Daily Archives: January 9, 2008

Sexual Revolution in Argentina?

  By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo | January 9, 2008 - 12:47 pm |
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argentina1.jpgWith Argentina electing a female president for the first time, one would like to think that women are seen and seeing themselves as more than just sex objects or arm candy for futbol players (have you watched an Argentine soccer game on Argentine tv?).

Adrian Sapetti, head of the Argentine Society of Human Sexuality, says the feminine assertiveness began 30 years ago with the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, a group of mothers of political dissidents who for three decades protested the disappearance of their children during the military dictatorship of 1976 to 1983.

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Picasso Lost and Found in Brazil

  By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo | January 9, 2008 - 11:46 am |
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_44343147_paintings_b203_ap.jpgOne Pablo Picasso painting and a second painting by Brazilian artist Candido Portinari were found leaning against a wall of a house after being stolen last month from a Sao Paulo museum. Two suspects were arrested.

The theft of the paintings was a major embarrassment for the museum. First because they were stolen in the first place and second because the paintings weren’t insured and there was no alarm system in the museum.

The two paintings are said to be worth at least $55 million.

(more…)

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Cancelled Globes Damaging L.A. Economy

  By Maegan La Mala | January 9, 2008 - 11:39 am |
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I’m sure I’m not the only one slightly disappointed about the Golden Globes being canceled due to the continuing writers strike. But L.A. businesses are especially upset, as the awards show was a vital contributor to local economy.

Caterers, limousine drivers, stylists, hotels and dozens of magazines and TV shows found themselves out of work when this Sunday’s star-studded Golden Globes gala dinner and red carpet walk-up fell victim to the nine-week-old screenwriters strike.

“There are a lot of people being hurt by this,” said Jack Kyser, chief economist for the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. He estimated the Golden Globes annually bring in $70-$80 million to the Los Angeles economy.

“A lot of the parties are being canceled and they can run up to $200,000 each. There is a big ripple impact from this in terms of hotel bookings, security guards, parking attendants, beauticians etc.,” Kyser said.

I guess a few parties here and there add up, and 80 million dollars is no small change.

And boo-hoo, obviously there will be no Globes roundups here on VL this year. Maybe we’ll watch the “star-studded” news conference, but I doubt there will be much action there.

Via / Reuters

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Trafficking of Women in Paraguay

  By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo | January 9, 2008 - 10:59 am |
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800px-Flag_of_Paraguay.svg.pngThe border of Paraguay allows for the sale of illegal and counterfeit products including women.

Ciudad del Este’s surrounding Tri Border Area–where Paraguay meets Brazil and Argentina–has over the past five years attracted notoriety as a major hub in international people-trafficking.

Many of the women exploited start out as seeking work as domestics and end up virtual sex slaves or drug mules. Over a third of the population earns less than $1 a day and the possibility of work means the possibility of sending money back home.

Eighty-five percent of trafficking in Paraguay is for sexual exploitation, the International Organization of Migration estimates.

The average age of the girls/women is between 10- 20 years old. Activists in the area trying to break the cycle by teaching the women skills, such as hairstyling, in order to earn a living have faced death threats.

Via / Women’s enews

Image Via / Wikipedia

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Guevara: “Mexico’s destiny in the Olympics will be catastrophe”

  By Maegan La Mala | January 9, 2008 - 10:58 am |
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anaguevaraflag.jpgOne of Mexico‘s biggest sports stars, runner Ana Guevara, is predicting doom and gloom for Mexico in the 2008 Olympic Games, and lashing out at the government for their lack of interest in sports in general:

The destiny of Mexico for the 2008 games in Peking is already decided: it will be a catastrophe,” said the Pan American champion Ana Guevara, who stated that no one cares about sports in the country, including the Public Education Secretary, Josefina Vázquez Mota, and the president of the republic, Felipe Calderón.

She reminded [reporters] that after a meeting a few weeks ago with government officials and several athletes, there has been no change, leading her to conclude that there is no interest on the part of authorities in rescuing sports.

Guevara is referring to the controversy surrounding Mariano Lara, head of the Federación Mexicana de Atletismo, who Guevara accused of corruption. Lara received a 4 year suspension last month, but Guevara fears he might be pardoned, telling reporters “If they pardon Lara, that will speak to how corrupt everything is.”

In protest, Guevara had already said that she would not be participating in the 2008 games.

Via / La Jornada

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New Hampshire Primary Winners: Clinton & McCain

  By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo | January 9, 2008 - 8:36 am |
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t1home.clint.mcin.wed.02.ap.jpgIn what much of the media is calling a comeback this morning, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and John McCain won their respective party primaries in New Hampshire yesterday. The media and pundits are citing two main factors in yesterday’s wins: women and youth. Women in the New England state rallied behind the former first lady in a way that wasn’t seen in Iowa. The youth vote that helped push Obama’s win didn’t pan out as well this time.

With 91 percent of the electoral precincts reporting, Mrs. Clinton had 39 percent of the vote, Mr. Obama 36 percent, and John Edwards 17 percent. On the Republican side, Mr. McCain had 37 percent, Mr. Romney 32 percent and Mike Huckabee 11 percent.

Via / Yahoo! News & The New York Times

Image Via / CNN.com

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