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XIX Annual Latin American Energy Conference

May 10-12, 2010
La Jolla, CA
XIX Annual Latin American Energy Conference
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March 22-26, 2010
La Jolla, CA
* On the Cutting Edge: Digital Reporting in the 21st Century Professional journalism workshop
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The Founders Circle

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San Diego Latin Film Festival 2010

17th Annual Latino Film Festival

The Institute is a community partner of the Media Arts Center San Diego and its Latino Film Festival. Click on the image to see which films will be screened at the 17th Annual San Diego Latino Film Festival.


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IOA Newsmakers

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Institute of the Americas signs agreement with Chinese Academy of Social Sciences to host a series of conferences in Beijing, U.S. and Latin America
 
BEIJING – The Institute of the Americas (IOA) has signed an agreement with the Institute of Latin American Studies (ILAS) of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences to hold a series of seminars and workshops in China, the United States and Latin America on the opportunities and challenges posed by the growing economic relationship between China and Latin America.

During a Jan. 29 ceremony in the Beijing offices of ILAS, Institute of the Americas President Jeffrey Davidow called the agreement “an important opportunity to build stronger economic ties in China and Latin America by deepening the understanding between our regions.”

Dr. Zheng Bingwen,executive director of ILAS, said the agreement marked the beginning of a long relationship with the IOA. He noted that the Institute’s location on the Pacific Coast, coupled with its location 30 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border offers a strategic advantage in forging new economic relationships between China and Latin America.

The first IOA-ILAS conference will be held in Washington, D.C. in May and will focus on several key issues in the maturing China-Latin America relationship. A second symposium on climate change and alternative energy will be hosted by the two organizations in Beijing in October.

A representative of ILAS will also attend the Institute’s 19th annual La Jolla Energy Conference, which will include a special session on China-Latin America energy issues during the May 10-12 symposium.

The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, with 35 institutes for international study, is the largest government research institution in China.  ILAS was founded 46 years agoJeff Davidow shaking hands with the Executive Director of ILAS and now has more than 60 academics and researchers. It is the oldest research institute in the CASS network. 

The research conducted by ILAS is becoming increasingly important as China increases economic activity in Latin America.  In 2008, the Chinese government issued its first white paper on Latin America.  During a November 2008 visit to Latin America, President Hu Jintao reinforced  his intention to strengthen China’s rapidly growing economic, trade and diplomatic ties with Latin America.

During a weeklong visit to Bejiing, Davidow, IOA Vice President Lynne Walker and IOA board member Sergio Ley, the highly respected former Mexican ambassador to China, met with top officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the China Institute of International Studies and with representatives of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), which is the country’s leading international trade organization. Board President David Weaver also attended several of the meetings.

The IOA delegation's trip to Beijing was sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank and the Andean Development Corporation (CAF).

IOA Ilas Beiging meeting The CCPIT agreed to work with the Institute of the Americas and the Inter-American Development Bank to hold a two-day conference in Chengdu in October.  The conference will focus on best business practices in Latin America, on labor issues, on regulatory requirements and on ways to access legal, accounting and other professional support services. 

The conference will also include a breakout session on the cultural aspects of doing business in Latin America, with a special focus on building professional relationships to strengthen business activities.

During a meeting with top officials at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), Davidow and Dr. Wu Hongying, director of CICIR’s Institute for Latin American Studies, explored the possibility of a China-Latin America conference on the IOA's La Jolla campus in September.

Dr. Wu noted that over the past two decades Sino-Latin American ties have strengthened as business and government leaders recognized the economic opportunities that exist by working together.

“The last 25 years have been the most important for Latin American development, “ Wu said.  “Latin American democracies have made some progress. They are more open, more representative.  Socially, the poverty phenomenen is improving. 

“I believe there is a promising future for the two regions,” she said.

Haitians show remarkable resiliency amid destruction
 
  Janine Schooley at the IOALA JOLLA- There are signs of revival in Haiti. Men are shining their shoes. Women are putting on their lipstick. Every now and then, someone smiles.

Haiti is slowly returning to life, Janine Schooley, senior vice president of programs for Project Concern International, said during a Feb. 9 presentation at the Institute of the Americas.

 
Schooley, who had just returned from two weeks in Haiti where she worked on San Diego-based International’s relief effort, said she was struck by “this sense of the human spirit.”

“You see all this destruction right in front of you. The bodies are still there. You walk by a building and you can smell death,” said Schooley. “But at the same time you see all this destruction you see this resiliency. There are a lot of people who are stressed and frustrated but most people are remarkably patient and they’re trying to get on with their lives.”
 
More than 1 million people are now living in settlement camps, many in makeshift tents fashioned from bed sheets and sticks. Most have lost their homes. Those whose homes are still standing are living in tents in their yards because they are fearful that an aftershock could bury them alive.
 
In Port-au-Prince, the nation’s capital, “you see a lot of people living in strange places,” Schooley said. “People want to stay in their communities, in their neighborhoods. They don’t want to leave the places where their family members are buried, where they died.
 
The 35 seconds of terror that gripped Haiti on the afternoon of Jan. 12 has devastated the nation of 9 million. Nearly 200,000 people died in the 7.0 earthquake, which crumbled 30,000 commercial buildings and 250,000 houses.
 
”Everything makes people panic – a loud noise, an abrupt movement,” Schooley said. “If you’re driving along you see signs, ‘We need water. We need help’ ”

In the midst of the crisis, “the Haitian government is quite non-existent,” said Stanley Vincent, who was born in Port-au-Prince and now works in Los Angeles as a California Highway Patrol officer. Vincent, who attended the Institute’s presentation, had recently returned from a trip to Haiti to visit his mother and sister.

 
“Survival after the disaster is so hard,” he said. “No electricity, no potable water, they don’t know where their next meal is coming from. People don’t ask you for money anymore. They see you drinking out of a bottle and they say, ‘Give me some of that water'.

 Haiti Painting exihibitHaiti’s future lies in “helping people in the countryside with agriculture, with helping people produce food for the cities,” said Frederick Conway, an assistant professor of anthropology at San Diego State University. Conway has conducted several forestry projects in Haiti and speaks Creole.
 
“People who are in the countryside and can produce their food are much better off than people in Port-au-Prince,” he said. “With the devastation of Port-au-Prince, there will be a movement toward decentralization that will help restore agriculture.
 
“Now is the time to reinvigorate investment in the countryside,” he said.

Conway and Schooley said the challenge is to keep the people of Haiti “in the forefront of our hearts and minds because the emergency goes on.”

 
“Haiti is in the headlines now, but it could go out of the headlines,” Schooley said. “Haiti was forgotten before. I hope it isn’t forgotten again.” 
  • Watch video interview with Janine Scholey






Political and economic reforms needed in Mexico, analyst Denise Dresser says at IOA talk

Denise Dresser at the institute of the Americas in La Jolla
LA JOLLA- Political analyst and journalist Denise Dresser spoke at the Institute of the Americas on Jan. 20 about Mexico’s political and economic reforms to an audience of nearly 150 people who braved torrential rain to hear her remarks.
 
In a measured and often witty tone, Dresser said the single most important change Mexico needs is reelection to political office. Why? Because politicians are not accountable, and, although not reelected, move from one political seat to the next without impunity, she said.
 
Dresser described Mexico as a democracy without representation, which is unable to produce economic equity for its 105 million citizens.
 
The past 10 years, have cast Mexico into paralysis: Electoral reform worked, but people became complacent and did not seek the necessary structural reforms such as changes in regulatory framework, dismantling the old oligarchy, or competition and antitrust laws to level the economic playing field.

