Stories about Latin America from July, 2009
Latin America: Vendors Aboard City Buses
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.
Puerto Rico, B.V.I.: Earthquake
Repeating Islands reports on an earthquake that was felt yesterday in Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands.
Cuba, Jamaica: Film & Music
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.
Democracy Video Challenge Winner Showcase
What is Democracy? That is the question more than 900 participants set out to answer through their videos, in response to the Democracy Video Challenge set up by the US Department of State and many other partners, open for participants from all over the world. Today we show you the winning videos which explain in their own way the phrase Democracy is...
Guatemala: International Book Fair Starts July 24
The 6th International Book Fair will take place in Guatemala City starting on July 24 writes Asato Ma Sat Gamayo [es]. This year's special guests will be authors from Costa Rica.
Peru: Ex-President Fujimori Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison
Peruvian ex-president Alberto Fujimori was sentenced to 7 years in prison for corruption writes César Reyna of Reserva Moral [es].
Peru: The Move of Bolivian Textile Companies
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.
Japan: Internet users in the world
A post [ja] at ideaxidea shows graphs [en] describing the percentage of the world's internet users in 2008.
Colombia: On Independence Day
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
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
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
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...
Nicaragua: Thirty Year Anniversary of Sandinista Revolution
On the 30th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution in Nicaragua, Homero looks back at some of the challenges over the years and the need for a “second revolution, ethical and humanistic [es].”
Cuba: Biscet's Birthday
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.”
Puerto Rico, Bahamas: Education Issues
Puerto Rico's Gil the Jenius and Weblog Bahamas‘ Rick Lowe take issue with the education systems in their respective countries.
Peru: More Conflicts in Cajamarca
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.
Ecuador: National Gathering of HIstorians
The 4th National Gathering of Historians recently met [es] in Manabi, Ecuador writes Joselías Sánchez.
Ecuador: National Day of the Andean Condor
Ecuador recently celebrated the Day of the Andean Condor on July 7 [es]. Fausto Marcelo writes about the symbolic importance that the bird has throughout the region.
Dominican Republic: Wikiproject to Create Content
Leon Taveras has been organizing a Wikiproject via Twitter to help create and improve upon the Wikipedia content relating to the Dominican Republic.
Honduras: 7 Point Document Allows for Zelaya Return
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
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.