Juanson World

Hoping to resurrect this blog

2009-04-08T18:24:00.000-04:00

Have a bit more free time now. Stay tuned.

Happy Earth Day

2008-04-22T13:04:00.001-04:00

Windsor Mann waxes poetic about styrophobia. Great SBTB reference.

2008-03-24T11:39:00.000-04:00

Monday, March 24, 2008

Spain and US: Latin Partners?

The United States should explore broader cooperation with Spain in Latin America, where their companies face similar challenges.

LATIN TIES: Spain maintains close ties with countries like Mexico. Here Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero with Mexican President Felipe Calderon. (Photo: Government of Mexico)

TENSE MEETING: Spain's King Juan Carlos (center) and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (right) at the Ibero-American Summit in Chile in November. At left, the host, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet. (Photo: Iberchile)

BY ERIC FARNSWORTH
AND CHRISTIAN GOMEZ

The re-election of Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero on March 9 was noted without enthusiasm in Washington. After all, soon after his first election in 2004, Zapatero fulfilled a campaign promise when he hastily withdrew Spanish troops from Iraq, and he remains the only EU leader who has not met with President Bush. Yet despite these differences, Zapatero’s re-election may in fact provide an opportunity for renewed collaboration, so long as both Madrid and Washington put pragmatism before ideology and focus on areas where progress can actually be made.

The results of the Spanish election were close, though not unexpected. American voters might recognize the hot button issues: a slowing economy, immigration, and terrorism. The March 9 contest was a rematch of 2004, when Zapatero came from behind in the polls to defeat Popular Party leader Mariano Rajoy three days after the March 11 train bombings, which were mishandled by the ruling conservatives. This time around, the socialists were able to hold on despite a burst in the housing bubble that has led to increased unemployment and a ten-year high in inflation, and Zapatero has already announced a program to juice the economy going forward.

The question for the United States is, where do we go from here? Yes, there is residual bad blood over the fact that Zapatero failed to stand as the American flag passed by during Columbus Day commemorations in 2003, and the uncoordinated manner in which Spanish troops were withdrawn from Iraq. In addition, Spain has recently taken steps to increase engagement with Cuba, a policy at odds with the United States embargo as the baton has been passed from Fidel to Raul Castro. These are important and emotionally-charged issues.

Yet despite this diplomatic overhang, there are many areas where the United States and Spain are partners, including the war on terror given the fact that the United States actively maintains two military bases in Spain, including one which serves as the main transit point between the United States and Iraq and Afghanistan. On trade and investment, Spanish investment in the U.S. renewable energy sector is soaring: Spanish companies own the largest solar and wind power plants in the world, both located in the United States. Spanish financial, tourism, and telecommunications service providers are also aggressively moving into the U.S. market, focusing in particular on the growing Hispanic market here.

Moreover, both countries have invested heavily in Latin America. Spanish and American firms face similar challenges in the region in terms of the rule of law, corruption, tax policies, and education levels, to name but a few. Together, our nations should work to improve Latin America’s competitiveness and standing in the global economy. One specific way could be by establishing an expectation for corporate social responsibility which would encourage participation in such activities by Latin American corporate entities themselves. Energy and climate change is another area ripe for exploration, and cooperation between the United States and Spain would provide an anchor for Latin America in both North America and Europe in addressing these critical issues together.

We should also explore broader cooperation in Latin America. After all, it was an exasperated King Juan Carlos who, speaking for most if not all of the leaders present, harshly rebuked Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez during the 2007 Ibero-American Summit. His “Por que no te callas” (Why don’t you shut up?) instantly became a leading candidate for inclusion in the Spanish language equivalent of Bartlett’s quotations. And with the recent revelations of Chavez’ funding for the vicious FARC guerrillas in Colombia, Spain and the United States should consider standing together to support democracy in the Andes by establishing, with other willing regional partners, a contact group for Venezuela that would begin to forge a path toward mitigating the worst tendencies of the Venezuelan regime.

If the United States and Spain focus on those areas that potentially unite us rather than divide us, we will be best able to address the issues that are most in our self-interest. The one certainty about the Spanish elections is that Prime Minister Zapatero will now have the opportunity to work with a new U.S. president next year. But there’s no compelling reason why we should choose to wait that long.

