Welcome to WTF is Going on in Latin America &amp; The Caribbean, CODEPINK&#39;s weekly podcast of hot news out of Latin America and The Caribbean with host Teri Mattson. Each week features a country and/or issue related to the affects of U.S. foreign, economic and/or military influence and intervention in the hemisphere of The Americas. Our guests include academics, policy-makers, journalists as well as activists recognized for their groundwork within local communities and movements.CODEPINK is a women-led grassroots organization working to end U.S. wars and militarism, support peace and human rights initiatives, and redirect our tax dollars into healthcare, education, green jobs and other life-affirming programs. Join us! <a href="https://www.codepink.org/" rel="nofollow">https://www.codepink.org/</a>SIGN UP FOR EMAIL UPDATES: <a href="https://www.codepink.org/join_us_today" rel="nofollow">https://www.codepink.org/join_us_today</a>Facebook:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/codepinkalert" rel="nofollow"> https://www.facebook.com/codepinkalert</a>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/codepinkalert/" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/codepinkalert/</a>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/codepink" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/codepink</a>Learn more about our Broadcast Partners:<a href="https://www.coha.org/" rel="nofollow">The Council on Hemispheric Affairs</a> (COHA)<a href="https://friendsoflatinamerica.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of Latin America</a><a href="https://masspeaceaction.org/" rel="nofollow">Massachusetts Peace Action</a><a href="https://taskforceamericas.org/" rel="nofollow">Task Force on the Americas</a>

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Episode: Ecuador Erupts against NeoliberalismGuest: Camila Escalante of Kawsachun NewsBackground:Thousands of indigenous demonstrators marched through Ecuador&#39;s capital on Monday, June 20 urging President Guillermo Lasso to agree to demands for economic and social support, the latest in a series of protests that have injured dozens and disrupted the economy.Amid a surge in the cost of living, the protests began last Monday with a list of <a href="https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/politica/para-nacional-en-una-carta-de-16-paginas-el-presidente-guillermo-lasso-respondio-a-cada-una-de-las-diez-demandas-de-la-conaie-nota/?modulo=related&origen=%2Fnoticias%2Fpolitica%2Fguillermo-lasso-dice-que-acepta-participar-en-un-dialogo-con-la-conaie-con-oeneges-como-mediadoras-nota%2F&seccion=Noticias&subseccion=Pol%C3%ADtica" rel="nofollow">10 demands</a>, including a fuel price cut, preventing further expansion of Ecuador&#39;s oil and mining industry, and more time for small and medium-sized farms to pay off debt. Groups of indigenous protesters began arriving in Quito from across Ecuador late on Sunday to take part in a march from the south of the city, shouting &#34;Out Lasso, out&#34; as other citizens cheered them on.A large anti-government march was also taking place in Guayaquil, Ecuador&#39;s largest city.At least 55 protesters have been injured and 79 have been arrested since protests began, according to the Alliance of Human Rights Organizations.The protest was called by the powerful <a href="https://conaie.org/" rel="nofollow">Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador</a> (CONAIE), which is credited with helping topple three presidents between 1997 and 2005.On June 22, The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of the Ecuadorian Amazon denounced a killing by police in Puyo, Pastaza on Tuesday night, the result of the disproportionate and unjustified use of force, with direct firing at demonstrators.Additional Links:<a href="https://youtu.be/EeYCW96zC7E" rel="nofollow">WTF is Going on in Latin America &amp; the Caribbean: Ecuador&#39;s COVID-19 Crisis with Guillaume Long, Former Foreign Minister of Ecuador</a>Follow Camila Escalante:<a href="https://twitter.com/camilapress" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/camilapress</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aCamilaThreat" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/aCamilaThreat</a>Follow Kawsachun News:<a href="https://twitter.com/KawsachunNews" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/KawsachunNews</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/KawsachunNews" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/KawsachunNews</a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/kawsachunnews/" rel="nofollow">https://www.instagram.com/kawsachunnews/</a><a href="https://kawsachunnews.com/" rel="nofollow">https://kawsachunnews.com/</a>In partnership with <a href="https://www.coha.org/" rel="nofollow">The Council on Hemispheric Affairs </a>(COHA), <a href="https://friendsoflatinamerica.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of Latin America</a>, <a href="https://masspeaceaction.org/" rel="nofollow">Massachusetts Peace Action</a> and <a href="https://taskforceamericas.org/" rel="nofollow">Task Force on the Americas</a>, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America &amp; the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on <a href="https://www.codepink.org/" rel="nofollow">CODEPINK</a> YouTube Live

Ecuador Erupts against Neoliberalism

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Today’s Episode: Voices for an Inclusive Hemisphere Guest :<a href="https://twitter.com/FiorellaIsabelM" rel="nofollow">Fiorella Mayorca</a> of <a href="https://twitter.com/theconvocouch" rel="nofollow">The Convo Couch</a>Background:The White House announced in January 2022 that the City of Los Angeles would serve as host of <a href="https://www.state.gov/summit-of-the-americas/" rel="nofollow">IX Summit of the Americas</a> on June 6-10. As host, the United States selects the site of the summit and its attendees. The United States did not invite Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua to the summit as these countries are accused by the United States of having undemocratically elected leaders. It was known the US would not invite these leaders. The White House and State department did not announce an official invitation list until May 30th.On May 10 Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the president of Mexico, was the first to announce he would not attend the summit if all nations were not in attendance. Lopez Obrador stated he would send his foreign secretary to the summit in his place. Following his lead, other countries followed. Xiomara Castro, the president of Honduras, the President of Bolivia, Luis Arce, the President of El Salvador Nayib Bukele and the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph Gonsalves and the President of Guatemala. Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega and Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said they would not attend the summit if invited.In protest of a non-inclusive Summit, counter Summits were organized. Fiorella and I attended two: the People’s Summit for Democracy held in LA June 8, 9, 10 and the Worker’s Summit of the Americas held June 10, 11 12 in Tijuana, Baja California Norte, Mexico.Additional Links:Breakthrough News at the People&#39;s Summit: <a href="https://youtu.be/TFbX6B9LZO4" rel="nofollow">Diaz-Canel, Maduro and Evo Send Messages to People’s Summit, Defying Biden’s Exclusions</a> Breakthrough News at the People&#39;s Summit: <a href="https://youtu.be/68-nqQXgg0Y" rel="nofollow">A Conversation with Venezuelan Feminists: Deepening a Revolution while under Sanction</a> Breakthrough News at the People&#39;s Summit: <a href="https://youtu.be/oCFh_RDnfuE" rel="nofollow">The Struggle for Sovereignty</a><a href="https://www.codepink.org/tags/cut_the_pentagon" rel="nofollow">CODEPINK&#39;s Cut the Pentagon Campaign</a><a href="https://www.codepink.org/defundoas?recruiter_id=296870" rel="nofollow">CODEPINK&#39;s Defund the OAS Petition</a>: <a href="https://peoplessummit2022.org/" rel="nofollow">People&#39;s Summit for Democracy</a><a href="https://workerssummit.com/" rel="nofollow">Worker&#39;s Summit of the Americas</a><a href="https://youtu.be/8xUy8jlfTaQ" rel="nofollow">WTF is Going on in Latin America &amp; the Caribbean: AMLO Says he will not attend Biden&#39;s Summit of the Americas</a> In partnership with <a href="https://friendsoflatinamerica.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of Latin America</a>, <a href="https://masspeaceaction.org/" rel="nofollow">Massachusetts Peace Action</a> and <a href="https://taskforceamericas.org/" rel="nofollow">Task Force on the Americas</a>, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America &amp; the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on <a href="https://www.codepink.org/" rel="nofollow">CODEPINK</a> YouTube Live

Voices for an Inclusive Hemisphere

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Todays’ episode: Colombia Presidential Elections move to a Second RoundGuest <a href="https://ca.linkedin.com/in/raul-burbano-0055617a" rel="nofollow">Raul Burbano</a>, Executive Director of <a href="https://www.commonfrontiers.ca/" rel="nofollow">Common Frontiers</a> based in Toronto.Background:Two anti-establishment candidates, Gustavo Petro, a centrist and Rodolfo Hernández, a right-wing populist, captured the top two spots in Colombia’s presidential election on May 29 delivering a stunning blow to Colombia’s dominant conservative political class.The two men will compete in a runoff election on June 19 that is shaping up to be one of the most consequential in the country’s history. At stake is the country’s economic vision, the restoration of democratic integrity and the livelihoods of millions of people pushed into poverty during the pandemic, particularly women and children.With more than 99 percent of the ballots counted on Sunday evening, Mr. Petro received more than 40 percent of the vote, while Mr. Hernández received just over 28 percent. Mr. Hernández beat by more than four percentage points the conservative establishment candidate, Federico Gutiérrez, who had been polling in second place.Mr. Hernández’s unexpected second-place victory shows a nation hungry to elect anyone who is not represented by the country’s mainstream conservative leaders. If Mr. Petro ultimately wins in the second round of voting, it would mark a watershed moment for one of the most politically conservative societies in Latin America, and allow Colombians to build a new future.Additional Links:<a href="https://www.commonfrontiers.ca/preliminary-impressions-of-colombias-2022-presidential-elections-results/" rel="nofollow">Common Frontiers Preliminary Impressions of Colombia&#39;s 2022 Presidential Elections</a><a href="https://rabble.ca/issues/politics/world-politics/" rel="nofollow">Rabble joins the Colombian Electoral Accompaniment Delegation</a> In partnership with <a href="https://friendsoflatinamerica.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of Latin America</a>, <a href="https://masspeaceaction.org/" rel="nofollow">Massachusetts Peace Action</a> and <a href="https://taskforceamericas.org/" rel="nofollow">Task Force on the Americas</a>, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America &amp; the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on <a href="https://www.codepink.org/" rel="nofollow">CODEPINK</a> YouTube Live

