Latin America Update, October 2013
In 'Latin America Update' Gateway House lists some of the important events in Latin America over the past month
Courtesy: Google Maps
Courtesy: Google Maps
Courtesy: Ministério da Saúde/Flickr
Brazil’s new global agenda for the internet
After revelations that the U.S.’s NSA spied on her, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has ordered a series of measures to ensure online independence and called for an equitable global internet infrastructure. India can follow Brazil’s lead and make its communication systems less vulnerable
Courtesy: glaubercavalcante
How Latin America reduced poverty
Like Brazil, many other countries in Latin America have implemented successful poverty-alleviation programmes, including cash transfers, as part of an overall strategy for reducing inequality. These programmes can be a model for other developing countries
Courtesy: mckaysavage/Flickr
Leadergiri: The Indian dream
The old Indian dream of upward mobility through education and enterprise is being replaced by the new one of leadergiri attained through the pursuit of raw money and muscle power, exercised through politics. It is deflecting young India from the virtuous path.
Courtesy: Ministry of External Affairs, India
India-Sri Lanka: Time to build new bonds
The recent elections in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province may not ensure the much-anticipated devolution of powers. Rajeshwari Krishnamurthy blogs about why the Indian government must ensure that domestic pressures do not adversely impact the New Delhi-Colombo equation or the internal politics of Sri Lanka
Courtesy: @Doug88888
Brazil: In the yellow zone
Gateway House’s Akshay Mathur recently visited Brazil to attend a BRICS-themed conference, organised by the National Association of Research and Graduate Programs in the Social Sciences. In this blog, he writes about his first impressions of the country and the similarities between India and Brazil that he observed.
Courtesy: Paolo Rosa/Flickr
The Maldives: Awaiting another election
The September 28 run-off presidential election in the Maldives was postponed indefinitely by the country’s Supreme Court after allegations of ballot-rigging. However, national and international observers have said the elections were fair. Settling the political crisis in the Maldives may now require more than an election
Courtesy: United Nations
Decoding the UNSC Resolution on Syria
The recent UNSC Resolution, which mandates the complete destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons, demonstrates that after more than a year, a degree of international agreement on the Syrian issue has been possible. In the evolving situation, Russia will now emerge as a major player
Courtesy: guy_incognito/Flickr
Raghuraman Rajan: Making Mumbai great again
Earlier in September, Raghuram Rajan took over as Governor of the Reserve Bank of India for three years. While his entry has indeed alleviated the gloomy market environment in Mumbai, there’s more that needs to be done. How can Mumbai reclaim the natural cosmopolitan and intellectual legacy it once boasted of?
Courtesy: United Nations ESCAP
A force more powerful: Non-violence for our world today
Rajni Bakshi, Senior Gandhi Peace Fellow, Gateway House, delivered a lecture at the ‘International Day of Non-Violence’ at the UN Convention Centre in Thailand, on October 2. In her lecture, she spoke about the significance and the greater potential of non-violent means in achieving the goals of today’s world.