Stories about Spanish from February, 2012
Introducing Bloggers and Twitter Users from Ecuador
During the Campus Party Quito, held in October 2011, Juan Arellano interviewed outstanding bloggers and Twitter users from Ecuador with the aim to describe the wealth and variety of ways in which Ecuadorians use the Internet and social media. In the following videos you will get to know some of those who inspire the Ecuadorian Internet.
Mexico Prepares to Elect a New President
As personalities and political parties in Mexico prepare for the presidential election this year, various bloggers and Twitter users are analyzing its implications while others are seemingly more interested in the ineptitude of the candidates.
Colombia: Romantic Movie for Men Premieres on Facebook
Lessons for a Kiss, a Colombian film categorized by writer and director Juan Pablo Bustamante as a romantic comedy for men, will premiere on Facebook on Valentine's day (Feb. 14)...
Mexico: PEN Protesta! International Writers Protest in Solidarity With Mexican Colleagues
On January 29, PEN International, the world’s oldest international literary and human rights organization, held an event in Mexico City called PEN Protesta! to show international solidarity with Mexican writers, poets and journalists, and to demand free press and freedom of expression in Mexico.
Panama: The Indigenous Leader Who Took on the Government
Amidst Panama's current crisis is a woman who has emerged as the standard bearer of the indigenous struggle: Silvia Carrera who, after being the first woman elected to the position of cacique or tribal chief, has risen up firmly against the mining intentions of the current government.
Argentina: Stand Up Comedian on Women and Catcalls
Argentinean stand up comedian Malena Pichot, best known for her webshow “La Loca de Mierda” has a new series, Cualca! and on this first episode[es], she shares her perspective on...
Peru: The Water March Approaches Lima
The Water March, that left Cajamarca on February 1, is already approaching Lima, its final destination. In the previous post we left the Water March on its fifth day, leaving Chimbote for the city of Casma and then Huarmey. In this post we revisit the reports, videos and photos from the following days and the preparations for the arrival in Lima on February 9.
Puerto Rico: Life One Photo a Day
Jose Marti offers a glimpse of life in San Juan through his online photography project "Photos of Today."
Spain: The Rebel Grandparents of the 15M
The majority of them far exceed the age of 60, they're retired, they're "iaios" (grandparents in Catalan) and they're veterans of activism. Lali Sandiumenge interviews some members of the “Iaioflautas”, a collective that emerged in Barcelona last October in the camp out at Plaza Catalunya.
Argentina: Musician Luis Alberto Spinetta Dies
Luis Alberto Spinetta, "El Flaco", one of the most influential rock musicians in Argentina, died on February 8 from illness; Spinetta had lung cancer, diagnosed in July, 2011. The Twitter hashtag #ChauFlaco quickly started trending, bringing together the tweets of those wanting to express their emotions on the news of the death of one of the most legendary Argentine rock stars.
Panama: Government and Indigenous Peoples Reach Agreement After Clashes Over Mining
The anti-mining protest which had paralysed the country for five days was violently suppressed by the national police, provoking serious confrontations with the indigenous people. Finally, on Tuesday, February 7, the government ceded to the demands of the Ngäbe Buglé, prohibiting the use of the region for the exploitation of minerals or water.
Spanish-Language Digital Magazine on Using ICTs in Human Rights
Digital magazine Revista Calle Sol 28 [es] looks at how human rights activists can use information and communication technologies (ICTs). The issue includes the article “The Right to the Internet”...
Peru: A blogger's proposition
Peruvian blogger Cyrano makes a proposition on his blog [es]: “today February 7, 2012, without fail (or whenever you read this), let's make a call to someone we don't talk...
Cuba: On Yoani Sánchez and Dilma Rousseff
La Pupila Insomne republishes a ferocious critique of the press coverage [es] of Yoani Sánchez's plea to the President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff to intervene with the Cuban government to grant...
Cuba: Letters to the Editor
Elaine Díaz comments on and critiques the state-run newspaper Granma's publishing politics of letters from [es] the readers.
Cuba: Fatal Collapse in Downtown Havana Stirs Online Debate
Over the last three weeks, two buildings have collapsed in downtown Havana. Bloggers from Voces Cubanas and Havana Times saw the incidents as clear evidence of state officials' negligence of housing conditions in the city.
Peru: Following the Great Water March
It has been seven days since the Great Water March set off, on February 1, from the heights of Celendín, Cajamarca, where the lakes threatened by the Conga mining project are located. Netizens can follow the march's progress through citizen videos, photos and reports.
Guatemala: The Role of Women in Decision Making
Hector Javier Tecum blogs about the role of women in Guatemalan politics for Americas Quarterly [es]. He argues that the inclusion of women in decision-making positions is still a challenge...
Internet Radio and Podcasts from Ecuador
Juan Arellano shares some video interviews from Campus Party Quito with the people behind several podcasts and internet radios in Ecuador.
Cuba: Bloggers on SOPA, Culture and the Democratization of Knowledge
Unlike many SOPA/PIPA critics in the United States and around the globe, Cuban bloggers did not focus on the technical implications of the proposed laws. Both independent and state-affiliated Cuban bloggers saw SOPA/PIPA as a powerful statement about how legislators (and the music and film industries) value culture and creativity as part of U.S. society.
Panama: Indigenous Mining Protest Blocks Pan-American Highway
Indigenous tribes of Ngäbes Buglé in Panama have closed the Pan-American Highway to demand that the government fulfills what was agreed upon in the negotiations regarding mining in the area. On social networks, President Martinelli's position has been repudiated, but so has the selfish attitude of the protesters.
