Stories about Latin America from November, 2008
World AIDS Day: Blogging Positively
This year marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day, which takes place every year on December 1. Though the impact of HIV and AIDS is felt by millions of people globally every day, this particular day can help bring much-needed attention to the disease. The theme for this year's...
Brazil under flood: Bloggers form solidarity networks
While mainstream media was first slow to report news of the grave floods that have devastated the south of Brazil and then sensationalized the tragedy, bloggers responded by creating a network of support. This post explores the difference in the approaches between conventional media professionals and amateur and freelancer produced news blogs.
Mexico: High Service Fees for Radiohead Tickets
In Mexico, there are complaints regarding the high Ticketmaster service fees tacked on to the price of Radiohead tickets for the concerts to be held in Mexico City in March 2009 writes El Nahual of México Para Los Mexicanos [es].
Costa Rica: Electronic Waste Pick-Up
The Q-dra project is launching a campaign to collect electronic waste, such as old computers and televisions in San José, Costa Rica writes Bloqueverde [es].
Bolivia: Used Batteries End Up in Regular Landfill
The city of Cochabamba launched a campaign to collect waste, such as used batteries which were supposed to be disposed of properly, but Gustavo Cardoso of Observancia [es] notes with pictures that they ended up in the regular landfill defeating the purpose.
Colombia: Pitching In for Suso
Xady of Expresate [es] provides the latest update on the campaign in the Medellín, Colombia neighborhood of La Loma, where local bloggers from the Convergentes project are pitching in to build a house for one of their community members, Suso.
Cuba: Youth Activist Jailed
Diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense highlights the plight of a Cuban youth activist who “was sentenced this week to 3 years in prison for ‘offenses against authority.'”
Puerto Rico: Status Quo?
“Our struggle for self-determination, to be free from outside impositions, is ideological and it is not what's best for the majority of the people who live here”: Gil the Jenius answers some tough questions about Puerto Rico's status.
Haiti, Venezuela: Chavez's Change
The Haitian Blogger believes that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is the driving force behind “a global change agenda that gives voice to the poor and dispossessed.”
Cuba: Indebted
“If Cuba was a household, the repo man would have been sent in a long time ago”: Child of the Revolution examines Cuba's balance sheet.
Nicaragua: Post-Election Violence and Accusations of Fraud
After the municipal elections on November 9 in Nicaragua, there were conflicting claims of victory by the ruling Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) led by President Daniel Ortega and the Liberal Constitutionalist Party. The opposition accused the FSLN of massive election fraud and which resulted in street demonstrations, protests and clashes between the two groups. Nicaraguan bloggers provide their thoughts on the post-election atmosphere.
Cuba: Castro & Penn
American actor Sean Penn's interview with Raul Castro is being widely commented on by Cuban bloggers: Child of the Revolution, The Cuban Triangle and Havana Times.
AIDS awareness through video
HIV/AIDS is a World-Wide pandemic which has been decimating the lives of men, women and children for more than 20 years. Today we bring you videos that discuss HIV/AIDS in its different aspects: how to live with it, protect yourself from it and how to raise awareness to the cause. From Cameroun, an award winning song about AIDS, from Argentina, a campaign that is not afraid to tell youth what a condom is and how to use it, and from Beijing, a video on discrimination, living with it AIDS and the strength to make the condition public.
Paraguay: Summer Visits to San Bernardino
The Paraguayan town of San Bernardino attracts many visitors especially during the summer holidays. Mirtha González Schinini of Cuerpo y Alma [es] writes about some of the activities that can take place under the sunshine.
Ecuador: Christmastime for the Saraguro
Angel Gualan provides descriptions on how the indigenous group of the Saraguros celebrate Christmas in the Loja region of Ecuador [es]. Much of it sits on the shoulders of the “Marcantaitas” who are the “owners” of the feast and makes sure everything turns out fine.
Bolivia: One Year Since Sucre Conflict
It has been one year since Bolivians confronted one another in the capital city of Sucre. Ciudad de Patas [es] remembers the fallen.
Brazil: Over 80 deaths in the worst environmental tragedy
Over 80 people have been killed in landslides and floods caused by heavy rain in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, and the death toll is rising by the minute, as rescue workers sift through the wreckage of the flooding that started at the weekend.
Venezuela: Jose Ignacio Cabrujas and His Mark on Society
One of the great Venezuelan critics provided thoughts on daily life. However, since his passing, many are left wondering what he would have said about the events of today. Jose Ignacio Cabrujas, was a well-known playwright, director, and even transformed Venezuelan soap operas into social commentary that used many well-known literary works.
Cuba: To Choose
“First there were the elections in the United States and now the issue has been revived with what happened on Sunday in Venezuela. It’s as if at the end of the year everything conspires to remind us of our condition as non-electors, our limited experience in deciding who leads us”:...
Chile: Construction of a Zoo in Curicó
Marcelo Aliaga of Bloggeando la Vida [es] opposes the construction of a zoo on the Condel Hill located in Curicó, Chile. He believes that the construction would not be a creative alternative to help promote tourism.
Guatemala: 3,000 XO Computers to Be Donated
Three thousand XO computers will be donated to the Guatemalan government for distribution to schoolchildren through the offices of the Ministry of Education and the Secetariat of Social Works of the First Lady, writes Interactiva Web [es].
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.