Eric Farnsworth is vice president of the Council of the Americas. Christian Gomez, Jr. is program assistant for democratic governance at the Inter-American Dialogue. Both are in Washington. They wrote this column for Latin Business Chronicle.

© Copyright Latin Business Chronicle

Venezuela, Mexico Need to Reform State Oil Companies

2008-01-19T06:28:00.000-05:00

By Marifeli Pérez-Stable and Christian Gómez

WASHINGTON , DC—On January 3, crude oil futures broke $100 a barrel for the first time ever. While prices have cooled since then, falling below $90 a barrel on January 16, worldwide demand for oil shows no signs of abating. Although high oil prices have led to soaring government revenues for the main oil-producing countries in Latin America, continued high prices will affect each country differently. The main factor is the behavior of national oil companies.

Mexico will not stand to take advantage of the boom in oil prices. Increased oil revenues, which represent 35 percent of public spending, helped Mexico grow 3.5 percent in 2007, the highest rate since 1989. Nevertheless, Pemex, the state oil monopoly, is in dire financial and technological straits. Production is declining and may have already peaked, due to a lack of investment and exploration. Some analysts predict that Mexico might become a net oil importer in 10 years. Opening up the oil sector to foreign companies requires a change in the Constitution—a daunting political fight on the immediate horizon for President Felipe Calderon.

Despite claims to the contrary, Venezuela's PDVSA has also seen a fall in output. On January 7, El Universal reported that in 2007 oil production was 680,000 barrels per day (bpd) lower than the goal set by PDVSA's 2012 strategic plan, and 430,000 bpd lower than the 2007 national budget estimate. High oil prices have fueled President Hugo Chavez's domestic and international spending sprees, but increased spending will become unsustainable should prices fall, as no significant new oil reserves have been discovered. The likelihood of such discoveries has declined as Chavez has nationalized projects owned by foreign oil companies. While increased oil revenues led to 8.4 percent growth last year, inflation was 22.5 percent, the highest in the region.

Pemex and PDVSA might serve to learn from Brazil's Petrobras, which recently set a daily production record of just over 2 million barrels. Two reasons explain Petrobras' higher oil output. In 1997, Petrobras opened exploration and production to competition from outside companies. Since 2000, it has sold shares in the New York and Sao Paulo stock markets. Today, about 60 percent of total equity belongs to outside shareholders. The company has developed technological expertise in deepwater drilling. The Tupi deepwater field, discovered in November, is estimated to hold between five and eight billion barrels, representing the world's biggest oil find in the last eight years.

On January 14, Calderon, Chavez, and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met in Guatemala City at the inauguration of Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom. "One day, oil is going to run out," said Chavez. "We were talking ... looking for a way to become partners, to form an alliance ... to create new ways of cooperating to increase reserves." Chavez's moment of prescience aside, cooperation will not be enough to weather a potential fiscal crisis—with implications for the regional economy—should prices fall without needed reforms in Mexico and Venezuela.

Marifeli Pérez-Stable is Vice President for Democratic Governance at the Inter-American Dialogue. Christian Gómez is a Program Assistant at the Dialogue.

Monday's News

2007-08-13T10:19:00.001-04:00

Aiming for a New Pittsburgh, and Falling Short – New York Times
Noriega To Ask Judge to Block Extradition – Miami Herald
Fireworks Mark Castro’s 81^st Birthday – Miami Herald
Medical Tourism Will Be the Next Big Latin American Boom (Oppenheimer) – Miami Herald
Mexico City’s Princess and the Paupers – LA Times
Latin America Agenda – Financial Times
Chavez Deepens Petrocaribe Oil Pledges – AP
‘Stolen’ Guatemalan Children Found – BBC
The Free-Trade Divide (Broder) – Washington Post

Friday's News

2007-07-20T17:45:00.000-04:00

Government prosecutors are seeking to close the Congonhas airport in Sao Paulo. New York Times

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner announced her presidential bid. McLatchy

Fernandez announced that she would continue the economic policies of her husband’s government were she to be elected president. Financial Times

Bolivia signed a deal for the largest foreign investment ever in the country, a $2.1 billion deal with Indian company Jindal Steel and Power. Financial Times

Fidel Castro is visible, but Raul Castro is still firmly in control of Cuba. Financial Times

El Nuevo Herald speculates whether Venevisión owner Gustavo Cisneros and Venzeulan president Hugo Chavez cut a deal back in 2004. El Nuevo Herald

