Stories about Latin America from June, 2006
Brazil: Caetano Veloso's Biography
France-based Togolese bloggerKangni Alem writes (Fr): “Even though modesty is not Brazilian singer Caetano Veloso's forte, he has great talent as an agitator. He also exhibits phenomenal memory in the intellectual autobiography that was prompted by the New York Times to recount the birth of the artistic and musical movement...
Latin America: Comparison of Presidential Salaries
Peruvian blogger Eland Vera has an interesting list of the salaries of various Latin American presidents.
Uruguay: Comments on Blogs
Ganimatux, the weblog of a Uruguayan Debian programmer explains why he's been posting less on his own blog recently (ES): “It's true that we don't all have time to read everyone's blog and then also think of a comment, because sometimes there's nothing to say. But, how about a simple...
Venezuela: Translations
Francisco of Caracas Chronicles has translated excerpts of a piece by Juan Carlos Zapata, which argues that a new power dynamic is evolving in Venezuela. Another translation comes from Guillermo Parra, who offers the english version of Antonio López Ortega's reflection on Arturo Uslar Pietri and the concept of “mestizaje”...
A conversation about US foreign policy
Trinidad-based Jeremy Taylor and his American friend “Roger” continue their cordial but rigorous e-mail exchanges about the state of US foreign policy.
Venezuela: “A bad day for Venezuelan democracy”
Both Miguel Octavio and Daniel Duquenal are disheartened by opposition electoral NGO, Sumate's decision to forego primary elections. Duquenal says that “the electoral trickery of chavismo is so blatant that it seems impossible to have a free and fair election in December,” however, Oil Wars disagrees, describing the opposition as...
Spain: Music: CC Licensed Compilation
Eduardo Arcos and Fernando Casale both comment on the release of a Creative Commons-licensed compilation by the Spanish newspaper El País. The album is freely available for download.
Mexico: More on the electoral use of welfare
Michelle Dion says that “the use of social welfare for political gain is nothing new” in Mexico, an observation supported by two recent studies that suggest the Oportunidades program has been politically manipulated by local governments.
Ecuador: Weblog of the Week
This week's Ecuablogs weblog of the week (ES) is Batiduende (ES). Cartas de Palas (ES) was second place with twenty votes.
Costa Rica: Farmers Market Prices and Photos
After posting a photo album of the farmers market in Desampa, Tejas, Rojos, y un Cinco now posts a list of common prices at a Costa Rican farmer's market.
Brazil: Gilles Peterson’s Podcast
Claudio recommends the podcast of Gilles Peterson: “Each podcast is 30 minutes long and devoted to a different theme, with interviews and live sessions. Covered are Baile Funk, Roots & Samba, Bossa Nova, The Rodrigues Family, Hip Hop and Electronica.”
Blogs& Beers with José Luis Orihuela
José Luis Orihuela (ES) is visiting Chile invited by International Communication Conference and Workshop (ES) . Taking this unique opportunity, different blogers invite José Luis to talk with Chilean blogers in the meeting Blogs&Beers. José Luis talked about liquid journalism, and other distinctions such as instead of saying participate journalists...
Global Food Blog Report #22
#1: Klephblog, no doubt over-caffeinated, writes "How Coffee changed the Modern World," a great essay about this fruit of the Gods: This wondrous plant is a native of the new world and was sprung on an unsuspecting European public as these shores became colonized in the 15th century. By the...
The Week That Was – Bolivian Blogs
Este artículo también está disponible en español en el sitio Blogs de Bolivia Another election in Bolivia is only four days away. A dearth of information characterizes this election of 255 Constituents to the assembly that has the task to rewrite the Constitution. On July 2, Bolivians will take to...
T&T, Venezuela, Bolivia: Emails between friends
Trinidad-based blogger Jeremy Taylor reproduces an e-mail exchange — real or fictional? — taking place between himself and a former US embassy operative friend. The topics at hand: Hugo Chávez, Evo Morales and blogging. Here are parts 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Colombia: Bogota, the Bicycle, and Transportation
David, a cyclist and blogger who is riding from Central America down to South America explains why we went off route to check out Bogota's public transportation system: “In the 1990s, in the face of horrible road congestion, Bogota did something amazing – it reduced space for cars.”
Guatemala: Spanish Investigative Commission Questioning Impunity
As the Spanish investigative commission arrives in Guatemala to question the impunity of Efrain Rios Montt and others connected to genocide charges, Patrick of the Guatemala Solidarity Network posts an open letter demanding the end of impunity.
Brazil, Japan: Digital TV to Mobile Devices
Melo Bichuetti explains the Japanese-Brazilian collaboration to offer digital television, noting that the “Nippon-Brazilian model allows transmission to mobile devices, what is not possible in the case of the European model.”
Argentina: “Hostile Takeover”
Why did British Brigadier General William Carr Beresford invade Buenos Aires 200 years ago without approval from his superiors? Robert Wright lays out some theories.
Bolivia: Lack of Information Regarding Assembly Candidates
Briegel Busch blames the current administration for the lack of information (ES) regarding candidates running for the new constituent assembly.
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.
