Stories about Latin America from March, 2008
Brazil: March for the end of the Gaza Strip
“It is said that each Palestinian expelled from their land – and not just since 1948, when it the state of Israel was created – keep a key which they always carry with them. This is not the key for their car, office or a shed lost somewhere between Jordan,...
Brazil: First blogger celebrates 10 years of Lusosphere
“Ten years ago, exactly on March 31, 1998, I was publishing my first blog, the modest Diário da Megalópole [Megalopolis Diary, pt], which was possibly the first blog ever in Portuguese”, remembers Nemo Nox, who still goes strong.
Cuba: Can You Hear me Now?
News that Cubans will now be allowed to buy cell phones has been met with differing reactions by Cuban bloggers…El Cafe Cubano: “Cubans on average earn about $20 a month and cell phones in Cuba are selling for $260 and above. Do the math…”; Uncommon Sense: “I do not begrude...
Jorge Gobbi: Travel Blogs and Experiences From the Road
The grand city of Buenos Aires, Argentina is a favorite destination for many tourists. It is also the home of Global Voices' author for Argentina, Jorge Gobbi, who has been able to combine his love for traveling with blogging about the subject, both personally and professionally. In continuation of the series of Global Voices Online author profiles, Jorge also describes some of his favorite, as well as most unusual experiences while on the road.
Brazil: Blogs banned from the 2008 elections
Brazil is warming up for local elections later this year, but the Supreme Electoral Court has just passed regulations that have raised eye-brows throughout the blogosphere: only candidates' purpose-built web pages will be allowed. Blogs and 'social web' facilities have not been subjected to a more comprehensive legislation and as a result these are now left in limbo. Will the netizen be silenced?
Mexico: Water News
Noticias del Agua [es] is a blog that links to various news articles related to the use and conservation of water, especially in Mexico.
Peru: Two Earthquakes Shake Lima
Juan Arellano of Globalizado [es] reports on this morning's earthquakes in Lima and provides links to what bloggers and users of twitters have been saying.
Chile: Presidential Candidate Set to Back Children's Computer Campaign
Marcelo Trivelli, a pre-candidate for the Chilean presidency, has promised to promote the objectives of the campaign “One Computer Per Child,” [es] writes Luis Ramirez and will appear on TV with the XO computer from the OLPC project.
Peru: Puno Leader Seeking Greater Autonomy for Region
The Regional President of Puno, Hernán Fuentes, has called for increased financial, administrative and political autonomy for one of the poorest regions of Peru. Some local bloggers agree that Puno needs more help in order to combat its high rates of poverty, but wonder whether Fuentes is just following from Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez' playbook, but also note that seeking autonomy is not new within Peru's history.
Cuba, Venezuela: Safety of Journalists
Both Uncommon Sense and Child of the Revolution share their opinions on the President of the Cuban Union of Journalists telling a conference “of left-wing ‘media workers’ in Caracas that there is ‘absolute respect’ for the personal safety of journalists under the Castro regime.”
Jamaica, Cuba: Poetry in Motion
Jamaican Geoffrey Philp blogs about MiPOesias Magazine's newly released issue, which he says “showcases the work of poets of Cuban descent who live in the U.S…no matter the subject, these poems blend the romance and sorrows of the past with a crisp view of daily life.”
Colombia: Contest brings forth multimedia citizen journalists
Contest open for anyone, regardless of nationality, to write, show and create content telling the world about a very special place in Colombia most people wouldn´t normally be aware of. Bloggers and vloggers are already responding, here are examples from the Chocó and Antioquia regions.
Cuba: Verifying Blocked Websites
Yoaní Sanchez of Generación Y [es] in Cuba details which blog and websites are currently being blocked within the island after verifying this fact at a local cybercafe.
Costa Rica: Campaign for Fans of Saprissa
Roy Rojas of News Star [es] writes about a campaign started by fans of the Costa Rican football team Saprissa, who are concerned by the violence and rudeness
Nicaragua: Inflation Difficult for Families
Inflation in Nicaragua, especially in basic goods and electrical energy, is causing distress for families writes Isabel Valdez González of McDonald [es].
Costa Rica: Government Program to Protect Water Resources
Out of Costa Rica [es] salutes the program Bandera Azul Ecológica, which has been in effect since 1996 to protect water resources throughout the country. Communities and beaches receive this accredition from the president after meeting certain standards.
Puerto Rico: Earth Hour
“The aim of the campaign is to express that individual action on a mass scale can help change our planet for the better. Furthermore, it cements the connection between energy usage and climate change, showing that we as broader community can address the biggest threat our planet has ever faced.”...
Brazil: When the justice doesn't get the Internet
Idelber [pt] is finding a new resolution by the Brazilian Superior Electoral Court hard to believe. It rules that any campaign for the 2008 local elections will only be allowed from July 6, even in the Internet. The blogger asks: “If someone decides to campaign for their candidate in his...
Brazil: Listen to Brazil v Sweden in the 1958 World Cup
If you didn't get excited by the Brazil v Sweden friendly match yesterday, Donizetti [pt] has found a link to a moving live radio narration (in Portuguese) of the same confrontation, but in the World Cup in 1958. “Playing were Gilmar, Nilton Santos, Orlando, Bellini, Djalma Santos, Didi, Zito, Zagalo,...
Cuba: Blocking Bloggers
Want to get the Cuban blogosphere talking? Block access to a popular blog. Ever since Cuban authorities did just that to several less-than-supportive Havana-based blogs earlier this week, the blogging diaspora have come out in full support of Cuban bloggers – especially Yoani Sanchez and her popular Generacion Y blog,...
Brazil: Let us be courteous in the blogosphere
Pedro Dória [pt] is aghast with the increasingly aggressive comments in his blog and with no time to moderate them, he proposes the readers help him keeping courteous. “We're not barbarians, we are civilized. This is a democracy. Everyone is welcome no matter their creed, colour, belief, age, sex. In...
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.
