U.S.-Peru FTA in Jeopardy
A trade agreement between the United States and Peru could be rejected in Congress because of Peru’s weak labor record and the agreement’s lack of labor provisions. Like CAFTA (which passed by only two votes […]
Year: 2006
U.S. Meddling in Peruvian Presidential Race?
Something smells funny about the recent denunciation of maverick Peruvian presidential candidate Ollanta Humala for alleged human rights violations. Before the accusations, Humala was riding high as the leading candidate in Peru’s presidential elections. Investigations […]
FMLN Gains in El Salvador Elections Despite Lackluster Turnout
El Salvadorans cast ballots in 262 city mayoral races and elected 84 representatives to the national Legislative Assembly on Sunday, March 12. Despite being outspent 20-1 by the right wing ARENA party in the electoral campaign, the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) gained a seat or two in the National Assembly and looked likely to regain the mayor’s office in the capital city of San Salvador. Nationwide turnout approached 50%. […]
Latin America’s Leftist Shift: Hopes and Challenges
Within the last six years in
Ecuador Remains Unsettled
Ecuadorian soldiers fired tear gas on striking oil workers today, a month after protestors shut down two oil facilities. The Petroecuador workers are demanding full-time jobs and delayed payments, a company official said. "We have […]
Murder of Union Leader Goes Unpunished
It’s been fifteen months since Gilberto Soto, a Teamster from New Jersey who returned to his native El Salvador to organize port drivers in Central America was murdered. Yet the murder remains unsolved. Union officials […]
President-elect Chooses Free Trade Over Democracy
Oscar Arias, Costa Rica’s president-elect, has vowed to do everything in his power to push CAFTA through Congress despite widespread public opposition. "You should not have the least doubt that in this, we will not […]
No Business As Usual in El Salvador as CAFTA Takes Effect
There was little fanfare and much protest on March 1 as The Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) went into effect in El Salvador. The country is the first Central American nation to honor CAFTA and for the second straight day, thousands marched and traffic was snarled throughout San Salvador. Five other signatory nations have failed to meet US requirements necessary to join the agreement.
Closing Haiti’s Open Veins: Preval’s Impossible Mission
On February 7, 2006 (and with due homage to the great Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano) the people of Haiti were not to be denied. Few people anywhere have endured more oppression and human misery or for a longer period of time (with all too few periods of relief).
Venezuela Leads the Way: Welfare Mothers and Grassroots Women are the Workers for Social Change
There is screaming, hugging, chanting, and many shhhs; the group takes a momentary pause in their celebration to hear the news. A delegation of 70 women from all over the world, including, India, Uganda, Guyana, the UK, and the US stand together in the community of La Padera, Venezuela, awaiting the details.
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