Latin Pulse

With the turn of the new year, time and history are the subtexts to Latin Pulse this week, with reflections on both the Falklands-Malvinas dispute and the return of the Colorado Party to power in Paraguay.  The program features a rare interview with a member of the legislative assembly of the Falklands, discussing pressure from Argentina to gain control of the islands, which Argentines call the Malvinas. The discussion includes what was at stake in the referendum to sanction the islands as a British Overseas Territory.  The news segment of the program covers the 55th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution. The program includes interviews with: Mike Summers, Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands; and  Andrew Nickson of the University of Birmingham. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; and Associate Producer: Megan Ekhaml. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Argentina United Kingdom politics Paraguay Cuba Falkland Islands Las Malvinas economics agriculture pesticides Brazil poverty imperialism Horacio Cartes colonialism Colorado Party Raul Castro Fidel Castro economic reforms environmental issues oil business economic blockade United Nations Paraguayan Peoples Army guerrilla war insurgency Mercosur Venezuela coup Brazil soybeans militarization environment EPP Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner

The popularity of telenovelas throughout the hemisphere returns to the attention of Latin Pulse this week.  This is the third in a series of special reports on telenovelas: going beneath the surface to analyze the gender identity issues and racism involved in the productions.  The program also looks at the important cultural aspects of these popular programs.  The news segment of the program covers the return of Michelle Bachelet to the presidency in Chile; as her historic win is the first time a woman has been returned to the presidency in that country's history. The program includes interviews with: Carolina Acosta-Alzuru of the University of Georgia; and  Guillermo Avila-Saavedra of Salem State University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; and Associate Producer: Megan Ekhaml. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)   podcast news Latin America telenovelas United States politics elections Telemundo Michelle Bachelet Fina Estampa violence Univision Chile Brazil Mexico immigration United States Colombia gender issues LGBT issues Puerto Rico Santa Diabla La Madrastra racism culture La Madame Alicia Morchado Marido en Alquiler Juarez Cartel television drug war Pablo Escobar Senor de los Cielos Amado Carillo Fuentes media Venezuela Ecuador narconovelas

Peace and the growing power of women in Latin America provide the twin themes this week on Latin Pulse.  The presidential elections in Chile which have two women vying for the presidency provide the backdrop for a discussion of how women have moved into the key positions of power in the region.  The program also gives an update on progress in the peace talks meant to settle the civil war in Colombia, a war that has gone on for almost 50 years.  The news segment of the program covers the police strike and resulting violence in Argentina. The program includes interviews with: Macarena Saez of American University; and  Gimena Sanchez of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA). Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; and Associate Producer: Megan Ekhaml. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Argentina United States politics elections protests Evelyn Matthei violence justice Chile Brazil Mexico abortion Michelle Bachelet Laura Chinchilla Costa Rica Dilma Rousseff gender issues Barack Obama United States justice Nicaragua United Nations El Salvador Juan Manuel Santos peace talks Colombia FARC drug war human rights drug legalization Augusto Pinochet Catholic Church Xiomara Castro de Zelaya poverty Honduras land reform diplomacy business

A controversial election and a controversial prisoner hold the primary focus on Latin Pulse this week.  The election was held in Honduras, where opposition parties claim the National Party used fraud to stay in power.  The way the election was carried out has some questioning whether reforms to bolster the rule of law are possible.  The program also looks at the case of Alan Gross during the week he marked his fourth year incarcerated in Cuba.  The program looks at how the Gross case is tied to the case of the Cuban Five and U.S. support for Cuban exile groups. The program includes interviews with: Adriana Beltran of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA); and Bill LeoGrande of American University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; and Associate Producer: Megan Ekhaml. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Honduras United States politics elections OAS electoral fraud Cuba justice violence coup Mexico militarization Libre Party National Party Raul Castro Fidel Castro Alan Gross Cuban Five economic reforms militarization police Communist Party Juan Orlando Hernandez rule of law Luis Posada Carriles Miguel Diaz-Canel Xiomara Castro de Zelaya diplomacy espionage terrorism CIA Venezuela economics Barack Obama John Kerry

