South America

RIO DE JANEIRO

Bolivia Takes the Leap into the Big Pond of Mercosur*

By Mario Osava
To go down fighting in the Andean Community (CAN), with a combined market of 92 million consumers, or move up to the big leagues of Mercosur, with 275 million? This was the dilemma faced by Bolivia’s foreign trade strategists when it came to pursuing full membership in the bloc formed by its neighbours to the south.

Brazil Drives Energy Integration in South America

By Mario Osava
Energy integration in South America will be a reality "in the medium to long term," driven by hydropower and drawing on Brazil’s experience, predicts Altino Ventura Filho, secretary of planning in this country’s Ministry of Mines and Energy.

Chile’s Native Communities Find Ally in Supreme Court

By Marianela Jarroud
Indigenous groups in Chile celebrated a recent court ruling that represented the latest victory in the struggle for respect for their right to be previously consulted about major projects which directly affect their communities.

Latin America, Testing Ground for Chinese Yuan

By Fabiana Frayssinet
China is looking to Latin America to experiment with the yuan, or renminbi, to replace the dollar, taking advantage of the growth in Chinese trade and investment in this region. But because the volume is still insignificant, it is not yet clear what impact the currency will have on economies in the region.
Santo Antônio hydropower station under construction, October 2010. Credit: Mario Osava/IPS

BRAZIL: A Curse on Hydropower Projects in the Amazon?

By Mario Osava
"Perhaps it's the curse of Rondônia," joked Ari Ott, referring to teething troubles with the first turbine of the Santo Antônio hydroelectric plant which was intended to kick off a new cycle of huge power projects in Brazil's Amazon jungle region.