The Cartagena OAS Summit: A Bitter Problem for Colombian President Santos who is Otherwise Witnessing the Best of Diplomatic Times

[1]http://www.infodefensa.com/?noticia=colombia-ultima-el-dispositivo-de-seguridad-para-la-cumbre-de-las-americas-en-cartagena

[2] http://www.elnuevoherald.com/2012/03/19/1156260/chavez-favorable-a-asistir-a-cumbre.html#storylink=cpy

[3]http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2002/mar/18/debtrelief.development

[4]http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2012/03/07/actualidad/1331108232_780238.html

[5] http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2009/04/at-summit-chvez/

[6] http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45676000/jpg/_45676635_007187741-1.jpg

[7] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8004798.stm

[8]http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/22049-colombia-takes-neutral-stance-on-cuba.html

[9]http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/22049-colombia-takes-neutral-stance-on-cuba.html

[10]http://www.cubastandard.com/2012/02/07/conflict-over-cuba-spoils-americas-summit-preparations/

[11] http://www.elnuevoherald.com/2012/03/19/1156260/chavez-favorable-a-asistir-a-cumbre.html#storylink=cpy

[12]http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/04/13/obama_to_lift_cuba_travel_rest.html

[13]http://www.politicalscoops.com/leahy-and-shelby-meet-with-raul-castro-in-cuba/

[14]http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/08/world/americas/rene-gonzalez-one-of-the-cuban-five-released-on-probation.html

[15]http://peru.com/actualidad/alan-garcia-cumbres-internacionales-son-dialogo-sordos-noticia-45740

[16]http://www.oas.org/charter/docs/resolution1_en_p4.htm

[17] http://www.oas.org/en/about/specialized_organizations.asp

[18] http://www.oas.org/en/about/other_organs.asp

[19] http://www.jid.org/home

[20] Cope, John. “Reforming the Inter-AmericanDefense Board.” Strategic Forum. Institute for National Strategic Studies, National Defense University. No. 258. August 2010. P. 1-6. Also see Hamilton, Mark D. “Haciendo malabares con la Defensa y Seguridad regionales en el siglo XXI: El Caso del Colegio Interamericano de Defensa.” International Studies Association. 51st Convention. New Orleans. February 2010.

[21]http://en.mercopress.com/2012/03/09/under-pressure-from-washington-cuba-left-out-of-hemispheric-summit

The Digital Divide in Latin America: Redefining the Gap from Access to Innovation

[1] Conference website: http://desarrollandoamerica.org/

[2] Statistics from the International Communication Union: http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/statistics/ict/index.html

[3] Statistics from
the International Communication Union: http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/statistics/ict/index.html

[4] Norris, P. (2006). Digital divide: civic engagement, information poverty, and the Internet worldwide., p. 27

[5] Norris, P. (2006). Digital divide: civic engagement, information poverty, and the Internet worldwide., p. 27-28

[6] Norris, P. (2006). Digital divide: civic engagement, information poverty, and the Internet worldwide., p. 28

[7] Norris, P. (2006). Digital divide: civic engagement, information poverty, and the Internet worldwide., p. 28

[8] Galperin, H., & Mariscal, J. (2007). Digital poverty Latin American and Caribbean perspectives. Rugby, Warwickshire: Practical Action PThe Digital Divide in Latin America: publishing/International Development Research Centre. Retrieved April, 2011, from http://www.idrc.ca/openebooks/342-3/

[9] Marshall, S., Taylor, W., & Yu, X. H. (2003). Closing the digital divide: transforming regional economies and communities with information technology. Westport, CT: Praeger., p. 23

[10] Direct link to statistics: http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm

[11] Direct link to statistics: http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm

[12] Link to conference site: http://www.ieee-latincom.org/

[13] Link to WEO Report: http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2011/02/index.htm

[14] Link to WEO Report: http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2011/02/index.htm

[15] Brazil Wants to Expand Broadband Internet Accesshttp://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=14129372

[16] Paragraphs and information taken from interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT3H_fgxqUs&feature=related

[17] http://www.aporrea.org/tecno/n128490.html

[18] http://desarrollandoamerica.org/2011/12/ganadores-regionales-dal2011/

China vs. Taiwan: Battle for Influence in the Caribbean

[1] China, Jamaica agree to strengthen ties. Xinhua news agency. Sept 20, 2011. In n BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific – Political Supplied by BBC Worldwide Monitoring September 21. 2011.

[2] Chinese vice premier visits Jamaica. Caribbean Media Corporation news agency. 20 Sep 11 In BBC Monitoring Latin America – Political Supplied by BBC Worldwide Monitoring September 21, 2011.

[3] Jamaican cabinet approves tax agreement with China's Macao. Caribbean Media Corporation news agency website. Nov 24, 2011. In BBC Monitoring Latin America – Political Supplied by BBC Worldwide Monitoring. November 25, 2011.

[4] Premier of Dominica defends relationship with China. Caribbean Media Corporation news agency website 24 Oct 11. In BBC Monitoring Latin America – Political Supplied by BBC Worldwide Monitoring. Oct 25, 2011.

