Online NewsHour: Latin America Archive | 2008

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LATIN AMERICA


	2008 DECEMBER December 22, 2008 Activist Works to Help Ease Haiti's Hunger Crisis As global food prices continue to rise, hunger in Haiti has fueled food riots and driven much of the population, including many children, to the brink of starvation. Correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro reports on one man's effort to alleviate the crisis.

	December 17, 2008 OPEC Agrees to Record Output Cut to Combat Falling Oil Prices Oil prices fell to their lowest level in four years Wednesday, despite news that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries agreed to a larger-than-expected oil production cut of 2.2 million barrels per day.



	NOVEMBER November 17, 2008 Colombia's Displaced Face Education Challenges About 3 million Colombians are refugees in their own country, forced to leave their homes by FARC rebels or from violence caused by paramilitary groups. Children of displaced families are especially vulnerable and sometimes have difficulty getting to school.



	OCTOBER October 27, 2008 Already Faced With Hardships, Haitians' Lives Upended by Hurricanes Following the devastating food shortage of the summer, Haiti faced a barrage of powerful hurricanes, which battered the island nation into precarious situation. Fred De Sam Lazaro reports on the struggle that lies ahead as a nation tries to rebuild itself.

	October 27, 2008 Haiti Digs Out After the Storms In the summer of 2008, Haiti was slammed by four hurricanes and tropical storms, which killed more than 800 people and left 1 million homeless. In the northern city of Gonaives alone, 500 people died in the storm-induced floods.



	SEPTEMBER September 12, 2008 Unrest in Bolivia Leads to Ousting of U.S. Diplomats Violent clashes between government supporters and opposition protesters in Bolivia have left at least eight dead and tipped off a diplomatic dispute culminating in U.S. diplomats being expelled from both Bolivia and Venezuela.

	September 8, 2008 Hurricane Season Repeatedly Pounds Impoverished Nation of Haiti More than 300 people have died in Haiti from back-to-back hurricanes this year, and the northern town of Gonaives remains flooded. NPR reporter Jason Beaubien describes the scene in Haiti and the damages incurred by the storms.



	AUGUST August 20, 2008 Filmmakers Answered Your Questions on 'The Judge and the General' The documentary "The Judge and the General" follows the investigation into the brutal murders of thousands of Chileans during the 1970s and 1980s. Filmmakers Elizabeth Farnsworth, a former NewsHour correspondent, and her co-producer and director Patricio Lanfranco answered your questions.

	August 8, 2008 AIDS Conference Highlights Successes in Treatment, Struggles in Prevention Researchers and activists focused on the search for an HIV vaccine and other prevention methods, as well as broadening access to HIV care across the globe, at this week's International AIDS Conference in Mexico City, which concluded Friday.



	JULY July 30, 2008 Trade Talks Collapse Highlight Differences Between Developing, Developed Worlds Opposition from increasingly important China and India derailed efforts to negotiated a global trade deal Tuesday. With the talks stalled, two economic experts assess the impact on American and international businesses and farmers.

	July 17, 2008 Tax Hike Dispute Reveals Chink in Argentine President's Popularity Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez, elected in a landslide vote in October, has started to encounter the country's economic and political realities, as evidenced in Thursday's legislative rejection of a proposed tax hike.

	July 7, 2008 U.S. Hostages Speak Out After Captivity in Colombia Three U.S. military contractors who spent more than five years as hostages of in Colombia made their first public statements Monday about the rebel group and their experiences. Kwame Holman reports.

	July 3, 2008 McCain Shakes Up Staffing, Reacts to Colombia Hostage Rescue In a new campaign staffing shake-up, Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain promoted top adviser Steve Schmidt to head the campaign's staff. Schmidt will take over the day-to-day campaign management.

	July 3, 2008 Colombian Defense Chief Describes Risks, Planning for Hostage Rescue Following the dramatic rescue of fifteen hostages in Columbia by government forces, some held by rebels for years, Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos describes events and planning leading up to the rescue effort.