Colombia Presidential Elections move to a Second Round

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Todays’ episode: Elections Observers denied entry to ColombiaCo-Host: <a href="https://www.codepink.org/leonardo_flores" rel="nofollow">CODEPINK Latin America policy expert Leonardo Flores</a>.Guest: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cxophoto/" rel="nofollow">Nestor Cristancho</a> of <a href="https://www.canal2.co/informativo-nuestra-gente-547/" rel="nofollow">Canal 2</a>, Cali, ColombiaOn Sunday, May 29 Colombians will vote for President. The election comes at a difficult moment for the country. Polls show widespread dissatisfaction with the government of the current president, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iv%C3%A1n_Duque" rel="nofollow">Ivan Duque</a> and frustration over chronic <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/11/world/americas/coronavirus-latin-america-inequality.html" rel="nofollow">poverty, a widening income gap</a> and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/20/world/americas/colombia-comandos-armed-groups.html" rel="nofollow">insecurity</a>, all of which have worsened during the pandemic.Among those hurt the most by these problems are younger Colombians, who are likely to play a big role in determining whether or not the country takes a step to the left.Young people led <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/18/world/americas/colombia-protests-what-to-know.html" rel="nofollow">anti-government protests</a> that filled the streets of Colombia last year, dominating the national conversation for weeks. At least 46 people died — many of them young, unarmed protesters and <a href="https://reliefweb.int/report/colombia/el-paro-nacional-2021-lecciones-aprendidas-para-el-ejercicio-del-derecho-de-reuni-n" rel="nofollow">many at the hands of the police</a> — in what became referred to as the “national strike.” or <a href="https://youtu.be/UvKYXMdmbS0" rel="nofollow">Paro Nacional</a>Some analysts expect young people to vote in record numbers, energized not just by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historic_Pact_for_Colombia" rel="nofollow">Pacto Historico</a> presidential candidate <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustavo_Petro" rel="nofollow">Gustavo Petro</a>, but also by his running mate, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/06/world/americas/francia-marquez-colombia-vp.html" rel="nofollow">Francia Márquez</a>, a 40 year old environmental activist with a gender, race and class-conscious focus who would be the country’s first Black vice president.Additional Links:<a href="https://youtu.be/UvKYXMdmbS0" rel="nofollow">Colombia Erupts against Neoliberalism</a><a href="https://youtu.be/is7blkZ5akc" rel="nofollow">Colombia Protesting Neoliberalism</a><a href="https://youtu.be/LrvfZ5jf_34" rel="nofollow">Election Primaries move Colombia Left</a> In partnership with <a href="https://friendsoflatinamerica.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of Latin America</a>, <a href="https://masspeaceaction.org/" rel="nofollow">Massachusetts Peace Action</a> and <a href="https://taskforceamericas.org/" rel="nofollow">Task Force on the Americas</a>, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America &amp; the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on <a href="https://www.codepink.org/" rel="nofollow">CODEPINK</a> YouTube Live

Elections Observers denied Entry to Colombia

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Todays’ episode: Biden’s Summit Fizzles-outCo-Host &amp; Guest: <a href="https://www.codepink.org/leonardo_flores" rel="nofollow"> Leonardo Flores</a>, CODEPINK Latin America Policy ExpertA series of events has been unraveling since early May in advance of US President Joe Biden’s <a href="https://www.state.gov/summit-of-the-americas/" rel="nofollow">Summit of the America’s</a> schedule to take place in Los Angeles June 6-10A few of those events include:<ol><li> The publication of Trump’s Secretary of Defense, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Esper" rel="nofollow">Mark T. Esper,</a> book <a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/products/a-sacred-oath-mark-t-esper?variant=39847191674914" rel="nofollow">A Sacred Oath: Memoirs of a Secretary of Defense During Extraordinary Times.</a> </li><li><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-10/amlo-challenges-biden-vowing-to-skip-summit-if-cuba-is-snubbed" rel="nofollow">The President of Mexico announced he would not attend Biden’s Summit </a></li><li>The appearance of easing US sanctions policy against <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/05/16/1099378855/biden-eases-restrictions-on-cuban-travel-and-remittances" rel="nofollow">Cuba</a> and <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/05/17/venezuela-oil-sanctions-chevron/" rel="nofollow">Venezuela</a></li><li><a href="https://www.codepink.org/cubansbanned?recruiter_id=923091" rel="nofollow">23 visas denied to a Cuban civilian delegation</a> hoping to attend the alternative <a href="https://peoplessummit2022.org/" rel="nofollow">People’s Summit</a></li><li><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-10/amlo-challenges-biden-vowing-to-skip-summit-if-cuba-is-snubbed" rel="nofollow">US Summit of the Americas delegation, led by Christopher Dodd, traveled to Mexico City to meet with the Mexican government with no results.</a></li></ol> Additional Links<a href="https://youtu.be/JrvSTSyk2WE" rel="nofollow">AMLO&#39;s 24 July 2021 Discourse</a><a href="https://youtu.be/z2WT2_Fpxdc" rel="nofollow">VI CELAC Summit, September 18, 2021 Mexico City</a>In partnership with <a href="https://friendsoflatinamerica.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of Latin America</a>, <a href="https://masspeaceaction.org/" rel="nofollow">Massachusetts Peace Action</a> and <a href="https://taskforceamericas.org/" rel="nofollow">Task Force on the Americas</a>, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America &amp; the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on <a href="https://www.codepink.org/" rel="nofollow">CODEPINK</a> YouTube Live

Biden's Summit Fizzles-Out

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Episode Title: AMLO announces he will not attend Biden’s Summit of the AmericasOn the morning of May 10 from Mexico City in his <a href="https://youtu.be/USfd73RvZaM" rel="nofollow">daily press briefing</a>, <a href="https://lopezobrador.org.mx/" rel="nofollow">Mexico&#39;s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador</a>, in response to a question from the media, stated he would not be attending Biden’s <a href="https://www.state.gov/summit-of-the-americas/" rel="nofollow">Summit of the Americas</a>: “If they are not all there, I will not be there.” This on the heels of a successful <a href="https://lopezobrador.org.mx/2022/05/05/fotogaleria-gira-del-presidente-andres-manuel-lopez-obrador-a-paises-de-centroamerica-y-el-caribe/" rel="nofollow">tour of Central America and Cuba.</a>Recorded the afternoon of May 10, a full hour of inspiring, informative and follow-up conversation with guest <a href="https://www.gob.mx/presidencia/estructuras/jesus-ramirez-cuevas" rel="nofollow">Jesus Ramirez Cuevas</a>, General Coordinator of Social Communication and Spokesperson of the Mexican Government.Spanish to English translation provided by Pamela ArancibiaAdditional Links:<a href="https://youtu.be/JrvSTSyk2WE" rel="nofollow">Discurso en el 238 Aniversario del Natalicio de Simon Bolivar</a><a href="https://youtu.be/z2WT2_Fpxdc" rel="nofollow">VI Cumbre de la Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños (CELAC), desde Palacio Nacional</a>In partnership with <a href="https://friendsoflatinamerica.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of Latin America</a>, <a href="https://masspeaceaction.org/" rel="nofollow">Massachusetts Peace Action</a> and <a href="https://taskforceamericas.org/" rel="nofollow">Task Force on the Americas</a>, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America &amp; the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on <a href="https://www.codepink.org/" rel="nofollow">CODEPINK</a> YouTube Live

AMLO Says he will not attend Biden's Summit of the Americas

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Today’s episode: Nicaragua Expels the Organization of American States.. How will this impact Nicaragua and the integration of the Americas via institutions such as <a href="https://celacinternational.org/" rel="nofollow">CELAC</a> (La Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños)?On Sunday, April 24, 2022, Nicaragua said it had closed the local office of the <a href="https://www.oas.org/en/" rel="nofollow">Organization of American States</a> (OAS), a US-based group that claims to promote solidarity and cooperation among countries in the Americas, and revoked the credentials of several of its staff. The <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/197FTFKVa4UxMxgRdNYaI_vzyFNcmJ_8a/edit?ouid=105522177953087457918&rtpof=true&sd=true&usp=sharing" rel="nofollow">official Government statement</a> reads, in part:&#34;The People and Government of Nicaragua have denounced and continue to denounce, the shameful condition of one of the Political Instruments of intervention and domination of the State Department of the Government of the United States, wrongly and falsely called the Organization of American States.&#34;The People and Government of Nicaragua do not and will not recognize this Instrument of Colonial Administration, which does not represent at any time, the Sovereign Union of Our Latin and Caribbean America, and that on the contrary, is an Instrument of Yankee Imperialism to violate Rights and Independences, sponsoring and promoting interventions and invasions, legitimizing coups in different formats and modalities with the aim, which they have not accomplished, of disintegrating through humiliation, submission and surrender of our National Sovereignties.&#34;We ratify our unwavering decision to leave the OAS, as expressed on 19th November, 2021, and by confirming our irrevocable denunciation and resignation, before this calamitous, truculent and lying dependency of the State Department of Yankee Imperialism. We also communicate that as of this date, we cease to form part of all the deceitful Mechanisms of this monstrosity, be it the Permanent Council, Commissions, Meetings or Summit of the Americas...Nicaragua is not a colony of anyone.&#34;This was a huge event for the Americas on April 24, and I am honored for the opportunity to have discussed this in further detail with Nicaragua’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minister_of_Foreign_Affairs_(Nicaragua)" rel="nofollow">Foreign Minister Denis Moncada</a> who joined us live from Managua.In partnership with <a href="https://friendsoflatinamerica.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of Latin America</a>, <a href="https://masspeaceaction.org/" rel="nofollow">Massachusetts Peace Action</a> and <a href="https://taskforceamericas.org/" rel="nofollow">Task Force on the Americas</a>, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America &amp; the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on <a href="https://www.codepink.org/" rel="nofollow">CODEPINK</a> YouTube Live

Nicaragua is a not a Colony of Anyone

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Today’s episode: Political Prisoners, Indigenous Land Rights and the Fight against Neoliberalism in Guatemala.It’s been a while since we have brought to you news from Guatemala, a country that to this day suffers the consequences of neocolonialism and Reagan’s Dirty Wars in Central America during the 1980s. Despite the MSM narrative currently emphasizing the struggles of Ukraine and the EU, let’s not forget that Guatemalans (specifically indigenous) are still being persecuted and are still dying as a direct result of US intervention 40 years ago and beyond.Today we welcome two guests who will share with us their recent travel experiences and current work in Guatemala.Our first guest is Ben Gutman who is an independent writer, researcher, and organizer pursuing an MA in Global Communication from The George Washington University. He is currently working on his capstone research and digital media project on the outsourcing of US border militarization to Guatemala in collaboration with the <a href="http://www.guatemalasolidarityproject.org/" rel="nofollow">Guatemala Solidarity Project</a> and the <a href="https://www.liberacionmigrante.org/" rel="nofollow">Promoters of Migrant Liberation</a>.   Next we will hear from Palmer Legare who is co-founder and volunteer coordinator of the Guatemala Solidarity Project. He has spent much of the past 20 years in Guatemala. He is a Registered Nurse and Community Organizer who has been detained for civil disobedience and other forms of nonviolent protest over a dozen times. He has spent months in jails and prisons for this work. He has been told directly by both the US Ambassador to Guatemala and Guatemala&#39;s Presidential Commission on Human Rights to leave the country or he will be arrested or killed.Finally, I would like to add that Friends of Latin America has created a Guatemala Political Prisoner fund. Please donate at any time as we share with you Guatemala’s ongoing fight against US interventionism and neoliberalism. DONATE Via Venmo: @FoLatinAmerica In partnership with <a href="https://friendsoflatinamerica.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of Latin America</a>, <a href="https://masspeaceaction.org/" rel="nofollow">Massachusetts Peace Action</a> and <a href="https://taskforceamericas.org/" rel="nofollow">Task Force on the Americas</a>, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America &amp; the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on <a href="https://www.codepink.org/" rel="nofollow">CODEPINK</a> YouTube Live

