Stories about Spanish from February, 2011
Puerto Rico: Human Rights Organizations With Eyes on UPR
Amnesty International has petitioned the government of Puerto Rico [es] to investigate the use of excessive Police force against students who are protesting against a special tuition fee imposed by...
Puerto Rico: UPR Professors Walk Out
The Puerto Rican Association of University Professors (APPU in Spanish) held a walk out yesterday, February 10, 2011 at the Río Piedras campus of the University of Puerto Rico in...
Puerto Rico: Triumph Over Television, The Comedy of Esoez.com
@Nerdote and @Fetoso have developed a loyal following within Puerto Rico's blogosphere, racking up over 800,000 video views on their YouTube channel, and welcoming thousands of visitors a month to their blog Esoez.com. Global Voices interviews the duo about their scathing humor,their character "Fico Fronte," the media and the Puerto Rican blogosphere.
Venezuela: Hugo Chávez Marks 12 Years in Office
On February 2, 2011, President Hugo Chávez celebrated 12 years in power. Venezuelans have made Twitter their platform to discuss the country's situation and what for one side means 12 years of the government's mistakes, and for the other the revolution's accomplishments.
Mexico: Social Media Reacts After Influential Journalist Carmen Aristegui is Fired
Mexican Twitter users have been very active debating the news that influential anchorwoman Carmen Aristegui was dismissed from her MVS Noticias radio show 72 hours after she asked on air if President Felipe Calderón should "give a clear, pristine, formal answer" to whether he suffered from a drinking problem.
Cuba: “Operation Cyber-Mambí”
There has been much speculation of late as to whether the spirit of protest will find its way from Egypt and Tunisia to the Caribbean. If the lock on the marketplace of information maintained by Castro's government is what's standing between discontented Cuban citizens and protest, then recent attempts to use “counterrevolutionary” bloggers' tactics against them have come as no surprise to netizens.
Puerto Rico: In Defense of the Hispanic Studies Department
The department of Hispanic Studies is one of 10 academic programs that have been put "on pause" by the administration of the University of Puerto Rico starting August 2011. The administration cites low enrollment numbers as the justification for this action. Students and faculty members have criticized the decision and explain the importance of the department.
El Salvador: The Left Assumes Presidency of Legislative Assembly
Repudiation, joy or indifference have been the various reactions of the Salvadoran blogosphere in the face of a representative of the leftist FMLN party assuming the presidency of the Legislative Assembly - the Salvadoran congress - for the first time since the party has parliamentary representation.
Mexico: Journalist Carmen Aristegui Fired
Twitter is abuzz with the news that journalist Carmen Aristegui was fired from MVS Noticias [es]. Clases de Periodismo [es] reports netizens speculate she was fired for asking if President...
Colombia: Twitterathon for School Children
February is back-to-school season in most of Colombia, and some Twitter users (who helped organize a “Twitterathon” last December to help the victims of the rainy season) joined to gather...
Colombia: Car-Free Day in Bogotá
On February 3, the city of Bogotá held a Car-Free Day --a day when restrictions are placed on the circulation of private vehicles. The day is designed as a strategy to raise environmental awareness and improve vehicular traffic. Twitter users from Bogotá tweeted their opinions and reports about the day.
Peru: New Strain of Dengue Spreads in the Amazon
A dengue outbreak that emerged in the Peruvian Amazon region of Loreto has easily spread through several neighbouring regions. On the 1st of February, four confirmed cases had been officially reported in Lima, the Peruvian capital.
Mexico: Reactions to “Racist” Remarks on BBC's Top Gear
Comments on the BBC's popular car show Top Gear calling Mexicans, "lazy, feckless, flatulent," and "overweight" have caused mixed reactions among Mexican bloggers.
Latin America: Drawing Parallels with Egypt
As protests in Egypt continue, Latin American bloggers are drawing historical parallels with similar uprisings in the region and some are wondering: “Could it happen here now?”
Puerto Rico: Let's Talk About Movies
In the music blog Puerto Rico Indie [es]. @sire_damiano and @redod offer a look at the creative force of the director and video artist Michel Gondry.
Puerto Rico: Protest Against Harrasment
The feminist coalition Movimiento Amplio de Mujeres [es] reacts to the videos and images circulated through social media [es] that show police officers inappropriately touching women protesters arrested for participating...
Puerto Rico: Mainstream Media and Art Blogs
Artist and blogger Javier Martínez acknowledges that the mainstream newspaper El Nuevo Día [es] covers arts and culture, but he invites them to redesign and rethink [es] their website.
Dominican Republic: Remembering Luis Días
Puerto Rican blogger and music scholar Raquel Z. Rivera reflects on her admiration [es] for the recently deceased Dominican musician and artist Luis Días.
Peru: Gay Marriage Becomes Presidential Election Issue
Same-sex marriage has been debated for some time, and its possible legalization has become a part of the election platforms of presidential candidates in Peru. This follows the rejection of the matter by a representative of the Catholic Church. The issue has generated many diverse reactions.