Monday's News

2007-07-16T11:30:00.000-04:00

Sergio Fajardo has revitalized Medellin as mayor through various construction projects and increase in funding for education. New York Times

Corruption cases have been prosecuted in Brazil, whereas in the past they may have been swept under the rug. Washington Post

Forty percent of the economy of Opopeo, Mexico is supported by remittances. Miami Herald

Community councils in Venezuela are part of president Hugo Chavez’s 21^st century socialism. Miami Herald

Andres Oppenheimer argues that a higher ranking Spanish official should have met with Cuba’s dissidents during a Spanish delegation visit in April. Miami Herald

Santo Domingo’s poorest residents are fighting to save the city’s trees. LA Times

Bolivian president Evo Morales aims to increase legal industrial production of coca products while eliminating illegal cocaine production. LA Times

Panama’s vice president Samuel Lewis called for the US to ratify the FTA with Panama. Financial Times

Brazil has requested the extradition of Russian Boris Berezovsky for money laundering; Argentina continues to face energy shortages; RCTV is back in Venezuela on satellite; and further tapes have been revealed in Ecuador’s “secret videos” scandal. FT Latin American Agenda

Jose Maria Aznar argues for the ratification of the US-Colombia FTA. Wall Street Journal

Fidel Castro writes in an essay that the US allows terrorist attacks to happen on its own soil. AP

Thursday's News

2007-07-12T12:24:00.001-04:00

Mexican factories remain closed following explosions linked to the Popular Revolutionary Army rebel group. New York Times, Washington Post, Financial Times

The Chilean supreme court refused to honor extradition requests to send former president Alberto Fujimori to Peru to stand trial. Washington Post, Miami Herald, Financial Times

The Venezuelan stock market has suffered a large blow through the nationalization of the privately owned telecommunications and gas companies by Hugo Chavez. Miami Herald

Copper prices have spiked in Chile after a strike at the Collahuasi mine. Financial Times

Rio hopes that hosting the Pan American Games will revitalize the city as well as help its bid for the 2016 Olympics. Wall Street Journal

Fidel Castro decried the use of foreign currency by Cubans in another essay published by Granma. AP

Wednesday's News

2007-07-11T11:28:00.000-04:00

Three bodies found in Mexico City in 1981 under a renovated hospital may have been those of student protestors killed during a 1968 massacre. New York Times

The Popular Revolutionary Army took responsibility for a series of explosions on gas pipelines in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. New York Times, LA Times

Jhon Frank Pinchao, a FARC hostage for over eight years, tells of his interactions with three American hostages who were captured in 2003. Miami Herald

Ecuador threatened to expel Petrobras for allegedly violating terms of a contract. Financial Times

The Banco del Sur is conceived as a development bank for Latin America run by Latin Americans. Christian Science Monitor

Brazil will budget $540 million over eight years to complete its nuclear program. AP

The Latin American Bishops Conference met for the first time in Cuba. AP

Friday's News

2007-07-06T11:22:00.000-04:00

The Guatemalan investigation into the murders of three Salvadoran deputies and their driver has stalled, as FBI agents stated that they were “appalled” at the handling of the evidence. LA Times

Tourism to Cuba has dropped by almost 5 percent in the last year, and Raul Castro’s government plans investments to draw more visits. The Economist, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Mercosur continues to face problems, but there is optimism for renewed talks for a free trade agreement with the EU. The Economist

US Ambassador to Venezuela William Brownfield is departing his post to become ambassador to Colombia, after a turbulent tenure in Caracas. New York Times, AP

Cuba currently holds 37 political prisoners, the highest per capita in the world. Miami Herald

More than one million Colombians marched for peace and for the release of hostages held by guerillas. Houston Chronicle

Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa warned again that a default on sovereign debt is not out of the question. Financial Times

Felisa Miceli, Argentina’s ministry of the economy, faces a judicial probe after more than $60,000 was found in cash in her office. Financial Times

The EU trade commissioner stated that he was opposed to tariffs on imported ethanol, which aids the prospects for Brazil’s production. Financial Times

Tuesday's News

2007-07-03T11:30:00.001-04:00

Cristina Kirchner will run for president in Argentina in place of her husband. New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times