Political Prisoners, Indigenous Land Rights & the Fight against Neoliberalism in Guatemala

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Episode Title: Maestros Voluntarios: Celebrating 61 Years of Cuba’s National Literacy Program.On Friday, April 22 Cuba celebrated the 61st anniversary of the very first youth brigades sent to the Cuba countryside to teach reading and writing to the predominantly illiterate rural population. This is a highly successful post-revolution project that has been emulated across the world.Joining us to celebrate, and further discuss, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_literacy_campaign" rel="nofollow">Cuba Literacy campaign</a> is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Murphy_(filmmaker)" rel="nofollow">Catherine Murphy</a>, director of the film <a href="https://www.wmm.com/catalog/film/maestra/" rel="nofollow">Maestra</a> and Nancy Wright a 12 veteran of public education in the DC metropolitan area. Nancy is also a member of <a href="https://friendsoflatinamerica.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of Latin America</a>, a broadcast partner of this program.We begin program with Catherine providing a brief background of Cuba’s literacy campaign. Then we share with you a short video of a conversation between two former brigadiers. Nancy provides us with the realities of public education in the United States and how that reality compares with the success of the Cuban model. In partnership with <a href="https://friendsoflatinamerica.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of Latin America</a>, <a href="https://masspeaceaction.org/" rel="nofollow">Massachusetts Peace Action</a> and <a href="https://taskforceamericas.org/" rel="nofollow">Task Force on the Americas</a>, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America &amp; the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on <a href="https://www.codepink.org/" rel="nofollow">CODEPINK</a> YouTube Live

Maestros Voluntarios.  Celebrating 61 Years of Cuba's National Literacy Program

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/5/12/20/4ace32b3-77a4-4c1d-b569-0ea685096a0e_ibbean__challenging_the_us_narrative_on_mexico.mp3

Episode Title: Challenging the US Narrative against MexicoOn Sunday, April 10 Mexicans went to the polls to determine whether sitting <a href="https://lopezobrador.org.mx/" rel="nofollow">President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador</a> should or should not remain in office to finish the remaining 3 years of his 6 year term. Of the approximately 16M citizens that participated, over 90% voted yes, AMLO should continue his presidency. Several of the energy reforms envisioned by the President for his remaining 3 years are not supported by Washington as suggested in a series of anti-energy reform articles published by Bloomberg beginning last year. The most recent article titled <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-04/mexico-key-opposition-party-to-vote-against-amlo-s-power-bill" rel="nofollow">Mexican Opposition Party to a vote against AMLO’s power bill</a> was published April 4 just 6 days prior to the April 10 referendum. And, then, on April 22, 2022 published in the Washington Post: <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/why-amlo-is-asking-mexicos-voters-if-he-should-quit/2022/04/10/91551d90-b8dd-11ec-a92d-c763de818c21_story.html" rel="nofollow">AMLO has already lost half of the people who brought him to power.</a>It is clear what Washington wants, but what do the Mexican people want?To give us some context as to the April 10 vote and the ramifications of the results is journalist <a href="https://twitter.com/AlinaDuarte_" rel="nofollow">Alina Duarte</a> who joined us live from Mexico City. Aline reports for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUqetMbryrT0yMpokrUDJgg" rel="nofollow">Sin Censura</a> and <a href="https://www.canalcatorce.tv/" rel="nofollow">Canal Catorce</a> In partnership with <a href="https://friendsoflatinamerica.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of Latin America</a>, <a href="https://masspeaceaction.org/" rel="nofollow">Massachusetts Peace Action</a> and <a href="https://taskforceamericas.org/" rel="nofollow">Task Force on the Americas</a>, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America &amp; the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on <a href="https://www.codepink.org/" rel="nofollow">CODEPINK</a> YouTube Live

Challenging the US Narrative on Mexico

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/5/12/20/8eb7ebc5-486a-4511-8e14-791a274ee7a7_ood_sovereignty-nicaragua_s_no_hunger_policy.mp3

Episode Title: Food Sovereignty: Nicaragua’s No Hunger ProgramThe crisis in Ukraine has created conditions for loss of farming production and global food distribution.  Already there exists a shortage of fertilizer and an increase in energy costs that will affect production, transportation and distribution.  Today is the second of an informal series of conversations we will have about the importance of food sovereignty and how different countries, organizations and institutions are attempting to guarantee the right to food.This episode features guests: <a href="https://www.bcn.gob.ni/funcionarios/iv%C3%A1n-adolfo-acosta-montalv%C3%A1n" rel="nofollow">Ivan Acosta</a>, Nicaragua’s Minister of Housing and Public Credit and <a href="https://cenpromype.org/team-showcase/benito-aragon/" rel="nofollow">Justa Perez</a>, Nicaragua&#39;s Minister of Family Economy (MEFCCA) <a href="https://www.economiafamiliar.gob.ni/backend/vistas/doc/boletain/documento328979.pdf" rel="nofollow">View Minister Perez&#39;s full power point presentation in its entirety</a> In partnership with <a href="https://friendsoflatinamerica.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of Latin America</a>, <a href="https://masspeaceaction.org/" rel="nofollow">Massachusetts Peace Action</a> and <a href="https://taskforceamericas.org/" rel="nofollow">Task Force on the Americas</a>, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America &amp; the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on <a href="https://www.codepink.org/" rel="nofollow">CODEPINK</a> YouTube Live

Food Sovereignty:  Nicaragua's No Hunger Program

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/5/12/21/a40b8ba5-3e9a-413c-90eb-92ec9128ef01_od_sovereignty_venezuela_s_che_guevara_commune.mp3

Episode Title: Food Sovereignty-Venezuela’s Che Guevara CommuneThe crisis in Ukraine has created conditions for loss of farming production and global food distribution. Already there exists a shortage of fertilizer and an increase in energy costs that will affect production, transportation and distribution. Today is the first of an informal series of conversations we will have about the importance of food sovereignty and how different countries, organizations and institutions are attempting to guarantee the right to food.Joining the conversation from Merida, Venezuela are episode guests <a href="https://venezuelanalysis.com/interviews/14897" rel="nofollow">Felipe Vanegaz and Hilmar Rodriguez of the Comuna Che Guevara</a> and the <a href="https://www.vtv.gob.ve/congreso-fundacional-union-comunera-bases-articulacion-comunal/" rel="nofollow">Unión Comunera</a>. Translation provided by the <a href="https://www.isb.ve/" rel="nofollow">Simon Bolivar Institute</a>.In partnership with <a href="https://friendsoflatinamerica.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of Latin America</a>, <a href="https://masspeaceaction.org/" rel="nofollow">Massachusetts Peace Action</a> and <a href="https://taskforceamericas.org/" rel="nofollow">Task Force on the Americas</a>, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America &amp; the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on <a href="https://www.codepink.org/" rel="nofollow">CODEPINK</a> YouTube Live

Food Sovereignty:  Venezuela's Che Guevara Commune

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/5/13/14/d413ac8f-344a-49f9-8b06-3a78d9d11c62_is_forcing_a_new_us_approach_towards_venezuela.mp3

Episode Title: Is the Crisis in Ukraine Forcing a New US Approach Towards Venezuela? In this episode, I am joined by co-host <a href="https://www.codepink.org/leonardo_flores" rel="nofollow">Leonardo Flores</a>, CODEPINK Latin America policy specialist. Our story was inspired by <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/03/06/venezuela-american-officials-visit/" rel="nofollow">news from Saturday, March 5</a>, when a group of senior U.S. officials flew to Venezuela for a meeting with President Nicolás Maduro’s government to discuss the possibility of easing sanctions on Venezuelan oil exports as the Biden administration weighed a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-europeans-discussing-banning-russian-oil-imports-blinken-says-2022-03-06/" rel="nofollow">ban on imports</a> of Russian oil and gas<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/05/world/americas/venezuela-russia-usa.html" rel="nofollow">The trip was the highest-level U.S. visit to Venezuela in years</a> and came as the United States was seeking to isolate Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Venezuela, Russia’s most important ally in South America, was a significant supplier of crude to the United States before exports were crippled by <a href="https://venezuelanalysis.com/video/15519" rel="nofollow">sanctions</a> imposed by Washington.Our guest, <a href="https://mppre.gob.ve/tag/carlos-ron-viceministro-para-america-del-norte/" rel="nofollow">Carlos Ron</a>, Venezuela Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs for North America joined me and Leonardo live from Caracas to discuss the March 5 delegation and the possibility of a new US policy towards VenezuelaIn partnership with <a href="https://friendsoflatinamerica.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of Latin America</a>, <a href="https://masspeaceaction.org/" rel="nofollow">Massachusetts Peace Action</a> and <a href="https://taskforceamericas.org/" rel="nofollow">Task Force on the Americas</a>, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America &amp; the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on <a href="https://www.codepink.org/" rel="nofollow">CODEPINK</a> YouTube Live

Is the Crisis in Ukraine Forcing a New US Approach Towards Venezuela?

