Democracy or hypocrisy?
Thursday, September 1, 2016 Democracy or hypocrisy? But leaving this institutional debate aside, if this impeachment is to be judged according to its Spanish meaning of “political trial,” the politics are all wrong — the purest hypocrisy. Rousseff was ousted yesterday by a 61-20 Senate vote on charges of a budget-juggling which has been practised by every Brazilian government. In order to remove Rousseff from power without disqualifying themselves, the politicians in the coalition assembled by caretaker Michel Temer (hastily inaugurated president yesterday) impeached Rousseff solely according to budgetary irregularities completely unrelated to the public anger. Just to underline the total hypocrisy, Rousseff was removed from power yesterday without the suspension of political rights normally accompanying such a grave step.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
September 01, 2016 04:47 UTC
Brazil in the grip of unseen powers
Opinion Thursday, September 1, 2016 Brazil in the grip of unseen powersBy Sebastián LacunzaEditor-in-ChiefAs in many democracies regained after a pact with the outgoing dictatorship, Brazil’s political life has been held in the grip of powerful interest groups. In Brazil, there are dozens of television channels, radio stations and rightwing political holdovers from the dictatorship (DEM at their head). At the moment of truth both Lula and Dilma preferred to cut a deal with the all-powerful Globo. With all of the above (right-wing factions nostalgic for military rule, local strongmen, the FIESP, Globo, Protestants, the financial powers, etc.) At the same semantic level, who would dare to say that Brazil is a real democracy?
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
September 01, 2016 03:56 UTC
Chinese whispers
Thursday, September 1, 2016 Chinese whispersBy Michael Soltys / Senior EditorG20 summit preceded by Brazil´s upheavalToday’s column finds President Mauricio Macri in Qatar, venue of the 2022 World Cup when Macri could still be president. What is guaranteed is that Dilma Rousseff will not be Brazil’s president for the next World Cup in Russia. Despite the orthodox image enjoyed abroad by Macri and Michel Temer (formally Brazil’s president as from yesterday after three months as a caretaker), both have subordinated taming the deficit to other priorities. Firstly, 600 million — the number of Chinese raised above the poverty line in the last quarter-century (20 times the equivalent Brazilian figure), which falls just short of being Latin America’s entire population (640 million, according to the United Nations). These opinions respectively betray Prat-Gay’s desperation to reflate a static economy and Sturzenegger’s determination to keep interest rates ahead of inflation.
Source:Bueno Aires Herald
September 01, 2016 03:11 UTC
El Zanjón Del Gato: San Telmo’s Newest Challenge To The Status Quo
All it took was a photograph of the “Kentucky Fried Codorniz” to get me on a bus straight to San Telmo. A small quail breaded and deep fried and served with the talons in tact and slightly curled underneath the heat of the oil. The golden brown fried bird is plated beautifully on a simple white dish over a bed of pickled vegetables and topped with a small fried egg dotted with black pepper. El Zanjón del Gato is one of a few projects to step outside the comforts of what it means to be an informal eatery. El Zanjón del GatoBolívar 690, San TelmoMonday through Saturday 8:00pm to midnightPrice: depending on your appetite, $$ (AR $150-250) to $$$ (AR $250-400)
Source:The Bubble
August 31, 2016 23:03 UTC
Tortazo: Protest Planned Outside Buenos Aires Café That Kicked Out Lesbian Couple
The protest is a self-proclaimed ‘tortazo’ — a word that derives from the Argentine slang used to describe a lesbian: torta. In this case a ‘tortazo’ conveys the idea of a massive gathering of lesbians, while also inferring an expression of lesbianism. A crucial element of the escrache is public embarrassment, or the shaming of a person or institution for its conduct. Besides serving to ridicule the staff of ‘La Biela,’ the protest aims to increase LGBT visibility, and in particular, to organize an enormous demonstration of lesbian affection. The protest, as Paulón says, is “a response in line with the idea that our movement isn’t aggressive — just the opposite.
Source:The Bubble
August 31, 2016 21:45 UTC
Dilma Rousseff’s Impeachment: A Sad Day For Brazilian Democracy
A total of 61 out of 81 senators voted to remove Dilma Rousseff from office. Michel Temer didn’t wait and was quickly sworn into office this afternoon to end Rousseff’s term. “This is the second coup d’etat I face in my lifetime,” Rousseff said today in a long text posted online after the vote. Her small margin of victory tied with her inability to make inroads with Congress, Rousseff’s government began to crumble. Broadening corruption allegations that seemed to engulf the entire political class, including Rousseff’s Workers’ Party (PT) didn’t help matters either.
Source:The Bubble
August 31, 2016 21:22 UTC
Argentina Faces Uncertainty Following Dilma’s Impeachment
In the end, it happened: Dilma Rousseff, now former president of Brazil, has officially been impeached by the Brazilian Senate. After the vote, President Mauricio Macri’s administration issued a statement in which it continued with its strategy of trying to stay neutral in the impeachment proceedings. That is hardly a minor question considering Brazil is Argentina’s main trading partner and political ally in the region. Ideologically at least, President Mauricio Macri’s views align more closely with those of Temer as they are both center-right politicians. Plus, a government plagued by cries of illegitimacy means Macri could suddenly find himself as the strongest political voice in South America.
Source:The Bubble
August 31, 2016 21:22 UTC
Is This Córdoba Town Really At A Greater Risk Of Cancer?
