The Americas

THE GROWING ENMESHMENT OF THE U.S. AND LATIN WORLDS

January, 1998 until the present

Click here for older Americas articles.

Updated: Tue, 17 Oct. 00 17:16:23 -0700 (PDT)

Did Amazonian Indians Die From Measles Vaccine?
By Geoffrey Sea
Date: 10-17-00
A firestorm of controversy is moving through the world of anthropology in response to charges that members of the profession conducted human experiments which took the lives of hundreds of unknowing Indians. But this may only be the beginning of a very distressing story. PNS commentator Geoffrey Sea, a historian and an expert on human radiation experiments, is executive director of the U.S.-Kazakhstan International Foundation on Radiation, Ecology and Health.

Mexico's Cold War Wounds -- The Disappeared That Won't Go Away
By Martin Espinoza
Date: 10-05-00
The Mexican government's recent arrest of high-ranking military officials on drug-trafficking charges has unwittingly brought renewed public attention to Mexican military officials' role in the extra-judicial liquidation of political dissidents. PNS commentator Martin Espinoza reports from Mexico City, Mexico.

Mexico Logging Wars Spark Legal Battle Over Academic Freedom At U.S. University
By Kent Paterson
Date: 09-28-00
A lawsuit filed by two professors against the University of Denver for yanking their published article from two online services spotlights what they claim is a growing risk: corporate pressure on campus authorities to restrict academic research and publishing. PNS correspondent Kent Patterson is a freelance journalist based in Albuquerque, NM.

Call 900 Gouge: State Department Connects With Masters Of Overcharging In Mexico
By Martin Espinoza
Date: 08-23-00

A Mexican citizen who wishes to visit the United States must have a visa, and the visa can only come from the U.S. State Department, and the only way to reach the U.S. State Department is by calling a 900 number that charges $1.20 a minute -- sounds like a formula for extorting the most from those least able to pay. And it is says PNS commentator Martin Espinoza. Espinoza reports from Guanajuato, Mexico.

Native American's New Clout Catches Some Off guard
By Koren Capozza
Date: 08-18-00
The Democratic National Convention showcased the growing political clout of Native Americans. But it also demonstrated just how far they still have to go to gain real acceptance by white political power brokers. PNS correspondent Koren Capozza writes regularly on Native American issues for New California Media, a collaboration of ethnic news organizations founded by Pacific News Service (www.ncmonline.com).

Just South Of Texas, Democracy Faces Its Hardest Test
By David Bacon
Date: 08-17-00
This year's presidential campaign has so far ignored foreign policy altogether, with a few exceptions, like President Clinton's triumphant announcement of his new Colombian aid package. But a close look at commentators in the region shows more concern than cheering. Political scientist and World Policy Institute fellow Andrew Reding sampled opinion in influential journals in Colombia, Venezuela and Mexico for New California Media which monitors international and ethnic news for Pacific News Service (www.ncmonline.com).

Survey Of Latin American Press -- The Closer You Are To Columbia, The Worse The New Aid Plan Looks
By Andrew Reding
Date: 08-16-00
This year's presidential campaign has so far ignored foreign policy altogether, with a few exceptions, like President Clinton's triumphant announcement of his new Colombian aid package. But a close look at commentators in the region shows more concern than cheering. Political scientist and World Policy Institute fellow Andrew Reding sampled opinion in influential journals in Colombia, Venezuela and Mexico for New California Media which monitors international and ethnic news for Pacific News Service (www.ncmonline.com).

