Stories about Latin America from April, 2010
Costa Rica: Clashes Over Autonomy on UCR Campus
On April 12, 2010, Costa Rican police officers arrived to the University of Costa Rica to detain a campus transit officer, accused of corruption. However, members of the university community said that this attempted arrest goes against the university's status of autonomy, which led to clashes.
Brazil: Blogging Against ACTA
Brazilian cyber-activist João Carlos Caribé calls on bloggers [pt] for a mass blogging against the ACTA (Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement). According to the EFF, the ACTA text will be made public this Wednesday, April 21.
Cuba: Hunger Strikers
El Cafe Cubano links to a story which claims that imprisoned hunger striker Guillermo Fariñas is close to death, while Uncommon Sense reports that yet another Cuban political prisoner has started a hunger strike.
Peru: Lima Residents Run to Raise Awareness for Water Issues
On April 18, 2010, residents of Lima participated in the Dow Live Earth Run for Water, a 6-km run/walk, which represents the average distance many women and children walk every day to secure water and raised awareness about the serious water issues facing Peru.
Venezuela: Community Theater Addresses Urban Realities
Nuevo Circo Artístico is a Venezuelan project that uses community theater to engage youth in Caracas to explore the realities of their urban surroundings.
Nicaragua: The Uses of Twitter
Juan Ortega is launching a survey to examine how Nicaraguans use Twitter [es].
Uruguay: Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Verdún Shrine
Uruguayans participate annually in a pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Verdún in the town of Minas, and 2010 marks 109 years since the faithful have been making the journey [es]. Estela of the blog Abre Cabezas [es] also posts photos and videos [es] of a previous visit.
Chile: Controversial Use of Popular Song in TV Commercial
In Chile, a television advertisement for Almacenes Paris, a large department store chain, that uses a song by the popular folk-rock band Los Jaivas without their authorization, is stirring up controversy about intellectual property rights and the extent to which cultural forms of expression are compatible with consumerism.
Colombia: Recovering traditions and culture of the Senu people
Through short videos, the indigenous people of the Senu tribes in Colombia have been interviewing members of their community and capturing stories on food: the traditions, the recipes and the meaning behind what and how they eat.
Cuba: Testimony
Uncommon Sense reports that a Cuban prisoner of conscience has testified about “the tortures suffered by fellow political prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo between when he was imprisoned in April 2003 and when he died on Feb. 23 of this year”, a development which the blogger calls “an important part of...
Colombia: Mockus-Fajardo Alliance for Presidential Elections
Two ex-Mayors of Colombia's 2 largest cities have joined forces to run on the same ticket for the May 30 President Elections. This new alliance for the Green Party has been well-received by social media users, which is a big part of the campaign's strategy.
Cuba: Groundbreaker
For Havana Times, Yusimi Rodriguez interviews “the first black model in Cuba.”
Uruguay: New Holiday Commemorates Charrúa Massacre
For the first time on April 11, 2010, Uruguayans commemorated a day remembering the 1831 massacre against the Charrúa indigenous people. Supporters of the Charrúa and the law allowing this holiday see this as a small but significant step toward embracing the indigenous heritage of the country.
Panama: Writers Association at Buenos Aires Book Fair
The blog Panamanian Writers [es] details the participation of the Panama Writers Association in the International Book Fair in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Cuba: Hunger Strike Victory
Cuban political prisoner Dr. Darsi Ferrer has ended his hunger strike “after officials said they would meet his demands”, which Uncommon Sense says is “good news for freedom in Cuba” and suggests that “it's now more than time for the regime to similarly bring an end to a hunger strike...
Mexico: Chicharito Goes to Manchester United
Twenty-one year-old Mexican football sensation Javier “Chicharito” Hernández was recently signed by Manchester United notes Gancho, but he wonders whether he might not get enough playing time “if being parked at the end of a deep bench in England will take the edge off of Hernández's recent mojo.”
Guatemala: 5th Edition of BarCamp
Gustavo Reyes writes about the preparations for the 5th edition of BarCamp Guatemala [es], which will take place on April 17, 2010 in Guatemala City.
Ecuador: Dispelling Misconceptions About the Saraguro Indigenous Community
The Saraguro indigenous community in Ecuador is facing challenges - young people lose many typical customs, as well as the ability to speak Kichwa. However, one blogger Angel Gualán is helping to preserve some of these traditions, as well as dispel some of the many misconceptions that some have of the Saraguro.
Uruguay: Online Entry and Exit Forms for Travelers
There are now online forms on the website of the International Airport in Montevideo, Uruguay, making it easier for travelers to fill out entry/exit and customs forms in advance. However, Chino of the blog Tan Conectados [es] writes that it is not very user-friendly.
Bolivia: Electoral Court Accused of Fraud by Government
After the April 4th local elections in Bolivia, Mario Durán of Palabras Libres [es] writes that the National Electoral Court is under fire accused of fraud by the national government because of some results that did not go their way.
Peru: Terminating Mobile Phone Contracts
Starting July 1, mobile phone users in Peru will have the option to terminate their service contracts without having to complete its duration, should they not be satisfied with the service, which is good for consumers notes Arturo of Crónicas del Basurero [es].
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