Latin Pulse/Pulso Latino

Latin Pulse/Pulso Latino: News from Latin America

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Turmoil reigns in the streets of Nicaragua, as the opposition refuses to accept defeat in what they say are fraudulent municipal elections. Venezuela goes to the polls in what has been called another political test for the Chávez government. Russia cozies up to Cuba with talks of military cooperation. China's president visits Latin America, opening the doors to free trade with the region. How are Latin American economies reacting to the global economic downturn? And why is a Japanese citizen living in Mexico City's airport? This and more, in this episode of Latin Pulse. En Español: Revuelta en las calles en Nicaragua, la oposición se niega a aceptar los resultados de las elecciones municipales, las cuales consideran fraudulentas. En Venezuela, el pueblo va a las urnas, en una elección que se considera un test político para el gobierno de Chávez. Rusia y Cuba en una acogedora conversación sobre una eventual cooperación militar. El presidente de China visita Latino América para abrir las puertas al intercambio comercial con la región. ¿Cómo están reaccionando las economías Latinoamericanas al problema de la economía mundial? ¿Y qué hace un ciudadano japonés viviendo en el aeropuerto en la ciudad de México? Esto y más en el programa de Pulso Latino.

U.S. Elections and the Voto Latino

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

(Latin Pulse: 21 October, 2008) There are only a few weeks before the election and the Latino vote is seen as one to woo in this year's U.S. presidential race. Is this view simply symptomatic of media spin or could this election go down in history as one decided by the Latino vote? In this episode, we look closely at the role Latinos could have in choosing the next president of the United States. Wall Street, housing, and the general state of the U.S. economy are proving to be issues that neither presidential candidate expected to be central to their campaigns. American voters now demand answers - and an economic strategy - immediately. Hispanic voters are no exception; a recent poll by the Pew Hispanic Center reveals that one out of two voting Hispanics think they are worse off today than they were a year ago and are looking to the candidates for answers. Español Las Elecciones en los Estados Unidos y el voto Latino. Quedan solamente algunas semanas para las campañas electorales, y el voto Latino parece emerger como uno de los ingredientes principales en la elección presidencial de los Estados Unidos de este año. ¿es este un truco electoral o puede ser que estas elecciones sean históricamente las cuales sean decididas por el voto de los Latinos? El tema de este programa el rol que los Latinos pueden tener en la elección del próximo presidente de los EEUU; Wall Street, el mercado inmobiliario, y en general el estado de la economía en el país, son cuestiones que ninguno de los candidatos esperaba fueran parte de sus campañas. Sin embargo se han enfocado en ellas porque el electorado esta pidiendo respuestas y una clara estrategia para salir de la crisis. El electorado Latino no es una excepción, una encuesta reciente del Pew Hispanic Center revela que uno de cada dos Latinos votantes considera que se encuentran en peores condiciones que hace un año, y quieren escuchar respuestas y una estrategia económica de parte de los candidatos presidenciales. Panelists Maria Teresa Petersen, Executive Director, Voto Latino Named by Hispanic Magazine as among the top Latinas in Government and Politics, Ms. Petersen is the founding executive director of Voto Latino. Voto Latino is a youth organization engaging the next generation of Americans in civic participation. Under her leadership, Voto Latino launched the first national mobile text-messenging campaign to register voters in 2006, has produced award winning public service announcements, created the Artist Coalition of over 35 active celebrity voices, and has created a media coalition that includes MySpace, YouTube, iTunes Latino, SiTV, LATV, and MTV. Prior to Voto Latino, she founded Petersen Advisory and served as a political consultant to clients including: Bayer Pharmaceuticals, National Latino Council of Alcohol and Tobacco Prevention, Mickey Ibarra & Associates, and AT&T. She started her career as a Legislative Aide for former Democratic Caucus Chairman Vic Fazio managing international trade issues and appropriations. In addition to serving as a frequent guest on Chris Matthew's Hardball, Ms. Petersen appears on CNBC, NPR, CNN Español, and Fox News as a political analyst. She serves as a frequent guest speaker at national conferences focusing on social entrepreneurship and Latino issues. Maria Echaveste, Senior Scholar, Berkeley Ms. Echaveste is a lecturer in residence at Berkeley?s Boalt Hall School of Law and the co-founder of the Nueva Vista Group, a consulting firm that works with nonprofit organizations, associations, and corporations on such issues as immigration, health care, telecommunications, labor, and finances. From 1998 to 2001, Echaveste served as an assistant, then as deputy chief of staff to President Bill Clinton. She also specialized in international issues related to Latin America. From 1997 to 1998, Echaveste was director of the Office of Public Liaison at the White House and the administrator of the Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division from 1993 to 1997. Maria Elena Messina, Teacher ELD, Wilcox High School, Santa Clara California Ms. Messina holds a Master of Arts in Education from San Francisco State University. She has been working in education as a Spanish teacher at several high schools in the South Peninsula, and has also been the vice principal at Wilcox High School. Maria published a book "The Elder Latino: A Cross Cultural Study of Minority Elders in San Diego". In addition, she is a member of the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), and of the California Association of Bilingual Educators. Andy S. Gomez, Ph. D., University of Miami Dr. Gomez is Assistant Provost and Senior Fellow at the Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies at UM. As Assistant Provost, Dr. Gomez chairs UM's SACS accreditation process. Dr. Gomez served as Dean of the School of International Studies from 1999 to 2002 and earlier as Associate Dean of International Studies (1996-1999). Before joining the University of Miami, he served as Undersecretary of Education and Chief of Staff at the Executive Office of Education in Boston, Massachusetts (1991-1994). At the University of Houston, Dr. Gomez served as Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs (1990-1991), Special Assistant to the President (1989-1990), Executive Director of University Relations (1984-1989), Special Assistant to the Chancellor (1987-1991), and Assistant Professor of Public Administration (1987-1991). Dr. Gomez's research agenda focuses on the ideological and psychological reconstruction of human values and attitudes in a post-Castro Cuba. Dr. Gomez's community involvement includes serving on the Education Commission of the State's Advisory Panel on Postsecondary Education (2006 - present) and the Center for Civic Education's Advisory Board on Cuba's Transition (2005 - present). He received his Doctor of Education in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy, Harvard University, (1993); Master's in Education, Harvard University (1991); Master's in Public Administration, FIU (1978); B.A. International Studies, University of Miami (1976). Walyce Almeida, Knight center for International Media, University of Miami, Latin America Blogger Ms. Almeida is a graduate from the University of Miami journalism school and she is a friend of the Centro Cultural Brasil U.S.A. Her family is from Brazil, but she was born and raised in Miami. Although, she loves Miami very much, Walyce always feel like she needs to be close to Brazil in one way or another. That's why her blogs focus on that country (as well as neighboring countries).

