­by the El Reportero’s news services

Barack Hussein Obama

U.S. President Barack Obama achieved one aim at the Summit of the Americas held on April 17-19 in Port of Spain, Trinidad: to prevent the hijacking of the event by his Venezuelan counterpart, Hugo Chávez.

With smiles, handshakes and his message that he had come to listen and learn, he managed to win the media battle and convey the impression that he was inaugurating a new kind of relationship with the media. Though critics have maintained that he delivered little more than gesture, in a couple of areas — Cuba and Colombia — there was some substance as well.

Questions mount about Ecuador elections

On May 7 Fernando Cordero, the president of the rump of Congress, said that there had been fraud in the recent elections. Cordero is loyal to President Rafael Correa, who officially won the April 26, elections. Cordero’s claim endorses the grumbles from former president Lucío Gutiérrez (2003-2005) who claims that the elections were riddled with fraud.

The elections were monitored, by both the Organization of American States (OAS) and the European Union. Both organizations pointed out shortcomings in the elections and the OAS observers’ report stopped well short of saying that the elections were fair. The OAS secretary general, José Miguel Insulza, however, hailed Correa as the winner before the observers produced their report.

Bank of the South ready to operate

BUENOS AIRES – With an initial capital of seven billion dollars, the Bank of the South is ready to start up operations in this capital, amid the severe global economic crisis, local media reported.

The final details on the constitution of the new financial body were put in place at a closed-door meeting of Economy and Finance ministers from all seven member countries.

The announcement was made amid the global financial crisis to counter growing pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which is trying to become a major moneylender in the region, the newspaper Pagina 12 reported.

The publication said that Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela would contribute two billion dollars each, while Uruguay and Ecuador would provide 400 million each, and Paraguay and Bolivia would put in the remaining 200 million dollars.

The agreement to set up the Bank of the South must be ratifi ed by the presidents and parliaments of all seven countries involved.

The Bank of the South, an initiative by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, will finance development programs in key economic sectors, and will seek to reduce asymmetries, promote he equitable distribution of investments in the region and fi ght poverty and social exclusion.

Cuban eye surgeons help Nicaraguans

MANAGUA – Cuban ophthalmologists of the Operation Miracle mission in Nicaragua have completed over 50,000 eye surgeries, coordinator Doctor Mercedes Argote said. She told Prensa Latina that between the Sandino City’s Clinic and those in the cities of Bluefi elds and Puerto Cabezas, 50,113 ey­e surgeries were performed.

by John Rosales

Mexicans are wearing masks again. Blue ones.

Although these contemporary, surgical masks are meant to guard against the swine flu outbreak, masks have been a part of Mexican culture since 3000 B.C. Before the Spanish Conquest of 1521, they were used by prieststo channel the powerof their gods.

Over the centuries, mask-wearing in Mexico became ceremonial. From cultural rituals (Day of the Dead, Carnaval) and Christian dances (Our Lady of Guadalupe, San Sebastian, Moors and Christians, Pastorela) to historical dances (Battle of Cinco de Mayo, The Conquest) and those that are harvest-related (First Fruits, rain-petitioning).

The ingenuity and beauty of some Mexican masks combine human and animal features. Birds, alligators and various beasts can be identified within a humanized face mask. Snakes and lizards sometimes emerge from a human nose as an abstract expression of the unity between humans and animals. Some masks depict full animal figures (like a tiger) attached to a human face making it impossible to discern the animal from the human.

Masks of war, such as those of jaguars and tigers, signifycourage and bravery. Once positioned over a real face, they imbue the wearer with noble qualities. They also hide and protect the wearer from enemies, such as a nasty pig virus. The almost universal acceptance of cultural themes and beliefs linked to masks reveal much about overall Mexican character.

Enter the sky-blue surgical mask. If television and Internet images are a clue, Mexicans everywhere are wearing this latest face mask, which I think contains old themes like ‘’healing” and “survival.”

After all, doctors say the new mask protects people only if someone sneezes right at them. It appears the mask is more :psychological than anything, given that the pore size of most masks are too large to keep viruses from going through. No matter. Arising from flu tragedy in Mexico might be a new artistic treatment of a modern mask.

In traditional Mexican mask-making, the color blue signifies water and purity. Red stands for bloodshed and evil, while green alludes to crops and black to death. In Mexico today, I’ve not seen pictured a single red or black surgical mask.

The surgical mask may not protect against death or catching swine flu as much as a vaccine (in development as we go to print), or washing hands, using alcohol-based hand cleaners, or foregoing handshakes and kisses. But it helps.

We know the new swine flu virus can be transmitted between humans, but we don’t know how easily.

Almost certainly it is transmitted by sneezing and coughing and by skin-to-skin contact (like shaking hands, kissing) with an infected person.

