Stories about Spanish from January, 2010
Puerto Rico: Bloggers discuss Roe v. Wade
The 37th anniversary of the landmark United States Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade (January 22, 1973) spurred bloggers in Puerto Rico to express their opinions about a ruling that still sparks controversy. The decision made abortion legal in the United States, and it was extended to Puerto Rico due to the Island's political relationship with the US.
Peru: Video of Stranded tourists near Machu Picchu
Periodismo en Línea points us to a two day old video by NicoRios, a Chilean tourist stranded in Aguas Calientes. In the video he shows how they wait for the helicopters to arrive and explains how they were running out of food and stores have drastically increased prices for food...
Uruguay: President-Elect Mujica Tackles Botnia Issue Before Taking Office
Uruguayan president-elect Mujica is trying to negotiate a deal to end the blockade of the bridge between Argentina and Uruguay, which has been blocked over a pulp mill plant that environmentalists and local residents say cause contamination.
Video: Call for Aid in the Peruvian South due to Flooding
The state of emergency the city of Cusco and surrounding areas has moved many locals to make videos and upload them to the web, trying to get mass media to pay attention to the drama lived by villagers throughout the area who are now homeless, isolated and without food, water or electricity.
Peru: Heavy Rains and Mudslides in Cusco
Heavy rains and flooding have been affecting the region of Cusco, Peru, leaving thousands of local residents affected. The tragedy has left unanswered questions about the region's preparedness for these types of natural disasters.
Peru: The Loss of Local Rock Radio Stations
Peruvian radio stations catering to fans of rock music are being taken off the air, with business reasons often cited as the reason. However, many bloggers say there is still a market for the music.
Graffiti and Urban Art: Voices from Latin American Streets III
Graffiti and urban art on the streets of Latin America is celebrated on the Internet by artists and fans alike. This is the third in a 3-part series on this movement across the region.
Costa Rica: Charges of Plagiarism in Presidential Campaign
With the Costa Rican presidential campaign well underway, many bloggers are noticing that some of the candidates' campaign ads and campaign proposals appear to be too familiar.
Chile: Modern Day Human Rights for the Mapuche
The Museum of Memory in Chile documents human rights abuses during the Pinochet dictatorship. During its inauguration, 2 Mapuche women interrupted President Bachelet's speech, reminding the country that there are still present-day concerns for human rights in their indigenous community.
Guatemala: United for Haiti After Earthquake
In 1976, an earthquake killed nearly 23,000 people in Guatemala. Now, 34 years later, Guatemalans are united to help Haitians with their own earthquake tragedy, through a wide variety of fundraising efforts and other signs of solidarity.
Video: Drug legalization and life post-prohibition
There are groups of people advocating for the legalization of drugs, but what would that actually mean? From Hungary to Colombia, from youth to teachers, from cops and clergy, individuals and groups are taking to citizen media to put forth their arguments regarding this potentially controversial subject.
Peru: Metallica Rocked in Lima
Internationally-known rock bands do not play in Lima, Peru very often. When do they do, as the case of Metallica, interest and profits reach high levels. However, not all are pleased to see the band in the country.
Haiti: Restoring Communications and Local Media Networks
Haiti's communication infrastructure was seriously damaged after being devastated by a 7.0 earthquake on January 12. It can be very empowering for people in Haiti to be able to narrate their stories in their own words. With this is in mind, Feminist International Radio Endeavour (FIRE) and the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters have launched projects to help restore local media projects.
Colombia: Hard to Tell the Good Guys from the Bad
Through citizen videos, different Colombian organizations share their unique perspectives on crime, violence and armed conflict, where it's hard to tell apart the good guys from the bad.
Costa Rica: Blogger Awarded National Culture Award for Journalism
For the first time in Costa Rica's National Culture Awards, digital media was honored when Cristian Cambronero was honored for his journalistic work on his blog Fusil de Chispas.
Paraguay: The Chaotic Ciudad del Este
The Paraguayan city of Ciudad del Este is known for many things, including illegal and contraband activities. However, it is difficult to overlook the fact that it is a gateway to the impressive tourist attraction, the Iguazu Falls.
Chile: Sebastian Piñera is the Next President
Sebastián Piñera was elected on January 17 as the first right-leaning president in Chile after 20 years of left leaning rule. For many in Chile, these elections demonstrated the country's strength as a transparent and healthy democracy.
Graffiti and Urban Art: Voices from Latin American Streets II
Graffiti and urban art on the streets of Latin America is celebrated on the Internet by artists and fans alike. This is the second in a 3-part series on this movement across the region.
Mexico: The Choir of Acteal Sings for Peace and Justice
Soon after the Massacre of Acteal in Chiapas, Mexico in 1997, the Choir of Acteal began to use their song to demand peace and to call for justice for those killed by paramilitary forces.
Chile: Emapanadas of Con Cón
In Chile, Pancho Araya of Santiago en Picada [es] recommends the empanadas of Con Cón, which are filled with cheese and various fillings, including oysters.
Haiti: Raw video footage
From current.com comes the series of raw videos by afitzgerald showing different aspects of life in Haiti after the quake. Shown are tent cities, makeshift morgues as well as aid workers and survivors stating their need for aid: they see the planes full of supplies and/or food, but see none...