Bolivia and the Current Crises

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

(Latin Pulse: 7 October, 2008) As Americans and the world focus on the looming economic catastrophe, Bolivia is struggling to avert its own internal schism - one that could throw Latin America into a tailspin. One out of three Bolivians want their department (province) to secede from the country. Why would anybody want to do this in one of the continent's poorest countries? Who is behind this movement? And why were the U.S. ambassadors to Bolivia and Venezuela sent packing? Español Mientras Estados Unidos y el mundo se preocupan de una posible catástrofe económica, Bolivia esta tratando de evitar su propia catástrofe, la cual podría consumir a todo el continente Latinoamericano. Uno de tres bolivianos quieren separarse de Bolivia y crear su propio país. ¿Por qué alguien querría hacer esto en el país más pobre de Sud América? ¿Quién está detrás de este movimiento? ¿Y por qué se ha expulsado a los embajadores de Estados Unidos en Bolivia y en Venezuela? Panel John M. Walsh, Senior Associate for the Andes and Drug Policy, Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) Walsh is senior associate for the division of WOLA related to strengthening the rule of law in the Andes to promote respect for human rights and to bolster democratic institutions in the region. From 1995-2003, Mr. Walsh served as director of research at Drug Strategies, a policy research group that builds support for more pragmatic and effective approaches to U.S. drug problems. He also worked from 1993-1995 on the "Rethinking Bretton Woods Project" at the Center of Concern - an effort to forge consensus on ideas for reform of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and international trade arrangements. Mr. Walsh holds a master's degree in public policy from Johns Hopkins University. Luis Manuel Botello, Senior Program Director Mr. Botello is responsible for the identification, implementation, and development of all ICFJ projects for Latin America and the Caribbean. He also conducts a variety of training programs and conferences. Botello previously served as morning newscast producer, host, and television reporter for Televisora Nacional in Panama, where he covered assignments in Colombia, the United States, and Europe. He is a member of the board of directors of the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas at the University of Texas at Austin and the Latin American Journalism Center (CELAP) in Panama City. He received a Fulbright Scholarship in 1988 and a fellowship to Louisiana State University's Manship School of Mass Communication in 1997. He holds a B.A. in journalism and a master's in mass communications from Louisiana State University. He is a native Spanish-speaker, fluent in English, and proficient in Portuguese and is also available for interviews. Julio Moreno, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of History, University of San Francisco Professor Moreno is the co-director of the Center for Latino Studies in the Americas (CELASA) at the University of San Francisco. He is a professor in the Department of History who specializes in modern Mexican history as well as the social and cultural history of Latin America. Currently, he is on leave to work on a new book on Colombia's history and politics.

Indigenous People in Latino America

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

(Latin Pulse: 22, September 2008) They are communities long neglected and forgotten. Indigenous people all across Latin America are demanding equal treatment and equal rights; resentment has been brewing for five hundred years, but now, the pendulum seems to be swinging the other way as indigenous people take a more active role in politics and the economy in some countries. Is this the beginning of a silent revolution, or another chapter in the book of human rights? Español Hay comunidades que han sido relegadas y olvidadas por largo tiempo. Las comunidades indígenas en toda Latino America están pidiendo una igualdad de tratamiento y derechos. Resentimiento se ha acumulado por 500 años y parece que ahora el péndulo esta moviéndose hacia el otro lado, los indígenas están tomando un rol más activo en la política y la economía en algunos países de la región. ¿Es este el principio de una revolución silenciosa o un capitulo más en los anales de los Derechos Humanos? Panel Bios Guillermo Delgado-P. Ph.D, Lecturer Latin American and Latino Studies, UCSC Guillermo holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology (UT-Austin). He has taught in the Latin American & Latino Studies Department (UCSC) since 1989. He is founder-editor of the on-line journal: www.bolivianstudies.org and author (w S. Varese and R. Meyer) of: "Indigenous Anthropologies, Beyond Barbados," IN: D. Poole, The Companion to Latin American Anthropology 2008; "The Making of a Transnational Movement." IN: Vijay Prashad and Teo Ballvé (eds.) Dispatches from Latinoamerica (2006); "First Peoples/African-American Connections" (w. John Brown Childs) IN: Joanne Barker (ed.) "Sovereignty Matters. Locations of Contestation and Possibility in Indigenous Struggles for Self-Determination." (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2005. "Bolivian Social Movements of the First Lustrum" in:http://isla.igc.org/Features/Globalization/BSMZ.html (2005). "Una aproximación filológica para entender las luchas por la autonomía áylluica". En: E.W. Alderete, S. Varese, Delgado-P., (eds). Conocimiento Indígena y Globalización. Quito: Abya Yala, 2005. He co-edited with John M. Schechter, the volume: "Quechua Verbal Artistry: The Inscription of Andean Voices/Arte Verbal Quechua. La Inscripción de voces Andinas." (Bonn, 2004). He is co-editor with Josefa Salmón of: "Identidad, Ciudadanía y Participación Popular desde la Colonial Siglo XX." Estudios Bolivianos Vol 1. La Paz: PLURAL, 2003 Trevor Stevenson, Executive Co-Director, Amazon Alliance Trevor is originally from the Wind River Indian Reservation of Wyoming. He holds a masters degree in International Development, Community, and Environment from Clark University, and undergraduate degrees in Environmental Studies, Sociocultural Psychology, and Latin American Studies from Bates College. Trevor has worked within indigenous movements in Latin America, primarily in Amazonia, for nearly a decade. He has extensive experience in participatory community planning and project design with indigenous communities, and has worked with local governments, indigenous federations, and NGOs in the Amazonia. He now serves as the Executive Co-Director of the Amazon Alliance together with Juan Carlos Jintiach, and is particularly interested in assisting indigenous organizations with institutional strengthening. Juanita Cabrera-Lopez, Assistant Director, Amazon Alliance Juanita is from the Maya Mam people of Guatemala. Her work for the advancement of indigenous rights stems from the genocide of the Maya people in Guatemala where an estimated 200,000 people were killed during the civil war. She has worked with the International Maya League/USA, the Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA and the Association of Midwives of the Mam Area, Guatemala. She is committed to the preservation of land rights, culture and identity of indigenous people and bringing this struggle to the forefront of the international arena. She supports the directors in the Coordinating Office through project management, research and communication between the Alliance office and member organizations. Juanita received her B.A. in Psychology and Minority Health Care from Beloit College.

