· September, 2011

Stories about Latin America from September, 2011

New Partnership Between Global Voices and El Colombiano

  27 September 2011

Global Voices in Spanish has a new agreement with El Colombiano, the leading newspaper of the vigorous city of Medellin, which will allow their readers to access Global Voices content in Spanish through a blog created for this purpose inside the EC-Blogger section of the El Colombiano online version.

Bolivia: Cochabamba Vigil in Protest of Police Repression

  27 September 2011

A vigil was held in the Bolivian city of Cochabamba in protest of the September 25 police repression of the indigenous march in defense of the TIPNIS. Photo-blogger Stephany Eguino of the blog Pale Angel [es] captured the images of the gathering.

Bolivia: Police Repression is a Violation of Human Rights

  27 September 2011

Cristina Quisbert of the blog Bolivia Indígena [es] writes about the police repression of the TIPNIS indigenous marchers as a day that “will remain recorded in the history of indigenous communities as a nefarious day in the violation of their human rights.”

Bolivia: Mobilization in Support of Indigenous Marchers

  26 September 2011

In the past month, indigenous highway protest marchers in Bolivia have received widespread support from residents of cities on their route donating food and supplies, as well as from many Twitter users using the hashtag #TIPNIS.

Bolivia: Police Repression of Indigenous Marchers in Yucumo

  26 September 2011

The Bolivian indigenous march against a planned highway reached a standstill with the blockade of pro-government groups in the town of Yucumo. On September 25, uniformed police officers launched tear gas at men, women and children, causing diverse nationwide reactions.

Brazil: The Real Value of Half Price Tickets

  26 September 2011

Even though there is a federal law in Brazil for half price tickets to cultural shows - as the greatest portion of the public can only afford half of the total value - the events charge even higher amounts. Fernando Sapelli explains why.

Chile: Twitter Trending Topics and #yomarchoel22

  26 September 2011

Students marched in favor of education reform on Thursday, September 22, but surprisingly, the hashtag netizens used on Twitter –#yomarchoel22– did not become a local Trending Topic. Enzo Abbagliati in his blog Cadaunadas [es] reminds his readers that Trending Topics are a legitimate but limited representation of reality.

Ecuador: Digital Illiteracy Rate in Loja

  26 September 2011

Voces Lojanas [es] shares important data about Loja from the VII Population Census and the VI Housing Census. The census reveals that in Loja digital illiteracy is at 29%, but cell phone use is at 73%.

El Salvador: Digital Newspaper Publishes Wikileaks Cables

  26 September 2011

“Almost 100 US State Department cables from the US Embassy in San Salvador have now been published on the website of El Faro. The collection of cables from WikiLeaks offers a behind-the-scenes look at US diplomacy and assessment of its tiny ally in Central America. Most of the cables come...

Cuba: “Damas” Targeted Again

  26 September 2011

The Ladies in White were once more targeted this weekend for their “planned march to a church to honor Our Lady of Charity on her feast day” – bloggers have a lot to say here, here, here, here and here.

Cuba: Historic Wedding

  25 September 2011

Paquito el de Cuba celebrates and narrates the historic wedding [es] in Havana between a man and a transgender woman: Ignacio and Wendy.

Puerto Rico: Lecture on Planning and Development

  25 September 2011

The International Development Group (IDG) and the Community Innovator's Lab (CoLab) at MIT's Department of Urban Studies and Planning (DUSP) will be hosting a lecture by renowned planner Lucilla Fuller Marvel, titled “Planning in Puerto Rico since 1940: An Examination of Opportunities Presented and Choices Taken.”

Colombia: Outrage at President of Congress Over Oil Subsidy

  25 September 2011

Last week, Juan Manuel Corzo, Senator and president of Colombia's Congress, caused outrage on social networks when he tried to justify a fuel subsidy for congresspeople. The issue became "personal" when Senator Corzo declared that Twitter users criticizing him were being "rude," adding: "I'd rather not steal from the State and that [others] pay for my gasoline."

Update on Global Voices Mentorship: Meet the Activists

  24 September 2011

For over a month, ten Global Voices bloggers have been working with activists from ten different countries as mentors of members of the new Blogger Swarm initiative of Activista, the youth network of international development organization ActionAid.

Video: Water Bottle Lights and Other Eco-Friendly Inventions

  24 September 2011

Solar lights and hot water heaters from plastic water bottles, houses made from trash and a way to do without plastic bags are some of the projects making reducing, reusing and recycling not only fun and affordable but also vital in improving the quality of life of people all around the world.

Cuba: “Damas” March Tomorrow

  23 September 2011

Uncommon Sense will have his eye on Cuba tomorrow as “the Damas De Blanco (‘Ladies In White)…participate in a march and other ceremonies commemorating Our Lady of Mercy, the patroness of prisoners, a fitting celebration for a group committed to advocating for the release of Cuban political prisoners.”

Mexico: Uproar Over Twitter Law Proposed by Veracruz Governor

  23 September 2011

A controversial law in Mexico could imprison those who spread rumors through social networks on the charge of "disturbing public order". Mexicans are speaking out against the law, which has been labeled #LeyJavierDuarte on Twitter after the name of Veracruz governor, Javier Duarte.

Puerto Rico: Santurce is Law

  23 September 2011

The art blog Fractal [es] covered what seems to have been a wonderful night during the event Santurce es Ley, a collective artistic movement dedicated to revitalizing and connecting the Santurce community, a sector in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

About our Latin America coverage

Gabriela Mesones Rojo
Gabriela Mesones Rojo is the Latin America 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.