Dresser lays the responsibility, though not blame, on Vicente Fox for wasting an opportunity to confront the establishment, but said he lacked the character or expertise to take on the task. She pointed to the limitations Fox faced as he operated in a dysfunctional democracy where he could exert no influence in the Congress.

Andres Manuel López Obrador, is evidence of the kind of political movement that can develop in a country with a faltering economy and the inability to reform itself. Dresser now predicts that it will take 10 years for the political left to recover from the deep divisions that occurred after the last presidential election. The battle, she said, will be between a discredited National Action Party (PAN) and the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which has been unable and unwilling to reform.

Questioned about her opinion on Vicente Calderon’s policies on the war on drugs and violence, Dresser said he was forced to take that tack because he needed to portray himself as a strong commander-in-chief at a time when the country was living through a precarious time, as drug cartels were rapidly gaining political power in different states, and kidnappings were common when he became president.  She explained that Calderon quickly realized how tied he was to the legacy of the PRI, the Fox administration, and the entrenched socio-economic interests in Mexico. Thus, his reforms are meaningless to the Mexican people and the country’s economic development.

While acknowledging that corporations are understandably seeking to maximize gains and profits, Dresser places the responsibility on the state for failing to place the necessary constraints on corporations. She also blames powerful businessmen for blocking reforms and using the longstanding tradition of no reelection to their advantage.

She noted that the easiest way to gain wealth in Mexico is by holding a monopoly on a public service such as energy, transportation, telecommunications, education, financial services, which are free from self-correcting market forces or antitrust legal protection.

Finally, Dresser said that the impetus for reform could only come from two sources of change: First, when the country’s oil runs out Mexico will find itself without its primary source of government finance and will be forced to collect taxes (thus become more accountable). Second, when citizen demand calls for stronger, active civil organizations that put pressure on government to change.

View a short interview with Denise Dresser by Institute’s Vice President Lynne Walker

Listen to a podcast of the Tequila Talk with Denise Dresser

 

Institute Launches "Health Innovation Advisory Council"
 

The Institute of the Americas is building on the success of its professional training programs for Latin American and Caribbean health care professionals and science journalists by creating its "Health Innovation Advisory Council" for the region.

The Council is a multidisciplinary, inter-American group of highly regarded health professionals who will provide strategic guidance on key aspects of health challenges and innovation, and

 *   Advise about creating a policy environment conducive for creating and
adopting more rapidly health innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean;

 *   Suggest initiatives and partnerships for the Institute to further the
spread of health care innovations; and

 *   Advise key potential change makers about these innovations, directly
and through educational work with Latin American and Caribbean journalists.

Institute president Ambassador Jeffrey Davidow said, "The crisis in Haiti underscores the importance of collaboration in health in the Americas and the importance of improving the skills and access to the latest advances in evidence-based public health to all.  We must work to reduce the health care disparities in our region, and our Council will have this as one of its aims."

Founding members include:

Gabriel Carrasquilla, MD, DrPh, Director, Centro de Estudios e Investigación en Salud, Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Bogotá, Colombia. One of the leading experts on health policy analysis and design, pharmacoeconomics, and outcomes research.

Juan Ramón de la Fuente, MD, Mexico City, Mexico. Former Minister of Health and Rector of the UNAM; President of the International Association of Universities. One of the world's leading experts on health reform, education and policy.

Pedro Ferraina, MD, Buenos Aires, Argentina.  Chief, Department of Surgery, Hospital de Clínicas "José de San Martín", Universidad de Buenos Aires.  A global leader in research and development of new surgical techniques and in bringing state-of-the-art methods to the region's doctors.

Admiral (Ret.) Joxel García, MD, MBA, Ponce, Puerto Rico. President and Dean, Ponce School of Medicine, former US Assistant Secretary for Health, Department of Health and Human Services. As the chief advisor on health to the secretary of health and human services, he managed the US Public Health Service and is well remembered for building cooperation in health in the Americas.  As an educator, he has trained a generation of gynecological surgeons and public health professionals.

Gustavo G. R. Kuster, MD, La Jolla, California, US.  One of the pioneers in advanced surgery and research who taught many clinicians in Latin America in these techniques.

Lucila Ohno-Machado, MD, PhD, Chief, Division of Biomedical Informatics, Department of Medicine University of California, San Diego. Educated at the University of São Paulo, she is a world leader in collection, management, and application of biomedical knowledge and information to improve patient care, biomedical education, and life sciences research -- and an expert on both the North American and South American situation in this field.

Almino C. Ramos, MD, São Paulo, Brazil. Director General / Surgery, Gastro Obeso Center, Obesity Surgery Advanced Center. One of the leading clinicians pushing the state-of-the-art in gastric surgery as well as international cooperation and understanding of techniques and practice.

Steffanie A. Strathdee, PhD, La Jolla, California, US. Associate Dean of Global Health Sciences, Harold Simon Professor and Chief of the Division of Global Public Health in the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. One of the world's leading experts on the migration of HIV/AIDS as well as research and harm reduction strategies.


The Institute has worked to improve health care in the Americas through its annual health and science journalism seminars; through seminars for government and elected officials and other experts on public policy to stimulate health innovation through better policy; and through continuing work to educate the public about the most recent research about the migration of HIV/AIDS and preparation for pandemics.

For almost two decades, the Institute has convened high-level groups of stakeholders and analysts to discuss improving the quality of access to health care in Latin America and the Caribbean, improving regulation and law to encourage public-private partnership in health innovation and improving management of social security systems.

Most recently, in August 2009, the Institute and the United States Southern Command, in cooperation with the Government of Panama, convened more than 125 representatives of health ministries, NGOs and military medical leaders in Panama to discuss strategies against the H1N1 influenza.

Press Release Survey of health professionals in five countries about their training needs and the link with better patient outcomes

Flyer HIAC


For more information, contact  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it


New programs planned in border cities under Merida Initiative

U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Carlos Pascual
U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Carlos Pascual (left) and Guillermo Valdes (right), director of Mexico’s Center of Investigation and National Security (CISEN) speak with reporters at a Dec. 4 news conference at the Institute of the Americas

LA JOLLA – U.S. and Mexican officials have agreed to implement new programs to combat the rise in drug violence in cities on the U.S.-Mexico border, leaders of the two governments said during a Dec. 4 news conference at the Institute of the Americas.

Under the Merida Initiative, “there will be a greater involvement by both governments, with projects on both sides of the border,” Guillermo Valdes, director of Mexico’s Center of Investigation and National Security (CISEN), told reporters.

Funded by a $1.3 billion congressional appropriation, the Merida Initiative is designed to help Mexico in its fight against drug cartels that has claimed more than 15,000 lives since Mexican President Felipe  Calderon took office in December 2006.  The initiative promised Mexico equipment ranging from Black Hawk helicopters to night-vision goggles to drug-sniffing dogs, as well as a closer working relationship between law enforcement in the United States and Mexico.

But with border cities such as Tijuana and Cuidad Juarez ravaged by drug violence, Valdes and U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Carlos Pascual said new strategies are needed to fight the cartels.

“What we’re seeking to do is bring many of our activities down to a local level -- not just federal government level engagement – and look at how to improve the security situation in Mexico and how to translate that into real programs on the border,” Pascual said during the news conference.