U.S. Elections and the Latino Vote - Part I

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

(Latin Pulse: 8, September 2008) As the United States prepares to elect its next president, the world watches closely. Some see it as the election of the most powerful man in the world. For the first time in the U.S. history, an African American candidate is on the ballot. Thousands of foreigners are rushing to become U.S. citizens so they can cast their vote this November. Most are concerned about how this election will affect them; others are looking at the policies the new president might change. Who they will vote for is something only they know, but what is clear is that this is an election unlike any other. Español Los Estados Unidos se preparan para elegir a su próximo presidente y el mundo esta observando de cerca. Algunos lo ven como la elección del hombre más poderoso del mundo. Por la primera vez en el proceso electoral de los Estados Unidos, hay un candidato Afro Americano en la lista. Miles de extranjeros residentes se están dando prisa para hacerse ciudadanos estadounidenses y poder votar en las próximas elecciones en noviembre. Muchos de ellos están preocupados por cómo esta elección les afectará, otros están echándole una mirada a los cambios en las políticas que el nuevo presidente podría efectuar. ¿Por quién van a votar? Solamente ellos lo saben, lo que sí es ya claro es que esta elección es como antes ninguna otra. GUESTS: Brigitte Davila, Professor, San Francisco State University Brigitte is from Los Angeles, with roots in Colorado and New Mexico. She has taught in the Race Studies Department for the last six years. Among her classes are: Government and Constitutional Ideals; Race in California; Community Organizing; as well as courses in Critical Thinking. Currently, her area of focus is law and public policy, with an emphasis on community activism. As program director of Raza Studies Community Service Learning Program, she has the opportunity to work closely with community-based organizations actively supporting Raza. She has received acknowledgment for her innovative community service learning curricula. Leonard J. Lacayo, Vice Chair Communications, Republican Party, 12th Assembly District Member Leo is the most prominent Republican media spokesperson in Northern California with hundreds of television and radio interviews to his credit. Leo is presently deputy chair for the McCain-Palin '08 campaign's San Francisco office. He was the founding chairman of the San Francisco Hispanic Republican Assembly, the immediate past RNHA Vice Chair for Northern California, founded Operation Justice for All, and was a frequent political blog writer until 2004. Leo serves on the board of directors of The California Association of Immigration Consultants, The Nicaragua Relief Fund, Inc., and is an active media spokesperson. Mr. Lacayo founded Lacayo & Associates in 1986, which specializes in immigration consultancy and tax preparation, located in The Ronald Reagan Building in Bernal Heights. In 1992, he founded Computrend and, in 2002, Lacayo Properties. He will leave the committee on November 5, 2008 to establish a new blog, as well as a radio and television program to help revive American values and patriotism in response to the political left. Leo is an alumunus of La Salle's Instituto Pedagogico de Managua in Nicaragua, Universidad Centroamericana Law School, and has attended Harvard Extension INCAE and the University of San Francisco. Mark Hugo Lopez, Associate Director, Pew Hispanic Center Mark Hugo Lopez is the associate director of the Pew Hispanic Center. At the Center, Lopez studies political engagement among Latinos. Prior to joining the Center, Lopez served as Research Director at the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at the University of Maryland. Through his work at CIRCLE, he has studied young people's electoral participation, the civic engagement of immigrants, young people's views of the first amendment, and the link between college attendance and civic engagement. Lopez also currently serves as a Visiting Professor at the University of Maryland's School of Public Policy. Lopez currently serves as the chair of the Association of Public Policy Analysis and Management's (APPAM) Diversity Committee. He also serves as the Second Vice President of the American Society of Hispanic Economists (ASHE) and as a member of the American Economic Association's Committee on the Status of Minority Groups in the Economics Profession (CSMGEP). While a Professor at the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland, he served as the Faculty Chair of the Maryland Junior Summer Institute for minority students interested in careers in international affairs. Lopez joined the Pew Hispanic Center in January of 2008. Lopez received his Ph.D. in Economics from Princeton University in 1996. Kevin Casas-Zamora, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institute Kevin is a senior fellow in Foreign Policy at Brookings' Latin America Initiative. Most recently, Casas-Zamora served as Costa Rica's Vice-President, as well as Minister of National Planning and Economic Policy. He has authored several studies on political finance, elections, democratization and civil military relations in Latin America. Maria Antonieta Mejia, Managing Editor, El Mensajero, San Francisco Maria was born in Mexico DF and attended journalism school there. She has worked in the U.S. as a freelance journalist for TV and print outlets; currently Maria is the managing editor for the San Francisco newspaper in Spanish "El Mensajero," an affiliate of the Los Angeles based newspaper "La Opinion."

U.S. Security and Latin America

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

(Latin Pulse: 11, August, 2008) This region, long considered neglected by U.S. foreign policy is now the focus of renewed interest from U.S. security officials, thanks to a shift to the political left. Is this a strategic move or saber rattling to maintain dominance on what's been called "America's back yard?" Español Una región por largo tiempo considerada descuidada por la política extranjera del Departamento de Estado de los EEUU. Actualmente cuando la región esta experimentando un viraje hacia la izquierda, hay un renovado interés de parte de los oficiales de seguridad del departamento de estado. ¿Es esto parte de una estrategia? O simplemente un ardid para mantener la predominio en una región que ha sido llamada ?el patio trasero de los Estados Unidos?. Guest Bios Geoff Thale Program Director WOLA, Washington Office on Latin América Geoff is the Program Director at WOLA (formerly Senior Associate for Central America and Cuba). As Program Director, Mr Thale consults with staff about all of WOLA's programs, from the Southern Cone to Mexico. In addition, he directly oversees the Cuba and Central America teams at WOLA, including the Central America Youth Gangs Program. Thale has followed Central America issues since the mid-1980s, and Cuba issues since the mid-1990s. Before coming to WOLA, he was the founder and Executive Director of the El Salvador Policy Project in Washington, DC. He holds a Masters degree in Industrial Relations from the University of Wisconsin. Ted Lewis Director of the Human Rights Program Global Exchange Ted Lewis directs the human rights programs of Global Exchange and is a long time democracy and antiwar activist. He recently organized Fair Election International (www.fairelection.us), which invited observers from all five continents to observe the November 2004 election in five key US states. Since 1994, Mr. Lewis has directed the Human Rights and the Mexico Programs of Global Exchange. He has supervised and coordinated multinational human rights teams in Nicaragua and some of the most conflictive states in Mexico and led the largest international team of delegates to observe the Mexican presidential elections in 2000. He visited Iraq in the summer of 2003, helping to launch the Iraq Occupation Watch.