[5] Guyana urges Caribbean countries to forge closer economic ties with China. Caribbean Media Corporation news agency website. 13 Sep 11. In BBC Monitoring Latin America – Political Supplied by BBC Worldwide Monitoring

September 14, 2011.

[6] Guyana premier to receive Chinese award. Caribbean Media Corporation news agency website. 17 Nov 10. In BBC Monitoring Latin America – Political Supplied by BBC Worldwide Monitoring. November 17, 2010. Also see http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.12035.aspx

[7] China to provide 1bn-dollar loan to Caribbean countries. official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency). 13 Sep 11. In BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific – Political Supplied by BBC Worldwide Monitoring

September 13, 2011.

[8] Visiting Chinese vice-premier discuss ties with Trinidadian PM. Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency). 13 Sep 11. In BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific – Political Supplied by BBC Worldwide Monitoring. September 13, 2011 .

[9] China provides 45m dollars for airport and other projects in Antigua. Caribbean Media Corporation news agency website. 3 Jan 11. In BBC Monitoring Latin America – Political Supplied by BBC Worldwide Monitoring. January 4 2011.

[10] Antigua and Barbuda governor discusses cooperation with Chinese official. Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency). 1 Jan 11. In BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific – Political Supplied by BBC Worldwide Monitoring. January 1, 2011.

[11] http://www.caribjournal.com/2011/11/10/chinese-delegation-visits-antigua/

[12] http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2017351589_apcbbahamaschinaloan.html?syndication=rss

[13] China president congratulates Latin American nations for founding organization. Xinhua news agency. In BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific – Political Supplied by BBC Worldwide Monitoring. December 4, 2011.

[14] He Li. “Rivalry between Taiwan and the PRC in Latin America.” Journal of Chinese Political Science, vol. 10, no. 2, Fall 2005

[15] China to provide military aid to Jamaica. Caribbean Media Corporation news agency website. 23 Aug 11. In BBC Monitoring Latin America – Political Supplied by BBC Worldwide Monitoring. August 23, 2011.

[16] Chinese premier pledges to boost economic ties with Barbados. Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency). 13 Jun 11. In BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific – Political Supplied by BBC Worldwide Monitoring.

June 13, 2011.

[17] http://www.haitiaction.net/News/HIP/3_17_8/3_17_8.html

[18] http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/minustah/memoriam.shtml

[19] June Dreyer. “From China With Love: P.R.C. Overtures in Latin America.“ Brown Journal of World Affairs. WINTER/SPRING 2006 • VOLUME XII, ISSUE 2.

[20] Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Taiwan. http://www.mofa.gov.tw/EnOfficial/Regions/AlliesIndex/?opno=f8505044-f8dd-4fc9-b5b5-0da9d549c979

[21] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16557209

[22] Taiwan reaffirms ties with Dominican Republic after Chinese investment reports. Taiwanese Central News Agency website. 18 Oct 10. In BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific – Political Supplied by BBC Worldwide Monitoring.

October 18, 2010.

[23] http://www.caribjournal.com/2012/02/18/st-vincent-taiwan-discuss-relations/

[24] Diana Thorburn. Remapping Caribbean Geopolitics. Report: Our Caribbean. NACLA Report on the Americas. May-June 2006.

[25] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3583733.stm

[26] http://www.stabroeknews.com/2012/news/breaking-news/03/06/rowley-tt-must-step-in-and-help-grenada/

[27] http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/2012/0305/Caribbean-nations-get-caught-in-China-Taiwan-tug-of-war

[28] http://www.caribdirect.com/2012/01/10/taiwan-st-lucia-diplomatic-relations-remain-strong-mofa/

[29] http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110929005457/en/Taiwan-Delegation-Sails-Caribbean-Islands-Enhance-Trade

[30] http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aLIV&ID=201202070035

[31] http://www.elnuevodia.com/investiganoladerobosdomiciliariosaresidenteschinosenpuertorico-1181213.html

[32] Shin Yamamoto. Swaying in time and space: the Chinese Diaspora in the Caribbean

and its literary perspectives. Asian Ethnicity. Vol. 9, No. 3, October 2008, 171–177.

[33] http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Caribbean-a-magnet-for-illegal-immigrants--says-EU-official_9807384#ixzz1ZPGc9eQZ

[34] http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Caribbean-a-magnet-for-illegal-immigrants--says-EU-official_9807384#ixzz1ZPGc9eQZ

A Landmark Decision for War Crime Accountability

[1] Dada, Carlos. "Corte Confirma Sentencia Contra García Y Vides Casanova." El Faro. Sept.-Oct. 2007. Web. 1 Mar. 2012. .

[2] Estrella, Cicero A. "SAN FRANCISCO; Torture Victims' Rights Upheld; S.F. Resident among 3 Seeking Redress for Torment in Salvador." San Francisco Chronicle 07 Jan. 2006. The Gale Group. Web. 1 Mar. 2012. .

[3] Tuhus, Melinda. "US Judge Clears Way for Deportation of Former El Salvadoran General for War Crimes." Between The Lines. 29 Feb. 2012. Web. 1 Mar. 2012. .

