WTF is Going on in Latin America & The Caribbean

Join us for a powerful female panel conversation on the importance of movement building. We will explore how four Latin American nations changed, or hope to change, their governments and the future of their people. This is a bilingual episode (principally English)

This episode was inspired by a fantastic group of women throughout the Americas that I have had the privilege to work with regarding Colombia solidarity and the recent presidential elections.

Our discussion expands upon a recurring theme that has inevitably arisen in each program throughout the past year as we witnessed numerous elections resulting in Center Left to Revolutionary Left governmental changes across Latin America & the Caribbean

Today we will be speaking with four female movement leaders who each have helped organize, educate and change their governments through electoral politics.

Guests:

Brazil: Claudia Santana Tamsky, sociologist and member of the Partido dos Trabalhadores PT

Colombia: Elizabeth Castaneda, Activist at Colombia humana a political movement and party founded in 2011 and led by President Gustavo Petro.

Honduras: Lucy Pagoada-Quesada, NYC Department of Education teacher, Official Coordinator of the Partido Libre D19 USA-Canadá & Costa Rica. Producer of ‘Voices of Resistance' on WBAI 99.5 FM New York

Nicaragua: Lola Esquivel, Founder of the Gloria Quintanilla Women's Cooperative a member of Friends of the ATC, Nicaragua

In partnership with Common Frontiers Council on Hemispheric Affairs Friends of Latin America Massachusetts Peace Action and Task Force on the Americas, WTF is Going on in Latin America & the Caribbean broadcasts weekly on CODEPINK YouTube Live. You can also find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Telegram and RadIndieMedia.com

With guest Ronaldo Ortiz, National Coordinator for FRENADESO (El Frente Amplio por la Democracia, Panamá)

This episode is bilingual.

For English subtitles, please visit: https://youtu.be/s3MooQE9w_E

Background:

Earlier this week, The Panamanian government and protesters edged closer to an agreement to end a weeks-long cost-of-living revolt that has blocked roads, interrupted food supplies and damaged the economy. Authorities agreed in the early morning hours of July 25 to reduce the price of 72 basic consumer items by some 30 percent on average.

For three weeks, amid worsening economic woes for Panama, protesters demanding lower fuel, food and medicine prices have blockaded the crucial Pan-American Highway and other major roads with stalled trucks and burning tires. Some have clashed with police.

Despite its dollarized economy and impressive growth figures, the country of 4.4 million people has one of the world's highest rates of social inequality, with poor access to health services, education and clean drinking water in some areas.

The demonstrations have triggered food and fuel shortages in some parts of the country, and the business sector says some $500 million has been lost.

Even before the talks started, the government had lowered the price of 18 basic products and that of fuel from $5.20 per gallon to $3.25 in an unsuccessful bid to end the standoff.

Protesters had demanded a lowering of the price of 82 products and want a limit to be imposed on company profits, a measure the government has rejected.

Other demands include reducing the price of medicines and electricity, increasing investment in education and the public health system, and measures against government corruption.

Follow our Guest:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ronaldo.ortiz.710667

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ronaldo_ortiz_1310/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sipu1310

Additional Links:

FRENADESO Panama: https://www.facebook.com/frenadeso.panama

FRENADESO: https://twitter.com/CELIOGUERRA

In partnership with Common Frontiers, Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA), Friends of Latin America, Massachusetts Peace Action and Task Force on the Americas, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America & the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on CODEPINK YouTube Live

Guest: Marco Castillo, Executive Director of Global Exchange and coordinator for Nuestra Red

Background:

On July 12 when Mexican president Lopez Obrador traveled to Washington DC his most exciting encounter for Mexicans (both in the U.S. and in Mexico) was not his meeting with President Biden, but his impromptu encounter with well wishers outside his hotel room at The Lombardy. A video of the encounter went viral. It showed the president (known by his initials AMLO) sticking his head out the window, blowing kisses, catching a bouquet of flowers thrown to him, and being serenaded by mariachis singing “Amigo” (You are my soul brother, a friend that in every way and day is always with me).

AMLO’s meeting with Biden included such agenda items as: prioritizing Mexico’s sovereignty, curbing migration by offering more visa options, and inflation.

López Obrador, who spoke for over 30 minutes in the Oval Office, reminded Biden of former President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “Good Neighbor” policy, which avoided interference in domestic affairs in Latin America, while also engaging in reciprocal exchanges with that region, such as trade.