Colombia and the Hostages' Rescue

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

(Latin Pulse: July 29, 2008) A forty-year Colombian guerilla movement that may have taken its biggest blow yet, a daring rescue executed to perfection in broad daylight in the heart of the jungle. Was it timed for maximum political gain for both Colombia and the U.S.? Or is it just an incredible coincidence? En Español La guerrilla Colombiana en sus cuarenta años, ha quizás sufrido recientemente su más duro contra golpe. Un audaz rescate ejecutado a la perfección en plena luz del día en el corazón de la selva. Ha sucedido en un momento que favorece políticamente a Colombia asi como a los EEUU, ¿Fue planeado adrede o simplemente pura coincidencia? GUESTS: Adam Isacson, Director of Programs, Center for International Policy Adam has worked on Latin American Security Issues, particularly U.S. policy toward Central America and Colombia, since 1995 at the Center for International Policy. He has been to Colombia more than twenty-five times, including thirteen of the country's thirty-two departments. Mr. Isacson holds an MA in International Relations from Yale University. He worked previously for the Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress in San Jose, Costa Rica. Marc Chernick, Research Professor, Georgetown University Marc teaches in the Department of Government and the Center for Latin American Studies. He previously taught and served as Acting Director of the Latin American Studies program at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and earlier as the Assistant Director of the Institute of Latin American and Iberian Studies at Columbia University. He also worked for several years as a professor at the University of Los Andes and the National University of Colombia, both in Bogotá, and was a Visiting Professor/ Researcher at FLACSO-Ecuador in Quito and the Institute of Peruvian Studies in Lima. He has been a consultant to the World Bank, the United Nations Development Program, the U.S. Department of State and the government of Switzerland on projects to promote peace and conflict resolution in Colombia, and has been an advisor to USAID on issues of democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Colombia, Bolivia, Mexico, El Salvador, and Peru and on related issues in Zambia and Nigeria. Currently he is working with a team of international scholars on a cross-regional research project on insurgent groups and paths to settlement of internal armed conflicts sponsored by the Norwegian Government and the Social Science Research Council contributing research on the FARC guerrillas of Colombia and the Shining Path of Peru. He has written widely on drug trafficking, political violence, and negotiated settlement to internal armed conflicts and has recently completed a book on peace negotiations and the armed conflict in Colombia (2005), and is the editor and co-author of another study for the United Nations Development Program on Conflict Prevention and Early Warning in Latin America, focusing on the case of Colombia (2005). John Lindsay-Poland, TFLAC Co-Director, Fellowship of Reconciliation John is the co-director of the FOR Task Force on Latin America and the Caribbean, a position in which he has served since 1989. Previously he served with Peace Brigades International as a peace team member in Guatemala and El Salvador, US staff, and co-founder of PBI's Colombia Project. He is editor of FOR's Puerto Rico/Colombia Update; founded the FOR's Colombia Peace Presence team; and is author of numerous articles on U.S. militarism in Latin America, as well as books, including: "Emperors in the Jungle: The Hidden History of the U.S. in Panama" (Duke University Press, 2003) and "Inside Panama" (with Tom Barry, 1995, Interhemispheric Resource Center). Fernando Paz, Writer Fernando nació en Colombia, y reside en los Estados Unidos de América. Miembro de la Asociación Colombiana de Escritores, ACE. Desde los primeros años de su juventud, empezó a escribir poesía y componer música. Su pasión por la escritura y su creatividad, aliada a sus intensos estudios y talleres en literatura, lo condujeron a escribir cuentos cortos, luego sus dos novelas, Adiós Mamá Felisa y Los Gorriones Del Trombonero. Los primeros ejemplares de su segunda novela, Los Gorriones del Trombonero, lo involucraron en problemas narco-políticos en su país, Colombia, y terminó como prisionero político de un grupo rebelde colombiano en las selvas del Amazonas. Tras escapar de sus captores, se refugió en USA. Como resultado de sus experiencias, escribió Porque Lloran Los Tucanes.

Health Care in Latin America

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

(Latin Pulse: July 16, 2008) The increased cost of health care is an ongoing debate in the U.S. and a critical issue in Latin America. With so many different medical systems in the region, who does a better job? The government or private industry? En Español El Cuidado de la Salud en Latinoamérica El aumento del costo del cuidado de la salud es un debate en curso en los EEUU y un asunto critico en Latino América. Con tantos sistemas diferentes de salud en la región, ¿quién ofrece un mejor servicio el gobierno o la empresa privada? GUESTS: Benjamin Caballero, M.D., M.Sc., Ph.D. Pan American Health and Education Foundation Leadership Dr. Caballero is currently professor of international health at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, and professor of pediatrics at the School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University. He has 20 years of experience as a scholar, researcher, and leader in the area of health and nutrition in the developing world. He obtained his medical degree from the University of Buenos Aires, his masters of science degree from the University of San Carlos and his Ph.D. from MIT. He started his academic career at Harvard University, and moved to Johns Hopkins in 1990 to found the Center for Human Nutrition. He was an active participant in key scientific committees advising the U.S. government on issues of diet and health, including the Dietary Reference Intakes Standing Committee, the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine, and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans Advisory Committee. Dr. Caballero was president of the Society for International Nutrition Research and is presently on the board of directors of the International Nutrition Foundation. Last year he received the Ancel Keys Prize for achievements in international public health. Dr. Caballero is the author of over 100 scientific publications. His book "The Nutrition Transition: Diet and Disease in the Developing World" (Academic Press, London 2003) explored the impact of demographic and economic development on diet- and lifestyle-related diseases in developing countries. He is also the editor-in-chief of the "Encyclopedia of Food Sciences and Nutrition" (Academic Press, London, 2004), a 10-volume work on food production, consumption and biological effects. An earlier work, the "Encyclopedia of Human Nutrition" (AP, 1999) received the Book of the Year Award from the British Medical Association. He joined the board of the Pan American Health and Education Foundation in 2007. Nick Penco, Program Manager, Child Family Health International Nick Penco joined CFHI in the spring of 2005. He is a native of Argentina, who has lived in the U.S. for 20 years. He graduated with a bachelor's in international relations from San Francisco State University. He worked full time while in school in the hospitality industry, which served as a great benefit to CFHI, where he now works as a primary person communicating and supporting CFHI's 700 yearly students on a daily basis. Penco travels extensively for CFHI, facilitating bilingual evaluation site-visits around the world. He is also fluent in French, German and conversational Portuguese. Penco sits on the board of directors for the non-profit organization Family Link in San Francisco, California. Mary Anne Tenuto-Sanchez, Director, Chiapas Support Committee CSC Chiapas Support Committee is a non-profit organization composed entirely of volunteers concerned about victims of low-intensify warfare in Chiapas, Mexico. The three programs assisted financially are: economic cooperatives operated by indigenous women in the canyons of Ocosingo; autonomous health clinics; human rights representation of peasants unjustly jailed during land disputes and political conflict. In Mexico CSC works with K'inal Antzetik, the Human Rights Coalition for the Ethnicities of Chiapas and Enlace Civil.

