Argentina: HS Students Occupy Schools Demanding Higher Budget

Argentine high school students have taken over 15 schools in Buenos Aires to demand an increase in the city's education budget. The right-wing city government has cut the education budget, leading to shortcomings in school infrastructure and a need for building repairs and maintenance. Students charge that their activism has been targeted by city authorities but that they have the support of their parents and teachers. 

Laureano Ponce reports from Buenos Aires.

Argentine Protests Target Gender Violence Against Women

Every 30 hours a woman is killed in Argentina. Yesterday, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators participated in rallies in Buenos Aires and other cities against femicides and other manifestations of machismo, such as in the workplace and the media. The protests were called by journalist and feminist organizations and organized through the social media. Activists say that while the legislation adopted in recent years is progressive, effective policies must be developed by all branches of government to address gender violence against women and other forms of sexism and attend to victims of such practices. Yesterday's massive rallies reflect the struggle underway in Argentine society against machismo. 

Laureano Ponce reports from Buenos Aires.

Argentina: Buenos Aires Mayoral Campaign Begins

The election campaign for mayor of Buenos Aires kicked off Friday with a mass rally of supporters of President Cristina Fernandez's Front for Victory. The coalition, with Mariano Ricalde as its candidate, seeks to elect a city government with progressive policies in line with those of the Fernandez administration. Elections will be held July 5 and if no candidate gains a majority, a second round of voting will be held. 

Laureano Ponce reports from Buenos Aires.

Buenos Aires Mayor Refuses to Close Garment Sweatshops

In Buenos Aires, local legislators have accused Mayor Mauricio Macri of relaxing workplace safety controls to make it easier for garment sweatshops to operate. Macri is in the spotlight after a fire in one of the shops killed two children two weeks ago. The same place caught fire again last Thursday. According to grassroots organizations, around 35,000 people are exploited in sweatshops in Buenos Aires. The right-wing neoliberal mayor has no interest in protecting the victims of labor exploitation, say his critics. They charge that the city government has been well aware of the existence of the sweatshops through reports of the Special Prosecutor against Human Trafficking and several different NGOs, but has not moved to close them down. 

Laureano Ponce reports from Buenos Aires for teleSUR.

First-ever Primary Elections Held in Buenos Aires

The Argentine capital city of Buenos Aires held its first-ever primary elections Sunday. About 70% of eligible voters went to the polls to select the parties and candidates who will run in the July local elections. 

Laureano Ponce reports from Buenos Aires.