Why The Big Winner In Mexican Election May Be The Catholic Church
By Daniel Ramirez
Date: 07-31-00
Largely unremarked in commentary on the major shift in Mexico's political life is the fact that the winning candidate is closely identified with positions of the Catholic Church. In Mexico, with its extremely strict constitutional provisions against mixing church and state, this may be a very significant element of the new order. PNS commentator Daniel Ramirez is studying for his Ph.D. in theology at Duke University.
Border Dreams -- Planning An Immigrant's Underground Railroad
By Martin Espinoza
Date: 07-25-00
Before the Civil War, slaves who managed to escape their masters often traveled north through a series of safe places -- a journey dubbed the "underground railroad." Today's northward-moving people might benefit if such a system was established for them. PNS commentator Martin Espinoza reports from Guanajuato, Mexico.
Spain At Our Border? Fox's Vision For Mexico
By Andrew Reding
Date: 07-03-00
Without an ideology to hold it together, Mexico's defeated PRI will disappear as a political force. Far more powerful will be newly elected President Vicente Fox's vision to expand NAFTA into a common market similar to the European Union. PNS associate editor Andrew Reding, a fellow of the World Policy Institute, is a political scientist who specializes on Mexico and immigration issues.
Two Mexicos -- The Real Choice In Mexican Elections Does Not Appear On The Ballot
By Andrew Reding
Date: 06-27-00
There is a clear possibility that Mexico's next president will not be a member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party which has governed the country for more than 70 years. Yet there is a conflict at a deeper level which may prove more significant than any party. PNS associate editor Andrew Reding directs the Americas Project of the World Policy Institute. Also note: The word caciques needs to be italicized.
Mexico's Most Stubborn Skeptics On Elections: Migrants
By Martin Espinoza
Date: 06-27-00
Some 7 million Mexican citizens who live and work in the United States are not permitted to vote in their country's presidential elections. Courted by candidates for the money and influence they might exert, they nonetheless remain Mexico's most stubborn skeptics. PNS commentator Martin Espinoza reports from Acambaro, Mexico.
Latin America's &Quot;Arc Of Crisis&Quot; -- Where All Are Unequal, Democracy Is Little More Than A Word
By Andrew Reding
Date: 05-30-00
The presidential election in Peru turned out to be more a referendum -- a yes or no vote -- than a contest for office. This represents a trend in Latin America, a trend that will persist so long as these countries continue policies that lead to sharp inequalities of education and income. PNS commentator Andrew Reding, a fellow of the World Policy Institute, specializes in Latin American politics.
Mexican Elections -- Throwing The Bums Out Is No Guarantee That Democracy Will Follow
By Martin Espinoza
Date: 05-26-00
Mexico's voters may be getting ready to elect a president who is not a member of the party which has held power since the late 1920s. This is a significant step, but only a step, toward a more democratic situation. PNS commentator Martin Espinoza reports from Guanajuato, Mexico.
In Peru's Elections The Race Card May Be The Trump Card
By Andres T. Tapia
Date: 04-14-00
Dangerous anger at the conduct of presidential elections in Peru -- which included premarked ballots, ballots with the opposition candidate's name cut off or covered with wax, etc. -- was calmed by announcement of a runoff election between the two leading candidates. It seems likely that the final vote will be very much based on the rarely mentioned, but crucial, question of race. PNS commentator Andres Tapia writes regularly on Peru.
&Quot;Reefgate&Quot; Rattles Acapulco--Election Year Scandal Over Misuse Of Poverty Funds
By Kent Paterson
Date: 04-13-00
It sounded like a good idea, evidently, to a lot of people -- an inexpensive way to encourage tourists to come back to Acapulco. But the effort now dubbed "reefgate" turned into an intricate maze of deals and promises that offer a miniaturist's view of what's wrong in Mexico today. PNS correspondent Kent Paterson is an Albuquerque-based freelance journalist who writes regularly about Mexico.
Blame Bechtel, Not Narcotraffickers, For Bolivian Uprising
By Jim Shultz
Date: 04-12-00
Bolivia's government blamed violent protests here this past week on narcotraffickers. In fact, the real blame lies squarely with a multinational's efforts to wrest profits from supplying water. PNS commentator Jim Shultz, executive director of The Democracy Center (www.democracyctr.org) lives in Cochabamba, Bolivia.
Pinochet's Trial And Tribulations In Chile -- The Murderer Returns To The Scene Of The Crime
By Tito Tricot
Date: 03-30-00
Former dictator Augusto Pinochet's return to Chile became the occasion for a small-scale, insulting coup d'etat by the Chilean military, says former political prisoner Tito Tricot, an independent journalist and a sociologist. Tricot directs academic programs in Chile for the School for International Training, the University Academy of Christian Humanism and the University of Art and Social Sciences. E-mail him in Valparaiso at ttricot@agata.ecored.cl.
Pinochet's Trial And Tribulations In Chile -- Chileans Eager To Take Care Of Pinochet And Other Domestic Problems
By Roger Burbach
Date: 03-30-00
After a series of extraordinary international moves, Gen. Augusto Pinochet has returned to Chile -- but to a changed Chile. Not only is there reason to believe the former dictator will come to trial, but there is enthusiastic support for a return to more humane government policies in every area. PNS correspondent Roger Burbach, founder and director of the Center for the Study of the Americas, is the co-author of several books on Central America.
Colombia: "War On Drugs" Is A Game Of Illusion And Pretense
By Andrew Reding
Date: 03-07-00
Congress will likely vote more than $1 billion to continue the war on drugs in Colombia in this election year. But from even a little distance, it is clear that this "war" is a game of mirrors and sleight of hand, of pretense on all sides. PNS commentator Andrew Reding directs the Americas Project of the World Policy Institute and is an associate editor of Pacific News Service.
New Treasure Of Sierra Madre Brings Hope To Drought Stricken Indians
By Jeff Biggers
Date: 03-02-00
A modern-day Treasure of the Sierra Madre -- long lost masterpiece paintings -- are bringing possibilities for income to a bone-dry Indian community urged on by an aging priest in northern Mexico. Based in Tucson, Jeff Biggers writes for the Pacific News Service, The Atlantic Monthly and Bloomsbury Review.
Without A Bishop, Chiapas Indians May Be Martyrs In The Making
By Alberto Huerta
Date: 03-01-00
Will canonizing a 16th century Mexican Indian appease the indigenous of troubled Chiapas, who are now without a bishop they can regard as their own? Alberto Huerta, a Catholic priest who visits Chiapas, says the Vatican's moves are troubling. Rev. Huerta teaches in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages at the University of San Francisco.
LATIN AMERICANS DIVIDED ON ELIAN GONZALEZ CASE
By Luis Pazos, Byron Vasquez, and the Editorial Staffs of El Diario De Hoy, La Tercera and La Nacion
Date: 02-04-00
The high-profile case of the shipwrecked Cuban boy, Elian Gonzalez, has stirred a heated debate throughout Latin America. Some Latin commentators denounce the hypocrisy of U.S. Immigration policy, noting that the INS returned 14,000 Hispanic minors to their country of origin last year including 500 under the age of eight who were not accompanied by an adult. Others echoed the voice of Miami Cubans who uphold the right of the child to choose "a better future" for himself and condemned "Castro's manipulation of the child's fate for political gain." PNS associate editors Alfonso Serrano and Koren Capozza excerpted a sampling of opinion from newspapers published in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Chile and Argentina for PNS' New California Media website which facilitates inter-ethnic media exchange at ww.NCMonline.com.
