RSSThe Venezuelan government has received severe domestic and international criticism for blocking cable television channel Radio Caracas Television International (RCTV) from broadcasting its programming. While the natural immediate reaction for most outside observers is to condemn the action as a vi[...]
Archive for the ‘Mercosur to Venezuela’ Category
China Eyes Venezuelan and Brazilian Oil
• The burgeoning Chinese/Brazilian relationship • Why is China going after Latin America’s distant commodities? • Should the U.S. be alarmed by China’s poaching in its own “backyard”? As China’s economy soared during the 1980’s, its consumption of foreign oil rose as [...]
February 26th, 2010 - 8:24 am § in Environment, Front Page, Mexico, Press Releases, Reports, Uncategorized
Massive Earthquake Striking Chile Raises Once Again Issues of Environmental and Climate Migration in Latin America
This is the second installment of the research piece “Climate Migration in Latin America: a future ‘flood of refugees’ to the North?” which exclusively explores the migratory consequences environmental manifestations of human-induced climate change may have in Latin America. [...]
February 25th, 2010 - 2:19 pm § in Brazil, Front Page, Press Releases, Reports, Uncategorized, Venezuela
The Yanomami: Malaria, Genocide and Policy Prospects
• A Black Mark for Brazil • The situation couldn’t be more urgent The Yanomami of the Brazilian Amazon have been decimated in the last 20 years by an incursion of prospect-miners (garimpeiros) who brought diseases (especially malaria) and other maladies to their hitherto relatively isolated co[...]
Hugo Chávez: This Year’s Challenges and Opportunities
All 167 seats of the Venezuelan National Assembly will be in play this coming September, and the current 141-seat controlling stake of ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) appears to be at risk. Amid growing internal economic upheaval and violent street protests, Hugo Chávez, Venezu[...]
No “Common Policy,” as Europe Grapples over its Future ties with Cuba.
– Spain takes the lead in trying to adapt the EU to Cuba’s rapidly transforming role. In January, Spain took over the presidency of the Council of the European Union. Despite being deeply affected by the global financial crisis, Spain confidently proclaimed ambitious objectives for its term at t[...]
February 3rd, 2010 - 11:17 am § in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Front Page, Paraguay, Reports, Venezuela
FARQaeda* (FARC + Al Qaeda): A Real Threat or a Matter of Circumstantial Evidence?
Over the past several months, a number of reports have circulated that address the subject of drug trafficking ties between South American narcotics trafficking interests and terrorist organizations, principally Al Qaeda and its smaller affiliates now known to be based in Northern Africa. These ass[...]
January 26th, 2010 - 12:05 pm § in Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Free Trade, Front Page, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Obama, Reports, Uncategorized, Venezuela
¿Cambio? The Obama Administration in Latin America: A Disappointing Year in Retrospective
In a memorandum written as Barack Obama assumed office in January 2009, COHA’s Research Fellows Guy Hursthouse and Tomás Ayuso considered the widespread Latin American expectations of a dramatic shift in approach from Washington under the new president, and outlined an agenda for change. This[...]
Inflation and Corruption on the Horizon as an Endangered Chávez Gambles to Retain Popularity
On January 8th, Venezuelan President Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías announced the devaluation of the Bolivarian Republic’s currency, the bolivar. In his address, Chávez distinguished between two classes of products, establishing separate exchange rates for “essential” and “non-essential” good[...]
January 22nd, 2010 - 12:22 pm § in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Front Page, Peru, Reports, Uncategorized
Peacekeeping and Military Operations by Latin American Militaries: Between Being a Good Samaritan and Servicing the National Interest
A December 14, 2009 report by the Spanish security-news agency Infodefensa.com states that Colombia is now prepared to dispatch a battalion of its Special Forces and air force personnel to Afghanistan. The Colombian involvement is being sponsored by Spain in order to aid Coalition forces now engaged[...]