Castro Too Sick to Attend Birthday Party

Cubans fear that Castro might be close to end of his life, causing uncertainty in the nation.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/11/28/castro.ap/index.html

The Race for Numero Uno in Latin Wireless

As cell phones are becoming so widely popular and accessible across Latin America and the world, the prices are dropping for the consumers as the two major companies duke it out for the top spot. America Movil (AMX), is controlled by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, and Telefonica (TEF) is a company from Spain. Both have spent billions to snap up competitors and expand their networks for hemisphere-wide coverage. So far, America Movil has the upper hand, with 113.9 million wireless clients to Telefonica's 78.8 million. Read more about this rivalry here.

"Radio Is Blamed For Unrest In Ecuador"

After our discussion in a previous class on the importance of art and the media in political change, I found this article on a small FM radio station in Ecuador very interesting.

Presidential Election in Ecuador

In the ongoing presidential election in Ecuador, a leftist nationalist and friend of Hugo Chavez stands to take the country's highest office. Rafael Correa has threatened to reduce payments on Ecuador's foreign debt and in an unofficial poll has gained 56.9% of the national vote. For more go to: http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/11/26/ecuador.elex.ap/index.html

Bolivian Justice System Returns to Old Ways

Recently, Evo Morales has been promoting the community based justice system of the native population in Bolivia, which sanctions whipping for offenses. It is returning to popularity due to past sentiments of unjust use of the adopted European system from the rich, and the ineffectiveness of the current system. Three main traditional rules among the communities are "Amu Sua - Don't Steal; Amu Llulla - Don't Lie, and Ama Quella - Don't Be Lazy." For more http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/crossing_continents/6173268.stm.

"Anti-Chavez protesters march en masse in Caracas"

"Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans showed their support on Saturday for the opposition's leading presidential challenger, Manuel Rosales, jamming a main highway in the capital and vowing to vote President Hugo Chavez out of office on December 3."

More here:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/11/25/chavez.protest.ap/index.html

"Dirty War" in Mexico

I just saw this article about a report that Vicente Fox's governemnt just put out about a dirty war in that took place in Mexico during three president's administartions for more than ten years. The report details how government policy encouraged numerous murders and "disappearances" of suspected rebels and sypathizers as well as student protestors. I never knew that something like this hasppened in recent history in Mexico. Check out the whole story here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/23/world/americas/23mexico.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Dance and Music of Latin America

After our discussion in class on the important of dance in Latin America as both popular culture and national identity, I thought that this Wikipedia article on the subject seemed relevant.

How Hispanics Celebrate Thanksgiving!

Here is a link to an article describing how Hispanic Americans celebrate Thanksgiving. It is interesting because, for the most part, immigrants as a whole do not celebrate Thanksgiving, maybe because they do not quite understand what the holiday is about and partly because they are still holding onto their own individual customs from the homeland.
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art37460.asp

Abortion Completely Banned in Nicaragua

The current president of Nicaragua has signed a law closing up any remaining exceptions to its existing abortion laws including cases of rape and when the woman's life is in danger. President-elect Ortega also supports this new ban though he supported abortion rights in the past. Check out the whole story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061118/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/nicaragua_abortions

"Sergio weakens to tropical storm"

"Hurricane Sergio weakened to a tropical storm Friday, soaking areas of Mexico's Pacific coast with rain."

More at http://www.cnn.com/2006/WEATHER/11/17/sergio.ap/index.html

Brazilian & American Plane Crash

WOW! This is really strange....On Sept 29th, an American Corporate plane and Brazilian airliner mysteriously crashed into each other over the rainforest. Radio calls from both planes went unanswered and neither collision alert went off. Neither of these problems has been explained. For more information visit http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/17/world/americas/17briefs-brazilcrash.html?_r=1&ref=americas&oref=slogin

Losing Its Young to an American Dream

I found this article on illegal immigrants from Brazil interesting; I always thought of Brazil as a more affluent and independent nation, but according to the article, "U.S. immigration officials believe Brazilians were the fastest-growing group of illegal immigrants crossing the Mexican border between 2000 and 2005. Last year, only Mexicans and Hondurans are believed to have crossed in greater numbers."

