International cartels use their control over the global food supply to make huge profits. There are six major corporations that control the purchase and sale of agricultural products: Cargill, Kraft, Bunge & Born, ADM (Archer Daniels Midland), Nestlé and General Mills. Food prices are set at exchanges in Chicago, New York and London.
The government of the United States chose 20 countries (G20) to discuss common policies in the face of the financial crisis in Washington—a crisis that grew out of the incestuous relationship between the U.S. government and Wall Street banks.1 The declaration from the meeting gives a brief nod to financial supervision and recommends more of [...]
In electoral matters governments are meant to be neutral and discreet; the diplomats keep quiet. However, the government of President Oscar Arias and the United States Embassy are brazenly intervening in the referendum on CAFTA, in favor of its approval. They argue that in the absence of CAFTA’s preferences—which guarantee those received under the Caribbean [...]
CAFTA went into effect a year ago in Guatemala and a number of regrettable things have happened since. To mention a few examples: 195 million Guatemalan Quetzals (equivalent to US$25 million) have been diverted from Ministry of Education funds to the civil aviation authority to extend an airport, which speaks volumes about the priority of [...]
"Foreign exchange for traditional exports is increasing" announced the Periódico de Guatemala on April 25. It reported that the Bank of Guatemala announced an increase of 11.8% in traditional exports—sugar, coffee, bananas, cardamom—up to US$551.4 million. Furthermore, exports of industrial products—with added value—to Central America, grew by 43.8%. Finally, "the revenue of foreign exchange from [...]
In 2006, Guatemala finds itself in a critical situation that continues to worsen. Over half the population (56%) is poor, and 21% live in extreme poverty. Sixty-three percent of the GDP is concentrated in the hands of 20% of the population (GINI Index) and 80% of the population is not covered by health care.1 Unemployment [...]