Mexican cinema takes a well deserved bow on Latin Pulse this week in this 60-minute special. The program gives a full review of the history of Mexico's contributions to theatrical film-making and the influence of key Mexican film-makers now on global cinema.  This special program includes segments of a one-on-one interview with Arturo Ripstein, an award-winning Mexican director.  Ripstein discusses his influences and the program shows his impact on the current Mexican cinema scene.  The news segment of the program covers the presidential debate in Costa Rica in preparation for elections in 2014.  The program includes interviews with: Mexican film director Arturo Ripstein; and Jeff Middents of American University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Associate Producers: Rae Daniel & Megan Ekhaml; and Reporter: Zach Cohen. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 60 minutes in length and the file size is 55 MB.)   podcast news Latin America economics Costa Rica politics elections education Mexican films films culture literature Mexico Spain Alfonso Cuaron Mexican cinema Luis Bunuel European cinema Arturo Ripstein German cinema gender roles Brazil Argentina violence magical realism Gabriel Garcia Marquez Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu Alfonso Arua Guillermo del Toro Brad Pitt globalization Carlos Raygadas

Major military takeovers of the past resonate through two elections this month in Latin America.  Those elections in Chile and Honduras are the central focus on Latin Pulse. In Chile, two women whose families took different sides in the coup that brought General Augusto Pinochet to power are the leading candidates.  The program covers the key economic and educational issues in that election.  The conversation also covers the coming Honduran elections where questions of fairness, corruption, and violence are important.  The news segment of the program covers new economic initiatives in Venezuela to control consumer prices.  The program includes interviews with: Patricio Navia of New York University & Universidad Diego Portales in Chile; and Eric Olson of the Wilson Center. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Associate Producer: Megan Ekhaml. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)   podcast news Latin America economics Michelle Bachelet Evelyn Matthei politics trade reforms Honduras Chile Venezuela Nicolas Maduro protest movement student movement elections poverty Libre Party education corruption violence gangs democracy educational reform crime National Party Liberal Party Manuel Zelaya coup d'etat Juan Orlando Hernandez Xiomara Castro de Zelaya OAS UN Salvador Allende

Comprehensive immigration reform is a promise in Washington, D.C., but what are the chances of it becoming reality?  That debate takes center stage this week on Latin Pulse. The program examines why has the legislation stalled and what are the prospects for passage through 2015.  The program also deals with the effects immigration policy has on immigrants coming from Mexico and Central America.  Also, the discussion covers the debate over guest worker programs and other provisions of the proposed reform.  The news segment of the program covers a new breakthrough in the peace talks aiming to end Colombia's long civil war.  The program includes interviews with: Tamar Jacoby of ImmigrationWorks USA; along with Lee Williams and Tiffany Nelms of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Associate Producer: Megan Ekhaml. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Mexico United States Central America Guatemala immigration reforms Honduras Colombia FARC El Salvador civil war peace talks politics economics Marcos Calarca education labor poverty gangs violence border security crime justice human rights

Latin Pulse goes online this week on Halloween, which provides a backdrop for the exploration of the culture of death in Mexico and elsewhere in Latin America. The program discusses in-depth the Day of the Dead traditions in Mexico, Guatemala and the United States.  The program also discusses the folk saint Santa Muerte in Mexico and how that icon has become popular among drug cartels.  The program also connects the Day of the Dead celebrations and Santa Muerte to indigenous religions. The news segment of the program covers a conference for indigenous women in Peru.  The program includes interviews with: Prof. Rhonda Buchanan of the University of Louisville; and Prof. Andrew Chesnut of Virginia Commonwealth University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Associate Producer: Megan Ekhaml. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Mexico death culture indigenous issues death culture Peru religion Catholicism Drug War drug cartels gender issues Guatemala Argentina indigenous women Argentina PRI PAN Zetas violence Central America indigenous religions Catholic Church All Saints Day All Souls Day Catholicism and politics Enrique Pena Nieto Day of the Dead Virgin of Guadalupe Latino culture Octavio Paz Felipe Calderon Saint Jude The Vatican Santa Muerte Patrick Leahy Paraguay Aztecs Maya Guarani politics Sinaloa Cartel

