Category Archives: North America

Today in Dubious Interpretations of History

Former President of Mexico Vicente Fox (2000-2006) has said he is the best president of Mexico. Ever. As in, in all of Mexican history. Suffice to say, this is a rather self-serving interpretation of history, and one that grossly diminishes … Continue reading

Posted in Governance in Latin America, Latin American History, Latin American Politics, Mexico | Comments Off on Today in Dubious Interpretations of History

What Force-Feeding Looks Like

Though reports on the story have been relatively slight in comparison to far more trivial matters that gobble up more TV time, for at least the past four months, detainees at Guantanamo have been on a hunger strike, protesting the … Continue reading

Posted in Cuba, Human Rights Issues, Prisoners' Rights, Strikes, Torture, United States | Comments Off on What Force-Feeding Looks Like

Around Latin America

-Nicaragua and China have entered into an agreement through which China could help build a canal through Nicaragua that would rival the Panama canal. Of course, Nicaragua has long been seen as a potential site for a canal; even in … Continue reading

Posted in Alberto Fujimori, Around Latin America, Brazil, Civil Conflict in the Americas, Class and Classism in the Americas, Colombia, Cuba, Democracy in the Americas, Economics in the Americas, Ecuador, Education in the Americas, Elections in Latin America, Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionárias de Colombia (FARC), Human Rights Issues, Human Rights Violations, Inequalities in the Americas, Latin American Politics, Memory Struggles, Neoliberalism, Nicaragua, Peru, Peru's Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path), Race in Brazil, Race in the Americas, The Amazon, United States, Venezuela, Violence in the Americas, War in Latin America, Women's Movements & Issues, Women's Rights | Comments Off on Around Latin America

Around Latin America

-Two former executives from Ford in Argentina have been charged (among other things) with having ties to the abduction of 24 workers for Ford during the military regime of 1976-1983. -El Salvador’s presidential election is shaping up to be a … Continue reading

Posted in Argentina, Argentina's Military Dictatorship (1976-1983), Around Latin America, Brazil, Chile, Corruption, Costa Rica, Drugs and the Drug Trade in the Americas, El Salvador, Elections in Latin America, Environmental Issues in the Americas, Guatemala, Human Rights Violations, Inequalities in the Americas, Land Struggles & Issues, Latin America, Latin American Politics, Legal Issues in Latin America, Mexico, Peasant Movements, Poverty, Rio de Janeiro, The "Disappeared", The Amazon, Violence in the Americas | Comments Off on Around Latin America

Around Latin America

-30,000: that is the number of families who have been relocated as Brazil has prepared for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics. -New Paraguayan President and wealthy businessman Horacio Cartes is set to reform social aid to the poor, saying … Continue reading

Posted in 2014 World Cup, Argentina, Argentina's Military Dictatorship (1976-1983), Around Latin America, Brazil, Civil Conflict in the Americas, Colombia, Gender and Sexuality, Human Rights Issues, Human Rights Violations, Indigenous Peoples, Inequalities in the Americas, International Relations, Land Struggles & Issues, LGBT Rights & Issues, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Poverty, Prisoners' Rights | Comments Off on Around Latin America

The Cold War in Central America – To What Extent Was the US Responsible?

I was on the Burt Cohen Show yesterday, discussing the nature of the Cold War in Central America, the annulment of the Rios Montt trial, human rights and justice for ex-dictators, and the complex roles of the US in Latin … Continue reading

Posted in Guatemala, Guatemala's Civil War, Latin America, Legal Issues in Latin America, The Cold War in Latin America, United States, Violence in the Americas, War in Latin America | Comments Off on The Cold War in Central America – To What Extent Was the US Responsible?

Bunkers in the Everglades – Relics of the Cold War

This is a remarkable story of a bygone era: The Cuban Missile Crisis was over in 1962. But the militarization of Florida and its national parks had only just begun. Nike Hercules Missile Site — also called Alpha Battery or HM-69 … Continue reading

Posted in Cuba, International Relations, Latin American History, United States | Comments Off on Bunkers in the Everglades – Relics of the Cold War

Today in Flawed Neoliberal Biases

Last week ushered in a new era at the World Trade Organization, as Brazilian Roberto Azevedo won the post as the WTO’s next director-general. With the election, Azevedo became the first Latin American to serve in that post [though no … Continue reading

Posted in Brazil, Economics in the Americas, Inter-American Relations, International Organizations, International Relations, Latin America, Mexico, Neoliberalism | Comments Off on Today in Flawed Neoliberal Biases

Around Latin America

  -Though the higher-profile case, the conviction of Guatemala’s Efraín Ríos Montt was not the only triumph for human rights and justice last week. In Uruguay, General Miguel Dalmao was sentenced to 28 years in prison for his role in the murder of … Continue reading

Posted in Around Latin America, Brazil, Catholicism in the Americas, Colombia, Cuba, Economics in the Americas, Gender and Sexuality, Haiti, Human Rights Issues, Human Rights Violations, Indigenous Peoples, Labor in Latin America, LGBT Rights & Issues, Mexico, Neoliberalism, Strikes, Uruguay, Uruguay's Military Dictatorship (1973-1985) | Comments Off on Around Latin America

Around Latin America

-Still dealing with the loss to Chile of its only route to the Pacific 140 years ago, Bolivia is set to take its case to the International Court of Justice, a move that Chilean President Sebastián Piñera has said would open … Continue reading

Posted in Alberto Fujimori, Around Latin America, Bolivia, Brazil, Catholicism in the Americas, Chile, Colombia, Corruption, Costa Rica, Cuba, Gender and Sexuality, Governance in Latin America, Health Issues in the Americas, Immigration, Inter-American Relations, Latin America, Latinos in the U.S., Legal Issues in Latin America, LGBT Rights & Issues, Mexico, Peru, Police in the Americas, Police Violence, Rio de Janeiro, United States, Violence in the Americas | 1 Comment