US Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) expressed concern for the rule of law in Nicaragua during confirmation hearings on February 7 to determine the next US Ambassador for a handful of Latin American countries. During confirmation hearings before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Phyllis Powers said that she would “speak clear and with conviction about the…
His full name is Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios Ponte y Blanco, and his legacy is equally voluminous. Born on July 24, 1783, he was serendipitously raised in an age of revolutions, and was one of the key leaders in the struggle for independence from Spain which would spread throughout…
There is concern in Venezuela about the direction the country is moving politically, and Venezuelan governor Henrique Capriles is beginning to represent hope for opposition groups. As mayor of Caracas, Henrique was targeted by the administration for not doing enough to suppress protests against the Cuban embassy in 2002, and was charged with fomenting violence;…
From the United States Library of Congress, this image shows a Chilean flag flying in front of the Pan American Building in Washington DC on May of 1943. Chile was neutral for most of WWII, although relations with the Axis were broken in 1943 which is possibly the reason this photograph was staged. Eventually, Chile…
The Andes mountain range is the world’s longest continental mountain range, and while second in height outside of Asia, the range contains the highest volcanoes in the world. Consensus currently supports the idea that the Andes derive their name from the Quechua word “anti” which can be translated to “high crest.” Running over 4,000 miles…
While only seven nations continue to hold territorial claims to Antarctica, two of the seven are Latin American nations. Both Chile and Argentina claim territories in Antarctica dating back to the 1940s, but are disputed as the claims of Argentina, Chile, and the UK overlap. According to the Antarctic Treaty, “No new claim, or enlargement…
As mayor of Bogota, Gustavo Petro has put forth a ban on carrying guns in public even with a legal permit. Skeptics have countered that criminals will not follow the ban, and the result will only disarm citizens legally carry guns for security reasons. In 2002 Brazil implemented restrictions which made it virtually impossible for…
Due to economic instability, in January of 2000, then Ecuadorian President Jamil Mahuad instituted a policy instating the United States dollar as the official currency of Ecuador. Despite disapproval of the policy by current Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa’s administration, no plans are currently in the works to replace the US dollar as the official currency.…
Building recent on efforts to strengthen political relationships between Tehran and South American nations, Iran has announced intentions to launch HispanTV to expand their influence in the region, and give their strategic influence a wider audience. A recent planned tour of leftist Latin Amarican states by Iranian leader Ahmadinejad was seen as a demonstration of…
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