Ecuador

Venezuela says US must abandon LA military bases

Venezuelan foreign minister Delcy Rodriguez called on the United States to pull out of its military bases across Latin America on October 6.

In a fierce speech, Rodriguez labelled the US military presence across the region as a threat to peace and stability.

鈥淲e denounce the presence of 70 US bases in our region, we have to unite and demand the closing of these bases,鈥 said Rodriguez.

The comments were made while Rodriguez addressed the Latin American Summit of Progressive Movements in Quito, Ecuador.

Rafael Correa, Lenin Moreno and Jorge Glas

Ecuador: Left-wing disability activist to run for president on ruling party ticket

Ecuador鈥檚 ruling party, the leftist Pais Alliance of President Rafael Correa, has elected disability rights activist Lenin Moreno to be its聽next candidate for president聽during its October 1聽congress, TeleSUR English said. Presidential elections are scheduled for February 19 next year.

Ecuador pushes for global tax haven crackdown

Ecuador ramped up its fight against tax dodging on September 21 as the South American country proposed a plan on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York aimed at tackling offshore tax havens with stiffer regulation.

The push comes in the wake of the Panama Papers leaks that exposed just the tip of the proverbial iceberg of global tax evasion and its impact on the global South.

Ecuadoreans go to Canada to collect Chevron compensation

Latin America鈥檚 left is in retreat, but it鈥檚 not finished yet

On being sworn into power on January 15, 2007, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa said: 鈥淟atin America is not living through an era of change, it is living through a genuine change of eras.鈥

His enthusiasm was shared by many, and with good reason: after years of intense social struggles against right-wing neoliberal governments, new left forces were winning elections across the region.

US backs Brazil coup, LA left gov'ts protest

United States State Department spokesperson John Kirby said on August 31 that Brazil's democratic institutions had acted within the country's constitutional framework when the Senate voted to oust elected president Dilma Rousseff and install Michel Temer as the new leader. The US defence of the process that removed Brazil's elected president stands in contrast to many critics, including several Latin American governments, who have labelled it an institutional coup.
Rafael Correa

Chevron wins case against Ecuador's indigenous people over oil spill

A United States federal appeals court ruled on August 8 in favour of the oil giant Chevron in a case that dates back more than 20 years. The ruling blocks an Ecuadorean indigenous community from collecting a judgement of nearly US$8.6 billion for environmental damage to the Amazon rainforest.

Bolivia, Ecuador let transgender people choose their legal identity

Bolivia has approved a new law that allows transgender people to change their name, sex and gender on birth certificates and other official records. LGBTI rights activists in Bolivia see the law as a groundbreaking sign of growing tolerance in Latin America. Forty people began the process to change their personal information on identity documents and bank accounts, and alter their professional titles on the day the law passed.

Latin America facing reactionary tide

Anti-coup rally in Brazil. Since the start of the 21st century, the left has won elections in most Latin American countries in a powerful wave of popular rejection of the disastrous neoliberal policies of the previous regimes. One must however distinguish between two quite different sorts of left governments:

Ecuador's Correa first leader to sign Oxfam's anti-tax haven letter

In response to the revelations of wholesale tax evasion in the Panamanian tax haven, Oxfam International launched an international campaign advocating for the eradication of tax havens and fiscal opacity. Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, has become the first head of state to actively sign, endorse and promote Oxfam鈥檚 letter and campaign. The Ecuadorian leader has reaffirmed his commitment to push the changes advocated by the campaign from his position as president.

Rafael Correa: 'The right wing want revenge'

Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa spoke out on June 1 about efforts by right-wing political forces in Latin America to oust democratically-elected governments, saying that it would set a dangerous precedent for democracy in the region. 鈥淩ight-wing politicians don't just want to return to power, they want to return with a thirst for vengeance,鈥 said Correa during an interview with Ecuador Public Television.

Palestine sends 19 rescuers to Ecuador, US sends nobody

Palestine has sent 19 rescuers to Ecuador in the aftermath of the South American country's devastating earthquake 鈥 which is 19 more than the US, who have sent none at all, TeleSUR English said on April 21.