· February, 2011

Stories about Latin America from February, 2011

A declaration of love to the Portuguese language, in all its variations

  23 February 2011

On February 21 Global Voices in Portuguese commemorated International Mother Language Day with a tribute to the lusophony in all its linguistic and cultural diversity. Read the blogsphere's reflections on the first novel dedicated to the Portuguese language, Milagrário Pessoal - the most recent work by the Angolan author José Eduardo Agualusa.

Cuba: Psychiatric Hospital Trial Over

  23 February 2011

Laritza's Laws is still haunted by the trial for the deaths at the Psychiatric Hospital, describing the proceedings as “a bad theater set painted by the official press.”

Cuba: The Memory of Zapata

  23 February 2011

“Sometimes the end of person cements his name in history forever”: Generation Y blogs about Orlando Zapata Tamayo on the first anniversary of his death.

Puerto Rico: A Student's Life Broadcast Through Youtube

  23 February 2011

Christian Ortega published the first episode of his regular web series "La Cabeza de Christian" back in the summer of 2009. Through LCC, as it is known for short, Christian generally speaks his mind about Puerto Rican politics, headline news, and his life on the island for seven to nine minutes at a time each week. Alfredo Richner interviews Christian about his online success, Puerto Rico's blogosphere, and the student strike at the University of Puerto Rico, among other topics.

Cuba: Cigar Fest

  22 February 2011

Havana Times and Repeating Islands blog about Cuba's Cigar Festival.

Cuba: Masses for Tamayo

  22 February 2011

Uncommon Sense reports that “State Security agents this week have been warning parishes in Havana to not celebrate Masses to commemorate the anniversary of the death of Orlando Zapata Tamayo.”

Video: Learning a New Language Through Online Video

  22 February 2011

February 21st is the International Mother Language Day and this year's theme is Linguistic Diversity and New Technologies. With that in mind, we bring you a series of examples of how people are helping others to learn their mother languages using videos and websites.

Peru: Wikileaks Cable Stirs Electoral Campaign

  22 February 2011

Juan Arellano in Globalizado [es] reports on reactions to a 2005 cable released by Wikileaks, which reveals that “Fernando Rospigliosi, former Minister of Interior in the administration of Alejandro Toledo,...

Chile: Social Media Reactions Against Coal Mining Project

  21 February 2011

The approval of a coal mining mega-project in Isla Riesco, nature and protected species sanctuary in southern Chile, reveals a serious environmental conflict of interests that is being analyzed and denounced on the active Chilean social networks.

Cuba: Realities of Virtual Protests

  21 February 2011

Laritza Diversent and Without Evasion blog about the Middle East protests and the obstacles that may prevent similar demonstrations from happening in Cuba.

Cuba, Trinidad & Tobago: The Gay Agenda

  21 February 2011

Could prioritizing the gay agenda be diverting attention from more pressing issues? Iván's File Cabinet explores the possibilities, while gspottt says the Trinidad and Tobago government “has its priorities on...

Venezuela: Brazilian Music in Venezuela's Web 2.0

  21 February 2011

The cultural relationship between Brazil and Venezuela is commonly seen in the way carnival is celebrated and in the high ratings Brazilian soap operas have enjoyed in Venezuela for many years. But today, through blogs, MySpace and YouTube, Venezuelan groups are sharing their arrangements and interpretations of Brazilian music.

About our Latin America coverage

Melissa Vida
Melissa Vida is the Latin America and 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.