Latin Pulse

Latin Pulse: 5.25.2012

LatinPulse@gmx.com (Rick Rockwell) — Fri, 25 May 2012 20:15:27 PDT

This week's edition of Latin Pulse comes remotely from the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) Congress in San Francisco. The program focuses on the issue of free speech at the academic conference revolving around controversial visa decisions from the U.S. State Department, denying visas to some Cuban scholars but allowing Mariela Castro, the daughter of Cuba's president, to speak. The program also features an in-depth interview with the writers of an important book on Central American street gangs. The news segment of the program includes the results of the elections in the Dominican Republic.

In-Depth Interviews:
Sheryl Lutjens of California State University at San Marcos,
Tom Bruneau & Sonja Wolf, contributors to
Maras: Gang Violence and Security in Central America.

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Vanessa Haces Gonzatti
Writer: Lydia Beyoud

(To download or stream this podcast, click here.)

(The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)

podcast
news
Latin America
national security
Raul Castro
Mariela Castro
Cuba
United States
United States State Department
Barack Obama
Dominican Republic
Danilo Medina
elections
politics
free speech
gangs
violence
Central America
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras

Latin Pulse: 5.18.2012

LatinPulse@gmx.com (Rick Rockwell) — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:22:22 PDT

Two recent studies on migration, the U.S.-Mexico border, and remittances take center stage on this week's edition of Latin Pulse. The program discusses the decline of migration but the counter-intuitive finding that remittances are increasing. The program also deals with how migration and immigration policy are affected by the drug war. The program also covers the landmark legislation passed this week for gay rights and gender identification in Argentina.

In-Depth Interviews:
Maureen Meyer of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) and
Manuel Orozco of the Inter-American Dialogue.

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Lydia Beyoud

(To download or stream this podcast, click here.)

(The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)

podcast
news
Latin America
Mexico
national security
immigration
migration
remittances
economics
gay rights
Central America
transgender rights
Argentina
economic crisis
drug war United States

Latin Pulse: 5.11.2012

LatinPulse@gmx.com (Rick Rockwell) — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:53:37 PDT

Changes in leftist politics in Latin America related to health and death are the central themes in this week's edition of Latin Pulse. The program provides an update on the status of the Sandinista party (the FSLN) in Nicaragua after the death of Tomas Borge. And with the failing health of President Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, what is in store for that country during this crucial election year? The program also deals with political fallout from the resurgence of the Shining Path guerrillas in Peru.

In-Depth Interviews:
Manuel Orozco of the Inter-American Dialogue, and
Michael McCarthy of Johns Hopkins University.

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Lydia Beyoud

(To download or stream this podcast, click here.)

(The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)

podcast
news
Latin America
Peru
Shining Path
politics
Nicaragua
Sandinistas
FSLN
Tomas Borge
Daniel Ortega
Rosario Murillo
Venezuela
Hugo Chavez
Henrique Capriles Radonski
elections
democracy

Latin Pulse: 5.04.2012

LatinPulse@gmx.com (Rick Rockwell) — Fri, 04 May 2012 12:41:33 PDT

Religion and politics, the topics we're told not to bring up in polite company take center stage this week on Latin Pulse, with the focus again returning to Cuba. The Cuban government's response to the visit of Pope Benedict XVI continues to resonate across the island in the human rights community and beyond. The program also includes news of the death of Sandinista leader Tomas Borge in Nicaragua.

In-Depth Interviews:
Tom Quigley formerly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and
Rev. Joe Eldridge of American University.

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Lydia Beyoud

(To download or stream this podcast, click here.)

(The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)

podcast
news
Latin America
Cuba
Raul Castro
human rights
dissident movements
civil society
politics
religion
Catholicism
Pope Benedict XVI
Fidel Castro
United States
Alan Gross
Tomas Borge
Sandinistas
Daniel Ortega
Nicaragua

Latin Pulse: 4.27.2012

LatinPulse@gmx.com (Rick Rockwell) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:46:47 PDT

This week, Latin Pulse takes a look at two very different dissident movements. First, a concentration on the crackdown against anti-Castro groups in Cuba after the visit of Pope Benedict XVI. Then the program shifts farther south to look at the Chilean student movement and why those students are setting an example for groups around the globe. The program also includes the latest on the Secret Service sex scandal which may have spread from Colombia to include El Salvador.

