Latin América Honduran Migrants Risk Violence and Murder to Reach US By Carlos Quintanilla The bodies of at least 120 Honduran citizens who were killed while trying to reach the United States since January 1st have been sent home. So far, about one hundred Hondurans have left the country every day this year, a quarter of those who did so in 2010, due to stricter US immigration laws. More Honduran migrants are [...]
Perú Run-Up to Peruvian Presidential Run-off By Carlos Quintanilla The winner of Perú’s first round of presidential elections, progressive Ollanta Humala, has explained that the purpose of the dialogues he has initiated with political, social and labor organizations is to offer the necessary concessions and to outline the principles upon which his government will operate, if elected. Round two will be on June 5th. Humala, who received 32% of the vote, is [...]
Latin América Repression Continues in Honduras By Carlos Quintanilla Social organizations condemn the recent wave of repression against demonstrators protesting the privatization of education and the high cost of living in Honduras. La Federación de Organizaciones de la Enseñanza (Federation of Teaching Organization) in Honduras, has stated that police have been firing tear gas shells and rubber bullets at demonstrators in several cities and detaining dozens of educators for demanding that the [...]
Latin América Social Problems in Honduras By Carlos Quintanilla The UN World Food Program (WFP) recently reported that about 800,000 Honduran children suffer from chronic malnutrition. An alarming number of Honduran families live without access to basic foods, where seven of every 10 people live in poverty, according to the WFP. President Porfirio Lobo declared 2011 as a year of food and nutrition security, and announced a strategy to guarantee the right [...]
Latin América Ecuador Prioritizes Employment, Health Care, and Education By Carlos Quintanilla The Government of Ecuador has announced the reduction of unemployment during recent years to five percent, the lowest rate of Rafael Correa’s Administration. In 2010, over a quarter of a million jobs were created, demonstrating the country’s economic recovery. Additionally, the Ecuadorian Department of Planning and Development says that the first five years of Civil Revolution show promising results in [...]
Latin América Unemployment, AIDS and Child Exploitation on the Increase By Carlos Quintanilla A recent report published by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) says that at least 48 percent of Salvadorans have substandard jobs and earn less than a minimum wage. According to the report, six percent of that figure constitutes people unable to find any job. The UNDP says that since 1960 there have been no government plans to cut [...]
Latin América Colombia: Unfair Decision Against Piedad Córdoba By Carlos Quintanilla Colombian Senator, Piedad Córdoba, was banned from public office on September 27 for 18 years because of her alleged ties to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). FARC is regarded as a terrorist organization by Colombia, the United States and Europe. Córdoba is also a peace activist, and is the leader of the civil society group “Colombians for Peace,” She [...]
Latin América Social and Political Struggles of Honduras By Carlos Quintanilla The Honduran National Popular Resistance Front surpassed its goal of collecting 1.25 million signatures to demand the return of former President Manuel Zelaya. According to community station Globo Radio, the signatures were collected in cities, towns and villages of the country’s 18 provinces. The aim of the resistance movement is to convene a Constituent Assembly to change the constitution in effect [...]
Latin América Dilma Rousseff Brazil’s Presidential Favorite By Carlos Quintanilla According to a recent survey by the Sensus Institute published on Brazilian digital media, Worker's Party (PT) presidential candidate, Dilma Rousseff, leads the presidential race, there. Rousseff has 41.6 percent voter approval. Jose Serra, of the Brazilian opposition Democratic Social Party (PSDB), is in second place with 31.6 percent, followed by Marina Silva, Green Party (PV), candidate, with 8.5 percent. Serra, 68, [...]
Rejection of US Military Presence in Central America —By Carlos Quintanilla The Honduran Women’s Peace Movement has rejected the increased US military presence in their country, as well as the installation of two new bases. “The US Administration clearly intends to continue extending its operational range in Honduras,” declared the Movement in a release which was broadcast on Radio Progreso. “Last year’s coup against President Manuel Zelaya was Pentagon strategy to pave [...]
By Carlos Quintanilla Juan Manuel Santos, former National Defense Minister of Colombia, became President-elect with 69 percent of the runoff vote on Sunday, June 20. He defeated Green Party candidate Antanas Mockus who received 27.5 percent. Nearly 30 million Colombians were eligible to vote in the runoffs, but only 9 million went to the polls. The rest, according to Diario El Tiempo, stayed home to watch the World Cup games. In his [...]
By Carlos Quintanilla Since the beginning of May, thousands of Honduran teachers led by the Federation of Teachers’ Organizations of Honduras (FOMH) have been marching and demonstrating to protest against government plans to privatize primary and secondary schools. These actions began in Tegucigalpa, Honduras’ capital, and the provinces of Morazán, Yoro and Cortes, spreading to cities of Comayagua and Lempira. According to community station Radio Progreso, Honduran educators reject government attempts to [...]