March 1, 2006 www.LatinEPR.com LatinEPR News Wire
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LATIN AMERICA - COMMUNICATIONS/MEDIA
Household Broadband Connection Highest in Chile
According to mobile operator Telefonica CTC, subdivision of the Spain-based multinational, Chile has the highest penetration rate of broadband service in all Latin America. 10.3% of all Chilean households have broadband internet connection, as compared to Argentina and Brazil, which each have around 5%. Peru comes is second after Chile with 6.4%. The significance of Chile’s rate is that many residential connections, which still account for 85% of all broadband connections in that country (source: Point Topic), also serve small-scale internet café businesses, thereby amplifying their reach.
Peruvian Daily Makes Strides in Citizen Journalism
In an effort to strengthen community ties and include readers in the news process, many newspapers around the world are adopting citizen journalism techniques. According to the Editors Weblog, a site published by the World Editors Forum, one of the latest developments comes from the Peruvian daily El Comercio, which has started integrating reader photographs and video into its online and print editions. There are also plans to eventually include original reporting. El Comercio Editor Juan Carlos Lujan states that digital technology not only has made this new community involvement possible, it also has the benefit of targeting younger readers who tend to be more tech-savvy.
Univision up for Sale
Spanish-language media company Univision Communications announced earlier in February that it is considering the sale of part or all of the company, as part of a strategy to increase shareholder value. The news had the intended effect, with the company’s stock rising as much as 14% soon after. Time Warner, Clear Channel, and Grupo Televisa are among the companies looking into the sale, which could fetch $12 billion or more. At the moment, Univision’s closest domestic rival, Telemundo, as well as CBS, would be prevented from bidding for antitrust reasons. Univision Communications includes 69 radio stations and three television networks, of which Univision Network reaches 98% of all US Hispanic households.
LATIN AMERICA - NEWS BRIEFS
World Tourist Arrivals Reach over 800 Million in 2005
Worldwide tourist arrivals grew 5.5% in 2005, announced the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) recently. The increase over 2004, which registered 766 million arrivals, brings the total to more than 800 million for the first time ever. UNWTO estimates in January placed the number at 808 million, with many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean performing exceptionally well. Venezuela and Colombia showed the region’s highest growth of 23% and 22%, respectively, while as many as ten other countries were on their way to breaking record, with growth between 10-20%. Africa led the way globally with 10%. Experts project growth for 2006 to reach 5%, less than the previous year, but still above the long term annual growth rate of 4.1%. UNWTO Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli said that these latest figures, in light of 2005’s turbulent events, prove the tourism sector’s improved resilience over the past few years.
Gol Adds Paraguay Route
Brazilian low-cost airline Gol has added Paraguay to its growing list of international destinations with daily flights between Buenos Aires and Asuncion. Gol already flies to Argentina, Bolivia, and Uruguay, in addition to its numerous domestic routes. Since its launch in 2001, the airline has become so successful, it is now Brazil’s second-largest air carrier after TAM.
New Sao Paulo-Lima Route under TAM Code share
Brazilian airline TAM is close to finalizing a code share agreement with TACA Peru. Under the agreement, flights between Sao Paulo and Lima would commence the 18th of March, 2006, according to a report in El Comercio.
Spain Company Plans largest Resort in Latin America
This February, Spanish tourism firm, Mall, announced that it will invest 450 million U.S. dollars in Mexico to build the largest resort in all of Latin America. Land has been reserved for the resort's construction along the coastline of the Mexican state of Campeche, and it is expected to begin operating at the start of 2008. This center will give Campeche an economic boost and is projected to generate around 5,000 jobs in the construction phase and 2,500 jobs when it opens. The resort will include a 500-room five-star hotel, 2,500 apartments, a 150-dock marina and a variety of restaurants. Apart from those facilities, the resort will also include a conservation center for the Carey Turtle, and the first 18-hole ecological golf course in Latin America, which will be designed by U.S. golfer Jack Nicklaus.
Argentina Signs Price Control Agreement with Supermarkets
Argentine Economy Minister Felisa Miceli recently announced that his government has signed an agreement with supermarkets to freeze prices on more than 200 products. The agreement is intended to help restraint inflation, which has been steadily rising in Argentina due to government spending and an increase in the money supply. Without regulation, the price on these consumer items would be certain to rise substantially this year, affecting the population and the way it participates in the economy. Regulation on the most basic items will also help protect low-income families, who are particularly vulnerable to rising consumer prices. Participating companies include the French supermarket chain Carrefour SA, Chile’s Jumbo SA, Procter&Gamble Co. and various domestic beef, textile, and food producers.
