Stories about Spanish from December, 2012
Guaraní language is less spoken in Paraguay
Group blog E'a Periódico de Interpretación y Análisis [es] tells that, according to parcial results of the 2012 Population Census, there are 10% less Guaraní speakers in the country. Among...
#Sopacriolla: The Tough Road to ISP Regulation in Peru
In a previous post, we commented on the project known as #sopacriolla, an initiative by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism for allegedly collecting contributions for the construction of a standard for copyright and ISP (Internet Service Provider) responsibility. To learn more about the issue, we talk with the blogger Miguel Morachimo, and the lawyer in charge of the initiative, Erick Iriarte.
Argentina: Remembering December 19, 2001
From Argentina, blogger Rafael, on Fin del capitalismo ¿salvaje? [The end of the wild? capitalism] remembers some of the events [es] occured on December 19, 2001: On the night of...
The Spanish Government's “Boomerang” Hashtag
On December 12, the People's Party (PP) of Madrid decided to launched an information campaign on healthcare reform, creating the hashtag #quenotelienconlasanidad [#dontletthemscrewyouonhealthcare] on Twitter. Thousands of netizens took advantage of the campaign to flood the PP's hashtag with tweets, making it a trending topic for reasons very different from those originally intended by its creators.
Catalonia: Independence from Spain to Do What?
It appears that Catalonia is now set to hold a referendum on its ties to the rest of Spain. Could an independent Catalonia lead to the break-up of the establishment dynamics that have dominated Spain since the late-1970s? The optimists believe so.
Ecuador Creates Electoral ‘Code of Conduct’ for Social Media
The National Electoral Council of Ecuador unveiled a new Code of Conduct for social networks and digital media. Aimed at political stakeholders and ordinary citizens, the goal is to promote an environment of mutual respect and ideological tolerance.
Minister Wert Sparks Humour on the Net
An article on online newspaper Núvol with the title “Send up #Wert” [ca] collects discussions, cartoons, jokes and word games inspired by statements and the education law reform proposed by...
Plástica Magazine Shines Spotlight on Independent Spanish-Language Music
Plástica is an international journal specializing in the independent Spanish-language music scene. More than just a magazine, Plástica is a project that focuses on high quality, creative music. Its main goal now is to expand its readership beyond a digital audience, which is why they will launch the first paper edition of the magazine in 2013.
Ecuador Gets Ready for the 2013 Elections
Ecuadorian netizens are already analyzing candidates for the legislative and presidential elections of February 17, 2013. Many share their reports and reactions under the hashtag #EleccionesEc on Twitter.
Meet Global Voices Contributor – Janet Gunter
Global Voices in Spanish editor Juan Arellano interviews GV contributor and world traveller Janet Gunter, on her work in our community and on various projects.
Bolivian Cyber Activists Uncover Potential QR Code Patent
Can the use of QR codes be patented in Bolivia? Cyber activists worked collectively to uncover a potential unlawful patent over the use of QR codes in the country.
Boycott of Puerto Rico's Popular TV Show “La Comay”
The gruesome death of a publicist in a remote sector outside the island’s metropolitan area last month has led to an ongoing saga in which the Puerto Rican public has turned from alarm to shock, anger, and finally to the internet in a bout of activism that now threatens to overthrow one of the top rated TV programs on the island after its host hinted that the victim "got what he was looking for."
Does Peru have Internet Freedom?
It is increasingly common to hear that a particular country is considering or actually enacting some type of law that would affect Internet freedom. Peru is not immune to this. We discussed the topic with Miguel Morachimo of Blawyer (a law and technology blog in Peru), and we reviewed what some other bloggers have said about Internet freedom.
Venezuela and the WCIT-12
Who will govern the Internet and how? What is Venezuela's position in this debate? These are two questions that Luis Carlos Díaz tries to tackle in a post for Prodavinci...
A Festival to Celebrate Free Software in Nicaragua
Talks, workshops, and exhibitions are all part of the schedule for the National Free Software Festival to be held in Managua, Nicaragua on December 12, 2012. There will also be...
Voices of Dignity – Women Survivors of Colombia's Armed Conflict
Through the powerful testimonies of Yoladis Zúñiga and Petronila Mendoza -two Colombian women who fled their homes after paramilitaries killed their husbands and raided their villages- the multimedia project Voices of Dignity provides an intimate and necessary look into the struggles of the victims of Colombia's armed conflict.
Access Innovation Prize 2012 Recognizes Costa Rican Facebook App
Access.org announced the winners of the 1st Annual Access Tech Innovation Prize Awards, a new initiative that awards ideas that use information technology to promote human rights and address issues that are important to communities from across the world. Costa Rican Facebook-integrated app FueraJustoOrozco.com ("out Justo Orozco") was announced as one of the winners.
Colombia: Cali Organises Its Third Barcamp
On Monday, December 17, the third edition of Barcamp Cali -a Free Culture event organised in the city of Cali, Colombia- will take place. The event has created a buzz among netizens in Cali, who have been tweeting about it under the hashtag #barcampcali3.
Setback in President Chávez's Health Creates Uncertainty in Venezuela
Venezuelan bloggers are reacting to the latest turn in the health of President Hugo Chávez, who has arrived in Cuba for more cancer treatment.
Fighting Deportation in the U.S.
The national "We Belong Together" campaign is compiling testimonies in response to the passing of new immigration laws in the U.S. and addressing the prejudices they perpetuate.
Spain: Young Emigrants Have “Spirit of Adventure”
Marina del Corral Téllez, the Secretary General of Immigration and Emigration of the Ministry of Employment and Social Security, has been in the spotlight thanks to certain statements which have inflamed social media with indignant messages. Del Corral states that the emigration of Spanish youth is due not only to the crisis currently hitting the country, but to their "youthful drive for adventure."
