Stories about Latin America from October, 2012
Brazil: The Cry of Resistance of the Guarani Kaiowá
Under yet another threat of eviction from their lands, the Brazilian indigenous community of Guarani-Kaiowá released a letter that has rippled across the press and the web as a cry of resistance.
Panama: President Cancels Colón Land Sale Plans
“If the people of Colón don't want the land in the tax-free zone to be sold, the sale will be canceled. The rise in rents 100% for Colón” Panama's President Ricardo Martinelli (@rmartinelli) [es] tweeted on October 23, 2012, in response to the protests and clashes in Colón sparked by...
Cuba: Four Years Jailtime for Angel Carromero
The Cuban Triangle reports that Angel Carromero, the Spanish Popular Party leader has been sentenced to four years in prison for vehicular manslaughter in the deaths of Cuban human rights advocates Oswaldo Paya and Harold Cepero. Carromero was at the wheel when the vehicle, carrying Paya, Cepero, and Swedish national...
Cuba: Cell Phone Use on the Rise
Puertasabiertas [es] reports that thousands of Cubans are purchasing cell phone service for the first time because of a new plan offered by Cuba's cell phone company, Cubacel, that began offering a new low rate for users last week. Cubacel centers in Havana and Santiago de Cuba have been reportedly...
Mexico: Central American Mothers in Search of Missing Migrants
In the last six years around 70,000 migrants have disappeared in Mexico. Central American mothers of abducted and missing migrants are traveling in a caravan all over Mexico looking for their sons and daughters who have disappeared on their way north. The women also hope to capture the media's attention and raise awareness on this issue that has been largely ignored.
Brazil: Rethinking Drug Policy
Rio Real blog wrote about the launch of Pense Livre (Think Free) [pt] in September 2012, a network to urge a rethink of Brazil’s drug policy. The author stresses that drug decriminalization would remap Rio de Janeiro, and links to an interview [pt] to Pedro Abramovay, a lawyer and law professor who...
Chile: What is Poderopedia and How Does it Work?
Poderopedia is an editorial and crowdsourced data journalism platform that maps who's who in business and politics in Chile.
Guatemala: Soldiers Arrested Over Totonicapán Killings
Blogger Nic Wirtz says that the arrest of eight soldiers after the clashes in Totonicapán -which left at least 8 indigenous protestors dead- is “the first test of Guatemalan President Otto Pérez Molina's mano dura (iron fist) approach to restoring law and order.”
Panama: Protests Erupt in Colón Over Land Law
The sale of the land in the tax free zone of Colón has sparked a series of protests in Panamá. Government and protesters face off, and neither side seems to want to budge.
Bolivia: Vice President Keeping Track of Netizens’ Insults
A debate on the control of social networks was rekindled in Bolivia after vice president Álvaro García Linera stated that he is monitoring and taking note of netizens who are insulting President Evo Morales. Members of the opposition consider the statement a threat to freedom of speech, others support regulation, and some suggest the government should pay attention to other important issues people demand online.
Chile: #LosQueSobran Campaign to Pull Youth to Polls
A group of Chilean NGOs have come together in a fun campaign to encourage young people to vote in the Municipal elections this Sunday, October 28. For the first time in Chile, voter registration is automatic and the vote is voluntary.
Ecuador: Cofiec Banking Loan Irregularities Unleash Outrage
Antonio Buñay, former executive chief of Cofiec Bank – a state owned bank- and the alleged responsible person for the Cofiec case, which is causing stir in the Ecuador legal system and among citizens, appeared before the prosecutor's office on October 16, 2012. The #CofiecCase, as Ecuadorian Twitter users have named it, was uncovered after irregularities were found in a Cofiec banking loan for US$800,000 granted to the Argentinian investor Gastón Duzac.
Colombia: How Attacks on Energy Infrastructure Affects Citizens
A rise in the number of attacks on Colombia’s energy infrastructure by guerrilla groups FARC and ELN have had a profound impact on the lives of many Colombians.
Brazil: Guarani Kaiowá say they will resist together to death
Brazilian bloggers and even mainstream media are reacting to a letter by an indigenous Guarani Kaiowá community that claims to have lost all hope, promising a mass resistance to death of 170 men, women and children, if an eviction order goes forward. Global Voices reported in 2011 and 2010 on ongoing...
Peru Holds Annual Processions for the Lord of the Miracles
Every year during October, Lima (Peru's capital city) shows its devotion to the Lord of the Miracles. Here's a brief summary of the history behind this huge Peruvian religious event, and a taste of how citizens have been commenting and covering the processions through citizen media.
Costa Rica: Forum on Online Anonymity, Pseudonyms and Freedom of Expression
Ticoblogger, a community of Costa Rican bloggers, invites everyone to attend the forum “Online Anonymity, Pseudonyms and Freedom of Expression” [es] on Wednesday, October 24, 2012, at 9:00 PM (GMT-03:00) at the Legislative Assembly in San José, Costa Rica. The forum will discuss Article 230 of the ‘Cybercrime Law‘, which penalizes...
Puerto Rico: Journalism Called Into Question
Former President of the Association of Puerto Rican Journalists (ASPPRO), Wilda Rodríguez, wrote a scathing column [es] on the current state of journalism in Puerto Rico for local blog 80grados.net. In it, she asks for what she refers to as “simply the basics”: journalism that is informed, honest, and sensible,...
Brazil: Police Violence and Privatization of Public Space in Porto Alegre
Students and activists protesting against the privatization of public space in the city of Porto Alegre earlier this month were violently repressed by military police, after having destroyed an inflatable armadillo, mascot for the 2014 World Cup, that occupied the square with the sponsorship of Coca-Cola.
Colombia: The “Lleras Law” and Content Creation
We talk with Pilar Sáenz of the Karisma Foundation about the evolution of the controversial Lleras Law, which changes the framework for legislation and regulation of copyrights and intellectual property. Furthermore, we present a video with producer Armadillo Media TV about how the creativity of Colombian internet users could be affected by this law.
Colombian Senator Removed and Disqualified, Triumph for Social Networks?
On October 16, 2012 the Attorney General's Office dismissed Senator Eduardo Merlano from office, disqualifying him from holding public office for 10 years after finding him guilty of taking advantage of his position as senator to avoid a traffic ticket. News of the dismissal was well received among Colombian netizens, who attributed the achievement to a successful campaign calling for Senator Merlano to resign.
Panama: TEDxPanamaCity 2012
Porto Diao [es] reviews TEDxPanamaCity 2012, an independently organized TED event held on October 10, 2012. The post lists the best five conferences, providing a short overview of each one. It also shares several photos of the event.
About our Latin America coverage
Melissa Vida is the Latin America Spanish-language editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
Fernanda Canofre is the Brazil editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
