March 6th, 2013
Brazil: Rio Bus Drivers’ Strike Strands Tens of Thousands
By Larry Habegger and Laurie Weed |
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A 24-hour bus drivers’ strike in Rio de Janeiro stranded tens of thousands of people March 1, and disrupted many businesses and services since employees could not get to work. Commuters spent long hours waiting at bus stops and terminals for the few city buses that were still running—less than 10 percent of the usual fleet. The strike further complicated intra-city transportation, which has been affected by ongoing construction shutdowns in the metro system. The metro has been undergoing expansion as Brazil’s second-largest city prepares to host the Summer Olympic Games in 2016.
March 6th, 2013
Egypt: Fifty Injured in Latest Port Said Protests
By Larry Habegger and Laurie Weed | Add a Comment »
Fifty people were injured and at least one was in serious condition March 5 after protestors clashed with security forces in Port Said. Protestors torched buildings and threw rocks at riot police, who fired tear gas into the crowds and shots into the air. Demonstrations have rocked the Suez Canal city since January, when an unpopular court verdict fanned the flames of anti-government sentiment that had been building for months. The entire country has faced waves of protest and political unrest since longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak was forced from power in 2011, and many of the protestors are calling for the current government to step down.
March 6th, 2013
Malaysia: Conflict in Borneo Prompts Travel Warning
By Larry Habegger and Laurie Weed | Add a Comment »
Following a violent insurgency that occurred March 1-3, the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur has advised its citizens to avoid travel to the coastal region of eastern Sabah (Borneo). The Malaysian government has dispatched armed forces to the area and there is potential for more violence. The warning includes the towns of Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Tawau. Travel in and around Lahad Datu has been restricted by local authorities, and military checkpoints are in place. While there are no specific threats toward foreign citizens, the Embassy reminds those who may be traveling in eastern Sabah to carry their passports with them at all times, and to observe evacuation, curfew and other orders issued by local officials.
March 6th, 2013
Portugal: National Airline Strike May Disrupt Travelers’ Plans
By Larry Habegger and Laurie Weed | Add a Comment »
On the heels of mass austerity protests that swept across Lisbon and other major cities early this month, employees of TAP, the national airline, have announced a planned strike for March 21-23. TAP operates about 180 flights per day, and though airline officials did not comment on the potential disruption for passengers, air travel in the region is already being affected by ongoing strikes at Spain’s Iberia. TAP employees join the hundreds of thousands of Portuguese who are protesting budget cuts that severely impact their salaries and jobs, in addition to continued tax hikes as the country, now in its third year of economic recession, attempts to reduce its debt.
March 6th, 2013
Thailand: Elephant Camps Promote Poaching, Activists Claim
By Larry Habegger and Laurie Weed | Add a Comment »
Elephant camps, which employ about 4,000 Asian elephants throughout the country, have long been a popular tourist attraction. Many of the camps also claim to rescue animals that would otherwise starve when they retire from logging or other heavy labor, and put them to work in the entertainment business. However, conservationists are accusing some of the camps of purchasing elephants on the black market, thus fueling illegal wildlife trade and threatening the region’s diminishing population of wild elephants. One estimate states that 50 to 100 wild baby elephants are being illegally trafficked from Burma (Myanmar) every year, with most of them ending up in Thailand’s tourism industry.
February 27th, 2013
Brazil: Steep Rise in Dengue Fever, New Strain Identified
By Larry Habegger and Laurie Weed | Add a Comment »
Health officials confirmed that 200,000 cases of dengue fever have been reported since Jan. 1, almost tripling the numbers from the same period in 2012. The epidemic has hit hardest in the central and southern regions of the country, particularly the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Dengue is a mosquito-borne illness that usually causes high fever, chills, joint pain and other malaria-like symptoms. More than half of the infections have been traced to a new strain of the virus that was unknown in Brazil before 2011. As the rainy season approaches, along with a larger mosquito population, the risk of infection will increase—good reason for travelers to take appropriate precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
February 27th, 2013
Colombia: Coffee Growers’ Strike Disrupts Road Travel
By Larry Habegger and Laurie Weed | Add a Comment »
Protests erupted across the country Feb. 24 as some 30,000 coffee growers went on strike, demanding better government protection and subsidies in light of last year’s poor crop and falling prices. Non-critical injuries were reported from some areas, including Bogota and Medellin, after police were called in to clear blocked roadways and restore order. Calling the protests “unnecessary and inconvenient,” the president pointed out that Colombia already subsidizes its coffee growers more than any other country. The strike may continue to affect road travel in some areas; visitors are advised to monitor local media for current reports.
February 27th, 2013
Kenya: Tourist Resort Attacked on Eve of Election
By Larry Habegger and Laurie Weed | Add a Comment »
An Italian tourist was shot and hospitalized when a gang of masked men, armed with guns and machetes, attacked a coastal resort near Malindi Feb. 20. On the eve of the country’s general election, scheduled for Mar. 4, experts warn that tensions are running high, and tourists may be swept up in local protests or even targeted. The upcoming elections may heighten ongoing tribal conflict, political instability, terrorist threats and riots—all issues that contributed to a recently updated travel warning from the U.S. State Dept. This election will be the first under the country’s new constitution, which was passed in 2010.
February 27th, 2013
Peru: California Couple Missing in Cuzco
By Larry Habegger and Laurie Weed | Add a Comment »
Authorities are searching for a California couple reported missing while traveling in the Cuzco region, an area where the U.S. government recently warned its citizens of a potential kidnapping threat. The warning, issued in early February, was hotly disputed by the Peruvian government, and both Peruvian and U.S. authorities have denied any indication of kidnapping in this case. The missing pair, both 25, were on a long cycling trip through South America when friends and family became alarmed after not hearing from them for more than three weeks.
February 27th, 2013
Turkey: Embassy Attack Prompts Updated Travel Warning
By Larry Habegger and Laurie Weed | Add a Comment »
In light of the recent attack on the U.S. Embassy in Ankara and instability at the Turkish-Syrian border, the U.S. State Dept. has issued an updated travel warning. The Consulate strongly recommends that U.S. citizens avoid all border areas with Syria, and exercise extreme caution when traveling anywhere in southeastern Turkey. Travelers should stay abreast of local media coverage and be aware of their surroundings at all times. Avoiding demonstrations or large gatherings of any kind is also recommended. For more information, visit www.travel.state.gov.
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