America.gov-World Regions: The Americas

Young Peruvian “Leader on the Rise” Fights Domestic Violence

Sonya Weakley — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 10:46:27 -0500

Lucia Zegarra, a college student, young leader and advisor to the Peruvian Consulate in Washington, uses her own experiences to help others avoid the pain of domestic violence. She challenges cultural perceptions that it is acceptable for men to be aggressive toward women.

Passion for Baseball Used in Dominican Republic Development Plan

Eric Green — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:53:47 -0500

The Dominican Development Alliance, an agreement between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Major League Baseball, aims to tap into the passion for baseball to help young people in the Dominican Republic “get an education and do well in life,” says a USAID official.

U.S.-Mexico Talks Aimed at Reducing Drug Trafficking

Merle D. Kellerhals Jr. — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:27:11 -0500

The United States and Mexico continue to look for ways to break the power and impunity of drug-trafficking criminals that plague both sides of the border, Secretary of State Rice says. Drug trafficking is a joint problem and a joint responsibility, Rice says at a briefing at the State Department.

Innovative System Treats Waste, Produces Fuel in Ecuador

Nancy L. Pontius — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:30:38 -0500

Mountain villages of Ecuador, where firewood can be difficult to find, would benefit from a low-cost cookstove that uses animal and food waste as an energy source. Fort Lewis College students, backed by an Environmental Protection Agency grant, are developing just such a stove.

Bolivia’s Suspension from Trade Pact Only U.S. Option

Stephen Kaufman — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 18:25:33 -0500

Lack of cooperation on counternarcotics efforts prompted the United States to suspend the duty-free status of most Bolivian goods, a State Department official says. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Hemispheric Affairs Christopher McMullen talks with America.gov about U.S.-Bolivian relations.

Summit of the Americas Highlights U.S. Commitment to Hemisphere

Eric Green — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:35:14 -0500

The April 2009 Summit of the Americas will offer President-elect Barack Obama a “unique opportunity” to signal ongoing American commitment to the Western Hemisphere, says the U.S. national summit coordinator. Hector Morales talks with America.gov about key challenges facing the Western Hemisphere.

Ministers Will Meet in Panama to Promote Trade Initiative

Merle D. Kellerhals Jr. — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:39:53 -0500

A trade initiative meeting in Panama aims to widen talks among Western Hemisphere nations that are open to expanded trade during a time of nearly global economic uncertainty, U.S. officials say. Discussion is expected to be devoted to the global financial crisis and broader economic challenges.

Award to Burmese Cyberdissidents Highlights Problem of Censorship

Stephen Kaufman — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:08:49 -0500

The U.S. State Department welcomes Reporters Without Borders’ decision to recognize journalists from Burma, Cuba and North Korea in its annual awards, which highlight the severe difficulties many journalists face in their efforts to exercise freedom of expression.

Common Economic Concerns Connect Western Hemispheric Nations

Eric Green — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 13:54:15 -0500

Economic challenges facing the Caribbean Basin are tied directly to the U.S. economy, says the State Department’s Paul Trivelli. Global economic problems affect the U.S. demand for Central American products, tourist travel to the Caribbean, and the amount of money sent home by immigrants from the region.

Goals of U.S. Embargo on Cuba Unchanged, Commerce Official Says

Eric Green — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:15:06 -0500

The goals of the U.S. economic embargo on Cuba — encouraging a peaceful transition to democracy and showing the illegal seizure of U.S. property has serious consequences — are the same now as when the embargo was imposed almost 50 years ago, the Commerce Department’s Walter Bastian tells America.gov.

New U.S. Partnership in the Americas Is Bush Legacy to Obama

Eric Green — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:47:19 -0500

The State Department’s Thomas Shannon outlines for America.gov the ways in which the Bush administration will pass on to President-elect Barack Obama and his foreign policy and national security teams a greatly strengthened U.S. partnership with the Americas.

Regional Cooperation Needed on Caribbean Natural Disasters

Eric Green — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:17:44 -0500

Caribbean countries especially hard-hit in recent years by natural disasters need a unified regional approach to disaster response and a reduced reliance on international aid, a disaster-management specialist tells America.gov in advance of the Miami Conference on the Caribbean and Central America.

Panama Joins U.S. Partnership to Combat Cancer

Daniel Gorelick — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:36:54 -0500

The White House announces a U.S-Panama partnership to increase breast cancer awareness and research. First lady Laura Bush describes how the partnership will empower Panamanian women to take charge of their health. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women in Panama.

Doctors, Engineers Deliver Aid on Three-Month Tour in Americas

Jacquelyn S. Porth — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:20:49 -0500

The USS Kearsarge is sailing home after a 13-week humanitarian mission to Trinidad and Tobago, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Colombia, Nicaragua and Guyana. Its personnel, with help from specialists from these countries and Canada, France, Brazil and the Netherlands, treated 47,000 patients.

State’s Glassman Calls Colombia a Leader on Fighting Terrorism

Amor Safi — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 11:05:02 -0500

James K. Glassman, under secretary for public diplomacy and public affairs at the Department of State, comments on Colombia’s success in fighting terrorism.

Baseball’s Cal Ripken Jr. and Dennis Martinez Visit Nicaragua

Paul Levitan — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:21:50 -0500

American Public Diplomacy Envoy Cal Ripken Jr. was joined by his former Baltimore Orioles teammate, Nicaragua’s own Dennis Martinez, on a trip to Managua and Martinez’s hometown of Granada. There, the U.S. baseball stars worked with coaches and players on improving their game.

Bush Optimistic About Overcoming Global Financial Problems

Phillip Kurata — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:42:15 -0500

President Bush believes that the global economic crisis turmoil be overcome well ahead of the 18-month time frame adopted by participants at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima, Peru. U.S. officials say keeping trade open and resisting protectionism are keys to resolving the issue.

Private Groups Rally to Send Disaster-Relief Aid to Cuba

Kathryn McConnell — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:25:10 -0500

Groups in the United States are sending relief supplies to Cuba to help people who have endured a long and devastating 2008 hurricane season. Among the groups licensed to send humanitarian supplies to Cuba are Catholic Relief Services, Pan American Development Foundation, Global Links and Operation USA.

Venezuelan Elections Test Chavez’s Commitment to Democracy

Stephen Kaufman — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:34:39 -0500

The United States is concerned over the Venezuelan government’s intimidation of its political opposition ahead of the November 23 state and municipal elections, which a State Department official says is counter to the country’s democratic commitments under the Inter-American Democratic Charter.

United States Respects Indian Tribes' Right to Self-Determination

Peggy B. Hu and Jeffrey Thomas — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 09:19:15 -0500

Many people are puzzled when they hear the U.S. president use such phrases as “government-to-government basis with tribal governments,” “tribal sovereignty” or “self-determination” for American Indians. American Indian tribes are considered "domestic dependent nations" within the United States.