La Nación of Buenos Aires observed that some 1.6 million Argentines traveled around the country for Carnival, generating $1.935 billion in receipts. 

In Semana Magazine of Bogotá Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos addressed the issue of military interceptions of his communications, including emails.  He confirmed that his communications were intercepted, including those of his family members. He “did not hesitate” to call such actions “serious criminal activity” that were “unusual and unacceptable.” 

In Clarín of Buenos Aires Leonardo Mindez noted that “with barely concealed tensions” the peronistas have started talking about who will follow President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner at the top of the Justicialist Party.  The Peronistas of Buenos Aires province met for four hours of speeches in which “the mantra that was repeated was that

Estelita Hass Carazzai wrote in Folha de São Paulo that since it lacks a tradition of huge samba schools for Carnival, Curitiba resolved to give tourists “a tranquil alternative” for those who want to leave the huge crowds behind. 

El Tiempo of Bogotá noted with sadness that Venezuelan singer and composer Simón Díaz, known to his compatriots as “Tío Simón” and author of the renowned song “Caballo Viejo,” died at age 85, said his daughter Bettsimar Díaz.  “With tears I announce to my beloved country that my father passed this morning in peace,” she

El Universal of Mexico City reported that poets from 60 countries and five continents at the X International Poetry Festival in Granada, Nicaragua made a declaration to the various Spanish Language Academies concerning the validity of Rubén Darío’s work. 

In La Razón of La Paz Rubén Aríñez reported that Bolivia has asked the Government of Brazil to explain the role of the Jirau and San Antonio hydroelectric dams on the Rio Madera in recent flooding. 

In La Jornada of Mexico City Israel Rodríguez wrote that the environmental disaster caused by Chevron-Texaco in Ecuador, and the subsequent drawn-out international litigation, should be a warning for Mexico because the government is giving these same oil companies access to the country’s strategic resources. 

El Comercio of Lima reported that six earthquakes were recorded in different regions of Peru on March 1st. 

El Comercio of Quito wrote that the beaches of Esmeraldas, Manabi, Guayas, and Santa Elena are the most visited, although there is significant mountain and Amazonian tourism, as well.