Stories about Latin America from April, 2008
Argentina: Suggestion for Charging Monthly Fee at the UBA
The University of Buenos Aires (UBA) is free for its students, but Esteban Grinberg of De Todo Un Poco [es] suggests that a small monthly registration fee should be applied so that improvements can be made to the departments and so that students have greater duty to complete the work.
Bolivia: May 4th Referendum
Miguel Centellas of Pronto* provides an overview of the May 4th Referendum to be held in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
Brazil: Blog gives away tickets to attend to PangeaDay
Victor Vasques [pt] is giving away five pairs of tickets to the PangeaDay event in Rio de Janeiro to readers of Com Limão (With Lemon) blog. Contestants only need to send a video or catchphrase about “I want to attend to Pangea Day” via email and the five best chosen...
Panama: Doing Their Part to Keep the Country Clean
Rosa Ivette applauds and writes about two “heroines” in the community of Clayton, Panama [es] that during their daily walk also help keep the streets clean by picking up trash along their routes.
Ecuador: Joining the Creative Commons Community
The Creative Commons license in Ecuador was recently unveiled at a university in Loja. Many bloggers applaud this iniative and have been quick to adopt these licenses for their own work. In addition, others live blogged the launch event, which celebrated the hard work of all those involved.
PangeaDay: Videos to change the world on May 10th
On May 10th 2008 at 18:00 GMT, 24 films will be broadcast during a 4 hour event. What makes this different is that this event, PangeaDay will be broadcast from six locations worldwide in seven different languages worldwide to be viewed through internet, television or cellphones with one unique purpose: to make each other know about the lives of others and focus on what makes us similar, instead of what makes us different and let us work together towards peace.
Dominican Republic: First Trip on the New Metro
Lara from Blog Santo Domingo [es] recounts her first experience on the new metro in the Dominican capital and that it is not permitted to talk about politics or other controversial topics that may create debate.
Lusosphera: Remembering the Carnation Revolution
On April 25 1974, 34 years today, Portugal's 40-year fascist dictatorship, the longest in the history of Western Europe, came to an end with the Carnation Revolution, which also brought independence for the remaining colonies in Africa and Asia. Today Portuguese speaking bloggers from all over the world comment and celebrate.
Lost Brazilian ballooning priest carried into the blogosphere
This time the story is rather sad, but the blogosphere is exploding with humorous takes on the tragedy of a Brazilian Roman Catholic priest who is missing after drifting out to sea while trying to set a record for a flight using helium-filled party balloons.
Venezuela: Kusturica's Visit Becomes Political
Acclaimed film director Emir Kusturica visited Caracas to close out the week of celebrations for the city with a concert by his No Smoking Orchestra. However, his visit and his concert became overly political when the Serbian filmmaker applauded the Venezuelan government's fight against imperialism during the free event, and at a local conference. Bloggers react to the disorganization of the concert and the political tone of the festivities.
Brazil: Against the slave farms
Luiz Carlos Azenha, from Vi o Mundo [“I saw the world”, in Portuguese], blogs for the approval of the Congress Bill that changes the Brazilian Constitution to allow for the confiscation of private rural lands where the use of slave work is discovered. Azenha says “It's necessary to confiscate the...
Brasil: Alternative (poetic) justice
Hernani Dimantas, from comunix.org [Pt], cheers [Pt] the decision made by a criminal judge in southern Brazil, to exchange the normal penalty to be applied on 3 young Brazilians, accused of commiting internet crimes, by a curious alternative penance: read and review 2 classical Brazilian literature works each trimester. Hernani...
Argentina: Guaraní Youth Join Army
María Florencia Puente of La Misionera [es] writes about Guaraní indigenous youth that recently joined the Argentine Armed Forces. The agreement will help both groups learn from one another.
Chile: Laptop Robberies on Interprovincial Buses
There have been reports of organized bands of criminals that have been preying on laptops in interprovincial buses in Chile writes Maulee [es] and suggests that one does not use laptop bags, rather other less conspicious bags.
Americas: Twin Brothers to Fight for Different Countries in Olympics
Daniel Hernandez of Intersections writes that he will be rooting for twin boxers, who will represent two different countries in this summer's Olympic Games. Javier Molina will represent the United States, and twin brother Oscar will fight for Mexico.
Brazil: Making a child murder into a media show
A child dies under mysterious circumstances. Her father and stepmother are the prime suspects chosen by the media and general public since the beginning, but the official investigations are still under way. Is it fair to lead 160 million people to believe someone is guilty of killing his own daughter before the final official pronunciation on the matter? What is around, and behind, the full time reality-show coverage made by the Brazilian media in cases like this? The Brazilian blogosphere talks.
Brazil: Improving the police by the inside
The Blog da Segurança Pública [“Public Security Blog”, in Portuguese], from Brasília, lists 10 possible and affordable improvements[Pt] that would make Brasília policemen's lives better, thus improving their performance at their work too. The blog reports successful experiences made by the police of other Brazilian states.
Brazil: On the food crises
Matheus Pacini makes available in Portuguese [pt] a translation of The silent tsunami, from The Economist, to support his post about the food crisis.
Ecuador: Tragic Fire in Quito Disco
A tragic fire that killed 15 people in a Quito, Ecuador disco due to the improper use of fireworks indoors. Danny Ayala Hinojosa of El Federalista [es] places blame on the public sector for not enforcing the laws.
Mexico: Sales of Tobacco Products Fell After New Laws
According to a recent survey, cigarrette and other tobacco products sales fell 42% following the passage of new laws prohibiting smoking in public spaces in Mexico, writes Vivir México [es].
Mexico: New Super Tunnel in the Capital
A new super tunnel will be built in Mexico City with a distance of 18 km and for exclusive use of cars, and would supposedly help alleviate traffic. However, México Para Los Mexicanos [es] believes that it will only encourage increased car use and will increase pollution and gridlock.
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