 U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Carlos Pascual Pascual said he and Valdes spent two days at the border “consulting with people who are operating on the ground in Tijuana and here in San Diego, learning lessons about how they’re adapting to the security situation, trying to find out what is working and looking at cooperation between different levels of police forces and the military, what’s happening in civil society and how communities are working to try to combat violence.”The border trip convinced them that programs in border cities are needed to strengthen law enforcement agencies and address the social – and security -- needs of residents in the violence-plagued cities.

“What we have seen is that this fight against drug traffickers and organized crime cannot be won by depending on one law enforcement agency,” said Pascual.  “We have to break the lines that have traditionally been used in terms of law enforcement agencies and how they work.”

Since the Merida Intitative was signed into law in June 2008, a police academy in the state of San Luis Potosi has graduated more than 3,000 federal police officers trained by U.S. instructors, Pascual said. With more than 400,000 state and local police officers in Mexico, the two governments are now looking at ways to implement “a more effective and intense training program” for police in those agencies, said Pascual.

The U.S. and Mexico set up a training program for helicopter pilots, he said, and the U.S. will deliver five Bell helicopters in December 2009 worth $66 million.

The United States is also looking at training lawyers and prosecutors who will be working under new laws established in Mexico’s recently implemented judicial reform.

Valdes said the joint law enforcement efforts signal a stronger partnership between the United States and Mexico.

“There is a new spirit in this relationship between Mexico and the United States to assume this problem of crime as a problem that we have in common, as a problem that requires solutions from both governments,” he said.

For video of the press conference click here



Binational Task Force calls for action on U.S.-Mexico border challenges
 
Active ImageIOA president Jeffrey Davidow joined 30 business and civic leaders and former government officials from the Mexico and the United States to devise ways to improve the management of the U.S.-Mexico border. The task force, convened by the Pacific Council for International Policy and the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations, called on the U.S. and Mexican governments to “confront the challenges of border management directly and immediately.” In the 39-page report released in December 2009, the task force said, “We identify the policies they should adopt now to secure the border, expedite legitimate crossings, manage shared resources and foster economic development.” To read the report, click here.
 





CAF President Enrique Garcia receives Leadership in the Americas Award

 Active Image

LA JOLLA – Enrique Garcia, president and CEO of the Andean Development Corporation, was honored on Nov. 19 with the Institute of the Americas’ Leadership in the Americas Award.

“It has been our custom to select a president of a country to receive the honor.  This year, we have chosen not an elected official, but a noted economist, banker, diplomat and spokesman for transparency in government and finance,” David Weaver, chairman of the board of the Institute of the Americas, said during the award ceremony at the Institute’s 26th anniversary dinner.

The Andean Development Corp., whose member countries include Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Spain, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Dominican Republic, Trinidad & Tobago and Uruguay, as well as 14 private financial institutions, approves $10 billion each year for sustainable development and regional integration.

“The Andean Development Corporation, which Enrique Garcia heads, is the most respected multilateral financial institution in the hemisphere in periods of both boom and bust,” Weaver told the audience of almost 200 people. “The CAF, as it is called for its initials in Spanish, is seen as the property of Latin America itself and not an institution that seeks to impose an outside ideology. Its work has brought economic development, social progress and more rational fiscal policies to many countries.”

Garcia called on Latin American governments to set long-term goals for sustainable growth. “Latin America has to move from an export-concentrated economy to a more diversified economy.”

The region should strive for sustained growth of 6 percent per year that produces high-quality employment and that takes into account ethnic differences and the need for environmental conservation, he said.

“One of the main issues facing the region is that you still have exclusion.  We have to plan a model of inclusive growth,” Garcia said. “It’s crucial that the region open itself, that there is a realization that globalization is a fact while at the same time engaging society in the process.”

Politics play a key role in that process, he said.  “You must have the right type of democratic institutions.  Unless the long-term agenda, at least on the fundamental issues, is agreed upon by the main players and actors in society, you face the risk of having a reversal of basic policy.”

Garcia called on Latin American countries to reshape the process of regional integration. But he cautioned other regions of the world “not to treat all the countries in Latin America the same way because each country is different.”

“Mexico is one thing and countries in Central America are another,” Garcia said.  “South America is different from countries in the Caribbean, so don’t expect all the countries to have the same structure.”

Dancers at IOA DinnerThe award ceremony was the highlight of the Institute’s anniversary celebration, which included a Nov. 20 conference on critical issues in Latin America.

The conference focused on three key areas: the evolving China- Latin America relationship, the assault on democracy and the threat posed by drugs and violence in the region.

The China-Latin America panel. highlighted the Institute’s new initiative to increase cooperation between the two regions. The panel focused China’s efforts to strengthen trade, investment, technology, security and cultural ties with countries in the region since President Hu Jintao’s 2008 trip to Latin America and his meeting with leaders at the APEC summit.

In a second panel, speakers commented on neopopulism, the role of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the erosion of freedoms, institutional weakness and the role of the press in Latin America.

A third panel raised several critical questions and drugs and violence in Latin America: Has the war on drugs failed? Are alternative policies available? What is the impact of gang violence on societies with weak institutions? What does the future hold for Plan Colombia and the Merida Initiative?
 

  Davidow speaks at Group of 50 meeting in Madrid



MADRID - Institute President Jeffrey Davidow shared a panel in Madrid on October 15 with former InterAmerican Development Bank President Enrique Iglesias, currently head of the Madrid-based Secretaria General  IberoAmericana, and Jose Juan Ruiz, director of research for Latin America for Banco Santander.

The occasion was a meeting of the Group of 50, a private organization of Latin American business leaders. Other attendees at the panel session which dealt with international perspectives of the Latin American scene  included the G-50 Chairman Moises Naim, Editor of Foreign Policy Managazine, and Spanish Crown Prince Felipe de Borbon y Grecia.


Pre-Salt Proposal Unleashes Debate In Brazil

Pandemia 09

 

 

 

 

 

 



On August 31, President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil announced his government’s intentions for a new fiscal and regulatory framework for what is generally referred to as the Pre-Salt hydrocarbon basin off Brazil’s Atlantic coast.   Lula proposed four bills to Congress aimed at overhauling regulations of the country’s oil and gas industry and unleashed a debate over the Pre-Salt that is white hot within Brazil and across the energy world. 

Against this backdrop, and with the aim of fostering an international public policy discussion of the various elements of the proposed legislation and Brazil’s energy panorama the Institute of the Americas organized a one-day roundtable in Rio de Janeiro on October 22nd.

While the legislation contains many critical elements, the focus of discussions at the Institute roundtable were on the “new model” vis-à-vis investment rules and the transition from a concession structure to production sharing agreements; the creation of a new federal entity, Petro-Sal, tasked with contractual and administrative duties in the Pre-Salt; the social fund that would capture the increased windfall controlled by the government to be spent on poverty reduction, education, science and technology, and culture; and, perhaps most importantly, the role ascribed to Petrobras.  

A net effect of the new framework, likely to be approved by the Brazilian Congress, will be to diminish the role of private participation in exploration and production in the Pre-Salt basin and increase that of state-owned Petrobras. This will be a major change for Petrobras which has often been seen as a model for public-private collaboration since its partial privatization in 1997. The Government of Brazil has emphasized that it will respect all current contracts.

Increased attention on Brazil’s energy sector dates to before the Pre-Salt, but it was the November 2007 announcement of the massive Tupi oil field discovery -- the Western Hemisphere’s largest in 30 years -- that sharpened the spotlight on the potential for oil and gas development in Brazil. Indeed, most analysts tend to agree that the Pre-Salt discoveries will catapult Brazil into the midst of the world’s top-ten reserve holders. They are currently 17th.