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/5/13/15/394711e1-e6f1-460b-b388-5aaabe96271e_st_colombian_journalist_v_ctor_de_currea-lugo.mp3

<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/colombians-vote-presidential-primaries-legislative-contest-2022-03-13/" rel="nofollow">On Sunday, March 13 Colombians voted</a> for a new congress and also cast ballots in presidential primaries to choose party candidates for the May presidential contest.As opinion polls had indicated, leftist Senator. <a href="https://gustavopetro.co/" rel="nofollow">Gustavo Petro</a> emerged as the current leader in the race for the presidency. With nearly all votes counted, he won the primary for the <a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacto_Hist%C3%B3rico" rel="nofollow">Historical Pact</a>, a coalition of left-wing parties, with 80% of the more than 5.4 million votes cast in its primary.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_Colombia" rel="nofollow">Team Colombia,</a> a coalition of conservative groups, drew 3.9 million voters to its primary, which was won by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federico_Guti%C3%A9rrez" rel="nofollow">Federico Gutierrez</a>, a former mayor of Medellin who has criticized some aspects of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Colombian_peace_agreement_referendum" rel="nofollow">2016 peace deal</a> with Revolutionary Armed Forces of ColombiaA group of centrist parties known as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hope_Center_Coalition" rel="nofollow">Hope Coalition</a> got 2 million voters in its primary, which was won by mathematician and former Mayor of Medellin <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergio_Fajardo" rel="nofollow">Sergio Fajardo</a>, who also ran in the 2018 presidential election.Joining us today live from Colombia is physician, university professor, writer, humanitarian worker and journalist <a href="https://victordecurrealugo.com/" rel="nofollow">Victor Currea-Lugo</a>In partnership with <a href="https://friendsoflatinamerica.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of Latin America</a>, <a href="https://masspeaceaction.org/" rel="nofollow">Massachusetts Peace Action</a> and <a href="https://taskforceamericas.org/" rel="nofollow">Task Force on the Americas</a>, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America &amp; the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on <a href="https://www.codepink.org/" rel="nofollow">CODEPINK</a> YouTube Live

Election Primaries move Colombia Left

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/5/13/17/037e609f-6436-4814-8039-83ef5f42a806_ereignty_and_economic_development_in_nicaragua.mp3

Episode Title: Nicaragua-Renewable Energy Preserves National Sovereignty &amp; Economic DevelopmentToday, we have the privilege of conversing with the Executive President of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_sector_in_Nicaragua#:~:text=The%20Nicaraguan%20Electricity%20Company%20(ENEL,%2C%20regulatory%2C%20and%20taxation%20functions." rel="nofollow">Nicaragua Electrical Energy Company (ENEL)</a>, <a href="https://enel.gob.ni/nicaragua-participa-en-xlv-reunion-de-ministros-de-la-organizacion-latinoamericana-de-energia-2015/" rel="nofollow">Ernesto Martinez Tiffer.</a><a href="https://www.smart-energy.com/renewable-energy/nicaragua-over-98-electrification-75-renewables-supply/" rel="nofollow">Nicaragua is the leader in the Hemisphere of the Americas on renewable energy</a> and has been for almost a decade. In this episode, we talk about the continuation of this program and the further development of renewable energy in Nicaragua. We also discuss Nicaragua&#39;s partnership with the <a href="https://www.beltroad-initiative.com/belt-and-road/" rel="nofollow">Chinese Belt and Road Initiative</a> to assist <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlOXDoasPik" rel="nofollow">energy infrastructure development</a> in the country as well.In partnership with <a href="https://friendsoflatinamerica.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of Latin America</a>, <a href="https://masspeaceaction.org/" rel="nofollow">Massachusetts Peace Action</a> and <a href="https://taskforceamericas.org/" rel="nofollow">Task Force on the Americas</a>, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America &amp; the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on <a href="https://www.codepink.org/" rel="nofollow">CODEPINK</a> YouTube Live

Nicaragua:  Renewable Energy Preserves National Sovereignty & Economic Development

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/5/13/19/a210532f-7d8f-4bed-a831-8d37d319d6b5_justice_for_berta___victory_for_the_guapinol_8.mp3

Episode Title: Justice for Berta &amp; Victory for the Guapinol 8Guest: <a href="https://twitter.com/springkj?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" rel="nofollow">Karen Spring</a> host of the podcast <a href="https://www.hondurasnow.org/" rel="nofollow">Honduras Now</a>. She is also the in-country coordinator for the <a href="http://www.hondurassolidarity.org/" rel="nofollow">Honduras Solidarity Network</a>.  <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berta_C%C3%A1ceres" rel="nofollow">Berta Caceres</a> was a Honduran (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenca" rel="nofollow">Lenca</a>) environmental activist, indigenous leader,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berta_C%C3%A1ceres#cite_note-3" rel="nofollow">[3]</a> and co-founder and coordinator of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Popular_and_Indigenous_Organizations_of_Honduras" rel="nofollow">Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras</a> (COPINH).<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berta_C%C3%A1ceres#cite_note-4" rel="nofollow">[4]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berta_C%C3%A1ceres#cite_note-5" rel="nofollow">[5]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berta_C%C3%A1ceres#cite_note-6" rel="nofollow">[6]</a> She won the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldman_Environmental_Prize" rel="nofollow">Goldman Environmental Prize</a> in 2015, for &#34;a grassroots campaign that successfully pressured the world’s largest dam builder to pull out of the Agua Zarca Dam&#34; at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%ADo_Gualcarque" rel="nofollow">Río Gualcarque</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berta_C%C3%A1ceres#cite_note-:3-7" rel="nofollow">[7]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berta_C%C3%A1ceres#cite_note-8" rel="nofollow">[8]</a><a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/berta-caceres-murder_b_9500088" rel="nofollow">Six years ago today, she was assassinated</a> in her home by armed intruders, after years of threats against her life.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berta_C%C3%A1ceres#cite_note-9" rel="nofollow">[9]</a> A former soldier with the US-trained special forces units of the Honduran military asserted that Caceres&#39; name was on their hit-list months before her assassination. Her assassins are yet to stand trial.  On February 24, after 914 days of arbitrary imprisonment, <a href="https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/02/28/guapinol-environmental-defenders-released-from-prison-after-long-battle-for-freedom/" rel="nofollow">the defenders of the Guapinol River were released</a>. The village of Guapinol sits downstream from the open-pit mining project in Carlos Escaleras National Park. Many locals view the mine as a threat to the regional watershed.Newly inaugurated president Xiomara Castro has declared justice for Berta and on February 28 declared <a href="https://twitter.com/MIAMBIENTE_HN/status/1498396575520935939?s=20&t=MjeKjg9z8BakHYAMo2hR0A" rel="nofollow">Honduras free of open-pit mining</a>.In partnership with <a href="https://friendsoflatinamerica.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of Latin America</a>, <a href="https://masspeaceaction.org/" rel="nofollow">Massachusetts Peace Action</a> and <a href="https://taskforceamericas.org/" rel="nofollow">Task Force on the Americas</a>, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America &amp; the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on <a href="https://www.codepink.org/" rel="nofollow">CODEPINK</a> YouTube Live

Justice for Berta & Victory for the Guapinol 8

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/5/13/20/a621cec0-1019-448b-b80a-602578aeb10f_ribbean__the_war_against_puerto_rico_continues.mp3

Episode Title: The War Against Puerto Rico ContinuesGuest: Monisha Rios, a Puerto Rican psychologist and social worker, joins us live from Puerto RicoPolitical and economic tensions within the U.S.-occupied Latin American &amp; Caribbean nation of Puerto Rico have resulted in <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/2/9/puerto-ricos-public-sector-workers-demand-higher-wages" rel="nofollow">another major uprising, led this time by teachers</a> and other workers in the public sector. A national strike is scheduled for the 18th of February. This has come after a teacher fell asleep at the wheel when leaving his 3rd job and died in a car crash. <a href="https://www.latinorebels.com/2022/02/07/prteachersstrike/" rel="nofollow">https://www.latinorebels.com/2022/02/07/prteachersstrike/</a> A bit of background: In 2016, U.S. Congress imposed a <a href="https://oversightboard.pr.gov/" rel="nofollow">Financial Oversight &amp; Management Board (FOMB)</a> as part of the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/2328" rel="nofollow">Puerto Rican Oversight, Management, &amp; Economic Stability Act (PROMESA)</a> to rule its colony and impose IMF-style austerity measures to pay off an illegal debt. This came at the <a href="https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/20867.pdf" rel="nofollow">request of the current PNP Gov. Pierluisi </a>when he was the Resident Commissioner under <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alejandro_Garc%C3%ADa_Padilla" rel="nofollow">PDP Gov. Padilla</a>. Since then, there have been numerous protests and a massive uprising (with features of a color revolution) that forced the <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/embattled-puerto-rico-gov-ricardo-rossell-resigns-amid-public-outcry-n1033241" rel="nofollow">resignation of then Governor Roselló</a> of the Statehood party (PNP). Protests against the austerity measures have begun again in response to the FOMB&#39;s actions. The FOMB has been headed by none other than <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_Jaresko" rel="nofollow">Natalie Jaresko</a>, former Ukrainian Minister of Finance (2014-2016) who implemented the &#34;<a href="https://oversightboard.pr.gov/natalie-jaresko/" rel="nofollow">largest IMF program in the institution&#39;s history</a>&#34; the impact of which severely harmed the Ukrainian people. In 2017, she was sent to Puerto Rico to do the same as Executive Director &amp; Interim Revitalization Coordinator of the FOMB.     In partnership with <a href="https://friendsoflatinamerica.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of Latin America</a>, <a href="https://masspeaceaction.org/" rel="nofollow">Massachusetts Peace Action</a> and <a href="https://taskforceamericas.org/" rel="nofollow">Task Force on the Americas</a>, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America &amp; the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on <a href="https://www.codepink.org/" rel="nofollow">CODEPINK</a> YouTube Live

The War against Puerto Rico Continues

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/5/13/21/f3c9097a-6b8b-4679-93ef-bd5df8c02863_a_rica_s_presidential_election_heads_to_runoff.mp3

Episode Title: Costa Rican Presidential Election heads to a RunoffGuest: Matt Kirkegaard of <a href="https://progressive.international/" rel="nofollow">Progressive International</a> who was on the ground in Costa Rica as an international election observer.On Sunday, February 6 Costa Ricans took to the polls to elect a new President. According to the latest results reported from Costa Rica’s Supreme Election Tribunal (TSE) there will be a second and final round on April 3 between <a href="https://www.figueres.cr/en-us/" rel="nofollow">former President Jose Maria Figueres</a> of the <a href="https://www.plncr.org/" rel="nofollow">National Liberation Party (PLN)</a> and <a href="https://www.rodrigochavespresidente.com/" rel="nofollow">Rodrigo Chaves</a> of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Democratic_Progress_Party#:~:text=The%20Social%20Democratic%20Progress%20Party,Cisneros%20Gallo%20founded%20in%202018." rel="nofollow">Party for Social Democratic Progress (PSD)</a>. Figueres received 27.29% of the vote and Chaves 16.66% with approximately 80% of the results reported.To win the first round outright, a candidate had to secure more than 40% of votes. The two leading contenders will face each other in a run-off on April 3. A total of 25 candidates were competing in the first round.Additionally, all 57 seats of the national legislative assembly are also up for grabs. A divided legislature is likely, with local media forecasting Figueres&#39; National Liberation Party (PLN) would win the most seats with 19, but well short of a majority.A disappointing election result was the record level of absenteeism. According to the TSE 40%, of eligible voters stayed away from the first round of voting.In partnership with <a href="https://friendsoflatinamerica.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of Latin America</a>, <a href="https://masspeaceaction.org/" rel="nofollow">Massachusetts Peace Action</a> and <a href="https://taskforceamericas.org/" rel="nofollow">Task Force on the Americas</a>, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America &amp; the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on <a href="https://www.codepink.org/" rel="nofollow">CODEPINK</a> YouTube Live

