Stories about Spanish from March, 2011
Argentina: After 35 years, long live carnival!
After 35 years, Argentine carnival holidays are back, and so is the fun and joy. On March 7 and 8 Argentines of all ages enjoyed a carnival holiday, something many had never experienced.
Japan: Earthquake, “how to protect yourself” in 30 languages
TUFS students launched a website with advices on risk management translated in more than 30 languages. The website provides “a basic guide in several languages to what to do when...
Global: Thoughts on the World Day Against Cyber-Censorship
Bloggers took action on the World Day Against Cyber-Censorship on March 12, 2011, and spent the weekend commenting on the state of online freedom of expression, raising awareness about censorship and sharing tips to circumvent it.
Puerto Rico: Virtual campaign against violence
Lawyer, feminist activist and blogger Verónica RT has launched a virtual campaign through her blog [es] and Facebook [es]that documents every case of women murdered by their partners or ex partners...
Peru: The Peruvian Amazon
What does the Amazon mean to Peru and, in turn, Peru to it? Juan Arellano answers these questions with a brief historical summary of the Peruvian Amazon and a compilation of what some bloggers have written about the Amazon region in Peru.
Puerto Rico: Another senator convicted of corruption
Historian and blogger Ivonne Acosta reflects [es] on the recent conviction in the federal district court in Puerto Rico of the pro-statehood senator Hector Martínez on charges of corruption.
Puerto Rico: Professors debate student strike
Blogger and law student Mariana Iriarte comments [es] on the debate among professors of the University of Puerto Rico on the effectiveness of the strategies proposed by students as part...
Peru: Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Affect Peruvians
Peru has a large community of citizens living in Japan, many of Japanese descent. Through Twitter and blogs, many Peruvians are sharing information and their concerns about how the earthquake and tsunami may have affected their family and friends.
El Salvador: Thoughts on International Women's Day
2011 finds El Salvador with the highest rate of femicides in the word, according to Spanish newspaper El Pais. Some Salvadorean bloggers have made their own reflections on the day and what it means for women in El Salvador.
Puerto Rico: Violence in the University
The Puerto Rican Association of University Professors of Puerto Rico (APPU) condemned the physical attacks [es] a group of students perpetrated against the Provost of the Río Piedras campus, Ana Guadalupe....
Guatemala: First Lady Announces Her Candidacy for President
On March 8, First Lady Sandra Torres announced she would run for president. Her critics on social networks reacted to the news with harsh comments. Bloggers are focusing on two main issues related to her presidential bid: an Article in the Constitution which prohibits her candidacy, and her work in social cohesion projects.
Paraguay's Digital Divide
Juan Edgardo Lezcano [es] writes about the digital divide in Paraguay. Juan reports that there are few educational institutions focusing on information and communication technology (ICT), and that low-income citizens...
Mexico and Afghanistan Border Conflicts Juxtaposed
Netizens are responding to several reports that juxtapose the violence in the Mexico/US border with the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan and its border with Pakistan. Though uncoordinated and apparently disparate, the reports have served to crystalize problematic aspects of American policy.
Colombia: Celebrating International Woman's Day
In Colombia, the celebration of International Women's Day has become a tradition, and it is reflected online with netizens sharing different perspectives through websites, Twitter and blogs.
Mexico: Remembering the Women of Ciudad Juárez
Ciudad Juárez is considered the most violent city in Mexico with more than 3,100 murders recorded in 2010, with an average of 9 homicides per day. Women are not immune to this violence, and cases of femicides committed years ago are still unresolved. On this International Woman's Day, we are remembering the women of Ciudad Juárez.
Is Mexico Ready for a Female President?
Pepe Flores [es] asks if Mexico is ready to have a female president. He argues that Mexico as a society would accept a woman in the presidency, but he wonders...
Panama: Thoughts on Improving Education
Panamanian students returned to school on March 1st. Hanna at Contrapunto [es] writes about education in Panama and how to improve it. She argues that Panamanian educators need to realize...
Panama: Spanish Journalist Deported
Spanish journalist Paco Gómez Nadal was deported after he was detained on February 26 during an indigenous protest against a law reforming Panama's Mineral Resources Code. In spite of the promise made by President Ricardo Martinelli to repeal the law that reforms the mining code, some Panamanians have not forgotten that the issue of the deported journalist remains unresolved.
Mexico: Possible Documentary Censorship Causes Commotion
A Mexican judge ordered theaters to temporarily halt screenings of the popular Mexican documentary Presunto Culpable (Presumed Guilty). The filmmakers, in an announcement posted on their website, state that the documentary will continue to be shown until they receive a government or judicial order. Still, the Mexican blogosphere has been actively discussing the issue, mostly focusing on censorship and freedom of expression.
Peru: Wikileaks and the Presidential Campaign
One of the unexpected consequences of the cables released by Wikileaks has been its impact on the Peruvian presidential campaign. Juan Arellano compiles some reactions and analysis to the cables and their effect on the current Peruvian presidential campaign.
Colombia: The earth shook to show people that Necoclí exists
On the 2nd of March 2011, a tremor measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale was felt in the department of Antioquia and part of northern Colombia. The epicentre of this shock was in the Necoclí municipality (located in Antioquia) and although there were no victims, an ex traordinary fact – as well as the quake itself – that emerged through Twitter was the ignorance of some to the existence of Necoclí.