Colombia's Mortal Paradox -- Exporting Drugs Means Importing Chaos
By Robin Kirk
Date: 01-26-00
Our mixed feelings about drugs -- nobody hates them more vigorously but nobody consumes them more eagerly -- have brought near chaos to Colombia, a country larger than Texas and California combined. Recent proposals to intensify military efforts there seem to portend an even uglier failure on all fronts. PNS correspondent Robin Kirk visited women revolutionaries in Peruvian prisons when she worked as a reporter in Peru.
The Poisons Next Door -- Mixtec Indians Find A Home Near Superfund Site
By Mary Jo McConahay
Date: 01-19-00
Just when they thought they had bought a piece of the American dream, a group of Mexican Indian farmworkers have learned they live next door to a toxic waste dump so dangerous it's been declared a Superfund Clean Up site. Pacific News Service editor Mary Jo McConahay has reported on the Mixtec diaspora in Mexico and the United States. McConahay writes for New California Media, PNS' collaboration of ethnic news organizations. NCM can be found on the world wide web at www.NCMonline.com.
The Poisons Next Door -- Mixtec Indians Find A Home Near Superfund Site
By Mary Jo McConahay
Date: 01-19-00
Just when they thought they had bought a piece of the American dream, a group of Mexican Indian farmworkers have learned they live next door to a toxic waste dump so dangerous it's been declared a Superfund Clean Up site. Pacific News Service editor Mary Jo McConahay has reported on the Mixtec diaspora in Mexico and the United States. McConahay writes for New California Media, PNS' collaboration of ethnic news organizations. NCM can be found on the world wide web at www.NCMonline.com.
Turn To The Sea--Fish Replace Strawberries As Primary Crop For Mexican Migrants
By Peter S. Cahn
Date: 01-06-00
Farmers in Texas and California have long depended on workers from Mexico at harvest time. But in one small town in Michoacan, west of Mexico City, the favored spot for seasonal work is on water, not land, and much closer to the Arctic Circle than the Tropic of Cancer. PNS commentator Peter S. Cahn is a doctoral student at the University of California, Berkeley.
A New Generation Of Salvadorans Asks: Who Should Pay For Crimes Of The Past And How?
By Juan Jose Dalton
Date: 11-11-99
Ten years after the assassination of six Jesuit priests in San Salvador -- a turning point in El Salvador's bloody civil war -- the son of assassinated poet Roque Dalton ponders what justice means. Far more than an academic question, the indictment of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet by a Spanish judge has opened the door to the possibility of similar legal actions against Salvadorans on both sides of the civil war. PNS commentator Juan Jose Dalton is a journalist based in San Salvador who contributes to New California Media at www.ncmonline.com.
Finding Home Truths Far From Home
By Jeff Biggers
Date: 10-27-99
In a remote mountain village in Mexico, a researcher looking into the threatened culture and language of indigenous people receives a letter telling him that his family's homeplace is now lost. The news prompts him to realize the necessity of acting to preserve the heritage of everyday life in any setting. PNS commentator Jeff Biggers has just spent a year in northern Mexico; his writing has appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, Newsday and Bloomsbury among other publications.
Mary Jo McConahay, U.S. Based Hispanic Magazine Stands Ground Against Powerful Mexican Family
By Mary Jo McConahay
Date: 10-22-99
Mexican media coverage last week spotlighted a small U.S. publication which has come up against one of the most powerful families in Mexico -- allegedly linked to drug trafficking, money laundering and murder. PNS Associate Editor Mary Jo McConahay reports on the growing controversy involving the Hank family, which is spreading its business empire to the United States.
Mexico's Political Pulse -- Beauty Pageant More Telling Than Debates
By Peter S. Cahn
Date: 09-20-99
It's election season in Mexico, and politicians on all sides are speaking of unprecedented levels of democracy and openness. But in the towns and cities, the long history of corruption continues uninterrupted -- affecting even a beauty pageant. PNS commentator Peter S. Cahn is a doctoral student at the University of California, Berkeley.
Mexico's Democratic Reform Threatened By Strongman Politics
By Andrew Reding
Date: 08-31-99
Next year's presidential elections in Mexico could usher in a new era of democratic reform -- or the return to an older era of "caudillo" politics. The key question is whether the leading opposition candidates can temper their personal ambitions long enough to mount a united front against the long-dominant but increasingly weak PRI. PNS associate editor Andrew Reding directs the North American Project of the World Policy Institute.
Mexico's Accidental President Fails The Test In Both Party And Nation
By Jesus Martinez
Date: 08-24-99
In Mexico, the president traditionally offers a "state of the union" address on September 1. This year, writes PNS commentator Jesus Martinez, the country's president will have little to offer his constituents or his party. Martinez is an immigrant researcher and activist who was formerly a member of the Political Science Department at Santa Clara University.
Mexico City Leads an Urban Renaissance
By Koren L. Capoza
Date: 07-23-99
In one of Mexico City's poorest shantytowns a youth center has sprung up which represents a new approach to community organizing, one that hinges on communicating with all residents. PNS correspondent Koren L. Capoza reports from Tlanetziye, which in the Indian language of Nahuatl means "is threatening" but is now a gem amidst urban despair.
Mixing Oil and Water In Mexico
By Jesus Martinez
Date: 07-15-99
Mexico's ruling party, the PRI, recently quashed legislation that would have allowed Mexicans living abroad to vote in presidential elections. Now, activists are trying to mix "oil and water" by uniting the conservative PAN and the left-of-center PRD behind a single presidential candidate. Pacific News Service commentator Jesus Martinez says it's not impossible. Martinez is an immigrant researcher and activist who was formerly a member of the Political Science Department at Santa Clara University.
Why Colombia's President Masterminded Meeting of Stock Exchange Chief and Guerrilla Leader
By Andrew Reding
Date: 06-30-99
Last week's meeting between Richard Grasso, president of the New York Stock Exchange, and Colombian guerrilla commander Raul Reyes is not as odd as it first appears to be. In effect, the well-publicized event was directed at an important, but absent, third party, according to PNS commentator Andrew Reding -- the country's economic elite. Reding is senior fellow for hemispheric affairs at the World Policy Institute in New York.
Why Mexican Immigrants Fear and Loathe Their Consulates
By Jesus Martinez
Date: 06-07-99
A small incident in Los Angeles shows why Mexican citizens living in the United States do not look to their consulates for protection in time of trouble. Indeed, consulates have a long history of acting in the interests of the country's ruling party rather than its nationals. PNS commentator Jesus Martinez is an immigrant researcher and activist who was formerly a member of the Political Science Department at Santa Clara University.
Miners Strike Shows the Human Cost of Economic Reform
By David Bacon
Date: 04-29-99
