Colada Morada

I found this recipe for COLADA MORADA, a typical Ecuadorian drink that is served during this time of the year. Its full of fruits and spices and is a favorite for all family members. Anyways, here it is, although this is a recipe that can be made in the United States, with slightly different ingredients:

"1 qt. blueberries (or blackberries or raspberries)
1 can crushed pineapple
1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 - 1/2 tsp. cloves
2 c. pineapple juice
1/3 c. cornstarch
Cinnamon sticks (opt.)

Simmer berries in a little (1/4 to 1/2 cup) water. Mash and strain. Put berry liquid in a large 6 quart kettle. Add water (to equal 1/2 water - 1/2 juice). Add pineapple and pineapple juice. Mix well and heat thoroughly. Add sugar and spices (adjust amounts to taste). Stir. When mixture reaches simmer, add cornstarch softened in cold water. Mix well. Serve warm. 6 servings. Optional: Serve with cinnamon sticks."

source: http://blog.willamette.edu/people/twik/journal/archives/2005/10/index.html

If you are interested in learning to Salsa or Merengue, there are free dance classes every friday at 9:00 at Cafe Brazil, and then band to practice to later at night. Its a fun opportunity to try something new, and I recommend checking it out.

"Chilean judge orders Pinochet's arrest"

"A judge on Friday ordered the arrest of former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet in crimes related to a secret detention center used in the years following his 1973 coup."

More here.

"Ecuador Reaps Costs Of Anti-Trade Fervor"

I thought this article was interesting as it is related to prior class discussions we had on the influence of the US on many Latin American economies in the fruit trade in particular.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/23/AR2006102301129.html

'La Malinche'

I learned about this interesting lady the other day in Spanish class. One of her many names , "La Malinche," is supposedly the mother of the mexican race. Here is a link to a full article describing her controversial history...
http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/history/malinche.html

Here's an interesting site I found about the world's most dangerous road, apparently there are between 100-200 hundred deaths on it each year. Ignore the bad grammar and check it out...
http://www.carinfacts.com/deathroad.shtml

Drug Violence in Mexico

This article really grabbed me. There is a wave of drug violence going through Mexico. This does not greatly surprise me but the scale and brutality do. More here: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/26/world/americas/26mexico.html

"Nicaraguan lawmakers vote to ban all abortions"

"Nicaragua's Congress voted Thursday to ban all abortions, including those that could save a mother's life. If signed into law by President Enrique Bolanos, the measure would eliminate a century-old exception to Nicaragua's abortion ban that permits the procedure if three doctors certify that the woman's health is at risk"

More at http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/10/26/nicaragua.abortion.ap/index.html

I think its highly unreasonable, but Argentina is cracking down on many of its farmers and creating intense pressure for them to cut back on tobacco crops. Due to my obviously American opinion, I feel the government has no right to tell people what crops to farm as long as they are making enough profit on what they are growing. Obviously, if the farmers are refusing to change their crops over to alternatives, they are making enough profit on the tobacco. More infomation at http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=143&art_id=qw1161760862978B231

"Strong quake rattles Peruvian coast"

"A strong earthquake rattled Peru's southern coast shortly after dawn Friday, causing alarm, but no damage or injuries were immediately reported.
The quake struck at 5:48 a.m. below the floor of the Pacific Ocean, 56 miles (90 kilometers) northwest of the coastal city of Pisco, 125 miles (200 kilometers) southeast of Lima, according to Peru's Geophysics Institute."

More here.

Yet Another Update on the Mystery Illness

It seems that the medicine that killed 26 people in Panama and sickened many more was made by the government scientists and contaminated with chemicals found in antifreeze. It's not clear whether it was deliberate or not. Check out the full story here: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/20/world/americas/20briefs-006.html

Latin American Remittances

Here's a neat article about some of what we were talking about class. It's all about how emmigration to the United States for work could be doing perminent damage to the family structure in Latin America. Enjoy.
http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/columns/article_1293593.php

Brazilian Indians Leave Mining Complex

Some 200 Indians of the Xikrin tribe, armed with war clubs and bows and arrows, occupied the company town of Carajas on Tuesday to demand money and road improvements. Read more about this encounter with the indigenous people of Brazil...

http://news.aol.com/world/story/_a/brazilian-indians-leave-mining-complex/n20061019184909990004?cid=774

