Thursday, July 29, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
The Wooden Bowl – El bol de madera wins the following book awards!
Congratulations to the writer for this magnificent work for generations to come!
Gates & Buffett: Get Your Friends To Pay Taxes and We Won’t Need Their Donations!
Even if this article does not belong directly to the realm of Latino affairs, it is a good reminder of the painful times non-profit organizations -many of which stand for Latinos- are going through with a slow down in their donation income.
Gates is the one rich guy I always had as an example of smart giving. I know and was a part of his foundation work with libraries and Latinos around the country -Spanish Language Outreach at http://www.webjunction.org/spanish- which brought a wealth of information and library action to this community.
However, this is one more sign of the times we live in! A few people in charge of the nation's destiny instead of the vast majority of people in charge of their own destiny.
Gates is the one rich guy I always had as an example of smart giving. I know and was a part of his foundation work with libraries and Latinos around the country -Spanish Language Outreach at http://www.webjunction.org/spanish- which brought a wealth of information and library action to this community.
However, this is one more sign of the times we live in! A few people in charge of the nation's destiny instead of the vast majority of people in charge of their own destiny.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Immigrants are major part of memorial day
"As of last year," says Saif Kahn, an immigrant from India, who joined the Virginia Army National Guard in the year 2000, "about 29,000 people serving in our military did not have U.S. citizenship."
Kahn served as a combat engineer in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004 and 2005. In this article, he worries about the soldiers who are serving to obtain citizenship, and their families left behind.
Another proof of our current immigration law injustice: immigrants cannot work legally in this country but can pay taxes; immigrants can fight for this country but do not have the right to obtain citizenship until -maybe- it is too late.
Why the immigration debate has come to a stall, when at least 60% of Latinos voted Obama for office? Promises were done in the midst of the election excitement. However, once again, the immigration reform is left for last. How do you think organized immigration leaders should show their active disagreement?
Kahn served as a combat engineer in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004 and 2005. In this article, he worries about the soldiers who are serving to obtain citizenship, and their families left behind.
Another proof of our current immigration law injustice: immigrants cannot work legally in this country but can pay taxes; immigrants can fight for this country but do not have the right to obtain citizenship until -maybe- it is too late.
Why the immigration debate has come to a stall, when at least 60% of Latinos voted Obama for office? Promises were done in the midst of the election excitement. However, once again, the immigration reform is left for last. How do you think organized immigration leaders should show their active disagreement?
Monday, May 24, 2010
EU eases trade with Latin America at Madrid summit
The European Union is opening trade with Latin America and the Caribbean, in an attempt to increase relationships with the region and bring economic growth to the EU, despite opposition from popular leaders on both sides of the Atlantic.
After a failed effort to reach an EU-US summit back in February of this year, when a planned meeting with President Obama was cancelled, the EU faces austerity measures and public sector strikes.
Right before last week summit in Madrid, the EU and a Central American block formed by Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama agreed on a trade baseline that will include total market opening for industrial products from both parties.
Similar negotiations were discussed with South American leaders from the Mercosur. However, agreements were harder to be reached due to the protectionist policies of countries in both sides. Negotiations will continue after the summit.
Spanish socialist leader Zapatero stated that "In an increasingly globalized world where the source of prosperity lies in uniting efforts, the capacity for economic growth lies in openness and liberalization." Are these agreements beneficial to LAC countries -Latin America and the Caribbean- or will this be a reinstatement of the NAFTA effect that brought misery and poverty to the LAC region?
La Unión Europea facilita el intercambio comercial con América Latina en la cumbre de Madrid
La Unión Europea abre mayor intercambio comercial con América Latina y el Caribe en un intento por mejorar las relaciones con países de la región y aumentar el crecimiento económico de sus miembros, a pesar de la oposición de líderes populares a ambos lados del Atlántico.
Después del intento fallido de llegar a una cumbre de negociación entre la Unión Europea y los Estados Unidos en febrero de este año y la cancelación del encuentro con el presidente Obama, la Unión Europea se enfrenta a medidas de austeridad y la consecuente reacción del sector público.
Antes del encuentro cumbre realizado en Madrid durante la semana pasada, la Unión Europea y el bloque de países centroamericanos formado por Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá acordaron un base de intercambio que incluye la apertura total de mercados entre las partes para el intercambio de productos industriales.
Negociaciones similares se intentaron con líderes sudamericanos del Mercosur. Sin embargo, las políticas proteccionistas de países en ambos grupos plantearon dificultades para arribar a los acuerdos propuestos. Las negociaciones pertinentes proseguirán después del encuentro.
El líder español socialista Zapatero declaró que “en un mundo crecientemente globalizado donde la fuente de prosperidad se basa en la unión de los esfuerzos, la capacidad de desarrollo económico reside en la apertura y la liberalización.” Me pregunto: ¿Estos acuerdos son beneficiosos para los países de América Latina y el Caribe o será solo una reinstauración del efecto NAFTA que trajo pobreza y miseria a la región?
