Stories about Latin America from February, 2016
Salvadoran Women Respond to Violence with Community Service, Music, and Individual Efforts
Communal work initiatives created by women for women, musical education in female juvenile prisons, and individual actions have been some of the ways in which Salvadoran women have combated violence.
A Colombian Official Takes Short-Lived Legal Action Against a Journalist Over His Tweets
"...limitation of freedom of expression must be necessary and proportionate, that is, it must be the only and most effective means, something which is not true in this case."
North Carolina High Schoolers Could Be Deported to “Certain Death”, Despite Teacher and School Board Opposition
The six Central American students facing deportation from the US crossed the border as minors and could be in mortal danger if sent back to their country of origin.
Living the Spanish Language as the Descendant of Afro-Caribbean Migrants in Costa Rica
Shirley Campbell's parents decided not to speak to her and her siblings in English, perhaps as an attempt to give them one less reason to be different.
An LGBT Blog Is Suspended Over Mention of Cuba’s 1960s-Era Labor Camps
"I honestly hoped it was a technical glitch...I don't know how this 'defames the Revolution,' as the judgment issued to us says."
Making Wasted Uneaten Food a Thing of the Past in Argentina
The Full Plate Project started when two friends realized there is a lot of unconsumed food that's thrown away when events have finished. So they decided to do something.
The YouTube Women: Delivering Hard-Hitting Digital Video Activism
"In Brazil at least, where we have a very communicative culture, it is [...] far easier to persuade someone to watch a video than to read an article."
River Communities in Mexico Still Don't Trust Their Drinking Water Following a Mining Spill
The populations affected by the worst environmental disaster in the history of Mexico obtained an important victory after a judge ordered new studies due to the risk of contaminated water.
Classrooms Without Teachers Spread in Southern Venezuela
Although they love their profession, hundreds of teachers in Gran Sabana, Venezuela, have left their classrooms to find more affordable pay in other industries.
Starved of National Media Coverage, Student Occupation Movement in Central Brazil Encounters Strong Police Response
There's been a slew of reports about threats and police violence in schools in the Brazilian state of Goiás, where high schoolers have occupied buildings since late last year.
A Costa Rican Political Party's ‘Incendiary’ Ad Didn't Seem to Help Them at the Polls
"That advertisement could seem to us idiotic... but these little Costa Rican army and far-right political groups are symptoms."
Indigenous Otomí-Ñätho Communities in Mexico Exercise Their Autonomy to Defend Their Lands
"Why do we care for the forest? Because it is the lungs of both the Valley of Toluca and the Valley of Mexico."
Global Deforestation Is Decreasing. Or Is It?
A new look at the complex picture of changes in land use suggests that, when it comes to forests, we’re far from being out of the woods.
Meet Brazil's (Literally) Most Sung Hero: The Japanese Federale
“Oh my God, I'm done for. The Japanese Federale is knocking at my door.”
Kuelap, the Ancient Fortress That Aims to Become the Second Biggest Tourist Destination in Peru
"The old occupants of Kuelap abandoned their city before the Spaniards arrived, for reasons that remain unknown."
Did Argentina’s New President Just Arrest His First Political Prisoner?
Officially, Sala was arrested on two charges: “inciting criminal behavior” and spreading “disorder” by lobbying cooperatives to oppose the governor's reforms by resisting the state's new requirements.
Netizen Report: From Egypt to Kenya to Venezuela, Online Political Speech Feels Riskier Than Ever
Social media activists face legal threats in Africa and Latin America, Malaysia blocks Medium over corruption coverage, and Saudi pulls back death sentence for Palestinian artist Ashraf Fayadh.
How to Train for Digital Literacy in Venezuela—When Internet Isn’t Always Available
What is it like to provide digital literacy workshops in countries with low Internet penetration? From Venezuela, Marianne Díaz shares her experience for the Global Voices Exchange project.
The Zika Virus Threat Looms Large in the Caribbean
The World Health Organisation has just declared the Zika virus an international public health emergency. Some Caribbean territories have been preparing for it, while others have been slow to mobilise.
The Dangerous and Complex Reality of Women Who Join Central American Gangs
"...I thought it was the best way that people could defend themselves, by being on the strong side rather than the weak one."
What Kicked Off in Uruguay that Lasts for 40 Days?
It lasts for 40 days and is considered the longest carnival in the world. The Uruguayan Carnival brings together traditions born Europe and Africa, and offers a whole lot more.