9:07 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · MBAPBSAllAmericaDem · Comments Off
28 Jun 2007I’m currently in the Blackburn Center at Howard Univeristy lie blogging the PBS All American Forum (after some tech problems). I’ve already mentioned that the debate is based on the Covenant with Black America which makes me think that while this debate is being framed as a forum for people of color, color is being looked at through the strictly black/white lens. Latinos need a national plan of action too especially if we are to become that swing vote that people have been saying we are.
The first question asked was if race was still the #1 factor today, especially in light of today’s Supreme Court decision which basically elimates race as a factor in terms of educational considerations for grades k-12. So far Hilary and Biden have given answers that everyone wants to hear but I wish that Bill Richardon would have conquered the issue of the black/white paradigm. And you know you have a problem when John Edwards can’t even say slavery.
As expected, the event is an Obama lovefest (someone please play that reggaeton song). I’m pleased that Obama did go beyond the black/white issue of race by at least mentionaing Latinos (although you have to wonder if he said that because Bill Richardson shouted himself out as the first Latino running for president.
5:05 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Celebrities| Chismes| GLBT| children| mexico · Comments Off
28 Jun 2007
Christian Chávez, the recently-outed member of bubble gum pop group RBD says he’s so in love with his husband — whom he wed in a ceremony in Canada — that he’s already thinking about having kids. Christian told People en español:
“When I’m 30 that feeling of wanting to be a dad is going to start…I would like to adopt because I think there are so many children that need love. Instead of creating one, we’re going to get a baby to whom we can give all our love and an opportunity.”
And if Mexico continues on the liberal track it’s on, he might just be able to do that in his home country one day soon.
Via / El Universal
2:19 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Immigration| MBAPBSAllAmericaDem| Washington DC · 1 Comment
28 Jun 2007
I was on my way to Washington DC to cover the PBS All-American Presidential Forum (Democratic version), just as “comprehensive immigration reform” died, again. Not that I’m surprised, my coverage of the issue has been a series of “told you so’s” because as I heard a commentator on FOX News say today (on the in-flight Direct TV it was Fox or Dora – both are screamy and annoying), the Republicans and their base have shown their power. Well obviously overwhelmingly white men who vote are going to have more agency than however many thousands of overwhelmingly Latino immigrants who cannot vote and hit the streets peacefully. I’m curious to see if and how the immigration issue is brought up tonight given the fact that the forum tonight is based off the Contract With Black America that mentions immigration and its relationship with the larger black community, um nowhere.
12:46 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Colombia| Latin America| Politics| society · Comments Off
28 Jun 2007
The Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) announced today that the 11 politicians that they had been holding hostage for 5 years have been killed.
The Web site of the left-wing news agency ANNCOL carried a statement purportedly from the western command of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. It said 11 of the 12 ex-provincial deputies being held were killed in the crossfire after an “unidentified military group” attacked the rebel camp June 18.
Last month Maegan wondered whether the FARC might be releasing prisoners, among the most prominent former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt. Even though the report of the 11 deaths has not been officially confirmed, the pressure is once again on President Alvaro Uribe to find a solution to this problem vis a vis an agreement with FARC or military intervention.
The website announcing the death confirmation published a statement of condolences allegedly from the FARC that said: “To the families of the dead deputies, we offer our deepest condolences. We will do all in our power to help them recover the remains as soon as possible.”
Via / Chron.com
8:17 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Blogs| Events| MBAPBSAllAmericaDem| VivirLatino| Washington DC · Comments Off
27 Jun 2007The Media Bloggers Association is running a feed of all the credentialed bloggers that will be covering tomorrow night’s Democratic presidential forum. You can read not just my commentary, but that of other bloggers as well.
8:14 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Peru| Politics| World · Comments Off
27 Jun 2007
Last week we told you that ex-President of Peru Alberto Fujimori was mulling over the idea of running for a Senate seat in Japan. Today it was announced that the embattled ex-leader will indeed run in that country, and many in Peru are unhappy, saying that this is just an attempt to avoid extradition from his current country of residence, Chile.
