DAILY LINKS
The Nation has a long, wonky, wonderful article on Mexican maize cultivation, the effects of NAFTA, and the dangers of genetically-modified seeds. Author Peter Canby backs up his excellent writing with piles and piles of meticulous research. Not to be missed. [link, via SM] (Image from Joel Penner.)
Cuban dissident Guillermo Farinas ended his hunger strike yesterday after 134 days. Farinas decided to end his strike after the Cuban government said it would release political prisoners rounded up in the "Black Spring" crackdown of 2003. Get well soon. [link]
The Uruguayan selection, which has made it to the quarter finals of the World Cup, just received a shipment of half a ton of fine cuts of beef for the mother of all asados in preparation for a contest against Ghana on Friday: "450 kilos of lomo, 200 of entrecot, 75 of vacío, 75 of colita de cuadril, 150 of ojo de bife and 50 kg of picaña." [link]
Hitmen have assassinated the PRI candidate for governor of Tamaulipas State, Rodolfo Torre Cantú. Torre was gunned down along with six others at about 10:30 this morning on a highway on the way to a campaign event. Drug mafias are assumed to be responsible. [link]
From the days when coups were something of a regional sport, new documents detail a famous British ballerina's role in a plot to topple the government of Panama. The plan was to use her yacht to gather men and arms, then "land somewhere and collect in the hills." It didn't work. [link]
Mexico's Attorney General's Office has posted on its web site irrefutable evidence that gold-plated AR-15s and diamond-studded pistol grips are not nearly as cool-looking as they sound. The deadly knick-knack collection is said to belong to Valencia Cartel leader El Lobo. [link]
Two Brazilian ranchers were sentenced to 30 years in prison apiece for ordering the killing of an environmentalist nun: "Prosecutors said the pair offered to pay a gunman $25,000 to kill the 73-year-old [Dorothy] Stang because she had prevented them from stealing a piece of land that the government had granted to a group of poor farmers." [link]
This video of a kidnapping and car chase in Mexico is notable mainly for the bad-assitude of the TV journalists who were on this like white on rice. Well done, gentlemen.
The Economist takes a peak at the Mockus phenomenon in Colombia: "His moustacheless beard gives him the air of a Baltic pastor... He is financing his campaign with a bank overdraft. His supporters rely on Facebook and make their own posters; street vendors sell unofficial campaign T-shirts." [link]
Some cruise lines will cease traveling to Antarctica after this cruise season, as a ban on the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil goes into effect next year. The ban came after a 2007 incident when a Gap Adventures ship got punctured by ice and sank, causing a mess. [link]
Author Archives: Peter Krupa
Narcos and terrorism
An apparently senseless massacre in Ciudad Juarez underscores the fact that sensible gang-on-gang violence can quickly turn senseless. It's not too much of a stretch for bloodthirsty killers to graduate to straight-up terrorism to accomplish political goals.
Posted in Mexico, War on drugs Tagged Ciudad Juarez, massacre, Mexico, narcos, sadness, terrorism 1 Comment
Citing a "U.S. government document," El Universal reports that 70% of the funds allocated to the Merida Initiative will go to U.S. companies like Northrop-Grumman, Lockheed, Bell, and Dyncorp.
Posted in Side notes Leave a comment
Argentina's foreign reserves haven't grown for two years due to capital flight, reports Clarín.
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Kirchners in the hotseat: Why buy US$2 million?
Though the power struggle over Argentina's Central Bank has ended, the controversy hasn't. Central Bank ex-President Redrado made good on his threat to release a list of "friends of the power" who had purchased dollars from the Central Bank. A more accurate description would have been "husband of the power."
Posted in Argentina, Politics Tagged Argentina, controversy, Cristina de Kirchner, dollars, exchange rates, Kirchner, mysteries, Néstor Kirchner, pesos Leave a comment
And the nominees are…
Two Latin American movies are up for an Oscar in the awkwardly-named Foreign Language Film category.
The L.A. Times rounds up the bizarre PAN-PRD marriage of convenience in Mexican politics.
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A little help from Ortega’s friends
Venezuela just became the proud owner of a Nicaraguan television channel, Telenica (Canal 8). The Venezuelans themselves confirmed to El Nuevo Diario that the money for the purchase of the channel came from ALBA de Nicaragua S.A., a corporation founded to manage incoming Venezuelan petrodollar handouts that is, in point of fact, 51% owned by Venezuela's state-owned oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela (PdVSA).
Posted in Nicaragua, Politics, Venezuela Tagged ALBA, Daniel Ortega, freedom of expression, Hugo Chávez, PdVSA, Telenica Leave a comment
Redrado steps down
Martín Redrado resigned his post as president of Argentina's Central Bank last night. Bloomberg News has a comprehensive round-up.
Posted in Argentina, Economy, Politics Tagged Argentina, Central Bank, controversy, Redrado 1 Comment
Storm gathers, says Semana
The political winds are changing in Latin America, and there's a chance they might take Venezuela with them - if, that is, Chávez lets them.
Green sweep