100 Adventures in Rio

Rio de Janeiro. Apparently more than just a beach town. From the day I touched down I was swept up in parades, dancing in the streets, capoeira, climbing to waterfalls, samba, forro, farmers markets, outdoor jazz parties, anti-homophobia film festivals, favela photography exhibitions, make-your-own maracuya caipirinhas, and even an evangelical music concert! Oh yeah, and sunbathing on Ipanema isn't bad either. Check out my 100 best moments in Rio. Volcanic ash cloud, you can leave me stranded in Rio any time you like! Brazil was FULL of surprises.

After Neoliberalism: The Future for Development in South America

By Melaina A. Spitzer

In the midst of what is becoming known as the “crisis of development,” countries around the world that once put their faith in the large financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank are growing weary. Resistance movements have sprung up across the globe, challenging the neoliberal model for development, holding it responsible for the perpetration of grave economic violence, all while failing to bring about economic growth. In South America, with the deepening crisis of neoliberalism, questions are bubbling: What next? Can South American countries shed the crippling neoliberal model, and if so, what would take its place? Through a study of the entrenched neoliberal strategy in Ecuador and Peru, as well as the emergence of new models that threaten neoliberal dominance in the region, we evaluate the challenges to and possibilities for a post-neoliberal and perhaps even post-development model. This paper argues that while new initiatives have emerged in Ecuador, which challenge the extractive development model, repressive policies in both Ecuador and Peru have meant that neither country is out of the neoliberal woods just yet.

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New Article: Uprising in Bahrain

Dear Friends:

I invite you to read a new article I've written about Bahrain and the Arab spring. There's an excerpt below and you can click on the link for the full article. Thanks!

Uprising in Bahrain:

Democracy, Repression, and Sectarianism in the Arab Spring

By Melaina Spitzer

June 1, 2011

It’s springtime in the Arab world, and Bahrain has a new look. The tiny country comprised of about 30 islands in the Persian Gulf was once known for its relaxed social atmosphere, and received an overload of tourists hoping to escape the strict codes and confines of religiously orthodox societies like Saudi Arabia. Yet today, a visit to the capital Manama leaves a very different impression: Armored tanks occupy the streets, Shia mosques have been burned to the ground and Pearl Square, the epicenter of the pro-democracy protests just a few months ago, has seen its tents set ablaze and its pearl monument toppled by the very government that erected it. While uprisings and repression in Syria, Yemen, and Libya continue to make international headlines, Bahrain grapples quietly beyond the limelight with an uncertain future that, despite the modest size of the country, could have serious consequences for the region and the world. READ MORE...

Harmonica Tango Legend

Last night I attended the most unforgettable concert I've been to since arriving in Argentina--and I saw U2 here!--Tango Harmonica legend Franco Luciani with Tango singer Cardenal Dominguez, Live at the CAFF April 23, 2011, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

If you like it you can hear more on Franco Luciani's myspace page:

http://www.myspace.com/francoluciani

Podcast Launches! - Malena Canta el Tango

I'm launching my very own podcast!

"Malena Canta el Tango:
Music, Stories, and Musings from South America and Beyond"

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"Malena canta el tango como ninguna

y en cada verso pone su corazón."

~

“Malena sings the tango like no other

and into every single verse she pours her heart.”

I cannot introduce myself quietly in Argentina. Every time I tell someone my name, I get the same enthusiastic response: “Ah, Malena canta el tango!” Sometimes I get a smile, as wistful look off into the distance. If I’m lucky, I’ll get a serenade. Malena is a famous tango song from the 1940s, and while I may not live up to the first line (I have yet to master the art of singing tango), the second is most certainly true: if I am going to commit myself to something, I’m going to go all out. This podcast is my attempt to share the things I’m pouring my heart into these days, and the experiences that have left an imprint on my heart and soul.

Farmers struggle in Argentina

Today I attended a talk by delegates of the the National Indigenous and Farmer Movement who traveled from communities across Argentina to participate in events leading up to the International Day for Farmers' Struggle. Across Argentina, from the provinces of Jujuy, to Mendoza, to Santiago del Estero, farmers are dealing with displacement, land grabs and appropriation, lack of access to water, genetic engineering, lack of food sovereignty, and health and environmental damages due to mining contamination. This interview (in Spanish) highlights the struggles of one Mendoza farmers.

A photostory to honor Monica

With the recent passing of my Aunt Monica, I thought I would share this photo story that I shared with her a few weeks ago, when she first arrived at her hospice center. With my little tale, I was hoping to transport her for a few minutes, to bring her in to my world and hold her close. My mom read her the illustrated story and a letter I had written. Monica and I were able to video skype during her final days, so she could see my wrapping my arms around her in love.

Here's to you Monica, my inspiration forever.

(if you click on the album it will take you to the picasa page with the story written in as captions.)