· June, 2012

Stories about Latin America from June, 2012

Cuba: Clicking Towards the Future

  30 June 2012

Havana's recently concluded Festival Clic, which was designed to discuss Internet and Society in Cuba, has got several bloggers talking about technology and the role it can play in the country's future.

Colombia: When the Dead Belong to the Upper-Class

  30 June 2012

At Hoja Blanca, Lucas Urdaneta refers to the so-called Colmenares Case (the murder of a student of the University of the Andes which has received a lot of media coverage in Colombia), and wonders [es] what happens when victims don't belong to the privileged classes. He adds that, given the...

Ecuador: #LoxaEsMas, Ideas that Generate Change

  29 June 2012

#LoxaEsMas ("Loja is more") is an initiative that intends to create new ways to report problems in Loja, Ecuador, by using technology as the main tool. This initiative also strives to find practical solutions to improve the city.

Puerto Rico: Francheska Duarte's Case Causes Outrage

  27 June 2012

The young mother Francheska Duarte was run over and later abandoned in an emergency medical centre by her ex-boyfriend. The judge presiding over the case found Francheska's former boyfriend Jorge Ramos guilty only of the less serious misdemeanor. The decision has caused an outrage in the island.

Bolivia: Tensions Rise as Police Mutiny Continues

  26 June 2012

A police mutiny is into its sixth day in Bolivia as low-ranked policemen are demanding levelling up their wages to the same amount military officers currently earn. Violent demonstrations occurred in the country's main cities, even reaching the square right in front of the Presidential Palace. As negotiations are still underway, Bolivia's cities remain without guard or police assistance for the sixth day.

El Salvador: Citizens of Mejicanos Protest Construction of Walmart Store

  26 June 2012

Voices from El Salvador reports: “This past Thursday civil society organizations, international solidarity groups, students, and community associations came together to protest the construction of a mega Walmart store in Mejicanos, a municipality in northern San Salvador.” In a stament, organizers say that communities must be consulted about these projects.

Puerto Rico: Women and Cyberactivism

  25 June 2012

The feminist coalition Coordinadora Paz para la Mujer has convened people to send contributions (in Spanish) for the next edition of their magazine, which will be dedicated to cyberactivism and feminism. Deadline is July 16, 2012.

Puerto Rico: Indie Music Coming Soon

  25 June 2012

The music blog Puerto Rico Indie announces [es] it's next edition of the video series Archipiélago, in which the bands Las Robertas from Costa Rica and Dávila 666 from Puerto Rico will be performing. Stay tuned.

Cuba: Papal Mass Dissident Still Protesting

  25 June 2012

Pedazos de la Isla reports that “Andrés Carrión Álvarez, the Cuban who shouted ‘Down with Communism’ during the papal mass in Santiago de Cuba this past March…is still on hunger strike.”

Brazil: Fortaleza City Dwellers Demand Liberation of Green Area

  25 June 2012

Inspired by the massive “Veta, Dilma” campaign to protect the Brazilian forests, Fortaleza city dwellers launched “Libera, Luizianne“ urging Mayor Luizianne Lins to free a green area for the creation of Rachel de Queiroz Park [pt]. On June 24, supporters planted wooden crosses on the site, symbolizing the death of...

Brazil: Anti-Corruption Bill Revoked

  24 June 2012

The Brazilian anti-corruption bill known as Ficha Limpa (No Criminal Record), had its immediate effect revoked by the Supreme Federal Court with 6 votes against 5, as Marcos Bahé, from the blog Acerto de Contas, informs [pt].

Brazil: Second Round of Occupy Belo Monte Started

  24 June 2012

Marcelo Salazar, a Brazilian engineer who works for the [river] Xingu Program of the Instituto Socioambiental, posted on Facebook a series of photos from the second round of “occupy” Belo Monte, which started on June 22, 2012, in the construction site of the hydroelectric power plant.

Puerto Rico: Impunity Island

  24 June 2012

Blogger Ed Morales comments on recently released American Civil Liberty Union's (ACLU) report (PDF) on police brutality in Puerto Rico: “The report echoes a previous, scathing one on police brutality and abuse of civil rights in Puerto Rico released last September (PDF) by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), which put the island commonwealth’s...

Puerto Rico: Goodbye, Mara Negrón

  24 June 2012

The digital magazine 80 Grados dedicates [es] it's edition to scholar and professor of the University of Puerto Rico Mara Negrón, 51, who died in Paris due to a very recently diagnosed leucemia.

Peru: Amazonian Indigenous Communities Protest Against Oil Pollution

  23 June 2012

The announcement that hydrocarbon reserves currently used for oil drilling will be put up for auction has put the people of the indigenous communities of the Pastaza river, in the Peruvian Amazon, on alert. For years, these indigenous communities have been condemning the effects of pollution on their ancestral lands and on themselves.

Paraguay: President Fernando Lugo is Removed from Office

  22 June 2012

As we reported earlier, the Paraguayan Senate voted to impeach President Fernando Lugo. Netizens have been actively reacting to today’s developments; while some defend this impeachment process as legal and constitutional, others are denouncing a coup.

Paraguayan Senate Ousts President Lugo

  22 June 2012

On Friday, June 22, the Paraguayan Senate voted in favor of removing President Fernando Lugo from office. Lawmakers brought President Lugo to an impeachment trial after 17 people died in a land dispute last week. Netizens followed the trial throughout the day, posting their impressions and reactions on Twitter using...

About our Latin America coverage

Gabriela Mesones Rojo
Gabriela Mesones Rojo is the Latin America 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.