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Brazil and growing countries break records at Volkswagen
Brazil, China and East Europe's increasing demand is responsable for Volkswagen big sells in this first semester, says Europe's biggest car's factory.
Volkswagen's sells increased 5,8% this first semester. Chinese demand's increased 23,2% (531, 6 thousands units) , as Brazil 21,8 %(316 thousands units) and East Europe 18,7 % (282 thousands units).
Brazil, China and East Europe's increasing demand is responsable for Volkswagen big sells in this first semester, says Europe's bigge... more -
"THE LOST CITY"
Anthropological Road Trip Vid. about the discovery of a thousand year old city in southern Bolivia.
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Cubans arriving in the US via Mexico
Cubans have traditionally tried to enter the United States via Florida, which is a mere 90 miles away. Recently the US has cracked down on illegal immigration around Florida, so smugglers are moving westward.
Cubans refugees are fleeing their island by way of Cancun. Mexican officials have seen an influx of Cubans entering their territory in recent months.
In a proviso of US immigration law, if a Cuban makes on to US territory, they are entitled to legal US residency. Cubans have traditionally tried to enter the United States via Florida, which is a mere 90 miles away. Recently the US has cracked dow... more -
Barack Obama at Annual NCLR Conference
This past Saturday Barack Obama spoke at the annual NCLR (The National Council of La Raza) Conference
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Venezuela, Colombia hold talks to repair ties
Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and Colombia's Alvaro Uribe took a stab at mending relations Friday after months of sniping that threatened billions of dollars in trade and unleashed a diplomatic crisis between Latin America's top U.S. opponent and closest U.S. ally.
Chavez, who just months ago called reconciliation impossible, said the talks were aimed at a "relaunch of cooperation, peace and integration of Latin America."
Analysts said the two are setting aside their on-and-off feud because each benefits politically from normalized relations. The countries are key commercial partners, with $6 billion in trade last year, and the leaders were expected to sign accords to link the Andean neighbors with two new railways.
Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and Colombia's Alvaro Uribe took a stab at mending relations Friday after months of sniping that threatened bi... more -
BOLIVIAN FISH HEADS YUM!
We're taking a day trip to a local reservoir (San Jacinto) and waterfalls in the southern region of "Tarija", Bolivia, to try something new to eat! Fish heads, a favorite local delicacy! We're taking a day trip to a local reservoir (San Jacinto) and waterfalls in the southern region of "Tarija", Bolivia, to try somethin... more
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Touring Tarija Intro 1
Set in an Andalusian river valley region of southern Bolivia, "Tarija", is often overlooked by travelers to South America. One of the best high altitude grape and wine producing regions in the world and definitely one of the most hospitable and relaxing places to visit in the western hemisphere.
Experience something new! Set in an Andalusian river valley region of southern Bolivia, "Tarija", is often overlooked by travelers to South America. One of the ... more -
Peruvian workers, farmers march against President
Thousands of Peruvians protested on Wednesday to denounce President Alan Garcia's free-market policies, which they say have failed to benefit the poor during six years of booming economic growth.
Protesters waving red banners put up road blocks on highways in regions including Ica, Puno and Cuzco, snarling traffic and closing rail service to the Inca ruins at Machu Picchu, Peru's top tourist destination.
The rallies, which coincided with a two-day farmers' strike that started on Tuesday, were the latest in a series of protests held to demand the government do more to spread the Andean country's new wealth to workers and the poor.
Marchers in the capital Lima carried signs urging Garcia to quit and calling him "right-wing" and a "traitor."
Thousands of Peruvians protested on Wednesday to denounce President Alan Garcia's free-market policies, which they say have failed to ... more -
The end of FARC
Los Angeles Times reports:
"The Colombian military's spectacular rescue of 15 hostages Wednesday, including Franco-Colombian Ingrid Betancourt and three American military contractors, will go down in history as a marvel of military cunning and brilliant execution. Most noteworthy is that the soldiers, disguised as rebels, duped the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia into turning the hostages over without bloodshed."
"Colombia rejoiced as did France, where freeing Betancourt -- a former Colombian legislator with dual citizenship -- had become a cause celebre. The faces of the American contractors -- Keith Stansell, Marc Gonsalves and Thomas Howes -- are less well known, but their freedom brings joy to all who prayed for their release during five years of captivity." Los Angeles Times reports: ... more -
Latin American President's League Table
Nothing beats the clarity of good old-fashioned list...
So here's an interesting one I stumbled across recently - by means of Greg Week's Latin American blog, 'Two Weeks Notice'. It lists the current popularity ratings amongst Latin American Presidents.
