Stories about Colombia from December, 2011
Colombia: Salsa Song Criticizes Bus Rapid Transport System
A salsa song and video documents the suffering that travelling in the Transmilenio public transportation system of Bogota represents for its users.
Latin America: Youth Unemployment
Bloggings by boz looks at youth unemployment in Latin America, concluding that “with growth projections decreased for 2011 and 2012, the current situation for youth unemployment is almost certainly getting worse. That could have major economic, political and social implications moving into 2012.”
Colombia: Christmas for Children at ‘The House of the Hummingbird’
Mike, in his blog about Bogotá, posts pictures of Christmas at La Casa del Colobrí (“The House of the Hummingbird”), which “supports many poor families who live in central Bogotá – in particular families who were displaced when the old Cartucho neighborhood was bulldozed to create the Tercer Milenio Park.”
Colombia: Vigil for the Release of Hostages
On December 23, Las Voces del Secuestro [es] (“Voices of Kidnappings”) called for a ‘great vigil for the release of hostages’ [es], which “has as its main point of concentration the Plaza de Bolivar in Bogota, which for 17 years has received people accompanying relatives of hostages.” Vigils were also...
Colombia's Capital: Dream or Nightmare?
Rodrigo Sandoval reacts to a column in El Espectador [es] where Carolina Sanin says she hates the city where she was born: Bogotá. In his blog [es], Rodrigo refutes Carolina's arguments and explains why, in his opinion, Bogotá is “a dream city”.
Colombia: Professor's Resignation Sparks Debate on Writing
Colombian journalist and university professor Camilo Jiménez sparked an international debate on writing in the digital age, Colombia's higher education system and other related issues after he posted an entry in his blog explaining why he resigned from teaching an editing class after nine years.
Colombia: Interactive Musical Map
David Pescovitz of Boing Boing points us to Soundway's Musical Map of Colombia, an interactive map with videos, sound samples, pictures and details of their latest release of obscure Colombian music.
Latin America: Social Networks Bring Recognition to Primary Recyclers
Using various social media, primary recyclers of Latin America, also known as pepenadores, cartoneros, buzos (waste pickers) or simply recyclers, have joined together in search of social inclusion and formal recognition of their work.
Colombians March Against the FARC and Kidnappings
Netizens used the hashtag #LiberenlosYa [es] (“free them now”) to share opinions and reports on the December 6 nationwide anti-FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) protests where Colombians demanded the release of hostages.
Colombia: Mixed Feelings About Ecotouristic Project
Cineaoloido points us to this documentary [es] on the social and economical impact that the people of Santa Elena near Medellin have experienced since the opening of a massive ecotouristic park in their community.
