Despite South America‘s huge exports by volume (tons of oil, coal, iron ore, soybeans, wood and copper), several countries (Brazil,Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Argentina, Ecuador) can barely pay for their imports. 

Latin America is betting on healthy, organic, and traditional foods to conquer the U.S. market. 

In an effort to please the productive sector, President Dilma Rousseff planned to meet again with entrepreneurs and to announce the extension of programs that appeal to industry, though many investors think Mexico is a better prospect for investment than Brazil. 

There was good hunting for injudicious narcos in Brazil, where plenty of guns were on hand for the World Cup. 

“It’s always better to talk than shoot,” said Archbishop Desmond Tutu in Barcelona when asked about dialogue between President Santos and the FARC. 

The stabbing of a municipal secretary of the PRD in Villahermosa, the ambush and execution of a former mayor of Ahuacuotzingo, Guerrero, and journalists shot in Concepción and Amambay are just a few of the violent stories coming out of Mexico and Paraguay recently.

Large Gay Pride parades appeared across the region as the community of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, Transvestite people called for societies to respect their rights.  

President Michelle Bachelet announced a plan to buy and return disputed ancestral lands to Chile’s indigenous communities, while teachers went on strike across the country for better public education. 

Depression is a major cause for psychiatric consultation in Latin America; statistics show that the bulk of those affected are between 20 and 50 years of age. 

The richest 1% accounted for 14% of total revenues in Uruguay.