Stories about Latin America from April, 2006
What Salvadoran bloggers are saying — abortion and gay marriage
A variety of issues have been discussed in the Salvadoran blogosphere in past weeks. Much discussion went to Jack Hitt's article in the April 9, 2006 Sunday New York Times Magazine titled Pro-Life Nation. In the article, Hitt describes El Salvador's complete criminalization of abortion which includes the prosecution and...
Venezuela: New CNE Board and Friday Night Fiesta
While Katy explains how the board of Venezuela's Electoral Council (the elections governing body) is selected, Francisco gives some background on the new five board members. Away from politics, Adriana of CaracasCafe recommends getting rowdy tonight at El Tunel's open bar.
Mexico: Review of the Debate
Dark Diamond Network has a comprehensive and articulate summary of the Mexican presidential debate and how each participant fared.
Mexico: Presidential Race Attracts Bumps Up Bandwidth
Boli-Nica reveals that the Mexican presidential race is generating quite a bit of traffic around the web, including a share of anti-Obrador blogs.
Bolivia, Venezuela, Cuba: Morales’ TCP
Evo Morales has announced a free trade agreement with Venezuela and Cuba. A free trade agreement except that it shall be called a TCP, or “Trade Agreement of the Peoples.” Alvaro Ruiz-Navajas explains the difference, or lack thereof, in a two part series. Chilean blogger Carlos Gustavo Machicado Salas has...
Mexico: Debate Didn't Change Voters’ Decisions
Two polls taken after this week's presidential debate show Felipe Calderón as the winner despite bloggers’ insistence that it was Patricia Mercado who left in best shape. Another poll, however, reveals that 90% of those surveyed did not consider changing their vote after viewing the debate. For more numbers from...
Argentina: History Finds a Home
Robert Wright explains the etymology of the Buenos Aires neighborhood, Caballito. If in the area, you'll soon have a chance to see the original namesake.
World: Farmer's Market International Parade
Melissa De Leon and Elena Hernandez are co-hosting the “The Farmer's Market International Parade” where participants from across the world post photos of their neighborhood markets, which will then be collected and linked to. So far, entries have been received from Venezuela, Mexico, Trinidad, UK and Panama. Entries will be...
Ukraine: Markets Won't Wait
At Foreign Notes, LEvko writes that Ukrainian president expects the coalition to be formed sometime in June, and Scott W. Clark cautions that this may be a bit too long for the country's economy: “If, as LEvko reports, this mess won't be sorted out until June, will the markets hold...
Honduras, El Salvador: Defining Boundaries
Honduras News and Tim's El Salvador Blog both mention the finalized agreement between El Salvador and Honduras over the border dividing the two countries. The decision closes an unfinished chapter of the 1969 “Soccer War.”
Guatemala: Mayan Translators
Noting that five Mayan languages are at risk of extinction, Chapinadas tells the story of the first graduating class of Mayan translators from the Academy of Mayan Languages.
Brazil: Portuguese and Indigenous Languages
While Portuguese is Brazil's official state language, M. Bichuetti of The Brazilian Way of Life says that around 180 native tongues are still present. Quoting a linguistics professor, Bichuetti says that some of the languages “are ‘on the verge of extinction,’ [while others] are ‘very vigorous.'”
El Salvador: Pro Life Nation
Writing from Antartica, J. Allbritton offers his thoughts on an article by Jack Hitt regarding El Salvador's strict anti-abortion laws. Tim Muth also recently commented on the article, inspiring various impassioned comments.
Costa Rica: Supreme Court to Discuss Gay Marriage
Andrés Duque says that Costa Rica's supreme court will decide next week if a new petition for marriage rights for same sex couples is constitutional. Sergio of La Foto Salió Movida describes (ES) the recent opposition against a gay rights conference. Cristian of Fusil de Chispas cites the intolerant comments...
Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador: “Abstinencewatch™ Scorecard”
Bob Kellet explains why the Brazilian football club will be happy in Germany this World Cup whereas Costa Rica and Ecuador won't.
Nicaragua, Costa Rica: Immigrant Rights
Immigrants are demanding respect of human rights. That would be Nicaraguan immigrants, living in Costa Rica.
World: Handwriting Meme
John Guzman, a native of Colombia now living in the United States, has started an international handwriting meme. He hopes to attract as much international participation as possible. There is also a Flickr group.
48 Missing Detainees Wrongly Identified
“Courtyard 29” is a communal grave place, located in the General Cemetery (ES) of the capital, Santiago. In 1991, 124 missing detainees from the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship, were found and 96 were identified. After 20 years, 96 families had the chance to properly bury their relatives. Last week, 10 years...
Filipino boxer faces tough challenge
Jess at The Postman is following the preparations of Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao for his upcoming fight with Mexican Oscar Larios. Jess writes "While Larios is bothered by only one thing — fighting the PACMAN — Pacquiao is hounded by several things. Personal matters, off-boxing commitments, showbiz buzzes and profit-oriented...
Cuba: Female dissident beaten
Pondblog links to an Aljazeera news piece reporting that Cuba's most prominent female dissident, 60 year-old Marta Beatríz Roque, was beaten at her home by a pro-government mob this past Tuesday. The article states that Roque, who leads the Assembly for Promoting Civil Society, was about to leave her home...
The Week That Was – Bolivian Blogs
Este artículo también está disponible en español. Millions of Bolivians have left their homeland in search for greener pastures for a variety of reasons. Nostalgia can sink in and can be expressed through writing. The subject was recently featured in Claudia Peña Claros’ blog Inútil Ardor (ES). In poetry form,...
About our Latin America coverage
Melissa Vida is the Latin America Spanish-language editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
Fernanda Canofre is the Brazil editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