The Zetas drug cartel have been weakened by a crackdown by Mexican authorities. LA Times

Brazil’s sugar and ethanol mills are drawing increasing attention and investment by multinational corporations. Financial Times

Chavez threatens to leave Mercosur; Argentina’s secretary for interior trade attacks the energy crisis; the IDB completes a reorganization; Uruguay wants to join the Banco del Sur; and the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange seeks a better watchdog. FT Latin American Agenda

Zhenli Ye Gon, a Chinese-Mexican businessman who was caught with at least $150 million of drug related money in his Mexico City mansion, accused labor secretary Javier Lozano of forcing him to store the funds. AP

An AP journalist attempts to live off of the Cuban food ration and drops 9 pounds in a month. AP

A new Amnesty International report says that Colombia is still one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist. BBC

Mary O’Grady argues that the tax reform package proposed by Mexican treasury minister Agustin Carstens disappoints by following the IMF playbook on raising taxes on corporations. Wall Street Journal

Tuesday's News

2007-06-26T17:44:00.001-04:00

Mexican president Felipe Calderon demoted 284 top police officers to be retrained. New York Times, Washington Post, LA Times, Christian Science Monitor

Venezuela’s state-owned oil company announced the takeover of projects owned by ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil. Financial Times

Former PDVSA workers have fled Venezuela for political reasons and have ended up as expats in locations such as Alberta, Canada. Wall Street Journal

The Gulf and Sinaloa cartels are holding undisclosed negotiations in Mexico. AP

Carlos Alberto Montaner says that Raul Castro’s deceased wife Vilma Espin is “one less crutch” for the Cuban president. Miami Herald

Monday's News

2007-06-25T17:40:00.001-04:00

Middle-class Brazilians are benefiting from the country’s relatively new economic stability. McLatchy

Fidel Castro writes a letter to the Communist Youth Union urging the youth of Cuba to sustain the values of the Revolution, which they are too young to remember. Miami Herald

The Chinese presence in Cuba is growing. McLatchy

US congressman Bill Delahunt (D-Mass.) announced that he plans to hold hearings on TV and Radio Martí after he returned from a trip to Miami. Miami Herald

Andres Oppenheimer says that the reduction in US aid to $1.5 billion towards Latin America in 2008 goes against public statements made by the Bush administration earlier this year and is unwise considering $1 billion approved for a border fence. Miami Herald

The Copa America begins in Venezuela this week amidst internal criticism towards President Hugo Chavez. Financial Times

Chavez missed the latest Mercosur meeting. Financial Times

Tuesday's News

2007-06-19T11:11:00.001-04:00

Vilma Espin, wife of Raul Castro, died after battling a long illness. Miami Herald, Financial Times

TVes, the replacement for RCTV in Venezuela, has been broadcasting mainly reruns and stock programming. Commercials on the channel are pro-Chavez. Financial Times

Political scandals continue to be common in Brazil. LA Times

Brazil’s federal police have been involved in many of the arrests. Christian Science Monitor

CARICOM foreign ministers are in Washington and met with Condolleeza Rice. They will meet with President Bush on Wednesday. Miami Herald

The video of Colombian president Alvaro Uribe shaking hands with paramilitary leader “Comandante Esteban” in 2001 could have repercussions domestically and in the US. Financial Times

Fidel Castro published a “manifesto” on the front page of Granma indicating that change in Cuba is not imminent. Financial Times

Susan Kaufman Purcell argues for extending credit to small and medium-sized enterprises in Latin America. Miami Herald

Tim Cavanaugh, web editor of the LA Times editorial page, mocks the visits of world leaders to the bedside of Fidel Castro. LA Times

Monday's News

2007-06-18T17:14:00.001-04:00

Robert Zoellick, US nominee for the presidency of the World Bank, criticized Hugo Chavez’s government. Financial Times

Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) comments on progress that has been made in Colombia. Miami Herald

The Doe Run lead smelter in La Oroya, Peru has severe health and environmental side effects. LA Times

A video timestamped in the year 2001 shows Colombian president Alvaro Uribe meeting with a paramilitary leader during his first presidential campaign. AP

Andres Oppenheimer says that despite the high probability of a Kirchner victory in October’s Argentine presidential election, the “glory days” are over. Miami Herald

Mary O’Grady writes about narrowing ties between Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Iran. Wall Street Journal

