Lula

Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner waves to reporters as she leaves the Foreign Ministry building after meeting with Brazil's Presid

AP - Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner waves to reporters as she leaves the Foreign Ministry building after meeting with Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, unseen, and Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, unseen, in Buenos Aires, Monday, Aug.

Gilberto Gil steps down as Brazil culture minister

Grammy-winning Brazilian musician Gilberto Gil stepped down as culture minister on Wednesday, saying he wanted to dedicate more time to his music and his family. Brazil's Culture Minister Gilberto Gil, speaks during a press conference after meeting with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, at the presidential palace, in Brasilia, Wednesday, July 30, 2008. Gil announced his resignation as Culture Minister because of his increasing artistic responsibilities, he said.

Brazil's President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, left, watches as Portugal's Prime Minister Jose Socrates holds a model of ...

AP - Brazil's President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, left, watches as Portugal's Prime Minister Jose Socrates holds a model of an Embraer airplane Saturday, July 26 2008, in Lisbon.

Brazil's President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, right, talks with Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates while attending ...

AP - Brazil's President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, right, talks with Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates while attending the Camoes Literary Prize ceremony Friday, July 25 2008, at Lisbon's Jeronimos Monastery.

Brazil's President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, right, is received by his Portuguese counterpart Anibal Cavaco Silva Frida...

AP - Brazil's President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, right, is received by his Portuguese counterpart Anibal Cavaco Silva Friday, July 25 2008, at the start of the Portuguese Speaking Countries Community, CPLP, summit at Lisbon's Belem Cultural Center.

In this photo released by the Colombia's Presidency, Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, left, Colombian singr...

AP - In this photo released by the Colombia's Presidency, Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, left, Colombian singre Shakira and Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe, right, pose for a photo during independence day celebrations in Leticia, Colombia, near the border with Brazil and Peru, Sunday, July 20, 2008.

Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez speaks at a meeting with Bolivia's President Evo Morales, unseen, and Brazil's Presid...

AP - Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez speaks at a meeting with Bolivia's President Evo Morales, unseen, and Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, unseen, in the Amazonian town of Riberalta, Bolivia, Friday, July 18, 2008.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, left, exchanges documents with Bolivia’s President Evo Morales after sig...

AP - Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, left, exchanges documents with Bolivia’s President Evo Morales after signing bilateral agreements in the Amazonian town of Riberalta, Bolivia, Friday, July 18, 2008.

The Rodeo - a post from Tamara

The weekend at Thief River Falls So, you all know that Catalyst headed up north to try to halt Big Tobacco's sponsorship of rodeos. One of Catalyst's awesome activists breaks-down our action-packed weekend. Read Tamara's post below: So just a little while ago I got in from being up in Thief River Falls. It was an amazing weekend that I would relive anytime of my life, we all had so much fun. It started out that we met on Friday morning at the Catalyst office in Minneapolis, or at least the peop...

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva inspects honor guards prior to a meeting with his Indonesian counterpart S...

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva inspects honor guards prior to a meeting with his Indonesian counterpart Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, Saturday, July 12, 2008. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)