As the intense discussion and myriad opinions set forth at the Institute’s roundtable underscore, the potential for the Pre-Salt and the new model unveiled by the Lula government assure the topic a place at the forefront of hemispheric energy policy discussions.


Reducing energy costs sparks dynamic debate at Institute of the Americas conference in Panama

Urriola

The cost of electricity has long been a critical issue for Panama, and with the recent campaign and election of Ricardo Martinelli it has emerged as perhaps the preeminent topic in his young administration. Martinelli campaigned heavily on the theme of reducing the cost of living and focused on the impact of soaring energy costs on the bottom line of most Panamanians.  

The attention and interest in the proposals being developed by the new administration -– measures the government claims will reduce electricity prices by up to 30% and that include a reconfigured market model to avoid spot market price surges, as well as reviewing current Power Purchase Agreements (PPA’s) and promoting renewable energy development -- were at the center of the Institute of the Americas’ one-day Panama Energy Roundtable on September 25th in Panama City.
 
Underscoring the government’s attention to the topic and desire to engage in serious dialogue, Secretary of Energy Juan Manuel Urriola delivered an opening keynote address and participated in a dynamic question-and-answer session with the more than 125 participants in attendance.

Read final report


 
Pandemic Influenza Focus of  Panama Conference

 Pandemic influenza is a threat that has the potential to affect anyone. It cannot be prevented, but it can be managed.  While the novel H1N1 pandemic presents a tremendous challenge, it also offers a valuable opportunity to improve the global public health system -- to raise awareness about basic steps people can take to stop the spread of germs and disease, to underscore the value of seasonal flu the vaccine and to identify the strengths and weaknesses in our prevention and preparedness systems.  

The Government of Panama has a long history of regional, civil and military cooperation on health issues, from its critical cooperation with American military doctors and engineers to conquer diseases and open a path for development with the building of the Panama Canal to the leading role of the Gorgas Institute today in responding to H1N1.

The Institute of the Americas, in partnership with the Government of Panama and with the support of the U.S. Southern Command, will host a two-day regional  symposium to address the following key objectives:  Exchange information on processes and capabilities in response to recent pandemic influenza outbreak; advance a regional dialogue that increases international discourse on this issue; and to identify, promote, and facilitate future responses to challenges presented by pandemic influenza.  Top health care professionals will focus on existing strong, dynamic civil-military cooperation within and among Central American nations, while also drawing on the experience and lessons learned from Mexico, Argentina and Chile in dealing with H1N1.

To read a report on the conference, click here
To review the presentations, click here
To see photos, click here 
Panama H1N1-Interview, click here

 


Greening the Border

Congresswoman Susan Davis
Opportunities along the California-Baja California border related to clean energy and climate are plentiful. Effective ways of seizing those opportunities and truly using the themes as a driver for cross-border collaboration remains a bit more elusive.
 
From California's renewable portfolio standards to environmental regulations to the tremendous renewable natural resource base along the border, speakers in the Institute's August 13 Cross Border Climate and Renewable Energy conference asserted that the pieces are in place for a major shift in how the border region develops and consumes energy.
Indeed, the clear summary distilled from the wide range of public and private sector speakers at the event pointed to the upside for renewables along the border. They pointed out developments already taking place in the solar and wind fields and discussed opportunities for further investment and trade. In the numerous side meetings and discussions that occurred throughout the day on the Institute's Plaza, the nearly 150 attendees, many of whom had attended the previous evening's public address by Mexico's Environment Minister Juan Elvira, were eager to network and discuss ways of realizing the region's wind, solar, geothermal and emissions trading potential.

Coming just days after the three leaders of North America met in Mexico and set forth an ambitious cooperation agenda on climate and clean energy, the event underscored the local enthusiasm for the Guadalajara declaration. Discussions pointed to important advances but also several challenges, if not hurdles that demand continued attention by policy makers in Mexico and the United States if the momentum of the event is to be translated into investment and new projects.

HIV/AIDS workshop participant wins journalism award

Erika Cebreros

ATLANTAErika Cebreros, associate editor of the San Francisco weekly newspaper El Mensajero, received an Ethnic Media Award for a series of stories based on interviews she conducted during an Institute of the Americas professional journalism workshop.

Read full story


Conference in China

Ealy alum launches science news web site

MEXICO CITY — Arturo Barba, a 2005 graduate of the IOA’s Jack F. Ealy Science Journalism program, in May 11 launched Mexico’s first science and technology news web site.


Poverty workshop inspires Ecuador’s first organic store

Organic Store
QUITO, Ecuador — Vine-ripened tomatoes. Dark-skinned Haas avocados. Tender ears of corn.

The colors and the fragrances of Whole Foods in La Jolla washed over Maria Eugenia Lima as she walked with IOA Professional Workshop Director Lee Tablewski through the store.


Geopolitics of Energy alum named to Pemex board

MEXICO CITY — FluvioFluvio Ruiz Alarcon, a participant in the IOA’s 2007 Geopolitics of Energy professional workshop, has been appointed by Mexican President Felipe Calderon to serve as adviser to Mexico’s state oil company Pemex.

 

Davidow named to Southwest Border Task Force

Active ImageDepartment of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on June 4 named IOA President Jeffrey Davidow to the Southwest Border Task Force, a newly formed commission charged with examining the Department's efforts along the U.S.-Mexico border.
 
"This task force, comprised of law enforcement, elected officials and national security experts from around the country, will advise the Department on key issues facing communities along the Southwest border," Napolitano said. "I have asked this group to present me with concrete recommendations to address the complex challenges we face in this region, and their collective expertise will be a critical asset as we work to secure the border while facilitating legal travel and trade."
 
Napolitano asked the 20-member group to focus on two major challenges: Ensuring rigorous inspection procedures at ports of entry while facilitating commerce and assessing the consequences of border violence and the Department's response to communities along the border.

The group, which held its inaugural meeting on June 4 in Albuquerque, N.M., is chaired by former CIA and FBI director William Webster.  The vice chairs are Jim Jones, former ambassador to Mexico, and Lupe Trevino, sheriff of Hidalgo County, Texas.

 The complete list of Southwest Border Task Force members is as follows:

 William "Bill" Webster (Chair), retired partner at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley, and McCloy. Webster previously served as director of the CIA and FBI. Webster is a member and chair of DHS' Homeland Security Advisory Council.

James "Jim" Jones (Vice Chair), chairman and CEO of Mannatt Jones Global Strategies. Jones is a former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, U.S. Congressman from Oklahoma, and White House Chief of Staff.

Guadalupe "Lupe" Trevino (Vice Chair), sheriff of Hidalgo County, Texas. Trevino serves on the State of Texas Homeland Security Office Mass Migration Committee and on the Executive Committee of the Texas Radio Interoperability Coalition.

Ruben Barrales, president and CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. Barrales served in the White House for five years as deputy assistant to President George W. Bush, where he was the President's liaison to state and local elected officials.

Andrea Bazan, president of Triangle Community Foundation. Bazan serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Council of La Raza, and is a member of the Leadership Council of Hispanics in Philanthropy.

Robert "Rob" Bonner, a senior principal of the Sentinel HS Group, a homeland security consulting firm. Bonner is also a partner of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP. Bonner served as the first Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Ray Borane, former mayor of Douglas, Ariz. Borane was an FBI Special Agent and served as a Policy Advisor to the Governor of Arizona on border and immigration issues.