The Cananea copper mine, less than an hour from the U.S. border, was a symbol of the conditions that led to the Mexican Revolution in 1906. This year, the same mine again presents a rich example of unfairness, only this time its owner is operating with blessings of the government. PNS associate editor David Bacon writes widely on immigrant and labor issues. A PHOTO OF STRIKER JAVIER CANIZARES IS AVAILABLE. CALL GEORGE GUNDREY AT 415-438-4755 IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO USE IT.
Countrywide Protests -- Mexicans Living in the U.S. Hit With Unfair Policies From Both Sides of the Border
By Jesus Martinez
Date: 04-19-99
Mexicans who live in the United States face open hostility on many fronts, particularly in California. Rubbing salt into these wounds, their own government has started to attack them in the most virulent way for reasons they may have to do with the fact that they now number in the millions and are seeking the right to vote. PNS commentator Jesus Martinez is an immigrant researcher and activist who was formerly a member of the Political Science Department at Santa Clara University.
Rigoberta Menchu's Truth
By Mary Jo McConahay
Date: 04-07-99
Facts in the autobiography of Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu have been challenged by anthropologist David Stoll. PNS Latin America editor, Mary Jo McConahay, offers a view from Guatemala, where the story began.
More Than an Apology Needed for America's Rwanda
By Andrew Reding
Date: 03-11-99
Guatemala between 1980 and 1982 was an American Rwanda -- a country ravaged by a genocidal war on the majority Mayan population waged by a military whose officers were trained by the U.S. President Clinton has taken the first step in acknowledging U.S. complicity, but fear will continue to grip Guatemala until a U.N. sponsored genocidal tribunal is held. PNS associate editor Andrew Reding directs the North America Project of the World Policy Institute in New York.
Power Shift-- Workers in Border Plants Could Tip Mexico's Next Election
By David Bacon
Date: 02-23-99
Workers in factories on or near the U.S.-Mexican border, "maquiladores," a million of them earning an average of $5 a day, have begun to flex their political muscles. There are signs that those muscles could bring dramatic changes in nationwide elections set for next year. PNS associate editor David Bacon writes widely on immigrant and labor issues.
See No Evil -- Clinton's Visit to Mexico an Exercise in Looking the Other Way
By Andrew Reding
Date: 02-16-99
President Clinton's trip to Mexico ended with cordial announcements of a bi-national effort to stop the flow of drugs. This may serve domestic goals for both presidents, but it requires willfully overlooking much of recent history. Pacific News Service associate editor Andrew Reding is senior fellow for hemispheric affairs at the World Policy Institute.
Failure of Drug War Has Deep and Intricate Roots
By Jesus Martinez
Date: 02-16-99
Announcements of the imminent end of drug trafficking are nothing new to citizens of Mexico, and are usually greeted with healthy skepticism at the least, and as cause for concern. A consideration of recent history and the current situation in the United States explain this reaction. PNS commentator Jesus Martinez is an immigrant researcher and activist who was formerly a member of the Political Science Department at Santa Clara University.
The Man Who Should Have Met the Pope in Mexico
By Sam Quinones
Date: 01-27-99
On his visit to Mexico, the Pope did not touch base with Luis Guerrero. This is a small omission, but it might have helped explain what the Catholic Church perceives as a decline in believers in the Americas. PNS commentator Sam Quinones is a Mexico City-based writer.
Mexico's Population Planners Walk a Fine Line to Reach Their Goal
By Mary Jo McConahay
Date: 01-22-99
In his fourth visit to Mexico in 20 years, Pope John Paul will encounter a country whose citizens -- however enthusiastic their welcome -- have moved away from church teachings in one crucial area. A remarkable drop in the birth rate reflects economic conditions, a more urban population, a vigorous state campaign -- and, quietly, in the most remote places, perhaps to representatives of the church itself.
Debate Over Mexican Migrants' Right to Vote Goes to the Heart of Questions About Democracy And Accountability
By Jesus Martinez
Date: 01-19-99
Under a law passed in 1996, Mexican citizens living abroad have the right to vote in national elections. But implementation of that law has stalled, and the matter itself has become the focus of a major national debate -- a debate which really concerns the future of democracy in Mexico. PNS commentator Jesus Martinez is an immigrant researcher and activist who was formerly a member of the Political Science Department at Santa Clara University.
This Papal Visit Brought to You By...
By Jesus Martinez
Date: 01-12-99
The Pope is coming to Mexico -- this time with enough sponsors to cause a severe outbreak of envy in any commercial enterprise. While the need for financial support may be real enough, the style and the implications are troubling. PNS commentator Jesus Martinez is an immigrant researcher and activist who was formerly a member of the Political Science Department at Santa Clara University.
Why Chile's Politicians Prefer to Forget -- A Recipe for Instability
By Andrew Reding
Date: 11-30-98
Although it has called on the British government to release General Augusto Pinochet, the government of Chile appears unwilling to challenge antidemocratic forces. This reluctance reflects a strong desire to forget the past -- a forgetfulness that can only damage the country's hopes for true democracy. PNS associate editor Andrew Reding directs the North America Project of the World Policy Institute.
For the Poor, Movement is the Only Answer to Natural Disasters
By Richard Rodriguez
Date: 11-16-98
The major player in Latin America has become nature itself -- hurricane, earthquake or flood go beyond the power of government, and seem able to shake otherwise permanent regimes. For the poor, the only possible response to natural disasters is to move -- and movement has become today's revolutionary force. PNS associate editor Richard Rodriguez is the author of "Days of Obligation," and writes regularly for the Los Angeles Times.
Human Hands-- Hurricane's Devastation Reveals True Cost of Misguided Government Policies
By Andrew Reding
Date: 11-12-98
Television pictures of the horrific flooding and mudslides in Honduras and Nicaragua are offered as proof of the awesome force of nature. In fact, they reflect human error, and the afflicted nations' call for international aid offers a chance for constructive change in the region. PNS associate editor Andrew Reding directs the North America Project of the World Policy Institute.
Central America Disaster at the Worst Possible Moment
By Mary Jo McConahay
Date: 11-10-98
The devastating effects of Hurricane Mitch in Honduras and Nicaragua, terrible as they are, must be considered in the context of the region. Historically, natural disasters have worked in favor of opposition groups; now that these countries are peaceful democracies, it is important to keep an eye on the way they respond to the crisis. PNS Central America editor Mary Jo McConahay has reported from Latin America for the National Catholic Reporter, Choices, Mother Jones and other publications for over a decade.
Romance and Romantics, Revolution and Reality
By Richard Rodriguez
Date: 10-26-98
Latin America may be near, but we are far from knowing much about it. The recent arrest of Chile's former dictator Augusto Pinochet reminds us of the region's persistent longing for a "strongman" and suggests changes that may finally bring a turn toward democratic governments. PNS editor Richard Rodriguez is author of "Days of Obligation" and the forthcoming "The Color Brown." He is a regular essayist for the News Hour with Jim Lehrer and the Los Angeles Sunday Times.
This Time It's Pinochet the Prisoner -- But It's Still Outside Intervention
By Alfonso Serrano F.
Date: 10-21-98
