Latest posts by David Sasaki from March, 2007
Honduras: Privatizing Hondutel
Mario Posas runs through the pros and cons of privatizing Hondutel, Honduras’ state-owned telecommunications monopoly. Update: From a reader: “This Honduran article that you wrote about appears to be a translation of a 1995 article??? It talks about President Reina and who is going to run for president in 1997....
Venezuela: Povery Statistics
Miguel Octavio challenges the latest numbers on poverty reported by Venezuela's new Minister of Finance Rodrigo Cabezas.
Guatemala: Garifuna
Chapinadas on Central America's Caribbean Garifuna population.
Costa Rica: Cafta, Point of Discord
Roy Rojas on the intense protests against the Central American Free Trade Agreement in Costa Rica: “what has happened in countries that have ratified the agreement, for example Nicaragua and El Salvador, is that exports to the US have gone up significantly and there has been no loss of employment...
Latin America: Bush vs Chávez
Calling George Bush's visit to Latin America, “a meaningless show”, Robert Borbow sketches a cartoon to show Bush and Hugo Chavez competing for influence in the region.
Chile: Censorship, Victor Jara and Los Tres
In his inimitable style, Tomás Dinges ties together the popularity of Mexican Rancheras and American hits, Chile's feudal history, the oppressive days of the dictatorship, the brutal murder of Victor Jara, and the censorship of video images by the producers of the massive concert recently held by Chilean folk-rock superheroes...
US, Brazil: Accord on Ethanol
Isabella Kenfield and Roger Burbach argue that “The US-Brazil Accord on Ethanol is good for GDP but very bad for rural poor.”
Bolivia: Constitutional Proposal by Podemos
Miguel Buitrago has a useful summary of a proposed new constitution by the Podemos political party.
Argentina: Maps and Buenos Aires’ Self Image
Robert Wright explains how the evolution of the free tourist map from Argentina's Subsecretaría de Turismo over the past two years demonstrates a gradual change in Buenos Aires’ self image. Also, a clarification about the odd orientation of maps of Buenos Aires.
Argentina: Chinatown
Buenos Aires Weekly has some great photos of Buenos Aires’ Chinatown neighborhood of Belgrano.
Guatemala: Community Radio
Tom Allan has posted his reflections on community radio in rural Guatemala on Indymedia.
Guatemala: Original USAC Building
Antigua Guatemala Daily Photo snaps a shot of the original building to house Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala.
Ecuador: President Versus Congress
Milton Ramirez has a great roundup of response to President Rafael Correa's sparring with Ecuador's congress including excerpts from English and Spanish-speaking bloggers.
Panama, Honduras: Fried Fish with Plaintains
This looks like a tasty combination: crispy fried whole fish from Panamanian chef Melissa de León with twice fried plantains from Honduras-based “La Gringa”.
Mexico: Braceros’ Social Security
Mark in Mexico writes that the Mexican government is having trouble counting “braceros”, the migrant workers given special work visas between 1942 and 1964.
Mexico: News Roundup
Coming back from maternity leave, the prolific Ana Maria Salazar summarizes some of the latest stories coming out of Mexico.
Panama: Addresses
Carlos Donderis, a Spanish blogger living in Panama, gets a kick out of Panamanian addresses [ES], which have more to do with description than a specific address.
Panama: Deftones Tribute and Beers and Blogs Meetup
Rob Rivera's blog is becoming much more than just a great source of laughs and insight into Panamanian culture – it's also becoming an inclusive social hotspot. The next two upcoming events: a tribute to the Deftones and the next “Beers & Blogs Panama”.
Peru: Maid's Rights in Lima
After a widely publicized protest against the harsh treatment of maids in Peru's beach resort communities, Hypathia's Daughter says the movement for maid's rights made a visit to the upper-class neighborhood of Miraflores in the capital city, Lima.
Uruguay: “Uncle Sam has left”
Gabo of From Uruguay chronicles Bush's recent visit to Montevideo.
Venezuela: Food Consumption, Chavez, and Barbara Walters
Oil Wars, responding to news of food shortages in Venezuela, points out that food consumption was up 16% in 2006: “Truth be told, after noting how chubby Chavez himself appeared in the Barbra Walters interview I suspected as much.” Daniel Duquenal, meanwhile, asks, “Does Barbara Walters work for Chavez?” Find...