[4] Preston, Julia. "Ex-El Salvador Defense Minister Can Be Deported from US for Killings, Human ..." Washington Post. 23 Feb. 2012. Web. 1 Mar. 2012. .

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Education Reform Gets High Marks in El Salvador

[i] In another reliable poll conducted in May 2011, the Ministry of Education (MINED) received the highest approval rating of all ministries (7.69 out of 10). See IUOP, UCA José Simeón Canas, Boletín de prensa XXVI, No 1, P. 13.

[ii] In La opinión. http://www.laopinion.com/article/20120225/IMPORT01/302259918/-1/edicionimpresa, Feb. 24, 2012. Accessed Feb. 26, 2012.

[iii] All statistics in this section for 2009 are from Dirección General de Estadistica y Censos 2009, DIGYSTIC. Ministerio de Economía, 2010.

[iv] For a sympathetic summary of ARENA Administration post war education reforms, see former Minister of Education Darlyn Meza, (October 2009) “Educational Services in the Context of Conflict and Post Conflict.” For a critique of neoliberal education reform, see S. L. Guerra and M. F. Chávez (2006), “Neoliberal Education Reform in Latin America.” http://redie.uabc.mx/vol8no1/contents-lopez.html Accessed March 5, 2012. I do not attempt an assessment of this issue here.

[v] There are no institutos nacionales, for example, in Arambala, Chilanga, San Carlos, Yoloaiquin, Delicieas de la Concepcion, El Rosario, Lolotiquillo, and Sensembra. And there are just 19 in the entire province. Lucinda Quintanilla comunidades@eldiariodehoy.com Jueves, 23 de Febrero de 2012.http://www.elsalvador.com/mwedh/nota/nota_completa.asp?idCat=47673&idArt=6668625. Accessed March 1, 2012.

[vi] Morazan had 135 inhabitants per square kilometer. See Dirección General de Estadística y Censos. DIGYSTIC. Ministerio de Economía in 2009, p. 4, for a comparison with other provinces.

[vii] The author makes use of two versions of the PSE; one published in October 2009 and the updated version accessed on the MINED website in February 2012.

[viii] Plan Quinquenal de Desarrollo 2010 - 2014, Government of El Salvador, p. 78 – 79. This is not an exact translation and includes paraphrase by the author.

[ix] PSE, 2012, p 18.

[x] See PSE, 2012, pp. 32 – 36.

[xi] PSE, 2012, pp. 26 – 28.

[xii] PSE, 2012, pp. 32 – 33.

[xiii] Shor, I. and Freire, P. (1987). A pedagogy for liberation: Dialogues on transforming education. MA: Bergin & Garvey Publishers, p. 13. See also Freire, Paulo (1984). Pedagogy of the Oppressed (Trans. By Myra Bergman Ramos). New York: The Continuum Publishing Corporation. [Original published in Portuguese in 1968]

[xiv] PSE, 2012, p. 13.

[xv] PSE, 2012, p. 5.

[xvi] PSE October 2009, pp. 36-37.

[xvii] PSE, 2012, p. 36.

[xviii] USAID provided $1,556,085.97 to train 1,200 teachers in a 95 hours diploma program in the methodology of the full time inclusive school. See p. 51, Memoria de Labores, 2010 – 2011, MINED.

[xix] See Memoria de Labores 2010 – 2010, p. 49.

[xx] PSE, 2012, p. 44

[xxi] PSE, 2012, p. 42

[xxii] The quantified outcomes are from two documents: Logros MINED 2010 – 2011; Memoria de Labores 2010 – 2011, MINED. The former is more up to date and is in the form of a briefing paper. The latter is more detailed and includes more description of each program area.

[xxiii] Food programs are not new in El Salvador. To give an idea of the expansion of this program, in 1984 the food program reached 200,000 children. In 2008, when the program completed transition from the World Food Program to an entirely national program, it reached over 870,000 children, that is 60% of children attending basic school. This data is from Rethinking School Feeding: Social Safety Nets, Child Development, and the Education Sector, Appendix I, D. Bundy, et al. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank, 2009.

[xxiv] Overall matriculation in the public schools was up 1.7% between 2009 and 2010 (private school matriculation was down by 5.2%). The drop out rate for basic level public schools fell from 6.4% in 2009 to 4.4% in 2010 and in middle school the drop out rate it fell from 10.6% in 2009 to 6.6% in 2010.

[xxv] Another topic that calls for investigation is the integration of the more than 8000 Educación con Participación de la Comunidad (EDUCO) teachers, who have generally been working under one year contracts at semi-autonmous schools, into the more secure “ley de salario” public school system. See Memoria de Labores 2010 – 2011, pp. 19, 26. Also see the recent article on this issue in Diario CoLatino: http://www.diariocolatino.com/es/20100823/nacionales/83475/ Accessed Mach 5, 2012.

[xxvi] $3,350.000 in emergency funds was budgeted in the Five Year Government Plan to address damage to schools caused by Hurricance Ida. For 2012, MINED plans to invest $53.7 million dollars on the construction, rehabilitation, and repair of schools.