Once again outside forces have intervened in Chilean affairs. This time, the casualty is former dictator Augusto Pinochet, but to a significant extent, Pinochet is a victim of his own isolation, nurtured during his repressive 17-year rule. PNS Associate Editor Alfonso Serrano F., a native of Chile, is a San Francisco-based journalist. A version of this article appeared in New York Newsday.
He's Back -- Brazil's Scrappy "Lula" Challenges Globalization
By Roger Burbach
Date: 10-01-98
Brazil may seem distant, but with Russia and most of Asia in deep financial trouble the largest economy in Latin America -- which accounts for 20 percent of U.S. exports -- takes on new importance. The current regime has faithfully followed the dictates of the IMF, and opposition forces have made that the central issue of the campaign. PNS correspondent Roger Burbach, founder and director of the Center for the Study of the Americas, is the co-author of several books on Central America.
Choosing Not to Remember-- A New Chilean Law That Seeks to Abolish History
By Alfonso Serrano F.
Date: 09-25-98
Chile's Senate has voted to abolish September 11 -- the anniversary of the military coup that brought dictator Augusto Pinochet to power -- as a national holiday. Many Chileans wonder if the deep divisions aroused by that date can be eliminated so easily. But Chile's young people -- too young to remember or even care -- are already discovering new reference points for the future. PNS editor Alfonso Serrano F., a native of Chile, is a San Francisco-based journalist.
Signs of Blooming Democracy in the Southern Cone
By Andrew Reding
Date: 07-28-98
Recent reports from Argentina and Chile indicate a distinct shift toward a more democratic atmosphere, in both spirit and practice. The resignation of Argentina's president and public opposition to Chile's former ruler are clear signs of a new freedom. Pacific News Service associate editor Andrew Reding is senior fellow for hemispheric affairs at the World Policy Institute.
Zapatista's Struggle to Maintain Everydayness of Life
By Mary Jo McConahay
Date: 07-22-98
Mexico's southern states are once again drawing international attention, with an upcoming visit by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan and a proposal for talks from the mysterious Commandante Marcos. But the essence of the Zapatista "rebellion" is far from communiques and the world stage -- it is in the gritty business of surviving day to day. PNS Central America editor Mary Jo McConahay has reported from Latin America for the National Catholic Reporter, Choices, Mother Jones and other publications for over a decade. This article is the first of two parts.
For Zapatistas, Autonomy Means Strengthening Indian Control
By Mary Jo McConahay
Date: 07-22-98
For those who live and work in the "autonomous" village of Polho, in country identified as supporting the Zapatistas, questions of who governs and how are not at all abstract. Although they have been accused of wanting to separate themselves from the nation, their true interest is in genuine equal status within their own country. Second of two parts. PNS Central America editor Mary Jo McConahay has reported from Latin America for the National Catholic Reporter, Choices, Mother Jones and other publications for over a decade. This article is the second of two parts.
Brazil's Landless Take the Law -- And Groceries -- Into Their Own Hands
By Roger Burbach
Date: 07-06-98
In the northeast of Brazil -- a country nearly as large as the United States -- a severe drought has led to food shortages affecting some 10 million people. The droughts are nothing new, but changes in the surrounding world have made them harder to bear -- and the response, especially among the landless, has taken some novel turns. PNS correspondent Roger Burbach, founder and director of the Center for the Study of the Americas, is the co-author of several books on Central America.
The Other Side of NAFTA -- Mexican Workers Grappling With 'Flint' Problem of Their Own
By David Bacon
Date: 06-18-98
In what may be the most significant labor action in many years, U.S. auto workers are directly challenging the practice of "outsourcing" -- buying parts from suppliers who pay wages less than 10% of prevailing U.S. rates. Many of these suppliers operate in Mexico near the U.S. border, and PNS correspondent David Bacon reports that there are signs of profound unhappiness coming from that direction as well. Bacon covers labor and immigration issues for PNS.
Plasticized Peru-- Plastic Culture Threatens to Destroy Land of Inefficient Charm
By Andres T. Tapia
Date: 05-12-98
For a Peruvian now living in the United States, a trip home offers both a chance to escape a privileged but superficial culture, and to return to a land of extremes. But in a recent visit Andres T. Tapia found signs the differences are narrowing. PNS associate editor Andres T. Tapia writes regularly on Peru.
Summit of the Americas-- Big Guy on the American Block Offers Lots of Talk, Little Action
By Andrew Redding
Date: 04-15-98
As the nations of the western hemisphere meet in Chile for a second "Summit of the Americas," there is bound to be much talk of the way the states of the region have moved away from authoritarian rule and toward democracy. But even a casual look at the real situation shows these shifts are more a matter of veneer than deep change. Pacific News Service associate editor Andrew Reding directs the North America Project, a joint venture of the World Policy Institute and the Bay Area Institute.
Indigenous Movements A Century from Now -- The Indian Americas?
By Andrew Reding
Date: 03-16-98
From Canada's Northwest Territories to the border between Panama and Colombia, indigenous peoples are gaining recognition and control over their own territories and resources. The nature of these gains varies from place to place, writes PNS associate editor Andrew Reding, but the overall trend is clear. Andrew Reding, a political scientist who has worked and traveled widely in Mexico, directs the North America Project of the World Policy Institute.
Learning From Illegals -- Lessons for an Age of Migration
By Ruben Martinez
Date: 02-09-98
As the world shifts and churns the only certainty is that we're all on the move. Ruben Martinez, an associate editor at Pacific News Service, has been taking lessons on how to survive from "illegals" on both sides of the U.S.-Mexican border. Martinez is at work on a book about life and death in the borderlands for Metropolitan/Holt.
Bilingual in Chicago-- Chicago Area Schools Servive Angry Controversy and Build A Successful Bilingual Program
By Andres Tapia
Date: 02-05-98
An initiative that would effectively shut down bilingual education programs in California has spurred a sometimes hostile debate over the question of whether it will benefit Hispanic students more than white. However, PNS associate editor Andres Tapia, recounting his own experience in a similar situation, finds that such a program is a distinct winner for all concerned. PNS associate editor Andres Tapia, a contributing editor of Christianity Today, is a Chicago-based writer.
The Bees -- Flickering Beacon of Hope in Troubled Chiapas Area of Mexico
By Mary Jo McConahay
Date: 02-03-98
Reports of the massacre of 45 villagers in the Mexican state of Chiapas last December have overlooked the fact that the victims were affiliated with "the Bees." This remarkable organization, now some seven years old, remains pledged to neutrality and nonviolence in a place where neither seems possible. PNS Central America editor Mary Jo McConahay has reported from Latin America for National Catholic Reporter, Choices, Mother Jones and other publications for over a decade. Photographs/slides by McConahay are available on request from PNS. Call George Gundrey at 415-243-4364.
Chiapas Counterinsurgency Campaign Spreads Fear -- And Refugess -- To Highland Towns
By Mary Jo McConahay
Date: 02-02-98
