Las Politicas

So, MSN just broke news that talks are going to begin on “redefining the fundamental role of U.S. troops, whose mission would shift from combat operations to logistics and support” in Iraq.  Now, as we all know, and in keeping with the nature of negotiations regarding this topic, things could fall flat on their face or simply never progress.  (Kind of like Fred Thompson.)  Hopefully, we may actually see some of those poor military kids coming back to go to school and enjoy lives as citizens, not soldiers.  (Full article here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22825800)

This follows shortly after the announcement of those fun little refund checks we are getting to boost the economy.  (Full article here:   http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22782454/)  Thank Jeebus, because I sure went crazy and got a new living room.  (See new tv above.  A girl’s gotta see her History Channel in HD and in life-size.  And ignore the mess.  I am still living out of boxes.) Recession, my butt.  I could keep the economy running on my own frivolous spending- know this. 

Sending happy karma to Petraeus and Pelosi,

Teri

In a step that will hopefully advance Mexico economically or otherwise, Felipe Calderon appointed a new Secretary of the Interior and removed the former Secretary. Calderon’s former Secretary was removed amid an upsurge in drug-fueled killings and criticism that he has cracked down on opposition protests.

The new Secretary, Juan Camilo Mourino, is a Spanish national who was educated in the United States. Mourino hopes to bring a refreshing approach as the Secretary who acts as the president’s chief negotiator. An economist well versed in free market principles, Mourino will begin the steps of the much needed privatization of PEMEX. PEMEX is still flagged by endemic corruption and remains one of the only state owned oil companies that loses money for its native country. The new Secretary is the third cabinet switch in Calderon’s administration, switches that will hopefully begin the advancement of a better Mexico.

Caroline

As we all know, Chavez lost his chance at the referendums that would have granted him the power to be president for life.  It was a stunning defeat that, Chavez seem to accept gracefully.  Gracefully accepting anything negative directed towards him is something that, Chavez seemed unable to do.  Many in Latin America and in the political world feel that we have not seen the end of Chavez and the referendum business.  Why the sudden change in behavior? It’s like the school bully who stops stealing lunch money overnight.

The question that everyone is asking is why did the voters turn on him? Was it Chavez’s perennial insults thrown at foreign opposition? The topic was only lightly covered, but Venezuela relies heavily on Colombian exports for eggs, milk and cheese. When Chavez began his abusive criticism of President Uribe the exports came to a screeching halt to the detriment of the poor.  Chavez’s  21^st century  Socialism failed to provide for its main target…the poor . Shopping malls were packed as were the streets and highways of the country. Those images don’t exactly conjure a Socialist paradise, but in fact a post industrial Venezuela. Perhaps to the voters of Venezuela…their country was not the up and coming model for Socialism, but in fact a service based economy that was causing more problems for the poor. The students also had a role of paramount importance…they clogged the streets showing their opposition to Chavez and his referendums.

Sorry to say, Chavez…but…whammy!

Caroline

PetroChina  has become the world’s first company worth I trillion dollars surging past ExxonMobil. ExxonMobil is valued at 488 billion dollars which…is far less than PetroChina. PetroChina is a state owned operation. I believe there is a trend developing…the major oil and gas companies in the world, with the exception of ExxonMobil are… state owned…and it seems to be working.

That is of course with the exception of nation of my birth, Mexico. Mexico can never seem to get it together in terms of national oil companies. For almost 70 years, PEMEX has actually lost money for Mexico . I believe that PEMEX should be privatized, but that is not going to happen because in order for that to occur the constitution would have to be amended.

What is next for PetroChina?

From the AP

“The company has seen revenues soar amid surging oil prices but has struggled to boost production from its aging domestic oil fields. In refining, it has struggled with a widening gap between soaring world crude oil prices and state-controlled prices for oil products in the domestic market.

Like other Chinese energy giants, PetroChina is investing heavily in both overseas and domestic oil and gas fields as it rushes to meet soaring demand. The company said it plans to use around 37.8 billion yuan ($5 billion) of the proceeds from the Shanghai IPO to help finance five projects aimed at boosting its crude oil output and refining capacity.”

Caroline

Global warming has remained a problem since scientist discovered the beginning s of it in the 70’s and many are of the opinion that it was kept quiet for political agenda pertaining to oil exploration. Now that global warming has been pushed to the forefront of top political debates….oil companies are now capitalizing on investment that has been made possible through global warming itself. As the ice caps melt…land that was once impossible to work on is now becoming investment friendly. The Arctic is known to contain one quarter of the worlds untapped oil reserves, but those oil reserves could be become the center of an ugly international struggle.

