Representatives from the world’s biggest polluters met in Washington on Monday 19^th April, to discuss about a short-term financing project to help developing countries adapt to global warming.

The Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate was hosted by the United Nations. It included presentations by the United States and other developed countries on what they would do to make good on financing outlined in the Copenhagen Accord resulting from last year’s U.N. climate meeting in Denmark.

However, after the meeting, the top US climate negotiator, Todd Stern, admitted that a binding agreement on curbing greenhouse gas emissions may not even be possible at the next UN climate summit scheduled for December in Cancun, but that progress can still be made on many issues.

“There’s still considerable support for the notion of a legal agreement … but I think that people are also quite cognizant of the notion that it might or might not happen”, he said.

The United States is the only industrialized nation outside the existing Kyoto Protocol, the U.N. plan obliging them to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by an average of at least 5 percent below 1990 levels during the period 2008-12.

Meanwhile, a very different climate summit began in Tiquipaya, Bolivia. The World Peoples’ Summit on Climate Change and Rights of Mother Earth started here on Monday 19^th April.

The Bolivian president, Evo Morales, proposed the Cochabamba meeting in the wake of the climate change summit in Copenhagen last December, arguing that the views of developing countries were largely ignored. Morales’ idea is to give a voice to the world’s poorest people.

Several thousand people are expected in Cochabamba. Among them, indigenous and civil society movements, scientists, activists and government delegations will attend the meeting. The summit will run until Thursday 22nd April. Mother Earth will be celebrated that day.

An explosive device has been thrown at the US consulate in Nuevo Laredo, north of Mexico, on Friday 10^th April, said US officials.

According to the US embassy in Mexico, nobody got injured during the attack. The blast only caused damage and some windows exploded.

No indication of a motive has been done but Nuevo Laredo, like other cities near the US border, has seen an increase in violence over the last months due to drug gangs.

In March, three people linked to the US consulate in the Ciudad Juarez, in the state of Chihuahua, got killed. Although the reason of this attack is unclear, the gangs are the main suspects.

The consulate in Nuevo Laredo, located just over the border from Laredo in Texas, will be closed until further notices. Another consulate in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, in the north of the country, remains closed as well.

The spokesman of the US embassy in Mexico, Claude Young, said that an investigation has been launched. The police is currently analysing the explosive device that has been thrown over the wall into the compound late on Friday night.

The US authorised the consulate employees, working in six cities near the US border, to send their families out of the danger zone.

The regain of violence is due to the split between the Gulf cartel and their former allies, Los Zetas who are battling for control of smuggling routes into the US.

Drug-related violence has left some 18,000 people dead in Mexico since 2006.

During a visit to Mexico in March, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged increased support for Mexico in the fight against drug gangs. She also said that the US would work more in order to cut US demand for drugs and the flow of profits and guns into Mexico.

Argentina has enacted new legislation to charge travellers from the US, Canada and Australia a ‘reciprocity fee’ for entering the country through Ezieza airport starting 20th December.

Plans to start charging a fee were in place last year, but Argentine officials suspended the law in a change of position. Now, the fee is back for residents of countries which charge Argentines when travelling there.

US citizens are required to pay US$131, Australians US$100 and Canadian citizens US$70. The fee would be a one-time payment good for entry multiple times over ten years.

Last year, a government official said the fee “would not lead even a single person to not visit the country”.

Friday, the US embassy posted a notice to citizens in Argentina warning them of the new fee. “The fee will be collected only at Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport. Once paid, the fee permits multiple entries into Argentina for ten years in accordance with United States visa reciprocity. Americans may pay in dollars, by credit card, or with travellers checks.”

While many travellers from the US are outraged by the fee, others believe it was only a matter of time. The US charges Argentines a ‘non-refundable’ US$131 fee simply for applying for a US visa where after the payment is made the visa can still be denied.

The law is set to be widely applied in January 2010.

President of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, has nationalised hundreds of oil companies in Lago Maracaibo, in the west of the country.

He claimed that the usurpation of several ports, 60 private companies, 39 rigs, 600 boats and up to 8,000 workers was a “revolutionary offensive”.