In-Depth Interviews:
Orlando Gutierrez-Boronat of the Directorio Democrático Cubano, and
Lisa Llanos of the Center for Democracy in the Americas.

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Vanessa Haces Gonzatti

(To download or stream this podcast, click here.)

(The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)

podcast
news
Latin America
Colombia
United States
Secret Service
prostitution
scandal
Summit of the Americas
El Salvador
Cuba
Raul Castro
human rights
dissident movements
civil society
education
protest movements
Pope Benedict XVI
Chile
Sebastian Pinera
Camila Vallejo
Augusto Pinochet

Latin Pulse: 4.20.2012

LatinPulse@gmx.com (Rick Rockwell) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:17:06 PDT

Beyond the latest on the U.S. Secret Service's Colombian scandal, Latin Pulse looks at corruption and human rights concerns in Brazil, this week. The program also discusses the new book The North American Idea, and what it says about U.S.-Mexico relations, NAFTA and other concerns.

In-Depth Interviews:
Matt Taylor of American University, and
Robert Pastor of American University.

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Vanessa Haces Gonzatti

(To download or stream this podcast, click here.)

(The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)

podcast
news
Latin America
Colombia
Drug War
economics
Brazil
Dilma Rousseff
Cuba
human rights
corruption
diplomacy
Mexico
violence
guns
Falkland Islands
United States
Secret Service
Argentina
NAFTA
trade
prostitution
scandal
Juan Manuel Santos
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner
Summit of the Americas

Latin Pulse: 4.13.2012

LatinPulse@gmx.com (Rick Rockwell) — Fri, 18 May 2012 10:14:12 PDT

This week, Latin Pulse provides a special focus on this weekend's Summit of the Americas. This is the first such summit in three years, and two of the biggest issues revolve around decriminalizing drugs and bringing Cuba back into the hemisphere's wider diplomatic community. The program discusses these issues, Brazil's rising economic and diplomatic power regarding the summit and this week's meeting between President Barack Obama and Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff, among other matters relating to the summit. Beyond discussing whether the summit will reveal more about the contentious relationship between the U.S. and Venezuela, the program includes news about a sensational kidnapping in Caracas this week.

In-Depth Interviews:
Robert Pastor of American University, and
Peter Hakim of the Inter-American Dialogue.

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Vanessa Haces Gonzatti

(To download or stream this podcast, click here.)(The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)

podcast
news
Latin America
Colombia
Drug War
drug decriminalization
economics
Brazil
Dilma Rousseff
Barack Obama
United States
Hugo Chavez
Costa Rica
Venezuela
Cuba
diplomacy
summit
violence
CELAC
crime
Summit of the Americas

Latin Pulse: 4.06.2012

LatinPulse@gmx.com (Rick Rockwell) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 13:07:41 PDT

Various Latin American presidents have floated the idea in recent months of decriminalizing drugs as a strategy in the Drug War. What are the prospects for such a plan? Will this topic make it on the agenda at the upcoming Summit of the Americas? The program also looks at the economic power of Brazil in advance of the summit between U.S. President Barack Obama and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff. The news segment of the program deals with the latest release of kidnap victims by Colombia's Revolutionary Armed Forces (the FARC by its Spanish-acronym).

In-Depth Interviews:
Peter Hakim of the Inter-American Dialogue, and
Matt Taylor of American University.

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Vanessa Haces Gonzatti

(To download or stream this podcast, click here.)

