In The News

Coffee Rust Reaches New Heights in Central America

Moises Castillo and Marcos Aleman June 9, 2014
Rising temperatures and climate change have put the Central American coffee industry into crisis mode with economic repercussions for the region, reports the Associated Press. A fungus called “coffee rust” is destroying coffee plants. So far, there is no known cure. Farmers manage harvests by spraying or replacing infected trees. Disease-resistant plants have been developed, but planting new...

China Trades Up in Latin America

Jill Richardson June 6, 2014
Since 2000, China has become a strategic economic actor in Latin America, the top trader for Brazil, Chile and Peru. Chinese exports to Latin America have grown in volume and valuation, especially in manufacturing and electronics, but China’s huge influence comes with a cost, including volatility in the commodities markets, reports Jill Richardson for Foreign Policy in Focus. China’s trading...

Let Colombia End Its Civil War

Washington Office on Latin America June 5, 2014
The illicit drug trade in Colombia has left hundreds of thousands dead and displaced millions, even though the United States has spent $9 billion since 2000, mostly on security. The government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are engaged in peace talks in Cuba and have signed a preliminary accord: “The agreement offers a viable plan for the FARC to end its involvement in the...

Brazil Child Sex Trade Raises Alarm as World Cup Nears

Super User June 5, 2014
Global sporting events attract tourists, prostitution and the child sex trade. The challenges are compounded for the World cup in Brazil. Brazil has enjoyed high economic growth in the past years, but its law enforcement system and social policy are less equipped to address child prostitution. “Brazilian society is often accused of sexualising children,” writes Wyre Davies for the BBC News. “The...

China’s Cyberespionage Presents a 21st-Century Challenge

Fareed Zakaria May 23, 2014
China, with budget surpluses and plenty of cash, balances old and new strategies in foreign relations. Trade, energy deals, assertive territorial claims, aid, spying are all part of the mix, suggests Fareed Zakaria in an opinion essay for the Washington Post. The United States has charged five Chinese military personnel for economic cyberespionage conducted against US companies. Analysts suggest...

Deforestation: Carving Up the Amazon

Barbara Fraser May 22, 2014
Roads allow human access to remote lands but often result in habitat destruction. Networks of roads in the Amazon and the rapid deforestation add to jobs and economic growth with agriculture development, as well as ranching, mining and land speculation, explains Barbara Fraser for Nature. “So far, most [roads] have encroached on forest around the edges of the basin, but they are increasingly...

US Tech Firms Could Feel Backlash in China After Hacking Indictments

Paul Mozur and Carlos Tejada May 21, 2014
The United States indicted five Chinese military officers for cyber-espionage of major US companies. “The U.S. move on Monday adds to growing tensions between Washington and Beijing over cybersecurity issues that are creating obstacles for U.S. companies in the nearly $324 billion Chinese information technology market,” report Paul Mozur and Carlos Tejada for the Wall Street Journal. Chinese...