· July, 2009

Stories about Latin America from July, 2009

Latin America: Vendors Aboard City Buses

  23 July 2009

The following scene may take place in any number of large cities across Latin America. A person, of any age, man or woman, steps aboard a city bus, provides a brief introduction, thanks the driver for granting permission to board, and then begins to pitch a product to the passengers along for the ride.

Cuba, Jamaica: Film & Music

  22 July 2009

AfriClassical notes that famed Afro-Cuban composer Leo Brouwer has received his country's 2009 National Film Award, while Repeating Islands discovers that the musical based on Jamaican Perry Henzell’s 1972 film The Harder They Come will soon open in Canada.

Peru: The Move of Bolivian Textile Companies

  22 July 2009

Renatto of Real Politik [es] writes about the move of Bolivian textile companies to neighboring Peru to take advantage of its Free Trade Agreement with the United States, after Bolivia was not renewed for the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act.   

Colombia: On Independence Day

  22 July 2009

Alejandro Ángel celebrates [es] the July 20 holiday and criticizes those Colombians who keep “complaining,” while Miguel Olaya writes [es] about the “re-signification” of this patriotic days during president Uribe's administration, and Apolo Duvalis is grateful [es] to Simón Bolívar and his “gang” for achieving the independence from Spain.

Colombia: The Hunt for Pablo Escobar's Hippo

  22 July 2009

There is controversy in Colombia after photos were shown of soldiers surrounding a dead hippopotamus, which had been hunted and killed after being labelled a health risk to local communities. The animal had escaped from the estate of former drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, who had brought its parents to Colombia to show them as "trophies and walking symbols of his power."

Ecuador: Reactions After a Bus Robbery in Guayaquil

  21 July 2009

Crime can be a daily reality for many Ecuadorians, whether it be on the streets or during routine parts of one's day. For blogger José Andrés López Alvarez, he encountered one of these episodes while riding on a bus on the streets of Guayaquil.

Peru: Economic Impact of Canceling Events Due to H1N1 Virus

  21 July 2009

In order to slow down the spread of the H1N1 virus, the Peruvian government is considering canceling events in which a large number of people congregate such as the upcoming military parade. Caviar de Cianuro [es] examines the economic impact such a move would have, especially on walking vendors who...

Cuba: Biscet's Birthday

  20 July 2009

Uncommon Sense marks the 48th birthday of Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet, a political prisoner “who by his example provides the moral leadership needed for that struggle [for freedom] to eventually prevail.”

Peru: More Conflicts in Cajamarca

  20 July 2009

In Peru, Francisco Canaza of Apuntes Peruanos [es] tells the story of two social conflicts in the Cajamarca region. He is concerned about the number of injured as a result of the clashes with the police.

Honduras: 7 Point Document Allows for Zelaya Return

  19 July 2009

Aaron Ortiz of Pensieve [es] writes about the seven-point document written by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, who is acting as a mediator in the Honduras crisis. The terms do not allow for an “unconditional” return of Mel Zelaya, but it allows for him to return as President.

Dominican Republic: The Financial Cost of Undocumented Haitian Immigrants

  19 July 2009

Ever since the Dominican Republic declared independence from Haiti in 1844, the fates of the two have been intertwined. Since economic development in Haiti is low in comparison, approximately 1 million Haitian immigrants have made their way to the D.R. Many are worried about the increasing cost of providing services to undocumented immigrants.

About our Latin America coverage

Gabriela Mesones Rojo
Gabriela Mesones Rojo is the Latin America Spanish-language editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.

Fernanda Canofre
Fernanda Canofre is the Brazil editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.