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: Politics
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."
Also posted in Argentina Tagged Argentina, controversy, Cristina de Kirchner, dollars, exchange rates, Kirchner, mysteries, Néstor Kirchner, pesos 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, 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.
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.
“They look so much alike”
A Mexican congressman and radio host took an early lead for the Asshole of the Year Award when he hated on Haitians for being black.
Who is Pepe Lobo?
Porfirio “Pepe” Lobo was sworn in today as president of Honduras. So who is he? According to this long, exhaustive, very well done profile by the folks at the Barcelona Center for International Studies, Pepe is a child of the political power structure. Born a wealthy rancher, he studied business administration at the University of [...]
Also posted in Honduras Tagged elections, Honduras, Mel Zelaya, ninja executives, PNH, Porfirio Lobo Leave a comment
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, Venezuela Tagged Chávez, freedom of expression, Human Rights Watch, inflation, Organization of American States, protests, RCTV, Reporters Without Borders, students, Venezuela Leave a comment
Central Bank autonomy at stake
The New York Times published a nice article the other day on the controversy over Argentina’s Central Bank. Over the next few days, the Argentine Congress is going to be looking at the situation and deciding whether to fire Redrado – as Kirchner wants – or to keep him on. I imagine what most observers [...]
“Strange Bedfellows”
In state elections all over Mexico, the left-wing Party for the Democratic Revolution (PRD) and the right-wing National Action Party (PAN) are joining forces against the old-guard, authoritarian, and oxymoronically-named Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). Patrick Corcoran of Gancho gives a great overview of the situation over at Mexidata.info: This plan is a striking reflection of [...]
Green sweep