Stories about Latin America from August, 2012
Puerto Rico: What's at Stake in the August 19 Referendum
Puerto Ricans have voted on a referendum to amend the Constitution. The are two proposed amendments: one to limit the right to bail and one that to reduce the number of legislators. The implications of limiting the right to bail and the campaign organized to oppose the referendum was marked by a heightened activity on social network sites.
Colombia: 13 Years Since the Assassination of Jaime Garzón
Jaime Garzón, a Colombian journalist, lawyer, and pacifist, was murdered on August 13, 1999. Thirteen years later, the crime against Garzón continues unresolved. Colombians remember Garzón and ask for justice on every anniversary of his assassination.
Peru: Football Player's Airport Joke Triggers Security Alert
A bad joke triggered security alarms at the San Jose International Airport as the Peruvian national football team was about to take the flight back to Lima after a friendly match in Costa Rica. Social networks are abuzz with comments.
Colombia: Online Campaign Seeks to Reform Health System
In their YouTube [es] channel, the group Todo lo que hay [es] posts the story [es] of a Colombian cancer patient whose treatment has not been continuous due to various...
Ecuador Reacts to Assange Asylum
"they talk so much about freedom of expression when in our own country IT DOESN'T EXIST!" - An Ecuadorian netizen criticizes the government's decision to grant asylum to the founder of Wikileaks. Some are celebrating the bold move as well.
Paraguay: Struggles and Threats Over Aché Indigenous Lands
August was supposed to be a month of prolonged celebration after the Paraguayan government transferred some 4600 hectares of ancestral lands back to the Aché indigenous community of Kuetuvy. However, an ongoing conflict with peasant groups that claim that this land should be ruled in excess has put a damper on this joyous occasion.
Brazil: Belo Monte, the Film
The film Belo Monte, Announcement of a War was recently launched in the Internet. It is the result of a collective effort that involved the independent producer, Cinedelia, and a...
Puerto Rico: An “Activated” Space for School Athletics
Photojournalist José Jiménez talks about his project, Activao, an online space dedicated exclusively to covering school athletics in Puerto Rico. Going beyond being a specialized medium for sports, the project is, above all, a space with a social mission for young people.
Ecuador Grants WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange Asylum
After much anticipation, Ecuador announced it will grant political asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Assange is currently inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London. Twitter has been buzzing with reactions from citizens and the main protagonists in this case, like WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, and the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
The Nazi Past of the Father of Colombian Anthropology
Cristina Vélez posts [es] her thoughts about “Nazi intellectuals” in her blog after it was revealed [es], at an academic Congress in Vienna, that Austrian-born Gerardo Reichel-Dolmatoff (1912-1994), considered the...
Ecuador Grants Political Asylum to WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange
#AsiloAssange (Assange Asylum) is a local Trending Topic on Twitter in Ecuador as netizens from all over the world react to Ecuador's decision to grant asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian...
Ecuador: WikiLeaks Releases “Statement on UK Threat to Storm Ecuadorian Embassy”
WikiLeaks has released a “Statement on UK Threat to Storm Ecuadorian Embassy and Arrest Julian Assange.” The statement reads: “In a communication this morning to the government of Ecuador, the...
Peru: Amazon Officially Inaugurated as Nature's Wonder
On Monday, August 13, the city of Iquitos was the scene of colourful celebrations marking the official inauguration of the Amazon as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. Netizens shared diverse reactions to this new recognition for the Amazon.
Video: What Egypt, Congo, Uganda and Colombia Have in Common
The search for justice in the wake of conflict is what Egypt, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Colombia have in common. The Case for Justice is a series of videos debating on the relevance of what is known as transitional justice, a set of systems that is put into place to allow for accountability in the wake of massive human rights violations.
Puerto Rico: Digital “No” Campaign Takes Off
The campaign in favour of voting “no” to the limitation on the right of bail in Puerto Rico's coming referendum on August 19 has taken off on the Internet. The feminist blog Mujeres...
Mexican Constitution Translated into Indigenous Languages
Ileana Fernández from Vivir México [es] reports that the Mexican Constitution was translated into Mayan and other indigenous languages.
Colombia: Salsa Musician Jairo Varela Dies
On August 8, Colombian musician Jairo Varela Martinez died at the age of 62. Varela is known for founding the famous salsa band Grupo Niche. There were many comments on Twitter under different tags (Jairo Varela, Grupo Niche and Cali Pachanguero) as soon as his death was known.
Costa Rica: Cat Literally Drops In During University of Peace Class
A class at the University of Peace in Costa Rica had an unexpected visitor drop in, as a cat fell through the suspended ceiling right behind a couple of students...
Brazil: Judge Orders Halt to Belo Monte Dam
Brazilian judge Souza Prudente ordered halt to the construction of the controversial Belo Monte dam, in Altamira, state of Pará, on August 13, 2012, reports [pt] independent researcher Telma Monteiro on...
Chile: Mapuche Women Continue Occupation of UNICEF Office
The peaceful occupation of UNICEF headquarters in Santiago, Chile, by Mapuche women has continued for 20 days. Mapuche leaders have stated that the occupation will continue until UNICEF becomes more...
Puerto Rico: Jaime Espinal's Silver Medal Makes History
Puerto Rico celebrates Jaime Espinal's Olympic silver medal, the first to be won for the country in the freestyle wrestling. This is the second medal won for Puerto Rico in the London 2012 Olympics and only the second silver medal to be won in the country's history.
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