Stories about Latin America from February, 2009
Peru: Portrayal of Andean Life in Llosa's Movies
The recent film "The Milk of Sorrow" by Peruvian director Claudia Llosa was recently awarded with the Golden Bear at an international film festival in Berlin. Even though the film has yet to open in Peru, debate has started whether or not Llosa's portrayal of Andean life is accurate or in some cases racist towards the indigenous communities that figure prominently in her movies.
Chile: NGO for Victims of Delinquency Brings Together Citizens
The NGO Víctimas de la Delincuencia [es] (Victims of Delinquency) was created in Chile's capital city of Santiago in 2006 to protect, guide and inform the victims of violence in this city. On their website, citizens have been marking episodes of violence (muggings, assault, robbery, rape and abuse) on a map, uploading videos and testimony of when and how they were victimized. The organization's goal is enable the changing of laws in Chile, which so far, according to Víctimas de la Delincuencia, tend to benefit delinquents instead of their victims.
Colombia: Drawing Attention to the Cause of Minority Groups
Minorities in Colombia, such as indigenous groups, have not been given much importance and Carlos Correa of Palimpsesto [es] suggests that they follow the example of the Cauca indigenous community...
Cuba: Women in Jazz
Havana Times focuses on the contribution of women to Cuban jazz.
Paraguay: Mistake During Her Time as Nanny
L.M. shares her story with Somos Paraguayos [es] about her mistake of stealing from the family she had been working for as a nanny in Miami and the lessons she...
Costa Rica: The Budget for 4 Public Universities Cut
Costa Rican president Oscar Arias recently cut the budget for four public universities and La Foto Salio Movida [es] writes that this will affect scholarships and infrastructure.
Brazil: Blogging from riverside communities in the Amazon
Encouraged by the NGO Saúde e Alegria, youngters from 31 riverside communities in the Amazon are learning the benefits of blogging. Armed with media kits – sound equipment, editorial desks, video equipment and an Internet connection – they have started to show their faces to the world.
Guatemala: President Colom Apologizes for the Bay of Pigs
In preparation for the Bay of Pigs invasion of 1961, the government of Guatemala allowed the CIA to train Cuban exiles on their soil for the operation. Even though the invasion failed, the memory still remains. Nearly 50 years later, the current president Álvaro Colom visited Cuba and took the opportunity to “officially ask Cuba for forgiveness." He also presented former Cuban leader Fidel Castro with the Order of the Quetzal, which is the highest honor given by Guatemala.
Honduras: Zelaya's Drive Around San Pedro Sula
Honduran president Mel Zelaya took a ride around the streets of San Pedro Sula on one of the tractors that were donated by the government of Venezuela writes El Sampedrano...
Palestine: From Gaza to Puerto Rico
Palestinian blogger Laila El-Haddad, currently based in the United States, describes a visit to Puerto Rico to give a talk: “It was clear the people of Puerto Rico were thirsty...
Cuba: “Boring Home”
The book Boring Home, which was banned at the 2009 Havana International Book Fair, is now available on the Internet. Cuban bloggers talk about it here, here and here.
Puerto Rico: Declining Economy
Dondequiera lists ten reasons that Puerto Rico's economy will continue to decline.
Costa Rica: Twitter and Who Wants to be a Millionaire?
Users of the Twitter in Costa Rica have been tuning in to the local version of the television program “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” With the tag #qqsm, they have been microblogging about the program, chatting and discussing the questions and even seeking answers to the questions that stump them.
Costa Rica: Epsy Campbell Seeks Nomination
Epsy Campbell announced her intention to seek the nomination of her political party Partido Acción Ciudadana for the Costa Rican presidential elections and Marco Blanco of ¡Que Clío nos guarde!...
Peru: Blogging From Lower Income Sectors of Society
Dego of Nadie Lee Lo Que Escribo [es] writes about the use of internet especially among the youth in the Peruvian capital of Lima, and about how most access the...
Argentina: Justice for Daniel Jadra
The family of Daniel Jadra has a blog calling for justice [es] in his unsolved murder. Jadra was killed in a robbery attempt in Nequén.
Cuba: Download Nova Baire
Bloggers Cuba [es] provides the link for those interested in downloading the version of Nova Baire, the open-source operating system in Cuba.
Colombia: The Awá Indigenous Community Caught in the Middle
The ongoing conflict deep within the Colombian jungle between the FARC, ELN and the Colombian Armed Forces often finds people caught in the middle. Authorities are investigating the killing of dozens of members of the Awá indigenous community, and are blaming the FARC guerrillas for the crime. Many say that the Awá have been targeted because of the suspicion that they are acting as informants, something which the government denies. Nevertheless, this indigenous group is now being displaced from their land because of the violence.
Argentina: Solidarity with Tartagal
Tartagal is a town in Northern Argentina that suffered flooding due to heavy rains. A group of bloggers created a site of solidarity [es] to collect donations and share information...
Ecuador: Promoting Tourism Through the Use of Social Media
The website Historic Center of Quito [es], which uses social media to promote tourism in the Ecuadorian capital, was recently awarded the “Land of Light” award for its contributions towards...
Chile: Helicopter Accident in Maule
Thirteen people died in a helicopter accident in Chanco located in the Maule region of Chile writes Ignacio Corvera of Maulee [es].
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