On Monday, the Mexican President revealed that during his DC visit he gave a letter to President Biden in which he defended Julian Assange's innocence and renewed a previous offer of asylum to the WikiLeaks founder.

Follow our Guest:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marco.castil...

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/macocm/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarcoAnCasMar

Additional Links:

AMLO Is Trying to Free Mexico and Latin America From the US’s Imperial Grip: https://jacobin.com/2022/07/amlo-mexi...

Global Exchange: https://globalexchange.org/

NuestraRed: https://twitter.com/NuestraRedMx

WTF is Going on in Latin America & the Caribbean: VP Harris Tells Guatemalans "Do Not Come": https://youtu.be/oZnFTUeYJT8

In partnership with Common Frontiers, Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA), Friends of Latin America, Massachusetts Peace Action and Task Force on the Americas, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America & the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on CODEPINK YouTube Live

Today’s Episode: Tell the White House: Cuba is not a Sponsor of Terror

Guest: activist, author and co-founder of CODEPINK, Medea Benjamin. 

Background

In the last days of the outgoing Trump administration, then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo added Cuba back onto the list of state sponsors of terrorism, after it had been removed from the list in 2015 by the Obama-Biden administration. After a significant review, the Obama-Biden White House had certified that “(i) the Government of Cuba has not provided any support for international terrorism during the preceding 6-month period; and (ii) the Government of Cuba has provided assurances that it will not support acts of international terrorism in the future.”   

Trump’s re-designation of Cuba to the list was purely a political move to please conservative Cuban-Americans. The excuse was that Cuba was purportedly providing safe haven for Colombian insurgents, but these insurgents were in Cuba because of the island’s role in facilitating the historic Peace Accords between the Colombian government and a guerrilla group. Insurgent activities years ago during Colombia’s civil strife does not fit the definition of international terrorism, and the guerilla representatives were in Cuba as part of an internationally recognized process of peace negotiations supported by the United States, Norway, Colombia and other nations. 

By being on this list, Cuba is subjected to a series of sanctions and international financial restrictions that limit the nation’s ability to carry out critical financial transactions, including those needed to advance its efforts to combat the pandemic and reboot its economy.

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Additional Links

https://www.codepink.org/cuba-no-terror

In partnership with Common Frontiers, Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA), Friends of Latin America, Massachusetts Peace Action and Task Force on the Americas, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America & the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on CODEPINK YouTube Live

Episode: Ecuador-The Lasso Government Post-National Strike

Which is a follow-up to our June 22 episode “Ecuador Erupts against Neoliberalism with guest Camila Escalante of Kawsachun News.  

Guest: author and journalist Joe Emersberger. You can find his work published at FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting) and be sure to read his book Extraordinary Threat: The US Empire, the Media and Twenty Years of Coup Attempts in Venezuela

BACKGROUND:

Ecuador President Guillermo Lasso survived an impeachment vote on Tuesday, June 28 after a left opposition party failed to rally other smaller groups in congress to oust him as his government moved to make concessions to defuse the political crisis. 

With only 80 of 137 lawmakers voting to remove Lasso, the impeachment attempt failed to clear the 92-vote hurdle needed to remove the president from office. Another 48 lawmakers rejected the motion, with nine abstaining after a session that lasted about 12 hours and included three voting attempts.

A week later on Tuesday, July 5, Lasso appointed Pablo Arosemena, governor of Ecuador's Guayas province, as the Andean country's new minister of economy and finances, following the resignation of Simon Cueva, while also naming new ministers for transport, and urban development and housing.

The appointments came hours after Lasso accepted Cueva's resignation, as well as those of former Health Minister Ximena Garzon and former Transport Minister Marcelo Cabrera.

The changes follow a deal signed between the government and indigenous leaders to end demonstrations across the country last week. read more

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ADDITIONAL LINKS:

The National Strike in Ecuador: A Socialist Reading

In partnership with Common Frontiers, Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA), Friends of Latin America, Massachusetts Peace Action and Task Force on the Americas, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America & the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on CODEPINK YouTube Live

Today’s Episode: Argentina-BRICS, CELAC and the OAS

Guest: Franco Metaza,Director-General for Foreign Affairs of the Argentina National Senate.

Guest Bio:

Franco Metaza is a political activist of Argentina. He is involved in the peronist-kirchnerista movement of “La Campora”. 

He has a degree in Government and International Relations. He did his degree thesis on the Mercosur Parliament. 