Status of Poverty in Latin America

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

(Latin Pulse: June 30, 2008) Features former president of Peru, Alejandro Toledo. How is Latin America coping with the issue of poverty? From violence to hungry children on the streets, it is an ailment that has afflicted the region for decades. As Latin America tries to increase trade and strengthen its economies, it is still troubled by the lack of financial resources to fight poverty. But as the pendulum swings back away from free market economies, some are starting to blame multinationals for promoting poverty for their own advantage. Historically the financial health of Latin America has been directly tied to the strength of the U.S. dollar. As the dollar weakens so do Latin America economies, sending the poverty index soaring. En Español El estado de la pobreza en Latino América. ¿Cómo esta Latino América haciéndole frente al problema de la pobreza? Desde la violencia hasta niños hambrientos en las calles, dos caras de las varias caras de la pobreza, una dolencia que ha afectado la región por décadas. Así como América Latina trata de incrementar el comercio para fortalecer sus economías, aún sigue plagada por la falta de recursos financieros para combatir la pobreza. Con el péndulo balanceándose entre las economías de libre mercado, algunos están comenzando a criticar a las compañías multinacionales por promover la pobreza para su conveniencia. Históricamente la salud financiera de Latino América ha estado directamente liada a la fuerza del dólar, sí el dólar se debilita así mismo se ven afectadas las economías Latino Americanas, aumentando vertiginosamente el índice de pobreza en la región. GUESTS: Joy Olson, Executive Director WOLA, Washington Office in Latino America Joy Olsen is a Latin America human rights expert who has directed non-governmental human rights organizations for more than a decade. A policy strategist and a partner in dialogue with U.S. policy and opinion makers in both Washington DC and Latin America, Ms. Olson has a long-standing commitment to promoting greater transparency in U.S. military programs in Latin America. She co-founded the "Just the Facts" project and co-authored its three books on U.S. military programs with Latin America. Her many achievements include campaign leadership to end U.S. government efforts to deport refugees who fled from civil war in El Salvador to the U.S. She led NGO efforts to increase U.S. funding for Central American peace accords implementation and a successful advocacy effort to lift the ban on food and medicine sales to Cuba. Prior to joining WOLA as Executive Director, Ms. Olson served as Director of the Latin America Work Group (LAWG), a coalition of 60 non-governmental organizations working together to promote peaceful and just U.S. foreign policy toward Latin America. A published author in the Latin American human rights field, Ms. Olson did her graduate studies at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, following two years' work in community development in Honduras. Héctor Perla Jr., Visiting Scholar CLAS, UC Berkeley An assistant professor of Political Science and Latin American Studies at Ohio University, Dr. Perla is currently on leave as a UC President's Postdoctoral Fellow. During 2007-08 Dr. Perla will be a visiting scholar at CLAS, where he will be finishing his book manuscript entitled "Revolutionary Deterrence: U.S. Coercion & Transnational Resistance by Sandinista Nicaragua." The book documents the strategies and tactics used by the Sandinista Front for National Liberation (FSLN) to resist the Reagan Administration's efforts to oust them from power. It traces the domestic, international and transnational strategies that Nicaraguans both at home and in the diaspora used to sway U.S. public opinion to oppose Reagan's policy and deter him from escalating the conflict. Specifically, this includes analysis of transnational sub-state actors such as religious and secular NGOs, the Central American Diaspora and the Solidarity Movement in the U.S., as well as their impact on public opinion, media framing of the conflict and government officials' decision-making. Alejandro Toledo, Ph.D President of Peru, 2001-2006; President, Global Center for Development and Democracy (GCDD); Payne Distinguished Visiting Lecturer (CDDRL) Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies; Distinguished Fellow, Center for Advanced Studies in the Behavioral Sciences (CASBS), Stanford University Dr. Toledo was president of Peru from 2001 to 2006. Toledo came to international prominence after leading the opposition against President Alberto Fujimori, who held the presidency from 1990 to 2000. After his presidential term, Toledo left Peru and went to the U.S. where he has been a Distinguished Scholar in Residence at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University during the 2006-2008 academic years. Currently he is a 2007-2008 Payne Distinguished Visiting Lecturer at Stanford University's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and a CDDRL (Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law) visiting scholar. Before being elected president, Toledo worked as a consultant for various international organizations, including the United Nations, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the International Labor Organization (ILO), and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). He has also been a regular professor at ESAN, Peru's leading Business School. From 1991 to 1994, he was an affiliated researcher in the field of international development at the Harvard Institute for International Development. Toledo was also guest professor at the University of Waseda in Tokyo and at the Japan Foundation. Among Toledo's publications are works on economic growth and on structural reforms. However, his latest book, "Las Cartas sobre la Mesa" ("The Cards on the Table"), describes his political career which led him to found the party Perú Posible ("Possible Peru").

Food Issues in Latin America

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

(Latin Pulse: 15 June, 2008) As the price of food goes up in Latin America, so does the chance of social uprising and general discontent. One of the richest regions of the world is facing the problem of how to feed its own people. Is this an ideological issue, lack of know-how, or just mismanagement of funds? Will all those hungry people end up in the streets of towns here in the United States? Español Así como el precio de los alimentos aumenta en Latino América, así también el riesgo de descontento social y levantamientos de la población en general crece. Una de las regiones mas ricas del mundo esta confrontando el problema de cómo alimentar a su población. ¿Es esto un problema ideológico, falta de conocimiento de cómo hacer las cosas, o solamente un problema de mala gestión en la parte administrativa? ¿Terminaran alguna de esta gente hambrienta en las calles de las ciudades aquí en los Estados Unidos? GUESTS: Daniel Gustafson, Director of the Liaison Office for North America, FAO, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Mr. Gustafson, a national of the United States of America, holds an M.Sc. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Wisconsin and a Ph.D. in Agricultural Extension from the University of Maryland. He started his career in 1977 at the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) in Brazil, occupying posts in research and extension projects and at the country office until 1988. From 1988 to 1994, he worked as Programme Director of the University of Maryland International Development Management Centre and the Maryland Extension Service. He joined FAO in 1994 as FAO Senior Extensionist in Maputo, advising the National Directorate of Rural Development in the Ministry of Agriculture. From 1996 to November 1997, he served as Consultant for the Investment Centre, TCI. From 1998 to 2002 he served as FAO Representative in Kenya. In October 2002, he was appointed FAO Representative in India and Bhutan. Juan Carlos Hidalgo, Project coordinator for Latin America Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, Cato Institute Juan Carlos is project coordinator for Latin America at the Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity. Previously he was Latin America director of the International Policy Network and editor of El Cato.org, the Cato Institute's Spanish-language web site. He writes frequently on Latin American affairs and his articles have been published in newspapers throughout the region including La Nación (Costa Rica), El Comercio (Perú), La Nación (Argentina), El Tiempo (Colombia) and El Mercurio (Chile), among others. Hidalgo received his B.A in International Relations from the Universidad Nacional in Costa Rica and holds a master's degree in International Commerce and Policy from George Mason University. José Artiga, Executive Director, SHARE Foundation The SHARE Foundation building a new El Salvador today, has over 27 years experience in the United States working on El Salvador and community development issues. After arriving in the United States from his native El Salvador in 1980, barely escaping the death squads, he helped develop the Sanctuary Movement in the U.S. to help other refugees fleeing oppression and violence. He also led the "Going Home Campaign" to provide support to Salvadoran refugees based in Honduras returning to their country. Under José's leadership SHARE has made women's work a priority and has accompanied grassroots organizations in Central America in their struggle to oppose the Free Trade Agreement. SHARE has also been present with the Salvadoran people during natural disasters such as Hurricanes Mitch, Stan, the earthquakes of 2001 and volcano eruptions and accompanied the struggle of the immigrants in the US. Under Jose's leadership SHARE is responding to the food crisis by providing farmers in El Salvador with a package of native seeds and organic fertilizers.