From Mother Jones

“The region has become the center of an international skirmish, with Russian interests going so far as to plant an underwater flag in order to at least symbolically claim reserves presumed to exist beneath the North Pole’s Lomonosov Ridge (which, they say, is connected to Russian territory by a submerged shelf). Even the U.S. government, which for decades has resisted signing an international treaty called the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea—which establishes rules for national sovereignty over portions of the earth’s oceans and seas, along with the resources beneath them—suddenly supports ratifying the treaty. The Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee began hearings in late September to get the process rolling.” 

Caroline

Argentina has not been on the receiving end of a prosperous economy for some time now. The nation has experienced hyper inflation and a near collapse of the economy. Although they are on the way to recovery, the change may be occurring to slowly. Hugo Chavez announced plans to help the nation by financing more of the nation’s debt and increase its energy supplies. Sounds good to most in Argentina…unless you are part of the largest Jewish community in all of Latin America.  

The Jewish citizens of the nation are becoming increasingly uneasy of Chavez’s presence in the form of economic aid. Chavez has not openly made any anti Semitic remarks, but his alliance with Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has called for the destruction of Israel…obviously makes some call for concern. Furthermore, his country of Iran has been suspected of the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people. This will be interesting to follow.

Above are pictures of Las Politicas as Simpson characters. 

Caroline

Chavez is not the best when it comes to subtle diplomacy…he is quick to anger if anyone makes even the slightest criticism of him. He has made it overwhelming clear how much he hates the Bush administration, as stated in an earlier post…anyone that makes a negative comment in Venezuela about him will be sent out of the country and he singles out Latin American leaders that have a slightly right leaning view of politics ( like Calderon in Mexico) As recent as yesterday Chavez called the cardinal of Honduras an “imperialist clown” because he made some remarks about Chavez and his increasingly authoritarian role as president.

 As it is becoming apparent to most that follow political changes in Latin America there is a significant shift towards the left in most of area. The main leftist contenders in my opinion are Lula de Silva in Brazil and Bachelet in Chile and to a certain extent Correa in Ecuador. The news media is completely consumed by Chavez’s antics which are now mirroring a cult of personality. Morales and the changes in Bolivia are like the blind leading the blind. I have been of the opinion for quite some time that the actions of Morales and Chavez have undermined the actions of Bachelet and Lula.

Many Socialists hailed Chavez’s removal of Venezuela from the World Bank as a step in the right direction from Socialist stand point. Chavez then shortly after unveiled a plan to create the Bank of the South in which all invited Latin American leaders would help make the bank a success. The Bank of the South would be a final insult to Western imperialism. Everyone seemed to be on board….irrespective of the opinions of Chavez’s behavior…. they all agreed that the World Bank worked the detriment of impoverished nations. Well…it looks like Brazil’s Lula seems reticent to begin on the project. The bank was supposed to be officially launched in August. Perhaps he is afraid that embarking on any kind of economic venture of this scale with Chavez would shoot his credibility in the foot. I can say that any hesitation with a big time Socialist like Lula will likely be followed by others. Will Chavez’s antics finally work to the detriment of his whole Socialist campaign?  

 Caroline

In keeping with his populist agenda, Morales is still continuing his crusade of nationalizing every industry in his impoverished nation of Bolivia. Morales is now pushing to remove private ownership of the Railroad and let the government take control of the industry. The complete nationalization is not surprising, but will eventually be to the detriment of the country.  

On slightly stranger note…Morales recently has called for a ban of all used clothing from the United States. The clothing is purchased by the vast impoverished majority of the nation at bargain prices, but Morales feels that it is “insulting” to the citizens of his country. Morales also is under the impression that the ban will help in the development of local textiles which will then boost national commerce. Whether or not the ban will actually go into effect remains to be seen, but if my instincts serve me right…I can see a black-market for third rate consumer products created.

Shrewd move, Morales. 

Caroline

I woke up this morning only to find a rather unpleasant article in my morning paper. The New York Times is reporting that Mexico, in addition to so many other problems…is experiencing a problem with migrant workers bringing HIV back into Mexico. The workers are contracting HIV on there long work stints in the United States…going back home to Mexico and infecting their wives with the virus…who then in turn have children with the virus. It’s happening all the time and this issue could easily turn into a Sub Saharan Africa situation. Critics are up in arms because the Catholic Church vehemently opposes the use of contraceptives which is obviously exacerbating the problem.  Many of the migrant workers are from isolated rural areas of Mexico where any sort of education be it sex education or regular education is uncommon.  

According to the article migrant workers irrespective of nationality or location…past present or future all seek the comfort of a person when they are in a foreign land. The comfort sought is at times in the form of a person rendering services or in an actual significant other.  The whole problem stems from a legacy of contradictions intertwined with the church, machismo and economic instability. 

Caroline