Matie's Corner

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Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Facts about the Andes Mountains

-The Andes Mountains are the longest and one of the highest mountain ranges in the world. They are located in South America and stretch 4,500 miles from north to south, along the west coast of the continent. It is 500 km (300 miles) wide in some parts, and of an average height of about 4,000 m... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by Matie at 5:44 PM | add or view comments (19) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Today's Chilean Democracy (part 4/4)

Pinochet left the presidency on March 11, 1990 and transferred power to Patricio Aylwin, the new democratically elected president. President Aylwin served from 1990 to 1994, in what was considered a transition period. Patricio Aylwin -Basically he led the reconstruction of Chile and the... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by Matie at 8:13 PM | add or view comments (8) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Saturday, August 25, 2007

I found something you might really like.

As I was preparing tomorrow's post, I stumbled upon this. I must say this is one of those things that makes me really proud of my own country despite all of its problems, and it gives me a sense of hope in the middle of the pessimistic marsh I usually live in. This is the "Simon Bolivar" Venezuelan... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by Matie at 8:18 PM | add or view comments (10) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

The Indiscreet Charm of Tyranny (part 1/5)

If you haven't read this great article by Ian Buruma, I highly suggest you do. It offers real insight on many 'whys' and 'hows' on authoritarism, not only in Latin America, but the world in general too. I'm going to post it in pieces so it gets easier and faster to read (and digest), according to... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by Matie at 6:10 PM | add or view comments (21) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

A dictator that lost democratic elections and accepted it (Chile, part 3)

After 7 years of brutal repression and silence, a new Constitution for Chile was approved on September 11, 1980, characterized by strong economic reformations toward a more free-market economy, and General Pinochet legally became President of the Republic for an 8-year term. (If you don't want to... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by Matie at 6:16 PM | add or view comments (8) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Monday, August 20, 2007

Democracy champions in Latin America (part one)

This week I decided to showcase something different in regards to Latin American culture, politics, and stuff. Probably most of you identify these countries with dictatorships, cataclysmic disasters, poverty, suffering, and devastation as I certainly indicated in all my previous entries. But I know... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by Matie at 5:50 PM | add or view comments (2) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

More tidbits

-Some testimonials of the earthquake in Peru said that when it all began, they saw thunders in the sky, as well as thunders coming literally from the ground as it was split in half! Most of the victims thought it was the coming of Armageddon Day and the Apocalypse, especially after they saw that the... Sign in to see full entry.

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Sunday, August 19, 2007

10 things Chavez wants to do to the Venezuelan Constitution

Another subject that made this week’s news is the matter of the Constitutional Reform in Venezuela. In Wednesday, President Hugo Chavez went to the entirely pro-government Congress to present his proposal for the modification of several articles in the Constitution. (As I commented to Saul_relative,... Sign in to see full entry.

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Friday, August 17, 2007

September 11, 1973 (part two)

One of the most controversial events in Latin American history, there will always be this veil of uncertainty about it. While some say it was the day Chile lost its democracy for the next 17 years, others argue that Chile was in fact saved from communism as Allende’s plans allegedly went in that... Sign in to see full entry.

posted by Matie at 7:31 PM | add or view comments (10) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

Some pics of the earthquake in Lima and cities nearby in Peru

As of now, the official estimates are 510 people killed and 484 injured. More here: (all images are from Reuters, AP, AFP et al.) http://news.search.yahoo.com/news/search;_ylt=A9j8euyWf8RGZQcBmgbRtDMD;ylu=X3oDMTA4Mm84YjJyBHNlYwNzb3J0?ei=UTF-8&p=peru&c=news_photos&datesort=1&fr= Sign in to see full entry.

posted by Matie at 11:29 AM | add or view comments (3) | leave calling card | link to this | view only this entry

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