Soccer/Fútbol

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

(Latin Pulse: June 2, 2008) In Latin America soccer is a game of passion, and it's taken to heart. What many consider to be the biggest game in the world has become so huge that when national teams play, entire countries come to a stop. It's also big business. Is soccer simply a game or is it an escape from the reality of poverty and corruption in Latin America? En Español: En Latino América fútbol es un juego con pasión, y se toma en serio. Muchos lo consideran el deporte más importante en el mundo, y se ha vuelto tan grande que cuando la selección nacional juega, el país entero se toma el tiempo para seguir el juego. Es también un negocio importante. ¿Es el fútbol simplemente un juego, o es un escape de la realidad que conlleva pobreza y corrupción en Latino América? GUESTS: Branko Milanovic, World Bank, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Visiting Scholar Branco is a lead economist in the World Bank's research department, where he has been working on the topics of income inequality and globalization. Previously, he was a World Bank country economist for Poland and a research fellow at the Institute of Economic Sciences in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. Since 1996, Milanovic has also served as a visiting professor teaching the economics of transition at the Johns Hopkins University's School for Advanced International Studies. He received his Ph.D. in economics in 1987 from Belgrade University. As a senior associate on a two-year assignment with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's Global Policy Program, Milanovic focused his research on globalization and world income distribution, as well as the interaction between politics, reform, and inequality in transition countries. He remains an associate scholar with the Endowment. Mylene Moreno, Documentary Filmmaker, "Fanáticos" Los Angeles-based filmmaker Mylène Moreno makes documentaries that reflect her diverse cultural interests. She is currently following Mexican fútbol fanáticos in southern California during the second season of the professional soccer team, Chivas USA. Her last project is "Recalling Orange County," a personal look at the orchestrated backlash against an immigrant rights leader that reveals fierce conflicts in California's Orange County over what it means to be American. It began airing in October, 2006, during the inaugural season of the Latino Public Broadcasting series VOCES. Mylène's previous film, "True-Hearted Vixens," featured female jocks pursuing dreams of professional athletic greatness in a startup tackle football league. Produced in association with the Independent Television Service, "Vixens" aired during the 2001 season of P.O.V. Previously, she worked in Austin on several PBS documentaries, producing the first episode of the landmark PBS series "¡CHICANO! History of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement." She also produced a tongue-in-cheek documentary "search" for the brilliant and reclusive novelist Cormac McCarthy, "Cormac's Trash," and directed "Maribel," a short about an El Paso teen's experience of motherhood, marriage and a second pregnancy. Mylène is a graduate of Stanford University's documentary film program. "Fanáticos" Synopsis: Worldwide, soccer fans are a phenomenon unto themselves. In the US, soccer may still be in its youth, but the fans are already here, creating new communities, influencing our appreciation for the game and supporting their home team. One such team is a fútbol club called Chivas USA. Fanaticos follows the fortunes of Club Deportivo Chivas USA's most colorful fans, Mexican and Mexican American fútbol devotés, during the team's second season in the United States' professional soccer league. Dr. Tomás F. Crowder-Taraborrelli, Introduction to the Humanities, Stanford University Tomás was born in Argentina and came to the United States in 1986. He studied Journalism, Film and Comparative Literature at San Francisco State University and did his graduate work at the University of California, Irvine and San Diego. The last four years Crowder-Tarborelli have been completing a post-doctoral fellowship at Stanford University. Tomás is also one of the directors of the Stanford Film Lab and had directed a couple of documentary films. He is a Boca Juniors fan.

The Game of Soccer / El Deporte del Fútbol

The Business of Soccer / El Negocio del Fútbol

Water Crisis

Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

(Latin Pulse: May 19, 2008) Encompassing both glaciers and the Amazon basin, Latin America remains one of the biggest sources of fresh water in the world. Yet drinking water is scarce and for some it's a luxury. Will there be a battle for fresh water in the future? And if it runs out, what other alternatives are there? En Español La vida sobre la tierra no puede existir sin ella, sin embargo el agua se toma por dada. Se ha dicho que en el futuro el agua es como el petróleo, es un recurso natural sin el cual no podemos vivir, a diferencia del petróleo no hay conocidas alternativas para reemplazar el agua potable. Latino América con sus glaciares y el río Amazonas posee uno de los recursos más grandes de agua dulce en el mundo. A pesar de todo el agua es escasa y para algunos en un lujo. ¿Habrá una guerra por el agua potable en el futuro, y sí se acabara que otras alternativas hay? GUESTS: Alan Snitow, Documentary Filmmaker & Writer "Thirst" Alan's films include the award-winning "Thirst," "Secrets of Silicon Valley", and "Blacks and Jews." Snitow was a producer at the top-rated KTVU-TV News, the Bay Area Fox affiliate, for 12 years. Before that, he was the News Director for eight years at the Bay Area's Pacifica Radio station, KPFA-FM, winning the Corporation for Public Broadcasting Gold Award for Best Local Newscast. Snitow was a Board member of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters and President of the Board of the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. He is currently a Board member of the Film Arts Foundation and a member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. He is a graduate of Cornell University. "Thirst" investigates eight recent high-profile controversies over the corporate takeover of water in the United States and illuminates how and why ordinary people are fighting back both here and abroad. Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director, Food & Water Watch Wenonah is the executive director of Food & Water Watch. She has worked extensively on energy, food, water and environmental issues at the national, state and local level. Experienced in developing policy positions and legislative strategies, she is also a skilled and accomplished organizer, having lobbied and developed grassroots field strategy and action plans. From 1997 to 2005 she served as Director of Public Citizen's Energy and Environment Program, which focused on water, food, and energy policy. From 1996 to 1997, she was environmental policy director for Citizen Action, where she worked with the organization's 30 state-based groups. From 1989 to 1995 she was at the Union of Concerned Scientists where as a senior organizer, she coordinated broad-based, grassroots sustainable energy campaigns in several states. She has an M.S. in Applied Anthropology from the University of Maryland. Abel Mejía, Gerente Corporativo de Agua, World Bank Gonzalo E. Mejia, Director & Producer, Bananas Films

