Stories about Latin America from June, 2008
El Salvador: A Photojournalist's Blog
Ethan James is a photojournalist in El Salvador, who provides a bit of background commentary with his photographs about life in the country.
Blogger of the Week: Solana Larsen
This week's blogger of the week is Solana Larsen, who is celebrating her one-year anniversary as managing editor of Global Voices Online this month. Described as 'cool, calm and collected', read on to see what makes Solana tick!
Cuba, Bermuda: Critiquing Che
Cuban blogger Babalu visits Argentina, where, “conspicuous in its absence was the che propaganda I fully expected to be bombarded with”, while A Radical in Bermuda says: “Che Guevara, like all revolutionaries, indeed all people, had both his strong and his weak points.”
Mexico: Border Fence Construction Protests
Activists are protesting the construction of a border fence between the United States and Mexico. Marisa Treviño of Latina Lista writes that the actions of the US government is uniting “diverse groups, who would never have before joined forces, to counter an enforcement policy that has nothing to do with...
Chile: National Network of Digital Citizenship
The National Network of Digital Citizenship is a newly formed group of interested Chilean organizations that seek to promote that advancement of new technologies. Luis Ramirez provides more information on the activities of this new network [es].
Bolivia: Energy Saving Light Bulbs Does Not Address Larger Issues
Mario Durán of Palabras Libres [es] writes about the Bolivian government's energy plan, which includes distribution of energy-saving light bulbs. Durán writes that the government chooses to give “aspirins” and not address the larger issues like a shortage of fuels.
Peru: Pointing Out Errors in the New Indiana Jones Movie
Mexican music in an Andean market, misplaced cities, and negative stereotypes of Peruvians are some of the complaints made by Peruvian bloggers in response to the new Indiana Jones movie. Many bloggers have taken these glaring errors very seriously, but others think that movies should entertain, and not teach history (Spoiler alert).
Brazil: Judges can't tell YouTube from U2
The Brazilian Superior Electoral Court held yesterday a session to conclude the resolution regulating the use of the Internet in the 2008 local elections campaign later this year. According to Judge George Marmelstein, who watched the session in person, "Youtube was turned into U2" by the ill-informed judges in charge.
Costa Rica: Capital City Top 10 Safest
The Costa Rican capital San José placed among the top 10 safest cities in Latin America writes La Foto Salió Movida [es] and writes that the challenge is to continue improving safety and remove the stigma that the city is more dangerous that it is.
Cuba: Paying for Performance
Uncommon Sense and Child of the Revolution report on “a new rule that will allow Cubans to earn according (to) their labor”.
Cuba: Hemingway History
The Cuban Triangle and Child of the Revolution weigh on on an article in the London Times which exposes the goings-on at Finca Vigia, the Hemingway house in Cuba: “I have…seen a docent offer to cut a page out of a book in Hemingway’s library – a page with his...
Colombia: The struggles of Barrancabermeja documentary
This nine part documentary created by Taline Haytayan of her experience as part of the Peace Brigades International organization in the strife ridden Barrancabermeja region of Colombia captured my attention throughout. It follows the Feminine Popular Organization (OFP) group which works together to prevent violence against women and violent conflict...
Mexico: Suburb Satellite City
Ciudad Satélite was “the first American-style planned suburb in Mexico” during the 1940s and 50s. Mario of Candyland posts a video of one of the first commercials promoting this new way of living.
Bolivia: Protests in Front of Election Officials’ Home
Kevin Ayllón of Travieso [es] writes about the protests taking place in front of his house. Kevin's mother is an election official in the city of Santa Cruz, Bolivia and is in charge of registering voters, of which the registries had been filled due to high demand
Dominican Republic: The Writer Junot Díaz
Dominican writer Junot Díaz and Pulitzer Prize winner in 2008 believes that people should get back into the habit of reading because it puts the “reader into contact with another human, another nervous system, another imagination.” Greeysis de la Cruz writes more on the background and thoughts of this writer...
Argentina: Colón Theater Still Has Not Reopened
The world famous Colón Theater in Buenos Aires, Argentina has still not reopened and many are worried about its state of disrepair, writes Eduardo Fabregat of Pan y Circo [es].
Guatemala: 4 Balames Archaeological Park
A new archaeological park called “4 Balames” is set to open in the Petén Department in Guatmala. Claudia Navas of Ordinaria Locura [es] is looking forward to this new tourist attraction, which can help bring development and jobs to this much-needed part of the country
Nicaragua: Rally in Support of Hunger Strike
In Managua, Nicaragua, Rodrigo Peñalba of Barricada [es] posts a video of a rally in support of Dora María Tellez’ hunger striker, who is protesting alleged corrpution by the President of the Supreme Electoral Court, Roberto Rivas
Brazil: Top ten misconceptions about the country
“Gringos, in particular Americans, often know very little about Latin America and maintain grossly stereotypical misconceptions of Latin American countries, especially Brazil”, Rachel, an American living in Rio de Janeiro, lists the top ten misconceptions about the country.
Do not let poverty become the landscape
Kianda (from Angola) and Khanimambo! (from Brazil) are some of the blogs participating in an across-borders blog campaign: “Do not let poverty become the landscape”, conceived by Isto inclui-me (This Includes Me, from Portugal) [pt – all links].
Argentina: Exact Change Only on Subway
Public transportation continues to be a topic of discussion in Argentina. Candelaria of Viajé Como El Orto [es] posts a photo found at one of the subway train stations of a homemades sign which asks for exact change. Readers share their own stories including one that instructs users to look...