News stories by Marcela Valente, page 23

As Argentina celebrates the bicentennial of the revolution that paved the way for independence from Spain, the promise of social progress remains unfulfilled for excluded and marginalised groups.

Textile cooperatives founded by former slave labourers from Argentina and Thailand will jointly launch a new brand of clothing in June to raise awareness about exploitation and promote decent jobs in the garment industry.

In the 1830s, the sheer abundance and diversity of plants and animals in Argentina -- whether on land or in the water -- astounded British naturalist Charles Darwin during his famed tours of South America.

In spite of having the highest crime rates in the world, Latin America has still not found effective security policies that are adequately combined with respect for human rights.

The First International Women and Film Festival for Gender Equity drew enthusiastic audiences this month in the Argentine capital, where movies from nearly 40 countries were screened.

With the right treatment, mother-to-child transmission of congenital syphilis and HIV, the AIDS virus, can be prevented. But every year, thousands of babies are still being born with these diseases in Latin America and the Caribbean.

In little over a decade, Argentina has become one of the world leaders in production and export of films, mini-series, telenovelas (soap operas), entertainment programmes and commercials.

Bucking recommendations to build up renewable energy sources, Argentina is forging ahead with a plan that will increase its dependence on coal, regarded as the most polluting fossil fuel.

The governments of the South American Union of Nations (UNASUR) confirmed their refusal to recognise the government of Honduras and named former Argentine President Néstor Kirchner (2003-2007) as the regional bloc's first secretary general Tuesday.

Two years after a law was enacted that held out the promise of better road safety in Argentina, the country's death toll from traffic accidents is still one of the highest in Latin America.