84% Álvaro Uribe, Colombia (3/08)
61% Felipe Calderón, Mexico (5/08)
55% Antonio Saca, El Salvador (5/08)
55% Evo Morales, Bolivia (5/08)
55% Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazil (3/08)
54% Hugo Chávez, Venezuela (4/08)
53% Rafael Correa, Ecuador (6/08)
51% Martín Torrijos, Panama (4/08)
49% Álvaro Colom, Guatemala (3/08)
45% Tabaré Vázquez, Uruguay (3/08)
44% Oscar Arias, Costa Rica (4/08)
44% Michelle Bachelet, Chile (6/08)
38% Manuel Zelaya, Honduras (2/08)
34% Stephen Harper, Canada (3/08)
32% Alan García, Peru (6/08)
30% George W. Bush, United States (6/08)
26% Cristina Fernández, Argentina (5/08)
21% Daniel Ortega, Nicaragua (2/08)
5% Nicanor Duarte, Paraguay (3/08)
I'm not too sure as to how much we can read into this. I guess it's no surprise that Colombia's Uribe tops the list. I was chatting with a Colombian guy the other week, and having asked him whether he thought Uribe was good or bad for the country he responded, "he's neither good nor bad...he's AMAZING!" His effectiveness in tackling the FARC guerillas, keeping the economy relatively stable and taking hed-on the likes of Chavez and Correa, no doubt playing a part in his popularity. Still I'm not to sure international human right's groups will be to keen in praising his presidency.
Other than that, the Presidents of the "New Left" (Chavez, Correa, Lula, Morales) all seem to be doing alright, though I'm sure they must be done from where they would have been this time last year. And then there's poor old Cristina Fernandez who really is making a dog's dinner out of the popularity she had inherited over from her husband, Nestor Kirchner.
Nothing beats the clarity of good old-fashioned list... ... more -
Van powered by cooking oil to travel length of Latin America
"A couple are travelling around Latin America to show off their van which is powered on used cooking oil from restaurants."
While I have heard of many others undertaking a similar trek, it sounds like this couple are attempting the longest journey in hopes of raising awareness for their preferred alternative fuel. Check out the video on the link. "A couple are travelling around Latin America to show off their van which is powered on used cooking oil from restaurants." ... more -
Testing times ahead for Chavez
This is a crucial time for Venezuela. President Chavez is pushing forward his socialist revolution and his opponents are continuing to fight against it.
Looming regional and local elections have increased the tension in this politically divided nation.
Saturday morning and thousands of the president's opponents have gathered in Caracas to show their anger at a ruling they say is aimed at undermining them.
Nearly 400 people have been barred from running in November's elections.
The government says they are all being investigated for corruption and are therefore ineligible - but 80% of the names on the list are from the opposition.
"The constitution is clear," says Leopoldo Lopez, one of the best-known politicians on the list.
"None of us are legally disqualified. We will fight on the streets to make sure Venezuelans have the right to choose who they want."
He says the government has barred them "because they know we can win".
In general, though, the opposition are optimistic and increasingly buoyant.
They hope to capitalise on a win last December, when voters by a slim majority said no to constitutional changes that would have enshrined socialism into Venezuela's law and allowed a president to stand for re-election an unlimited number of times.
Despite this setback, Mr Chavez was soon back to his old form, and his ministers are now talking about trying again to change the law so that he could bid to stay in office after 2013.
End Excerpt This is a crucial time for Venezuela. President Chavez is pushing forward his socialist revolution and his opponents are continuing to... more -
Brazil: A Latin American Nation?
There has never been any contestation that Brazil is somewhat unique amongst the assemblage of Latin American states:
• It’s Portuguese heritage
• It’s ability to remain united – rather than splinter into numerous squabbling territories, as happened with the Spanish empire
• It’s sheer size – population, economy, territory is as large as that of all the other South American countries put together.
So the differences between Brazil and the rest of the Latin American nations are obvious. However, it would be impossible to see Brazil as anything else but an integral part of any study of Latin America?
Well so we thought... Leslie Bethell of Oxford University gave a talk the other week at the Institute for the Study of the Americas entitled “Is Brazil part of Latin America?” Well he would say that given that he was director of the Centre for Brazilian Studies - when it is normally commonplace just to lump Brazil in under Latin America.
To read more, check out... http://thomasonlatinamerica.blogspot.com There has never been any contestation that Brazil is somewhat unique amongst the assemblage of Latin American states: ... more -
Guatemalan cabinet ministers killed in helicopter crash
" A helicopter carrying two Guatemalan cabinet ministers crashed Friday in the northern part of the country, killing all four people aboard, a presidential spokesman said.
The pilot and copilot also died in the crash.
Interior Minister Vinicio Gomez and Vice Interior Minister Edgar Hernandez Umana were aboard the helicopter, which departed Guatemala City for a business meeting in the northern city of Peten at 8 a.m., said Fernando Barillas, spokesman for President Alvaro Colom." " A helicopter carrying two Guatemalan cabinet ministers crashed Friday in the northern part of the country, killing all four people a... more -
Tijuana Drug Fights
Mexican President Felipe Calderon sent federal police and troops into several major Mexican cities to combat the drug wars gripping much of the country.
