Courtesy of Al Jazeera English

As the USDemocrazy team desperately attempted to provide you with relevant news for the less eventful 9/12, we turn our eyes south to Chile.

Chile mourned a different tragedy on 9/11— the beginning of brutal reign of General Augusto Pinochet in 1973.

More than 3,000 Chileans were killed in the violence that followed the military coup…similar to the numbers of people lost in the US on 9/11.

A march to mark the sad day took place this year. It began peacefully until it reached the presidential palace where there was a violence confrontation with Chilean police.

Pinochet was backed by the US in his coup, even though he overthrew a democratically elected leader Salvador Allende (a relative of the internationally acclaimed author Isabel Allende),

The death of Allende, who took his own life during the uprising marked the beginning of a brutal era in Chile.

Reports suggest 80,000 people were interned and 30,000 tortured under Pinochet’s regime which ended in 1990.

Today Chile is a thriving democracy but the scars of that dark day in 1973 are still apparent.

Like America, Chile has its own 9/11 burden to bear.

Who could say no to that charm. Joe Biden will be Obama’s running mate in the next election.

Apple cares about the children. Anti-sexting technology patented by Apple.

Thanks to Wikicommons.

We’re not Nazis! France responds to criticism of Roma expulsion.

Look out Wall Street. Elizabeth Warren to advise in creation of Consumer Protection Bureau.

To see the sun again. Trapped Chilean coal miners expected to be freed by November.

30 people have died in a terrorist attack in Somalia. Al-Shabab (the same organization behind the recent bombings in Uganda) claims responsibility for the attack, in which gunmen entered a popular hotel and killed everyone there.

Asia

Think your morning commute is bad? Drivers in China have faced a 10 day long traffic jam. Yes, you read that right. 10 days.

North America

This Sunday will be the 5th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which ravaged the Gulf states in 2005. Though strides toward improvement are being made, recovery is still a long process.

South America

In Chile, 33 miners have defied the odds and are alive after 17 days of being trapped in a mine. Officials say it could take 3-4 MONTHS to rescue the miners.

Hope in Chile. After a mine collapse and 17 days 33 miners are still alive.

Steve Carell heading to China? New version of hit TV show The Office to possibly start in China.

Photo by Flickr user Pedro Villavicencio

On February 27th, a massive earthquake hit Chile. This photo is one of the many that documented the incredible physical damage the earthquake caused. Like the road in the photo, the road to recovery will be long and slow.

Image courtesy of the Huffington Post.

Just a month ago a 7.0-magnitude earthquake devastated the island of Haiti killing up to 230,000 people. Now another deadly earthquake with 1000 times the force wrecked havoc, this time in Chile.

The early assessments of damage are less frightening than those experienced in Haiti (which has routinely been the poorest country in Latin America). Unfortunatley, the death toll has been steadily rising, reaching over 700.

While most of Chile’s new infrastructure was built to withstand earthquakes (or terremotos, as they’re known in the Spanish language), many old buildings were destroyed and the country’s main highway was severed.

The hit was in the city of Concepción. This city is seismically active and was destroyed by another earthquake in the late 1930s.

Damage is estimated to have reached $30 billion, or 30% of Chile’s GDP. Public Works Minister Sergio Batar believes it will take months to heal the damage the country faces. President Michelle Bachelet declared a “state of catastrophe.”

The earthquake has affected over 2 million people in Chile, a country that now faces a broken water supply and the issue of looting.

The force of the quake set off tsunami-like waves that threatened many countries over the expanse of the Pacific.

No doubt with the two disaster in such close proximity, there will be the natural temptation to compare the two events and contrast the rebuilding efforts.

Prior to its earthqauake, Haiti had a poor national infrastructure and non functioning government. These burdens will clearly make recovery efforts more challenging.

We at USDemocrazy will be keeping an eye on these disasters and keeping you informed about developments.

And letting you know how you can help.

Your thoughts and observations are welcome.