El Salvador takes center stage this week on Latin Pulse. The program includes an interview with El Salvador's ambassador to the United States and ranges through a variety of topics: immigration, corruption, politics, the Drug War, street gangs, and human rights.  The ambassador openly discusses how many of these endemic problems will need long-term solutions and strategic thinking. The news segment of the program covers the latest regarding the NSA spy scandal and Mexico.  The program also includes a commentary on a controversial presidential popularity poll regarding Bolivia, Ecuador and Nicaragua. The program includes an interview with: Ambassador Ruben Zamora of El Salvador. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Associate Producer: Megan Ekhaml. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Mexico El Salvador United States espionage NSA immigration drugs reforms Drug War drug cartels human rights corruption media Mauricio Funes elections politics FMLN Brazil crime MS-13 gangs Barrio 18 Guatemala Central America Zetas prisons gang truce Catholic Church Los Tejas Cartel justice Patrick Leahy United States Senate diplomacy

Drugs and the Drug War are the central focus this week on Latin Pulse. The program examines in detail the proposed law in Uruguay that will legalize the use and sale of marijuana.  The program also notes how Uruguay is using the experience of Colorado and Washington states in the U.S. as examples for how to shape its system for legalizing marijuana.  Also, the program ncludes an interview with the author of Midnight in Mexico, about immigration and the Drug War.  The news segment of the program covers the opening of a new trial for the oil company Chevron to dispute damage findings by indigenous groups in Ecuador's Amazon region. The program includes interviews with: John Walsh of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA); and Alfredo Corchado of The Dallas Morning News & the author of Midnight in Mexico. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Associate Producer: Megan Ekhaml. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Chevron indigenous issues United States health oil Ecuador drugs marijuana The Amazon Uruguay immigration marijuana legalization Mexico tobacco economics OAS Barack Obama Colorado impunity violence Drug War drug cartels Jose Mujica Tabare Vazquez Frente Amplio Washington state drug legalization United Nations crime

The deterioration of diplomatic relations between Brazil and the United States is the central focus this week on Latin Pulse. The program looks at how Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff has responded to the revelations of spying by both the United States and Canada in her country.  During the program experts discuss the diplomatic, economic and political fallout from the espionage scandal.  The program also looks at how Rousseff's responses to the scandal have had an impact on domestic politics in Brazil.  The news segment of the program tracks the progress of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner after her cranial surgery. The program includes interviews with: Prof. Cristina Pacheco of the State University of Paraiba; and Prof. Oliver Stuenkel of the Gertulio Vargas Foundation. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Producer/Reporter: Curt Devine; and Associate Producer: Megan Ekhaml. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Argentina Dilma Rousseff United States health coup politics diplomacy Brazil human rights Canada elections Edward Snowden espionage NSA CSE spying Barack Obama diplomacy scandal economics protest movements United Nations oil Petrobras Workers Party PT military junta torture Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner trade visas environmentalists John Kerry China Iran Paraguay Honduras Cuba