After a failed effort to reach an EU-US summit back in February of this year, when a planned meeting with President Obama was cancelled, the EU faces austerity measures and public sector strikes.
Right before last week summit in Madrid, the EU and a Central American block formed by Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama agreed on a trade baseline that will include total market opening for industrial products from both parties.
Similar negotiations were discussed with South American leaders from the Mercosur. However, agreements were harder to be reached due to the protectionist policies of countries in both sides. Negotiations will continue after the summit.
Spanish socialist leader Zapatero stated that "In an increasingly globalized world where the source of prosperity lies in uniting efforts, the capacity for economic growth lies in openness and liberalization." Are these agreements beneficial to LAC countries -Latin America and the Caribbean- or will this be a reinstatement of the NAFTA effect that brought misery and poverty to the LAC region?
La Unión Europea facilita el intercambio comercial con América Latina en la cumbre de Madrid
La Unión Europea abre mayor intercambio comercial con América Latina y el Caribe en un intento por mejorar las relaciones con países de la región y aumentar el crecimiento económico de sus miembros, a pesar de la oposición de líderes populares a ambos lados del Atlántico.
Después del intento fallido de llegar a una cumbre de negociación entre la Unión Europea y los Estados Unidos en febrero de este año y la cancelación del encuentro con el presidente Obama, la Unión Europea se enfrenta a medidas de austeridad y la consecuente reacción del sector público.
Antes del encuentro cumbre realizado en Madrid durante la semana pasada, la Unión Europea y el bloque de países centroamericanos formado por Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá acordaron un base de intercambio que incluye la apertura total de mercados entre las partes para el intercambio de productos industriales.
Negociaciones similares se intentaron con líderes sudamericanos del Mercosur. Sin embargo, las políticas proteccionistas de países en ambos grupos plantearon dificultades para arribar a los acuerdos propuestos. Las negociaciones pertinentes proseguirán después del encuentro.
El líder español socialista Zapatero declaró que “en un mundo crecientemente globalizado donde la fuente de prosperidad se basa en la unión de los esfuerzos, la capacidad de desarrollo económico reside en la apertura y la liberalización.” Me pregunto: ¿Estos acuerdos son beneficiosos para los países de América Latina y el Caribe o será solo una reinstauración del efecto NAFTA que trajo pobreza y miseria a la región?
Monday, May 17, 2010
Las dictaduras latinoamericanas enfrentan a la justicia, después de varias décadas
Con este título optimista, Noticias IPS encabeza una serie de artículos que ofrecen un panorama de los intentos de justicia en diferentes países latinoamericanos y España. Desde la condena de varios militares argentinos en la “cadena de comando”, pasando por el enjuiciamiento del juez Garzon en Espana, y hasta la liberación de dos soldados y un policía acusados por la desaparición de campesinos peruanos, estos artículos nos recuerdan que todavía no estamos donde deberíamos en el tema de los derechos humanos.
Empezando por la era de Franco y siguiendo con las trece dictaduras militares que ocurrieron durante los 60 y los 70 en Latinoamérica, solo pocos de estos países se han atrevido a adentrarse en los horrores del secuestro, la violación, la tortura y la matanza de millones de sus ciudadanos. Una buena manera de ponerse al día con estos temas en ambos lados del Atlántico, y una pregunta por contestar: ¿Qué es lo que impide que los líderes democráticos latinoamericanos juzguen y castiguen a los culpables?
Empezando por la era de Franco y siguiendo con las trece dictaduras militares que ocurrieron durante los 60 y los 70 en Latinoamérica, solo pocos de estos países se han atrevido a adentrarse en los horrores del secuestro, la violación, la tortura y la matanza de millones de sus ciudadanos. Una buena manera de ponerse al día con estos temas en ambos lados del Atlántico, y una pregunta por contestar: ¿Qué es lo que impide que los líderes democráticos latinoamericanos juzguen y castiguen a los culpables?
Latin America Dictatorships Meet Justice, Decades On
A series of articles under this optimistic heading in IPS news brings a panorama of the attempts to make justice in different Latin American countries and Spain. From the conviction of several Argentinean military officers in the “chain of command" to the prosecution of Judge Garzón in Spain to the acquittal of two soldiers and a police officer accused of the disappearance of Peruvian peasant, these articles tell us that we are not yet where we should be regarding human rights.
Starting with the Franco era and following with thirteen military dictatorships in the 60s and 70s in Latin American countries, only a few of these countries have dug dip into the horrors of kidnapping, raping, torturing and killing millions. A great update of what is happening on these issues on both sides of the Atlantic, and a question to be asked: What is stopping democratic leaders in Latin America from prosecuting and convicting these cases?
Starting with the Franco era and following with thirteen military dictatorships in the 60s and 70s in Latin American countries, only a few of these countries have dug dip into the horrors of kidnapping, raping, torturing and killing millions. A great update of what is happening on these issues on both sides of the Atlantic, and a question to be asked: What is stopping democratic leaders in Latin America from prosecuting and convicting these cases?
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