Raymond Cobos, sheriff of Luna County, N.M. Cobos served as detention administrator and undersheriff in Luna County prior to being elected sheriff in 2006. Cobos is also a volunteer with the GED Tutor Literacy Program.

John Cook, mayor of El Paso, Texas. Cook formerly served as president of the El Paso Health Care Facilities Financing Corporation and El Paso Housing Finance Corp.

Jeffrey Davidow, president of the Institute of the Americas. Davidow, who served as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Zambia, and Venezuela and as assistant secretary of state, was appointed in 2009 as White House Adviser to the Summit of the Americas.

Richard Dayoub, president and CEO of Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce. Dayoub previously was owner, president and CEO of a large regional travel company.

Victor Flores, director of executive projects at Arizona Public Service. Flores is a member of the State of Arizona Transportation Board, serves as president of the Arizona-Mexico Commission Board of Directors, and sits on boards at the Valley of the Sun United Way, the Children's Action Alliance and Vision Quest 20/20.

Francis "Pancho" Kinney, vice president of HNTB Federal. Kinney was previously DHS Deputy Director of International Affairs. Kinney is a Border Trade Alliance Board Member and Infrastructure Committee Chair.

Melvyn "Mel" Montano, a retired Major General in the U.S. Air National Guard and former Adjutant General of New Mexico.

Kenny Montoya, a Major General and Adjutant General for the New Mexico National Guard. Montoya is also president of the State Armory Board and provides oversight for the New Mexico Civil Air Patrol.

Ned Norris, Jr., chairman of the Tohono O'odham Nation. Prior to his election, Norris worked with the Tohono O'odham Gaming Enterprise as director of marketing and public relations, casino manager and director of community relations.

Maria Luisa O'Connell, president and CEO of Border Trade Alliance (BTA). Prior to joining BTA in 1998, she was a financial analyst at Bank One International Corporation, and also worked for the National Federation of Merchants of Colombia.

Ralph Ogden, sheriff of Yuma County, Arizona. Ogden is a member of numerous local organizations and serves as chairman of the State of Arizona Homeland Security Coordinating Council.

Evelyn M. Rodriguez, a physician and president and CEO of Rodriguez Health Consulting Services, LLC. Rodriguez  is a former captain of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and worked on pharmaceutical drug safety at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Robert "Bob" Ross, president and CEO of the California Endowment, a health foundation established in 1996 to address the health needs of Californians. He previously served as director for the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency.

Jerry Sanders, mayor of San Diego. Sanders served as San Diego Chief of Police from 1993-1999. After leaving the police department, Sanders became the CEO of United Way. In 2002, Sanders was appointed to the American Red Cross Board of Directors.

 



 BP's Hayward receives IOA Energy Innovator Award

Tony Hayward


Dr. Tony Hayward, group chief executive officer of BP p.l.c., was honored May 13 with the Institute of the America's first Energy Innovator Award.

"Today, Tony is recognized for his leadership in calling for technology investment to create greater energy efficiency and for working to bring new energy sources to the market," IOA Chairman David Weaver said during an award ceremony at the Institute's annual La Jolla Conference. "The Institute believes it is important to recognize the achievements of the private sector. BP, as it is embodied by Tony, is a visionary company and an innovative leader in the energy world."

BP is the largest investor in U.S. energy development. Over the past five years, BP has invested more than $30 billion in the United States to find new sources of oil and gas, extend production from existing fields, improve the reliability of its U.S. refineries, expand its wind and solar business, create better biofuels and develop new low-carbon technologies.

"In all respects, Tony Hayward is a leader in his field. He's a visionary and he most assuredly deserves the Institute of the Americas' first Energy Innovator Award," Weaver told the group of more than 100 energy executives from throughout the Western Hemisphere.

Hayward said Latin America will play a critical role in future energy production.

Latin America currently produces 12 percent of the world's oil and 7 percent of the world's natural gas. Gas production has almost doubled over the past 10 years, Hayward said, "an outstanding example of what can be achieved when technology innovation is combined with public-private partnership.

"The last few years have seen some very successful subsoil oil exploration in Brazil, enabled by changes in seismic imaging and drilling technology," Hayward noted. "Venezuela also boasts significant conventional oil resources that can now be developed, thanks to today's technology."

Latin America is one of the biggest producers of hydroelectric power, he said, and biofuel production in the region is expected to show significant growth over the next few years.

"There are few limits to technology and innovation to access available resources," Hayward said, "so when it comes to producing more energy to meet demand the problems are not below ground, they're above it -- they're human, they're not geological."

Some 80 percent of the world's resources are off limits to the world's best technology and know-how, he said, "but these are hurdles that can be overcome."

"Here, I believe, lies the opportunity for Latin America," said Hayward. "The region can differentiate itself and gain competitive advantage by focusing on solving the challenges above ground."

"We're living through a fundamental shift between the balance of supply and demand. This powerful trend will not be stopped by the downturn we're currently experiencing," he said. "We know the aims: A stable energy supply and a sustainable planet. We neet to create a framework that will allow us to get on and deliver. Latin America is well placed to do just that."

To read Hayward's views on U.S. energy policy, click here


Davidow returns to IOA after serving as White House Adviser

Silencing the Press


IOA President Jeffrey Davidow returned to the Institute of the Americas on May 4, concluding his two-month leave of absence to serve as White House Adviser for the Summit of the Americas.

While "questions of Cuba, questions of handshakes and smiles got the most press," Davidow said the Summit "was a very substantive meeting. It was not a photo opportunity."

During a May 1 roundtable hosted by the Organization of American States in Washington, D.C., Davidow noted that presidents and prime ministers from 33 countries spent more than 15 hours during the Summit in meetings that touched on the most pressing issues facing the hemisphere.

Those meetings in Trinidad and Tobago produced a document that "is a snapshot of where the hemisphere is today," he said.

Topping the list of concerns, Davidow said, is "public safety -- and public safety that goes beyond narcotics and terrorism.

"For the mass of people living in this hemisphere, the real issue of public safety is the safety of their families, the ability to carry on their normal lives, the ability to come home from work without getting mugged," he said. Public security also focuses on the question of "strong and efficient and honest police and judicial systems."

Energy and climate change are "of immense importance" to the countries in the hemisphere, Davidow said. "What came out of this Summit is a very clear indication that climate change is the most important issue confronting our future and that the discussion of energy really must be undertaken within the context of climate change."

On the issue of the economic crisis, Davidow said President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stressed that "we, as a group of nations and as individual governments, have a particular responsibility to ensure that the weight of the current economic crisis does not, as it has in the past, fall disproportionately on those elements of our societies that are least able to defend themselves -- the poorest and the voiceless."

To view a video of Davidow's remarks at the OAS Policy Roundtable entitled, "Post-Summit Briefing: A New Beginning in Inter-American Relations," click here

To hear Davidow talk about the Summit of the Americas on Southern California Public Radio (KPCC 89.3), click here

 


IOA and SEMARNAT announce climate change workshop

The Institute of the Americas and Mexico's Ministry of the Environment (SEMARNAT) on June 4 announced a new partnership to offer a professional workshop on climate change for Mexican journalists

The Institute of the Americas and Mexico's Ministry of the Environment (SEMARNAT) on June 4 announced a new partnership to offer a professional workshop on climate change for Mexican journalists.
 
IOA President Jeffrey Davidow and Juan Elvira Quesada, Mexico's Minister of the Environment, said the workshop will provide scientific data that will allow journalists to explain the impact of global climate change clearly and accurately to their audiences.
 