In the coffee-growing highlands of southern Mexico the human landscape is polarizing in the wake of the massacre of 45 unarmed civilians in one hamlet. Thousands of displaced villagers are swelling the population of so-called "safe" towns, surrounded by federal police and army forces, in an atmosphere of continuing tension. PNS Central America editor Mary Jo McConahay has reported from Latin America for the National Catholic Reporter, Choices, Mother Jones and other publications for over a decade. Photographs/slides by McConahay are available on request from PNS. Call George Gundrey at 415-243-4364.
As The Pope Visits, Cuba's Other Priests Deserve Some Attention
By Kimi Eisele
Date: 01-20-98
Pope John Paul's visit to Cuba has stimulated quantities of comment on Communism and Catholicism, secularism and spirituality. But this tidy duality ignores an important part of everyday life in Cuba, a set of religious observance that has apparently flourished despite government decree. PNS correspondent Kimi Eisele, who reports on a first-hand encounter with Santeria, is working toward a master's degree in geography and Latin American studies at the University of Arizona.
Tijuana Workers Continue Hunger Strike to Force Recognition of Their Union
By David Bacon
Date: 12-10-97
A first-ever victory for an independent union in Tijuana has been turned sour by a government agency's refusal to accept the results of an election judged clean by the agency's own representative. North of the border, supporters of the workers have been active in more than 25 cities, and one group has filed a complaint under NAFTA. PNS associate editor David Bacon reports from Tijuana. He is a former union organizer who writes widely on labor and immigration.
Keep America Green-- Hire an Illegal Alien
By Louise Brannon Wagenknecht
Date: 12-4-97
A recent "sweep" in national forests in Idaho found illegal aliens working for the federal government as tree planters. Forest Service spokesmen claimed ignorance, but for Louise Brannon Wagenknecht, who worked as an inspector in the Klamath National Forest near the California-Oregon border from 1975 to 1987, the denials rang false indeed. Wagenknecht is now raising sheep in Idaho and writing for the "High Country News" a biweekly published in Colorado.
Jesus Malverde-- Saint of Mexico's Drug Traffickers May Have Been Bandit Hung in 1909
By Sam Quinones
Date: 12-2-97
In Mexico's Pacific Coast state of Sinaloa having the government as an enemy can do great things for your reputation. And so it was that a legendary bandit supposedly hung in 1909 is now a revered saint whose shrine draws thousands each year from as far away as Stockton, California. With his Robin Hood image, it was inevitable that Jesus Malverde would also become the patron saint of drug traffickers. PNS reporter Sam Quinones reports on his legend in this third of three parts on Mexico's narcoculture. Photographs illustrating the series are available through PNS - call George Gundrey at 415-243-4364.
From Fashion to Dress to Attitude-- Narcotraficantes Set the Pace in Mexico's Northwest
By Sam Quinones
Date: 12-01-97
In Mexico's northwest state of Sinaloa, better known as home to the chic resort of Mazatlan, drug smuggling is an accepted part of life. From ostrich-skin boots to shirts emblazoned with the portrait of a "narco saint" known as Jesus Malverde, people dress to imitate the "narcos" and talk with narcotrafficers "like it's the most common thing in the world." PNS correspondent Sam Quinones is a freelance reporter based for the last five years in Mexico City. This is the first of three reports on Mexico's narcoculture. Photographs illustrating the series are available through PNS - call George Gundrey at 415-243-4364.
Narcocorridos -- Polka Beat, Gangsta Rap Lyrics, Top the Charts in Mexico's Northwest
By Sam Quinones
Date: 12-01-97
Germans brought the sound -- polka beats played with accordions. But drug traffickers are the subjects of the hit songs in Northwest Mexico these days. The narcocorridos, as they're called, resemble gangsta rap in the U.S. and have even given rise to a Mexican version of Tupac Shakur. PNS correspondent Sam Quinones is a freelance reporter based for the last five years in Mexico City. This is the second of three reports on Mexico's narcoculture. Photographs illustrating the series are available through PNS - call George Gundrey at 415-243-4364.
Staying off the Fast Track-- Congressional Rebuff on Trade Authority Underlines Need for New Global Controls
By Andrew Reding
Date: 11-11-97
Despite cries of protectionism, the refusal to grant President Clinton "fast track" trading authority should be seen as a recognition that the global market now requires serious reforms. PNS associate editor Andrew Reding draws an analogy with the era of robber barons, and suggests some of the remedies applied then might have a role to play today. Reding directs the North America Project of the World Policy Institute in New York.
Megaprojects-- Mexico's North May Be New Battleground for Indigenous Struggle
By Kent Paterson
Date: 10-21-97
All Mexico was shaken by the evidence of indigenous unrest revealed in the "Zapatista" uprising in Chiapas in 1994. Now in the state of Chihuahua -- about as far from Chiapas as you can go without leaving Mexico -- there are signs of a political stirring which, while far from an uprising, may produce interesting sparks when they come into contact with a massive development scheme backed by the Mexican government. PNS correspondent Kent Paterson is a radio producer at KUNM in Albuquerque, New Mexico and writes about Mexican politics and culture.
"Too Much Heart"-- Mexican Soap Opera Presents the Flip Side of Miami Vice
By Sam Quinones
Date: 10-13-97
One literally dramatic change in Mexico involves daytime soap operas on a new, independent channel which are anchored in gritty reality very unlike traditional offerings. One striking example involves a view from the south of the so-called "drug war" which -- unlike the US version -- points to the consumers' responsibility. PNS associate editor Sam Quinones, is a Mexico City-based freelance writer.
Drug Cartels-- Latin America's Biggest Home Grown Business
By Andrew Reding
Date: 10-13-97
As President Clinton begins his first visit to Latin America, with much talk about stopping the flow of drugs, it makes sense to take a clear look at the business of drug trafficking as a business. PNS editor Andrew Reding finds that the differences are less than the similarities, and finds evidence that the trade involves addiction on both sides of the border. PNS associate editor Andrew Reding is senior fellow for hemispheric affairs at the World Policy Institute.
Tijuana Unions Battling Industry-Government Network for Recognition
By David Bacon
Date: 08-25-97
Winning a strike in the United States may be a rare event, but in Mexico, particularly in the border-straddling factories called maquiladoras, the odds against even building an organization are almost prohibitive. One such effort, hailed as a victory in June, now seems to be settling into a battle of endurance. PNS associate editor David Bacon is a former union organizer who writes widely on labor and immigration.
Election of Gay Legislator Marks Major Shift in Land of Machismo
By Andrew Reding
Date: 08-19-97
The sweeping changes in Mexico's political landscape include a striking first: for the first time anywhere in Latin America, an avowed homosexual has won a seat in the country's legislature. In an overwhelmingly Catholic, largely conservative, and strongly male-oriented society, the election of Patria Jimenez, with the full backing of her party, may mark the dawn of a new era for Mexico's gay citizens. PNS associate editor Andrew Reding is senior fellow for hemispheric affairs at the World Policy Institute.
Jubilation and Optimism -- Mexico's Political Shift Only One Sign of Profound Change
By Ruben Martinez
Date: 07-08-97
