Bolivian President Scraps Road Into TIPNIS

Caving to pressure from indigenous groups protesting the construction of a much needed infrastructure project running from the north to the south through the heart of the country, Bolivian president Evo Morales said that he would respect opposition by locals and prevent the construction through the park. The road would have run through the Tipnis National Park, and through an…

Colombian Coca Growers Oppose Construction

A consortium of coca growers are opposing construction of a North-South highway which would provide Bolivia with much needed connectivity. The Beni-Cochabamba highway would run from the North to the South and would establish much needed infrastructure to the country’s transportation network. Coca production was recently protected and enshrined in Bolivia’s controversial 2009 constitution as part of Bolivia’s cultural heritage. An energy…

Cuban Doctors Failing Brazilian Certification

Cuban doctors have long been touted as a shining example of the glories of communist Cuba. Recently however, they have been failing to gain certification in Brazil despite the fact that is not proving to be the same stumbling block for their counterparts across the world. According to Dr. Fernando Matos, president of Rio Grande do…

The Persistence of Paraguayan Guaraní

Like many South American countries, Paraguayans have held onto their indigenous language despite modernization in areas such as television, telecommunications, or the internet. An estimated half of the rural population is monolingual, and the majority of the population in Paraguay speaks Guaraní (it is also spoken in parts of Bolivia, Argentina, and Brazil). The tenacious hold of the language in what is…

The Battle of Iquique: Then and Today

As he boarded the Peruvian armored monitor Huáscar on May the 21st, 1879 the Chilean navy officer Arturo Prat lead his Chilean crewmen with the shout “Let’s board, boys!” Prat would not survive the battle, but managed to set into motion a path which would have a profound effect on his own country’s future, and geopolitical perceptions between Chile, Peru,…

Growth in Colombian Air

According to reports in Colombian newspapers, demand for air travel in Colombia is expected to grow over the next twenty years requiring over 100 new planes. Colombia is Airbus’ third largest customer behind Brazil and Mexico.

Argentina’s Credit Credibility Problem

While Argentina has a debt problem, the issue isn’t quite as simple as the burden recently seen creeping up on nations such as the US, or Greece. Argentina solved that problem 10 years ago by defaulting on more than $80 billion in debt. Such a simplistic solution, has generated complex complications for the nation. As…