Latin America & Europe roundup

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Latin America & Europe roundup

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As a privileged observer, cause I am here in Europe but I did not forget Latin America and its problems. This new editorial (op-ed) is a review of what´s going on in Latin America and Europe.

Sorry for the delay since the last posting, but I have to reschedule all my tasks due to the move to Portugal. But here I go:

Cuba: What caputure my attention were two things

• Primavera Negra : On 15th march, 2003 Castro has imprisioned 75 journalists. Each year since then less people and attention for this were paid by mainstream media. All they talk is on Castro´s health. Me and some other bloggers, specially Asha from Castrianism that created a big hit for the occasion: Primavera Negra TV that will keep on the air. Bravo, Asha.
• Biscet for President!: A new campaign, started when Cuban doctor Oscar Elias Biscet wrote an open letter from his Cuban prison were he was left under the sentence of 25 years, for fighting for Human Rights in Cuba. Read here his bio.

Brasil: Abortion referendum is in danger

Since a poll was published showing that most of the people in Brazil rejects the liberation of abortion (except under the circumstances already defined legally), many "intellectuals" started to ask to withdraw the referendum proposal. It´s obvious, they like people only when they vote for Lula. They are afraid of another massive defeat, as the gun ban referendum two years ago when people rejected the idea of prohibit the gun sales.
What they want now is an exit a la US: Supreme Court will decide... Another Roe V. Wade? Let´s keep our eyes on it.

Portugal: Abortion was approved!
Another referendum took place in Portugal in february. Seven years ago the defenders of "yes" (pro-choice) won but due to the abstention rate was great, the referendum was cancelled. This time the same happened. Pro-choicers won again, but abstention was high again.
It seemed that if there was a month ahead, pro-lifers could change the situation, cause the approval rate for "yes" started to fall dramatically. Even with all media in its support.
This time, even with less than 50% of the people voting, it will be released as law. Socialist Prime minister Socrates (not the philosopher, not philosopher!) declared that will make efforts to this to become law. A thing that happen some day ago, when the president Cavaco Silva, received the official petition to implement it.

Portugal seems to be much more catholic than Brazil. They still celebrate easter and go to church, while Brazil is just a non-stop carnival (flesh & blood carnival, almost a Panis & Circensis thing), but in this question, Brazilians surprised me!

Spain: Socialist government protects Castro.
As Armando Valladares showed, Spain socialists have such loving feelings towards Fidel Castro. They even lie before UN Human Rights commission just to protect Castro from the "evil" americans..