Stories about Spanish from February, 2008
Bolivia: Relief for Flooding Victims
Many residents from other Bolivian cities are chipping in to provide relief for the victims of the flooding in the Beni region. Kevin of Travieso [es] writes about the cooperation...
Ecuador: Google Maps and Flooding
Christian Espinosa of Cobertura Digital [es] writes about the new Google maps mashup that provides locations of the heaviest flooding around Ecuador.
Argentina: Concern Over Cartoneros
The Buenos Aires government is worried about the activity of the ‘cartoneros,’ who are members of the informal economy and rummage through garbage to salvage cardboard that can be sold...
Argentina: Direct Taxes and Digital Rights
A new proposal in Argentina sought to add a direct tax to any electronic equipment capable of reproducing digital media, which would seek to offset some of the revenues lost by artists due to piracy. Bloggers in that country mobilized to say that this move would encourage piracy because compensation would have already been paid. It would have also raised the prices of these goods in a country where the prices are already expensive.
Bolivia: Anti-Government Protester Beat by Supporters
El refugio del pez que fuma [es] writes about intolerance shown by supporters of President Evo Morales, who beat a protester voicing displeasure over the current administration.
Paraguay: The Craft of Goat Cheese
The making of goat cheese is an artisan craft in Paraguay. A new blog called Quesos de Cabra – Caprísimo [es] highlights this process and how it is marketed in...
Mexico: New Ruins Around Zócalo
Vivir México [es] writes about the new archaeological ruins found around the Mexico City zócalo (main plaza).
Ecuador: My Mobile Voice and Citizen Journalism
Mi Voz Móvil (My Mobile Voice) is a project in citizen journalism from the newspaper Ultimas Noticias in Quito, Ecuador. The mobile van travels to neighborhoods where they conduct workshops for aspiring citizen journalists. In many cases, individuals that have submitted news see their stories side-by-side with the professional journalists. Here is a short video of the paper's editor explaining the mobile reporting room.
Paraguay: Yellow Fever Scare Causing Long Lines
Cases of Yellow Fever have been confirmed in Paraguay, which has caused at least 8 confirmed deaths. This situation is generating a mass panic among the population and long lines are observed in front of health institutions. However, not everybody is so lucky to get vaccinated since there are not enough vaccines left. Here is what some bloggers are saying about the Yellow Fever scare in Paraguay:
Uruguay: Public Smoking Ban, One Year Later
It has been two years since the ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces in Uruguay, and Federico Bertolini of Rincón del Berto [es] writes about some of the conclusions....
Argentina: Bariloche Offline
The city of Bariloche, Argentina was disconnected from the internet for two days. That is what happens, “when the only monopolistic internet provider is down. There is no contigency plan,”...
Peru: Stray Dogs in Iquitos
Juan Arellanos of Globalizado [es] introduces the organization called Amazon Care, which takes care of stray dogs and attempts to find new homes for them in Iquitos, Peru.
Cuba: More Reactions to Castro's Retirement
Four days after Fidel Castro announced that he would not accept another term as a president after almost half a century in power, the Cuban blogosphere continues to be abuzz with the news. Adding to Janine Mendes-Franco's roundup collecting the first reactions after the announcement, here are more reactions from Cuba and abroad.
Venezuela: Falling Profits for PDVSA
The Venezuelan blog Otra Expresión [es] writes that profits for the state oil company (PDVSA) has fallen in the past year.
Mexico: AOL to Return
Vivir México [es] writes about America Online's (AOL) return to Mexico trying to become major player in that country's internet services. However, it won't be as internet providers or connections,...
Ecuador: Government Declares Emergency Due to Flooding
Many parts of Ecuador are suffering from heavy flooding, which led the government to declare a national emergency. Some bloggers write about what this will mean for those affected and the work by some sectors that prepared themselves for this disaster and states, “it is better to prevent, than to lament.”
Colombia: Witnessing a Murder
Six years later, Catalina Restrepo of Cosas del Alma [es] shares her difficult experience of witnessing a violent murder in her town in Colombia, as she prepared to go to...
Chile: Participation in OLPC
Educalibre [es] finds the comments of Nicholas Negroponte as curious, in reference to Chile's decision to join the countries that have pursued the One Laptop Per Child project.
Peru: Nude Cyclist Protest
Carlos García of La Cofradía [es] will participate in a gathering of nude cyclists, who will take to the streets on March 8th to protest against “how cyclists are unprotected...
Colombia: New Television Channel Zoom TV
Campus Comunicativo [es] writes about a new university television channel called Zoom TV, and lists some challenges, including how much influence will the government have on the message and content.
Spanish reactions to Kosovo's independence
Two days after Kosovo's declaration of independence in spite of Serbia's opposition, the debate about the merits of recognising it as a state is still raging. Within the European Union, countries such as France, UK, Germany or Italy have recognized it, while others such as Slovakia and Spain have strongly opposed it as they consider that the declaration does not respect international law.