Costa Rican Presidential Election heads to a Runoff

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Episode Title: Honduras Elects a New Future Part IIGuest: Lucy Pagoada-Quesada who is a teacher, Coordinator of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AlianzadeOposicionUSA/" rel="nofollow">D19-Libre, US-Canada </a>and a co-host of <a href="https://wbai.org/program.php?program=328#:~:text=It%20is%20voices%20from%20organizers,from%20a%20working%20class%20perspective." rel="nofollow">Voices of Resistance</a> broadcasting on <a href="https://wbai.org/" rel="nofollow">WBAI NYC</a> Sundays at 1pm ET.Hondurans saw <a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiomara_Castro" rel="nofollow">Xiomara Castro</a> sworn in as their country’s first female president <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-hopes-buoy-honduras-president-elect-castro-with-harris-visit-2022-01-27/" rel="nofollow">Thursday, January 27</a> amid a sea of waving flags in the national stadium.Castro blasted the departing administration for leaving her a heavily indebted country where poverty and a lack of opportunity have driven hundreds of thousands of Hondurans to migrate in recent years.“My government will not continue the vortex that has condemned generations of young people to pay the debt taken on behind their backs,” Castro said.“We have the duty to restore the economic sector on the basis of transparency, efficiency, production, social justice, wealth distribution and national revenue,” she said.High unemployment, persistent violence, corruption, and troubled healthcare and educational systems are just some of the pressing challenges inherited by the new government. But, the people have liberated themselves from 12 years of US coup installed National Party rule.Lucy and I were both present at Castro’s inauguration last Thursday and are thrilled to be having this conversation today.In partnership with <a href="https://friendsoflatinamerica.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of Latin America</a>, <a href="https://masspeaceaction.org/" rel="nofollow">Massachusetts Peace Action</a> and <a href="https://taskforceamericas.org/" rel="nofollow">Task Force on the Americas</a>, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America &amp; the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on <a href="https://www.codepink.org/" rel="nofollow">CODEPINK</a> YouTube Live

Honduras Elects a New Future-Part II

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Today&#39;s episode features a return visit to <a href="https://ialaiximulew.org/" rel="nofollow">IALA (Instituto Agroecologico Latinoamericano) Ixim Ulew </a>located in San Tomas, Chontales, Nicaragua.Guests:Erica Takeo, Friends of the ATC Solidarity CoordinatorCarlos Rodriquez Valera, Founder and Coordinator of IALA Ixim UlewErica, Carlos and I reunite to discuss the progress made at IALA Ixim Ulew since first meeting in April 2021 as part of the <a href="https://youtu.be/ZTn8B7KDqyY" rel="nofollow">Yes to Sovereignty, No to Sanctions</a> delegation organized by <a href="https://friendsatc.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of the ATC</a> and <a href="https://sanctionskill.org/" rel="nofollow">SanctionsKill</a>Please join us for an informative and heartfelt conversation live from Nicaragua.Additional Information::<a href="https://viacampesina.org/en/" rel="nofollow">CLOC-Via Campesina</a>In partnership with <a href="https://friendsoflatinamerica.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of Latin America</a>, <a href="https://masspeaceaction.org/" rel="nofollow">Massachusetts Peace Action</a> and <a href="https://taskforceamericas.org/" rel="nofollow">Task Force on the Americas</a>, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America &amp; the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on <a href="https://www.codepink.org/" rel="nofollow">CODEPINK</a> YouTube Live

Farming as Revolution

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This episode was broadcast live from Managua, Nicaragua three days after the inauguration of President Daniel Ortega and Vice-President Rosario Murillo. It is a conversation with journalists Camila Escalante of <a href="https://kawsachunnews.com/" rel="nofollow">Kawsachun News</a> and Fiorella Mayorca and Jonathan Mayorca of <a href="https://theconvocouch.com/home/" rel="nofollow">The Convo Couch</a> all of whom attended the inauguration on January 10.We discuss events leading up to the re-election of the Nicaraguan President and Vice-President and what the continuation of their administration means for the Hemisphere of the Americas.A few things of regional importance included in the conversation: since winning re-election on November 7, the Ortega government has announced that Nicaragua will leave the OAS and also return to the recognition of The People&#39;s Republic of China. As part of the inauguration ceremony November 10, President Ortega announced that Nicaragua will join the Belt and Road Initiative.Follow:Camila Escalante <a href="https://twitter.com/camilapress" rel="nofollow">@camilapress</a>Fiorella Mayorca <a href="https://twitter.com/Fiorella_im" rel="nofollow">@Fiorella_im</a>Jonathan Mayorca <a href="https://twitter.com/JonathanMayorca" rel="nofollow">@JonathanMayorca</a>Kawsachun News <a href="https://twitter.com/KawsachunNews" rel="nofollow">@KawsachunNews</a>The Convo Couch <a href="https://twitter.com/theconvocouch" rel="nofollow">@theconvocouch</a>

Nicaragua Vive:  a post-inauguration conversation

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The War on Cuba is an award-winning documentary series executive-produced by Oliver Stone and Danny Glover that takes an in-depth look at the economic war waged by the Trump administration on the Cuban people. Released on YouTube in October 2020 and viewed half-a-million times, the series shows the devastating impact of U.S. sanctions and examines the political and electoral interests driving U.S. policy. CODEPINK&#39;s Medea Benjamin and Jodie Evans were the Executive Producers of this episode. With Special Guest: Cuban Journalist and the lead protagonist of The War on Cuba, Liz Oliva Fernández

The War on Cuba

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On December 19, a left of center millennial who rose to prominence during anti-government protests in 2019 was elected Chile’s next president after a bruising campaign against a free-market firebrand likened to Donald Trump.With 56% of the votes, Gabriel Boric handily defeated, by more than 10 points, lawmaker José Antonio Kast, who tried unsuccessfully to scare voters that his inexperienced opponent would become a puppet of his allies in Chile’s Communist Party and upend the country’s vaunted reputation as Latin America’s neoliberal prototype.In a model of democratic civility that broke from the polarizing rhetoric of the campaign, Kast immediately conceded defeat.  Meanwhile, outgoing President Sebastian Pinera — a conservative billionaire — held a video conference with Boric to offer his government’s full support during the three month transition.Among many things, Boric campaigned with the promise to fight climate change by blocking a proposed mining project in what is the world’s largest copper producing nation.He also promised to end Chile’s private pension system — the hallmark of the neoliberal economic model imposed by the dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet.He has said, “We are a generation that emerged in public life demanding our rights be respected as rights and not treated like consumer goods or a business.  We know there continues to be justice for the rich, and none for the poor, and we no longer will permit that the poor keep paying the price of Chile’s inequality.”Joining us this episode to discuss this historic victory in Chile is friend and guest Patricio Zamorano who is a political analyst and the Director of <a href="https://www.coha.org/" rel="nofollow">The Council of Hemispheric Affairs</a>. Patricio is a Chilean citizen living in the US and voted on December 19 at the Chilean Embassy in Washington DC.

Neoliberalism Dies in Chile

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On November 30th, just two days after historic presidential elections in Honduras, conservative ruling party candidate Nasry Asfura conceded defeat in the Presidential Election paving the way for his Libre Party rival Xiomara Castro to become the first female leader of the Central American country. With over 52 percent of the votes tallied by the evening of November 30, Castro had 53.4 percent support.Although the electoral council has not published preliminary vote totals for congressional races, early results point to a possible majority for Castro&#39;s Libre Party and its main allies.As Asfura&#39;s concession brings to an end a turbulent period under the US supported National Party which has been dogged by scandals and corruption accusations especially during the two terms of outgoing President Juan Orland Hernandez.Hernandez is deeply unpopular and has been implicated in a drug trafficking case in a US federal court. His brother is already in prison. He denies wrongdoing but could face an indictment when he leaves office.Castro&#39;s victory will see the center-left return to power after a 12-year hiatus that followed the ousting of her husband, former president Manuel Zelaya, in a US backed coup in 2009.Joining today&#39;s conversation to discuss the historic presidential elections in Honduras on November 28th is journalist Alina Duarte. Alina hosts and produces a Sunday afternoon news hour on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/sincensuraMedia" rel="nofollow">Sin Censura</a>. She is a reporter for Canal Catorce in Mexico City and is also a journalist with <a href="https://twitter.com/NuestraRedMx" rel="nofollow">Nuestra Red</a>.Alina and I were election observers with <a href="https://cespad.org.hn/" rel="nofollow">CESPAD</a> (Centro de Estudio para Democracia) in Honduras on November 28th. She with the Nuestra Red contingent and me with the <a href="https://globalexchange.org/" rel="nofollow">Global Exchange</a> team.