He has held different positions related to international relations in the General Secretary of Argentina Presidency, Chamber of Representatives and the National Bank of Argentina. 

He participated in several G20 summits leading the youth delegation from his country (Mexico 2012, Russia 2013, Australia 2014). 

He is currently pursuing a PhD in Defense.

Background:

"While the White House was thinking about what else to turn off in the world, ban or spoil, Argentina and Iran applied to join the BRICS," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

Argentine President Alberto Fernandez, currently in Europe, recently reiterated his desire for his country to join BRICS.

An Argentine government source said there was no "formal process" to do so as yet but that was the country's intention.

"Argentine authorities have already publicly expressed their willingness to join. It is a process that has only just begun," the source said, asking not to be named.

Glossary:

BRICS

The term BRIC was coined by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O’Neill in 2001 to describe the rise of Brazil, Russia, India and China. The BRIC powers had their first summit in 2009 in Russia. South Africa joined in 2010.

BRICS account for more than 40% of the world's population and about 26% of the global economy.

China is currently Argentina’s main trading partner outside South America.

India is Argentina’s fourth largest trading partner and the fourth largest destination of Argentina’s exports

CELAC

The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) is an intergovernmental mechanism for dialogue and political agreement, which includes permanently thirty-two countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. It is a regional forum that brings together all of Latin America and the Caribbean countries.

Argentina is now the president pro-tem of CELAC succeeding Mexico after the summit in Mexico City September 18, 2021

OAS

The Organization of American Statees is an international organization that was founded on 30 April 1948 for the purposes of solidarity and co-operation among its member states within the Americas. Headquartered in the US capital, Washington, D.C., the OAS has 34 members, which are independent states in the Americas.[2] Since the 1990s, the organization has focused on election monitoring. The head of the OAS is the Secretary General; the incumbent is Uruguayan Luis Almagro.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Observing the Observers: The OAS in the 2019 Bolivia Elections

In partnership with Common Frontiers, Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA), Friends of Latin America, Massachusetts Peace Action and Task Force on the Americas, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America & the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on CODEPINK YouTube Live

Episode: Ecuador Erupts against Neoliberalism

Guest: Camila Escalante of Kawsachun News

Background:

Thousands of indigenous demonstrators marched through Ecuador's capital on Monday, June 20 urging President Guillermo Lasso to agree to demands for economic and social support, the latest in a series of protests that have injured dozens and disrupted the economy.

Amid a surge in the cost of living, the protests began last Monday with a list of 10 demands, including a fuel price cut, preventing further expansion of Ecuador's oil and mining industry, and more time for small and medium-sized farms to pay off debt. 

Groups of indigenous protesters began arriving in Quito from across Ecuador late on Sunday to take part in a march from the south of the city, shouting "Out Lasso, out" as other citizens cheered them on.

A large anti-government march was also taking place in Guayaquil, Ecuador's largest city.

At least 55 protesters have been injured and 79 have been arrested since protests began, according to the Alliance of Human Rights Organizations.

The protest was called by the powerful Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE), which is credited with helping topple three presidents between 1997 and 2005.

On June 22, The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of the Ecuadorian Amazon denounced a killing by police in Puyo, Pastaza on Tuesday night, the result of the disproportionate and unjustified use of force, with direct firing at demonstrators.

Additional Links:

WTF is Going on in Latin America & the Caribbean: Ecuador's COVID-19 Crisis with Guillaume Long, Former Foreign Minister of Ecuador

Follow Camila Escalante:

https://twitter.com/camilapress

https://www.facebook.com/aCamilaThreat

Follow Kawsachun News:

https://twitter.com/KawsachunNews

https://www.facebook.com/KawsachunNews

https://www.instagram.com/kawsachunnews/

https://kawsachunnews.com/

In partnership with The Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA), Friends of Latin America, Massachusetts Peace Action and Task Force on the Americas, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America & the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on CODEPINK YouTube Live

Today’s Episode: Voices for an Inclusive Hemisphere 

Guest :Fiorella Mayorca of The Convo Couch

Background:

The White House announced in January 2022 that the City of Los Angeles would serve as host of IX Summit of the Americas on June 6-10. As host, the United States selects the site of the summit and its attendees. The United States did not invite Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua to the summit as these countries are accused by the United States of having undemocratically elected leaders. It was known the US would not invite these leaders. The White House and State department did not announce an official invitation list until May 30th.