The workshop, offered as part of the Jack F. Ealy Science Journalism Program of the Institute of the Americas, was announced during a two-day conference in Cozumel commemorating World Environment Day. Davidow said the intensive training program will include field trips to meet with regional experts on climate change as well as scientific sessions in the Institute's conference center on the University of California, San Diego, campus.

Read more info

 



Davidow joins OAS policy roundtable
OAS

IOA President Jeffrey Davidow will participate in a policy roundtable on May 1 at the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington, DC.

The roundtable, entitled “Post-Summit Briefing: A New Beginning In Inter-American Relations?” is being offered as a briefing session to assess the results of the Fifth Summit of the Americas, which took place April 17-19 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, and the future of Inter-American Relations.

The event, organized as part of the OAS Policy Roundtables series, will take place from 10am to 12pm, and will include presentations from José Miguel Insulza, Secretary General of the Organization of American States; Marcelo Varela-Erasheva, Associate Director for the Americas Program, at the Carter Center; and Davidow, who served as the White House Adviser for the Summit of the Americas.

A second panel will feature Ambassador Francisco Villagrán de León, Ambassador of Guatemala to the United States; Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere of the U.S. House of Representatives; and Enrique Arturo de Obarrio, Vice President of the organization ‘Private Sector of the Americas’.

Each panel will be followed by a debate among panelists and by a question and answer session. The Policy Roundtable will be webcast live at www.oas.org.


White House names Davidow Adviser to Summit of the Americas
 

Institute of the Americas President Jeffrey Davidow has joined President Obama's administration on a temporary basis to serve as the White House Adviser on the Summit of the Americas. In that position, Davidow will coordinate the participation of the United States government at the summit, which will be held April 17-19 in Trinidad and Tobago.

Davidow, who served as U.S. ambassador to Mexico and Venezuela and as assistant secretary of state before retiring from the State Department in 2002, will work with the Secretary of State and the National Security Advisor to plan for President Obama's participation in the summit.

The Summit of the Americas will bring together all of the 34 democratically elected heads of state in the Western Hemisphere. Davidow noted that this will be the first opportunity for most of the hemisphere's leaders to meet President Obama and for him to hear their aspirations for hemispheric cooperation.

The multilateral meeting will be an “opportunity for President Obama to present his ideas, to listen and to see what we can do together to confront challenges,” said Davidow.

President Obama will attend the summit “with three things in mind: The spirit of equality, equity and a sense of responsibility,” Davidow said.

Since Davidow joined the Institute of the Americas in 2003 after a 34-year career in the U.S. State Department, the Institute has become recognized as a leader in promoting regional integration, economic development and efficient government in the western hemisphere.

To read the White House announcement on Davidow's appointment, click here
 

BP's Hayward to receive Energy Innovator Award

HaywardThe Institute of the Americas is proud to annouce that Dr. Tony Hayward, Chief Executive Officer of BP p.l.c., will be honored with the Energy Innovator Award on May 13 at the annual La Jolla Conference

Hayward is the first recipient of the prestigious Institute of the Americas award, which recognizes his leadership in calling for technology investment to achieve greater energy efficiency and for working to bring new energy sources to market. His efforts to respond to the world's growing need for energy despite the volatility caused by the global crisis will be highlighted at the La Jolla Conference, which is Latin America's largest energy forum. Read more


BP's Martin talks about energy boom-bust at Caracas forum

Jeremy MartinIOA Energy Program Director Jeremy Martin described the energy industry's boom-bust cycle during an April 20-23 forum in Caracas, Venezuela. The forum, which was organized by the Office of Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela, focused on the geopolitics of energy and energy security in the United States and Latin America. To read a full report on Martin's presentation, Read more

 
 
 
 

Border czar faces dual challenges on immigration and drug trafficking

IOA Vice President Lynne WalkerIOA Vice President Lynne Walker reviews the prospects for immigration reform in an April 15 interview with Univision correspondent Jaime Garcia.

Walker said President Obama must convince Congress that while the new legislation would give legal status to millions of Mexicans living in the United States, the administration is also fortifying the border. To watch a video of the news report, click here

 


Summit of the Americas and Energy Security
IOA Energy Program Director Jeremy Martin writes that the Summit of the Americas should focus the Hemisphere's energy policy agenda on four goals: a free-market approach to ethanol; improved energy standards for buildings, autos and appliances; addressing the debate over nuclear energy; and streamlining regulatory, legal and fiscal regimes. To read his commentary published in the April 15 edition of World Politics Review, click here
 
 

 
 

Drug violence is subject of border media project

kpbs-Tijuana Press.com

Tijuana drug violence has claimed nearly 100 lives this year, as the battle intensifies for control of the lucrative smuggling corridor on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Amy Isackson, border reporter for KPBS, and Vicente Calderon, editor of tijuanapress.com, spent six weeks investigating the unprecedented violence in the drug war along the Tijuana-San Diego border. They presented the results of their investigation -- a multimedia project entitled “Border Battle: Bringing Home the Drug War” – on Feb. 19 at the Institute of the Americas.

Isackson and Calderon focused their project on the causes of the violence.

Read more


IOA plans economic conference in China

Conference in ChinaFrom itsstrategic location on the Pacific Coast and the U.S.-Mexico border,  the Institute of the Americas is building bridges between China and Latin American countries.

IOA Vice President Lynne Walker traveled to China in December for two weeks of meetings with government officials, high-level researchers studying the Sino-Latin America relationship, professors of Latin America studies and a university president.

During her travels, Walker also met with U.S. business people and ambassadors from several Latin American countries. As she traveled from Beijing to Tianjin, Shanghai and the southeastern province of Fujian, Walker found among all she met a deep interest in promoting better economic ties, two way investment and trade between China and Latin America.

Read more


Three board members join Institute

The Institute of the Americas board of directors recently elected three new board members, bringing the total number to 30.

The new board members are:


Paulo Sotero, director of the Brazil Institute of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C.Paulo Sotero, director of the Brazil Institute of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C.

Prior to joining the Woodrow Wilson Center in 2006, Mr. Sotero was the Washington correspondent for Estado de S. Paulo, a leading Brazilian daily newspaper. From 2003 to 2006 he taught as an adjunct lecturer at Georgetown University, both in the Dpeartment of Spanish and Portuguese and in the Center for Latin American Studies of the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. 

In addition to his responsibilities at the Wilson Center, Mr. Sotero is a frequent lecturer on Brazilian and Latin American affairs at U.S. universities, think tanks and civic and business associations.

 

Active ImageKelvin Dushnisky, executive vice president of corporate affairs at Toronto-based Barrick Gold Corp., the world’s leading gold producer with 27 operating mines across five continents. Dushnisky is a member of the Law Society of British Columbia, a director of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Mining Association of Canada, the Canadian Council for the Americas and the Canada-Chile Business Association. He also serves on the Executive Committee of the International Council on Mining and Metals.

 

 

Active ImageAndres Gluski, executive vice president and chief operating officer of AES Corp., an Arlington, Va.-based global power company. Prior to joining AES in 2000, Gluski was executive vice president of corporate banking for Banco de Venezuela (Grupo Santander). He has also worked with the International Monetary Fund in the Treasury and Latin American Departments and served as Director General of Public Finance and as Senior Macro Economic Policy Adviser to the Minister of Planning of Venezuela.


 

IOA plans September 2009 economic conference in China

 Active Image

 From its strategic location on the Pacific Coast and the U.S.-Mexico border,  the Institute of the Americas is building bridges between China and Latin American countries.