The vote in Mexico, which seems to signal the fall of the hemisphere's longest-lived political regime, has brought a feeling of optimism in a generally bleak time. In an important sense, the election results are not so much the mark of dramatic change as they are a sign that the political sphere is catching up with the cultural complexity that is Mexico. Commentator Ruben Martinez, an editor at Pacific News Service, lives in Mexico City, where he is finishing a book for Metropolitan/Holt on life and death in the borderlands.
Mexico City Heralds Rise of Aztec Sun
By Andrew Reding
Date: 07-08-97
The big winner in Mexico's election literally embodies the emergence of a new leadership in the country -- darker-skinned and less likely to follow directives from Washington. Cuauhtemoc Cardenas, who now holds the second most powerful office in the country, has a distinct relationship with the country's impoverished majority, one that begins with their respect for his father and has grown through a series of direct personal contact. PNS associate editor Andrew Reding, a freelance writer specializing in Latin America, writes for Newsday, the Miami Herald and other publications.
Among the Waiapi -- Intesely Local Solutions may Offer Only Weapons for Fighting Intensely Global Problems
By Mary Jo McConahay
Date: 06-30-97
The Waiapi, an indigenous group in the Amazon jungle, was almost destroyed following first contacts with the outside world in the 1970s. Now they have found a way to protect the rain forest which may let them survive. The action was pushed along by measures taken at the Earth Summit of 1992, but five years later the story of the Waiapi shows that any gains rest on very fragile ground.
Clinton Trip Highlights Mexico's Patronage Status
By Andrew Reding
Date: 05-08-97
President Clinton took pains to emphasize Mexico's sovereign status during his first visit there. Yet the overall effect of his trip was to patronize Mexico all over again. PNS associate editor Andrew Reding is senior fellow for hemispheric affairs at the World Policy Institute.
A 15-Year-Old Guatemalan Sweatshop Worker Explains -- Why I Can't Lose My Job
By Myra Esperanza Mejia, as Told to Mary Jo McConahay
Date: 04-18-97
A new code of conduct designed to curb sweatshop abuses by apparel manufacturers includes a prohibition on using workers younger than 15. Yet for Myra Esperanza Mejia, who started working at 13, loss of her job would have left her family without shelter or food. Her biggest complaint is that young people under 15 get less pay than older women even though they work just as hard. PNS associate editor Mary Jo McConahay compiled the following essay from three lengthy conversations with Myra Esperanza Mejia, a 15-year-old seamstress in Guatelama City. PHOTOGRAPHS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH PNS.
A Frontier Town in the Strawberry Labor Wars
By David Bacon
Date: 04-15-97
Watsonville California, tucked into a corner of the California coast between Monterey and Santa Cruz, is usually an almost invisible town. But it is an important center of strawberry production, and on a recent Sunday, some 30,000 people found their way to the town to show support for the first major farmworker organizing drive in many years. PNS associate editor David Bacon writes on immigration and labor issues. The photographs are available from Pacific News Service.
Rosa's Story -- At Home in the World
By Ruben Martinez
Date: 04-04-97
Whether crossing borders in planes, in cars, or on foot, migrants are driven by dreams that already mark them as part of a global middle class. In the process, they are creating a borderless world where home is Portland, Michoacan. Ruben Martinez is an editor at Pacific News Service. Based in Mexico city, he is working on a "non-fiction novel" about the borderlands for Metropolitan/Holt Books.
Selena's Story -- "Pochos" Have Come of Age
By Gregory Rodriguez
Date: 03-21-97
When the Tejano star Selena died, nobody quite knew where to place her culturally. But her tremendous popularity on both sides of the border is a symbol of how hyphenated Mexican-Americans have gone from the margins to the mainstream. PNS associate editor Gregory Rodriguez is a contributing writer to Los Angeles Magazine and the Los Angeles Eastside Sun.
Whose Country is It? The Other Hostage In Lima is Peru's Middle Class
By Andres T. Tapia
Date: 03-13-97
Peru's hostage crisis comes just as Peru's middle class was beginning to realize their own version of the American dream for the first time in more than a generation. Talking to family and friends in Lima after three years in the U.S., PNS associate editor Andres T. Tapia hears of major changes, sees much that is unchanged, and finds that the seizure of the Japanese ambassadors' residence by Tupac Amaru members raises vital questions about who gains and who loses if Peru stays on its present course. Tapia, who was raised in Peru, covers religion for Christianity Today.
Mexico and the U.S. -- Well-Suited Neighbors
By Richard Rodriguez
Date: 02-27-97
For all America's moral grandstanding about Mexico's corruption, the two neighbors are perfectly matched. Mexicans blame America's drug appetite for corrupting Mexico; Americans are too busy pointing out Mexico's excesses to acknowledge their own role. Ironically, Americans are becoming as cynical as Mexicans when it comes to any idea of reform. PNS editor Richard Rodriguez, author of "Days of Obligation: An Argument with my Mexican Father" (Viking-Penguin), is a contributing editor of Harper's and the Los Angeles Sunday Times.
Weinberger Got it Half Right -- Mexico Sliding Towards Lawlessness But Not Towards War
By Andrew Reding
Date: 02-14-97
Former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger's warning that the U.S. should be prepared to invade Mexico sometime in the next decade is, at best, a self-serving argument. But his portrayal of Mexico's instability is more accurate than the rosy prognosis of reform coming from the White House. PNS associate editor Andrew Reding, a freelance writer specializing in Latin America, writes for Newsday, the Miami Herald and other publications.
Traumas in the Family -- Hidden Costs of Border Patrol Raids
By Samuel Orozco
Date: 02-13-97
For thousands of people without papers in the United States, the knock at the door is here. INS has launched its campaign to deport close to 100,000 undocumented people. Already, there are clear signs of social and psychological disruptions, especially among children. PNS correspondent Samuel Orozco is a Kaiser media fellow and news director of Radio Bilingue, a Spanish language radio station based in Fresno, CA. Radio Bilingue has maintained an open phone line for callers to report on their experiences since the 1995 immigration law was passed.
High Profile Post for Cisneros Not Necessarily Good News for Latino-Americans
By Gregory Rodriquez
Date: 01-31-97
Latino groups and news organizations have cheered the appointment of Henry Cisneros to the post of president and chief operating officer of Univision, the nation's largest Spanish-language television network. But inasmuch as it promotes the view of a Spanish-speaking "market," Cisneros' presence in the highly visible post may actually work against a better understanding of the Latino community. Associate PNS editor Gregory Rodriguez, a Los Angeles-based writer and author of a new study on middle-class Hispanics, writes widely on Latino affairs.
As Leaders Congratulate Themselves on Debt Repayment, Mexico's Middle Class Still Feels the Pinch
By Sam Quinones
Date: 01-17-97
With considerable fanfare, Mexico has repaid the controversial $20 billion bailout loan ahead of schedule. But while national leaders and corporate executives speak in optimistic tones, middle class Mexicans see only a continuing downturn. PNS associate editor Sam Quinones, is a Mexico City-based freelance writer.
Mayan Survival at Stake -- Rain Forest on Chopping Block in Belize
By Mary Jo McConahay
Date: 01-15-97
