· June, 2009

Stories about Ecuador from June, 2009

Ecuador: State Contracts With President's Brother Raise Concerns

  29 June 2009

Contracts between the state petroleum company and several private companies raised some eyebrows when it was discovered that the brother of current president Rafael Correa was a member of some of the private enterprises. Even though Fabricio Correa has been emphatic that the contracts were won legally, it is still causing the government to look bad.

Ecuador: Galapagos Islands Advance in 7 New Wonders Competition

  16 June 2009

Ecuador's Galapagos Islands have advanced to the next round in the online competition for the 7 New Wonders of the World. These islands boast some of the most diverse flora and fauna in the world and has attracted many tourists to the area, along with settlers to take part in this industry. As a result, problems such as overpopulation, excess waste, and the introduction of foreign plants and animals can be found. Ecuadorian bloggers are proud that their territory has made it this far, but hopes that this awareness will bring about better care for the land.

Latin America: The Problem of Child Labor – Part I

  10 June 2009

Child labor is a sad reality in Latin America, and often many residents throughout the region become so used to seeing working children that they don't even realize it. Awareness campaigns and other steps are being taken to change all of this. In observance of the World Day Against Child Labor 2009, which will be held on June 12, members of the Global Voices Latin American team helped to find related blog posts and links about this issue in their own countries for part one in this two part series

Ecuador: Evaluating Public School Teachers

  2 June 2009

The reform of the educational system in Ecuador has been a goal of the current government, and now it has its sights on the performance of the public school teachers across the country. The executive branch has signed a new law requiring all teachers to be evaluated. However, the National Teacher's Union is resisting and has openly defied the order saying that it is not clear whether or not such testing is legal. It has opened up discussion about how to make sure that the children are getting the best quality education from the nation's teachers.