	July 2, 2008 Betancourt, U.S. Hostages Freed From Colombian Rebels Colombian rebels kept presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and three American military contractors hostage for years before the country's military was able to release them Wednesday. Experts examine the fallout of their release to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

	July 2, 2008 Betancourt and Americans Rescued from Colombian Rebels Colombia's military announced Wednesday it rescued French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and three Americans who were held hostage for years by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.

	July 1, 2008 McCain Takes Campaign to Mexico and Colombia Sen. John McCain takes his campaign to Mexico and Colombia this week, where he'll tackle two key issues on many voters' minds: free trade and immigration. McCain was due to start the three-day trip Tuesday in Colombia.



	JUNE June 17, 2008 What are the pros and cons for denominating oil worldwide in U.S. dollars? Paul Solman answers your questions on business and economic news on "The Business Desk."

	June 13, 2008 Young Brazilian Musicians Try to Go Global Linguistic, political and economic barriers stand between Brazil's most popular acts and global recognition. NewsHour special correspondent Simon Marks caps a series of reports from Brazil by looking at the music scene.

	June 10, 2008 Brazil Seeks to Break New Ground in Global Marketplace As Brazil expands its manufacturing and agricultural industries, it has carved a spot as the largest exporter of coffee, beef, poultry and other food products and as the world leader in ethanol production. Simon Marks continues a series of reports from Brazil.

	June 9, 2008 Brazil's Economic Boom Marred by Social Inequalities Brazil is on track to become an economic powerhouse in the 21st century, but gaping social inequalities still plague this country of 187 million. Simon Marks offers the first in a series of reports from Brazil on the country's economic and political scene.

	June 9, 2008 Video Collection: Brazil Rises on World Stage NewsHour special correspondent Simon Marks offers a series of reports on Brazil's economic struggles and successes.



	MAY May 5, 2008 Relief for World Food Crisis Made More Difficult by Cyclones, Riots In the wake of the devastating cyclone in Myanmar and widespread rioting in Somalia, the international community continues to try and respond with food relief programs to confront the rising need. World Food Program's head Josette Sheeran discusses the relief efforts.



	APRIL April 23, 2008 Global Food Prices Dubbed a 'Silent Tsunami' The global food shortage and soaring cost of staple foods is a "silent tsunami," the U.N. World Food Program said Tuesday, before a food summit hosted by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to discuss the growing crisis.

	April 16, 2008 Researchers Track Global Flu Travel Patterns If you live in North America, the flu strain that laid you low last winter likely originated in East or Southeast Asia six to nine months before you caught it, according to a new study of the worldwide circulation of the flu virus.



	MARCH March 4, 2008 Tensions Rise in Latin America After Colombia Raid Since Colombia's announcement Saturday that it had killed a top FARC commander in a cross-border raid into Ecuador, both Ecuador and Venezuela have severed diplomatic ties and moved troops to the Colombian border. Experts discuss the rising tensions in the region.



	FEBRUARY February 25, 2008 New Cuban Leadership Intensifies Speculation on Reforms Raul Castro was confirmed as Cuba's president Sunday, after last week's announcement that his ailing brother, Fidel Castro, would step down after decades in power. Two experts on Cuba discuss the prospects for reforms in the country and relations with the United States.

	February 19, 2008 Castro's Exit Stokes Debate Over Prospects for Cuban Reform An ailing Cuban president Fidel Castro announced Tuesday that he will resign from his post, ending his 49-year presidency at age 81. Two Cuban-American analysts discuss Castro's resignation and whether the move will open avenues for new reforms in Cuba.

	February 19, 2008 Cuba's Castro Resigns After 49-year Reign Cuban leader Fidel Castro announced Tuesday that he will not seek another term in office when the country's parliament meets Sunday to elect a president, citing his ailing health. Castro, 81, is the world's longest ruling leader.