The second Monday in December Carnival of Latin America and the Caribbean

The tiny West African nation of Benin (on behalf of the UN’s African Group) proposed an amendment to strike sexual minorities from the resolution. The amendment was adopted with 79 votes in favor, 70 against, 17 abstentions and 26 absent.

A collection of notorious human rights violators voted for the amendment including Afghanistan, Algeria, China, Congo, Cuba, Eritrea, North Korea, Iran (didn’t Ahmadinejad tell the world there were no gays in Iran?), Egypt, Malaysia, Pakistan, Russia, Sudan, Uganda, Vietnam, Yemen, and Zimbabwe.

Add to this Bahamas, Belize (where you get 10 years for being gay), Jamaica (10 years of hard labor), Grenada (10 years), Guyana (life sentence), Saint Kitts and Nevis (10 years), Saint Lucia (10 years), Saint Vincent (10 years), South Africa (Apartheid? What apartheid?), and Morocco (ruled by a gay monarch!). They are all on the list of nations that do not think execution of gays and lesbians is worthy of condemnation or investigation.

Just Back: On a Cuban guilt trip

Vatican worries about ‘bloodshed’ in Cuba
Cites political tensions and ‘disastrous’ economy

Wikileaks and empty archives

WIkiLeaks Bombshell: Cuba To Be Bankrupt in 2-3 Years

Osmany and the ‘other scars’

ECUADOR
Ecuador to auction oil fields of companies it forced out

EL SALVADOR
Finally, Wikileaks says something interesting about Venezuela: how it intervenes in Salvadoran affairs

HAITI
Haiti’s election
Whomever they voted for…
…the government plans to win

Haiti’s Preval Tries to Steal an Election
In the aftermath of presidential election fraud, violent protests erupt in Port-au-Prince. Where is Hillary Clinton?

Palin: Haiti needs ‘military airlift’ of supplies. Meanwhile, the HuffPo is throwing a snit because Bristol Palin dared touch her mother’s hair.

HONDURAS
THE must-read: Wikileaks: The real Manuel Zelaya

“Llueven” denuncias contra los especuladores

MEXICO
Altered Corn Slowly Takes Root in Mexico

Mexican Suspect Got School Salary

Servando “La Tuta” Gómez, a reputed leader and spokesman for the La Familia drug cartel, held a tenured position at an elementary school in the central state of Michoacán and has received paychecks for 15 years.

In Mexico, a legal breakdown invites brutal justice

Another Capo Killed?

Cancun ends with modest climate deal

All deals are off

Cancun carbon footprint by the numbers

Alejo Garza Tamez and the restoration of Mexico’s sacred narrative

PANAMA
Nationwide Emergency Number for Panama: 088

PERU
Constitutional Court prohibits Peruvian media from using secretly recorded phone calls

Peru-China ties better than ever, says Chinese Ambassador

PUERTO RICO
Puerto Rico Slaps Tax on Products by Companies Headquartered Elsewhere

VENEZUELA
Venezuela Threatens Takeover of Large Banks

President Hugo Chávez threatened to take control over the local unit of Spanish bank Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA and other large financial institutions if they don’t ensure that homes and apartments they finance are occupied immediately.

Mr. Chávez, who has brought his own brand of socialism to Venezuela, has nationalized more than 200 companies this year from various sectors of the economy.

Wikileaks:
Chavez is a brute and a clown, Evo an ignoramus and Ortega a ding bat dixit the Spanish foreign service
Hugo Chávez’s ex-wife gives Washington insights into strongman’s psyche: WikiLeaks