Uruguay

This special edition of Latin Pulse includes a different perspective on the presidential elections in the U.S.: a view from Cuba.  A Cuban professor discusses how the elections could have an impact on the warming relations between the two countries.  The program also discusses the rise of English as a mandated second language in South America and how that could reflect cultural imperialism. The news segment of the program covers the negotiations between opposition parties in Venezuela and the president to avert further protests and a move by the National Assembly to hold an impeachment trial. The program includes interviews with: Santiago Perez Benitez of the University of Havana & the Center for International Political Research (CIPI); and DJ Kaiser of Webster University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; and Associate Producer: Jim Singer.  The photo of Cuban President Raul Castro and U.S. President Barack Obama is from the Cuban government and is in the public domain. “Latin Pulse” is produced at Webster University’s School of Communications: www.webster.edu/communications/

Looking ahead at what appear to be the key issues for 2016 in Latin America is the mission for Latin Pulse this week. The program includes an in-depth and extended discussion with a director of one of the top research centers reviewing Latin American affairs and includes in-depth discussion of Brazil, Venezuela, Cuba, Mexico, and United States policy towards the region. The news segment of the program discusses the move this week to extradite Mexican cartel leader Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman to the United States after he was recaptured in Mexico. The program includes an in-depth interview with: Eric Hershberg, the director of American University's Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS). Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger. The photo of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto is from the U.S. government and is in the public domain.

It's the fourth anniversary of "Latin Pulse," and the program celebrates in its own way: a medley of out-takes and pithy comments from the most popular programs of the past year. The topics on the program range from a review of the crisis of unaccompanied minors on the U.S.-Mexico border to covering various fronts in the Drug War. The program also includes segments on the economic impact of China on Latin America. The news segment of the program covers the aftereffects of the earthquake in Chile that saw a million people evacuate their homes. The program includes interview segments with: Eric Olson of the Woodrow Wilson Center; Jo Tuckman of The Guardian; Jeremy McDermott of InSight Crime; Mark Jones of Rice University; Kevin Gallagher of Boston University; and Ignacio Siles of the Universidad de Costa Rica. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Technical Director: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Natalie Ottinger. Produced for release on Sept. 18, 2015.

Memories and reviews of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and his work take center stage this week on Latin Pulse as this week marks a year since the death of this winner of the Nobel Prize for literature. The program traces Garcia Marquez from his beginnings as a journalist through his fame as an author setting an example for writers worldwide. The program also discusses the writer's ties to Cuba. The news segment of the program reviews the outcome of the Summit of the Americas and Panama and how the United States and Cuba continue working toward normalized diplomatic relations. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Gustavo Arango of the State University of New York (SUNY) at Oneonta; and Nuria Vilanova of American University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Producer: Jim Singer; Production Assistant: Sierra Hancock; and Announcer: Guillermo Rodriguez. The photo is from the International Festival of Cinema in Guadalajara, Mexico via Flickr using a Creative Commons license: www.flickr.com/people/21373185@N04 . The photo is from 2009. Produced for release on April 17, 2015. The program is produced at Webster University: www.webster.edu/

Judaism, anti-semitism, and Argentina provide the main themes this week on Latin Pulse. The program revisits the mysterious case of the death of Alberto Nisman, a special prosecutor looking at terrorism cases that may have links to Iran. The program discusses how the Nisman case continues to provide a crisis atmosphere in Argentina. Also, the program reflects on the history of Judaism in Latin America and the various waves of prejudice that the Jewish population of the region has weathered. The news segment of the program covers the latest round of diplomacy between Cuba and the United States regarding human rights. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Shannon O'Neil of the Council on Foreign Relations; and Marjorie Agosin of Wellesley College. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Producer: Jim Singer; and Production Assistant: Gabriela Canchola. The photo of the Central Synagogue of Buenos Aires in Argentina is by Emilio Erazo-Fischer of Madrid, Spain via Wikimedia Commons and Flickr using a Creative Commons license: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/95/Buenos_Aires-Synagogue-1133263056.jpg Produced for release on April 3, 2015. The program is produced at Webster University: www.webster.edu/

This week, Latin Pulse goes in-depth on politics and the environment. The program gives a preview of the United Nations conference on climate set for next month in Peru. And the program looks ahead to the run-off presidential race in Uruguay set for the end of the month. The analysis of the race in Uruguay also covers the country's controversial marijuana law. The news segment of the program covers the announcement by President Barack Obama that the government will give relief to unauthorized immigrants and likely five million immigrants will be able to put off deportation for a limited time. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Andrew Miller of Amazon Watch; and Chris Sabatini of Americas Quarterly. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Producer: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Gabriela Canchola. The graphic is the official logo of the upcoming U.N. climate conference in Peru and is from the United Nations and the Peruvian government; the graphic is in the public domain. The program is produced at Webster University: www.webster.edu/