Honduras Elects a New Future

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On November 30, 2021 in an overnight ceremony in the capital, Bridgetown, Dame Sandra Mason was sworn in as president.The new era for Barbados ends Britain&#39;s centuries of influence, including more than 200 years when the island was a hub for the transatlantic slave trade.Dame Sandra Mason, 72, the island&#39;s governor-general since 2018, was named as president-elect of the nation following a vote in parliament last month. She now replaces the Queen as the head of state.Barbados announced its plan to become a republic last year, but it will remain within the Commonwealth.It was one of England&#39;s first slave colonies. English settlers first occupied the island in 1627 and, under British control, it became a sugar plantation economy using enslaved people brought in from Africa.Slavery was abolished in Barbados in 1834 and the country became fully independent in 1966.With a population of about 285,000 people, Barbados is one of the more populous and prosperous Caribbean islands.Joining us this episode to celebrate the newly created Republic of Barbados is David Denny, General Secretary of the Caribbean Movement for Peace and Integration, President of Cuban-Barbadian Friendship Association and General Secretary of Friends of Venezuela Solidarity Committee Barbados

The End of the Reign, Barbados becomes a Republic

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Today I am joined in conversation with my friend and CODEPINK team mate Leonardo Flores. Leo holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Maryland and he dropped out of a master’s program at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy to work as an analyst of U.S.-Venezuela relations. Leonardo was born in Venezuela and maintains close ties to social movements that have transformed the country over the past twenty years. In this episode, we will focus on the November 21 Mega Elections in Venezuela where I served as an internal observer and of which Leo has written a terrific article: <a href="https://www.laprogressive.com/left-won-in-venezuela/" rel="nofollow">Why the Left Won in Venezuela in Five Steps</a>

A Big Win for Venezuela's Mega Elections

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This episode was recorded live in Managua, Nicaragua on November 10, 2021, three days after President Daniel Ortega and Vice-President Rosario Murillo won re-election. The November 7 Presidential elections in Nicaragua were the first in a series of elections throughout Latin America and the Caribbean over the course of the month.Joining the conversation are delegates who traveled to Nicaragua in October to observe conditions prior to Election Day and others who were on-the-ground serving as international observers on November 7.Guests include:Yoav Elinevsky, Latin America Working Group of <a href="https://masspeaceaction.org/" rel="nofollow">Massachusetts Peace Action</a>Stansfield Smith, <a href="https://chicagoalbasolidarity.org/" rel="nofollow">Chicago ALBA Solidarity</a>Michelle Munjanattu who accompanied the November 7, 2021 elections as a member of the <a href="https://friendsatc.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of the ATC</a> observation delegation.

Nicaragua Post Election Day

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The month of November 2021 is filled with elections across much of Central America beckoning many of us to say that the hemisphere will look very different economically and politically at the end of the month versus how it is comprised today.  This month we will witness elections on:November 7: Presidential Elections NicaraguaNovember 14: Legislative Elections in ArgentinaNovember 21: Presidential Elections in Chile and Regional and Municipal elections in VenezuelaNovember 28: Presidential Elections in HondurasThis episode will focus on the upcoming elections in Nicaragua, Venezuela and Honduras.My guest co-host for this episode is Fred Mills, Deputy Director of the <a href="https://www.coha.org" rel="nofollow">Council on Hemispheric Affairs</a> and Professor of Philosophy at Bowie State University. We are most fortunate to be joined in conversation by three knowledgeable representatives of each country. The first elections this month are in Nicaragua on November 7. These will be Presidential elections with incumbent Daniel Ortega the front runner. Commentary is provided by Camilo Mejia. Camilo is a Nicaraguan activist based in Miami, Florida. Camilo is a veteran and conscientious objector of the war in Iraq, where he witnessed crimes against humanity by the U.S. military.Next we discuss Venezuela where regional and municipal elections will take place on Sunday, November 21. Leonard Flores of <a href="https://www.codepink.org/" rel="nofollow">CODEPINK&#39;s </a>Latin America team leads the discussion. Leo holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Maryland. He dropped out of a master’s program at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy to work as an analyst of U.S.-Venezuela relations. Leonardo was born in Venezuela and maintains close ties to social movements that have transformed the country over the past twenty years.In closing we discuss the November 28 Presidential elections in Honduras. Lucy Pagoada-Quesada joins us for this segment. Lucy is a NYC Department of Education teacher, Human Rights Defender, The Coordinator of The LIBRE Party US-Canada and The Producer of the program<a href="https://www.facebook.com/WBAIVoicesofResistance/" rel="nofollow"> ‘Voices of Resistance&#39;</a> at WBAI 99.5 fm NY. Sunday’s at 1pm ET

November 2021 Elections in Honduras, Nicaragua and Venezuela

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Guest: La Jornada journalist Angel Guerra CabreraThis episode is bi-lingual: Spanish and EnglishOn October 18-19  in Qingdao, Cuba was introduced as a new member of the Belt and Road Energy Initiative Partnership during the partnership’s second ministerial conference.Cuba joins Bolivia, Venezuela and Suriname as the fourth Latin American country to become a member of the energy partnership.In 2019, officially joined the then four-year old Belt and Road initiative, which is planning to disburse $8 trillion for infrastructure projects mostly in developing nations around the globe.On October 20, 2021:  A shipment of the Cuban Abdala and Soberana Covid-19 vaccines was received in Nicaragua. Health Minister Martha Reyes reported that &#34;the shipment contains 1.2 million doses authorized by MINSA for voluntary immunization of children and adolescents between the ages of 2 and 17. &#34; The Minister also noted that the Soberana and Abdala vaccines have a triple dose application protocol showing an efficacy rate above 90% in preventing severe cases. This is the first shipment of the 7 million doses purchased by Nicaragua through the Cuban organization of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industries (CUBAFARMA). November 15: the Cuban government will fully open its borders to tourism by expanding arrivals from around the world including the United States.To discuss these recent developments and more, we are joined by La Jornada journalist Angel Guerra Cabrera who is from Cuba and currently lives and works here in Mexico City

Vaccines, Protests and the Cuban Youth

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Guest: Todd Miller, author of Build Bridges, Not Walls and Empire of BordersIn this episode, we are joined in conversation with Todd Miller, author of Build Bridges, Not Walls and Empire of Borders. Todd has been reporting from international border zones for over 25 years. He writes a weekly post for <a href="http://www.toddmillerwriter.com/" rel="nofollow">The Border Chronicle</a>. He resides in Tucson, Arizona, but also has spent many years living and working in Oaxaca, Mexico. His work has appeared in the New York Times, TomDispatch, The Nation, San Francisco Chronicle, In These Times, Guernica, and Al Jazeera English, among other places.Miller has authored four books: <a href="http://www.citylights.com/book/?GCOI=87286100678920" rel="nofollow">Build Bridges, Not Walls: A Journey to a World Without Borders</a> (City Lights, 2021) <a href="https://www.versobooks.com/books/2908-empire-of-borders" rel="nofollow">Empire of Borders: The Expansion of the U.S. Border Around the World</a> (Verso, 2019), <a href="http://www.citylights.com/book/?GCOI=87286100615860" rel="nofollow">Storming the Wall: Climate Change, Migration, and Homeland Security</a> (City Lights, 2017), and <a href="http://www.citylights.com/book/?GCOI=87286100874610" rel="nofollow">Border Patrol Nation: Dispatches from the Front Lines of Homeland Security</a> (City Lights, 2014).He’s a contributing editor on border and immigration issues for NACLA Report on the Americas and its column “<a href="http://nacla.org/blog/border-wars" rel="nofollow">Border Wars”</a>.This episode was inspired by Leslie Salgado who leads <a href="https://friendsoflatinamerica.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of Latin America</a>. FoLA is a broadcast partner of WTF is Going on in Latin America &amp; the Caribbean. Todd joins Leslie and Teri to discuss two of his books: Build Bridges, Not Walls and Empire of Borders.BUILD BRIDGES, NOT WALLS: In Build Bridges, Not Walls, he invites readers to join him on a journey that begins with the most basic of questions: What happens to our collective humanity when the impulse to help one another is criminalized?A series of encounters—with climate refugees, members of indigenous communities, border authorities, modern-day abolitionists, scholars, visionaries, and the shape-shifting imagination of his four-year-old son—provoke a series of reflections on the ways in which nation-states create the problems that drive immigration, and how the abolition of borders could make the world a more sustainable, habitable place for all.EMPIRE OF BORDERS: The United States is outsourcing its border patrol abroad—and essentially expanding its borders in the process.The twenty-first century has witnessed the rapid hardening of international borders. Security, surveillance, and militarization are widening the chasm between those who travel where they please and those whose movements are restricted. But that is only part of the story. As journalist Todd Miller reveals in Empire of Borders, the nature of US borders has changed. These boundaries have effectively expanded thousands of miles outside of US territory to encircle not simply American land but Washington’s interests. Resources, training, and agents from the United States infiltrate the Caribbean and Central America; they reach across the Canadian border; and they go even farther afield, enforcing the division between Global South and North.Additional links mentioned in this episode:<a href="https://citylights.com/topographies/tropic-of-chaos-climate-change-geography/" rel="nofollow">Tropic of Chaos</a>

Climate Change, Displacement and the Border Industrial Complex

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Guest: Monisha Rios, Puerto Rican psychologist and social workerThe inspiration for tonight’s episode came during the VI Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) held in Mexico City on September 18. A result of the Summit was a: “SPECIAL DECLARATION ON THE QUESTION OF PUERTO RICO.&#34; The declaration includes two points:1. Reaffirm the Latin American and Caribbean character of Puerto Rico and, recognizing the efforts made and the resolutions adopted by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United Nations about the situation on Puerto Rico, the most recent on June 18, 2021, and reiterate that it is a matter of high interest to CELAC, as was emphasized at the highest level at the V Summit in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, held on January 25, 2017. 2. Undertake to continue working in the framework of international law, particularly of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV): Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples of December 14th, 1960, to put an end quickly and unconditionally to colonialism in all its forms and manifestations in the Latin American and Caribbean Region.Joining us today to talk about Ending US Colonialism of Puerto Rico is Monisha Rios. She is a Puerto Rican psychologist, social worker and US army veteran.

Ending US Colonialism of Puerto Rico

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Guest: Venezuela Vice Minister Yvan GilSince 2017, the private Portuguese bank NovoBanco, 75% of which is owned by US private equity firm Lone Star, has withheld roughly $2 billion USD belonging to the Venezuelan state’s Economic and Social Development Bank (BANDES). BANDES is requesting that NovoBanco transfer roughly $25 million of the $2 billion directly to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to pay for emergency medical supplies for the people of Venezuela. These supplies include: polio vaccines, yellow fever medicine, and thousands of syringes to address a critical shortage in the country.The government of Venezuela directed BANDES to apply for a transfer of funds from its accounts in NovoBanco to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) as of 22 July. These funds were temporarily frozen, but recently have been unblocked by Portuguese legal authorities. And, yet, Novo Banco has issued no response.To talk more with us about this disturbing and criminal withholding of funds is Yvan Gil, Vice Minister for Europe of the People’s Power Ministry for Foreign Relations.

