The entire hemisphere is listening to the news on Japan. The LatinAmericanist has a roundup of LatAm ”desaparecidos” in post-earthquake Japan
LATIN AMERICA
Buoyed by Recovery, Migrants Send Home More Money
Tsunami waves graze Latin America’s Pacific coast
ARGENTINA
Peronists seek to stifle Vargas Llosa
Why is a segment, perhaps the majority, of the Argentine electorate insensitive to these violations of the law and moral standards? In my view, for three reasons:
• Because, 60 years ago, Peronism introduced a practice of patronage politics in which the militants give their support in exchange for some privilege or gift given by the politicians. They vote with their stomachs, not with their hearts or heads.
• Because a cynical attitude prevails towards the democratic system, built on the false premise that “all politicians are equally corrupt.” (That’s not true; in Argentina there are honest politicians and officials.)
• Because many Argentines, after several generations of continuous apathy, are willing to flout the law if they obtain some benefit from it. That makes a mockery of the republican ideal of a society of thoughtful citizens, voluntarily placed under the authority of the law. That responsible attitude simply does not prevail in a country where it’s common to boast about breaking the rules.
It’s no wonder that this lamentable civic climate nurtures an atmosphere conducive to the use of fascist tactics inimical to republican virtues, a habit of using some degree of violence against those who report violations of law, or simply express opinions contrary to the official current.
Bones and human rights
Identifying skeletal remains
BRAZIL
Brazil’s labour laws
Employer, beware
An archaic labour code penalises businesses and workers alike
CHILE
Chile-Japan nexus
COLOMBIA
22 Oil Workers Are Freed
Marxist guerrillas have freed 22 of the 23 oil workers for Canadian energy company Talisman Energy Inc. who were kidnapped late Monday, Defense Minister Rodrigo Rivera said Tuesday.
Mr. Rivera said one of the 23 was released or escaped Monday night, while the 21 others were freed early Tuesday because of heavy pursuit by Colombia’s armed forces.
Managing cities
Bogotá’s rise and fall
Can Enrique Peñalosa restore a tarnished municipal model?
Tehran says is keen to cement ties with Colombia
Gaddafi and Castro, Solidarity Between Despots
A little less Che & a little more Tea for Cuba?
Continue reading on Examiner.com: A little less Che & a little more Tea for Cuba? – Portland TEA Party | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/tea-party-in-portland-me/a-little-less-che-a-little-more-tea-for-cuba#ixzz1GaMNN1c3
ECUADOR
Tsunami waves hit the Galapagos,
MEXICO
Dallas News report: Path of Destruction, via Silvio Canto.
Suicidal: Obama Sends 20 More ICE Agents to Mexico… Unarmed, article also at the Washington Examiner, Obama sending more unarmed agents into Mexico
Current Mexican law bans foreign law enforcement agents from carrying weapons, even when working on an investigation–a policy over which President Obama recently expressed his approval.
American Professor Kidnapped in Mexico
ATF Let Guns “Walk” Into Hands Of Mexican Drug-Gangs?
ATF Lied, Mexicans Died, via Doug Ross.
Should Mexico Go the ‘British Way’?
México tuvo menos homicidios que varios países, incluyendo a Venezuela
los países que están por arriba de México son Brasil (con 25,3 homicidios por cada cien mil habitantes), Jamaica (32,4), Belice (32,7), Colombia (37,3), Venezuela (48,0), Sudáfrica (49,6) y El Salvador (61,0).
PBS Documentary, U.S. mayor, police chief charged with smuggling guns to Mexico
Wanted: Officers to Retake Mexico
The Storm that Swept Mexico, airing on May 15,
TRAILER – The Storm That Swept Mexico from Paradigm Productions on Vimeo.
PERU
Peru elections shaken by reports of drug money
PUERTO RICO
Third U.S. Tsunami Center May Be Headed to Puerto Rico
Walking a tightrope 60 feet above the ground, El acróbata Rick Wallenda imita en Puerto Rico la hazaña en la que murió su abuelo
VENEZUELA
BFFs
OAS monitor concerned with gov’t attacks on press in Venezuela
The week’s posts and podcasts,
After the Gross sentence: More concessions from Obama?
Cuba: Alan Gross sentenced to 15 yrs in prison
Congress must pass the FTAs with Colombia and Panama
Why the Obama administration’s silence on Chavez and Castro? UPDATED with VIDEO