Friday's News

2007-06-15T17:23:00.001-04:00

Rodrigo Granda, a FARC spokesman recently released from prison, declared that prisoner swaps could represent progress in negotiations with the Colombian government. Miami Herald

A lawyer for the United Steelworkers sent a letter to Condoleezza Rice referring to a video of Colombian president Alvaro Uribe on a campaign stop where he was allegedly speaking with a top paramilitary commander. Miami Herald

The EU refused to comply with Spain’s request to soften the official stance against Cuba. Miami Herald

Thursday's News

2007-06-14T15:54:00.000-04:00

The UN office on drugs and crime released its annual report on coca cultivation in the Andes, which has declined by a small margin, but overall cocaine production has increased. Miami Herald

412 stolen artifacts – many priceless – were returned to Peru from South Florida. Miami Herald, Washington Post

Andres Oppenheimer says that the Mercosur trade bloc’s weakness is that it has evolved as a political union before having acheived economic integration. Miami Herald

Argentina’s energy policies have resulted in blackouts and shortages this winter. The Economist

Mexican president Felipe Calderon faces increasing drug violence despite aggressive policies involving deployment of federal troops throughout the country. The Economist

Hugo Chavez says that Fidel Castro “has his fastball back” and could be back wearing his trademark green fatigues soon. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Wednesday's News

2007-06-13T15:58:00.001-04:00

Jorge Castañeda writes that it was notable that the immigration debate was not influenced by Latin American governments. Moreover, the passage of comprehensive reform would have positively influenced US-Latin American relations. LA Times

Mario Cesar Rios, a Mexican deputy from the PRI, was murdered in downtown Monterrey. BBC

Fidel Castro wrote an editorial in Granma mocking Bush’s visit to Albania. Washington Post

Race in the Dominican Republic reflects centuries of rejection towards the characterization of Afro-descendants as “black.” Miami Herald

The Miami Herald editorial page calls the silence by regional governments and the OAS on the closure of RCTV “defeaning.” Miami Herald

Hugo Chavez paid a visit to Fidel Castro. AP

Tuesday's News

2007-06-12T10:59:00.001-04:00

Violence against journalists in Mexico is considered among the worst in the world, as those who cover the drug trade have resorted to self-censorship. Christian Science Monitor

Tensions continue between Colombia and Venezuela. Miami Herald

Hugo Chavez takes a road trip across the southern plains of Venezuela. AP

Martin Castro, half-brother of Fidel, still lives modestly outside of Havana and says that Fidel is still very much in charge of Cuba. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Nerva Cot Aguilera is the first female bishop in Cuba and the developing world. AP

Mexico’s Catholic Church aims to defeat the law stating that priests may not interfere in political matters. The Church was accused of meddling with the recent legalization of abortion in Mexico City. AP

Monday's News

2007-06-11T15:34:00.001-04:00

A proposed $11 billion hydroelectric project in the Brazilian state of Rondônia brings opposition from environmental groups. New York Times

Venezuelan filmmakers are up in arms regarding the Venezuelan government’s $18 million investment in a Danny Glover film project about Haitian independence hero Toussaint L'Ouverture. Miami Herald

Andres Oppenheimer argues for further Central American integration. Miami Herald

Migration from one Latin American country to another is common and countries face similar issues that face the US. Miami Herald

According to a recent survey, Venezuelans are not in favor of Hugo Chavez’s closure of RCTV. Financial Times

Friday's News

2007-06-08T17:30:00.001-04:00

The Mexican supreme court voted parts of the new media law unconstitutional. New York Times

Marcela Sanchez offers a historical context to the non-renewal of RCTV’s license in Venezuela. Washington Post

Ecuador’s business sector has concerns about President Rafael Correa’s policies towards investment in the country. Miami Herald

A war of words between Brazil and Venezuela regarding RCTV has Brazil trying to block Venezuela’s entry into Mercosur. McClatchy

A Chilean attorney recommended that former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori be extradited to Peru to stand trial. LA Times, McClatchy

Paramilitary warlord Vicente Castaño remains at large in Colombia. El Nuevo Herald

Bolivian president Evo Morales met with Fidel Castro in Cuba. AP

Writing from the G-8 summit, Brazilian president Lula argues for the continued development of biofuels. Miami Herald