Sanctions Kill:  The Novo Banco Case

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Episode Title: Understanding Venezuela&#39;s Anti-Blockade LawGuests:Margaret Flowers of <a href="https://popularresistance.org/" rel="nofollow">Popular Resistance</a>, <a href="https://sanctionskill.org/" rel="nofollow">SanctionsKill</a> and the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ColectivosporlaPaz/" rel="nofollow">Embassy Protection Collective</a>William Castillo, Venezuela Vice-Minister for implementation of the <a href="https://www.newsclick.in/The-Illegal-Blockade-Venezuela-Anti-Blockade-Law" rel="nofollow">Anti-Blockade Law</a>Background:To combat the U.S. economic war on Venezuela, a new strategy was unveiled on Sept. 29. 2020 by President Nicolás Maduro, called the “Anti-Blockade Constitutional Law for National Development and Guarantee of Human Rights,” or anti-blockade law for short. It was approved in a session of the National Constituent Assembly (ANC by its Spanish initials) on Oct. 8, 2020. The ANC has served as an interim legislative body after the right-wing-led National Assembly was declared in contempt for illegal election practices and other violations. May of 2021 Venezuela&#39;s National Assembly ratified the law. The current assembly was elected in December 2020.The siege by the U.S., Canada and its European allies against Venezuela includes the U.S. seizure of CITGO and other Venezuelan properties, the withholding of the country’s gold and money reserves by Britain and Portugal, and a severe sanctions regime.  Sanctions (or more correctly known as Unilateral Coercive Measures) have cut off Venezuela’s ability to import spare parts and critical chemicals for the oil and mining industries, particularly imports from the U.S., with its dominance in oil technology.  Part of the anti-blockade law is a legal framework to guarantee foreign investments and shield economic agreements from U.S. sanctions and sabotage with countries that are defying the sanctions to trade with Venezuela. Investments by domestic entities will be allowed as well.  With expected economic improvements, the government will be able to raise the real wages of the workers, pensions for seniors, and benefits for the population.. The government can also strengthen vital social programs such as the CLAP food boxes, health care, education and more. The country’s infrastructure — water, electricity and gas, transport, and telecommunications — also needs rehabilitation. In partnership with <a href="https://friendsoflatinamerica.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of Latin America</a>, <a href="https://masspeaceaction.org/" rel="nofollow">Massachusetts Peace Action</a> and <a href="https://taskforceamericas.org/" rel="nofollow">Task Force on the Americas</a>, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America &amp; the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on <a href="https://www.codepink.org/" rel="nofollow">CODEPINK</a> YouTube Live

Understanding Venezuela's Anti-Sanctions Law

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Guest: Carlos Ron, Venezuela Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs for North AmericaOn July 24, the 238th Anniversary of Simon Bolivar&#39;s birth, Mexico&#39;s president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador addressed an audience of foreign ministers and international dignitaries saying: Let’s initiate a relationship in our hemisphere based on the premise of George Washington, according to which “nations should not take advantage of the misfortune of other peoples”.I am aware that this is a complex issue that requires a new political and economic outlook. The proposal is no more and no less than to build something similar to the European Union, but in accordance with our history, our reality, and our identities. In this spirit, the replacement of the OAS by a truly autonomous organization, not a lackey of anyone, but a mediator at the request and acceptance of the parties in conflict, in matters of human rights and democracy, should not be ruled out.Serving as President Pro Tempore of CELAC, AMLO re-convened members of the organization in Mexico City on September 18 after a four year &#34;pause&#34;. President Nicolas Maduro attended the Summit representing Venezuela&#39;s democratically elected government. Much of the Summit&#39;s conversation focused on creating a unified Latin America and Caribbean economic bloc, similar to the European Union, free to trade in a multi-polar global framework.September 21 the world witnessed the opening of the 2021 United Nations General Assembly Debate. Thursday morning, 18 countries including Venezuela gathered to sign a declaration to uphold the founding principles of the United Nations. The countries are collectively known as the Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter.And, late September Venezuela Dialogue resumed in Mexico City for a third round. It has been a powerful and evolutionary summer in the Americas!  Join us for an informative and inspiring conversation about how unity and multilateralism are shaping current day Latin America and the Caribbean.(this episode was recorded between two international locations and contains occasional audio lapses).

A New Political Context for the Americas:  CELAC, the OAS and the UN

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Guest: <a href="https://johnphilpot.com/en/home/" rel="nofollow">John Philpot</a>, senior criminal litigation attorney. A member of the <a href="http://www.barreau.qc.ca/" rel="nofollow">Barreau du Québec</a> since 1984, he has practiced Criminal Law in Montreal since 1984 and International Criminal Law since 1998.From “Alex Saab vs. Empire: How the US is Using Lawfare to Punish a Venezuelan Diplomat” By Roger Harris of broadcast partner Task Force on the Americas (MintPress May 24, 2021):“<a href="http://www.mppre.gob.ve/en/comunicado/venezuela-joins-request-african-lawyers-demands-government-cape-verde-immediately-release-alex-saab/#:~:text=Alex%20Saab,%20Special%20Envoy%20and,which%20is%20why%20Cape%20Verde" rel="nofollow">Special Envoy and Ambassador</a> to the African Union for Venezuela Alex Saab was on a humanitarian mission flying from Caracas to Iran to procure food and gasoline for the Venezuelan <a href="https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/14602" rel="nofollow">CLAP</a> food assistance program. Saab was detained on a <a href="https://www.afriquemedia.tv/afrique/cape-verde-heading-to-hell-paradise-destination-with-high-risk-of-ill-treatment-and-arbitrary-detention" rel="nofollow">refueling stop</a> in the African nation of Cabo Verde and has been held in custody ever since June 12, 2020.Saab’s “crime” — according to the U.S. government, which ordered the imprisonment — was money laundering. That is, Saab conducted perfectly legal international trade. Still, his circumventing of the U.S. sanctions – which are designed to prevent relief to the Venezuelans – is considered by Washington to be money laundering.After a two-year investigation into Saab’s transactions with Swiss banks, the Swiss government concluded on March 25 that there was <a href="https://en.ultimasnoticias.com.ve/noticias/politica/fiscales-suizos-abandonan-investigacion-contra-alex-saab/#:~:text=A%20Geneva,%20Switzerland%20prosecutor%20has,for%20that%20office%20announced%20Thursday.&text=Swiss%20prosecutors%20concluded%20that%20the,charges%20against%20Saab%20and%20others." rel="nofollow">no money laundering</a>. Saab is being prosecuted because he is serving his country’s interest rather than that of the U.S. Saab was born in Colombia but now holds Venezuelan citizenship. The U.S. does not recognize Saab’s diplomatic status.”Joining us this episode to discuss this case of Extra-Judicial Reach of the United States and to provide an update on the Alex Saab case is John Philpot. John is an experienced international defense attorney before international criminal courts (ICC, ICTR) and in Canada. He has been active in Africa, Latin America and Europe as well as in Canada.Links referenced in this episode:Registration for the Meng conference 22 September<a href="http://hamiltoncoalitiontostopthewar.ca/event-release-meng/" rel="nofollow">http://hamiltoncoalitiontostopthewar.ca/event-release-meng/</a>An ongoing international appeal of over 15,000 signatures, sent to the US president and the president and prime minister of Cabo Verde: <a href="https://solidaritycenter.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/petition/sign?reset=1&sid=23" rel="nofollow">https://solidaritycenter.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/petition/sign?sid=23&amp;reset=1</a>An archive of articles, statements and reference materials on the developing case: <a href="https://afgj.org/free-alex-saab" rel="nofollow">https://afgj.org/free-alex-saab</a>May 19 webinar panel featuring two of Saab’s lawyers, Cabo Verde’s Geraldo da Cruz Almeida and Nigeria’s Femi Falana, in addition to activists William Camacaro, John Philpot, Stanfield Smith and Sara Flounders: <a href="https://youtu.be/TZXfO0dZXiQ" rel="nofollow">https://youtu.be/TZXfO0dZXiQ</a>August 10 webinar hosted by Massachusetts Peace Action: <a href="https://youtu.be/dAjgIvhOrvQ" rel="nofollow">https://youtu.be/dAjgIvhOrvQ</a>Social media campaign to #FreeAlexSaab:<a href="https://afgj.org/urgent-call-alex-saab-social-media-campaign" rel="nofollow">https://afgj.org/urgent-call-alex-saab-social-media-campaign</a>We Don&#39;t Deserve This: the impact and consequences of US sanctionhttps://sanctionskill.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/SanctionsReport_v1.pdf

Alex Saab, Sanctions and the Extra-Judicial Reach of the US

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2021/9/11/17/92e973a8-7492-438b-adb2-20313ad2fdd0_gmt20210908-164609_recording.m4a

Guest: Yesenia Portillo, East Coast Coordinator for Committee In Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES).On September 7, The New York Times reported: &#34;El Salvador on Tuesday became the first country to adopt <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/topic/subject/bitcoin" rel="nofollow">Bitcoin</a> as legal tender, allowing the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/07/world/americas/el-salvador-bitcoin.html" rel="nofollow">cryptocurrency</a> to be used in any transaction, from buying a cup of coffee to paying taxes. The bold move, largely celebrated by the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/07/world/americas/el-salvador-bitcoin.html" rel="nofollow">international bitcoin</a> community, has found a more skeptical reception at home and in the traditional financial world, amid concerns that it could bring instability and unnecessary risk to the Central American country’s fragile economy.In El Salvador, many are viewing the move with confusion and distrust, afraid that the volatility inherent to using <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/01/technology/what-is-bitcoin-price.html?timespastHighlight=bitcoin" rel="nofollow">virtual tokens with no physical backing</a>, which are <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/09/03/climate/bitcoin-carbon-footprint-electricity.html" rel="nofollow">apt to soar and crash</a> in value, could be dangerous for the economy — and their own savings.El Salvador’s move puts it at the forefront of a revolution in finance on the blockchain, where <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/05/us/politics/cryptocurrency-explainer.html" rel="nofollow">a parallel universe</a> of crypto-based alternative banking services is booming and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/05/us/politics/cryptocurrency-banking-regulation.html" rel="nofollow">eliciting alarm from officials in Washington</a> and beyond.&#34;To talk more about this global first, we are joined by Yesenia Portillo of <a href="https://cispes.org/" rel="nofollow">CISPES (Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador)</a>

El Salvador Adopts Bitcoin as Its National Currency

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/5/15/14/4e69d75b-e179-4b0f-acdd-6c287b9b30f0_war__sanctions___us_regime_change_in_nicaragua.mp3