IOA Vice President Lynne Walker traveled to China in December for two weeks of meetings with government officials, high-level researchers studying the Sino-Latin America relationship, professors of Latin America studies and a university president. During her travels, Walker also met with U.S. business people and  ambassadors from several Latin American countries.

As she traveled from Beijing to Tianjin, Shanghai and the southeastern province of Fujian, Walker fouind among all she met a deep interest in promoting better economic ties, two way investment and trade between China and Latin America. Her hosts noted that China and Latin America enjoy a time-honored friendship and spoke of their vision for  “greater mutual understanding and closer cooperation.”   
 
Based on those meetings, the IOA has begun initial preparations for a September 2009 economic conference that will bring together  top officials, business leaders, researchers, scholars and diplomats from China and from several Latin American countries to discuss  opportunities presented by global economic shifts in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, agribusiness,  industrialization and natural resources.  The aim of the summit is to help government leaders, businesses and researchers build contacts that will benefit both China and Latin America.

 “Geographically, we’re ideally located,” said Richard Hojel, the chairman of Corporacion Frigus Therme who serves as vice chairman of the Institute of the Americas board of directors. “We can turn that into a positive, into a competitive advantage, by bringing the Americas to Asia and by bringing Asia to the Americas.

“So few people in Latin America know about Asia.  They’re starved for information,” said Hojel. “The idea of bringing together Asia and the Americas is very appealing. We can be a facilitator, a player in that process of linking the two regions together.”

Responding to emerging regional economic trends has been a hallmark of the Institute’s 25-year history. The Institute of the Americas has built relationships with the government of each Latin American country as well as with major corporations in each sector.  

“I see the Institute as an organization that can recognize an opportunity, organize and act on it,” said David Weaver,  managing partner and chairman of Intercap Institutional Investors, who serves as chairman of the Institute’s board of directors.  “We are capable of being proactive,  of moving quickly into the vacuums created by a quickly changing world.”

Walker welcomes suggestions for programming and participants from IOA friends at  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Building a New Partnership Between U.S. and Mexico

 IOA President Jeffrey Davidow spoke about the importance of a strategic partnership between the United States and Mexico during a February 6 panel discussion at the Woodrow Wilson International Center's Mexico Institute in Washington, D.C.

While U.S.-Mexico relations have sometimes seemed mired in accusations and finger-pointing, Davidow said the possibility exists for a new era of understanding if leaders on both sides of the border reject timeworn cliches and long-held views on the thorny issues of immigration, drug trafficking and violence.

Davidow was joined on the panel by Lazaro Cardenas Batel, former governor of Michoacan, Mexico; Denise Dresser, professor at the Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico ; Andres Martinez, a fellow at the Bernard L. Schwartz Fellows Program , New America Foundation , and former editorial page editor for The Los Angeles Times . The panel was moderated by Ginger Thompson, national correspondent and former Mexico City bureau chief for The New York Times.

The Mexico Institute released a 65-page report on Friday entitled, "The United States and Mexico: Towards a Strategic Partnership." To read the full report,
click here

Latin America Needs a Friend in Washington, D.C.

 President-elect Barack Obama brings to the White House
a fresh approach to U.S.-Latin America relations, Institute of the Americas board member Nelson W. Cunningham said in an interview with Miami Herald columnist Andres Oppenheimer.

"The values of the Obama administration are the values that Latin Americans care most about, such as a multilateral approach to foreign policy," said Cunningham, managing partner of McLarty Associates and a former Clinton administration official who is close to the Obama team. "Obama himself grew up overseas and understands the perspective of the developing world."

To read Oppenheimer's column,
click here

Chávez Reopens Oil Bids to West as Prices Plunge

 As falling oil prices threaten the social welfare programs that have bolstered President Hugo Chávez's popular support, senior officials in his government are quietly courting Western companies to boost purchases of Venezuelan petroleum, The New York Times reported.

In recent weeks, Venezuelan officials have solicited bids from some of the largest Western oil companies, including Chevron, Royal Dutch/Shell and Total of France and promised them access to some of the world's largest petroleum reserves.

"If re-engaging with foreign oil companies is necessary to his political survival, then Chávez will do it," said Roger Tissot, an authority on Venezuela's oil industry who is a visiting energy fellow at the Institute of the Americas.

To read the complete story by New York Times correspondent Simon Romero, click here


Commission calls on U.S., Latin America to build 'genuine partnership'

The Brookings Institution urged the U.S. and Latin America to build a “genuine and sustained partnership” in a comprehensive report released Nov. 24 by its Partnership for the Americas Commission.

The commission, which was first convened by the Brookings Institution in May 2008, is co-chaired by former Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo and Thomas R. Pickering, a long-time diplomat and former under secretary of state.

Read full article


Weaver elected IOA Chairman

David R. Weaver, the managing partner and chairman of Intercap Institutional Investors LLC , has been elected Chairman of the Institute of the Americas’ board of directors. Weaver succeeds Gastón Luken, who served as chairman from 2002-2008.

"Ï see the Institute as an organization that can recognize an opportunity, organize and act on it," Weaver said. "I see us coming up with solutions that governments and businesses can build into a road map for the future."

Richard C. Hojel has been elected Vice Chairman of the Institute’s board of directors. Hojel is the chairman of the board of Mexico City-based Corporación Frigus Therme.

Zedillo says Latin America faces
"moment of truth"

President Zedillo

As Latin America confronts the global economic crisis, its leaders face the critical decision of adopting bold measures to carry the region forward or retreating to failed policies of the past, former Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo said during a keynote address at the Institute of the America’s 25th anniversary gala.

“This is the moment of truth. We have to recognize how difficult the situation is. We have to accept that we are going to have to adjust,” said Zedillo. “But we should not forget that relative to where we were 20 years ago, we have made a lot of progress. Instead of back pedaling this is a moment for moving forward with reforms.

” Zedillo, who now serves as director of the Yale Center for the Study of Globalization, delivered his remarks to an audience of almost 500 business leaders and government officials who traveled from throughout the Western Hemisphere to join the Institute on November 15 for its 25th anniversary celebration.

A Yale-educated economist, Zedillo faced a crushing economic crisis shortly after assuming the Mexican presidency in 1994. During the early years of his administration, Mexico was plagued with soaring inflation, labor unrest, a decline in investor confidence and a prolonged recession.

By the time Zedillo left office in 2000, however, inflation was low and the peso was strong. In the final year of his administration, the economy surged 7 percent, making it the fastest-growing economy in Latin America.

In past economic crises, Latin America’s response has devastated the region and delayed efforts to deliver social programs to improve the lives of the region’s impoverished people, Zedillo said.

As Latin America faces the  worst economic downturn in 50 years, the question once again facing Latin American countries is, “Are we going to worsen our circumstances and impair our future, or improve our prospects for growth and prosperity?

“At precisely those moments of truth most of our countries retreated, adopted the wrong policies and reacted the wrong way,” Zedillo said.

“We ended up being poorer countries than we were before. We fell behind and we fell behind while others were moving forward. This has had lasting consequences in our countries. It has taken too long to recover."

He noted the region has achieved impressive growth during the past two decades, giving Latin American countries the ability to withstand the crisis.

“If we overcome this new moment of truth we will emerge with a new strength and a new vitality,” Zedillo said.  “Then it will be possible to say that Latin America, or most of Latin America, has taken the decision to be the region of the future and has become a model of the 21st century.” 

See Gala reception photos
See Gala Candids photos


COMMISSION CALLS ON U.S., LATIN TO BUILD 'GENUINE PARTNERSHIP'

The Brookings Institution urged the U.S. and Latin America to build a “genuine and sustained partnership” in a comprehensive report released Nov. 24 by its Partnership for the Americas Commission.

