Stories about Latin America from May, 2008
Brazil: Visible and Invisible Indians and Scoops
Brazilian Indians were in the spotlight of world media this week. From the images of an uncontacted tribe in the Amazon, to the enraged protest caught on camera against the building of dams along the Xingu River in the Amazon basin where an official of Brazil’s national electric company got slashed by traditional machetes and clubs.
Brazil: PeBodyCount joins Brazilian Disarmament Network
PEBodyCount blog [pt] is now officially a member of the “Brazilian Disarmament Network”, which brings together more than 40 entities. “The network will stimulate and strengthen the idea that carrying guns is risky and, hence, handing them over is better than registering them.” Also check out these t-shirts, that have...
Brasil: Introducing the Bloguecast
Technology that brings people and generations together and censorship were among the themes of the first edition of Bloguecast, a podcast promoted by BlogueIsso [pt]. “The idea is to make a episode per week, perhaps not as long, with an improved edition by the experience. Listen, join the fun and...
Colombia: FARC Leader “Sureshot” is Confirmed Dead
After countless false claims of the death of the FARC's top leader Manuel Marulanda Vélez aka "Sureshot," the Colombian government confirmed that he passed away in March of natural causes. Colombian bloggers were quick to react and provide their thoughts on what this means for the future of the guerrilla group, the future presidential elections, and Sureshot's legacy.
Brazil: Struggling to deliver the deeper messages
“It's incredibly interesting to see how differently the same event can be reported. That was certainly the case last week when the Indians gathered to protest the building of dams along the Xingu River in the Amazon basin”. Lou Gold takes a look at the Brazilian mainstream media and compares...
Peru: Café Tacuba in Lima
Laslo Rojas of Sintonizando [es] posts videos and photos of the recent concert by the Mexican band Café Tacuba in Lima, Peru.
Puerto Rico, U.S.A.: Imagine That Conversation
Puerto Rican blogger Liza asks: “Can you imagine having to talk to your kids about the potential assassination of their father?”, adding: “What people don't get is how deep the wounds of political and social violence run in this country. To have people like Hillary Clinton dismiss political assassination as...
Bolivia: Bloguivianos 2008 Website
The organizers of the 2008 version of the Bloguivianos bloggers conference recently launched their website [es]. The 2nd annual Bolivian bloggers conference will take place over two days in El Alto and La Paz on August 29-30.
Guatemala: Animal Del Monte Festival in Xela
Quetzaltenango or "Xela" was the site of an international poetry festival called Animal del Monte, which brought 40 poets from around Latin America. A big part of the festival was reaching out to surrounding communities by holding readings to local residents. The festival also highlighted the work of Guatemalan poets, who demonstrated that many fine works come from that country.
Argentina: Commemoration of the Cordobazo
Argenautas [es] commemorates 39 years since the “Cordobazo” in the Aregentine city of Córdoba which featured, “the largest mobilization of workers and students and marked the beginning of the end of the dictatorship of Juan Carlos Onganía.”
Bolivia: Blog for Camiri
Camiri Digital [es] is a new blog for residents of Camiri, a Bolivian town in the southeastern part of the country. It also helps unite those residents who now live in different parts of Bolivia, as well as those living abroad.
Paraguay: The Creation of a People's Union
Edgar Ruiz Díaz of Las Preguntas de Venerando [es] writes about the change in power in Paraguay, and how many public workers will now try to convince the new administration that they belong. He also suggests the creation of a “People's Union,” which will help control the public administration.
Nicaragua: A Closer Look at a Government Program for Microloans
The governmental program called Usura Cero provides low interest rate loans to Nicaraguan women for their micro-businesses. It was recently featured on an investigative news program and a local blogger provides in-depth thoughts on the success of the program.
Peru: Rate of Poverty Reduction Difficult to Believe
Juan Sheput of Mate Pastor [es] and other analysts are doubting the Peruvian National Statistic and Information Institute's announcement that poverty has decreased 5.2% over the course of the past year. Among some of the reasons why this figure seems too high is the “inequality, poor administration of social programs,...
Nicaragua: Chacón Wins National Poetry Prize
Sergio Simpson congratulates Nicaraguan poet Ninozka Chacón for being awarded the 2008 National Poetry Prize, “Mariana Sansón.” [es]
Argentina: 400 New Courses to Be Offered at Cultural Centers
The Argentine Ministry of Culture has announced that 400 additional new courses, such as drama, tango and photography will be offered at neighborhood cultural centers in Buenos Aires, wries Argentina Travel Guide.
Costa Rica: Local Film on YouTube
Cristian Cambronero of Fusil de Chispas [es] writes about the short film called Rápido y Engañado (Fast and Fooled) which has been posted on YouTube and has been one of the most widely viewed videos produced in Costa Rica.
Cuba: Free Speech?
Child of the Revolution sees the irony of the editor of Granma calling for a further restriction on freedom of speech laws in Cuba: “Instead of demanding greater freedom of speech – as any half-decent editor would – Barredo is demanding that the existing laws be tightened further so the...
Peru: Andean Film Conference in Arequipa
Gabriel Quispe of Cinencuentro [es] provides information regarding the next Andean Film Conference to be held in Arequipa May 29-31. The gathering will show examples of “the regional filmmaking, where long and short films will be shown, and there will be discussions regarding the expressive and technological aspects of film.”
Honduras: Peace Rally Followed by Riots
Aaron Ortiz of Pensieve posts a video of a peace rally in the Honduran city of San Pedro Sula, which was ironically followd by riots in the capital city of Tegucigalpa over a demand by bus drivers to increase fares due to higher fuel prices.
Ecuador: Tungurahua Volcano Increases Activity
The Tungurahua volcano in Ecuador has been more active in the past few weeks writes La Voz de Guamote [es].