Stories about Latin America from April, 2009
Brazil: Judges quarrel live on TV and scandalize the country
The live broadcast of a fight between two judges of the Brazilian Supreme Court (STF) has scandalized Brazilians and excited the blogosphere and social networks across the country.
Mexico: Cancellation of Important Football Matches Due to Swine Flu
Esta Maraña de Contradicciones [es] writes that she is worried about the swine flu spread in Mexico City because two important football matches were cancelled. Considering how important the sport is to many, then the problem must be very serious.
Peru: Road Blockades in San Martín Region
The Blog de Ideeleradio – Red Nacional informs about the road blockade protests by 7,000 members of indigenous communities in the cities of Tarapoto and Yurimaguas. They say that they are protesting against government measures that will violate their right to stay on their land.
Mexico: Face Masks to Prevent Spread of Swine Flu
Face masks are being distributed in some Metro stations in Mexico City to prevent the spread of swine flu write Jessica Uribe of Vivir México [es].
Puerto Rico: Indigenous Summit
The Voice of the Taino People Online says that a delegation of Caribbean Indigenous Peoples is speaking out on climate change at the Indigenous Peoples Global Summit.
Cuba: Female Political Prisoner Released
Diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense reports that “perhaps the best known female political prisoner in Cuba” has been released.
Bolivia: Popular Sayings in Aymara Language
Nancy Condori of El Chairo [es] provides examples of popular sayings in the Aymara language.
Cuba, U.S.A.: What Next?
“After a week in which President Obama announced new Cuba policy measures and discussed Cuba policy at the Trinidad summit,” The Cuban Triangle asks: “Where do things stand?”
Guatemala: Collaborative Publishing of the Book TRANS 2.0
In celebration of World Book Day, Guatemalan author and blogger Julio Serrano asked 50 of his friends and readers to publish different parts of his book TRANS 2.0 on their blogs. This new publishing project brings together enthusiasts of literature from all over the world to participate in this open license initiative.
Mexico: Zona Maco Art Fair
Zona Maco is Mexico City's annual art fair begins this week and Daniel Hernandez of Intersections has options for the various activities taking place.
Ecuador: Animal Protection in Loja
The Ecuador Animal Protection was created in Loja to protect and defend animals from abuse and mistreatment writes Voces Lojanas [es].
Nicaragua: Protesting Flor de Caña Rum For Poor Working Conditions
Groups are protesting the Pellas company, which produces the Flor de Caña rum in Nicaragua because of the health problems reported by its workers said to have been caused by the pesticides used. Barricada [es] posts videos of some of these protest and speeches by some of the movement's leaders.
Ecuador: Introducing the Presidential Candidates
Inka Art [es] introduces the presidential candidates in the upcoming Ecuadorian elections.
MENA: Reflections on Durban II
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech, and the way European Union representatives reacted to it at the United Nations Conference on Racism in Geneva (Durban II), has stirred debates among bloggers across the Middle East. Eman AbdElRahman sums up reactions in this post.
Brazil: Judicial decisions, a growing threat to online freedom
When it comes to freedom on the Internet, Brazil is a free country according to recent report. However, bloggers face a growing threat from judicial decisions leading to content censorship and the risk of prosecution for libel and defamation. News of blogs being closed down, bloggers having to delete posts or receiving threats abound, appearing on a near monthly basis.
Trinidad & Tobago: Summit Thoughts
From Trinidad and Tobago, The Undisputed Truth claims that “even Fidel Castro thinks the Summit was too expensive”, while Barbados-based B.C. Pires is experiencing the “post-Summit blues”.
Cuba: The Outside World
“The Summit of the Americas ended yesterday and it doesn’t appear that an urgent meeting of parliament…is being convened to discuss the proposals made by Obama”, writes Cuba's Generation Y, adding: “I can’t help asking myself, then, if all this ‘olive branch’ and the willingness to touch on broad themes,...
Mexico: The San Juan Market in the Capital
Lesley Téllez of the Mija Chronicles documents a visit to the Mercado San Juan, one of the oldest markets in Mexico City, where among the items she saw were fried grasshoppers, ant eggs, sharks, ducks and skinned baby goats.
Paraguay: Open-Source Software Festival
Guri of Paseando con Guri [es] writes about the upcoming open-source software installation festival to be held across Paraguay on April 25.
Cuba: Open Letter About the Relationship with the United States
Bloggers Cuba [es] writes an open letter regarding the differences between Cuba and the United States and hopes that change can happen now with the hope that both countries’ leaders “establish a sincere dialogue soon” and that “we need to look ahead, together.”
Cuba: National Football Team to Skip Gold Cup
Even though it qualified, the Cuban national football team will not participate in the Gold Cup to be held in the United States in July because of “technical and organizational” reasons according to the Association, writes Miguel Gómez of Mi Columna Deportiva [es]. However, one commenter notes that the reason...