Stories about Latin America from November, 2009
Ecuador: Technical University in Loja Hosts Campus Congress
The Technical University of Loja, Ecuador will be the host of several days of educational and technological events. One of the organizers is Carlos Correa Loyola, who spoke to Global Voices about the planned activities.
Brazil: Capoeira on the big screen
“It was high time capoeira were represented in the big screen in all its glory”, says Regina Scharf. She talks about a just released movie about the Afro-Brazilian martial art/dance. Watch Besouro's trailler on the Deep Beazil blog.
Colombia: The Tradition of Arepas in the Afternoon
In Colombia, the time between 3 and 6 pm is usually reserved for coffee or hot chocolate along with the typical arepa or other baked goods. This has become a tradition passed on from generation to generation.
Featured Author: Diego Casaes
Diego Casaes is a dedicated Global Voices author and translator from Salvador, Brazil. Much of his writing on Global Voices has spread awareness about legislative threats to online freedom in Brazil, such as the infamous "Azeredo Bill".
Brazil: The loss of a pioneer digital activist
The Brazilian blogosphere is mourning today: the country has lost one of its pioneers digital activists.
Colombia: Tensions and ‘Winds of War’ with Venezuela
As a result of several incidents along the border, tensions have been escalating in the last few weeks between Colombia and Venezuela, two neighboring countries which already have strained relations.
Puerto Rico: Hate Crime Against Gay Teenager Causes Outrage
A horrendous murder has been committed against a gay teenager in Puerto Rico. The LGBT community has demanded that the crime be prosecuted under the Hate Crime Law. Bloggers react to this terrible crime.
Brazil: Do banks have metal or melanin detector doors?
Most banks in Brazil use revolving doors with metal detectors. But are they being used as an excuse to discriminate against people? A citizen media video reveals at least one case.
Puerto Rico: No. 35
Gil the Jenius has something to say about Puerto Rico's #35 ranking on Transparency International's 2009 Corruption Perception Index.
Cuba, U.S.A.: Questions for Obama
Cuba's Generation Y sends a questionnaire to U.S. President Obama “with some of the issues that keep [her] from sleeping” and publishes his responses.
Uruguay: Film About Robots Invading Montevideo
The locally produced short film called Panic Attack! created by Fede Alvarez shows the science fiction story of robots invading the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo. The blog El Bachural [es] enjoyed the short because it showed his city in a different light.
Guatemala: The Streets of the Capital City
The look of the streets of Guatemala City has changed over the past 20 years. The blog Guate en los 80s [es] takes a look at the culture of that decade, and includes this video of a drive through the city and notes the differences to how it appears now.
Guatemala: The Illustrations of Roberto Galvez
The Guatemalan blog Colectiva [es] writes and features modern art around the world, but it also provides special focus on local artists, including Roberto Galvez, whose illustrations were recently featured at the Arte La Fabrica gallery in Guatemala City.
Cuba: Courting Change
“There are a good number of ministers still under sixty, but the largest share of power is concentrated in the hands of septuagenarians and octogenarians”: Cuba's Generation Y suggests these veterans are unable “to hear the new generation knocking at the door, coming like a whirlwind to dismantle everything.”
Colombia: Video interview of 12 year old drug dealer
Giovanni Lopera interviews Jorman, a 12 year old in a Colombian working class neighborhood who tells how he deals drugs to help at home with money, giving half his earnings (6 USD for 6 hours) to his mother. He was kicked out of school when they discovered his illicit activities...
Nicaragua: Farmers express thoughts on Rural Development through video
The Alzar las Voces (Raise the Voices) project in Nicaragua brings farmers in rural communities the possibility to speak out through video telling of their concerns, their projects, their wishes and ideas.
Peru: Air Force Officer Charged with Spying for Chile
Peruvian Air Force Officer Victor Ariza Mendoza was arrested and charged with spying for Chile, which has increased the tension between the two countries, leading some to call for the boycott of Chilean products.
Impact of ICT on Indigenous Cultures: Rejuvenation or Colonization?
Can ICT truly preserve and protect distinct identities and culture? The cultural debate surrounding deployment of ICT in the field of indigenous/ knowledge and culture simply refuses to die down.
Blogger Profiles: Caribé, an incurable idealist and cyberactivist in Brazil
Global Voices Online has interviewed João Carlos Caribé, one of the most influential cyberactivist bloggers in Brazil and the man behind the Mega Não movement, that fights censorship in the Brazilian Internet.
Peru: Blind Lawyer Strives to Be Judge
Peruvian lawyer Edwin Béjar Rojas' goal of becoming a judge had been interrupted by National Council of the Magistracy, who rejected his candidacy because of his visual impairment and refused to give him the test.
Brazil: Was the blackout caused by hackers or UFOs?
See the many conspiracy theories about the 2009 blackout in Brazil: everything from the president, his possible successor, UFOs and hackers have been blamed from one blog to another.
About our Latin America coverage
Melissa Vida is the Latin America Spanish-language editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
Fernanda Canofre is the Brazil editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
