Council on Hemispheric Affairs

COHA Aide-mémoire: The Falklands/Malvinas Conflict

On Thursday February 9, 2012, COHA will be issuing an aide-mémoire that examines the intensifying hostility between two ancient friends, the United Kingdom and Argentina. The current sparring partners appear to be replaying the trails of the British-Argentine military engagement of 1982, which occurred at the beginning of the Reagan administration (a close ally of Prime Minister Thatcher’s administration). The COHA aide-mémoire is being compiled by COHA Director Larry Birns and Research Associate Alex Gibson. During the 1982 Falklands War, Birns was one of the most frequently heard commentators and analysts on the South Atlantic conflict. At the time of the Falklands/Malvinas dispute, Birns’ was frequently called upon by the media because of his long-time relationship with the then commander of the Argentina navy and because of his expertise on sovereignty issues regarding the Falklands. He was a regular on the BBC, CNN, Reuters, and scores of other national and international media outlets. Alex Gibson, the co-author of the memorandum, is a young journalist who has lived in Argentina for several years and recently completed a Fulbright Fellowship examining the roots of the Falklands War and the domestic traumas that led up to it.

Re: “Food Crisis as Drought and Cold Hit Mexico” by Karla Zabludovsky

In the article, Karla Zabludovsky discusses the harsh conditions in Mexico during its recent drought crisis, adverse crop-devastating weather patterns and how the indigenous and rural communities have been absorbing such blows. The indigenous communities that are located predominantly in the north are among the poorest in Mexico and those living there rely almost exclusively on subsistence farming. The land that they have is depleted and showing incredible signs of immense strain; it is estimated only seven percent of the land available for crop production is arable. This situation is expected only to get worse with the Mexican authorities already acknowledging that it will take at least five months to properly aid the most severely affected regions, when the rainy season begins and naturally ameliorate drought-related strains. Although the Mexican government has pledged over two billion dollars for temporary relief, five months without aggressive action could do irrevocable damage to crop supply. This would compound already existing problems involving crippling poverty and a deteriorating agribusiness sector. Not only is the land threatened but access to clean water also has been compromised. Without well thought out action and measured implementation of programs geared to alleviate desertification and to prevent the continual [...]

Rousseff Strengthens Caribbean Ties

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s recent visit to Havana could easily have been a tense one. On Thursday, January 19th, jailed Cuban dissident Wilman Villar died in a prison hospital under murky circumstances, while Brazil recently granted a visa to well-known online journalist and longtime Castro critic Yoani Sanchez to leave her native Cuba and attend a documentary film premier in Brasília. Rousseff avoided publicly criticizing the Castro administration when pressed by reporters on what the Cuban opposition calls human rights abuses, instead referencing the human rights record of the United States in regard to the Guantanamo Bay military prison. However, she seemed perfectly happy to discuss Cuba and Brazil’s burgeoning economic partnership, which has grown significantly in recent years. The renovation and expansion of Mariel, a key port near Havana, represents the latest manifestation of the aforementioned partnership between the two countries. Brazil has provided USD 683 million in loans to the Cuban government for the project, which is spearheaded by Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht. Brazilian officials have also signed a 10-year agreement to help modernize Cuban sugar company Azcuba’s sugar mills in Cienfuegos. Brazil has given Cuba another USD 400 million in credits to buy Brazilian agricultural projects and [...]

Brazil Must Find its Voice Against Violence

Amidst the clamor of international outrage in the wake of the failed United Nations Security Council vote for regime change in Syria, Brazil has remained conspicuously silent. While the United States closed its embassy in Damascus, and while the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, called the vote “a great disappointment,” the dominant economic and political force in Latin America was not inclined to take action. Aspirations for a permanent spot on the UN Security Council are keeping Brazil from taking a bold and assertive stance on human rights and democracy in the Middle East. Commercial concerns with China and Iran, both key trading allies with Brazil who oppose intervention in Syria, are of course also on the minds of the Brazilian leadership. But if the country wants to become a major international player, it must take a broader and more generous view when it comes to the Arab Spring. In short, Brazil needs to denounce President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, and to join the international call for its immediate removal. Although Brazil has held only a temporary position on the UN Security council, with its most recent rotation ending in 2011, it is vying for a permanent seat, and playing the [...]

“Ethically Impossible”

A Panel Discussion on Non-Consensual Medical Research in Guatemala, Africa, and the United States Thursday, February 9th 5 – 7 PM Hotung 2001 Refreshments will be served. Georgetown Law’s Committee on Human Rights in Latin America will host a panel discussion on non-consensual medical research conducted across the globe by U.S. physicians and companies. Our five panelists will focus on cases in Guatemala, Africa, and the United States. Join us as we investigate how such deplorable events occurred, how these atrocities can be remedied, and how to prevent them from occurring again. Speakers: Piper Hendricks Associate, Human Rights and International Law, Conrad & Scherer Keenan Keller Senior Counsel, U.S. House Judiciary Committee House of Representatives Dr. David Gisselquist AIDS/HIV Researcher and Consultant Dr. Cassie Statuto Bevan Child Welfare Policy Expert & Lecturer, University of Pennsylvania Dr. Alex Wellerstein Associate Historian, American Institute of Physics