Stories for March 12th 2012
Trade, political refugees and Falklands’ flights in CFK/Piñera summit agenda
Increasing common infrastructure projects such as tunnels and border crossings between Chile and Argentina will be the main motive of this week’s presidential summit between Sebastian Piñera and Cristina Fernandez.
One year after Fukushima, time for a more mature debate on nuclear
Since Fukushima, important developments have taken place. Germany has decided to shut down its fission plants. Moreover, in a referendum, 95% of the Italian public opposed plans to restart a nuclear programme in the country.
Argentina expected to announce more protectionist measures this week
Argentina plans to intensify its policy of protecting the trade surplus and impeding the outflow of hard currency and this week is expected to add another one hundred tariff positions which will be submitted to an increase in import levies.
UK minister in Chile accuses Argentina of economic blockade to the Falklands
United Kingdom’s Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne on a two-day visit to Chile criticized what he called the “economic blockade” to the Falklands Islands by saying it “wasn’t right” and again reaffirmed the right of self determination for the Islanders.
Freedom of expression in Argentina?
By John Fowler — “The free communication of ideas and opinions is one of the most precious of the rights of man. Every citizen may, accordingly, speak, write and print with freedom...”. French National Assembly, Declaration of the Rights of Man, August 26, 1789.
“Connecting cultures”, the theme for this year’s Commonwealth Day celebration
“Connecting Cultures” is the theme chosen for this year’s Commonwealth Day. The Commonwealth unites 54 countries with diverse cultures around shared values and vision. A global community of over two billion people of differing beliefs and traditions, with cultural expression, a vibrant means of identity and exchange.
Mercosur/EU meet for a new round of negotiations in Brussels
A new round of talks between the European Union and Mercosur is scheduled to begin Monday in Brussels for a week, according to a press release from the Argentine Foreign Affairs.
Workers for Antarctica sought
The United Kingdom Antarctica Heritage Fund UKAHT (http://www.ukaht.org/) is seeking new candidates to work at Port Lockroy for the 2012/2013 season. Deadline for applications is at 12 noon on the 30th March.
Malvinas ‘Ushuaia declaration’ will be approved this week by the Argentine congress
The chairman of the Argentine Lower House Foreign Affairs Committee, Guillermo Carmona said that the recent ‘Ushuaia Declaration’ claiming sovereignty over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands will be posted to all Parliaments world-wide to ratify and further advance Argentina’s position in the dispute.
Inter-American Development Bank meets in Montevideo; over 3.000 attendants
Leading figures from the public, private, and academic sectors will participate in the annual meeting of the Inter American Development Bank, (IDB), In Uruguay, March 15-19, to examine issues that include the European crisis, youth employment, citizen security, culture and sports for youth development, climate change, and cooperation between Asia and Latin America.
