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]
Category Archives: Venezuela
Bonding
Venezuela’s system of foreign exchange restrictions has always been two-tiered. On the bottom tier are normal people, who have to go through the government to get dollars. They suffer months of delays and bureaucracy, if they get approval at all. On the top tier are rich people and financial institutions, who purchase dollar-denominated Argentine bonds [...]
Also posted in Argentina, Economy Tagged Argentina, bolivar, bonds, exchange rates, Venezuela Leave a comment
Who’s the best paid of them all?
Of the top 12 highest paid presidents in the region, who do you think is number one? OK, fine, Barack Obama, who makes about US$400k annually. What about number two? Colombian news magazine Portafolio says it’s Guatemalan President Álvaro Colom, who makes about US$220k annually presiding over a country of 12 million people. At the [...]
Also posted in Cuba, Guatemala, Odd, Politics Tagged Bolivia, Cuba, executive compensation, Guatemala, Venezuela Leave a comment
“Expropriate it”
An clip from Chávez’ weekend talk show “Alo Presidente” show’s Chávez ordering the expropriation of businesses around Plaza Bolívar in Caracas: Apparently he would like to turn the area into a “historic center.” This afternoon, shortly after the clip was broadcast, the mayor of Caracas declared that the buildings were of “public use,” which is [...]
Also posted in Economy, Politics Tagged Alo Presidente, capital flight, Caracas, Chávez, expropriation, Plaza Bolivar, Venezuela Leave a comment
Here to fix the leak
Cuba would not top anyone's list of go-to countries in matters of successful and efficient industrialization. So why is Venezuela enlisting the help of Cuba's technology minister, Ramiro Valdés, as an energy consultant?
Also posted in Cuba, Human Rights, Politics Tagged Cuba, fake stuff, spies, Venezuela Leave a comment
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).
Also posted in Nicaragua, Politics Tagged ALBA, Daniel Ortega, freedom of expression, Hugo Chávez, PdVSA, Telenica Leave a 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.
Currency woes
Chávez is trying to prop up the bolivar with gushes of U.S. dollars from the government's reserves. Bloomberg says it won't work.
Also posted in Economy Tagged bolivar, Chávez, inflation, things that won't work, Venezuela 2 Comments
Venezuela: Still on the brink
The world is condemning Venezuela for shutting down more media outlets. But international finger-wagging and domestic rioting have happened before, with no effect.
Also posted in Economy, Human Rights, Politics Tagged Chávez, freedom of expression, Human Rights Watch, inflation, Organization of American States, protests, RCTV, Reporters Without Borders, students, Venezuela Leave a comment
Venezuela shuts down cable TV channels
Last night, the Venezuelan government cut off the cable transmissions of four channels nationwide, including that of RCTV. You might recall that the government had already cut off RCTV once, in 2007, by not renewing its bandwidth concession. Now it’s been silenced via cable as well. It’s not yet clear why exactly the government moved [...]
Also posted in Human Rights 1 Comment
Boligarchs’ fall