News & Commentary
In Memory of His Holiness Pope Francis
Monday April 21, 2025
The Pan American Association of Philadelphia joins the world in mourning the passing of His Holiness...
Elections for President in Ecuador
Thursday February 13, 2025
Daniel Noboa, the 37 year old current president of Ecuador, failed to get a plurality of the votes i...
Save the Date: Judge Nelson A. Díaz Professorship Series at Temple Law – Featuring Anthony Romero
Tuesday February 4, 2025
On March 19, 2025, at 4:00 PM, Temple University Beasley School of Law will host the Annual Judge Ne...
Join Now
Membership has its priviledges:
• Member Discounts
• Quarterly Newsletter
• Social and Political Dialogue
• Networking
• Annual Schedule of Events
Sign Up for Updates
Sign for the Pan American Association e-mail list to receive updates and event invites.
The Pan American Association
P.O. Box 22655
Philadelphia, PA 19110-2655
Designed and Developed by 
The Pan American Association provides News & Notes for the Philadelphia community and for all those interested in developing a better understanding of the vibrant and deep relationship between the United States and the people of the Americas. For over 80 years the Pan American Association has been the preeminent forum for dialogue in the Delaware Valley on a relationship which is intensifying daily. We hope that News & Updates will serve as a solid bridge of communication among all the countries of the Americas. Never in history has the need for such a dialogue been greater than it is today.
Republican Platform on Latin America
The Republican platform on Latin America can be read here. While party platforms seldom have decisive effect on foreign policy, this one suggests returning US-Latin American relations to a Cold War framework. The document also has an educational value, which is perhaps more important.
Read More »
Brazil's Problems
This article does not make for easy reading. Anyone who has landed at this Rio de Janeiro airport has the same visual reaction: how awesome the environmental problem is. In view of the upcoming Olympics it is an especially dangerous situation.
Read More »
Latin America & US
Article examines the progress that Latin America has made in reducing poverty and creating more optimism and hope about improvements in the future. Author compares and contrasts the situation in the United States, and recommends taking lessons from Lain America to restore the American dream. Counter-conventional thinking.
Read More »
Venezuela's Tragedy
Two prominent Venezuelan writers portray the disaster that makes Venezuela the sick man of Latin America. Moisés Naím and Francisco Toro: “Riots and looting have become commonplace, as hungry people vent their despair while the revolutionary elite lives in luxury, pausing now and then to order recruits to fire more tear gas into crowds desperate for food.”
Read More »
OAS and Venezuela
The response of the OAS to the crisis in Venezuela is an important test of the effectiveness of that organization. Secretary General Luis Almagro
has invoked the Democratic Charter to promote respect for democracy in that country.
Read More »
Brazil's Crime of the Century and US Investors
“Brazil’s oil company Petrobras will finally get its day in a U.S. court on Sept. 19 in a trial that pits 18 former executives and 13 investment banks, including J.P. Morgan Securities, against U.S. and U.K. investors. Claimants are seeking “tens of billions of dollars” in losses. The company is the centerpiece in what has become Brazil’s crime of the century. The scandal involving contract rigging, bribery and money laundering recently brought down a sitting president and promises to devour a chunk of Brazil’s career politicians in criminal probe.”
Read More »
Impeachment of Dilma
Brazil’s lower house has voted to impeach President Dilma Rousseff for corruption. Some Brazilians see this as the only way to promote change in the nations’ politics.
Read More »
Hiding Money
Offshore banking has been a way to hide money. Attached is a report that looks at how international politicians and criminals hide money in places such as Panama, British Virgin islands, and other locations. An excerpt:
“The documents make it clear that major banks are big drivers behind the creation of hard-to-trace companies in the British Virgin Islands, Panama and other offshore havens. The files list nearly 15,600 paper companies that banks set up for clients who want keep their finances under wraps, including thousands created by international giants UBS and HSBC. The records reveal a pattern of covert maneuvers by banks, companies and people tied to Russian leader Putin. The records show offshore companies linked to this network moving money in transactions as large as $200 million at a time. Putin associates disguised payments, backdated documents and gained hidden influence within the country’s media and automotive industries, the leaked files show.”
Read More »
Colombia's Success Story
Article examines Colombia’s remarkable emergence from the drugs, violence, and criminality of the 1990s into a more secure and economically dynamic country. There is also prospect of ending 50 years of guerrilla war.
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/2016/0320/Colombia-s-big-comeback
Read More »
Nicaraguan Canal Problems
The Chinese have a deal to dig the Nicaraguan Canal. But after much fanfare there is no visible progress, and little is anticipated in view of the costs and environmental concerns.
Read More »
Page 8 of 37