Content about Caribbean & Latin America

South America continues to attract large foreign mining conglomerates which have invested 30% of the world’s mining investments. Recently, Xstrata, the Anglo-Swiss mining giant confirmed that it will proceed with its $4.2 billion Las Bambas copper project in Peru. The company now has $5 billion (SFr4.1 billion) in projects in Peru which includes its $1.47 billion Antapaccay project. It also runs the Tintaya copper mine and has a stake in the expansive Antamina copper pit.

The hijab (muslim woman’s head dress) recently received new status in Argentina and Tunisia. In the South American country of Argentina, thanks to historic legislation passed by Argentine President Cristina Fernandez and her government, Muslim women are now allowed to wear the hijab in public places and in pictures for national ID cards. Across the Atlantic in the North African state of Tunisia, the hijab is also making news. Since the deposed dictator Zine el Abidine Ben Ali and his regime are no longer in power, Muslim women are reverting to wearing the hijab.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula de Silva was officially recognized by the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the World Food Program (WFP), both commissions of the United Nations, as a ‘Champion’ for his aggressive leadership role in the effort to end hunger and improve nutrition in Brazil, and the developing world, and for re-emphasizing hunger as a critical global concern and U.N. priority. 

Mr Manning admitted defeat live on television, saying he took full responsibility for the result. He called the election last month, as his administration came under pressure over allegations of waste spending and corruption.

No water and fire. Those are the words on many lips in the Caribbean as record breaking high temperatures (35 degrees Celsius) and low rainfall is affecting livelihood and life in the Caribbean. February 2010 was the driest February on record in Trinidad and Tobago receiving only 2.1mm of rainfall. Prior to that the driest February was in 1960 when 4.9mm of rain fell. The average rainfall in February for the past 30 years has been 43mm. 

The recent 28 -year anniversary of the undeclared war between Britain and Argentina over the Falkland Islands, or as they are known in Spanish - Islas Malvinas - arrived and passed with no apparent resolution over the questions of jurisdiction over the islands, and now - the surrounding territorial waters.

Recently I was surprised to discover that many participants at a conference in Washington DC could not locate the Caribbean on a map. Some said it was close to Africa while others simply believed that the Caribbean was a sun, sea and sand destination that was somewhere out there. This definition of the physical boundaries of the Caribbean should therefore shed some light on the physical location of Caribbean neighbors.

Bolivian President Evo Morales celebrated a victorious re-election to his second consecutive term of office as head of the multi-cultural nation. Mr Morales is making history as the first indigenous president of Bolivia, a champion of the native people who live primarily in the eastern highlands, and who contributed greatly to the sweeping 64 percent vote  that won Morales the presidency.

Lawmakers in Mexico are contemplating the enactment of laws which would make writing or performing songs or films that glorify criminals or criminal activity illegal. Along with the continued nationwide crackdown on the drug cartels initiated by Mexican President Felipe Calderon which mobilized thousands of soldiers and federal police, legislators in the Mexican Congress have now concluded that the culture of the drug world must also be curtailed, if not eradicated.

Could Venezuela surpass Saudi Arabia as the top oil-producer in the world? Geologists at the earth science think-tank, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), have made just such an assessment. Scientists there claim that the Orinoco belt region in Venezuela may have the potential to yeild 800 billion barrels of oil - approximately twice the amount the area was originally thought to hold. The Orinoco oil belt is located on the southernmost strip of Venezuela’s eastern Orinoco River basin.

Four years ago, Cuba and Jamaica embarked on a mission to provide desperately needed routine and critical eye care for people of Jamaica, and the Caricom region in general.  The Jamaica/Cuba Eye Care Project has, since its inception, screened some 20,000 patients, and performed over 4,000 eye surgeries to treat cataracts and other anomalies in patients who otherwise may never have received care. 

The government of Venezuela announced the devaluation of its currency, the Venezuelan Bolivar, amid a broad range of decisive steps it has taken to rebound from the impacts of the year-long drought that has forced the enactment of water and energy rationing, and the persistent economic challenges of the global financial crisis. President Hugo Chavez explained the benefit for his country that he expects to derive from the devaluation.