Latin America's Pacific Alliance Plans for 2012

Latin America's Pacific Alliance Plans for 2012

Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Peru take signficant steps towards the formation of a new economic bloc, named the Pacific Alliance, which might surpass MERCOSUR in terms of trade volume.

This analysis was prepared by Gustavo Pulhares, Research Associate at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs.
To read the full analysis, click here.

The Many Political Faces of Daniel Ortega

What explains Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's continued political longevity? Hannah Stone critically analyzes this man of contradictions.

This analysis was prepared by Hannah Stone, Guest Scholar at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs.
To read the full analysis, click here.

To be released tomorrow: "Nicaragua, The Other Side" \

"Nicaragua, The Other Side" by Fred Morris, a COHA Guest Scholar, strongly defends the sometimes controversial governing path chosen by the country's president, Daniel Ortega.

Fred B. Morris was the Director for Latin American and Carribbean Relations of the National Council of Churches of Christ of the USA (2003-2005) and a leading Latin Americanist. Son and grandson of Methodist pastors, he is himself a pastor of the United Methodist Church (retired). Earlier in his career he was the editor of Mesoamerica. The Council on Hemispheric Affairs is honored to award him the position of COHA Guest Scholar.

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A Call for Donations & Grants

Dear friends of COHA,

Consider subscribing to COHA’s three-decade-old biweekly, the Washington Report on the Hemisphere. The scholars and analysts of COHA also invite you to consider making a year-end contribution or grant to our tax-exempt, non-profit organization.

For the past 35 years, COHA, an all-volunteer organization, has successfully resisted pressures to join the NGO trail of elephants that desire to vacuum, in a kindly manner, your wallets and purses, in order to fund projects that are tailor-made to attract donations. While many of these otherwise estimable organizations are, beyond question, highly deserving of your support, COHA over the years has taken a different direction. Alone in Washington among those in its cohorts, COHA’s operating model has been that of an all-volunteer battalion of interns, averaging 30 or more carefully selected young scholars who have been chosen from a much larger pool. These are joined by about 20 extramural senior research fellows who have an illustrious standing in Latin American studies. For the purpose of achieving the organization’s objective to bring a new, vital, progressive and entirely independent voice to the field of U.S.-Latin American Affairs, COHA clearly sees its mission of producing the most reliable and ethical material. Armed with a mailing list of over 50,000 names and a round-the-clock office culture, COHA has survived over the past 35 years through sacrifice and a determination to serve the region that, throughout the years, has involved more than 1,000 college interns and senior scholars—all of them volunteers.

Why Now?

An opportunity has presented itself to COHA that makes eminent sense to the organization, yet will not compromise our principles or force us to blunt our arrows. Rather, it could help allow COHA to guarantee its future.

COHA has been awarded a grant of $30,000 outright, and an additional $25,000 on a conditional basis, predicated on it being able to raise an equivalent amount. We are making progress in our fundraising drive, but we need help.

We are now asking you to consider contributing to this tax-exempt organization. The pledge under discussion is huge to us. In COHA's entire history, we have never gone to the public or ever raised the kind of funds we're talking about here. The situation is made more alarming because just a few months ago, within a period of weeks, COHA’s beloved chairperson, Judith Chiara, and her sister—both major financial backers of COHA’s work—passed away, to our enormous grief.

Again, please consider a contribution of any size. Needless to say, the people of COHA will be eternally grateful for your help and generosity.

Thank you,
Larry Birns and the good people of COHA
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To view a summary of COHA's public activities from the previous week, click here.

Wednesday December 21st, 2011 | Research Memorandum 11.3

ENDS

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