Availability and Infrastructure / Disponibilidad e infrastructura

Privatization vs. Public domain / Privatización vs. Dominio Público

Oil Addiction and Alternative Fuels

Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

(Latin Pulse: May 5, 2008) Rising gas prices and the threat of oil shortages around the world are nothing new. What is surprising are the claims by one of the United States' main suppliers that it's already running out. Mexico is one of the main suppliers of crude oil to the United States, but recently that country has experienced a reduction in oil production. That concerns not only the oil industry but also Mexican citizens. Are we closer to the flash point than we thought, or is this just a political ploy to put pressure on the United States? Are other nations leaving the U.S. behind in the race to adopt new energy technologies, and will our oil addiction create a drag on the economy? En Español: La adicción al petróleo y alternativas de combustibles. El aumento en los precios del barril y la amenaza de escasez de petróleo alrededor del mundo no es nada nuevo. Lo que sorprende son las declaraciones de uno de los mayores surtidores para los Estados Unidos, de que los yacimientos de petróleo se están agotando. México es uno de los importantes surtidores de crudo para los EEUU, recientemente el país ha sufrido una reducción en la producción petrolera. Este hecho preocupa no solamente a la industria pero también a los ciudadanos de ese país. ¿Estamos acercándonos al punto culminante de escasez o es solamente una perspectiva política para presionar a los EEUU? ¿Están otras naciones dejando atrás a los estados Unidos en la competencia para adaptar nuevas tecnologías al uso de combustibles, y estará creando nuestra adicción al petróleo una fricción en la economía? GUESTS: Paul Paz y Miño - Managing Director, Amazon Watch: www.amazonwatch.org Barbara Kotschwar - Research Associate at the Peterson, Institute for International Economics Barbara Kotschwar, research associate at the Institute, was formerly the chief of the Foreign Trade Information System (2000-2007) and senior trade specialist (1996-2007) at the Organization of American States; was a research assistant at the Institute (1995-96) and at the North American Studies Project at Johns Hopkins University Foreign Policy Institute (1994-95). She has been an adjunct professor of Latin American Studies and Economics at Georgetown University since 1998. She was coeditor of "Trade Rules in the Making: Multilateral and Regional Trade Arrangements" (Brookings Institution Press/Organization of American States, 1999) and "The Andean Community and the United States: Trade and Investment Relations in the 1990s" (Organization of American States, 1998) and has written numerous papers on trade issues, particularly focusing on the Americas. Jorge R. Piñón - Energy Fellow, University of Miami, Center for Hemispheric Policy Jorge R. Piñón began his professional career nearly thirty years ago in the energy sector when he joined Shell Oil Company. In 1991 Amoco Corporation recruited him as President of Amoco Corporate Development Company Latin America, where he led the business development efforts in the region and participated in a number of important joint ventures between Amoco and state oil companies. In 1994 he was transferred to the downstream oil sector and to Mexico City to serve as president of Amoco Oil de México and president of Amoco Oil Latin America. In 1997, as vice-president and member of the board of directors of the AM-CHAM México, he received the "Yiacatecutli" award, for distinguished service in the promotion of US-México business relations. After the 1999 merger between Amoco and BP, Jorge was transferred to Madrid, Spain to run BP Europe's western European supply and logistics operations. Jorge retired from BP in 2003 and is currently an international energy consultant as well as an Energy Fellow with the University of Miami's Center for Hemispheric Policy where he focuses on energy and alternative fuels. He is also a frequent guest energy analyst on CNN En Español, CNN International, Bloomberg Financial News Services and other news organizations. Jorge Piñón's international experience in emerging markets and network of senior energy contacts in Latin America allow him to contribute objective analysis on Cuba's energy and economic challenges as well as the politics of oil and natural gas in Latin America, and the international oil markets. Jorge is a graduate from the University of Florida in International Economics and Latin American Studies.

Environmental Impact and Oil Supplies / Impacto en el medio ambiente y los yacimientos petroleros

