Stories about Spanish from July, 2009
Mexico: Free Events Around the City
Gratis Hasta Puñaladas [es] is a new blog dedicated to sharing information about events and activities around the city that are free.
Mexico: The Santa Fe District
The Mexico City district of Santa Fe is “Mexico's Dubai” and characterized by its commercialization boom and high-end shopping, but which is also surrounded by many of the city's slums writes Daniel Hernandez of Intersections.
Paraguay: Typical Food Called Sopa
The blog Camino al Paraguay [es] continues by showing foods from the country with 2 posts showing Paraguayan Sopa, which is cooked in a mud oven called a Tatakua.
Colombia: Hiperbarrio Featured at Periodismo Ciudadano
The citizen media project HiperBarrio from Medellín, Colombia continues to receive worldwide attention. They were recently featured in a series of videos created by the Spanish website Periodismo Ciudadano.
Peru: Oral Storytelling Festival in August
The 3rd National Festival of Oral Storytelling will take place throughout the month of August in Lima and Lambayeque, Peru. Elizabeth Lino Cornejo of Te Voy a Contar [es] writes about the importance of preserving these types of traditions.
Cuba: Interview with Blogger Lizabal Mónica
Cuban writer Lizabel Mónica has been blogging since 2007 and has been using her blogs to "build bridges between literature and national and international art, as well as to explore the relationship between art and life." Claudia Cadelo interviews her about her Project Desliz and her project to bring more artists online.
Ecuador: Woman Attempts to Auction Virginity Online in Spain
An Ecuadorian immigrant living in Valencia, Spain decided to put her virginity up for an online auction to help pay for medical care for her ailing mother. The ads were eventually taken down, not without attracting strong reactions in blogs and in mainstream media from those criticizing her actions and also brought focus on the plight of immigrants in Spain.
Paraguay: The Government's Negotiations in the Itaipú Dam
Carlos Rodríguez of Rescatar [es] is pleased with the negotiations between Paraguay and Brazil regarding the binational project of the Itaipú dam. He applauds the actions of President Fernando Lugo for showing “commitment, patriotism, honesty and negotiating ability.”
Uruguay: CIP, Showcasing National Films and Shorts
They call it an alternative to online video channels so that their videos don't have to compete for attention with short home-videos of birthdays, cats and lip synching to music. Two young Uruguayans decided to change the situation and created Cip, a website dedicated to showcasing the works of independent film-makers, so they can take their films out of their desk drawers and share them with a wider community.
Peru: An Exhibition of Art and Video Games
Juan Carlos Luján of Sin Papel [es] reports on an exhibition in Lima, Peru of art and video games.
Colombia: Senator Scolded For Using Twitter
Colombian Senator Armando Benedetti may be admonished by his political party for using Twitter to inform followers of declarations [es] made during a press conference. He wrote that there are bad feelings because he published the information before letting the media know [es].
Cuba: Political Arrests
Diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense links to a report that claims “there were 130 political arrests” in Cuba in the month of June.
Bolivia: Attack Attempt on Potosí Prefect
Wilfredo Jordán writes about the recent attack attempt on the home of Mario Virreira, the departmental prefect of Potosí, Bolivia.
Latin America: Vendors Aboard City Buses
The following scene may take place in any number of large cities across Latin America. A person, of any age, man or woman, steps aboard a city bus, provides a brief introduction, thanks the driver for granting permission to board, and then begins to pitch a product to the passengers along for the ride.
Guatemala: International Book Fair Starts July 24
The 6th International Book Fair will take place in Guatemala City starting on July 24 writes Asato Ma Sat Gamayo [es]. This year's special guests will be authors from Costa Rica.
Peru: Ex-President Fujimori Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison
Peruvian ex-president Alberto Fujimori was sentenced to 7 years in prison for corruption writes César Reyna of Reserva Moral [es].
Peru: The Move of Bolivian Textile Companies
Renatto of Real Politik [es] writes about the move of Bolivian textile companies to neighboring Peru to take advantage of its Free Trade Agreement with the United States, after Bolivia was not renewed for the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act.
Colombia: On Independence Day
Alejandro Ángel celebrates [es] the July 20 holiday and criticizes those Colombians who keep “complaining,” while Miguel Olaya writes [es] about the “re-signification” of this patriotic days during president Uribe's administration, and Apolo Duvalis is grateful [es] to Simón Bolívar and his “gang” for achieving the independence from Spain.
Colombia: The Hunt for Pablo Escobar's Hippo
There is controversy in Colombia after photos were shown of soldiers surrounding a dead hippopotamus, which had been hunted and killed after being labelled a health risk to local communities. The animal had escaped from the estate of former drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, who had brought its parents to Colombia to show them as "trophies and walking symbols of his power."
Ecuador: Reactions After a Bus Robbery in Guayaquil
Crime can be a daily reality for many Ecuadorians, whether it be on the streets or during routine parts of one's day. For blogger José Andrés López Alvarez, he encountered one of these episodes while riding on a bus on the streets of Guayaquil.
Peru: Economic Impact of Canceling Events Due to H1N1 Virus
In order to slow down the spread of the H1N1 virus, the Peruvian government is considering canceling events in which a large number of people congregate such as the upcoming military parade. Caviar de Cianuro [es] examines the economic impact such a move would have, especially on walking vendors who...
