Among other things, Argentina is known for immigration and wine. In the late 19th century and early 20th century, immigration from Europe was strongly encouraged (with subsidized housing and some job training for new arrivals to the port of Buenos Aires). The records of these waves of immigrants are contained in government archives, many of which have been uploaded to the web such as this excellent edition of the Memoria de la Dirección de Inmigración (the Annual Report of Immigration Services) for 1900.
Argentina is the world's fifth largest wine producer. Only France, Italy, Spain, and the U.S. top its numbers. And while this is impressive, what's even more impressive is that this industry was kick-started by European immigrants at the beginning of the last century and that these immigrants must have shown some gumption in thinking that they could make it in wine. In 1900, there were 23,289 agricultural laborers who immigrated to Argentina. That year, there were 4 oenologists. And this was a good year. Other years, there were even fewer. This means that many of the wineries established in the early decades of the 20th century were begun by farmers who knew how to coax life out of the soil, but who had to trial-and-error their way through barrels.
It sounds like the opening of a spy thriller: the Head of Paraguay's Anti-Terrorism Unit has his laptop stolen, containing an unencrypted copy of all the classified documents of the Intelligence Agency, including those having to do with Ciudad del Este. Despite claims to the contrary, it seems that this personal computer (stolen on February 2, 2012) contained lists of confidential informants, including the names, aliases, email addresses, and family trees of individuals who've been involved with investigations regarding the Triple Frontier.
According to ABC Color, even after an investment of $30,000 from the U.S. embassy to improve security in the Unit, "Among the files was a complete list of informants who collaborated in the Triple Frontier, particularly in the investigation of principle members of extremist Arab [sic] groups, like the powerful Hezbollah."
The fear is that the critical information has been sold off and that there will be a string of retribution killings will unfold.
More than 800,000 girls in Kenya miss a week of school every month when they have their period because they don't have access to sanitary pads.
They shouldn't have to.
And their sisters in other countries in Africa, Latin America, and Asia who don't have access to pads shouldn't have to miss school either. In addition to my work as a researcher, writer, and anthropologist, I have the privilege of serving on the board of American Friends of ZanaAfrica. ZanaA's mission is to eradicate gender-based poverty and exclusion by helping girls be the force of change in their own lives through a very simple tool: a sanitary pad.
We're about to launch manufacturing of an eco-friendly, super affordable pad in Kenya and we're raising support for this. To learn more and to partner with us, take a look at the video and follow the link for more stats and details as to how we're keeping girls in school.
Learn about the issue and join in the solution at www.zanaa.org.
Prince William arrives in the Falkland Islands today as the HMS Dauntless, a destroyer class ship, is deployed to the islands. This was all, per Britain's government, planned before the escalating rhetoric between Argentina and Britain over possession of the islands. Meanwhile, the Argentine foreign ministry lamented that Prince William was arriving "wearing a conqueror's uniform" and not "with the wisdom of a statesman who works for peace and dialogue between nations." An interesting analysis of this: Falklands tensions serve all parties--except the Falklanders.
[UPDATE 2/14/2012 In spite of a new boycott against any ships flying under the British flag (and not just the Falklands) by the C.A.T.T. (the Argentine Confederation of Transportation Workers, akin to the Teamsters), a British oil barge arrived yesterday, south of Buenos Aires. Meanwhile, Argentine President Cristina Kirchner has presented a denunciation of the "militarization" of the South Atlantic by the U.K. to the United Nations.]
[UPDATE 2/3/2012 A historical take on the War from the Argentine side, including the classified analysis from within the military itself--the secretly smuggled out Rattenbach Report which contained the criticism: "the invasion of the Malvinas was a military fling/adventure." (The word 'aventura' in Spanish connotes utter recklessness, it's the word translated as 'love affair.')]
Population (Sheep): 600,000 Population (Human): 2,478 (in 2006)
Thirty years ago, Argentina and the United Kingdom fought a war over possession of a few small islands in the South Atlantic. The United Kingdom won and continued its claim to the islands they call the Falkland Islands (in Argentina, they're known as Las Malvinas). Increased rhetoric on both sides now is raising the specter of conflict once more. (And, incidentally, the war was begun by Argentina's military junta and the failure of the war was instrumental in weakening the government and bringing in democracy.)
Argentina has never renounced its claim to Las Malvinas (which is based on proximity and a time of occupation in the early 19th century). The United Kingdom's claim to the Falkland Islands is based on earlier and later occupation of the islands and the fact that the islanders themselves reject Argentine rule and want to be an overseas United Kingdom territory. The isolated islands are strategic in a number of ways: they sit atop oil and natural gas reserves in the South Atlantic.
