Flamenco dance classes are being offered every Saturday and Sunday of October at MC William's Hall in New Orleans. Beginner classes are 11am-12pm and intermediate and advanced classes are 12:30pm-2pm. 

Departure of the President of Peru's Cabinet

Alan Garcia, the president of Peru, acquiesced to the resignation of his entire cabinet Friday. This in response to an oil kickbacks scandal. He did not nominate replacements. Audio conversations about kickbacks for directing government contracts to Norwegian oil company Discover Petroleum have been publicly aired, obviously affecting Garcia's government. Read more here.

Uruguay's Demographics

In my mind I stereotype all of the people in Latin American as being the same race even though they are all from very different countries.  I was surprised to learn that Uruguay is 88 percent white, eight percent mestizo and four percent black according to the CIA World Factbook.  The indigenous population is virtually nonexistent.  I think that this is really interesting and means that the problems that other Latin American countries face with the discrimination of indigenous people are not a big problem in Uruguay.  This information will make me more hesitant to generalize about the people who make up all the different and unique countries in Latin America. 

Violence in Peru

A Maoist-inspired narco-terrorist group in Peru, called, “Shining Path,” has attacked convoys of civilians and soldiers traveling through Peru’s southeast province. In the 1980’s and 1990’s, the terrorist organization tried to take control of the government, killing some 70,000 people in the process. When reports of an ensuing government suppression of these narco-terrorist groups was recently released, violence between government soldiers and narco-terrorist groups simultaneously escalated, after a decade of near silence in the Peruvian Andes. Only fraction of their previous influence, the Shining Path is certainly not staging a comeback, but perhaps it would prefer that its relationship with area narcotics smugglers remains unmolested.
Click here to read the BBC article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/americas/7664107.stm

Haitian Bridge to be Rebuilt by US

After this summer's destructive floods in Haiti, the American Embassy has agreed to help rebuild an important bridge that was destroyed. Four tropical storms hit Haiti this summer, causing the collapse of many buildings, bridges, and homes. The Ennery bridge in the hard-hit northern coastal city of Gonaives is set to begin construction later this year. The United Nations has been there clearing away the muck, which has been causing some traffic in crossing the riverbed. The Haitian government and UN are also helping with the rebuilding, but have yet to announce the financial details.

Venezuela shuts down McDonalds

The Venezuelan government has ordered all McDonald's restaurants in the country closed for 48 hours for what it calls irregularities in the fast-food chain's financial books. President Hugo Chavez's government has regularly cracked down on U.S. companies. The order stands for Thursday through Saturday, affecting all 115 McDonald's restaurants nationwide. Authorities found "inconsistencies" in sales and purchases books as well as in taxes collected. President Hugo Chavezh as regularly cracked down on U.S. companies that have allegedly fallen behind on tax payments. Last year it shut down the subsidiary of Coca-Cola Co. for 48 hours for alleged bookkeeping irregularities. Chavez supporters often accuse U.S. companies of exploiting Venezuelan workers and have called for boycotts of American firms such as Coca-Cola, McDonald's and Nike.

I never know the animosity towards the US would go as far as cracking down on American companies in their country...

cnn.com

US potential Blocade in Bolivia

In response to the hasty dismissal of United States ambassadors in Bolivia, the United States has sent the Bolivian Ambassador home, and in addition, might decide to replace the trade tariffs that Bolivia has been exempt of since 1991 following negotiations between the two countries. This "blocade" could potentially force 20,000 Bolivians out of jobs and drastically reduce imports into Bolivia. However, Bolivian president Evo Morales says not to worry. Morales hopes that if the situation does arise where trade connections to the United States are ended, Bolivia can rely on its natural resources and the resources of the countries around it to keep it afloat. To read more click here

Latin America and the 2008 Election

Many people are starting to believe that the 2008 Presidential election will have no effect, positive or negative, on Latin America, although the election is highly focused on foreign policy. Neither Obama or McCain have said anything substantial about Latin America in the election process and it seems apparent that they have no plans for anything large in the future. Both candidates are focused primarily on the Middle East. So what does this mean for future relations with Latin America?

yerba mate

Yerba mate is a popular beverage across Argentina and Uruguay and parts of Chile and Brazil. It can be drunk sweet or bitter or with coffee or juice, and is usually a social activity (much like hookah is in the Middle East). Normally, the mate (gourd in which it is served) is filled nearly to the brim with yerba (the tea leaves) and then soaked in hot water and passed around, each person emptying the gourd and passing it back to the server to refill it. It is commonly consumed with cookies or crackers.

The Latino Vote

We've been talking lately about the tremendous potential Latinos have in the United States to impact the upcoming presidential elections. This week Colombian singer Shakira announced her endorsement of the Democratic presidential candidate, Barack Obama. In addition to her endorsement, Shakira stated, "I'd like to invite the Latino community to go out and vote, because they can make a huge difference. This country is incredibly important to me, as it is for the rest of the world, because the U.S. economy is crucial to other world economies. And world peace depends largely on the who is driving the politics of this country." But why Obama? "I support Barack Obama because I think he's the person who can truly represent what the U.S. is to other countries. I feel in my heart that he can restore peace and confidence in the U.S.," said Shakira.

On another note, we've been discussing the racial divide between Latinos and African Americans in the United States. What statement does Shakira's endorsement make in regards to this issue?