(The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)

podcast
news
Latin America
Mexico
Colombia
Juan Manuel Santos
FARC
drug war
Guatemala
Drug Decriminalization
Felipe Calderon
economics
Brazil
Dilma Rousseff
Barack Obama
Otto Perez Molina

Latin Pulse: 3.30.2012

LatinPulse@gmx.com (Rick Rockwell) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 14:22:13 PDT

After the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Latin America, Latin Pulse devotes most of this program to examining the aftermath of his trip. The program includes a review of the pope's various preachings in relation to the politics and societal progress of the region. The discussion included specific discussion of the Catholic Church's role in a time of crisis in Mexico during the Drug War, a debate over the pope's critique of Cuban political and economic policy, and the controversy surrounding how the pope dealt with Cuban dissidents.

In-Depth Interviews:
Richard Coll of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and
Geoff Thale of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA).

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Vanessa Haces Gonzatti

(To download or stream this podcast, click here.)

(The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)

podcast
news
Latin America
Mexico
Cuba
Pope Benedict XVI
Catholicism
human rights
PAN
Raul Castro
drug war
economics
politics
civil society
corruption

Latin Pulse: 3.23.2012

LatinPulse@gmx.com (Rick Rockwell) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:27:05 PDT

Latin Pulse gives a special focus this week to the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Latin America. The program covers the content and plans of the pope for visits to Mexico and Cuba. The program also features discussion of the economic situation in Central America, covering new dynamism for diversification of the economy. The news segment of the program provides a reaction to progress in the presidential election campaign in Mexico.

In-Depth Interviews:
Tom Quigley formerly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and
Dr. Benedicte Bull of the University of Oslo.

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Vanessa Haces Gonzatti

(To download or stream this podcast, click here.)

(The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)

podcast
news
Latin America
Mexico
Central America
El Salvador
Cuba
Pope Benedict XVI
Catholicism
Honduras
human rights
PAN
PRI
Enrique Pena Nieto
Josefina Vazquez Mota
Raul Castro
drug war
economics
politics
economic crisis

Latin Pulse: 3.16.2012

LatinPulse@gmx.com (Rick Rockwell) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 12:58:39 PDT

This week, Latin Pulse provides a special focus on the issue of immigration. Some of the interviews in this week's program were gathered remotely during our recent trip to Guatemala. So the program includes points of view about immigration from Central America, Mexico and the United States. Issues include the impact of immigration on the environment and rural resources, and also how deportation affects communities in both the United States and Guatemala. The news segment of the program covers the continuing controversy over illegal mining in Peru.

In-Depth Interviews:
Susan Kandel of PRISMA & Mario Bronfman of the Ford Foundation - Mexico City, and
Elizabeth Oglesby of the University of Arizona.

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Lydia Beyoud

(To download or stream this podcast, click here.)

(The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)

podcast
news
Latin America
Guatemala
El Salvador
Mexico
Central America
United States
Peru
immigration
environment
environmentalism
deportations
remittances
mining
extractive commodities
Nadine Heredia

Latin Pulse: 3.09.2012

LatinPulse@gmx.com (Rick Rockwell) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:40:07 PST

This week, Latin Pulse has a special focus on Venezuela. With Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez still in Cuba receiving cancer treatments during an election year, questions have been raised about what that means not only for his country's politics but also politics throughout the hemisphere. The program includes in-depth discussion of Venezuela's electoral system, media, and issues related to free speech, along with what Venezuela's issues mean for the presidential race in the United States. The news segment of the program includes a short interview with the first lady of El Salvador regarding equality for women.

In-Depth Interviews:
Jennifer McCoy of The Carter Center and
Alex Main of the Center for Economic and Policy Research.

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Vanessa Haces Gonzatti

(To download or stream this podcast, click here.)

(The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)

podcast
news
Latin America
Venezuela
Hugo Chavez
media
free speech
Henrique Capriles Radonski
politics
elections
Barack Obama
United States
El Salvador
Vanda Pignato
gender equality

Latin Pulse: 3.02.2012

LatinPulse@gmx.com (Rick Rockwell) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:56:00 PST

Latin Pulse has a variety of topics this week, with a return to Mexico and Central America. The program includes a preview of the presidential race in Mexico, including an analysis of the three major candidates. Another in-depth segment includes discussion of the impact of the Drug War on Central America with some focus on both Guatemala and Honduras. The weekly news review has the latest on President Rafael Correa of Ecuador's anti-media campaign.

