Stories about Latin America from November, 2013
Unveiling the Many Mysteries of the Monthly Energy Bill in Puerto Rico
The non-profit think tank Center for the New Economy (CNE), based in Puerto Rico, has launched the innovative and creative online campaign “The Mysteries of Your Energy Bill” [es] in which they explain the unexplainable: Where do all those increases in the energy bill come from? What do those formulas and...
Cuban Government Agency Investigates Incident of Homophobic Violence First Reported Online
A Cuban author reported an incident of physical violence against a group of homosexual men in the city of Cardenas, Matanzas, in his blog. Now it is under investigation.
Dominican Republic and Haiti: Two very different versions
The blog Repeating Islands republished two letters to the editor of the New York Times that paint two very different pictures on the situation regarding the recent decision of the Constitutional Tribunal of the Dominican Republic to strip citizenship from all descendants of immigrants who entered the country extralegally, retroactive...
For the Love of Football and Bolivia
Of all the aspects of Bolivian culture, "it was football that best helped me make sense of my bicultural and transnational existence," writes Eddie Avila.
Ecuador: #Ruraleando, a Blog That Humanizes Medicine
#Ruraleando is Denisse Calle's blog, an Ecuadorian doctor who, thanks to the experiences of her year's rural placement, proposes solutions to the country's health system.
Peruvians Protest Against Pro-Fujimori Congresswoman
Peruvian human rights organizations are speaking out against [es] the appointment [es] of pro-Fujimori congresswoman Martha Chávez [es] as a member of the Human Rights Commission in Congress due to her history [es] of disrespect of human rights. Yesterday, November 5, Congress rejected [es] the request by congressman Heriberto Benítez -who...
Global Demand for Quinoa Takes Toll on Andean Farmers and Consumers
Peru and Bolivia can't produce enough supply to satisfy global demand for quinoa, which is causing problems in the local market and affecting locals who used to consume it regularly.
D.R., Haiti: We Can Work It Out?
This is an island. No way out. So these two nations, who have been doing a live rendition of a Russian novel for 500 years, are going to have to work it out. Contrary to many of the opinions expressed in this post, Changing Perspectives weighs in on the decision...
‘A Country is More Than a Territory': Chileans Demand Vote From Abroad
Chileans abroad will not be able to vote on November 17, but they can participate in a symbolic and electronic election to push for exercising their right to vote.
Book Highlights Women's Plight to Find the Disappeared in Chile's Desert
We dug in the desert and sometimes came across strange bones. We were so frightened during those years that we would bury them again. With this quote Ramona Wadi starts her review of the book titled “Flowers in the desert – the search for Chile’s disappeared”, by author Paula Allen....
Remembering the 1746 Earthquake in Lima
On October 28, 1746, Lima was shaken by one of the strongest earthquakes in its history. Here are several testimonies from that time period recovered by historians and Peruvian bloggers.
Painting an Entire Favela in Rio de Janeiro
The dream of painting an entire favela in Rio de Janeiro is closer to become real now that the crowdfunding campaign launched by two Dutch artists in September has come to an end with over 100,000 US dollars raised for paint and painters. When Jeroen Koolhaas and Dre Urhahn started the...
Teaser of Collaboration Between Calle 13 and Wikileaks’ Julian Assange
The expected single titled “Multi_Viral,” a collaboration between Puerto Rican hip hop group Calle 13 and Wikileaks’ Julian Assange, will be released next November 13, 2013 (yes, all 13s). Last June, René Pérez, the group's frontman, visited Assange in the Ecuadorian embassy in London. Using the hashtag #JulianAssangeCalle13 they asked...
‘Women Should Be Submissive’, and Other Google Autocomplete Suggestions
Following UN Women's lead, Global Voices conducted its own experiments with Google's Autocomplete feature. The investigation revealed popular attitudes about women’s roles, sexuality, appearance and relationships with men.
Latin American Women Face Harsh Penalties for Minor Drug Offenses
Between 2006 and 2011, the female prison population almost doubled in Latin America from 40,000 to more than 74,000 inmates. Most incarcerated women are accused of minor drug offenses, –75% -80% in Ecuador, 30 to 60% in Mexico, 64% in Costa Rica, 60% in Brazil and 70% in Argentina– linked...
Goodbye “CUC”, Unification of Dual Monetary System Begins in Cuba
The phasing out of the convertible peso (CUC) has received significant attention from the international press, blogs, and economic analysts.
Unchecked Violence Continues in Michoacán, Mexico
Violence and impunity continue in the state of Michoacán while every day more people are talking about a 'Failed State.'