Stories about Spanish from April, 2011
Ecuador: Twitter Campaign Gives President Correa ‘the Finger’
It started as a Twitter campaign, and now many Ecuadorians are posting photos of themselves showing the middle finger. Why? To ridicule the idea that you could be arrested for something as simple as raising a finger.
Argentina: Writer Ernesto Sabato Dies at Age 99
Argentine writer Ernesto Sabato passed away on April 30 at age 99. Buenos Aires Herald describes him as “one of the most influential writers in Argentine literature and author of the trilogy of novels, ‘The Tunnel’ (1948), ‘Of Heroes and Graves’ (1961) and ‘Abadon, the Exterminator’ (1974).” His readers are...
Cuba: Silvio and Pablo
In Juan sin nada [es], Juan Orlando Pérez analyzes the state of affairs in Cuba through the politics of famous nueva trova musicians and composers Silvio Rodríguez and Pablo Milanés.
Cuba: Reflection on the Communist Party Congress
Blogger and journalist Elaine Díaz reflects [es]on the VI Congress of the Communist Party: “[…] The future Cuba should be built ‘by all and for the good of all’ from a horizontal and open relationship between the historical avant-garde that made possible the 1959 triumph and the new generation of...
Puerto Rico: Puerto Rican Rock Music
The Latin American music blog Club Fonograma [es] reviews the amazing music of Puerto Rican alternative rock bands Balún and Dávila 666.
Colombia on Red Alert After Heavy Rains
Colombia is on red alert due to heavy rains. Residents of 28 departments suffer extreme hardship: flooding, landslides and sudden increase in rivers and streams have left more than three million five hundred thousand victims.
Peru: Second Electoral Round Kicks Off
A few weeks before the second round of elections in Peru, the choice between candidates Ollanta Humala and Keiko Fujimori, the growing polarisation in Peruvian society, and ultimately from the electorate, is as notable in the press as it is on social networks.
Cuba: Bloggers Reflect on Reforms at Communist Party Congress
The sixth congress of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), which was recently held in Havana, may have marked a major turning point for the Cuban economic system, and for Cuban society at large. Bloggers in Cuba, and those who follow Cuba from other parts of the world, offered a diverse range of reactions.
Colombia's Harsh Winter
Global Voices author Lully Posada writes in equinoXio [es] about winter in Colombia and the strong rains that have left more than 3 million victims.
Panama: Challanges for the LGBT Community
Blogger Erasmo Prado R. [es] writes about the challenges the Panamanian LGBT community is currently facing.
Peru: Hydroelectric Projects in the Amazon Under Discussion Again
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) requested the suspension of Brazil's Belo Monte hydroelectric dam, reopening the debate in Peru on similar projects and their impact on the Peruvian Amazon communities. In Peru, the most publicized hydroelectric megaprojects are the Inambari and Pakitzapango centrals, included in the Peru-Brazil Energy Agreement signed last year.
Argentina: Bloggers Discuss Inflation
Inflation has long been a subject of controversy in Argentina, and as such is a recurring topic for discussion among bloggers. As an important political issue, it is expected to be one of the main themes debated during the presidential race next October.
Mexico: Northern States Hit by Wildfires
Alejandro Ortiz Sotomayor in Vivir México [es] shares a photo by Jorge Alberto Mendoza Mariscal which shows the work of Mexican firefighters as they try to control a “Spring” wildfire in northern Mexico.
Peru: Analyzing Alternative Energy Sources
In Grupo Futuro Perú [es], Araceli Pinto Corrales looks at Peru's “energy future” and discusses wind energy and biofuels as options to meet Peru's growing energy needs.
Chile: Poet Gonzalo Rojas Dies at Age 93
Julio Suarez Anturi blogs [es] about the passing of Chilean poet Gonzalo Rojas and shares 4 of his poems.
Puerto Rico: ‘Speak Your Mind’ Online
Under the slogan "Speak your Mind," the online magazine Qiibo covers everyday Puerto Rican politics and the latest entertainment and technology news. Global Voices author Cesar Santiago interviewed the staff about their interests, their place within Puerto Rico's online media, the possibility of alliances with traditional media, and the Puerto Rican blogosphere.
Dominican Republic: Advice for the President
Journalist and blogger María Isabel Soldevila advises [es] President Leonel Fernández to focus on three issues during his last year as head of state: violence and arms; the right to life; and road fatalities.
Puerto Rico: Petition against Violence
Blogger Verónica RT posts the call to sign the petition [es] of the Movimiento Amplio de Mujeres de Puerto Rico [es] against the dismantlement of the Law against Domestic Violence.
Argentina: Croatian Community Reacts to Sentence of General Ante Gotovina
On April 15, 2011, the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) handed down sentences to the Croatian generals Ante Gotovina, Mladen Markač and Ivan Cermak. Gotovina and Markac were charged with "crimes against humanity and violations of the laws and customs of war" committed in 1995 by the forces of their country during "Operation Storm." In Argentina, where it is estimated that the Croatian community is the country's third largest, there have been various reactions.
Puerto Rico: Music on the Street
The series Música Realenga, which shows live recordings of independent bands improvising on the street, continues to engage us through the website Frecuencias Alternas [es] . Enjoy the music of rock band Campo-Formio playing at the corner of the Loíza and Santa Cecilia Streets in Santurce, Puerto Rico.
Equatorial Guinea: SOS Malabo
The team behind S.O.S Malabo has a mission: to promote “visibility, awareness, mobilization, collaboration for the people of Equatorial Guinea using social media.”
