An interview with William Robinson, Professor of Sociology, University of California at Santa Barbara

Chile: Government gets tough with looters in the middle of the chaos – Terrestrial communications restored – the earthquake tests progress ♦ Guatemala: drug traffic reaches the head of police ♦ Brazil: sugar cane production due to increase ♦ Mexico: GM crops are not the solution

Chile: international aid arrives – people and authorities organise against looting ♦ Argentina: welcome US mediation ♦ Chile: earthquake will not stop economic growth ♦ Bolivia: Rains destroy communities

Chile: Army controls devastated areas – rescue efforts start – Why Chile coped better than Haiti ♦ Colombia: the end of the Uribe adventure, for now ♦ Argentina: politics makes inflation go up ♦ Meeting to prepare COP16

Venezuela leaves human rights organisation ♦ Colombia: Constitutional court says no Uribe re-election ♦ Telefónica increases profits ♦ Uruguay and the ethical house

Argentina: Government fights on two fronts ♦ Cuba: Lula says farewell ♦ Venezuela: Government rejects report from Inter American Committee ♦ Brazil: Biggest bank increases profits ♦ El Niño goes heavy on Latin America