Gay Marriage Legal in Argentina
Today, Argentina became the first country in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage when 33 senators voted in favor of the bill, with 27 opposed and three abstaining. The new law grants gays and lesbians all the same legal rights, responsibilities and protections of marriage as heterosexual couples. With the strong support of President Cristina … Read more
From Paraguay. World Cup Fever Comes to a Close
As soon as I arrived in Paraguay last week, I could see that the country was in the grips of football fever. It was impossible to forget, even for a minute, that the World Cup was on and that Paraguay’s team was doing extremely well. Every public space was draped with a Paraguayan flag. Every … Read more
Weekly Roundup from Across the Americas
From the Americas Society/Council of the Americas. AS/COA Online’s news brief examines the major—as well as some of the overlooked—events and stories occurring across the Americas. Check back every Wednesday for the weekly roundup. Sign up to receive the Weekly Roundup via email. Honduras Marks Coup Anniversary A year after the overthrow of Manuel Zelaya, … Read more
Lugo Calls for Venezuela’s Entry into Mercosur
Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo made a passionate call to Congress on Saturday for legislators to approve Venezuela’s entry into the Mercosur trade bloc. “Let’s think seriously in terms of the future…this will inevitably benefit both economically and commercially our country [Paraguay],” Lugo announced. He also called on lawmakers not to limit a country of millions … Read more
World Cup: Latin America Continues to Impress
When the knock-out round of the World Cup begins Saturday morning, the Western Hemisphere will have almost half of the final 16 teams in contention, and at least two teams (the winners of Argentina vs. Mexico on Sunday and also Brazil vs. Chile) guaranteed in the final eight. Even more compelling: both 2006 finalists, Italy … Read more
Weekly Roundup from Across the Americas
From the Americas Society/Council of the Americas. AS/COA Online’s news brief examines the major—as well as some of the overlooked—events and stories occurring across the Americas. Check back every Wednesday for the weekly roundup. Sign up to receive the Weekly Roundup via email. Colombians to Pick Next Prez in June 20 Vote Former Defense Minister … Read more
Hillary Clinton’s Quito Address: Now Comes the Hard Part
Hillary Clinton responded to the drumbeat of demands for a major administration policy speech on Latin America this week during her stopover in Quito, Ecuador. The U.S. secretary of state was working her way back home—due to also visit Colombia and Barbados—after attending the annual Organization of American States (OAS) General Assembly in Lima, Peru. … Read more
Weekly Roundup from Across the Americas
From the Americas Society/Council of the Americas. AS/COA Online’s news brief examines the major—as well as some of the overlooked—events and stories occurring across the Americas. Check back every Wednesday for the weekly roundup. Sign up to receive the Weekly Roundup via email. Secretary Clinton Stresses Private-Sector Role in Hemispheric Relations At the Council of … Read more
Dirty Money
Politics has long been a magnet for drug money in Latin America. In the 1970s, Costa Rican politicians were accused of accepting contributions from the late Robert Vesco, a U.S. financier who settled in Costa Rica after fleeing prosecution at home. Vesco, some of whose money purportedly came from heroin smuggling, was a major backer … Read more
Nestor Kirchner to Lead UNASUR
Former Argentine President Néstor Kirchner was chosen today to be the first secretary general of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) at a summit outside of Buenos Aires attended by heads of state and foreign ministers from the 12 countries that comprise the group. Speaking after today’s vote, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da … Read more
Weekly Roundup from Across the Americas
From the Americas Society/Council of the Americas. AS/COA Online’s news brief examines the major—as well as some of the overlooked—events and stories occurring across the Americas. Check back every Wednesday for the weekly roundup. Sign up to receive the Weekly Roundup via email. Mexico Issues Arizona Travel Warning In response to Arizona’s tough new immigration … Read more
Weekly Roundup from Across the Americas
From the Americas Society/Council of the Americas. AS/COA Online’s news brief examines the major—as well as some of the overlooked—events and stories occurring across the Americas. Check back every Wednesday for the weekly roundup. Sign up to receive the Weekly Roundup via email. 2010 Energy and Climate Ministerial Convenes in Washington Energy ministers from the … Read more
Ecuador Makes New Plea for UNASUR
Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Ricardo Patiño reported today that he received a “very positive responses” from the governments of Chile and Uruguay following Ecuador’s request to speed up ratification of the treaty that will legally form the Unión de Naciones Suramericanas (UNASUR). Patiño is currently on a three-day tour of the Southern Cone, which will conclude … Read more
Mujica Visit to Venezuela Focuses on Energy, Commerce
President of Uruguay José Mujica met Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez in the presidential palace this morning during his first official visit to Caracas. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolás Maduro received Mujica on Tuesday afternoon. Luis Almagro, foreign minister of Uruguay, and Roberto Kreimerman, minister of industry, accompanied Mujica. Almagro said the two leaders planned to discuss … Read more
World Cup Fever Heats Up: A Preliminary Analysis
The 2010 World Cup may be just months away (June 11 kick-off), but futbol fanatics in Latin America can hardly wait. Impatience is understandable. In Latin America, soccer is more than a sport; it is the sport. The World Cup generates a nationalist soccer fervor that brews for four years and culminates in a month-long … Read more
