Stories about Spanish from May, 2012
Cuba: Questioning Digital Expression within the Revolution
The recent Encuentro de Blogueros Cubanos en Revolución [Meeting of Cuban Bloggers in Revolution] brought together a group of “official” bloggers—chiefly journalists and communications professionals who are employed by the state and maintain their blogs as part of their work. Since the meeting, bitter controversy has unfolded around this new iteration of a decades-old question: does the expression of criticism automatically put one “outside” the revolution, especially when the criticism is happening online?
Spain: 12M, a Ray of Sun in the Midst of the Crisis
On the 12th of May (12M), the Indignado movement demonstrated not only that it is alive and well, but that it continues to have strong social support. The square "Puerta del Sol" (Gate of the Sun) in Madrid is one of the symbolic centers of the movement.
Paraguay: A Look Inside Aché Indigenous Communities
For much of their history, the Aché indigenous people in Paraguay have been struggling to preserve their territory. Now, the Aché are using citizen media to preserve their language and their culture.
Bolivia: Web 2.0 Workshops for Aymara School Teachers
In early May 2012, a series of Web 2.0 workshops were held for Education professors from the Teacher Training Superior School (ESFM for its initials in Spanish). The event's objective was to help the professors and their students begin to create digital media content in the Aymara language. Victoria Tinta from Global Voices in Aymara shares a summary of the workshop and its results.
Guatemala: A ‘Guatemaltequismo’ A Day
Mario Cordero from Diario Paranoico [es] has opened a wikispace [es] where he posts one ‘guatemaltequismo’ (word that is used in Guatemala) per day. Mario also set up a Facebook...
Argentina: Transforming a Neighborhood Through a Cultural Shed
The Piedrabuenarte Cultural Shed in the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina is transforming the neighborhood through culture, arts and citizen media. Formerly a warehouse for discarded scenery and sets for the Colon Theater, the space was transformed by artists in the community into a center for arts. Through their YouTube channel they are telling the world about it.
Spain: The “Indignados” of the 15M
We share the stories of Karlos, Mari Ángeles, Miguel Ángel and Josep Maria, whom for various reasons, have joined the social movement 15M in Barcelona, Spain.
Colombia: Bomb Blast Targeted at Controversial Former Minister
A bomb blast targeting former interior Minister Fernando Londoño Hoyos, a conservative lawyer and politician, left several dead and others injured. This attempt prompted thousands of reactions on social networks.
Mexico: Netizens Say Goodbye to Writer Carlos Fuentes
On May 15, 2012, Latin America lost one of its most important contemporary writers. Mexican author Carlos Fuentes died in Mexico City, at the age of 83. Netizens all over the world were shocked by his sudden death.
Video: Indigenous Video Festival Open for Submissions
The XI International Film and Video Festival of Indigenous Peoples to be held in Colombia during last quarter of 2012 is putting out a call for entries for audiovisual material about indigenous and first people issues and topics.
Norway: Discussing Latin America at the Oslo Freedom Forum
Last week the fourth gathering of the Oslo Freedom Forum was carried out, organized by the Human Rights Foundation in the Norwegian capital. The event covered a series of topics that involved other world regions, including Latin America.
Colombia: 5 Dead, 19 Injured After Bomb Blast in Bogotá
Netizens are reacting to the explosion of a bomb on a bus on Caracas Avenue and 74th street in Bogotá, Colombia's capital. The attack was allegedly directed at former Interior...
Costa Rica: Blogger Interviews President Laura Chinchilla
Blogger Cristian Cambronero from the blog Fusil de Chispas interviewed [es] Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla. The interview was in part filmed by the production team Sürrealista [es], and two photographers...
Latin America: Art from the Colonial Period in 2.0
We present a sample of the numerous blogs, videos and internet sites dedicated to promoting knowledge about colonial period art, a common artistic denominator for the majority of the American continent, the individual indigenous cultures of which first adopted and then adapted as their own.
Costa Rica: The Circus that Saves Children's Lives
To the south of Costa Rica lies the town of Perez Zeledon, home to the Fantazztico Circus that is giving children and youth in the region a chance to stay out of drugs and trouble while opening doors to international travel.
Mexicans Condemn Massacre in Cadereyta, Nuevo Leon
Netizens shared their reactions after the dismal finding of 49 mutilated corpses in Cadereyta, Nuevo León, near the border with the United States.
Spain: Arts Also Blossom in the Global Spring
The arts have also flourished with the 15M movement. To commemorate the 15M's first anniversary, the 12M--15M events, and to invite everyone to take to the streets again, the blog # Acampadasol has published a series of amazing posters that reveal many of the reasons behind the protests.
Venezuela: Street Art on the Internet
Artists and musicians broaden their audience when they come into contact with citizen media. Here we show some citizen videos of artists in the streets of Venezuela.
Ecuador: Being a Mother is Not Easy
On Mother's Day, May 13, Juan Pablo Martínez in the blog Realidad Ecuador [es] wrote about “the reality of being a mother in Ecuador.” Juan Pablo looks at several statistics...
Spain: “Neighbor, Wake Up, Evictions at Your Doorstep!”
As part of the profound socioeconomic crisis, home foreclosures and evictions are rampant in Spain. Author Elena Arrontes covered the eviction of a Bangladeshi family from its home in the neighborhood of Lavapiés, Madrid. Neighbors and other members of the community immediately acted in solidarity with the family.
Colombia: A New Home for Campus Party in 2013?
Paco Ragageles, co-founder of Campus Party, in his blog published the decision to consider an alternative venue for Campus Party Colombia following the decision of the mayor of Bogota to not endorse the event as had been done in the past. Netizens immediately reacted and even proposed a new venue for 2013.