Brazil Unemployment Rate Drops to 8.3%
This December, Brazil’s unemployment rate fell for the first time in six months, down to 8.3%, reports Reuters. Brazil’s 2005 average of 9.8% marked the second year in a row that unemployment dropped in South America’s largest economy.
‘Green’ Hybrid Car Hits Mexico’s Roads
This past month, Mexico became the first country in Latin America to offer the Honda Civic Hybrid model. Japanese car company Honda chose Mexico as the launching pad for its ‘green’ Hybrid, because of the country’s urban air pollution concerns, particularly in the capital city. The company has set its annual sales goal at a conservative 450 vehicles, to account for the relatively high price tag and the fact that it is tapping into a completely new market. However, Honda has confidence in Mexico’s strong automotive market, which grew 3.3% in 2005 with 1.13 million vehicles sold, according to the Mexican Automotive Industry Association.
Evo Morales Sets Fashion Trends
New Bolivian President Evo Morales has made headlines for becoming the first indigenous president in that country’s history, as well as for his socialist politics. But nothing seems to have resonated more with the public at large than his particular fashion choice. The sweater, or chompa, is becoming emblematic of the president, who wore it on his recent tour before international dignitaries that included King Carlos of Spain. Morales insists the sweater, a striped alpaca garment, is a symbol of the people he represents. More than 60% of Bolivia’s population is indigenous. About the same percentage live in poverty. Surprisingly, it is supporters of his politics outside of Bolivia who are adapting the sweater, with versions of it in high demand across Europe and Latin America.
Stones Rock One and A Half Million in Rio
This February, one and a half million spectators turned out to see the Rolling Stone’s free concert on Brazil’s famous Copacabana Beach to make it the band’s largest performance ever. It was the Stones’ first show in Brazil since 1998, and their first ever free concert in that country, where few can afford tickets to see top international acts. The crowd, which stretched along almost one mile of beach, was delighted to hear Mick Jagger, who has a Brazilian son, address his fans in Portuguese. City officials were also pleased about the high level of security. The show went off without incident and presented a major boost for Rio de Janeiro’s carnival season.
Dominican Athlete Breaks Guinness World Record
Dominican marathon runner Richard Apoliar Herrera has entered the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest run ever of 87 miles. Herrera completed the run, which took him overnight from Santo Domingo to San Francisco de Macoris, in 20 hours nine minutes and was received by the country’s sports minister, among others, upon his arrival.
Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo End Protests
After 25 years and 1500 protests in the main square of Buenos Aires, the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo have called an end to their weekly resistance marches. Hebe de Bonafini, president of the group, which was founded in 1977 to fight for information regarding the numbers of Argentine ‘disappeared’ during the country’s last military dictatorship, explained the protests were ended because the group no longer saw the government as an enemy. President Kircher has made considerable efforts to strip former military members of judicial immunity and repeal amnesty legislation. Still, much remains unknown about the thousands of Argentine nationals to have disappeared between 1976 and 1983, including some 500 kidnapped children. There is also a debate concerning the official numbers, which varying sources place upwards of 30,000. And while the protests may be over, the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo will continue to hold silent vigils every Thursday night.
LOOK IT UP
.... ON LATIN AMERICAN POVERTY
World Bank: News & Broadcast – Report
Latin America Needs to Cut Poverty to Boost Growth
February 14, 2006 - A new World Bank report says Latin American countries need to fight poverty more aggressively if they want to grow more and compete with China and other dynamic Asian economies. ……
To see entire report, please go to:
WASHINGTON POST
A New Path on Latin American Poverty?
By Marcela Sanchez
Saturday, February 18, 2006
The World Bank announced this week that Latin America needs to cuto poverty to boost growth – a conclusion that may be stating the obvious. But this is a big deal for the international lending institution …..
To see entire article, please go to:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/17/AR2006021701784.html
DID YOU KNOW?
Lima Chosen Culinary Capital of Latin America
At Spain’s recent 4th annual international culinary conference, Madrid Fusion, Peruvian food received the highest accolade as Lima was chosen Culinary Capital of Latin America. More than 1,000 food critics, caterers, and chefs turned out for the conference, which celebrates the latest in avant garde cuisine and features the most progressive chefs from Spain, Holland, Italy, Japan, Peru, and the United States.