Colombian Refugees in Ecuador

I recomend this article because it discusses life in Ecuador, and problems that exist for Colombian refugees. It is estimated that 400,000 people have left Colombia to escape the violence, and currently live in Ecuador. It also highlights the racism that is developing against Colombians in Ecuador because of the mass immigration that is occurring.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6132216.stm

Latin American Network Information Center

Looking for information on Latin America? The Latin American Network Information Center (LANIC) of UT Austin is a great resource for finding any kind of information on Latin America available on the Internet. Anything you need can be found here... however, spanish may come in handy for some of the pages LANIC links to. Go to: http://www1.lanic.utexas.edu/

Argentina Issues Warrant for Former Iranian Leader

This article got my attention because I didn't realize that Latin AMerica had problems with terrorists from the Middle East. A judge in Argentina has issued an international arrest warrant for former Iranian leader Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. The warrant was issued blaming him for the bombing of a Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires in 1994. it is widely thought that Iran-sponsored Hezbollah was behind the attacks and that Rafsanjani, the Iranian leader of the time, had some role in the attack.
More here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/10/world/americas/10argentina.html?ref=americas

Capoeira

Capoeira is a martial art form brought to Brazil by slaves from Angola. The ritual is often performed with a special type of music, and high kicking movements of the leg. To see pictures, listen to the music, or learn more, go to http://www.capoeira-angola.org/what_is_capoeira.htm.

Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo works of art

Here is a link to some artwork by Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo.
My favorite is the "Lilies" by Diego Rivera.
http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/travel/jcummings/ph55diegokahlo.html

Sadly, in Oaxaca this past year, there have been many problems and disruption.
As it mentions in this article, the teacher strike that has happened every year for the past 26 years that usually lasts only about 2 weeks and is generally peaceful, has grown into a full-out protest. The first American was killed this past week and it is finally waking the government up to the fact that something needs to be done immediately for this beautiful city before it is completely ruined.
Here is the article from the Washington Post describing the police invasion of Oaxaca's city center...http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/29/AR2006102900180_pf.html

Latin American Politics Overview

I found this page on the Washington Post website, which documents and gives information on the current state of government and politics in Latin America, very informative.

Carter on Ortega

For an audio clip of former American President Jimmy Carter's views on Daniel Ortega and the recent elections in Nicaragua, go to http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6444204 and scroll down to the box at the bottom.

Sandinista Leader Daniel Ortega Won Nicaraguan Presidential Election Yesterday

Daniel Ortega, the leader of the FSLN (Frente Sandinista de Liberacion Nacional - Sandinista National Liberation Front), won the Nicaraguan Presidential Elections held on Sunday, November 5 with approximately 38% of the vote. The election seems to be clean, and the results are final.

The US is already worried about Ortega's return to power. He was the principle rebel in Nicaragua during the US's military action in the country in the 1980s.
The election has sparked international controversy, but Ortega promises to improve the country and has been working closely with Venezuela leader Chavez.

More at http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6195745,00.html

Viva Daniel:)

In a national referendum, Panama voted to expand the Panama Canal. For more information and interviews go to "http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/2006/panama_votes/"

Trouble in Bolivia

Here's an interesting article about the political situation in Bolivia. Their president Evo Morales is having troubles. http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/world/americas/15916209.htm

Panama to get UN Security Council Seat

After a number of rounds of voting over whether Venezuela or Guatemala will get the seat, they have agreed to give the seat to Panama. Hugo Chavez, was not happy, claiming that the Bush Administration supported Guatemala. More here: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/02/world/americas/02nations.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Columbian Anti-Coke Ads Aimed at Europe

This is an interesting new approach. Columbia is now making anti-cocaine ads directed at celebrity users in Europe. The country blames part of its civil unrest on the large demand coming from other countries and has decided to crack down on demand rather than supply. More information may be read at...http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/sfl-acolombia01nov01,0,799448.story