Stories about Latin America from December, 2012
Guaraní language is less spoken in Paraguay
Group blog E'a Periódico de Interpretación y Análisis [es] tells that, according to parcial results of the 2012 Population Census, there are 10% less Guaraní speakers in the country. Among the factors the blog lists [en] for this situation, we find “resistence, voluntary or not, from the political class to...
#Sopacriolla: The Tough Road to ISP Regulation in Peru
In a previous post, we commented on the project known as #sopacriolla, an initiative by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism for allegedly collecting contributions for the construction of a standard for copyright and ISP (Internet Service Provider) responsibility. To learn more about the issue, we talk with the blogger Miguel Morachimo, and the lawyer in charge of the initiative, Erick Iriarte.
Caribbean: What Happened in 2012 (Part 1)
This year, events in the regional blogosphere were curiously bookended by hunger strikes. Part 1 of this 2012 recap takes a look at the topics that most shaped online discussion in the Bahamian, Cuban and French-speaking Caribbean blogospheres.
Argentina: Remembering December 19, 2001
From Argentina, blogger Rafael, on Fin del capitalismo ¿salvaje? [The end of the wild? capitalism] remembers some of the events [es] occured on December 19, 2001: On the night of [December] 19, that bastard [former Minister of Economy, Domingo] Cavallo had already resigned, then came the tear gases at the...
Colombia: Where's the Indignation?
Blogger Miguel from Mike's Bogota Blog lists some situations that make people feel indignation and wonders: So, why is it that all kinds of vehicles and industry can poison us, day in and day out, in plain sight, and almost nobody does anything? He also shares pictures and concludes his...
Football: Who Holds the Record, Argentina's Messi or Zambia's Chitalu?
Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi has broken most footballing records including the number of goals scored in a season, or has he? An unlikely challenger to Messi's record, who is a marvel to watch when he turns up for his Spanish la Liga team FC Barcelona, has emerged in Zambia - in the form of a footballer who died nearly 20 years ago.
Ecuador Creates Electoral ‘Code of Conduct’ for Social Media
The National Electoral Council of Ecuador unveiled a new Code of Conduct for social networks and digital media. Aimed at political stakeholders and ordinary citizens, the goal is to promote an environment of mutual respect and ideological tolerance.
Immigrants March for Equal Rights in Brazil
On December 2, a protest organised by foreigners residing in São Paulo took to the streets demanding full access to basic rights like health, security and decent work. The participants were Latin Americans and Africans who live in the city, and are fighting for their rights to be recognised by the Brazilian state.
Brazilian Journalist Assaulted by Police while Covering Demonstration
Brazilian journalist Mariana Alvanesi (@morrodovidigal) was assaulted by the police while covering a demonstration by dwellers of the Vidigal neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, on December 13, 2012. The dwellers were trying to impede the demolition of a sports court. Dulcilene Guiri recorded the moment in video.
Ecuador Gets Ready for the 2013 Elections
Ecuadorian netizens are already analyzing candidates for the legislative and presidential elections of February 17, 2013. Many share their reports and reactions under the hashtag #EleccionesEc on Twitter.
Latin America: Top 5 News Stories from 2012
In World Policy Blog, Global Voices contributor Robert Valencia highlights five “top stories from 2012 that will have an impact in 2013 and beyond”: the war on drugs, Hugo Chávez's re-election, the Colombia-Nicaragua dispute over the San Andrés Archipelago, the Colombian peace process, and Brazil's booming economy.
Bolivian Cyber Activists Uncover Potential QR Code Patent
Can the use of QR codes be patented in Bolivia? Cyber activists worked collectively to uncover a potential unlawful patent over the use of QR codes in the country.
Boycott of Puerto Rico's Popular TV Show “La Comay”
The gruesome death of a publicist in a remote sector outside the island’s metropolitan area last month has led to an ongoing saga in which the Puerto Rican public has turned from alarm to shock, anger, and finally to the internet in a bout of activism that now threatens to overthrow one of the top rated TV programs on the island after its host hinted that the victim "got what he was looking for."
Does Peru have Internet Freedom?
It is increasingly common to hear that a particular country is considering or actually enacting some type of law that would affect Internet freedom. Peru is not immune to this. We discussed the topic with Miguel Morachimo of Blawyer (a law and technology blog in Peru), and we reviewed what some other bloggers have said about Internet freedom.
Venezuela and the WCIT-12
Who will govern the Internet and how? What is Venezuela's position in this debate? These are two questions that Luis Carlos Díaz tries to tackle in a post for Prodavinci [es] where he looks at the World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT-12) and Venezuela's position regarding these issues.
A Festival to Celebrate Free Software in Nicaragua
Talks, workshops, and exhibitions are all part of the schedule for the National Free Software Festival to be held in Managua, Nicaragua on December 12, 2012. There will also be a celebration of Creative Commons’ 10th Anniversary with a featured round-table discussion about free licenses and copyright issues.
Voices of Dignity – Women Survivors of Colombia's Armed Conflict
Through the powerful testimonies of Yoladis Zúñiga and Petronila Mendoza -two Colombian women who fled their homes after paramilitaries killed their husbands and raided their villages- the multimedia project Voices of Dignity provides an intimate and necessary look into the struggles of the victims of Colombia's armed conflict.
Global Voices: Where Every Voice Counts
The idea that every voice counts is one that is very close to the notion of Global Voices as a platform and as a community. As netizens unite to have their voices heard when the world's authorities argue on who should run the internet, we decided to ask our diverse community speak out on issues that matter to them and look back at issues we have covered over the year bearing in mind that every voice counts.
What is Web Mapping?
In this post we learn more about web mapping with MapBox's Ian Ward, as he explains some of the organization's recent projects and how these visualization tools are improving communication locally and globally.
Mexico: “What is it like to live in Monterrey, really?”
The city continues to have several positive and unique aspects to it. But what has changed? We are not caught between crossfire, held at gunpoint or witness beheadings on a daily basis, but the difference from years back is that now is the presence of fear for these things actually...
Access Innovation Prize 2012 Recognizes Costa Rican Facebook App
Access.org announced the winners of the 1st Annual Access Tech Innovation Prize Awards, a new initiative that awards ideas that use information technology to promote human rights and address issues that are important to communities from across the world. Costa Rican Facebook-integrated app FueraJustoOrozco.com ("out Justo Orozco") was announced as one of the winners.
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