Rural Andean Churches Are Being Robbed Of Colonial Art "Because Terrible People Want To Own Beautiful Things"

In a wave of burglaries rural churches in Peru and Bolivia are being stripped of irreplaceable colonial art including canvases and ornaments. According to an Associated Press story reported in the Boston Globe, since 2009 38 thefts of  447 objects have been reported in Bolivia. There have been 30 thefts reported in Peru since 2012. The Rev. Francisco Dubert decried the thefts saying, ‘‘These churches are being robbed because terrible people want to own beautiful things.’’ The market for stolen art is mostly in Europe and the United States with Santa Fe New Mexico a prime destination for Latin American art according to Donna Yates, a University of Glasgow archaeologist.

 Read more here:

China Grows Its Influence In Latin America By Putting Economics and Practicality Ahead of Politics

China's increase in trade with Latin America is hitched to funding of military and major infrastructure projects in the region. Between 2005 and 2011 China extended over $ 75 Billion in loans to Latin American Governments. China is a potential source of funds for a project to build a Nicaraguan canal connecting the Caribbean with the Pacific Ocean. China clearly sees an advantage in playing an integral role in the development of Latin America and the Caribbean.

In return the region is a supplier of minerals and food products to China and a market for Chinese exports of growing importance.

Read more here:

Danny Leipziger: Brazil Needs A Decade of Solid Growth Starting Now

Brazil has done remarkably well over the last decade, but now is not the time for Brazil to loose momentum according to Danny Leipziger in Project Syndicate. Growth has slipped into negative territory. Manufacturing has slipped from 30% to 15% of GDP. And Brazil's service industry needs to become more productive. Leipziger includes eliminating domestic firm's privileges and boosting competition among his policy recommendations.


Read more here

Indigenous Peoples Are Occupying Ranches and Farms In Brazil As A Challenge To The Government

Over 60 farms and ranches across Brazil's Mato Grosso do Sul have been occupied by Indigenous protesters. In some casses the protestors are working the farms and harvesting food.

“Our reservations are too small,” complained one chief.  “If we don’t get more land, my people will go hungry.”

In the last ten years more than 500 of Brazil's indigenous have been murdered in the course of their struggle for rights.

Read more here

The Author of Austerity: the History of a Dangerous Idea, Makes Another Plea

Political economist Mark Blyth, author of  Austerity: the History of a Dangerous Idea, questions claims that austerity is finally leading Europe to a recovery. With unemployment in double digits and record levels of debt, Blyth argues that the signs of recovery are actually the result of investors seeking profits from high European risk premiums. According to Blyth, the banking crises at the heart of Europe's troubles has not been addressed.

Read more here

McKinsey & Company Look At The Challenges For Latin American Women In Management. No Surprises Found

McKinsey & Company released a study that analyses the challenges facing women who seek senior level careers in Latin America. The results roundly confirm that Latin American women face many of the same obstacles as women in Europe or North America, only more so. While a growing number of firms recognize the need for gender diversity and are actively working to expand opportunities for women, there is a long way yet to go. Reason's for the lack of women's participation in senior positions are mostly familiar. Attitudes and inflexible work schedules are high on the list.

Read more here

Analyst Fábio Malini Uses Twitter To Create A Political Cartography Of The Brazilian Protests

Fabio tracks the development of the current Brazilian protest movement by analyzing a wide ranging, diverse social media conversation resulting in the creation of a "digital cabinet" as President Dilma Rousseff's government seeks to engage with, and understand the protestors.

Read more here