· December, 2008

Stories about Latin America from December, 2008

Burning the Year Away: New Year Traditions

In many South American countries, it has become a tradition to burn human shaped representations of the previous year, as a way to get rid of everything bad that the year brought, and leave way for the new. The following videos show some of these traditions and some of the controversy soome of them have sparked.

30 December 2008

Cuba: Subsidies

As “Raúl Castro reaffirmed the idea of ending subsidies”, Generation Y observes: “Between the symbolic price of a pound of rationed rice, and the enormous ‘slice’ of our salaries taken...

30 December 2008

Venezuela: Casting Doubt on the Cause of Bolivar's Death

Símon Bolívar is a national hero and liberator for many South American countries. In Venezuela, he is especially considered to play an important role in the past and present. Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez began to cast doubts on the true cause of Bolívar's death, which has been to believed to be caused tuberculosis. Now Chávez claims that it was an act of poisoning and has ordered an investigation into the matter, which some Venezuelans are supporting and others say is a waste of resources and time.

30 December 2008

Cuba: Waiting for Cable

The submarine cable linking Cuba and Venezuela has “a vague completion date” of 2011, but Generation Y is clear about “what this projected umbilical cord should bring us.”

29 December 2008

Cuba, U.S.A.: Lifting Limits?

Uncommon Sense links to an article which suggests that US President-Elect Barack Obama seems prepared to lift limits “on how often Cuban Americans can visit family members on the island...

29 December 2008

Paraguay: Literacy Programs To Arrive

After Paraguay president Fernando Lugo attended a celebration in Bolivia, in which it was declared that the country was free of illiteracy, he stated that the Venezuelan and Cuban teachers...

29 December 2008

Guatemala: Violence Continues 12 Years After Peace Accords

Today marks the 12th anniversary of the signing of the Peace Accords that put an end to 36 years of Civil War in Guatemala. In spite of the agreement and an international commission to oversee the process, violence and lawlessness continue to be a part of daily life in the country.

29 December 2008

Global Health: 2008 Blogs In Review

Bloggers in 2008 showed all the ways in which global health is interconnected with other issues, by covering health stories that touched on everything from poverty and women's rights to...

27 December 2008

Americas: A Look Back at 2008

In 2008, the Latin American team from Global Voices helped add context and helped highlight voices of bloggers that wrote about the numerous news stories that took place across the region. From the election of an ex-bishop in Paraguay to the march against the FARC in Colombia, bloggers provided their thoughts on natural disasters, protests, strikes, and important events across the Americas.

26 December 2008

About our Latin America coverage

Melissa Vida
Melissa Vida is the Latin America and Spanish-language editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.

Fernanda Canofre
Fernanda Canofre is the Brazil editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.