Stories about Latin America from April, 2009
Caribbean: Keeping Track of Swine Flu
As concerns over the Swine Flu outbreak continue to mount, Caribbean bloggers are educating themselves, just in case...
Honduras: Sailing Through the “Unknown Honduras”
Guillermo Anderson on his blog Bitacora de Honduras [es] take us on a magical trip through the Patuca river and the Atlantic coast of “La Honduras Desconocida” (the Unknown Honduras).
Honduras: Commercial Activity in the 1950s
Mario Perez of Honduras Hoy [es] takes us back in time to the capital city of Tegucigalpa of the 1950s, with photographs and names of businesses that flourished more than a half of century ago.
Puerto Rico: Blog Gathering in Caguas
Michael Castro of Poder 5 [es] announces a blog gathering to take place on May 6 in Caguas, Puerto Rico.
Cuba: Path to the Future
“This little accessory hanging from the hip could well come to be all the newspapers we lack at the kiosks”: Cuba's Generation Y has faith in the potential of SMS to be a reliable source of information.
Ecuador: President Correa Wins Reelection
With the majority of votes counted, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa appears to be headed towards re-election without the necessity of a run-off. His party, PAIS Alliance, also captured the majority of seats in the National Assembly giving it increased power in the country. However, there are a lot of still unresolved problems facing the nation, and Correa hopes his "21st Century Socialism" will help address these issues.
Mexico and Hong Kong: Fears over the fatal swine flu virus
I know I cannot affect your decision, but I understand your feeling at this moment as we are all Hong Kong people now on exchange in Mexico…..I really believe….we should leave now!!
Hungary, Bolivia: Eduardo Rózsa-Flores
Hungarian Spectrum writes about Eduardo Rózsa-Flores and the alleged plot to kill Bolivia's president – here, here, and here. (An earlier GV post on Rózsa-Flores, by Eduardo Avila, is here.)
Caribbean: When Pigs Fly?
The idiom "when pigs fly" is not a popular one in the Caribbean these days as regional bloggers, like the rest of the world, keep a close eye on the Swine Flu threat.
Cuba: Right to Travel
“Hasn’t it been said already—by enough voices—that the requirement for permission to leave and enter Cuba has to be repealed?”: Generation Y wants to know “What more has to happen to stop them from hijacking this right from us?”
Venezuela: How Children Show Their Community Through Photography II
Children can often be the most vulnerable members of refugee communities. The group Ancla2 is working to provide more opportunities to these children through a photography and creative writing workshop in a community called El Nula along the Venezuelan-Colombian border teaching them how to appreciate the details of daily life and to communicate that through images and text.
Peru: Newspaper Mocks Indigenous Congresswoman's Spanish Language Proficiency
Isabel Guerra writing at Living in Peru provides an overview of a recent case of discrimination and racism by the local newspaper “Correo” for mocking the the indigenous congresswomen Hilaria Supa for her poor proficiency of Spanish. When in fact, she never attended school and Spanish is her second language. Others...
Honduras: No Cases of Swine Flu Yet
No cases of the swine flu have been reported in Honduras, but with suspected illnesses in neighboring Guatemala, Leonidas Mejia of Janpedrano Blog [es] writes that it may be a matter of time that it reaches his country.
Ecuador: Reminiscing About Guayaquil
Raul Farias of Al Lado del Camino [es] takes some friends on a tour of the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador and reminisces about his days as a child in the neighborhood of Las Peñas.
Brazil: Fly me to the moon with public money
Another scandal has taken the Brazilian blogosphere by storm – it has come to light that public money is being used to fund holidays abroad for parliament members and their family, friends and acquaintances. As bloggers report, it seems that an even bigger scheme to resell unused air ticket is to be exposed.
Cuba: Strike of the Period?
Cuba's ration market for feminine hygiene products is not always reliable, prompting Generation Y to envision “a ‘Strike of the Period,’ a massive protest marked by the ovulation cycle.”
Mexico: Trying to Lighten the Mood About Swine Flu
Even with the international concern over the health emergency of the swine flu, a Mexican band called Agrupación Cariño is trying to lighten the mood with a song called “The Flu Cumbia” as mentioned by Panamérika Blog [es].
Mexico: Update on Swine Flu Outbreak
“The Infection is Fear” is the title of a regularly updated post on his blog Intersections about the outbreak of swine flu in Mexico City.
Global Health: Swine Flu Threat Spreads Worldwide
Confirmed or suspected cases of swine flu, which was detected in Mexico earlier this month, have now been found in at least seven other countries around the world. The World Health Organization says that this outbreak constitutes a "public health emergency of international concern."
Ecuador: The Departure of a Television Anchor
In the middle of a tense election season in Ecuador and with the general elections scheduled for April 26, a popular television journalist was fired by the Ecuavisa [es] station. The decision to fire Carlos Vera has opened the debate whether journalist can indeed by partisan and favor one side...
Mexico: Concern Over Swine Flu Outbreak
Mexican health officials have become concerned with an outbreak of swine flu, which has caused the deaths of 68 in Mexico City, and another 1,000 have fallen ill. The outbreak prompted the closure of schools and the cancellation of many cultural events. On the streets of the capital, residents are taking precautions to avoid the virus and others are waiting to see if it spreads.
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.