Interesting fact...hitchiking is a common, accepted method of transportation in Cuba. To read a personal account go to the following link: http://www.latinamericanpost.com/index.php?mod=seccion&secc=38&conn=4330

Venezuelan Newspaper

While doing a research project for my Spanish class, my teacher recommended that I use this site. It is a Venezuelan newspaper, and you can choose to read the articles in Spanish or in English. It is very interesting to read current events from the Venezuelan point of view. < www.eluniversal.com>

Frida Kahlo

See the work of one of Mexico and Latin America's most famous female artists:

http://www.fridakahlo.com/

"CIA was warned about '76 Cuban airline bombing"

I felt that this article on Cuban bombings in the '70s was relevant to the previous class discussions we had on US-Cuba relations and the impact of the United States on Latin American nations in general.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/10/10/cuba.airlinebombing.ap/index.html

Top 25 Latin Music Videos

Here is the link to the AOL site with the top 25 Latin Music videos right now. My favorite is "Te Mando Flores" by Fonseca. Enjoy!
http://music.aol.com/musicstyles/latin

Former Chilean dictator tried for murder

WOW. This is pretty intense, especially being that he is now 90 years old and medically diagnosed to have dementia. Chile's former dictator, General Augusto Pinochet is currently being tried for the murder of both a chemist and a secret police agent during his 17-year rule. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6046414.stm

Update on Mystery Deaths in Panama

The Panamanian government has pulled a drug from the market that was being used by half of the people who died of an unknown illness. It seems that the drug may have a role in these mysterious deaths.

Check out the whole story here: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/10/world/americas/10briefs-004.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Brazil Plane Crash

"Authorities say there were no survivors among the 155 people aboard the Brazilian jetliner that crashed deep in the Amazon jungle."

More here.

Update on Brazilian elections

http://www.economist.com/world/la/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8001234

Puerto Rican reporters attacked

Although personal expression through media is not in itself illegal in many countries of Latin American, authorities are often highly pressuring to prevent inethical political acts from reaching the media. This fact is highly visible of the attack on the journalists as they attempted to report a Puerto Rican political scandal. http://www.lapress.org/Article.asp?lanCode=1&artCode=4837

Latin American Art Exhibit

Hey, this article is a couple of weeks old, but it discusses a new art exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It's all Latin American art from the Colonial Period. The article states that most of the art from that time period was religious in subject matter. It ties in well with our readings this week, i think. Check it out...
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/15526560.htm

"In Rural Cuba, a Slow Road to Progress"

I found this article on the recent progress of rural Cuba and found the mentions of The United States' impact on it relevant to some of our past discussions.

"Supporters of Castro blame the U.S. trade embargo for the transportation woes and especially for the dearth of personal cars. Cuba makes no cars of its own..."

Isolation in the Amazon

Many indigenous tribes in the Amazon region of South America live in isolation from the industrialized world by choice. They are under constant pressure from loggers and developers that threaten to push them off of their traditional lands. Efforts are being made in Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador to protect these indigenous peoples. It is believed that there are some groups or people that have not yet been "discovered." For more information, see: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/03/0310_030310_invisible1.html

Mystery Epidemic in Panama

Panamanian officials are on alert for an epidemic after an unknown illness has killed 15. Check out the whole story here: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/05/world/americas/05briefs-006.html

"Significant Aztec ruin unearthed in busy Mexico City"

"Mexican archeologists have found what may be the most significant Aztec ruin in decades, with the unearthing of an altar and a monolith in the busy heart of Mexico City, Mayor Alejandro Encinas said on Wednesday."

More here

"Mexico doubts border fence will happen"

"A spokesman for Mexican President Vincente Fox on Wednesday said the United States will likely never build 700 miles of new fencing along the border dividing the two nations."

More here

New Nicaraguan Canal

Nicaragua announced plans to build a new canal connecting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans within the next twelve years. Panama will vote in three weeks on whether to widen the Panama Canal to accommodate modern boats. For more information go to http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5405884.stm

"Polls show president slipping on eve of Brazil vote"

Brazil's current president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who was initially thought to be a shoo-in for reelection, is now facing doubts concerning his victory. When Silva was previously elected, he was the country's first working-class president, a quality very important to the decrease of poverty in the Latin American nation. This article seemed relevant considering our class discussion on how the upper class have been in power for so long in Latin America and the lower class has subsequently had little or no success.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/10/01/brazil.elections.ap/index.html