This week, "Latin Pulse" provides insight into important elections in South America: presidential races in Brazil and Uruguay. Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff is fighting for her political life as some polls show conservative challenger Aecio Neves ahead with voting coming this weekend. In Uruguay, polls show former president Tabare Vazquez is the front-runner. However, balloting this weekend may reveal he is not popular enough to avoid a second round of voting. Necessary improvements in education is an issue driving both races. The news segment covers an informal alliance between Cuba and the U.S. to fight Ebola together in West Africa. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Cristina Pacheco of the State University of Paraiba; Francisco Panizza of the London School of Economics. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Producer: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Gabriela Canchola. The photo of Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff and Governor Aecio Neves is from the Iranian government’s Press TV and is in the public domain. The program is produced at Webster University: www.webster.edu/

This week, "Latin Pulse" focuses on elections in South America. With elections coming in Bolivia and Uruguay next month, the program looks at the leading candidates and key issues in the races. The segment on Bolivia also discusses the long-time popularity of President Evo Morales. The program also discusses indigenous groups and politics in Bolivia. The segment on Uruguay analyzes the political return of former President Tabare Vazquez. The news segment deals with the murder in Peru of an environmental activist, with suspicions the murder is linked to illegal logging. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Sinclair Thomson of New York University; and Gabriela Santini of TeleDoce in Uruguay. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Producer: Jim Singer; and Associate Producer: Gabriela Canchola. Some audio material in this program is made available via Peru's Utero through a Creative Commons license: http://utero.pe/2014/09/10/quizas-nunca-escuchaste-de-edwin-chota-pero-el-asesinato-de-este-lider-ashaninka-ha-conmovido-al-mundo/ The photo of President Evo Morales is from the Venezuelan government and is in the public domain. The program is produced at Webster University: http://www.webster.edu/

This week before heading out on an extended summer break, Latin Pulse provides a 90-minute summer special filled with emotion and information. The in-depth segments include an update on the protest movement in Venezuela, an examination of Brazilian national identity and the World Cup, an update on immigration issues in Mexico, and an analysis of the Panama Canal as it celebrates 100 years of operation. Also, included: a commentary on women and the World Cup. The program also includes a special interview with the U.S. ambassador to Honduras. The news segment deals with coca and the Drug War. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Ambassador Lisa Kubiske, U.S. Ambassador to Honduras; Sonja Wolf of Mexico's INSYDE; and Julie Greene of the University of Maryland. Additional interviews include: Hermann Escarrá of Universidad Central de Venezuela; Javier Ciurlizza of the International Crisis Group; Mark Weisbrot of the Center for Economic & Policy Research (CEPR); Carlos Lauria of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ); Rachel Glickhouse, writer; Julia Michaels, writer; and Roberto DaMatta, University of Notre Dame; Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Associate Producer: Megan Ekhaml; and Reporter: Elyssa Pachico. The photo is by Carlos Diaz of Venezuela via Flickr using a Creative Commons license: https://www.flickr.com/photos/carlosdiazme/13977683128/

This week, "Latin Pulse" centers its focus on the up-coming World Cup competition in Brazil. Starting with a poll that shows most Brazilians are upset with how the country has spent billions for the games, the program looks at various aspects of the preparations for a month of world-class soccer (football or fútbol). The discussion includes the competition's economic impact , the issue of national identity, and a preview of the teams to watch in what is the world's most popular sporting event. Finally, what will these games mean to the preparations for the Summer Olympics of 2016 in Brazil? The program includes in-depth interviews with: Andrew Zimbalist of Smith College; and Joshua Nadel of North Carolina Central University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Reporter: Elyssa Pachico; and Associate Producer: Megan Ekhaml. The photo is of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and Joseph “Sepp” Blatter, the president of FIFA with this year’s World Cup trophy. The photo is by Jose Cruz from Agência Brasil, which offers its material for reuse through a Creative Commons license: http://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/ “Latin Pulse” is produced at American University’s School of Communication. This program is sponsored by the university’s Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS), in association with Link TV. http://www.american.edu/soc/ http://www.american.edu/clals/latin-pulse.cfm

Death and resurrection are the twin themes this week on Latin Pulse. The theme of resurrection is provided just ahead of the Easter season through an examination of the growth of evangelical Protestantism throughout Latin America. The program looks at the explosive growth of pentecostal denominations in Brazil, Central America and other parts of the region. News of the death of Nobel-prize winning author Gabriel Garcia Marquez has cast the region into mourning for this important writer. The program reflects on the life and legacy of Garcia Marquez and discusses how he made magical realism a key form in literature. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Andrew Chesnut of Virginia Commonwealth University; and Nuria Vilanova of American University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Associate Producer: Megan Ekhaml; and Writer: Rae Daniel. The photo is by Jose Lara of Seattle, WA via Flickr, using a Creative Commons license: https://www.flickr.com/photos/35376879@N00/4443661353 “Latin Pulse” is produced at American University’s School of Communication. This program is sponsored by the university’s Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS), in association with Link TV. http://www.american.edu/soc/ http://www.american.edu/clals/latin-pulse.cfm