Military vehicles were used to take over two US-owned boats and gas facilities. Chávez declared that he was “re-taking” what was privatised in the 1990s.

Williams Company Inc and Wood Group were among the multi-million rich businesses to have their property seized, although they expect an “amicable solution” to be reached.

Televisions stations showed masses of supporters chanting in celebration of the action.

“No we don’t want to be a North American colony, but yes we want to be a potent Latin American force,” was sung by the crowds.

On 7th May (last Thursday), legislation was passed by the National Assembly allowing the government to nationalise any private oil companies when it feels it necessary to do so.

The reason given for the mass occupation was the recent fall of world oil prices, which had put a strain on the state-owned Venezuelan petrol industry. Official estimates suggest that the move will lower the cost of producing petrol by up to 20%, therefore saving the Venezuelan government in excess of US$500m.

Chávez emphasised that the economic factor was the not the only motivation for the takeover.

“I’m not just liberating the boats and rigs. I’m liberating the workers from the yolk of capitalism.”

Argentine golfer, Angel Cabrera, won the 73rd Masters at Augusta yesterday. He is the only active golfer alongside Tiger Woods with Masters and US Open titles.

The 39-year-old from Córdoba took the title after beating Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell in a play-off. Perry appeared set for victory but let it slip away after bogeying his last two holes to finish on 12 under. This left Cabrera with two putts for his par and the win.

Cabrera, at 69 in the world, becomes the lowest-ranked Masters champion since rankings began in 1986. He jumped 51 places after the winning the tournament, to number 18.

He received US$1.35m for the victory and is the first player since Peter Thomson in 1954-55 to claim major championships as his first two US PGA Tour titles.

When asked how important his win would be in his home country compared to football and Maradona or basketball and Manu Ginobili, Cabrera said that although football has always been the biggest sport in Argentina “the Masters is the Masters”. He added “This is a great moment for any golfer… This moment, and the win in Oakmont, are the greatest moments of my life.” Cabrera won the US Open in Oakmont in 2007.

A group of US legislators arrived in Cuba on Friday with the intention to explore the possibilities of opening bilateral discussions.

Marcia Fudge, a congresswoman of the Democratic Party explained that they are searching for a method of “understanding” in a moment considered the best for talks with Cuba.

However, Barbara Lee, who is heading the US delegation, made clear that the visit was not a presidential mandate. Lee expressed that “we are not bringing a message from Obama”, and that they had come of their own accord.

This is the first delegation of US politicians that have arrived in Cuba since President Barack Obama assumed office in January. The visit comes as Congress considers lifting restrictions on travel to US travel to Cuba. The lifting of these restrictions would result in a leap in tourism for the country.

Obama has initiated steps towards lifting restrictions, which were tightened under the Bush administration. The leader is keen to normalise US and Cuban relations, although an entire abolitiion of the restrictions is not planned.

The US delegation will be in Cuba to “listen and talk” until Wednesday.

Photo by Caitlin Murray

When you think of Argentina and its sporting tradition, you think football, Maradona and the hand of God. You may also wonder how the country managed to churn out such good polo teams. You are rather mystified at being told that the national sport is pato, which used to be played with an actual duck’s head.

However, something new is emerging on the Argentine horizon. The Shankees have come to town, and brought with them that famous old US sport, baseball.

“In November 2008, I figured that I wanted to put a baseball team together. And then abracadabra, the rest is history,” says Paul Perry, founder and coach of the team.

“It was easy to get started. It was serendipity. You have to move on an idea quick. I had already tried putting a football team together called the Wild Turkeys and I even bought a turkey suit. It’s harder to get footballers though, because its rougher and you can get injured.”

It seems that Paul has reignited a lot of the players’ enthusiasm for baseball. The majority played in the US, some of them picking up their gloves for the first time since their Little League days.

The team is mostly made up of Americans. The exception is an Argentine, Rodrigo Castelli, a 34-year-old managing director from Villa Urquiza. “It’s good to be accepted by the guys,” he reveals. “When I was ten I went to the US. I played baseball for seven years, but then didn’t play for a further 15.”

