Stories about Latin America from April, 2007
Getting to Know Global Voices’ Latin America Team
Some of the very best weblogs from around Latin America hardly ever receive mention on Global Voices. That's because their authors are also contributors here and spend most of their time drawing your attention to others' posts. Well, it's long past time to highlight their personal creativity and boundless enthusiasm for new media in Latin America.
Colombian blogosthing reacts to the new concept of BlogTV
The Medellín blogosphere experienced a communal "what the ?" about 3 weeks ago, when we discovered that a new TV show about blogging would premiere. Blogger reaction was mixed to say the least.
Peru: What Didn't Fit in Print
Freelance reporter C. J. Schexnayder paddled deep into the heart of the Peruvian rain forest to profile indigenous rights activist Julio Cusurichi for the San Francisco Chronicle. In his Klephblog, he writes that, “there is a lot more to this story than what I was able to fit in the...
Panama: Effects on Food from Free-Trade Agreement
The Boquete Guide does not think that the major consequence of the new Free-Trade Agreement with the US will be lower safety standards from import food, but rather the higher food costs for Panamanians and increased unemployment of local farmers.
Colombia: Al Gore's Snub
President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia has been attracting a lot of criticism for his alleged ties with paramilitary forces in his country. Because of these unclear links, former U.S. Vice-President Al Gore officially dropped out of an environmental conference where Uribe would be in attendance. The Colombia Herald writes about...
Bolivia: Restrictions on the Import of Used Clothing
Beginning on April 21, the Bolivian government placed restrictions on the import of used clothing. After an agreement was reached with this sector, the deadline soon passed much to the pleasure of national companies that produce new clothing. Mario Duran of Palabras Libres [ES] speculates that the deadline will not...
El Salvador: Poet of the Revolution, Roque Dalton
Tim Muth of Tim's El Salvador Blog introduces us to Salvadoran poet, Roque Dalton, who devoted his life to the overthrow of the ruling oligarchy. In addition to links to essays about this literary intellectual, Muth's article summarizes the events that led to his eventual death at the hands of...
Mexico: What's the Reason for the Stable Exchange Rate?
Boz notices that the currency exchange of Mexico peso to the US dollar has remained stable during the past two years at a rate of 11 to 1. He wonders whether this is an unofficial policy set by the Central bank or if there is some other explanation.
Bolivia: Interview With El Alto Blogger Mario Duran
The city of El Alto is not known for blogging. For starters, internet access is scarce and expensive, while citizens seem to have different priorities. Many who do have internet access have yet to discover the value of expressing themselves via blogs. Mario Duran is a blogger that wants to set out to change all that. In this recent interview, he discusses his entry to the Bolivian blogosphere and his plans to reach out to others.
Colombia: Putumayo YouTube Videos
“In early 2004, colleagues at the Colombian human-rights group MINGA gave us a very interesting, and potentially useful, CD. It contained several videos of interviews with peoplein the southern Colombian department of Putumayo – farmers, indigenous leaders, teachers, health workers, alternative-development workers, a mayor. MINGA gave us the CD three...
Peru: Peruvian Student Killed in VT Massacre
Peruvian bloggers have been mourning the loss of Daniel Pérez Cueva, a Peruvian student who was killed in the Virginia Tech shooting. The party blog of the Popular American Revolutionary Alliance blog says that Perez Cueva studied International Relations [ES] and links to an audio interview with the victim's mother....
Mexico: PEMEX Missing Oil and Money
Mark in Mexico takes a look at how state-owned PEMEX's latest audit reveals billions of missing pesos along with 1.5 million barrels of missing oil.
Mexico: The MEX Files
Blog presenter extraordinaire, Ellen Fields, introduces The MEX Files [ES]: “Sometimes there are great articles from Spanish-language newspapers translated into English for your reading pleasure (Richard is a translator for a living). Sometimes, a history lesson. Sometimes, a rant. You just never know what you are going to get with...
Brazil: Federal Police Go On Strike
Sao Paulo-based Ricardo Carreón on Brazil's federal police strike.
Chilean Love Poetry Online
Love is one of the universal languages. One of the Chilean poets who wrote poems about love was Pablo Neruda. Not only do Chilean bloggers have Neruda’s romantic prose in their digital DNA, but so do bloggers around the world. Here is a selection of Pablo Neruda’s poetry that has spread throughout the net.
Cuba: Cousins Make Dozens
“I think it’s a given that if you’re Cuban, you’ve got a cousin (or twelve) somewhere,” writes Babalu Blog. “Along those same lines, there is no way you can mention ‘Ropa Vieja’ without someone inevitably bringing up its first cousin, ‘Vaca Frita’. See? We even do it with food!” Posted...
From Uruguay: Thunderstorms in Uruguay
Gabo of From Uruguay posts an incredible photograph of Tuesday's thunderstorms taken by his friend, Tali.
Venezuela, Zimbabwe: Stock Markets
Miguel Octavio takes a look at what the Venezuelan and Zimbabwean stock markets and inflation rates have in common. Oil Wars, however, writes: “Now, we needn’t focus on the exact number and percentages, they may well overstate poverty somewhat. Yet the dramatic trend can’t be missed. Venezuela went from a...
Panama: Rob Rivera and Facebook
Panamanian blogger Rob Rivera on his love affair with Facebook.
Colombia: Five questions on the ELN deal
Boz puts out five questions on the ongoing peace negotiations between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the Colombian government. Adam Isacson has more.
Colombia: The disappointing debate on paramilitarism in Antioquia
Yesterday finally the long awaited “debate” on paramilitarism in Antioquia department, where President Álvaro Uribe was born and was Governor from 1995 to 1997, was held at the Colombian congress. There was a lot of interest on the topic, because opposition senator and former M-19 guerrilla leader Gustavo Petro had said he would reveal a list of 2,000 figures allegedly involved with paramilitarism.
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