Tensions subsided for the decades following the war as Argentina transitioned to democracy, but as the anniversary approaches, there's been a flare-up. At the Mercosur Summit this past December, members of the Southern Cone Common Market approved a proposal to close all ports to ships "flying under the illegal flag" of the Falkland Islands. Mercosur comprises Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, meaning that ports on the Atlantic from the top of Brazil to the tip of Argentina are off limits.
The United Kingdom has, as expected, responded by expressing concern, affirming the right of self-determination of the islands. (Argentina counters that since these are not indigenous inhabitants of the islands, they were placed on the island by the British in order to establish their claim and therefore the argument of "self-determination" is invalid). Prince William's "provocative" anticipated visit (as part of his service in the Royal Air Force) in February and March will likely result in increased security on the island. Yesterday, Prime Minister David Cameron said "[W]e support the Falkland Islanders' right to self-determination. And what the Argentinians have been saying recently, I would argue, is actually far more like colonialism because these people want to remain British and the Argentinians want them to do something else."
The "colonialism" comment led to protests in Buenos Aires and British flag burning and demands from Argentina's left that Argentine President Cristina Kirchner break diplomatic ties with the United Kingdom. And in an interesting counter-balance, United Kingdom Foreign Minister William Hague has just visited Brazil, pushing for deeper ties between the two countries.
Flag burning at yesterday's Buenos Aires protest ("English out of Malvinas!")
Disagreement over Venezuela's membership in Mercosur is pitting the sovereignty of Paraguay against the political authority of the larger region.
In brief: the majority in Paraguay's congress oppose a proposal to make Venezuela a full member of Mercosur. The other three member countries (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay) have supported Venezuela's entrance, as does the current president of Paraguay (Fernando Lugo). Rumors are spreading that Mercosur will force Venezuela's full entry through some sort of declaration that effectively circumvents the authority of Paraguay's congress and, by extension, the will of the Paraguayan people.
Within Paraguay, this is seen as a violation of Paraguay's sovereignty. Uruguay is hosting a Mercosur summit today, which will be attended by all four presidents, foreign ministers, and the heads of the central banks. Other agenda items have been overshadowed by the question of whether Venezuela's membership will be imposed upon Paraguay.
The Common Market of the Southern Cone (Mercosur) was created in 1991 by the Treaty of Asunción, signed by the four initial member countries: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. According to the Treaty (Article 20), new members must be approved by unanimous consent of current members. Treaties (unlike "Agreements") require the approval by national parliamentary bodies--this is why they have so much more weight than just agreements signed by presidents. The former presidents of the four countries approved Venezuela's full membership in 2006, which was later ratified by the congresses of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. Only Paraguay held out.
In Paraguay and Uruguay, Mercosur is often depicted as yet another way for the two large countries to impose their will on their smaller neighbors. While there has been a "leftward turn" in Latin America (all four countries are governed by left-of-center presidents), Hugo Chavez is not popular in Paraguay. Although the previous Paraguayan president (a Colorado Party conservative) approved Venezuela's full membership, there is a perception that leftist former Bishop Fernando Lugo is forcing Paraguay into a Bolivarian revolution. Moreover, this is framed within Paraguay (and now Uruguay) as a recapitulation of the War of the Triple Alliance (1865-1870), where the combined forces of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay demolished Paraguay.
But what this ultimately may be about is a classic power struggle within Paraguay between the executive and legislative branches, not between "right" and "left."
UPDATED: Venezuela and Ecuador are in the process of becoming full member countries of Mercosur. Presidents Hugo Chavez and Rafael Correa were present at the meeting today in Mercosur, arguing for the full admission of their countries. Correa has urged a greater closeness between Mercosur and CAN (the Andean Community-- Venezuela used to be a full member until 2006, when it withdrew from the agreement and sought to enter Mercosur).
As expected, some kind of solution that would work around the stalemate in Paraguay's congress was offered: a Special Commission has been created to determine the terms by which Venezuela and Ecuador will enter Mercosur. The commission will be directly appointed by the presidents of the full member countries (read: not depend on congress).
And though tomorrow I'll discuss the "energy integration" components of today's summit, I want to end with the terrible tragedy that shook the meeting: Iván Heyn was found hanged in his hotel room this afternoon, an apparent suicide. Mr Heyn, Argentine, 34 years old, was Cristina Kirchner's newly appointed Undersecretary of Foreign Trade and was participating in the meetings in Montevideo.
