciendo Chavez” - Radio Fides

Libia invertira $us 80.000 millones en Latinoamerica, incluida Bolivia

BRAZIL
Lobao Says Brazil Plans to Uphold Oil Contracts, O Globo Says

Not as violent as you thought: Contrary to stereotype, the murder rate is falling

COLOMBIA
FARC rejected by many of its members

COSTA RICA
Chere Tomayko: Another Battered American Woman Granted Asylum, This Time in Costa Rica, Because the U.S. Will Not Protect Her or Her Children

CUBA
Cuban student leader arrested

ECUADOR
Ecuador says to meet Chevron over $16 bln lawsuit

'Immune' to cancer: The astonishing dwarf community in Ecuador who could hold the key to a cure

MEXICO
U.S./Mexico Border Violence, Continues … and why it will not cease

Red Cross gets radio threats in Mexico border city

The Failure of the Social Contract

NICARAGUA
Ortega offers asylum to narco-traffickers

PANAMA
Panama creates controversial intelligence force

PARAGUAY
Paraguay leader replaces military

PERU
Fighting for Freedom in Rural Peru: "ALBA Houses" Threaten Democracy

Peru's army on standby as jungle unrest grows

Peru throws out Amazon land laws

PERU SUSPENDS CIVIL LIBERTIES AS 65 INDIGENOUS TRIBES STRUGGLE FOR THEIR LAND

PUERTO RICO
Más acusaciones contra el Gobernador
Visite nuestro sitio especial: Caso de Acevedo Vilá.

Corpse kept upright for 3-day wake in Puerto Rico (Yup, we’ve got pics) Insólito velatorio: Joven muerto es velado de pie en Hato Rey, según lo pidió a sus familiares.

VENEZUELA
Via IBD Blog, Mario Vargas Llosa: "RESTRAINING THE MEDIA BRINGS ABOUT DICTATORSHIP"

Venezuela Cement Takeover Widens Government's Control (Update2)

Chronology of Venezuela 's nationalization of key industries

Venezuela's Weak Strongman: Chávez does not speak for the South American left.

Vampire bats blamed for Venezuela rabies outbreak

Think progress

Are we under a legal military regime in Venezuela?

Where is the revolutionary gold?

Possibly the dumbest sportscaster ever, via The Real Cuba:


AMERICAN POLITICS
Bill Ayers, Barack Obama and Che Guevara

Miami Ethnic Clash May Preview U.S. Where `Minorities' Dominate

Bill Ayers gets the Chavista seal of approval


ENTERTAINMENT
In Brooklyn, Every Palate Is an Island

Special thanks to Eneas, Maggie, Maria and Siggy.

LAST WEEK’S PODCASTS AND POSTS



4.6 tons of cocaine seized in the Caribbean - port of origin: Venezuela
Latin American news media cover the Presidential campaign, and McCain is invisible
Bill Ayers gets the Chavista seal of approval
Puerto Rico’s governor faces new federal charges



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"WWBCD?", Olympic version

Remeber that this is my back-up blog. Please go to Fausta's blog for regular posts
Blue Star Chronicles is keeping an Olympic eye on things, and sent this:
Pres. Bush declines to slap Misty May-Treanor's bikinied butt

Today, as the busy crowd over at our Olympics blog notes, after an hour's brisk bit of mountain-biking himself, Bush paid another visit to the American athletes, watching the women warm up for softball, regretting the disappearance of that sport from the next Olympics ("It's good for the world to have girls playing softball and these women are going to show young girls how to win") and trying his hand, so to speak, at volleyball.

Bush knuckled off a couple of lobs, but defending gold medalists Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh gave the chief executive some pointers. Then after a good play, in the tradition of female volleyballers, May-Treanor turned, bent over slightly and offered her bikinied rear-end for the 43rd president to slap.

"Mr. President," she said, "want to?"

Want to has nothing to do with it in public life.

As the son of a president, a husband of nearly 37 years, the father of two daughters, the subject of some attempted tabloid exposes and a seasoned political veteran, who is not a female athlete but knows that every camera for a half-mile is trained on him, Bush wisely chose instead to brush his hand across the small of May-Treanor's back. (See photo.)

Darn!

Reuters had to redo their captions.

Now ask yourselves, "What would Bill Clinton do?"

Fortunately for everybody, George W Bush is not Bill Clinton.

And Laura Bush is not Hillary.
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In the Olympic spirit, today's books and shoes:

First, the books:
The WSJ's Five Best Books on the Olympics, selected by ESPN's Jeremy Schaap:

And now the shoes,
Puma Espera, in silver/white/blue.

My experience with the Puma brand is that they run slightly small, so order a 1/2 size larger.

Crossposted