In-Depth Interviews:
Manuel Suarez-Mier of American University and
Steven Dudley of InsightCrime.org.

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Vanessa Haces Gonzatti

(To download or stream this podcast, click here.)

(The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)

podcast
news
Latin America
Ecuador
Rafael Correa
media
free speech
Mexico
politics
elections
Enrique Pena Nieto
PRI
Josefina Vazquez Mota
PAN
Manuel Lopez Obrador
PRD
drug war
Guatemala
Alfonso Portillo
Honduras
Central America

Latin Pulse: 2.24.2012

LatinPulse@gmx.com (Rick Rockwell) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:25:14 PST

This week, Latin Pulse returns to culture and music in Latin America and the connections to social movements. This is the third in a series of programs looking at these cultural connections. This program looks closely at the roots of protest music originating in Argentina, Panama, and Brazil. The hosts of NPR's Alt.Latino podcast are back, sharing their expertise to discuss the music of Mercedes Sosa, Ruben Blades, and Chico Buarque. The news segment of the program includes a report on the Organization of American States' request for a hearing in the dispute between Ecuador's President Rafael Correa and his country's media.

In-Depth Interviews:
Felix Contreras of Alt.Latino and
Jasmine Garsd of Alt.Latino.

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Vanessa Haces Gonzatti

(To download or stream this podcast, click here.)

(To download a playlist of songs included in this podcast, please click here.)

(The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)

podcast
news
Latin America
Ecuador
Rafael Correa
OAS
media
free speech
protest music
culture
salsa
Argentina
Panama
Brazil
Mercedes Sosa
Ruben Blades
Chico Buarque
music

Latin Pulse: 2.17.2012

LatinPulse@gmx.com (Rick Rockwell) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:35:12 PST

Latin Pulse goes to Central America this week, with a program recorded remotely in Guatemala. This week's program includes reaction to the tragedy at Honduras' Comayagua prison camp and reflects on criticism of Honduras' government. The program also discusses a surprising tax reform measure in Guatemala and why it passed. The news segment looks back at the primary victory of Henrique Capriles Radonski as the new leader of the Venezuelan opposition.

In-Depth Interviews:
Hugo Noe Pino of ICEFI and
Ricardo Barrientos of ICEFI.

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Vanessa Haces Gonzatti

(To download or stream this podcast, click here.)

(The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)

podcast
news
Latin America
Venezuela
elections
Hugo Chavez
Henrique Capriles Radonski
Honduras
prison fire
tragedy
justice
poverty
economics
politics
coup
Guatemala
tax reform
Otto Perez Molina

Latin Pulse: 2.10.2012

LatinPulse@gmx.com (Rick Rockwell) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:18:36 PST

With primary elections for the opposition in Venezuela this weekend, Latin Pulse focuses on the political situation in that South American country. This special program features a complete analysis of all of the opposition candidates and a review of their potential in this fall's election against President Hugo Chavez.

In-Depth Interviews:
Kevin Casas-Zamora of the Brookings Institution and
Alex Main of the Center for Economic and Policy Research.

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Vanessa Haces Gonzatti

(To download or stream this podcast, click here.)

(The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)

podcast
news
Latin America
Venezuela
elections
democracy
Hugo Chavez
Henrique Capriles Radonski
Leopoldo Lopez

Latin Pulse: 2.03.2012

LatinPulse@gmx.com (Rick Rockwell) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:41:48 PST

Indigenous issues across Latin America are the primary focus this week on Latin Pulse. The program features an in-depth interview about the proposed displacement of indigenous groups in the Amazon due to Brazil’s Belo Monte dam project. The program also discusses indigenous politics and indigenous rights with a focus on Bolivia. The news segment of the program reveals Iran’s plan for a new Spanish-language television network.

In-Depth Interviews:
Eve Bratman of American University; and
Rob Albro of American University.

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Vanessa Haces Gonzatti

(To download or stream this podcast, click here.)

