If You Happen To Be Lost in Texas...

... stop by and see us at the Stephen F. Austin State University Latin American Studies Conference on September 30th to October 2nd. In addition to a great conference program with the theme of "Latin American Borderlands," we'll also have a folk dance presentation from Panama and a showing of Avi Lewis and Naomi Klein's film The Take.

Think Shock Doctrine in Haiti

Naomi Klein, author of The Shock Doctrine has been keeping up with attempts to capitalize on the quake in Haiti. From her site:

Readers of the The Shock Doctrine know that the Heritage Foundation has been one of the leading advocates of exploiting disasters to push through their unpopular pro-corporate policies. From this document, they're at it again, not even waiting one day to use the devastating earthquake in Haiti to push for their so-called reforms. The following quote was hastily yanked by the Heritage Foundation and replaced with a more diplomatic quote, but their first instinct is revealing:

"In addition to providing immediate humanitarian assistance, the U.S. response to the tragic earthquake in Haiti earthquake offers opportunities to re-shape Haiti’s long-dysfunctional government and economy as well as to improve the public image of the United States in the region."

When tectonic plates hand third-world nations lemons, capitalism makes lemonade.