Stories about Latin America from June, 2011
Puerto Rico: A Picture a Day
Blogger Maite Ramos has been posting a picture a day on her blog Elucubraciones de Amaranta [es] as part her participation in two different photo contests.
Puerto Rico: Angelamaría Dávila Reads Her Poetry
Youtube user atavarez honors the memory of Puerto Rican poet Angelamaría Dávila [es] with a video in which the poet reads some of her very intense writings.
Peru: Residents of Puno Resume Protests
Once again the inhabitants of the Puno region have taken to the streets in protests, this time against the contamination caused by the mining of minerals. Six people died as a result of the protests on the day when Peru celebrates the Day of the Peasant.
Cuba: Cuba Votes for LGBT Resolution at UN Human Rights Council
The United Nation Human Rights Council passed a resolution expressing “grave concern at the violence and discrimination experienced by people because of their sexual orientation..." Among the nations that supported the measure was Cuba. Cuban bloggers and Twitter users celebrated this significant victory for the island’s LGBT communities.
Cuba: Old & Black
“Being old in Cuba is a problem”: But, explains Iván García, “it becomes harder if you are black.”
Uruguay: Backstage in TEDx Montevideo
Mauricio Milano from Montevideo Blogger [es] tweeted [es] and updated the official Facebook [es] feed for TEDx Montevideo [es], which was held on June 22. In his personal blog he writes about his experience ‘backstage’.
Mexico: Wikinarco.com: Crowdmapping Narco Activity
Paula Gonzalo, in Periodismo Ciudadano [es], writes about Wikinarco.com [es], a crowdmapping initiative where citizens can report illegal activities related to drug trafficking in Mexico.
Paraguay: Photo Essay: The Ovecha Rague Festival
Yluux posts a photo essay [es] of the Ovecha Rague (‘sheep fur’ in guaraní) festival in San Miguel, Paraguay. The festival includes artistic performances, craft fairs, an exposition of products made out of sheep's wool and more.
Colombia: Video Mapping the City to Hip Hop
In just four days, a creative cast of characters got together in the city of Medellin, Colombia, where they set out to produce videos and place them on a map of the city to reflect topics that affect their communities: militarization, poverty, forced displacement, crimes of state, resistance movements and more.
Peru: Beyond Politics: ‘Chelita’, Chicharrón and Chess
There is a lot more going on in Peru besides elections. The death of a beloved actress, and the country's gastronomy and achievements in sports have also been noted in the Peruvian blogosphere.
Peru: Women in Iquitos Protest High Levels of Aluminum in Water
A recent report shows that the levels of aluminum in the water consumed by the people of Iquitos is above what is permitted. Global Voices writer and Spanish Translation Manager, Juan Arellano, explains [es] the situation and shares photos of a protest organized by different women's organizations.
El Salvador: Price of Corn Triples in a Little Over a Year
El Salvador From the Inside reports on the rising cost of corn, an important and basic staple for Salvadorans: “June 2011 newspapers report a quintal [100 lb bag of corn] costs up to $40 , due to last year’s bad harvest and growing season starting late this year. Maize had...
Nicaragua: A Social Debt with the Countryside
Ronald Hill says [es] that “Nicaragua carries a social debt with the countryside, with thousands of peasants who live precariously.” He summarizes the hardships Nicaraguans in the countryside face every day and wonders why conditions there do not improve, even when the country's economy grows every year.
Mexico: Blogosphere Analyzes the State of Mexico's Electoral Process
Mexican bloggers analyze the local electoral process in the State of Mexico looking towards the presidential succession of 2012. There are reflections about the candidates, their campaigns and proposals, but there is also a consensus in the national relevance that the election for the next Mexican governor has acquired.
Argentina: The Flag Day Ceremony and Cristina Fernández's Bid for Re-Election
President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was the only speaker during the Flag Day ceremony in Argentina, an event celebrated every June 20; a patriotic holiday full of Argentine and political party flags. Argentines are beginning to find out who will run for president in this year's elections.
Panama: Politics, Football and Conspiracy Theories
Panamanian Global Voices author Ariel Moreno [es] blogs [es] about the government's and the national football team's tendency to come up with conspiracy theories and complain that the political opposition or the CONCACAF –respectively– are out to get them. He concludes: “We need to stop blaming others for our misfortunes,...
Guatemala: Families in Quiché Benefit from ‘Maya Food Security Programme’
Mike, in Central American Politics, writes about the Maya Food Security Programme, “an initiative designed to combat chronic malnutrition through the distribution of monthly food rations and the sponsorship of workshops, fairs and street theater on nutritional education.” He says that “over ten thousand Guatemalan families in [the] Quiché [department] benefit from this program.”
Argentina: Cristina Fernández Announces Re-Election Bid
On Tuesday, June 21, Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner announced she will run for reelection. The Argentine Post looks at the challenges she will have to deal with if reelected, while Eliot Brockner, in Latin American Thought, says her prospects for winning “are looking good”.
Puerto Rico: Interview of Le Butcherettes
Music blogger @redod interviews Terri Gender Bender (born Teresa Suárez) [es], leader singer of the Mexican garage-punk band Le Butcherettes.
Puerto Rico: Surviving the Puerto Rican Parade
Actor and writer Mikephillippe Oliveros shares his reflections on attending the famous Puerto Rican Parade [es] in New York City: “It was evident that the relationship they have with the island is totally different from mine, either because they have spent too much time away, or I have spent too much time living in Puerto Rico.”
Puerto Rico: C-Sections Too Prevalent
“48% of Our births are by cesarean section, the highest rate in the world”: Gil the Jenius says that “Our future children–and their mothers–absolutely deserve that We strive for their greatest welfare, rather than settling to merely serve the system.”
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