In its effort to earn foreign exchange to pay off a large national debt, tiny Belize is selling Asian lumber companies logging rights to one of Central America's last great rain forests. Mayan residents of Belize fear the end of their way of life but have so far raised little support for their protests from townspeople. PNS Central America editor Mary Jo McConahay has reported on environmental issues for Sierra, National Catholic Reporter, Choices, Mother Jones and other publications for over a decade. Photographs by McConahay are available on request.
La Visita Del Papa Es Patrocinada Por...
Por Jesús Martílinez
Date: 11-14-99
El Papa viene a México -- esta vez con un número de patrocinadores que causaría envidia a cualquier empresa comercial. Aunque la necesidad de apoyo financiero sea verdadera, el estilo y las implicaciones son inquietantes. El comentarista de PNS Jesús Martínez es un activista y experto en inmigración, y ex meimbro del Departamento de Ciencia Política en la Universidad de Santa Clara.
El Fracaso De La Guerra Contra La Droga Tiene RAíCes Profundas
By Jesus Martinez
Date: 02-18-99
Las declaraciones del fin inminente del tráfico de drogas no son reveladoras para los ciudadanos de México, y típicamente se reciben con escepticismo. La consideración de la historia reciente y la situación actual en Estados Unidos aclaran esta reacción. El comentarista de PNS Jesús Martínez es un investigador de inmigración y activista, y antiguo miembro del Departamento de Ciencia Política en la Universidad de Santa Clara.
Los Planificadores de Poblacion Mexicanos Hacen Malabares Para Alcanzar Se Objetivo
Por Mary Jo McConahay
Date: 01-26-99
En su cuarta visita a México en 20 años, el Papa Juan Pablo encontrará un país cuyos ciudadanos �independientemente del entusiasmo de la visita�se han alejado de las enseñanzas de la Iglesia en un área fundamental. El notable descenso en el índice de nacimientos refleja condiciones económicas, una población más urbana, una vigorosa campaña del Estado � y calladamente, en los lugares más remotos, quizás incluso a los representantes mismos de la Iglesia.
El Debate Sobre El Derecho Al Voto De Los Inmigrantes Mexicanos Se Ubica En El Centro
Jesús Martílinez
Date: 01-21-99
Gracias a una ley sancionada en 1996, los ciudadanos mexicanos viviendo en el extranjero tienen derecho a votar en las elecciones nacionales. Pero la puesta en vigor de la mencionada ley se ha estancado, y el mismísimo tema en cuestión se ha convertido en objeto de gran debate nacional --un debate que concierne de modo directo al futuro de la democracia en México. El comentarista de PNS Jesús Martínez es inmigrante, investigador y activista, y fue miembro del Departamento de Ciencias Políticas en Santa Clara University.
Para Los Pobres, El Movimiento Es La Unica Respuesta Ante Los Desastres Naturales
By Richard Rodriguez
Date: 11-19-98
La naturaleza misma se ha convertido en el personaje más importante de Latinoamérica: huracán, terremoto o inundación van más allá del poder del gobierno, y parece que les fuera posible hacer tambalear regímenes que de otro modo serían permanentes. Para los pobres, la única respuesta posible frente a los desastres naturales es moverse �y el movimiento se ha convertido en la fuerza revolucionaria de hoy. El editor asociado de PNS Richard Rodriguez es autor del libro Días de Obligación y escribe de forma regular para Los Angeles Times.
El Desastre en América Central Llega En El Peor Momento Posible
Por Mary Jo McConahay
Date: 11-12-98
Los efectos devastadores del huracán Mitch en Honduras y Nicaragua, aunque son terribles, deben ser considerados dentro del contexto de la región. Históricamente, los desastres naturales han favorecido a los grupos políticos opositores. Ahora que estos países se han convertido en democracias pacíficas, es importante observar cómo responden a la crisis. Mary Jo McConahay, editor de Centroamérica para PNS, ha reportado desde la región, por más que una década, para el National Catholic Reporter, Choices, Mother Jones y otros medios.
Romance Y Románticos, Revolución Y Realidad
By Richard Rodriguez
Date: 10-29-98
América Latina puede estar cerca, pero estamos lejos de saber mucho de ella. El arresto reciente del antiguo dictador de Chile Augusto Pinochet nos recuerda la persistente añoranza de la región por un �hombre fuerte�, y sugiere cambios que pueden, finalmente, traer un giro hacia gobiernos democráticos. El editor de PNS Richard Rodriguez es autor de �Días de Obligación� y del próximo libro �El Color Marrón�. Rodríguez es ensayista habitual del programa �News Hour with Jim Lehrer� y de �Los Angeles Sunday Times�.
Esta Vez Pinochet Es El Prisionero -- Sin Embargo, Tadavía Existe Interventión Extranjera
By Alfonso Serrano F.
Date: 10-23-98
Otra vez fuerzas extranjeras han intervenido en asuntos chilenos. Esta vez, la víctima es Augusto Pinochet. Pero hasta cierto punto, Pinochet es víctima de su propio aislamiento, que fue alimentado durante los 17 años de dictadura. Alfonso Serrano F., editor asociado de PNS, es un periodista chileno que reside en San Francisco.
Para Los Zapatistas Autonmoía Significa Consilidar El Control de Los Indígenas
Por Mary Jo McConahay
Date: 08-04-98
Para quienes viven y trabajan en el pueblo "autónomo" de Polho, en una región considerada de apoyo a los zapatistas, cuestiones tales como quién gobierna y cómo no son para nada abstractas. Si bien han sido acusados de querer separarse de la nación, su verdadero interés es en realidad conseguir igualar su condición dentro de su propio país. Segunda parte. La editora de PNS América Central, Jo McConahay, ha escrito desde América Latina para las publicaciones National Catholic Reporter, Choices, Mother Jones y otras por más de una década. Esta es la segunda parte de un artículo en dos entregas.
A Lucha de Los Zapatistas Por Mantener Una Vida Normal
Por Mary Jo McConahay
Date: 08-04-98
Los estados del sur de México están concentrando la atención internacional una vez más, en vísperas de la visita del secretario general de las Naciones Unidas Kofi Annan y una propuesta de conversaciones del misterioso comandante Marcos. Pero la esencia de la "rebelión" Zapatista está lejos de los comunicados y la escena mundial: está en la árida misión de sobrevivir día a día. La editora de PNS América Central, Mary Jo McConahay, ha escrito desde América Latina para las publicaciones National Catholic Reporter, Choices, Mother Jones y otras por más de una década. Este artículo es el primero de dos entregas.
Muerte En La Catedral: El Proceso De Paz De Guatemala Sufre En Gran Paso Hacia Atrás
Por Mary Jo McConahay
Date: 04-30-98
En 1980, el asesinato del arzobispo Oscar Romero marcó un nuevo nivel de incivilidad en la larga guerra civil de El Salvador. Ahora, en Guatemala, el brutal asesinato del obispo Juan Gerardi hace resonar campanas similares y crea serias dudas acerca de la durabilidad del nuevo proceso de paz de ese país. Mary Jo McConahay, editora de PNS para América Central, ha realizado reportajes desde Latinoamérica para National Catholic Reporter, Choices, Mother Jones y otras publicaciones por más de una década.
El Papa Y Fidel Castrom Paraja Dispar-- Apreciaciones de un Católico Estadounidense
By Richard Rodriguez
Date: 01-12-98
La próxima visita del Papa a Cuba y su encuentro con Fidel Castro se ha descrito como una suerte de duelo ideológico: el creyente vs. el ateo, el católico vs. el comunista, el Viejo Mundo vs. el Nuevo. Sin embargo, la verdad de las cosas es mucho más compleja, en la opinión y desde las circunstancias particulares de Richard Rodríguez, editor de Pacific News Service. Rodríguez, autor de "Days of Obligation" (Viking), es ensayista de la PBS para "The News Hour with Jim Lehrer."

Click here for older Americas articles.
(November, 1995 through December, 1996)

Pacific News Service, 660 Market Street, Room 210, San Francisco, CA 94104, tel: (415) 438-4755.
Jinn Magazine: <http://www.pacificnews.org/jinn/>
Email: <pacificnews@pacificnews.org>

Copyright © 2000 Pacific News Service. All Rights Reserved.
Please do not reprint our stories without our permission.
Our articles are available for reprint. For rates and information, call (415) 438-4755 or e-mail <pacificnews@pacificnews.org>