Stories about Latin America from February, 2008
Brazil: Human rights groups united against extermination groups
Vera Mattos [pt] publishes a statement by various human right groups denouncing the work of extermination groups, protesting against the ineffective public security and demanding that the authorities investigate the execution of young, poor black people resident of the outskirts of Salvador, capital of Bahia, Brazil.
Cuba: More Reactions to Castro's Retirement
Four days after Fidel Castro announced that he would not accept another term as a president after almost half a century in power, the Cuban blogosphere continues to be abuzz with the news. Adding to Janine Mendes-Franco's roundup collecting the first reactions after the announcement, here are more reactions from Cuba and abroad.
Brazil: Protesting against public corruption
Blog do Tchôla [pt] has a video and pictures from a massive popular protest on the streets of Maceió, capital of one of Brazil's poorest states. The protest was against the public corruption that has led to R$ 200 million (around US$ 114 million) losses caused by unauthorized, irregular, and...
Brazil: While traditional media deals with lawsuits, blogs report
Two of the biggest media companies in Brazil are currently involved is court cases that similarly raise the issue of freedom of speech and press even though the media finds itself on opposite sides of the issue in the two cases. Blogs are uniquely pointing out the similarity and contradictions revealed by the connectedness of both situations.
Cuba: Stop the Presses?
“Hold the presses, stop the videocameras! The Great Deceiver may have fooled us again”: Review of Cuban-American Blogs wonders whether or not Fidel Castro's resignation should be taken at face value.
Venezuela: Falling Profits for PDVSA
The Venezuelan blog Otra Expresión [es] writes that profits for the state oil company (PDVSA) has fallen in the past year.
Mexico: AOL to Return
Vivir México [es] writes about America Online's (AOL) return to Mexico trying to become major player in that country's internet services. However, it won't be as internet providers or connections, rather through its portal.
Ecuador: Government Declares Emergency Due to Flooding
Many parts of Ecuador are suffering from heavy flooding, which led the government to declare a national emergency. Some bloggers write about what this will mean for those affected and the work by some sectors that prepared themselves for this disaster and states, “it is better to prevent, than to lament.”
Barbados, Cuba: Castro's Legacy
As David Thompson praises the Castro legacy, Barbados Free Press says: “A damned shame. We had hoped for better from the new Prime Minister.”
Africa: Interrogating the blogosphere
Koluki interrogates the blogosphere by looking at the Globl Voices Online coverage of “Portuguese-speaking African countries”: “The most striking observation from this graph is that OC appears not only, as we have seen before, as the “undisputed champion” of GVO reporting about the “Angolan blogosphere”, but also as the “champion”...
Colombia: Witnessing a Murder
Six years later, Catalina Restrepo of Cosas del Alma [es] shares her difficult experience of witnessing a violent murder in her town in Colombia, as she prepared to go to school.
Chile: Participation in OLPC
Educalibre [es] finds the comments of Nicholas Negroponte as curious, in reference to Chile's decision to join the countries that have pursued the One Laptop Per Child project.
Peru: Nude Cyclist Protest
Carlos García of La Cofradía [es] will participate in a gathering of nude cyclists, who will take to the streets on March 8th to protest against “how cyclists are unprotected from the abuses, accidents, and inconsideration from motorists (especially taxis and buses).
Colombia: New Television Channel Zoom TV
Campus Comunicativo [es] writes about a new university television channel called Zoom TV, and lists some challenges, including how much influence will the government have on the message and content.
Caribbean: Castro – End of an Era?
The buzz in the regional blogosphere for the last 24 hours has undoubtedly been the retirement of Cuban leader Fidel Castro after nearly 50 years at the helm of the socialist republic. The announcement hardly came as a surprise, what with the last couple of years of anti-Castro bloggers closely following reports of the leader's deteriorating health and speculating as to whether or not he was even alive.
Egypt: No Change in Cuba
Egyptian blogger Zeinobia comments on the latest news regarding Cuba's strongman Fidel Castro's resignation.
Jorge Jurado Raps About Citizen Media
Jorge is one of about 20 young people in the peripheral working class neighborhood of San Javier La Loma who are using citizen media to rescue the forgotten history of their community. His song “ConVerGentes” which he performed in this video in early January 2008 discusses the potential of using participatory media to rescue the forgotten history and culture of local communities.
Cuba: Castro Steps Down
Cuban bloggers are abuzz with news of Fidel Castro's retirement: Babalu Blog: “My emotions are in turmoil”; Child of the Revolution: “I know that when it comes to Castro, nothing ever is what it seems”; Review of Cuban-American Blogs: “Nothing has changed for him or Cuba”; 1Click2 Cuba: “Monarchs excepted,...
Bolivia: The Real Causes of the Flooding
Bolivida [es], a blog devoted to environmental topics, asks, “What are the causes of the increases in severe floodings, which are affecting thousands of families..?” He points out that some government leaders blaming global warming, but studies by two independent universities are placing blaming on deforestation.
Argentina: Free Hugs in Buenos Aires
La Espada Vengadora [es] announces that the “Free Hugs” campaign will be arriving to Buenos Aires, Argentina on Thursday, and is something must needed in this violent world.
Colombia: Movie About Pablo Escobar
In Colombia, Reticente [es] reviews the latest movie about Pablo Escobar called “Angel or Demon,” and recommends not to take a date because the movie is bad.
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