The commission, which was first convened by the Brookings Institution in May 2008, is co-chaired by former Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo and Thomas R. Pickering, a long-time diplomat and former under secretary of state.

The commission’s members are prominent U.S. and Latin American policy makers, including Jeffrey Davidow, former U.S. ambassador to Mexico and Venezuela who now heads the Institute of the Americas.

“The key challenges faced by the United States and the hemisphere’s other countries – such as securing sustainable energy supplies, combating and adapting to climate change and combating organized crime and drug trafficking – have become so complex and deeply transnational that they cannot be managed or overcome by any single country,” the report said.

“If a hemispheric partnership remains elusive, the costs to the United States and its neighbors will be high, in terms of both growing risks and missed opportunities.” To read the complete report by the Partnership for the Americas Commission,
click here

 

Bush and Schwarzenegger laud IOA for strengthening international relationships

Active Image President George W. Bush commended the Institute of the Americas for its efforts to “enhance progress and prosperity throughout the Western Hemisphere” in a letter commemorating the Institute’s 25 anniversary.

“International trade and cooperation strengthen our relationships with other countries, help advance peace around the world and contribute to economic growth,” President Bush wrote in a letter to IOA President Jeffrey Davidow. “By building mutual understanding between countries and expanding opportunities, you are helping write a hopeful new chapter in the history of our times.”

Active ImageCalifornia Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger added his own congratulations in a letter that praised the IOA for its “innovative programs and research..”
 
 “I commend your outstanding efforts to create partnerships across borders,” the governor wrote. “By promoting effective government policies and strengthening international relationships, you help ensure the success of our state and the Americas.”



Weaver elected IOA Chairman
 
Active Image
David R. Weaver, the managing partner and chairman of Intercap Institutional Investors LLC , has been elected Chairman of the Institute of the Americas’ board of directors. Weaver succeeds Gastón Luken, who served as chairman from 2002-2008.

"Ï see the Institute as an organization that can recognize an opportunity, organize and act on it," Weaver said. "I see us coming up with solutions that governments and businesses can build into a road map for the future."

Richard C. Hojel has been elected Vice Chairman of the Institute’s board of directors. Hojel is the chairman of the board of Mexico City-based Corporación Frigus Therme.
    
 IOA RECEIVES DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

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IOA Chairman Gaston Luken, right, is presented a Distinguished Service Award by John B. McNeece III during the Mexico Business Center's International Tribute Awards gala dinner.

 The Institute of the Americas was honored by the Mexico Business Center with a Distinguished Service Award during a Sept. 10 ceremony in San Diego.

The IOA was recognized for “25 years of service to the Hemisphere” at an International Tribute Awards gala dinner hosted by the Mexico Business Center and the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.

During the awards presentation, the IOA was praised for its leadership in bringing together representatives of government, civil society and business to improve the lives of people in the Americas.  The Mexico Business Center credited a “small group of visionary men and women, led by Ambassador Theodore Gildred Jr. and UCSD Chancellor Richard Atkinson” for their determination “to create in San Diego a focal point for the United States’ relations with the rest of the hemisphere.”

The IOA was among five recipients of an International Tribute Award. Other awards presented during the ceremony attended by more than 100 people were:

International Tribute: Luis Tellez Kuenzler, Mexico’s secretary of communications and transportation. Tellez is overseeing the bidding process for the $4.8 billion Punta Colonet megaport and rail project south of Ensenada, which would provide a new route from Asian goods to American markets.

San Diego/Tijuana Citizen of the Year: Malin Burnham, chairman of the Project Smart Border 2010 Initiative and member of the Institute of the Americas board of directors.

Special Service to Region Awards: Ambassador Luis Cabrera and Minister Counselor David Stewart.  Ambassador Cabrera was Mexico’s Counsel General in San Diego before his current posting as Mexican ambassador to South Africa.  Minister Counselor Stewart was the United States Consul General in Tijuana before his posting to the U.S. Embassy in Berlin.

Outstanding Cultural Achievement Award: XLNC1, a classical music radio station that transmits from Tijuana and broadcasts from Chula Vista.  The station, at 104.9 FM on the radio dial, plays the “top 400 classical hits from the past 400 years.”


EXPERTS SEE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LATIN AMERICA IN FOOD CRISIS

 Nearly two dozen academic, business, financial and government experts met in August at the Institute of the Americas in La Jolla under the sponsorship of the Andean Finance Corporation (CAF) to discuss the alarming increase in food prices throughout Latin America and the Carribean (LAC). They noted that while the increase has been positive for major regional food producers, the majority of LAC countries are both net importers of food and fuel and have suffered a double disadvantage as prices of both have skyrocketed. Government and multilateral bank intervention to safeguard the poorest of the population is obviously needed.

But the situation also demands medium and short term policies to increase local food production to take advantage of the opportunities of higher producer prices. Many LAC countries have the resources -- abundant land, biodiversity and tradition -- to do so, but current policies do not encourage increased productivity. The experts also identified the use of foodstocks -- particularly corn in the United States -- as one of most significant causes for the rise in food prices and suggested policy changes in this regard.
Click here to read the full summary.


  China sneezes, Latin America catches a cold

 IOA energy expert Jeremy Martin and energy analyst Roger Tissot explain the impact of an economic slowdown in China on Latin America's exports and energy sector. To read their article in Latin Business Chronicle,

click here




IOA FEATURED IN TELEVISA DOCUMENTARY

IOA President Jeffrey Davidow is a featured commentator in an hour-long Televisa documentary on the impact of the Latino vote in the U.S. presidential election.

“Voto Hispano 2008: Llego La Hora,” which was broadcast on the Televisa network in July, also included an interview with IOA Information and Communication expert Harrison Morrison on the role the Internet, text messaging and other technologies in reaching young Latino voters.

The documentary, which noted that 9 million Latinos are registered to vote in the U.S. presidential election, showed how the campaigns of Barack Obama and John McCain are attempting to win those votes in the hard-fought presidential election.

“Make no mistake about it,” Obama said in a campaign speech to the National Council of La Raza. “The Latino community holds this election in its hands.”

To see the documentary,
click here



IOA ENERGY EXPERT JEREMY MARTIN TESTIFIES ON CAPITOL HILL

Institute of the Americas energy expert Jeremy Martin testified during a July 31 hearing before the congressional subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere on the production profile and the investment climate of major oil-producing nations in Latin America. With Latin America home to three of the largest suppliers of petroleum to the United States, Martin said the region’s major oil- and gas-producing nations have the existing and potential reserves to aid the hemisphere’s energy balance. Yet in many cases, Martin said, poor policy planning, regulatory hurdles and changing rules of the game can be more important than the geology of the country. To read a transcript of Martin’s testimony,
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IOA PRESIDENT URGES RAPID CONGRESSIONAL ACTION TO PROTECT US CITIZENS ABROAD

In an op-ed piece published in the Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald and the San Antonio Express News, IOA President Jeffrey Davidow urged urgent congressional attention to a situation caused by a recent Supreme Court decision that weakens US adherence to the Vienna Convention on Consular Rights. That international treaty, signed by the United States and 170 other countries, guarantees detained foreigners access to their consular representatives. The Court ruled that the US Congress had not passed specific implementing legislation to put the treaty into force. Davidow warned that if the United States fails to support the treaty, other nations will feel less obliged to offer arrested US citizens the access to US consular officers.
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