Source: http://www.peopleenespanol.com/pespanol/en/articles/0,22490,1847610,00.html

Mexicans sending less money home from US

A statement from the Banco de Mexico this past month said that Mexicans in the US sent 12.2% less money to family and friends in Mexico. The statement compared the statistic to that of last August. The $1.9 million decline is a direct result from the terrible state of the economy in the United States. Remittances have declined 4% already this year, so the recent staticstic is just following the trend. The state of the economy mirrors the recent increase in unemployment among the Mexican population. Read more about this trend in Mexico here

Puerto Rico Gains from U.S. Bailout Package

Included in the economic bailout package passed Friday by Congress was the renewal of a rum tax rebate to the U.S. Caribbean territories. Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands utilize the money to pay for public services and infrastructure. The rebate returns "all but 25 cents of the $13.50 in federal excise taxes levied per proof gallon of rum produced in the islands." It lapsed at the end of 2007. The bailout package recently passed by Congress lengthens it through 2009. Read more here..

food shortage in Haiti

When storms ravaged the Caribbean in August and September, Haiti was hit the hardest. Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, is especially vincible due to extensive deforestation and a dire need for infrastructure. Death tolls have recently doubled, from the government's original claim of 425 lost lives, to the recent toll of 800 deaths. 

Just months before the storm, riots were formed in Haiti due to a shortage of food. The cost of staple foods such as rice, beans, and flour have been raised 50% in the past year. Now, the storms have destroyed vital farm land, further contributing to the food crisis and the impossible food prices. 

Drug Crackdown in Mexico

The Mexican government recently began a crackdown on the drug trade, and since then, more than 40 percent of Mexicans said they feel less secure than they did before. Only a quarter of Mexicans that were polled said they felt safer since President Felipe Calderon sent over 20,000 troops to battle drug cartels across the nation. Just over a quarter say they only feel the same level of security. Since the police stepped up their efforts against drug trade nearly two years ago, violence has greatly increased.

Dominican Mets Player Commits Hit and Run

New York Mets pitcher, Ambiorix Burgos hit and killed two women while driving an SUV in the Dominican Republic. The two were struck Tuesday evening by a new Hummer registered to the Mets reliever in the Dominican Republic. Edwin Silvestre Sanchez, a relative of Burgos, told investigators that he was the driver at fault. Regarding the player's potential involvement in the hit-and-run accident that unfortunately killed two women in the Dominican Republic," the Mets said in a statement. "We take this matter very seriously and have begun an internal investigation to ascertain the facts. Our thoughts and sympathies are with the families of the victims. Burgos was also arrested last month in New York on assault and harassment charges after being accused of throwing his girlfriend to the ground, where he appeared in court on those charges but did not enter a plea.

cnn.com

Presidente Calderon of México, sees the legalization of minor drug use in México’s near future.

The proposal would allow authorities to focus all of their attention on dealers and cartels transporting and distributing large amounts of drugs, amounts, which greatly surpass what a lone individual could consume. This plan however, goes far beyond the use of simply marijuana; it extends to include the use of cocaine, heroin, opium, and methamphetamine. What will this mean for drug trafficking between the United States and México? Tighter borders have trapped much of the drug trafficking below the U.S./Mexican border. Will “drug tourists” soon be flooding over the Mexican border in droves? View the story here: http://www.reuters.com/article/email/idUSTRE4918NK20081003

Personally, my favourite part of Buenos Aires is La Boca, the proclaimed artists' sector of Argentina's capital city. It is said that the buildings are painted the way they are because when the immigrants arrived in the 1800s they couldn't afford to buy paint at full price, and thus settled for anything they could get (ending up with all of the colors nobody had used).

Shown are a few examples of some of La Boca's many colorful streets:

The Amazing Livan Hernandez

A two-time All-Star, Hernández is considered to be a great defensive pitcher, having made just 11 errors in his career. He is described as a workhorse; he throws many pitches, pitches many innings, and makes every start he needs to in order to provide his team's bullpen much rest. Between 1998 and 2007, he never pitched fewer than 199 innings in any given season (in 1999 he threw "only" 199 2/3 innings). He led the National League in innings pitched in three consecutive seasons, 2003 through 2005, and led the league in complete games for the first two of those years. In 2005, he once threw 150 pitches in nine innings, although the game went into extra innings after he left. In 2004 and 2005, he led the major leagues with 3,927 and 4,009 pitches, respectively. Hernández also is a dangerous hitter, helping his own cause with the bat, and won the Silver Slugger award at the pitcher position in 2004.

Russia looking to have greater influence in Latin America

South American country, Bolivia, following suit with it's growing partner Venezuela, is set to buy arms from Russia. Russia's top diplomat in Bolivia said that Bolivia's plan to purchase 5 civil defense helicopters will only deepen the relationship between these two countries. Ambassador Gubalev and his country, Russia, want to extend their influence in Latin America including military spheres of influence. Russia is set to begin military exercises in the caribbean close to venezuela before the end of the year. Bolivia is looking to purchase the helicopters to help flood victims and perhaps even to fight in the drug war, which, has traditionally been done in partnership with the US. And since Bolivia kicked the United State ambassador out of their country, they are now looking for help elsewhere. To read more about this click here

Un Día Festivo de Octubre

Happy October! I woke up to spider webs and ghosts sprawled out across my lobby this morning and found it only appropriate to write today about el Día de Los Muertos. Celebrated especially in Mexico, this holiday (a.k.a. Day of the Dead) honors family members who have passed away. It is the idea that on this day (October 31st), the souls of the dead come back and are with the families. To celebrate the occasion, there are many traditional foods that are prepared, including Pan de Muerto (Bread of the Dead). Here's a link with the recipe: Pan de Muerto
Enjoy!!