Stories about Latin America from May, 2011
Venezuela, the USA and their ‘Oily’ Co-Dependence
“The current flap between the United States and Venezuela, where the U.S. is imposing sanctions on PDVSA, almost immediately brought up the elephant in the room: co-dependency,” Greg Weeks argues in Two Weeks Notice.
Guatemala: Voters Register for Upcoming Elections
Antigua Daily Photo posts a picture of a registration booth in City Hall in Antigua, Guatemala: “This is an election year in Guatemala and the Tribunal Supremo Electoral (TSE) is rushing to get all potential voters registered and updated.”
Mexico: Consensus on Disapproval of TV Series: ‘The Team’
Mexican bloggers share their disapproval of the television series "The Team" ("El Equipo") that seeks to glorify the country's Federal Police. The series is set to be removed from the air on May 27, 2011, after signs that its transmission disturbed not only the audience but also high commanders of the army.
Cuba: Any True Democracy?
“When Castro says that Cuba is the most democratic country in the world, I am uncertain if he is being serious or it is black humor”: Iván García says that he will only “believe in the Socialist democracy, as advocated by the regime in Havana, when you see a negative...
Cuba: Repressive Action
Cuban bloggers cite numerous cases of the authorities cracking down on dissidents, calling the arrests “part of a vicious series of repressive moves by the dictatorship to target the opposition.”
Brazil: Photos from the “Different People's” Big Barbecue Protest
It is unclear whether the Higienópolis subway station will become a reality after Brazil's barbecue protest, but the issue has stimulated the creativity of web users. In this post, see a selection of the best photos and videos from the big barbecue.
Peruvians Say No to Fujimori in ‘March for dignity, Fujimori never again! #26m’
Global Voices author and Spanish Translation Manager Juan Arellano is updating a Storify post [es] on the developments of “March for dignity, Fujimori never again! #26m” taking place in Lima right now, on May 26. Protesters have mobilized to show their rejection of ‘fujimorismo’ and their discontent with the possible...
Panama: Wikileaks Reach Panamanian Government
The diplomatic cables leaked by Wikileaks have wreaked havoc in global politics. Panama is not an exception. A cable that links the government party CD - Democratic Change - with the Colombian drug dealer David Murcia has triggered outrage among Panamanian citizens.
Cuba: Architectural Heritage
Fernando Dámaso at Translating Cuba, is concerned about the country's architectural patrimony.
Honduras: ‘Golpista’ Rhetoric Continues as Country Prepares for Zelaya's Return
In PULSE –“a collaborative political weblog”– Belén Fernández sheds some light on the current situation in Honduras: “Earlier this month, a Honduran court dropped remaining corruption charges against Zelaya, who is expected this coming Saturday in Tegucigalpa. Despite the accord, golpista rhetoric continues in the same broken-record fashion as always...
El Salvador Gets its Share of WikiLeaks Cables
Tim from Tim's El Salvador Blog reports that online news site El Faro has started releasing WikiLeaks US diplomatic cables related to El Salvador. Follow Tim's blog for future posts on individual cables.
Venezuela: Fee Hikes for the Caracas Metro and the Bolivarian University
Setty writes about recent price hikes that, he argues, are getting little attention: “The Caracas Metro is tripling its fares, from 0.50 bolivars to 1 bolivar in June and 1.50 in December. Meanwhile, a friend who takes language classes at a Bolivarian University, President Hugo Chavez’s new public university system,...
Brazil: New Forestry Code Approved in Chamber of Deputies
The Brazilian Chamber of Deputies approved the controversial new Forestry Code with 410 votes against 63 in an open session. As citizens knew each deputy's choice [pt], they used Twitter to regret the support for the ruralist project, as well as to mourn the murder of the forest defender Zé...
Mexico: Teacher Protests in Oaxaca Continue
“Fourteen thousand schools shut down in Oaxaca. 1.3 million students left without school, as their teachers are continuing their actions against the state government of Oaxaca, protests that appear increasingly radical,” Aguachile reports.
El Salvador: Poll Results Show 65% Approval for President Funes
In Central American Politics, Mike points out that although May poll numbers show “65% of San Salvador's residents approve of the job that [President Mauricio Funes] is doing” his party, the FMLN, is not doing as well.
Colombia: The Reasons Behind the Floods
Lorenzo Morales blogs for Americas Quarterly about ‘the reasons behind’ massive floods during Colombia's rainy season: “Unpredictable forces of nature are in play in Colombia’s current disaster. No one can be blamed for that. But as national and local authorities wash their hands of responsibility, they persist in sponsoring policies...
Cuba: Prisoner & Dissident Deaths
Uncommon Sense links to a report which alleges that the death of a prisoner was at the hands of prison guards, while Babalu links to new medical reports of the late Juan Wilfredo Soto Garcia, noting that “the report from the most recent beating…mentions the bruises found on his body;...
World Economy: Women Weigh in on Poverty, Work and Debt
The International Museum of Women's online exhibit on women and the economy, features slideshows, podcasts, videos and essays on women from countries such as Sudan, Denmark, Philippines, USA, Costa Rica, Mexico, Argentina and how they view issues such as poverty, business, family, rights, money and much more.
Bolivia: New Ministry of Comunications Raises Doubts
Rodrigo Reque Mejía, owner of the blog Puro Papo [es], compares the Bolivian government's newly created Ministry of Communications with the fictitious Ministry of Truth in Geroge Orwell's 1984 novel. His concerns have to do with potential Internet censorshio, among others.
Chile: Should State TV Play Hidroaysen Ads?
Luis Cuello in El Quinto Poder, describes how [es] Television Nacional de Chile, the State's television channel, played the latest of ads by Hidroaisen campaign during the night news (prime time in Chile). He asks readers whether this is the right approach, considering that thousands have repeatedly protested in past weeks...
Mexico: First Woman Drug Cartel Leader
A Mexican woman is believed to have become the head of the “Arellano Felix” Cartel, which operates in Tijuana, northern Mexico. Her name is Enedina Arellano Felix, and according to the blog Mundo Narco [es], Enedina is an “intelligent, mechanical and discrete woman in charge”.
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