· February, 2013

Stories about Latin America from February, 2013

Christian Protests Target Puerto Rico's Rising LGBTQ Rights

In the past few weeks various key events have occurred with respect to LGBTQ rights, the most prominent of which may be a demonstration organized by conservative Christian groups called "Puerto Rico Rises Up" to protest against proposed amendments that would extend legal protection to same sex couples in cases of domestic violence.

28 February 2013

Latin America Turns to iPhone App to Take Hammerhead Sharks Off the Chopping Block

Countries across Latin America are on a mission to get hammerheads onto the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) list for protection. They’re armed with a new iPhone app that promises to make fin identification quick and easy. Listing the sharks would help fund financially strapped programs in Latin America and restrict global trade.

28 February 2013

Squatters Call Venezuela's Highrises Home

In Margarita Island, there’s Corocoro, an unfinished apartment block which was under the control of FOGADE (the State’s entity in charge of taking over assets from failed banks) until June...

28 February 2013

VIDEO: In Bolivia, Indigenous Women Draw Society's Short Straw

Marisol, an indigenous Bolivian woman, says that in her country "being an indigenous woman is the worst thing that can happen to you." Her testimony is part of a news report by Mario Munera which explores the lives of Bolivian women in the contexts of education, politics and sexist violence. The report "Women in Bolivia" was published in Periodismo Humano.

26 February 2013

Is Mexico Really “Back in the Game”?

In his latest column, renowned New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman argues that Mexico “will become the more dominant economic power in the 21st century.” Twitter immediately reacted to his...

26 February 2013

Get it Right: “It's Colombia, NOT Columbia”

In an attempt to fix a common spelling error and improve the image of their country, four young Colombian professionals launched the social media campaign "It's Colombia, NOT Columbia." Despite its quick success, the campaign has not been free from criticism.

25 February 2013

Cuban Yoani Sánchez's Arrival in Brazil Makes Noise

Acclaimed Cuban blogger Yoani Sánchez left Cuba this past Sunday for the first time since 2004. Sánchez will visit and speak at universities, NGOs and government forums in Europe, Latin America and the United States. While many voices around the world have expressed joy and excitement about Sánchez’s tour, responses have not all been positive.

24 February 2013

Bolivia's President to Seek a Second (or Third?) Term

After Bolivia's ruling party announced that President Evo Morales will seek re-election in the next president contest scheduled for December 2014, debate ensued over whether his current term counts as his first or second, and whether the country's four-year-old constitution would allow him to run again.

22 February 2013

Ecuador's Political Future After Correa's Reelection

On February 17 Rafael Correa was re-elected as the president of Ecuador. According to the quick count, the ruling party also obtained at least 96 of the 137 seats in the new National Assembly. Bloggers were quick to analyze the political future of Ecuador under a new Correa mandate and a new political force in the role of the opposition.

22 February 2013

A Timeline of Colombian Peace Talks

Adam Isacson has been updating a timeline on the peace talks between the Colombian government and the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia). The timeline includes relevant links with more...

22 February 2013

Yoani Sánchez Divides Opinions on a Visit to Brazil

Cuban blogger Yoani Sánchez was received in Brazil by pro-Cuban government protesters, who accuse her of receiving money from the United States' government and of being a CIA agent. The ones that support the dissident's actions accuse the Brazilian government of collaborating with the Cuban government's repression.

22 February 2013

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.