Stories about Latin America from January, 2009
Peru: Public Transportation Options in Lima
Jorge Gobbi of Blog de Viajes [es] provides a thorough summary on public transportation options in the Peruvian capital of Lima.
Bolivia: Most Bolivians Practice Religious Syncretism
Despite the conflict between the national government and the Catholic Church, Bolivian President Evo Morales declares that he is Catholic. Mario Durán of Palabras Libres [es] adds that most Bolivians would classify themselves as practicing a type of “religious syncretism” with native beliefs.
Bolivia: Autonomy of Central Bank Under the New Consitution
From an economist's point of view, Carlos Gustavo Machicado of Guccio's [es] provides his thoughts on the draft Constitution to be voted upon on January 25. Among other things, he is worried whether the Central Bank will maintain its autonomy, especially in emergency situations.
Colombia: Criticisms on Fight on Crime in Bogotá
In Colombia, Machete [es] criticizes the way that the Government Secretariat of Bogotá, Clara Lopez, handled the fight against crime.
Panama: Safety Guide
Following the murder of a Spanish businessman in Panama City, CaDs Online [es] provides a safety guide especially written for Spanish readers.
El Salvador: Irregularities on Election Day
Victor of Alta Hora de la Noche [es] provides some early reporting on the day's elections in El Salvador. He writes that there have been irregularities all across the country, including some polling places that did not allow observers and conducted the ballot counting behind closed doors.
El Salvador: Live Blogging Election Day
In El Salvador, the country is choosing mayors and congressional representatives and Fernando Marroquín of Chero07 [es] has been live blogging during election day.
Peru: Buying an Alligator Body Part by Body Part
Alligators are commonly consumed in the Peruvian Amazon region. De La Selva [es] writes about an experience in the market of Belén, where people gathered around the animal to purchase body part by body part.
Bolivia: Loyola Guzmán Supporting the “No” Vote
With a week to go before the Constitutional Referendum, Miguel Centellas of Pronto* profiles one unlikely opponent of the new document. Loyola Guzmán was a Constitutional delegate representing the government's MAS party, as well as a member of Che Guevara's guerrilla group. She is now coming out and supporting the...
Paraguay: Assassination of Martín Ocampos Páez
El Yacare [es] writes about the assassination of community radio director Martín Ocampos Páez in his house near the Horqueta district in Paraguay and that he has been threatened by narcotraffickers in that area.
Mexico: No Kissing in Public in Guanajuato
The government of Guanajuato, Mexico recently passed a law of “Good Conduct” which would fine and possibly imprison beggars, those who don't use pedestrian bridges, swearing, and even for those that kiss in public writes Jessica Uribe of Vivir México [es].
Uruguay: How the Changes in OLPC Will Affect the Country
Pablo Flores of the Plan Ceibal blog [es] writes about how the changes in the One Laptop Per Child project will affect Uruguay, which has been participating through the distribution of thousands of XO laptops to the country's children.
Paraguay: Time Calculations
Muna Annahas provides the details for “Paraguayan time” and how someone must account for this in their time calculations.
Ecuador: The Growth of the Blogosphere
Mi Diario Relativo [es] reflects on the growth of the Ecuadorian blogosphere over the past two years and sees that the number of blogs registered on Blogalaxia has grown by 400% during that time.
Ecuador: Correa Faces Pressure From Indigenous Groups
In Ecuador, President Rafael Correa is facing pressure from indigenous groups over his government's support of a new mining law. The coalition led by the National Confederation of Indigenous Nations (CONAIE) say that there was very little discussion and that it would violate the communities' sovereignty, as well as cause environmental contamination. Correa must decide how to face these mobilizations from groups that historically have been strong backers of his government.
Cuba: Watching the Numbers
Diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense links to statistics from”an unofficial Cuban human rights group”, which suggest that dissidents continue to be “jailed or prosecuted because of their political opposition to the regime.”
Costa Rica: After the Earthquake
A week has passed since the 6.2 Earthquake in Costa Rica, and on blogger and twitter people have been commenting on the aftermath, analyzing the relief efforts, the rescue operations and the media's coverage of the events. Blogger and journalist Cristian Cambronero of Fusil de Chispas has been updating regularly...
El Salvador: Campaign for the Coatepeque Lake
The Coatepeque Lake in El Salvador is nominated for one of the 7 Wonders of the World and a campaign has started to encourage Salvadorans to vote writes Hunnapuh [es].
Panama: The Arrival of the Lagartija Theater Group
In Panama, Hoja de Bijao [es] announces the arrival of the Lagartija Theater group of Ecuador to present the play Our Lady of the Clouds.
Chile: Review of the Opera Viento Blanco al Municipal
Marcelo Aliaga of Bloggeando la Vida [es] reviews the opera Viento Blanco al Municipal, which is based on the tragedy suffered by Chilean soldiers because of harsh weather conditions in the Antuco region of Chile.
Mexico: Payment for Favorable Press Coverage
The Mexican press is in crisis, according to JC Cortés Cordoba of Cargamento [es]. In addition to security concerns, he laments the fact that many journalists are receiving money to write favorable articles about public officials.
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