In Focus: Climate Change

Reuters/Paulo Whitaker - An aerial view of a flooded farm in the northeastern state of Maranhao, Brazil.
Mauricio Cárdenas, October 23, 2009
Only a few regions in the world are more affected by climate change than Latin America. However the region lacks a common perspective and will not be heard in the U.S. Congress or in international deliberations in Copenhagen unless it unifies as a strong voice. Mauricio Cárdenas proposes a formal subgroup of several Latin American countries for cooperation on climate change and points to specific commitments they should consider.
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Climate Change, Latin America, Global Environment, Global Economics, Trade
Economic Growth

Reuters/Eliseo Fernandez - A construction worker tightens steel bars at a residential apartment building construction site in Valparaiso, Chile.
Mauricio Cárdenas, October 19, 2009
Latin America, a region that has faced both challenges and opportunities during the financial crisis, has had more economic growth than other areas of the world. Mauricio Cárdenas discusses the forces behind this economic success and the need for the region to seize this crisis as an opportunity to make important reforms to solve longstanding problems.
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Global Financial Crisis, Latin America, Global Finance, Global Economics, Economic Development
SPOTLIGHT: Colombia

Reuters/Albeiro Lopera - Soldiers stand guard near mortar shells they said were confiscated from suspected FARC members during a raid in Itagui near Medellin.
Mauricio Cárdenas and Kevin Casas-Zamora, September 15, 2009
A new agreement between the United States and Colombia will give the U.S. military access to seven existing facilities in order to carry out counternarcotics and counterinsurgency operations. Mauricio Cardenas and Kevin Casas-Zamora examine concerns among countries in Latin America regarding this move and argue that it is time to have meaningful conversation on a problem that affects the whole hemisphere.
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Colombia, Latin America, U.S. Military, Diplomacy, South America
Past Event

Reuters/Paulo Whitaker - Chile's President Bachelet attends the opening session of a summit of leaders from Latin American and Caribbean nations.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
10:00 AM to 11:50 AM
Washington, DC
On June 23, the Brookings Institution hosted Her Excellency Michelle Bachelet, president of the Republic of Chile, for a discussion of the Latin American countries and the economic measures they are taking to cope with the global financial crisis.
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Latin America, Global Financial Crisis, Monetary Policy, Fiscal Policy, Global Finance
SPOTLIGHT: Cuba

Reuters - People march on Havana's Revolution Square.
Ted Piccone, June 02, 2009
Ted Piccone writes that the future of the Organization of American States (OAS) depends on how it manages the readmission of Cuba to the regional organization. Piccone urges member states not to depart from the organization’s core democratic and human rights principles.
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Cuba, Latin America, Democracy Promotion, International Organizations, Human Rights