Stories about Spanish from February, 2012
Peru: New Racism Incident Ignites Debate on Social Networks
A movie theater in Lima became the scene of a case that public opinion quickly deemed another example of the ongoing problem of racism in Peru: a 13-year-old boy uttered racist insults at a couple who had asked him and his friends, who were kicking up a fuss, to be quiet. The attitude of the boy and what came to pass afterward have let loose numerous online reactions.
Guatemala: Looking to Georgia for a Lesson on Fighting Corruption
Blogger Luis Figueroa [es] wonders if Guatemala could benefit from following Georgia's example in fighting corruption.
Nicaragua: Discovering ‘1001 Tropics’ with Blogger Mildred Largaespada
The well-known blogger and journalist Mildred Largaespada was recently interviewed about her participation as the first Nicaraguan woman in the 20minutos.es Premios 20Blogs blog competition. Here we share the video of the interview and the additional questions that Midred added to her blog.
Spain: Crackdown Against Students Continues in Valencia
Just a few days after the police crackdown at the Luis Vives Institute of Secondary Education in Valencia, students have again been the targets of beatings, pushing and violence from the police.
Bolivia: A Book on the Indigenous March in Defense of the TIPNIS
A book gathering a detailed recount of the indigenous march in defense of the Indigenous Territory and National Park Isiboro Sécure (TIPNIS for its initials in Spanish) has been published in...
United States: Another Assault on Immigrant Culture
The decision to eliminate the Mexican-American studies program from the curriculum of schools has caused outrage. Yarisa Colón covers several initiatives that have been launched to stop this act of censorship against the culture of immigrants in the United States.
El Salvador: Facebook Photo Album Documents Worst Examples of Campaigning
Legislative elections for El Salvador are scheduled for March 11, 2012. Tim's El Salvador Blog reports on an interesting Facebook initiative: “The Facebook page called “Sociedad Civil” (Civil Society) is...
Ecuador: Citizens React to Verdict Against Newspaper El Universo
On Thursday, February 16, the highest Ecuadorian court upheld a verdict in favour of President Rafael Correa in a libel case against newspaper El Universo, one of the major dailies in this South American country. Ecuadorian netizens are divided between those who celebrate the verdict and those who define it as a serious offence towards freedom of expression and freedom of the press.
Spain: Police Violence Against Students in Valencia
Students gathered at the Luis Vives Institute of Secondary Education in Valencia to protest cuts and because they have to bring blankets to school due to lack of heating. The police attacked the students, many of them minors, and detained ten students.
Peru is Hit by Strong Rains
Juan Arellano reports [es] that the rainy season in Peru has arrived with particular strength this year. He names some areas that have been affected by the rainfall in his...
Chile: Aysen Region Social Movement Gains Strength
Last year, the Aysen Region was on the national spotlight due to the controversial dam project Hydroaysén. Today people are once again paying attention to this region in the Chilean Patagonia after locals held a series of protests calling for better quality of life and lower living costs.
Costa Rica: Videos from the Past
A video by geographer Homer Dávila is making nostalgia grow on Facebook as people are reminded of the light traffic that used to be the norm between the capital city...
Mexico: Citizen Initiative to the Clear the Streets of Election Trash
Every three years, the streets of Mexico are plastered with a thick layer of unending advertisements sporting images of smiling candidates for a variety of elected positions. But after the elections, the advertisements remain for days, weeks and even months. #QuitaUnAnuncio ["TakeDownAnAd"] is a citizen initiative to clean up Mexico City during the election period.
Bolivia: Conflict Over Road Through TIPNIS National Park Continues
In October 2011 President Evo Morales signed off a law declaring the Indigenous Territory National Park Isiboro Sécure "untouchable", cancelling the road project that sought pass through its heart. However, the conflict has resurfaced.
Peru: The Capture of Comrade Artemio
On February 9, the leader of the terrorist group Shining Path, Comrade Artemio, was captured. Artemio has been a wanted man for some time, being one of the last bosses of the Maoist terrorist group to remain at large. Here we have gathered the reactions to and analysis of the capture from several Peruvian bloggers.
Video Highlights: Video Advocacy and Recent Events
A selection of Global Voices' recent and interesting stories on video advocacy including indigenous rights and recent news from Latin America, East Asia and Sub Saharan Africa selected by Juliana Rincón Parra.
Argentina: Government Accepts UN Mediation in Falklands Conflict
Amidst a climate of rising tensions with the United Kingdom, the Argentinian government decided to take the conflict over the sovereignty of the Falklands to the UN. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said that the UN would be prepared to act as a mediator in the conflict, if both parties wished for it to do so.
Uruguay: Ice Cream Parlor's Lacking Twitter Strategy
In the blog El Cielo es Verde [es], Fernando Bernini critiques the Twitter strategy of La Cigale (@HeladosLaCigale), a well-know Uruguayan ice cream parlor.
Peru: The Water March Arrives in Lima
Finally the Water March arrived in Lima. For two days, different activities developed for the defense of water throughout the country. Juan Arellano gathers some citizens' reports of these final days and the activities that ended the march.
Colombia: Through the Eyes of Expat Bloggers
Colombia's official travel website has called on some 30 foreigners to share their Colombian living and travel adventures to the world through blogging. The official site will launch on February 20, but some of the participants offer a glimpse of the project on their personal blogs.
Spain: “We Have Memory, We Want Justice”
The ruling to bar the National Audience Magistrate, Baltasar Garzón from the legal profession for 11 years has caused outrage in Spain and around the world. Chris Moya interviews former Congressman Federico Mayor Zaragoza on Garzón's case and its implications.