Upon hearing about the announcement, ex-minister of Peru Carlos Ferrero said:
“This reveals that Fujimori wants to avoid extradition. He probably thinks that this process will be favorable for Peru. But it also means that he is speeding the end of his political career in Peru, and that of his followers. What Peruvian Fujimori movement can exist if its principal leader is a Senator in Japan?”
Good point. Without a Fujimori, can there really be Fujimoristas? But his becoming a Senator in Japan doesn’t mean he won’t ever return. This is getting very interesting.
Via / El Comercio
11:35 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Latin America| Sports| Venezuela · 3 Comments
27 Jun 2007
Peru may have kicked Uruguay’s culo (3-0) and political pals but futbol rivals Venezuela and Bolivia tied (2-2), the most entertaining portion of the Copa América yesterday was the lovefest between the three amigos, Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez, Bolivia’s President Evo Morales, and fresh out of rehab (again) Diego Maradona. All three took turns kicking the ball around (Evo has a mean kick).
Today, Brazil vs. Mexico and Chile vs. Ecuador.
Go Chile!!! (my kids are half Chilenas- ok?)
Image Via / Univision
11:35 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Ecuador| Latin America| Marketing| Women| sex · Comments Off
27 Jun 2007Flights can be tedious, and some of us are thankful for in-flight movies and the solace of our iPods to while away the hours. But passengers on Ecuador’s Ícaro Airlines get a bit more than that, as the company has provided a group of scantily clad women who romp about the plane for the entertainment of the passengers. The video below will tell you all you need to know:
It seems objectification is a viable marketing tactic in Ecuador. But I guess this is no worse than the Hooters jet, though no mainstream airline here would dare this. Although Ícaro says it doesn’t rule out the possibility of having male models on its flights as well.
Via / 20 Minutos
9:13 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Events| Internet| MBAPBSAllAmericaDem| Politics| VivirLatino| Washington DC · Comments Off
27 Jun 2007I have the honor and privilege to be in Washington DC tomorrow night to cover, live, The All American Presidential Forum on PBS featuring the Democrats running in 2008. Yes. that means that the Secret Service doesn’t think I’m as bad as I think I am and that you, VivirLatino readers have a unique opportunity to participate. I will be running live commentary on the issues discussed by Senator Joe Biden, Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Christopher Dodd, Senator John Edwards, Senator Mike Gravel, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Senator Barack Obama, and Governor Bill Richardson. I will also have the opportunity, like other journalists, to pose questions after the (please don’t call it a debate) forum.
6:52 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Controversia| Cuba| Politics · Comments Off
26 Jun 2007
As if it’s a surprise to anyone, the CIA released records today that detail a Kennedy-era plot to kill Fidel Castro with the help of the mob:
Among the more famous misdeeds included a plot against Castro. In August 1960, the CIA recruited ex-FBI agent Robert Maheu to approach mobster Johnny Roselli and pass himself off as the representative of international corporations who wanted Castro killed. Roselli introduced Maheu to “Sam Gold” and “Joe,” who were actually 10-most wanted mobsters Momo Giancana, Al Capone’s successor in Chicago, Illinois, and Santos Trafficant. The CIA gave them six poison pills, and they tried unsuccessfully for several months to have several people put them in the Cuban leader’s food.This particular plot was dropped after the failed CIA-sponsored Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba, but other plots continued against Castro. Details of this plot first appeared in Jack Anderson’s newspaper column in 1971.
According to CNN, the records on the Castro are part of a collection of nearly 700 pages of internal records of CIA secrets which have never before been made public. Some other interesting tidbits include the organization’s spying on journalists and experimenting with LSD and other drugs “unwitting U.S. citizens”.
Via / CNN.com
VivirLatino is a daily publication published by 2 Mujeres Media, dedicated to featuring all the latest politics, culture, entertainment of interest to the diverse and influential Latino and Latina community in the U.S.
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