Stories about Latin America from June, 2014
The Female Perspective on the 2014 World Cup
Dalia Gutmann reviews the football players she's had a crush on from 1990 FIFA World Cup Italy to the current one in Brazil on the website OhLaLá!. After mentioning her favorite one in each of these sporting events, she confesses: Como notarán, la única razón por la que puedo registrar a un...
Costa Rica's Pre-Columbian Stone Spheres Declared World Heritage
Four archaeological sites with pre-Columbian stone spheres located in the canton of Osa, Puntarenas, in Costa Rica were included in UNESCO's World Heritage List. The decision was announced on Monday, June 23, 2014, during the 38th session of the World Heritage Committee in Doha, Qatar. Costa Rican former president Laura...
Mexican Bloggers Support Their National Team
Samantha Martínez is blogging on Tarjeta Azul about the day-to-day at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. This time, she shares her passion for her country's national team, Mexico, and sums up the rivalry between this team and the local one, and shows her support for the Mexican crew:...
The Inca Road Is a New World Heritage Site
For the first time in the 40 years of World Heritage convention, six countries united to submit a joint application to designate a cultural site as world heritage. Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru requested that the Incan Road be included as a cultural heritage site. The announcement was made in...
5 Places in Brazil Where People Were Protesting, Not Cheering During the World Cup Kick-Off
Not everyone in Brazil was excited to see the World Cup. Groups around the country staged protests against the money spent on the tournament instead of on the people.
Chile Will Build the Biggest Telescope on Earth
In Fotones Valley at Cerro Armazones in the Atacama desert, Chile, the construction for what will become the largest optical telescope in the world, with a diameter of 39 meters, are underway. In 2010, the European Southern Observatory Board chose that location in the Chilean desert for the future E-ELT.2. It will be...
Sharing with Great-Grandparents
On the website OhLaLá!, Inés Saínz remembers her great grandmother on her blog De la mamá (From mom) and reflects on inter-generational sharing now that she is a mother of two: La manera que la nonna tenía de demostrar cariño era a través de la comida. Ahí sí se excedía. Podía pasarse...
Peru Watches the World Cup from Afar… Again
Peruvians love football, but they must make do with cheering for other teams this year. The country's national team hasn't qualified for a World Cup in 32 years.
Why Some People in Mexico Are Happy to See Michoacán’s Governor Resign
The Governor of Michoacan, a Mexican state besieged by violence, announced he will retire for health reasons.
The Humanitarian Tragedy of Children Emigrating Alone
From Mexico, Katia D'Artigues, author of the blog Campos Elíseos (Champs Elysées), writes about the children who see themselves forced to emigrate on their own [es], and calls this a “humanitarian tragedy”: Son niños que son orillados a cruzar la frontera solos. No lo hacen por aventura, sino porque muchas...
Beyond the World Cup Headlines: Protests in Brazil, a Jailed Writer in Cameroon and Foul Play From Fans
You have to know more than just football to understand the World Cup. Deji Olukotun gives a play-by-play of the important free expression and human rights issues.
Honduras: Thoughts After the Match Against France
The blog Bitácora del párvulo (Prekindergatener log) writes thirty minutes [es] after the match the national team played against the French crew, where the latter scored three times and the Honduran team none: Francia 3, Honduras 0 con tecnología o sin ella. ¡Estamos en el Mundial, señores! ¿Quién les dijo...
The Darker, More Violent World Cup Kick-Off in São Paulo That You Didn't See
Just before Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull performed in São Paulo's Arena Corinthians, dozens of protesters and journalists were injured in a heavy-handed crackdown against anti-World Cup demonstrations.
Chile Sends Spain Packing in Stunning World Cup Defeat
In a duel of the "Reds", Chile defeated the defending world champion Spain, knocking the latter out of the World Cup.
“We are Leaderless” in Cuba
In an emotional post by Rafael González, author of the blog El Microwave, he questions: Are any of us willing to sacrifice time, prestige, fortune and emotional stability in support of an improbable change in the climate of the state of affairs in Cuba? The author builds on multiple issues...
Peru's Congress Suspends Two Lawmakers In One Decisive Day
In a double whammy in Lima’s Congress, congressmen Gagó and Uribe were relieved of their duties until October after a parliamentary commission published separate reports into alleged malpractices.
Celebrations Take Over Chile Following its Historic Triumph Over Spain
Chileans all over the country celebrated their victory over Spain in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil. From Arica to Antarctica, we've compiled photos from Twitter of the celebrations.
A Tale of Two World Cups in Fortaleza, Brazil
Before Brazil and Mexico battled it out in Fortaleza, the streets were taken over by people protesting FIFA and the government and by Mexican fans in high pre-match spirits.
Social Media Loves Mexican Goalkeeper ‘Memo’ Ochoa
The very much lauded performance by Mexican goalkeeper Guillerno “Memo” Ochoa during his national team's World Cup match with Brazil has made him a social media star. The Mexican music band Tres Tristes Tigres dedicated a “corrido” to Ochoa on YouTube: Ochoa has also received a marriage proposal from the well-known singer...
Reasons to Cheer for the Ivory Coast in the World Cup
On the website LaMula.pe, Juan Carlos Urtecho explains his reasons for supporting the Ivory Coast in the World Cup match with Colombia on Thursday, June 19: Desde que les ganaron a Japón en su debut, los marfileños se han vuelto mis preferidos en este mundial. […] Uno escoge a sus...
Mexican Goalkeeper ‘Memo’ Ochoa's Incredible World Cup Performance Is Now a Meme on Twitter
Ochoa was a like brick wall against shots during the tense Brazil-Mexico match, inspiring memes of him as an octopus, Neo from "The Matrix," and, of course, a brick wall.