London’s Tate Modern is one of the most renowned art museums in the world. And right now Tate is exhibiting the work of Gabriel Orozco, a 48-year-old Mexican artist. Orozco garnered international acclaim in 1993 when he reconfigured a junked Citroen by carving the icon of French industry into three parts, making the vehicle appear […]
Following the eight year Presidency of Luis Ignacio Lula da Silva, Brazil has come to embody both the transformation of Latin America and the rising clout of developing world. Through a combination of heterodox public policies, ‘soft’ diplomacy and the internationalization of brand Brazil, the nation has finally shed its tragic nickname of the ‘country […]
As the ousting of Tunisian dictator Ben Ali sent shock waves and fear through the Arab world, ex-dictator Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier stunned the Western world with his surprised return on Jan. 16, 2011, developments that left political pundits puzzling. “It’s such a critically important moment for Haiti and this guy to drop in from […]
In a political climate marred by corruption, where 13 out of 15 ministry buildings collapsed while officials worked, government response was virtually nonexistent on Jan. 12, 2010. Although world leaders pledged support and huge sums of money, Many were dubious about the promised aid ever making it to Haiti given the frail political state of […]
Even prior to the January 2010 earthquake, more than 500,000 orphan children wander the streets of Haiti’s cities day and night. Known as the “soulless” and forgotten by their own people, they do what they must to survive each day. Children of Haiti follows three teenage boys as they reflect on their country and their […]
Mexico produced a record 25 million tons of tortillas last year. But given that tortillas are a staple of Mexican diet the country is still reliant on imports. Spikes in global corn and fuel prices, not to mention rising electricity prices in Mexico, have many worried about pass-on price hikes. So far, the increases have […]
Even as Washington refrains from commenting substantively on recent developments in Cuba, Fidel Castro continues to provide timely reflections on occurrences in the United States (not to mention internationally), underscoring his persisting importance as a public figure. The juxtaposition is striking: the open, transparent, democratic administration of the United States sneakily avoids the topic of […]
Haitians reflect on a disastrous year Port-au-Prince, Haiti— Year 2010 was arguably the longest of Haiti’s 206-year history, reflect some historians on the plurality of unprecedented events taken place in the country starting on January 12. Some recalled with up most clarity and disbelief as global television screens bled horrific images of apocalyptic episodes seared […]
Home away from home “Welcome to the home of your ancestors,” declared Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade in October 2010, welcoming 163 young Haitians to the campuses of many leading Senegalese universities, including the School Polytechnique of Tièce, the Faculty of Agronomy of Bambay and Cheikh Anta Diop University in downtown Dakar. “Your ancestors left here by physical […]
Overview 2010 was a year of ups and downs on the island, and in the US-Cuba relationship. Cuba watchers held their breath when US and Cuban officials met for discussions on migration and direct mail service, and when the two countries cooperated in the Haiti disaster relief effort. We began the year in a rush of optimistic […]
Hear my cries, I’m hurting! Port-au-Prince, Haiti–The Nov. 28 Haitian elections helped gain real insights into the state of the country on various levels, all inside one weekend when democracy was supposed to shine and lift the country’s morale above the debris, cholera’s death grip and ineffective governance to help the battered nation paint some […]
In case you missed it on the Latin America blog, Rich just posted on Mexico: International headlines focused on Mexico yesterday as an attempt at stealing oil from one of PEMEX’s pipelines resulted in 28 deaths and a town being covered in petrol and flames.According to sources, an organised gang made an attempt at stealing […]
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