With presidential elections in November, the U.S. is ramping up the pressure on the country. Congress is now considering the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/1064" rel="nofollow">RENACER Act,</a> which would mark a new phase in U.S. hybrid war against Nicaragua. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vijay_Prashad" rel="nofollow">Vijay Prashad</a> of the <a href="https://thetricontinental.org/" rel="nofollow">Tricontinental Institute for Social Research</a>, <a href="https://www.cepr.net/staff-member/alexander-main/" rel="nofollow">Alex Main</a> of the <a href="https://www.cepr.net/" rel="nofollow">Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR)</a> and <a href="https://www.coha.org/our-team/leadership/" rel="nofollow">Jill Clark-Gollub </a>of <a href="https://friendsoflatinamerica.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of Latin America</a> will engage in a timely discussion of this proposed law and U.S. attempts at regime change. After the discussion, participants will contact their Representative and urge them to vote no on the RENACER Act.In partnership with <a href="https://friendsoflatinamerica.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of Latin America</a>, <a href="https://masspeaceaction.org/" rel="nofollow">Massachusetts Peace Action</a> and <a href="https://taskforceamericas.org/" rel="nofollow">Task Force on the Americas</a>, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America &amp; the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on <a href="https://www.codepink.org/" rel="nofollow">CODEPINK</a> YouTube Live

Hybrid War, Sanctions & Regime Change in Nicaragua

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/5/15/14/005f7fb8-314a-4e3a-875c-57d92618e30f__latin_america__ecocide_and_genocide_in_brazil.mp3

Guest: <a href="https://nickestes.blog/about/" rel="nofollow">Nick Estes</a>, journalist, historian and host of the <a href="https://therednation.org/" rel="nofollow">Red Nation Podcast</a>Last month <a href="https://progressive.international/" rel="nofollow">Progressive International</a> received a letter from <a href="https://apiboficial.org/sobre/?lang=en#:~:text=The%20Articulation%20of%20Indigenous%20Peoples,Terra%20Livre%20(ATL)%202005." rel="nofollow">The Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB)</a> calling for solidarity in their struggle for life and requesting a delegation to travel .to Brazil to witness <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jair_Bolsonaro" rel="nofollow">Bolsonaro&#39;s </a>assault on indigenous people and the environment.Over the course of 10 days, the delegation met with an incredible range of political actors in Brazil, including:Indigenous leaders from APIB<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quilombola" rel="nofollow">Ki Lombola</a> representativesMembers of congress from parties such as: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_parties_in_Brazil" rel="nofollow">PT, PSOL and PSB</a>Trade unions and social movements including the <a href="https://www.mstbrazil.org/content/what-mst" rel="nofollow">Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (MST)</a>Members of the <a href="http://www.forosocialpanamazonico.com/bienvenida/" rel="nofollow">Panamazonic Social Forum</a>; and,Civil society actorsNick was a member of the Progressive International emergency delegation and returned to the US from Brazil just prior to joining our conversation.In partnership with <a href="https://friendsoflatinamerica.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of Latin America</a>, <a href="https://masspeaceaction.org/" rel="nofollow">Massachusetts Peace Action</a> and <a href="https://taskforceamericas.org/" rel="nofollow">Task Force on the Americas</a>, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America &amp; the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on <a href="https://www.codepink.org/" rel="nofollow">CODEPINK</a> YouTube Live

Ecocide and Genocide in Brazil

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Guest Co-Host:Yoav Elinevsky, Latin America Working Group coordinator for Massachusetts Peace ActionGuests: Pierre LaBossiere, Haitian born and from the region hit hardest by Saturday&#39;s earthquake. He is a veteran labor and human rights activist, a co-founder of <a href="https://haitisolidarity.net/" rel="nofollow">Haiti Action Committee</a> and a board member of the <a href="http://www.haitiemergencyrelief.org/" rel="nofollow">Haiti Emergency Relief Fund</a>.Robert Roth, co-founder of the Haiti Action Committee. Robert was a high school history teacher in San Francisco for 30 years and is now an instructional coach for new teachers. He was active in the Central America solidarity movement in the 1980s and 1990s and has worked for years to free political prisoners in the United States.Background:On Saturday, August 14 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Haiti_earthquake#:~:text=At%2008%3A29%3A09%20EDT,%2C%20Port%2Dau%2DPrince." rel="nofollow">a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Haiti</a> in the southwest region of the country destroying more than 7,000 homes and damaging nearly 5,000 leaving about thirty thousand families homeless. Hospitals, schools, offices and churches also were demolished or badly damaged. The quake wiped out many of the sources of food and income upon which the population is dependent. The earthquake struck a nation still struggling with the corona virus, gang violence and the July 7 assassination of President <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Jovenel_Mo%C3%AFse" rel="nofollow">Jovenel Moise</a>.In partnership with <a href="https://friendsoflatinamerica.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of Latin America</a>, <a href="https://masspeaceaction.org/" rel="nofollow">Massachusetts Peace Action</a> and <a href="https://taskforceamericas.org/" rel="nofollow">Task Force on the Americas</a>, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America &amp; the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on <a href="https://www.codepink.org/" rel="nofollow">CODEPINK</a> YouTube Live

Another Shock for Haiti

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/5/16/18/717e3ba1-1606-4412-b000-42e02c1bd4c3_wtf_mexico_hosts_venezuela_dialogue.mp3

Guest: Diego Seguera of <a href="https://misionverdad.com/english" rel="nofollow">Mision Verdad</a>. Diego is a writer, journalist, political analyst and researcher. He is a co-founder of Mision Verdad, as well, as a fellow with the <a href="https://isrobinson.org/" rel="nofollow">Samuel Robinson Institute</a>. Both organizations are based in Caracas, Venezuela.Background:On August 5th, <a href="https://lopezobrador.org.mx/" rel="nofollow">Mexico&#39;s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador</a> announced that <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mexico-host-negotiations-between-venezuelan-government-opposition-2021-08-05/" rel="nofollow">Mexico will host talks</a> between representatives of Venezuela&#39;s elected government and members of the Venezuelan opposition in its capital this month with Norway serving as mediator. &#34;It has been proposed that Mexico be the place to carry out these negotiations and we accept because what we are looking for is that there is dialogue and agreements between both parties. In talks between the government of Venezuela and the opposition, hopefully, an agreement will be reached,&#34; Lopez Obrador said at a press conference. Although he declined to say exactly when the talks will take place, they are expected to begin on August 13.In July, Venezuela president Nicolas Maduro announced that he was willing to start a dialogue between the government and the opposition with National Assembly president Jorge Rodriguez and Hector Rodriguez governor of the State of Miranda representing him in the meeting. The mediation will be held ahead of regional and local elections in Venezuela on November 21. This follows failed negotiation attempts in 2019 that were held in Norway and Barbados In partnership with <a href="https://friendsoflatinamerica.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of Latin America</a>, <a href="https://masspeaceaction.org/" rel="nofollow">Massachusetts Peace Action</a> and <a href="https://taskforceamericas.org/" rel="nofollow">Task Force on the Americas</a>, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America &amp; the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on <a href="https://www.codepink.org/" rel="nofollow">CODEPINK</a> YouTube Live

Mexico Hosts Venezuela Dialogue

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2022/5/16/21/98051e90-a0d4-46c8-afd7-cd125c40e4ae_nicaragua__climate_change_and_cop26.mp3

Guest:Javier Gutierrez, <a href="http://www.marena.gob.ni/2021/11/13/18662/" rel="nofollow">Secretary of the Presidency of Nicaragua for Climate Change and Vice-Minister of Environment and Natural Resources</a>Background:Under the slogan Uniting the world to tackle climate change, the forthcoming <a href="https://ukcop26.org/" rel="nofollow">United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26)</a>, which will be held in Glasgow (UK) from 1 to 12 November 2021, will bring together representatives of some 200 governments with the aim of accelerating climate action to fulfill the <a href="https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/paris-agreement" rel="nofollow">Paris Agreement</a>. The Presidency of the conference is already working with civil society and business to prepare the annual event and inspire climate action ahead of the event.What is COP:The Conference of the Parties or COP is the supreme body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), a treaty that sets out the basic obligations of the 196 states (or parties) and the European Union to combat climate change. It was signed at the 1992 Earth Summit and came into force in 1994. Since then, a COP has been held every year to review the status of its implementation and to propose, evaluate and approve other instruments to support its establishment.On 12 December 2015, in the framework of COP21, world leaders approved in Paris a historic agreement to slow down climate change. They committed to keeping the global average temperature increase to well below 2 ºC with respect to pre-industrial levels, and to work to limit this increase to 1.5 ºC. They also agreed to intensify efforts to adapt to the impacts of climate change and to make funding flows consistent with the transition to a low-carbon economy and climate-resilient development.Now, five years after the adoption of the Paris Agreement, climate action has become a key part of the recovery plans for the COVID-19 pandemic. A green recovery that creates sustainable jobs and that addresses challenges linked to public health, climate change and loss of biodiversity in order to protect the environment for future generations. Many in the audience may know that Nicaragua did not sign the Paris Agreement because the Ortega Government did not believe the accord went far enough specifically regarding wealthy northern hemisphere countries to the detriment of the vulnerable countries of the global south. This is why we are so fortunate to hear from Vice-Minister Gutierrez today about Nicaragua’s impending proposals at COP26 and how these proposals emphasize the effects of climate change and the necessary response required for Nicaragua and all of Central America. In partnership with <a href="https://friendsoflatinamerica.org/" rel="nofollow">Friends of Latin America</a>, <a href="https://masspeaceaction.org/" rel="nofollow">Massachusetts Peace Action</a> and <a href="https://taskforceamericas.org/" rel="nofollow">Task Force on the Americas</a>, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America &amp; the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on <a href="https://www.codepink.org/" rel="nofollow">CODEPINK</a> YouTube Live

Nicaragua, Climate Change and COP26

CODEPINK's weekly podcast of hot news out of Latin America and The Caribbean

Welcome to WTF is Going on in Latin America & The Caribbean, CODEPINK's weekly podcast of hot news out of Latin America and The Caribbean with host Teri Mattson. Each week features a country and/or issue related to the affects of U.S. foreign, economic and/or military influence and intervention in the hemisphere of The Americas. Our guests include academics, policy-makers, journalists as well as activists recognized for their groundwork within local communities and movements.

CODEPINK is a women-led grassroots organization working to end U.S. wars and militarism, support peace and human rights initiatives, and redirect our tax dollars into healthcare, education, green jobs and other life-affirming programs. Join us! https://www.codepink.org/

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WTF is Going on in Latin America & The Caribbean

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