(The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)

podcast
news
Latin America
Bolivia
Iran
Brazil
media
The Amazon
Belo Monte Dam
environment
indigenous rights
indigenous politics
Hispan TV
Evo Morales
Dilma Rousseff
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Latin Pulse: 1.27.2012

LatinPulse@gmx.com (Rick Rockwell) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:54:13 PST

This week, the controversial case of Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Leopoldo Lopez took an interesting turn as he dropped from the race to throw his support to rival Henrique Capriles Radonski. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights had ruled that Lopez should be allowed to run for office and have his rights restored after a move by the Venezuelan government to suspend him due to unproven charges of corruption. After the court ruling, the Venezuelan government announced Lopez would be allowed on the ballot but if he won uncertainties remained if he would be allowed to take office. These questions may yet re-emerge if Lopez becomes Capriles' running mate. This week's Latin Pulse focuses on this complex case and other controversies between Venezuela, Ecuador and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The program also features an in-depth interview about the issue of extractive commodities in the Amazon rainforest.

In-Depth Interviews:
Claudio Grossman of the Washington College of Law at American University; and
Eve Bratman of American University.

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Vanessa Haces Gonzatti

(To download or stream this podcast, click here.)

(The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)

podcast
news
Latin America
Venezuela
Ecuador
Brazil
Peru
Leopoldo Lopez
Henrique Capriles Radonski
human rights
politics
elections
democracy
Inter-American Court of Human Rights
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Organization of American States
OAS
Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression
free speech
The Amazon
extractive commodities
slave labor
environment

Latin Pulse: 1.20.2012

LatinPulse@gmx.com (Rick Rockwell) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:25:10 PST

The recent trip of Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Latin America is this week's focus on Latin Pulse. But the program also includes an in-depth interview about the drug war in Colombia. Also, there's news coverage of the inauguration of Otto Perez Molina as Guatemala's new president.

In-Depth Interviews:
Cynthia Arnson of the Woodrow Wilson Center; and
Steven Dudley of InsightCrime.org.

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Vanessa Haces Gonzatti

(To download or stream this podcast, click here.)

(The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)

podcast
news
Latin America
Iran
Venezuela
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Otto Perez Molina
Guatemala
Cuba
Nicaragua
Ecuador
Brazil
Argentina
politics
diplomacy
Colombia
drug war
FARC

Latin Pulse: 1.13.2012

LatinPulse@gmx.com (Rick Rockwell) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:05:20 PST

With the planned inauguration this weekend of former general Otto Perez Molina as the new president of Guatemala, concern turns to the indigenous communities of that country, once targets of genocide at the hands of Guatemala's military. This edition of Latin Pulse takes a special look at indigenous issues throughout the hemisphere, with a focus not only on Guatemala, but also Bolivia, and review of the administration of Alejandro Toledo in Peru. The news segment of the program includes a report about the tour of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad through Latin America and Iran's links to Venezuela.

In-Depth Interviews:
Kelsey Alford-Jones of the Guatemala Human Rights Commission; and
Rob Albro of American University.

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Lydia Beyoud

(To download or stream this podcast, click here.)

(The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)

podcast
news
Latin America
Iran
Venezuela
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Hugo Chavez
indigenous rights
indigenous politics
Otto Perez Molina
Guatemala
Peru
Alejandro Toledo
Bolivia
Evo Morales

Latin Pulse: 1.05.2012

LatinPulse@gmx.com (Rick Rockwell) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:07:45 PST

The first program of the new year examines how Mexico and other Latin American countries may provide a financial buffer in the global financial crisis. Can Mexico, Brazil, Peru and other countries come to the aid of Europe? This edition of Latin Pulse, also looks at the new multinational diplomatic organization the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC, by its Spanish acronym) and what that means for the Organization of American States (OAS). The program's news segment deals with the legal finding in Ecuador against Chevron for polluting the Amazon.

In-Depth Interviews:
Manuel Suarez-Mier of American University; and
Anthony Quainton of American University .

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Lydia Beyoud

(To download or stream this podcast, click here.)

