O U R  A M E R I C A

• Raúl’s words
February 6,12
Comments by Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, President of the Councils of State and Ministers during 11th ALBA-TCP Summit of heads of state, Venezuela, February 4, 2012. Year 54 of the Revolution.

• The Orinoco Oil Belt
February 2,12
THE Venezuelan government is moving forward with an important expansion of its oil operations in the Orinoco Belt, considered the largest deposit of crude in the world, conscious of the fact that this area is the driving force within the national economy.

• THE MALVINAS
21st century colonial enclave
26.Enero.12
ONCE again the British government has reacted arrogantly to Argentina’s claim of sovereignty over the Malvinas, South Georgia and South Sandwich islands. The United Kingdom is maintaining its recalcitrant attitude of rejecting any kind of dialogue.

• FROM HAITI
No deaths from cholera reported for 12 months
26.Enero.12
THE Cuban Medical Brigade (BMC) in Haiti stated that, from January 18, 2011, there have been no deaths from cholera in the areas in which they are working.

• For the Maya, the world isn't ending – the environment is
26.Enero.12
GUATEMALA.— The end of the Maya long-count calendar does not predict a global catastrophe, let alone the end of the world, say native activists and elders who spoke to IPS in Guatemala. But what are coming to an end are the world's natural resources, as a result of human activity, they warn.

• TWO YEARS AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE
Traditional burials
19.Enero.12
FOR centuries, respect for death and ways to face it have been one of the idiosyncrasies of a number of cultures around the world. The belief of life after death has motivated the adoption of different psychological and sociological behaviors which have varied in accordance with the context, the time and the religion professed.

• The people for President
19.Enero.12
THIS title, President Daniel Ortega’s campaign slogan during his reelection bid, was taken to heart by Nicaragua’s people, reflecting the desire of the broad masses in this small Central American country to consolidate the "Christian, socialist...

• FROM HAITI
2012 begins fortuitously in Sud
January 12,12
YEARS don’t always end the way we imagined; sometimes life surprises and everything begins anew in a very unexpected way. More than a farewell to adventures and misadventures, the end of a year can be the starting point for another 365-day cycle and lends itself to predictions for the coming year.

• CELAC: united in diversity
January 12,12
SANTIAGO DE CHILE.—The troika of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), comprising Chile, Cuba and Venezuela, met for the first time on January 9 in this capital and announced that the 2nd CELAC Summit will be in January 2013, according to AFP.

• Daniel Ortega sworn in as President of Nicaragua
January 11.12
MANAGUA, January 10.—A new chapter in Nicaragua’s history opened here today in Managua’s Plaza de la Revolución which witnessed the triumph of the Sandinista Popular Revolution in 1979, when reelected President Daniel Ortega was sworn in for a second five year term (2012-2017), in the presence of international diplomatic delegations.

• Venezuela and Iran to develop strategic alliance
January 10.12
CARACAS, January 9.—President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela today received his Iranian counterpart Mahmud Ahmadinejad at Miraflores Palace (seat of government), where they signed a joint declaration confirming bilateral links and committed themselves to continue developing a strategic alliance to the benefit of both nations.

• Iranian President begins Latin American tour in Venezuela
January 9.12
CARACAS, January 8.—President Mahmud Ahmadineyad of Iran arrived in Caracas today and was received at the international airport by Vice President Elías Jaua, PL reports.

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