All Americas
Street gangs on the rise in South America: Are Central America's 'Maras' among them?South American street gangs may not be as notorious as the violent 'maras,' but they pose a significant threat to security, writes guest blogger Geoffrey Ramsey.
- The difference between Democrats and Republicans on Brazil
Engaging with Brazil is far more important to the hemisphere than Cuba or Venezuela, writes guest blogger James Bosworth. But US-Brazil relations have not been prioritized by Republicans.
- Exporting Nicaragua's citizen security model
Nicaragua could be a citizen security model for other Central American countries to imitate, but some elements are harder to transfer than others, writes guest blogger Hannah Stone.
If you build it, they won't come? US bases in Caribbean target drug trafficking.With resources stretched thin, the US is now teaming up with small Central American and Caribbean nations to build military bases to combat drug trafficking.
El Salvador elections: Another test for Latin America's leftSunday's National Congress and mayoral elections in El Salvador are seen as a litmus test for President Mauricio Funes of the left-leaning Farabundo Marti Liberation Front (FMLN).
Mexico withers under worst drought in 71 yearsSome 2.5 million Mexicans are affected by this extreme drought, which could cause widespread hunger for years to come.
- Is Ecuador prepared to counter rise in organized crime?
Ecuador has been described as the 'United Nations of organized crime,' but authorities may underestimate the repercussions, writes guest blogger Elyssa Pachico.
Ferry service to Cuba a 'bridge' too far for US governmentReestablishing ferry services to Cuba for the first time in 50 years would surely present challenges, but is in line with recent US-Cuba policy changes, writes guest blogger Anya Landau French.
- Investors bet on Chavez: Big money in Venezuelan bonds?
Venezuelan bond prices soar as investors see a possible change in the way the country's finances are managed if Chavez isn't reelected, writes guest blogger Miguel Octavio.
- Rio's Olympic land grab
From environmental hazards to highway expansion: Residents of Rio's Vila Autódromo slum have heard a slew of reasons why they must move off their land, as Olympic developers move in.
- Mexico's Gulf Cartel increasingly relies on women
The number of women working in the drug trade is estimated to have grown in Mexico by 400 percent between 2007 and 2010, writes guest blogger Patrick Corcoran.
Biden in Honduras: US drug policy under scrutinyEven staunch US allies in the Americas are urging a debate on drug policy – including legalization – amid spiraling violence in their countries.
The perils of 'car culture' in BrazilFrom high costs, to heavy traffic, to lagging safety regulations, cars have become a 'quality-of-life problem in many cities,' writes guest blogger Greg Michener.
Caribbean nations get caught in China-Taiwan tug of warMore than half the countries with diplomatic ties to Taiwan are in Central America and the Caribbean. Some, like Grenada, are finding that switching allegiances can be expensive.
- Obama administration 'gets real' on Cuba
Congressman David Rivera pressed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Cuba this week. Her response showed an awareness of "what is really going on in Cuba," writes a guest blogger.
- Long distance relationship: Haiti's bid to join the African Union
Haiti may be over 5,000 miles away from Africa, but there are cultural, historical, and economic ties that make it more a part of Africa than the Americas, says guest blogger Ovetta Sampson.
Kidnapping bad for business? Why the FARC may actually mean what it says.There are reasons – political, strategic and economic – to be hopeful the FARC's offer to end kidnapping may be genuine, writes guest blogger Steven Dudley.
Chavez vs. Capriles: Stark choice for Venezuela's independent votersSome 36 percent of Venezuelan voters aren't aligned with a political party. But their votes could determine the outcome of this year's heated presidential election.
- Land disputes trigger old racial tensions on Nicaragua's Mosquito Coast
An indigenous community took 12 non-indigenous people hostage, claiming they won't release these 'colonists' until their land is returned to them.
- A case of Big Wind bullying in Mexico?
Follow-up on a Monitor cover story: A local activist is arrested days before a planned confrontation with a Mexican wind power company.
