Stories about Spanish from October, 2008
Frightful Facts or Fantastical Fictions?
This third part of the "Lore, ghosts, demons and frights" series has arrived, and we are looking this time a bit beyond the Latin American borders. With this last installment, we seek out the Chupacabras, stick our heads into Voudou rites, observe examples of exorcism and inquire after a cannibal murderer who has become a Venezuelan legend.
BOBs: Global Videobloggers Compete for Award Part 2
Earlier this week we visited the videoblogs of some of the nominees for the BOBs, Deutsche Welle's Best of Blogs awards. On this second part, we'll see which other videobloggers from all over the globe are nominated and what your choices will be when you decide to vote for your...
Ibero-America: Campus Party in El Salvador
This week in El Salvador, hundreds of technology fanatics have assembled to take part in the latest edition of Campus Party. Participants from 22 member states are divided into one of a broad range of areas including: Astronomy, CampusBot (robotics), Innovation, Modding, Campus Create, Digital Leisure and Digital Inclusion. The participation of bloggers have captured the feeling of being in a room with their fellow technology enthusiasts through their blog posts, photos and videos.
Peru: The King of Spain and the Peruvian Congresswoman
Guillermo from Quimeras Seductoras [es] summarizes the encounter of Juan Carlos, the King of Spain, and the Peruvian congresswoman Hilaria Supa, who met outside of the Congress buildings. She confronted the King and asked him to return all of the wealth taken by Spain during the Conquest.
Peru: Preparations for BarCamp Lima
Ventana Azul [es] provides the latest details on
Argentina: Diego Maradona Named New Coach of National Team
Diego Maradona must be the most famous Argentine in the world, and anything that he does usually becomes news. It is even more newsworthy, when he is named the next Coach of the Argentine national football team. Many Argentines are left wondering how the greatest footballer will ensure that the country qualifies for the World Cup 2010.
Argentina: We Media 2008 in Buenos Aires
The We Media conference was held for the first time in Latin America, when the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina played host on October 14-15, 2008. The media thinktank iFOCOS together with the newspaper Clarín, the conference was brought to Argentina. Media executives, web entrepreneurs,and bloggers, among others gathered to hear a wide range of speakers. With the quantity of bloggers who were present in the auditorium as presenters and attendees, there was a wide and diverse coverage of the event.
Mexico: Day of the Dead Preparations
The Day of the Dead is fast approaching in Mexico, and Daniel Hernandez of Intersections posts a picture of a typical vendor stand that are popping up on sidewalks and near Metro stations, but also, “In ever-Americanizing Mexico City, that also means jack o’ lanterns, witches, spiders, and lots of...
Ecuador: The Growing Problem of Cybercrime
Cybercrime is a topic not discussed much in Ecuador, but Christian Espinosa of Cobertura Digital [es] writes about an upcoming conference to address the growing problem.
Venezuela: How Children Show Their Community Through Photography
Ancla2 is an educational cooperative devoted to teaching photography, technology, and media skills to children from small and poor communities in Venezuela, who have discovered a new way to see and appreciate their own surroundings, and at the same time, have learned new life skills that will help them in many other areas.
Bolivia: Introduction to the Language of Guaraní
Camiri Digital [es] introduces readers to some basic words in the indigenous language of Guaraní, which is spoken by many in the Chaco region of Bolivia.
BOBs: Global Videobloggers Compete for Award Part 1
The BOBs, Deutsche Welle's yearly contest for online products: blogs, podcasts and videoblogs has already chosen 176 nominees for the 16 different categories. In the video blogging category, participants from different parts of the world compete for the honor to be considered the best in their group, and voters will have until November 26th to choose their favorite.
Guatemala: Heavy Rains and Flooding Affecting the Poorest Communities
The past month has been very difficult for many Guatemalans because of heavy rains caused by tropical storms. Floods and storms affect many communities, but the impact is higher in communities below the poverty line. These communities are often isolated from services or shelters, like the small villages in Peten, Quiché and Zacapa. Bloggers and organizations have provided more information on the environmental disaster.
Chile: The 1985 Meeting Between McCain and Pinochet
In 1985, a U.S. Congressman named John McCain traveled to Chile and met with dictator Augusto Pinochet. The previously unreported meeting was revealed by journalist John Dinges, who published the findings in two blogs, and which were especially timely because of the current Republican nominee “who has harshly criticized the idea of sitting down with dictators without pre-conditions, appears to have done just that.”
Ecuador: Update on the Death of Chelito the Giraffe
Voces Lojanas [es] provides an update on the death of Chelito the Giraffe in the Loja, Ecuador zoo. To date, no definitive conclusions have been reached and many are still awaiting answers.
Peru: New Terrorist Attack by Shining Path Guerrillas
Silvio Rendón of Lapicero Digital [es] writes about the recent attack by Shining Path guerrillas against a military group in Vizcatán in the department of Huancavelica department that left 15 dead.
Nicaragua: Student Frustrations
Diego Renan writes about the frustrations of some students at the Central American University in Nicaragua [es], including the inaccessibility for handicapped students, who have classes on floors without elevators or ramps.
Paraguay: Lugo Set to Visit Bush at the White House
Paraguayan president Fernando Lugo is set to visit the White House and President George W. Bush next week. With Bush on his way out, Pepa Kostianovsky of De Pe a Pa [es] doesn't see the point and wonders why even make the long trip north [es].
Costa Rica: Open Air mine ecological? Bloggers think not.
Costa Rican bloggers have raised their voices in alarm at the government's decision to approve a project to cut down acres of forest for an open air gold mine near the border with Nicaragua. The President's contradicting opinions, ecology and the social impact of open air gold mines are discussed.
Honduras: Heavy Rains and Climate Change
The rains in El Progreso, Honduras are causing alarming effects and it seems that climate changes are affecting the entire country writes Sandra Erika Gómez of Vaya Pues! [es]
Ecuador: One Blogger's Thoughts on the 15 Most Relevant Blogs
Eduardo Palacios of Technodatum [es] lists the 15 most relevant blogs in Ecuador in his opinion, and invites readers to add to the list.