Presidential elections and the campaign season in Honduras and Chile hold the focus this week on Latin Pulse. The program covers allegations that the Honduran judicial and political systems have deteriorated sufficiently that some are questioning whether the elections this fall will be free and fair. The program also reviews the key players and issues in Chile, including calls for reforms to the constitution, along with the educational and energy systems. The news segment of the program covers the diplomatic disputes between the United States and Venezuela regarding accusations the U.S. is interfering in the Venezuelan economy, politics, and electrical system. The program includes interviews with: Dana Frank of the University of California - Santa Cruz; and Carl Meacham of the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS). Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell and Associate Producer: Megan Ekhaml. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Venezuela Nicolas Maduro United States Chile coup politics diplomacy sabotage human rights justice elections Michelle Bachelet Honduras corruption military police Evelyn Matthei education Mauricio Villeda National Party energy reforms Liberal Party Libre Party Porfirio Lobo Manuel Zelaya protest movements Augusto Pinochet Juan Orlando Hernandez Xiomara Castro de Zelaya

This week, Latin Pulseshines a light on the situation for the media in Latin America and threats to free speech.  The program looks at how indigenous groups in Guatemala are disenfranchised when it comes to running public media outlets.  Also, the program includes a discussion about current state threats to free media and how media outlets are often now seen as replacing opposition parties in some parts of the region. The news segment of the program covers the speech of Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff at the United Nations and how she condemned the United States for its espionage programs. The program includes interviews with: John Dinges of Columbia University; and Mark Camp of Cultural Survival. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell and Associate Producer: Megan Ekhaml. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Venezuela Dilma Rousseff United States Chile coup OAS Brazil espionage United Nations human rights justice culture media Argentina Nicaragua free speech Bolivia media repression indigenous issues democracy Ecuador OAS coup Guatemala radio justice legislation telecommunications human rights pirate radio Central America minority issues diplomacy

This week, the second anniversary of Latin Pulse has the program looking at a wide variety of topics.  Listen in and you can hear discussion of telenovelas, politics, diplomacy, economics, censorship, human rights, and corruption.  The program also covers plenty of geographic territory, including discussion of Venezuela, Cuba, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Chile.  The program includes out-takes from previous programs and selections from the favorite interviews of the audience. The news segment of the program covers the postponement this week of the U.S.-Brazil summit, due to revelations of U.S. spying on Brazil's president and on the state oil monopoly Petrobras. The program includes interviews with: Carolina Acosta-Alzuru of the University of Georgia; Dan Hellinger of Webster University; Bill LeoGrande of American University; Mark Schneider of the International Crisis Group; Francisco Robles Rivera of Universidad Nacional and Universidad de Costa Rica; Manuel Suarez-Mier of American University; Adriana Beltran of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA); and Rev. Joe Eldridge of American University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell and Associate Producer: Megan Ekhaml. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Venezuela Hugo Chavez Nicolas Maduro Chile coup OAS elections politics corruption crime Augusto Pinochet economics Michelle Bachelet human rights United States justice Dilma Rousseff Brazil espionage telenovelas culture media censorship China oil Russia business OPEC Cuba CELAC Barack Obama Edward Snowden Costa Rica John Kerry imperialism Mexico Honduras assassination torture

Wrapping up a series of special reports on Venezuela, Latin Pulse looks at a variety of topics across the Venezuelan political landscape, including the role of the military, police, crime, human rights, corruption, and economics. The program also includes more discussion of accusations by the Venezuelan government that the United States is involved in economic destabilization of the Venezuelan government.  The news segment of the program looks at reaction in Chile to the 40th anniversary this week of the coup by Gen. Augusto Pinochet in both Chile and in Washington, D.C.  The program also includes a commentary on Chile. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Hugo Perez Hernaiz of Universidad Catolica & Universidad Central de Venezuela; and George Ciccariello-Maher of Drexel University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell and Associate Producer: Megan Ekhaml. (To download or stream this podcast, click here.)  (The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)   podcast news Latin America Venezuela Hugo Chavez Nicolas Maduro Chile coup OAS elections politics corruption crime Henrique Capriles Radonski Diosdado Cabello energy Augusto Pinochet sabotage shortages economics military police socialism Michelle Bachelet Sebastian Pinera human rights United States justice