The name of the farm town Monte Maiz says it all: mountain of corn. Monte Maiz, located 300 kilometers from the capital of Cordoba, has a population of 8,500 people and the incidence of cancer is five times higher than the World Health Organization estimates, according to a report by the University of Córdoba. The study also concluded that people of Monte Maiz reported having asthma-like breathing problems 25 percent more often than the general population and almost five times more spontaneous abortions. These numbers are controversial because Monte Maiz is also one of the cities where Monsanto’s genetically engineered crops are being grown using agrochemicals such as glyphosate. Others are skeptical that agrochemicals are to blame for the heightened risk of cancer.
Source:The Bubble
August 31, 2016 18:45 UTC
VITA: The Hump Day Happy Hour Worth Checking Out In Buenos Aires
Celebrate the week being halfway over at VITA with their weekly “Le Bureau After Office” event. Because sometimes you get thirsty well before Thursday and can use a decent Wednesday night chill out session. VITA brands itself as one of more exclusive bars in Buenos Aires, self described as a “restaurant-bar-lounge-club” focused on giving the city a more upscale cocktail and music option on Wednesday nights. For those with an insatiable drive to party (or a fortunate later start to their Thursday) there’s an after party starting at midnight. The mood for the night driven by live sets from legitimate DJs and producers from Buenos Aires and beyond.
Source:The Bubble
August 31, 2016 18:11 UTC
Is There Trouble Brewing In Macri’s Economic Team?
Ever since taking office, two of the most important officials in Macri’s so-called “economic Cabinet,” Finance Minister Alfonso Prat-Gay and Central Bank (BCRA) head Federico Sturzenegger, have clashed over the best way to steer the country’s economy, particularly how inflation should be tackled. Sturzenegger, for his part, says Macri’s economic cabinet isn’t doing enough to decrease the country’s fiscal deficit. The Criticism is sometimes about his policies, but sometimes are about the way he is. In what was a clear show of the existing tensions, the minister wasn’t included in the so-called timbreo carried out by the government on August 20. In addition La Política Online reported last week that Prat-Gay submitted his resignation, arguing “he wasn’t comfortable,” in his post.
Source:The Bubble
August 31, 2016 18:11 UTC
Argentine Folk Duo CheChelos Bring The ‘Peña’ To Buenos Aires
Cry no longer: Argentine folk duo CheChelos brings the countryside to you as they kick off their tour in Buenos Aires this Thursday with a concert at La Peña del Colorado. Works by both traditional and contemporary composers are played in concert, providing the listener with a variety of pieces and styles. If you can’t make it to the concert this Thursday, there will be another one at Café Vinilo on Sunday. And for interested string players, whether you play violin, viola cello, or bass, the duo will be hosting a workshop in Saavedra this Saturday. WhereLa Peña del Colorado, Güemes 3657How much?
Source:The Bubble
August 31, 2016 18:11 UTC
Maradona Strikes Again: Calls Macri Worst Argentine President In History
have actually been prevented from traveling for the obvious reason that well, you know, he was trying to travel on invalid documents. We have the worst President in Argentina’s history.”Maradona is now in Dubai, where he has served as the city’s Football Ambassador since 2012. A few highlights:That Time He Dissed MessiMaradona got caught on video saying that Messi had “no personality and was not a leader”. In an intimate dinner with the youth earlier this month, Maradona finally told Maradona Jr. that yes, “you are my son” (We won’t make any Star Wars references). Until then, satisfy your daily dose of Maradona antics cravings with this epic photo that is always a joy to look at:
Source:The Bubble
August 31, 2016 17:48 UTC
Top Five Jobs José López’s Former Employees Did Not Sign Up For
His former employees were summoned to testify in the case against him for illicit enrichment: six drivers, a former private secretary, a receptionist and a Head of Protocol all talked about their experiences under López. Ever wished that the job description had been clearer before you even applied? Although many of these are random, the implications could be huge and serve to add to the image of López who used state resources for his own personal ends. The testimonies also show the close links between López and the convent where he tried to hide the US$9 million. Between fixing the Mother Superior’s wheelchair and one driver taking López and former Planning Minister Julio de Vido to the convent with both their wives it is clear that the former official’s ties to the institution ran deep.
Source:The Bubble
August 31, 2016 17:03 UTC
The ‘Ni Una Menos’ Effect: More Women in Buenos Aires Are Denouncing Violence
A year after the first massive demonstration named “Ni Una Menos” (Not One Less) against femicides and gender violence, more women are talking. The number of judicial complaints regarding gender violence soared 25 percent in the first six months of the year, compared to the same period of 2015. Overall, every 60 minutes two complaints are filed regarding violence against women in the City of Buenos Aires. And one of every two cases that a prosecutor investigates corresponds to gender violence. That in no small part has to do with the “Ni Una Menos” movement that suddenly helped women talk about gender violence while also putting pressure on the judiciary to take action.
Source:The Bubble
August 31, 2016 16:30 UTC
Vidal Explains Death Threats: People Who Lose Business Don’t React Well
“When we took office we stepped on a lot of feet and took business away from a lot of people. I knew the risks I was running when I took up the challenge of governing the province,” said Vidal. “That has a cost and people that lose business don’t react well, but we knew that would happen,” continued Vidal. The latest death threat to Vidal was made last Sunday with a man stating that a bomb had been placed in the governor’s house in Morón. This death threat, along with several others made the week before, were made by the person leaving a message through the 911 emergency number.
Source:The Bubble
August 31, 2016 15:45 UTC