On the cusp of the 50th anniversary of the Brazilian military coup, Latin Pulse looks backward at the important history of Brazil and how it was altered by this Cold War military take-over. The program includes the views of a historian researching the coup and its after-effects and also of an academic who lived through the military policies and saw the changes as Brazil began to democratize again in the 1980s. The news segment of the program covers the labor unrest in Paraguay that has hit that country's economy. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Victoria Langland, the University of Michigan; and Cristina Pacheco, of the State University of Paraiba. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; and Associate Producer: Megan Ekhaml. The archival photo of the Brazilian coup is from Nucleo Memoria, a Brazilian non-profit organization in the state of Sao Paulo dedicated to preserving the memory of human rights abuses in Brazil. The photo is used here following fair use guidelines: http://www.nucleomemoria.org.br/noticias/internas/id/511# “Latin Pulse” is produced at American University’s School of Communication. This program is sponsored by the university’s Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS), in association with Link TV. http://www.american.edu/soc/ http://www.american.edu/clals/latin-pulse.cfm

The problems corruption causes for politics, policy, and society is the central topic for this extended version of "Latin Pulse" this week. The program traces the effects of political scandals in Colombia, Brazil, Panama, and Costa Rica. The expert panel on this program also discusses some of the countries with the worst corruption problems including Honduras and Venezuela. The program also features an in-depth report on the Cuban Five espionage case. The news segment of the program gives an update on the unrest in Venezuela led by the political opposition and the student movement. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Fulton Armstrong of the Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS) at American University; Luis Botello of the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ)http://www.american.edu/sis/faculty/colgan.cfm; and Adam Isacson of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA). Other interviews include: Gloria La Riva of the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five; Stephen Kimber the University of King's College, Halifax, Canada; and Robert Muse, attorney. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell; Repoter: Rachel Baye; and Associate Producer: Zach Cohen. The photo is from the United Nations and is in the public domain. “Latin Pulse” is produced at American University’s School of Communication. This program is sponsored by the university’s Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS), in association with Link TV.

This week, “Latin Pulse” commemorates the 40th anniversary of the coup in Uruguay with a retrospective and analysis of Operation Condor and how it had an effect on Uruguay and all of Latin America. The program includes an interview with Uruguay's ombudsman for human rights who was a target of Operation Condor. And the program explains how that secret assassination program is still relevant today. The news segment covers the protests in Brazil that intensified this week concerning corruption and spending on infrastructure to support international sports contests. The program includes in-depth interviews with: Juan Raul Ferreira, the Human Rights Ombudsman of Uruguay; and John Dinges of Columbia University. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell Associate Producer: Curt Devine Writer: Zach Cohen. The prison photo is of Juan Maria Bordaberry, one of Uruguay’s former dictators; the photo is from the Uruguayan government and is in the public domain. To see other parts of the series of conversations with Juan Raul Ferreira, please see these other links, Part I: https://soundcloud.com/latinpulse/reflections-human-rights-uruguay-beyond-lp5242013 Part III: https://soundcloud.com/latinpulse/progressive-uruguay-marijuana-abortion-same-sex-marriage-lp8022013 “Latin Pulse” is produced at American University’s School of Communication. This program is sponsored by the university’s Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS), in association with Link TV. http://www.american.edu/soc/ http://www.american.edu/clals/latin-pulse.cfm

Human rights again provide the central focus this week on “Latin Pulse.” This time, an in-depth discussion with the human rights ombudsman of Uruguay provides a look at the history of struggles for human rights in Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile, along with the key role played by the United States in the region. The fight to change U.S. policies that supported dictators in the region is a central theme for this program. The news segment of the program covers the debate over comprehensive immigration reform in the United States. The program includes an in-depth interview with: Juan Raul Ferreira, the Human Rights Ombudsman of Uruguay. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell Associate Producer: Curt Devine. The photo of a human rights march in Uruguay is by Nae of Montevideo, Uruguay via Flickr using a Creative Commons license: www.flickr.com/photos/nae/4010646705/ To hear the other parts of this conversation, please check these other programs, Part II: https://soundcloud.com/latinpulse/remembering-operation-condor-lp6212013 Part III: https://soundcloud.com/latinpulse/progressive-uruguay-marijuana-abortion-same-sex-marriage-lp8022013 “Latin Pulse” is produced at American University’s School of Communication. This program is sponsored by the university’s Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS), in association with Link TV.

Marijuana legalization and its effects on the drug cartels provide the focus on "Latin Pulse" this week. After Colorado and Washington state in the U.S. changed laws late last year, experts began analyzing and speculating about whether this would have an impact on the Drug War. This program examines the political and economic scene in the U.S. and in Latin America after these historic votes. The news segment of the program covers the latest on the health condition of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez. The in-depth interview is with: John Walsh of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA). Other expert interviews include: Dr. Jon Caulkins of Carnegie Mellon University; Allen St. Pierre of NORML; and Dr. Bruce Bagley of the University of Miami. Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell Associate Producer: Alexia Campbell Writer: Jordan D'eri. The graphic is from Vectorportal via Flickr, using a Creative Commons license: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vectorportal/6178344886/