CSIS´s Peter DeShazo lays out the reasons why the US should continue to support Colombia. Miami Herald

Evo Morales is no Hugo Chavez. The Economist

President Alan Garcia attempts to use public investment to spur economic development in Peru. The Economist

Thursday's News

2007-06-07T10:15:00.001-04:00

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez refused to have an OAS team investigate the closure of RCTV, and a Venezuelan candidate was elected to head the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Miami Herald

Despite over seventy percent approval ratings at home, Colombian president Alvaro Uribe faces a tough audience in Washington. LA Times

Uribe will appear with Bill Clinton at a gala in New York featuring other luminaries during his US trip. Financial Times

High ranking government officials have been implicated in money laundering through the Brazilian street betting game known as jogo de bicho. New York Times

The US State Department confirmed that third parties have approached the US on behalf of Havana, and that the OAS should play a role in advancing democracy in Cuba. Miami Herald

Chavez proposed expanding the purview of ALBA (Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia, and Nicaragua) towards defense matters. AP

Costa Rica broke relations with Taiwan. AP

Andres Oppenheimer bemoans the silence of most OAS countries in regards to the closure of RCTV. Miami Herald

Marifeli Perez-Stable comments on Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico. Miami Herald

Wednesday's News

2007-06-06T09:52:00.000-04:00

Argentinean president Nestor Kirschner has suffered a recent scandal, protests and a second place finish in the Buenos Aires mayoral election for his hand-picked candidate, but either he or his wife will likely win the presidential election later this year. LA Times

Colombian president Alvaro Uribe began releasing jailed FARC members in order to force the guerilla group to release kidnapped hostages. Washington Post

Uribe arrives in Washington again this week to lobby for the US-Colombian FTA and further Plan Colombia aid. Financial Times

Brazil surpassed the US as the world’s top soybean exporter and hopes to grow its sugarcane ethanol industry. Christian Science Monitor

Fidel Castro appeared on television for the first time since illness forced him to step down as Cuba’s president. Miami Herald, Reuters

The Mexican supreme court struck down important sections of the Televisa law passed last year that benefits the television duopoly. New York Times

Sugar production in Cuba has fallen forcing the country to import from abroad. Miami Herald

RCTV has sent six journalists to the OAS meeting in Panama, where the closing of the Venezuelan station has been at the center of attention. Miami Herald

The Today show was filmed on location from Havana, Cuba. Miami Herald

US officials feared that a terror suspect arrested in Trinidad would disappear in Venezuela. Miami Herald

Adolf Eichmann’s fake passport was unearthed in Argentina. LA Times

Thursday's News

2007-05-31T16:22:00.001-04:00

The Venezuelan television network Venevisión has thus far failed to strike up the ire of Hugo Chavez. Miami Herald

Chavez’s shut-down of television station RCTV have ignited the youth of Venezuela. Miami Herald

The Miami Herald editorial page commends Colombian president Alvaro Uribe for authorizing the release of FARC prisoners held by the government next week. Miami Herald

The Buenos Aires mayoral election approaches on June 3, and will be in part a referendum on Argentine president Nestor Kirchner’s popularity. The Economist

Spain and the US disagree over the approach that Spain took in meetings with Cuban officials last month. AP

Wednesday's News

2007-05-23T11:49:00.001-04:00

Mexico opened a consulate in Little Rock, the 47^th Mexican consulate in the US. New York Times

Senator Carlos Garcia of Colombia declared that the failure to ratify an FTA with the US could mean withdrawal from Plan Colombia. LA Times

Silvas Rondeau, Brazil’s minister of energy and mines, has resigned after being accused of taking a bribe in the awarding of an electricity contract. Financial Times, AP

Pope Benedict’s comments in Brazil that colonizers did not trample over native civilizations in Latin America raised the ire of indigenous groups throughout the region. LA Times

Despite President Felipe Calderón’s popular deployment of federal troops in anti-drug operations, violence has actually worsened in Mexico. Christian Science Monitor

Brazil’s new Growth Acceleration Project aims to increase sluggish growth through $252 billion in public and private investment over the next four years. Christian Science Monitor

Bolivian president Evo Morales called capitalism the “worst enemy of humanity” at a conference in Cochabamba. AP

Guatemala ratified the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoptions. AP

Cuba plans to modernize 11 of its 17 ethanol-producing refineries. AP