National Latino Congreso Convenes Friday (I will there for part of it)

“The 2nd Annual National Latino Congreso, a national gathering of Latino leaders from throughout the country to develop a united agenda, will kick off its meetings by discussing ways in which to maximize Latino voting power, effective mobilization efforts for the 2008 national elections, and efforts to defeat anti-immigrant efforts nationwide. More than 1,500 delegates and observers from throughout the United States and Latin America are expected to gather in downtown Los Angeles on October 5-9, 2007 to attend the historic policy-development convention.

“The National Latino Congreso is a unique forum set up to address key issues through proactive dialogue sessions which we believe will lead us to be a stronger, more politically united community,” stated Antonio Gonzalez, President of Southwest Voter Registration Education Project (SVREP), one of a dozen national conveners. “The 2008 elections will provide Latinos with the opportunity to play a critical role in deciding who wins the primaries and, in some states, who ultimately wins certain battleground states outright in the general election. The 2004 elections demonstrated Latinos made a difference at the polls, are increasing in voter registration numbers, and cannot be ignored.”"

• LatAm Immigrants Are Changing Spain, Sociologist Says
• The current global crisis will cause the number of poor people in Latin America to rise by 9 million to 189 million this year, the U.N. Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean said in a report presented on Thursday.
• The leader of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s Latin American division, Vicente Trius, is leaving the company after having served less than five months in the position.
• Beginning with the 2009-2010 season, Terra will stream select games live throughout Latin America, in both Spanish and Portuguese
• The Associated Press on Wednesday announced changes in its Latin America and Caribbean operations, closing a service limited to Puerto Rican news within Puerto Rico while adding editors and reporters elsewhere for the expanding Spanish market in the Americas.
• Money Transfer Service to Latin America – ATMCASH launches online and over the phone money transfer service to Latin America
• Reviewed: Gringo: A Coming-of-Age in Latin America, by Chesa Boudin
• Trend Toward Smaller Families in Latin America – The number of people per household in Latin America will fall by 18 percent by 2020, according to a study released in this capital Tuesday by consulting firm Euromonitor International.
• In the 8 states poised to gain congressional seats, Latino voter registration grew 45% and Latino voter turnout expanded 50% between 2000 and 2008. – In the 11 states poised to lose seats, Latino voter registration grew 50% and Latino voter turnout expanded 62% between 2000 and 2008.
• Evaporation blamed on global warming has reduced Lake Titicaca, one of the world’s highest navigable lakes, to its lowest level since 1949
• Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon dropped nearly 46 percent from August 2008 to July 2009 — the biggest annual decline in two decades
• Martin Ortells: “The Emerging Latin American Middle Class Represents an Enormous Opportunity”
• Consuls from Latin America will help with the census
• Korean trade with Latin America is growing strongly led by Brazil and Panama.
• Singapore continues boosting its business and trade relations with Latin America.
• AP Launches Mobile News Network, “AP Mobile América Latina”
• Latin American Businesses look to past in adapting to Current Economic Downturn.
• @ Ad-Tech New York: WPP’s Latin American Interest, Hispanic Digital Panel
• The Prevention Research Center (PRC) in St. Louis is launching a multinational research project focused on preventing the leading causes of death in Hispanics in the United States and Latin America. – will conduct a four-year, $2.8 million effort to apply and adapt evidence-based strategies for preventing heart disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity in the United States, Mexico and Brazil
• Calle 13: With the people, without a map – Calle 13 hit it big in a hurry. Unsettled by fame, MC Rene Perez set out to connect on a personal level with Latin America.