“the rich have got their channels in the bedrooms of the poor and there’s a mighty judgement coming, but I may be wrong” —Leonard Cohen, Tower of Song I have been very moved by the recent reports from Europe of hundreds of people drowning trying to reach Italy’s south shore. Let us step away from all the racism, unfounded critiques and quick solutions and contemplate what these people are really going through. For those of us from countries where we can travel relatively free

Much like a vulture, the contrived country of Panama looks like a bird of prey with a shiny head and two vibrant green wings in full span. Split in half. The canal feeds the vulture and its appetite is insatiable. Panama is the nexus between two continents and two oceans. Once a province of Greater Colombia, Panama is now one of the seven counties (excluding the two Mexican States that are often counted in the region) that comprise Central America; whatever that is. Of the ma

Panama just hosted the Summit of the Americas April 10-12, 2015 and although there were presumably many subjects on the agenda, the headline grabber was indisputably the opening of relations between Cuba and the USA for the first time since Castro’s communists ousted the American-backed dictator, Bautista in 1959. Cuba’s socialist dictatorship survived the economic isolation through relations with the Soviet Union, oppression, good healthcare and utter obstinance. It has been

I expect I will continue to think about Darien for some time. It is quite easy to understand why a road has not been punched through to Colombia. The harsh jungle forms a natural barrier against smuggling in all forms. For those of us from a privileged life, it is hard to imagine conditions so miserable as to risk crossing this dangerous strip of land. On this trip I met Cubans travelling overland from Ecuador to USA. Many others have attempted this perilous journey. In Panam