ABSTRACT
THE CRISES OF NATURE We are all familiar with the advancing list of natural and man-made crises: earthquakes, oil spills, mud slides, floods. The drought experienced in Paraguay, Uruguay, and particularly Argentina, during 2008-2009, for example, is reported to have been one of the worst in decades. As reported by the Latin America Monitor, 'the scale of the crisis is likely to have repercussions for the region's economies, particularly in the export figures, fiscal revenues, and inflation rates7 (Latin America Monitor February 2009). The situation may also exacerbate social and political tensions, particularly in Argentina and Paraguay. In Argentina, for example, President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner declared the country in an 'agricultural state of emergency' and political conflicts have clearly emerged between the government, farmers and farmers7 associations. From Kirschner's perspective, the timing could not be worse: Argentina is at the same time having to struggle to contain double-digit inflation and growing unemployment.
