Stories about Latin America from February, 2008
Bolivia: Relief for Flooding Victims
Many residents from other Bolivian cities are chipping in to provide relief for the victims of the flooding in the Beni region. Kevin of Travieso [es] writes about the cooperation with a local Santa Cruz radio station to collect supplies.
Ecuador: Google Maps and Flooding
Christian Espinosa of Cobertura Digital [es] writes about the new Google maps mashup that provides locations of the heaviest flooding around Ecuador.
Argentina: Concern Over Cartoneros
The Buenos Aires government is worried about the activity of the ‘cartoneros,’ who are members of the informal economy and rummage through garbage to salvage cardboard that can be sold for recycling. Gabriela Arca of Grito Argentino [es] writes about some of the government's reasons for concern.
Argentina: Direct Taxes and Digital Rights
A new proposal in Argentina sought to add a direct tax to any electronic equipment capable of reproducing digital media, which would seek to offset some of the revenues lost by artists due to piracy. Bloggers in that country mobilized to say that this move would encourage piracy because compensation would have already been paid. It would have also raised the prices of these goods in a country where the prices are already expensive.
Bolivia: Anti-Government Protester Beat by Supporters
El refugio del pez que fuma [es] writes about intolerance shown by supporters of President Evo Morales, who beat a protester voicing displeasure over the current administration.
Paraguay: The Craft of Goat Cheese
The making of goat cheese is an artisan craft in Paraguay. A new blog called Quesos de Cabra – Caprísimo [es] highlights this process and how it is marketed in the city of Loma Grande.
Ecuador: Heavy Rains to Continue
Strong rains may continue through the months of March and April in Ecuador writes La Voz de Guamote [es]. The country has been hit with heavy flooding at the beginning of 2008.
Mexico: New Ruins Around Zócalo
Vivir México [es] writes about the new archaeological ruins found around the Mexico City zócalo (main plaza).
A book about political murders in Brazil
The Brazilian IndyMedia site is reporting about a new book by the Brazilian journalist Natália Viana about the political murders of human-rights activists in Brazil in the last decades. The report says the entire book is available to be downloaded here. All the links in this roundup are in portuguese.
Cuba: Cardinal Points
“Nowhere in the world has the Catholic Church been a greater force for evil than in Cuba,” according to Review of Cuban-American Blogs. Babalu is not impressed with Cardinal Bertone's recent visit either.
Brazil: Sexual tourism, dreams-come-true, sour goodbyes and illegality
Sandra Paulsen writes[PT] from Stockholm at Blog do Noblat[PT] about Swedish sexual tourism in Brazil and Tailand and sad stories about Brazilian women that travel back with their “boyfriends” to their home Sweden, just to face a hard and bitter break-up and illegality in a foreign and lawful land. Blog...
Ecuador: My Mobile Voice and Citizen Journalism
Mi Voz Móvil (My Mobile Voice) is a project in citizen journalism from the newspaper Ultimas Noticias in Quito, Ecuador. The mobile van travels to neighborhoods where they conduct workshops for aspiring citizen journalists. In many cases, individuals that have submitted news see their stories side-by-side with the professional journalists. Here is a short video of the paper's editor explaining the mobile reporting room.
Cuba: Raul's Speech
The Cuban Triangle shares some thoughts on the recent change of leadership in Cuba.
Cuba: Reactions to Raul
Cuban bloggers’ responses to news that Raul Castro has been appointed President of Cuba…Babalu Blog: “Meet the new boss, same as the old boss”; Child of the Revolution: “The appointment of a 76-year-old hardliner…as the effective number two rather than younger apparatchiks…has surprised everyone”; Uncommon Sense: “For those who think...
What does make them come to Campus Party?
Donizete Soares from Sentimentos e Pensamentos [Feelings and Toughts, PT] asked some campuseros at Campus Party Brasil 2008 [PT] about their motivations to leave behind their diary lives and flock to meetings like the one held in São Paulo two weeks ago — and released the full audio of these...
Lusospheric Literature: Sabedoria de Improviso
Czarina writes in short, razor-sharp, words in her Sabedoria de Improviso [Makeshift Wisdom, PT] about what she may or may not have learned, and maybe about what she lived. She renders no explanations [PT] for those who need it.
Paraguay: Yellow Fever Scare Causing Long Lines
Cases of Yellow Fever have been confirmed in Paraguay, which has caused at least 8 confirmed deaths. This situation is generating a mass panic among the population and long lines are observed in front of health institutions. However, not everybody is so lucky to get vaccinated since there are not enough vaccines left. Here is what some bloggers are saying about the Yellow Fever scare in Paraguay:
Uruguay: Public Smoking Ban, One Year Later
It has been two years since the ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces in Uruguay, and Federico Bertolini of Rincón del Berto [es] writes about some of the conclusions. In the 3,040 inspections, there have only been 70 fines.
Argentina: Bariloche Offline
The city of Bariloche, Argentina was disconnected from the internet for two days. That is what happens, “when the only monopolistic internet provider is down. There is no contigency plan,” writes Fabio.com.ar [es]
Costa Rica: First to Climb Mount Everest
Costa Rica Blogs writes about the first Costa Rican to climb the world's highest mountain, Mount Everest.
Peru: Stray Dogs in Iquitos
Juan Arellanos of Globalizado [es] introduces the organization called Amazon Care, which takes care of stray dogs and attempts to find new homes for them in Iquitos, Peru.
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.