(The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)

podcast
news
Latin America
Ecuador
Chevron
The Amazon
oil
pollution
environment
Mexico
Brazil
Peru
economics
economic crisis
CELAC
Hugo Chavez
Organization of American States
OAS
imperialism
diplomacy

Latin Pulse: 12.22.2011

LatinPulse@gmx.com (Rick Rockwell) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 09:35:18 PST

For the holiday season, Latin Pulse revisits music and culture in Latin America. This program is a sequel of sorts to last month's music special that focused on music and social movements. This program again has a focus on Afro-Cuban culture and Cuban rap. But this special also talks about rap as protest music in Puerto Rico and Mexico. The program includes frank discussion about the delicate subject of race relations in Cuba. The news segment of the program includes the latest on heated political exchanges between the U.S. and Venezuela.

*Warning: The music in this program includes lyrics in English and Spanish that contain graphic language and terms that some may find offensive. Parental guidance is recommended.

In-Depth Interviews:
Katrin Hansing of City University of New York (CUNY); and
Felix Contreras & Jasmine Garsd of NPR's Alt.Latino.

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Lydia Beyoud

(To download or stream this podcast, click here.)

(To download a playlist of songs included in this podcast, please click here.)

Program Advisory: Latin Pulse will return on Jan. 6, 2012.

(The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)

podcast
news
Latin America
music
culture
Afro-Latin American culture
Afro-Cuban music
Cuban rap
Latin American rap
Latin American protest music
Cuba
Mexico
Venezuela
Puerto Rico
Hugo Chavez
Barack Obama
racism
politics
Puerto Rican independence
Drug War
Calle 13

Latin Pulse: 12.16.2011

LatinPulse@gmx.com (Rick Rockwell) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:59:38 PST

This week, the focus on Latin Pulse is the political change in Guatemala and what that means for human rights, society, and the economy in the Central American country. The program covers the state of various legal cases that date from Guatemala's civil war. Also, the news segment of the program covers the cabinet shake-up in Peru's government.

In-Depth Interviews:
Kelsey Alford-Jones of the Guatemala Human Rights Commission; and
Ricardo Barrientos of ICEFI.

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Vanessa Haces-Gonzatti

(To download or stream this podcast, click here.)

(The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)

podcast
news
Latin America
Guatemala
Otto Perez Molina
human rights
genocide
economics
justice
militarization
Patriotic Party
Peru
Ollanta Humala
politics

Latin Pulse: 12.09.2011

LatinPulse@gmx.com (Rick Rockwell) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 10:27:50 PST

Immigration is this week’s central topic on Latin Pulse, with in-depth interviews on the notable drop in the numbers of undocumented immigrants, reaching the lowest numbers in more than a generation. The program looks at how economics in Mexico, the U.S. and the global crisis have affected immigration. The program also looks at the linkages between immigration, economic remittances, politics and U.S. policy in Latin America. And the program includes background on the new hemispheric organization known as CELAC.

In-Depth Interviews:
Manuel Suarez-Mier of American University; and
Manuel Orozco of the Inter-American Dialogue.

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Vanessa Haces-Gonzatti

(To download or stream this podcast, click here.)

(The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)

podcast
news
Latin America
economics
immigration
El Salvador
Mexico
Raul Castro
remittances
CELAC
politics
deportation

Latin Pulse: 12.02.2011

LatinPulse@gmx.com (Rick Rockwell) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:40:16 PST

Cuban economic reforms are the centerpiece of this week’s Latin Pulse, with news and analysis on that topic that keeps evolving. The latest changes dealing with farms and tourism spark a discussion that delves into changes with small businesses, real estate, and even auto sales on the island. The program also includes an in-depth interview about politics, corruption and free speech in El Salvador and news items related to next year’s elections in Venezuela.

In-Depth Interviews:
Phil Brenner of American University; and
Jimena Aguilar of El Faro.

Executive Producer: Rick Rockwell
Associate Producer: Vanessa Haces-Gonzatti

(To download or stream this podcast, click here.)

(The program is 30 minutes in length and the file size is 28 MB.)

podcast
news
Latin America
economics
agriculture
El Salvador
Cuba
Raul Castro
elections
Venezuela
tourism
corruption
free speech
politics
crime