While scientists remain puzzled as to why the infection currently appears to be worse in Mexico than in the United States, the new blue mask seems to lend a mystical if not pragmatic power to the wearer—that of survival.

The masks of Mexico have always been a record of its people, cultures and religions. From pre-Conquest and Spanish colonization to Catholicism, wars and modern times, masks have been used to teach history and values.

The calavera (skull) masks used during Day of the Dead ceremonies taught that death is a natural part of the life cycle and should not be feared. Viejos (Old Men) often ­reflect a humorous rather than depressing good (angel) and evil (devil), male and female, life (human) and death (skeleton).

Human-animal duality masks refl ect on the mystic unity between people and animals.

In the modern world of Mexican sports, lucha libre masks add terror and fearlessness to the arsenal of a Mexican wrestler. It appears that the paper-thin surgical mask does the same for wearers in their battle against airborne swine germs.

As a Mexican American who lived in Mexico for a short period, I fi nd it refreshing in an artificial sense to see that Mexican masks still retain the power to protect against evil, to transform the wearer into something to be reckoned with, and to teach lessons about bravery, survival and, well, hygiene.

The beauty and mystery inherent in Mexican masks of old is unquestionable. Museums, art galleries and collectors crave Mexican masks as folk art collectibles.

It remains to be seen the long-term cultural effect of the blue surgical mask in Mexico.

For now, I’m satisfi ed to just let it protect its wearers from harm’s way. Hispanic Link.

by the University of Michigan

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Today, more children than ever are being treated with complementary and alternative therapies. Recent studies indicate that about 30 percent of healthy children and up to 50 percent of children with chronic disease are using some kind of alternative therapy.

“There is a huge place for complementary and alternative medicine in pediatrics,” says Dolores Mendelow, M.D., clinical assistant professor of pediatrics and communicable diseases at the University of Michigan Medical School.

Complementary and alternative therapies are becoming a more prevalent treatment for children. If individuals follow the directions of their physicians, these treatments are a safe and effective way to get and stay healthy, Mendelow says.

While certain types of complementary and alternative therapies are safe for children, there are many therapies that could potentially be dangerous. Mendelow notes that parents should always consult their children’s pediatrician before beginning any new treatment.

Alternative therapies can be successful against many illnesses – including the common cold or skin rashes – when over-the-counter medications do not have immediate success. For instance, honey can be used for coughs related to the common cold – just not for children less than one year of age.

“In terms of complementary medicine, we’re using acupuncture, dietary supplementation and herbal or botanical therapies,” Mendelow says.

Some types of therapies that may be beneficial for children: Yoga. Experts suggest that pediatric patients participate in yoga as a form of therapy. Yoga, when combined with medicines prescribed by a physician, can be used to help asthmatic patients learn to practice and use deep breathing and remain calm when faced with shortness of breath. Yoga also helps reduce stress in teens and adolescents.

Tai chi. Research shows teenagers encounter a lot of stress, which puts them at risk for depression. Mind and body therapies, such as tai chi, help reduce the risk of depression and anxiety. Tai chi and yoga help to decrease blood pressure and sympathetic activity in children. This allows for a sense of relaxation and calmness Probiotics. These live bacteria, similar to those found in the human stomach, can be found in dietary supplements or in food, such as yogurt. Used to treat antibiotic associated diarrhea, controlled studies have shown probiotics are safe for children.

Using probiotics can reduce diarrhea by one to two days, allowing children to go back to school or day care sooner.

Probiotics are not recommended for children on any immunosuppressive drugs or those who are immuno compromised. Always consult a doctor first.

While there is strong evidence that these complementary and alternative therapies are safe for children, Mendelow advises parents that other complementary and alternative medicines can have serious consequences for children and adolescents.

Some types of therapies that may be harmful to children include: Ma Haung. Ma Haung, a popular Chinese medicine used to control asthma, is an ephedra compound, a stimulant often used to boost athletic performance. Using this type of boosting agent in a child can lead to heart palpitations and other cardiac-related events, all extremely dangerous for a child.

Creatine. Creatine is another supplement that should not be used in a child’s diet.

“Creatine is used for a lot of body building and we know that it can have adverse side effects for kidneys,” says Mendelow.

Other supplements. Children that are on anticoagulants should avoid certain complementary and alternative therapies, including ginkgo biloba or high-dose fish oil.

­Anti-coagulants increase the bleeding time as do these two supplements, so that children are more prone to bleeding. Before taking any supplement, always check with your physician if you’re on other prescription medication to make sure it’s safe.

Chiropractics. Mendelow advises against high-speed spinal manipulation. “The children’s spines are probably not fully developed until they’re about 18 to 20 years old and you can actually do more harm than good,” Mendelow says.