NACLA Update 04/23/09 - Summit: Behind the Smiles and Handshakes

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Summit: Behind the Smiles and Handshakes
by Teo Ballvé
With all that happened at the Summit of the Americas, it was easy to miss a significant about-face by the Obama administration. No, it wasn't the administration's supposedly softer stance toward Cuba. Nor was it Venezuela's well-received offer (by Chávez-basher Hillary Clinton no less) to re-exchange ambassadors with Washington. Obama won't read the Spanish edition of Open Veins of Latin America, a gift from Chávez, so that can be dismissed, too.
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The Declaration of Cumaná
by ALBA
In response to the just-concluded 5th Summit of the Americas held in Trinidad and Tobago, the member countries of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) - Bolivia, Cuba, Dominica, Honduras, Nicaragua and Venezuela - released a counter-declaration. The document denounces the declaration of its mainstream counterpart for ignoring the global economic crisis and excluding Cuba among many other grievances.
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The Wrong Solution to Mexico's Security Crisis
by Todd Miller
As Barack Obama meets Felipe Calderón, Mexico's drug war rages on. The current militarized strategy to the drug problem is abusing innocent civilians, dramatically increasing violence, and having very little effect on the flow of drugs toward the United States. A real solution to the problem would begin by attacking the economic roots of the problem: 25 years of failed economic policies and a renegotiation of NAFTA. The Mexican people need an economic solution, but instead they're suffering the consequences of a U.S.-backed military quagmire.
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Send Open Veins of Latin America to Obama!
by NACLA
The mainstream media erupted with stories about Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez publicly giving President Obama a Spanish-language copy of Eduardo Galeano's Open Veins of Latin America during the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad - but for all of the coverage, the media isn't telling the truth about this important book's message.
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Job Opening: NACLA Director
After four years, NACLA Executive Director Christy Thornton will be stepping down from the position in the fall to pursue at doctorate in Latin American history. NACLA is seeking a qualified candidate, with significant fundraising and public outreach experience, to fill the position.

The search will remain open until position is filled, tentative start date is August 1, 2009. NACLA is committed to a diverse workplace and welcomes applications from women, LGBTQ candidates, people of color, and people of various physical abilities.
Click here for more information and application instructions.

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