Oil Politics and Oil Addiction / La addicion y las politicas del petroleo

U.S. Presidential Elections and the Latino Vote

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700

(April 21, 2008) The November election for president of the United States is fast approaching and never before has the Hispanic vote carried so much weight. With the race so tight, the three leading candidates are going after what may be the tie-breaker - the Latino vote. That group may determine who moves into the White House next winter. Will this translate into true political strength or remain just another political promise? En Español: EEUU Elecciones Presidenciales y el voto de los Latinos. Las elecciones para la presidencia de los EEUU se acercan, y jamás el voto hispano había tenido tanto peso en las elecciones en el país. Con la tan cerrada competencia, los tres candidatos están tras lo que parece ser el desempate, el voto de los Latinos. ¿Se traducirá este hecho en una real fuerza política o se quedará en una promesa política más? GUESTS: Andres Eugenio Jimenez University of California, Office of the President California Policy Research Center Andres Jimenez is director of the California Policy Research Center (CPRC), a University of California system-wide program that applies independent, nonpartisan scholarly research expertise to public policy issues. Jimenez has researched and written about society and politics in the United States and Mexico, U.S. race and ethnic relations, U.S. immigration policy, and US-Latin American relations. Before joining CPRC, Jimenez coordinated research programs at the Institute of International Studies and the Institute for the Study of Social Change at the University of California, Berkeley. Jimenez is a member of the Advisory Council of the Center for California Studies at California State University, Sacramento; the Executive Committee of the Center for Latino Policy Research at UC Berkeley; and the Advisory Committee of the Chicano/Latino Research Center at UC Santa Cruz. He chairs the editorial committee of the Harvard Journal of Hispanic Policy, an independent refereed research journal housed at the JFK School of Public Policy at Harvard University. Jimenez was elected to the National Policy Council for the Association of Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM) for the 1994-1998 term. He also served on the Advisory Board for a major RAND Corporation study of the effects of large-scale immigration on California, the Board of Directors of the International Institute of the East Bay, the Planning Committee of the California Public Policy Consortium, and the Newcomers Task Force of Contra Costa County, which he chaired. Jimenez received his BA in Politics and Latin American Studies from UC Santa Cruz, and he pursued doctoral studies in Political Science at UC Berkeley. David Campos SF police commissioner David Campos is currently a San Francisco Police Commissioner and was previously General Counsel for the San Francisco Unified School District. An immigrant from Guatemala, David graduated from Harvard Law School and Stanford University. He is also an elected member of the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee, the governing arm of the San Francisco Democratic Party. Mark Hugo Lopez Associate Director, Pew Hispanic Center Mark Hugo Lopez is the Associate Director of the Pew Hispanic Center. Lopez received his Ph.D. in economics from Princeton University in 1996. At the Center, Lopez studies political engagement among Latinos, young Latinos and helps to coordinate the Center?s national surveys. Prior to joining the Center, Lopez served as Research Director at the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at the University of Maryland. Through his work at CIRCLE, he has studied young people's electoral participation, the civic engagement of immigrants, young people's views of the first amendment, and the link between college attendance and civic engagement. In other work, Lopez has studied the earnings differential between U.S. born Hispanic faculty and other faculty, the impact of bilingual education programs on long-term student achievement, the returns to speaking a second language, and the neighborhood effects of immigrants on the educational achievement of natives. Lopez joined the Pew Hispanic Center in January of 2008. Raúl Danny Vargas National Chairman of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly Mr. Vargas is the founder and president of VARCom Solutions, a marketing and communications consultancy firm. Previously he served as AOL's Vice President for Latin America, where he led the company's business activities in the region. A life long Republican, he was a member of the Hispanic advisory group for former RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman and founder and chairman of a Hispanic advisory group for Congressman Frank Wolf (10th-VA). He served as coordinator for the Hispanic coalition for Senator Allen's re-election campaign and was a principal Spanish language spokesperson for the Kilgore campaign. He has advised members of Congress (House and Senate) on issues related to immigration reform, gangs, Hispanic outreach and more. He is an active member of the Fairfax County Republican Committee, the 10th District Republican Committee and is a member of the Membership Advisory Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia. A Virginia resident for nearly 15 years, he is also a leader in the community, serving on the boards of various non-profit groups helping the poor, the young and the ill lead better and more self-sufficient lives. These include the Northern Virginia Family Service, Fairfax Partnership for Youth and INOVA Hospital's Community Advisory Board. As a leader in the private sector, he holds prominent positions in various chambers of commerce, including the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce where in July 2007 Vargas became the Chamber's chairman. He is a seven year veteran, having served in the U.S. Air Force, including five years in Panama.

U.S. Elections and U.S. Latinos / Las elecciones y los Latinos en EEUU

U.S. Elections and Latin America / Las elecciones y América Latina

The Immigration Issue

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700

(Latin Pulse, April 7, 2008) The immigration issue in the U.S. is once again a hot topic of discussion. It is an election year, and the economy is in a downturn. The United States is a nation founded on immigration, however, with every new wave of immigrants, social and economic pressures often cause a backlash. This heats up the debate within the political arena. The most recent wave of immigrants, both legal and illegal, is from Latin America, with the majority coming from Mexico. Is illegal immigration a necessary evil? Or an impossible problem that has to be solved? En Español: El Asunto de la Inmigración El tema de la inmigración es una vez más una discusión acalorada. Este es un año de elecciones y la economía esta en declive. Los Estados Unidos es una nación fundada por inmigrantes, sin embargo con cada ola de nuevos inmigrantes las presiones sociales y económicas a menudo provocan un contragolpe como resultado. Esto enardece el debate en la arena política. La mas reciente ola de inmigrantes legales e ilegales viene de Latinoamérica y la mayoría de ellos de México. ¿Es la inmigración ilegal un mal necesario, o un problema insostenible que tiene que ser resuelto? GUESTS: John Amaya Legislative Staff Attorney MALDEF - Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund John Amaya is responsible for managing and executing MALDEF's federal legislative strategies related to immigration policy. Prior to joining MALDEF, Mr. Amaya served as a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice in the office of Immigration Litigation where he represented the United States in Federal Circuit Courts of Appeals and Federal District Courts. Mr. Amaya has previous legislative experience having worked as a congressional fellow for Senator Maria Cantwell (WA) and as an aide for Congressman Norm Dicks (WA). A native of Los Angeles, California, Mr. Amaya holds a Juris Doctor and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Washington where he previously served on the board of Regents. Alejandra Rincón, Ph.D. Writer Alejandra Rincón, Ph.D. is the author of a forthcoming book entitled "Undocumented Immigrants and Higher Education: Sí se puede!" This book reviews the history of struggle by undocumented immigrant students to gain access to college by paying in-state tuition rates. These efforts, which have been successful in ten states thus far, are the current expression of past civil rights struggles and may have broader implications for the population as a whole. The book will be available in August from LFB Scholarly Publishing (http://www.lfbscholarly.com) as part of their series entitled "New Americans: Recent Immigration and American Society." She is also the 2006 recipient of the Human Relations Award conferred by the National Association of College Admissions Counseling (NACAC). The NACAC award celebrates someone who dedicates themselves to making postsecondary education opportunities available to historically underrepresented students. Having earned her doctorate in Education Administration, she is an avid advocate for immigrant rights in the educational system. She has developed programs to encourage Latino and immigrant high school students to attend college. Working for over six years with two of Texas? largest school districts, she has been active in the passage and implementation of Texas legislation that allows undocumented high school students to attend Texas colleges at in-state tuition rates. She has served as the director of Multicultural Affairs at Prairie View A&M University and is the adviser of Jóvenes Imigrantes por Futuro Mejor, an association of immigrant college students throughout Texas. Michele Waslin Senior Research Analyst at the Immigration Policy Center (AILF) Michele Waslin, Ph.D., is Senior Research Analyst at the Immigration Policy Center. She has authored several publications on immigration policy and post-9/11 immigration issues. Ms. Waslin appears regularly in English and Spanish-language media. Previously, she worked as Director of Immigration Policy Research at the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) and Policy Coordinator at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. She received her Ph.D. in 2002 in Government and International Studies from the University of Notre Dame, and holds an M.A. in International Relations from the University of Chicago and a B.A. in Political Science from Creighton University. (mwaslin@ailf.org) About IPC The Immigration Policy Center (IPC) is the research arm of the American Immigration Law Foundation (AILF). IPC was established in 2003 with the mission to provide policymakers, academics, the media, and the general public with access to accurate information about the effects of immigration on the U.S. economy and society. The IPC attracts nationally recognized scholars as research fellows and guest authors, and publishes timely reports on the role of immigrants and immigration policy. Together, the IPC director, fellows, and staff have been a major voice in the national debate on immigration. They have testified before Congress and regularly serve as experts on immigration law and policy issues for members of the media.

U.S. Immigration Policy / La política de Inmigración

The Human Face of Immigration / La Faz Humana de la Inmigración