On May 10 Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the president of Mexico, was the first to announce he would not attend the summit if all nations were not in attendance. Lopez Obrador stated he would send his foreign secretary to the summit in his place. Following his lead, other countries followed. Xiomara Castro, the president of Honduras, the President of Bolivia, Luis Arce, the President of El Salvador Nayib Bukele and the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph Gonsalves and the President of Guatemala. Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega and Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said they would not attend the summit if invited.

In protest of a non-inclusive Summit, counter Summits were organized. Fiorella and I attended two: the People’s Summit for Democracy held in LA June 8, 9, 10 and the Worker’s Summit of the Americas held June 10, 11 12 in Tijuana, Baja California Norte, Mexico.

Additional Links:

Breakthrough News at the People's Summit: Diaz-Canel, Maduro and Evo Send Messages to People’s Summit, Defying Biden’s Exclusions

Breakthrough News at the People's Summit: A Conversation with Venezuelan Feminists: Deepening a Revolution while under Sanction

Breakthrough News at the People's Summit: The Struggle for Sovereignty

CODEPINK's Cut the Pentagon Campaign

CODEPINK's Defund the OAS Petition:

People's Summit for Democracy

Worker's Summit of the Americas

WTF is Going on in Latin America & the Caribbean: AMLO Says he will not attend Biden's Summit of the Americas

In partnership with Friends of Latin America, Massachusetts Peace Action and Task Force on the Americas, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America & the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on CODEPINK YouTube Live

Todays’ episode: Colombia Presidential Elections move to a Second Round

Guest Raul Burbano, Executive Director of Common Frontiers based in Toronto.

Background:

Two anti-establishment candidates, Gustavo Petro, a centrist and Rodolfo Hernández, a right-wing populist, captured the top two spots in Colombia’s presidential election on May 29 delivering a stunning blow to Colombia’s dominant conservative political class.

The two men will compete in a runoff election on June 19 that is shaping up to be one of the most consequential in the country’s history. At stake is the country’s economic vision, the restoration of democratic integrity and the livelihoods of millions of people pushed into poverty during the pandemic, particularly women and children.

With more than 99 percent of the ballots counted on Sunday evening, Mr. Petro received more than 40 percent of the vote, while Mr. Hernández received just over 28 percent. Mr. Hernández beat by more than four percentage points the conservative establishment candidate, Federico Gutiérrez, who had been polling in second place.

Mr. Hernández’s unexpected second-place victory shows a nation hungry to elect anyone who is not represented by the country’s mainstream conservative leaders.

 If Mr. Petro ultimately wins in the second round of voting, it would mark a watershed moment for one of the most politically conservative societies in Latin America, and allow Colombians to build a new future.

Additional Links:

Common Frontiers Preliminary Impressions of Colombia's 2022 Presidential Elections

Rabble joins the Colombian Electoral Accompaniment Delegation

In partnership with Friends of Latin America, Massachusetts Peace Action and Task Force on the Americas, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America & the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on CODEPINK YouTube Live

Todays’ episode: Elections Observers denied entry to Colombia

Co-Host: CODEPINK Latin America policy expert Leonardo Flores.

Guest: Nestor Cristancho of Canal 2, Cali, Colombia

On Sunday, May 29 Colombians will vote for President. The election comes at a difficult moment for the country. Polls show widespread dissatisfaction with the government of the current president, Ivan Duque and frustration over chronic poverty, a widening income gap and insecurity, all of which have worsened during the pandemic.

Among those hurt the most by these problems are younger Colombians, who are likely to play a big role in determining whether or not the country takes a step to the left.

Young people led anti-government protests that filled the streets of Colombia last year, dominating the national conversation for weeks. At least 46 people died — many of them young, unarmed protesters and many at the hands of the police — in what became referred to as the “national strike.” or Paro Nacional

Some analysts expect young people to vote in record numbers, energized not just by the Pacto Historico presidential candidate Gustavo Petro, but also by his running mate, Francia Márquez, a 40 year old environmental activist with a gender, race and class-conscious focus who would be the country’s first Black vice president.

Additional Links:

Colombia Erupts against Neoliberalism

Colombia Protesting Neoliberalism

Election Primaries move Colombia Left

In partnership with Friends of Latin America, Massachusetts Peace Action and Task Force on the Americas, original broadcasts of WTF is Going on in Latin America & the Caribbean can be viewed every Wednesday at 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET on CODEPINK YouTube Live