CHILE: 7 JULY UPDATE: Hoping To Calm Protesters...Pinera Proposes $4bn For Higher Education; Starbucks Workers Plan Strike.

                                       LINK CHANGE / REUTERS


President Sebastian Pinera's administration has been beset by regular mass student protests...even rioting met with water cannons and tear gas...over education standards and costs.
New polls show that Pinera's approval rating dropped to 31%...down by 15 points in June.


Now he has proposed $4bn usd for higher education...to try to calm protesters and regain support.


But the protesters apparently...are not buying it. They recently held a kiss-in protest.


"It's not just a student movement. There's a strong and widespread discontent that Spain's 'indignados' are also expressing," said a political analyst .


Those education protests...along with large recent protests against  proposed Patagonian energy projects... and a possible strike at state copper giant Codelco...have threatened his legislative plans.
AND: Some union workers at Chile's Starbucks...will walkout over low pay and benefits.
New hires get $2.50 per hour...a rate that hasn't changed in 8 years.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/07/starbucks-idUSN1E76523020110707

CHILE: 20,000 Protest Patagonian Dams Construction In Santiago; Scattered Violence Met With Tear Gas.

LATIMES/ F. Gutierrez, C. Kraul

       Another massive protest against the 5 proposed dams to be built in the widerness of Patagonia was held in Santiago.
      An estimated 20,000 marched against the $3.2-billion construction on the Baker and Pascua rivers in the Aysen region.
       Most marchers were peaceful but some hooded protesters attacked police, smashed windows and damaged property on 10-blocks of Santiago's main street.
        Hundreds wearing masks threw rocks at police. 
       They were met with water cannons and tear gas.
       Critics believe the projects would devastate an untouched region that is home to many rare animal and plant species.
      Officials claim it will increase the electrical power supply by 15% when construction in 2020.
       An estimated 60% of those questioned in the Aysen region oppose the project.
        Police say 25,000 protesters are expected in Valparaiso today outside the building where President Pinera will deliver his state of the union speech.

CHILE: At Least 12 Injured, 67 Arrested During Patagonia Dams Protest In Santiago.

AFP/ In ESPANOL ONLY

     Police in Santiago arrested 67 people during a protest of some 30,000 against the construction of 5 dams in Patagonia.
     At least a dozen protestors were reported injured during the melee with water cannons.