Adam Yamaguchi looks at the cartel wars in Tijuana. Mexican President Felipe Calderon sent federal police and troops into several major Mexican cities to combat the drug wars gripping mu... more -
Venezuela dares U.S. to put it on terror list
President Hugo Chavez dared the U.S. on Friday to put Venezuela on a list of countries accused of supporting terrorism, calling it one more attempt by Washington to undermine him for political reasons.
Chavez said the "threat to include us on the terrorist list" is Washington's response to his government's successes in the region. President Hugo Chavez dared the U.S. on Friday to put Venezuela on a list of countries accused of supporting terrorism, calling it one... more -
Bolivia's gas-rich region 'chooses autonomy'
Bolivia's gas-rich Tarija province has voted overwhelmingly in favour of greater autonomy, exit polls suggest. About 80% of the voters in the eastern province backed the measure in a referendum, several pollsters said.
The result is seen as a rejection of left-wing President Evo Morales' drive to redistribute wealth in South America's poorest nation. Tarija is the fourth province to back greater autonomy. The central government says the polls are illegal.
According to several exit polls, just over 80% of voters in Tarija voted Yes in the referendum. However, pollsters say that most supporters of President Morales did not vote. Bolivia's gas-rich Tarija province has voted overwhelmingly in favour of greater autonomy, exit polls suggest. About 80% of the voters... more -
Picket of plenty
While the world food market is hungry for more, Argentina's farmers are on strike, refusing to export grains.
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Yes, We Will Have No Bananas
By DAN KOEPPEL
"ONCE you become accustomed to gas at $4 a gallon, brace yourself for the next shocking retail threshold: bananas reaching $1 a pound. At that price, Americans may stop thinking of bananas as a cheap staple, and then a strategy that has served the big banana companies for more than a century — enabling them to turn an exotic, tropical fruit into an everyday favorite — will begin to unravel.
The immediate reasons for the price increase are the rising cost of oil and reduced supply caused by floods in Ecuador, the world’s biggest banana exporter. But something larger is going on that will affect prices for years to come.
That bananas have long been the cheapest fruit at the grocery store is astonishing. They’re grown thousands of miles away, they must be transported in cooled containers and even then they survive no more than two weeks after they’re cut off the tree. Apples, in contrast, are typically grown within a few hundred miles of the store and keep for months in a basket out in the garage. Yet apples traditionally have cost at least twice as much per pound as bananas.
Americans eat as many bananas as apples and oranges combined, which is especially amazing when you consider that not so long ago, bananas were virtually unknown here. They became a staple only after the men who in the late 19th century founded the United Fruit Company (today’s Chiquita) figured out how to get bananas to American tables quickly — by clearing rainforest in Latin America, building railroads and communication networks and inventing refrigeration techniques to control ripening. The banana barons also marketed their product in ways that had never occurred to farmers or grocers before, by offering discount coupons, writing jingles and placing bananas in schoolbooks and on picture postcards. They even hired doctors to convince mothers that bananas were good for children.
Once bananas had become widely popular, the companies kept costs low by exercising iron-fisted control over the Latin American countries where the fruit was grown. Workers could not be allowed such basic rights as health care, decent wages or the right to congregate. (In 1929, Colombian troops shot down banana workers and their families who were gathered in a town square after church.) Governments could not be anything but utterly pliable. Over and over, banana companies, aided by the American military, intervened whenever there was a chance that any “banana republic” might end its cooperation. (In 1954, United Fruit helped arrange the overthrow of the democratically elected government of Guatemala.) Labor is still cheap in these countries, and growers still resort to heavy-handed tactics."... By DAN KOEPPEL ... more -
Yahoo! Inc. launches new Internet site in Peru
Yahoo! Inc., a leading global Internet company, today announced that it has launched sites in four new markets in Latin America.
The new sites consist of Yahoo! Chile www.yahoo.cl, Yahoo! Peru www.yahoo.com.pe, Yahoo! Colombia www.yahoo.com.co and Yahoo! Venezuela www.yahoo.com.ve and will include Yahoo! Home Pages, Search, Mail, Messenger, Answers, and Toolbar among other popular Yahoo! content and products.
"Yahoo! has always been popular among Internet users in Chile, Peru, Colombia and Venezuela. Today we are excited to be able to provide these users with locally relevant versions of Yahoo! services as well as introduce a new generation of users to the broader Yahoo! online community," said Jose Rivera Font, vice president and general manager, Yahoo! Hispanic Americas.
"At the same time, these new Yahoo! home pages will provide local advertisers a targeted means for reaching their customers by using leading-edge technologies and innovative marketing solutions."
Yahoo! Colombia http://co.yahoo.com/
Yahoo! Peru http://pe.yahoo.com/
Yahoo! Venezuela http://www.ve.yahoo.com/
Yahoo! Chile http://cl.yahoo.com/
http://www.livinginperu.com/news-6637-tech-internet-yah...
Yahoo! Inc., a leading global Internet company, today announced that it has launched sites in four new markets in Latin America. ... more
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