The truth is that Rodrigo is quite an exception to the rule. There are several established teams on the Argentine baseball circuit, but it is a long way from being professional. It is difficult to generate interest in the sport, especially amongst the fans.

One of the six fans in attendance, Martin Vilte, 36, a professional from Recoleta, gave an insight into why the stands are not packed full of supporters.

“For me it’s a good sport, but a lot of Argentines think of baseball as a very foreign sport. It’s complicated and they don’t understand the rules.”

Another important factor is where the games are played. The Shankees were scheduled to play a friendly game against Cuba in the National Baseball Stadium. It is quite out of the way, near Ezeiza airport. The team seems to think is that if there was a way to transport the fans out there, it would be more popular.

Unfortunately, they were informed on the day that the stadium was undergoing maintenance. The game was instead played on a nearby field, but Paul insists that the actual playing is what counts.

Photo by Randall Bass

“It could have been worse. It could have rained,” he laughs. “It’s about bringing something to their lives. It’s not about balls, it’s about moments. They’ll always remember the Buenos Aires baseball experience. It’s baseball in ‘bizarro’ world.”

And bizarre it is. The Shankees claim that the Cubans drink rum in between innings. One of them would have been more appropriate in a fashion show. Despite his sunglasses, slicked back hair and very fashionable, tight blue vest, his pitching led the Cubans to a 9-5 victory. They celebrated with more rum, and pumped out some reggaeton tunes to rub salt in the wound.

Paul was not happy, and alleged that the Cubans had changed their batting order, which is considered cheating. On top of that, the catching equipment arrived late, meaning only five innings were played.

Fortunately for him, that game was just a friendly. Since then, the Shankees have participated in a pre-season tournament. They won four and lost one game, and will head into the national league in fine form. Paul and his troops will fight it out in the second division with five other teams, competing to win promotion to the top league. The season began on 28th March and will last for approximately three months.

“We train when we play,” he admits. “There are decent teams out there like Velez, La Plata and Lanús. But we don’t have the discipline to practise. It’s a miracle to have all 12 here, given that they all go out partying on Friday.”

The baseball is not just restricted to Saturday afternoons. Several of the players are coaches at local schools. Rodrigo met Paul in this way. He believes that there is a lot of potential with youth baseball.

Matteo Doskis, born in the US, but now resident in Buenos Aires, agrees. “There’s a minor league with loads of kids involved. We have a project in a villa near Parque Roca. It’s linked with the Little League in the US. They play with a lot of enthusiasm. It’s a weekend thing for them. Families get there before I do!”

Photo by Caitlin Murray

The Shankees are always on the lookout for new players.

“The team is all from the US,” jokes Paul. “You need a passport to play. But we accept hybrids. If you want to play, contact us. Come and have a game and we’ll go from there.” 

That the team has come together in such a short space of time is impressive. “It’s surreal,” he says. “I want to write a screenplay. It’ll make a good movie.” 

Anybody interested in playing or watching baseball can visit the website www.shankeesbaseball.com or contact Paul Perry at shankeesbaseball@hotmail.com.

President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner yesterday received a letter from newly inaugurated president of the US, Barack Obama. He wrote that it would be a pleasure to “join forces and promote relations” with Argentina.

The letter, sealed on Friday, arrived at the Casa Rosada on Monday, and was subsequently forwarded to Fernández, currently in Spain.

Obama thanked her for the “profound thoughts” in her message of congratulations, and was sure that the countries could “work together in peace to create a stronger world in the next four years”. He added that there were a lot of challenges ahead, “best to be confronted together”.

Despite the importance of the letter, the Argentine government was somewhat disappointed with the mode of communication and its delay. Obama had already spoken by telephone to President Luiz Inácio da Silva of Brazil and President Michelle Bachelet of Chile, and had been in contact with the Bolivian and Colombian governments.

Obama’s delay in contacting Fernández may have stemmed from the fact that she was visiting Fidel Castro in Cuba on his inauguration day. She also initially lent her support to Hillary Clinton in the presidential race, before aligning herself with his campaign.

Nevertheless, Sergio Massa, the head of cabinet, emphasised that it was another phase in the new relation between the countries, which the change of power has allowed them to consolidate.