Social Worker and coordinator of “Mujeres e Inclusión Digital”. I write with some frequency for Global Voices Online (covering posts on Colombia) and blogging at “Cosas del Alma” [es]. Please READ MY ACTUAL GV POSTS ON Global Voices – Es
Latest posts by Cati Restrepo
Colombia Answers with New Promotional Campaign and Slogan
"Where are foreigners welcomed with courtesy, friendship and love? #TheAnswerIsColombia." A new promotional campaign and video was launched by the Colombian government with the slogan "The Answer is Colombia." Countless responses, positive and negative, have been appearing under the hashtag #LaRespuestaEsColombia.
Colombian Government Plans Peace Talks with FARC
In the blog Crónicas, Santos García Zapata explains the context [es] around the Presidential decision to start peace talks with guerrilla groups. The Congress’ Peace Commission has declared that President Santos “is not alone” in his determination to reach peace.
Colombia: A Demonstration in Favor of Accessibility in Transportation
The movement Fuerza Incluyente from Medellín is calling for a demonstration against the violation of rights in public transportation. Fuerza Incluyente invites those with or without disabilities to participate: “Let's remember that thousands of people don't leave their homes due to a lack of accessibility in public transportation.” The demonstration...
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 administrative procedures that are part of the health system in the country: “Jorge Mario's call is similar to that of...
Colombia: Caterine Ibargüen Wins Silver in Triple Jump
This post is part of our Special Coverage of our London 2012 Games. During the afternoon of Sunday, August 5, Colombian Twitter users expressed their emotion, expectation and tension due to the performance of Caterine Ibargüen, who represents the country in long jump, high jump, and triple jump at the...
Mexico: Ranchera Singer Chavela Vargas Dies
Ranchera singer Chavela Vargas, born in Costa Rica but of Mexican nationality, died on the afternoon of August 5 after respiratory arrest at the age of 93. After learning the news, various netizens from Mexico and other countries published their condolences under the hashtag 'Murió Chavela Vargas' ("Chavela Vargas has died").
Colombia: The Environmental Heritage of the Country is Threatened by Mining
Through her Facebook profile, Carla Bajonero shares her concern regarding mining in Colombia [es]. In her opinion, mining only leaves behind “pollution and laughable earnings.” She then asks: “What happens to the environmental and cultural heritage of Colombia if mining continues in this boom?” Carla also writes about this issue...
Colombia: “Are We Truly Independent?”
On Colombia's Independence Day, bloggers and Twitter users expressed all sorts of opinions on the Internet. While some commemorated the day by showing their pride for being Colombian, others commented on the situation regarding the indigenous people of Cauca, the presence of multinational corporations, and other current topics.
Colombia: A Lab for Social Sciences
Blogger Luis Ángel Pérez writes about wanting to create a lab for Social Sciences, just like there are labs for chemistry or physics. He imagines the lab [es] with many sofas and good music. “Social Sciences are about our home and its history,” he concludes.
Colombia: “We are going to end with darkness in Congress”
On Facebook the Primary Constituent movement [es] is calling [es] for a gathering at Plaza de Bolívar (Bogotá's main public square) to protest corruption of politicians and demand that Emilio Otero is not reelected as secretary of the Colombian Congress. The gathering, called “We are going to end with darkness...
Colombia: 72-year-old Man Demands A Decent Life
Via Facebook, Arlovich Correa [es] shares the story of a 72-year-old Colombian man who decided to climb to the top of an antenna, putting his life in danger, to demand a pension and better quality of life. Correa expresses his indignation at the people who walked by and told the...
Colombia: Tweeting Marathon to Demand Senator's Resignation
Twitter users have organized [es] a tweeting marathon to demand the resignation of Senator Eduardo Merlano after the politician refused [es] to undergo a sobriety test. The goal is to reach 50,000 tweets (the amount of votes that got him elected senator) and through these tweets argue that he needs...
Colombia: “San Andrés belongs to Colombia”
Nicaragua has presented a claim [es] in the International Court of Justice over the sovereignty of the Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina, which is currently part of Colombia's political map after a treaty signed by both countries in 1928. Many in Colombia have expressed their desire for San...
Colombia: Closing of Community Radio Station Sparks Debate
Community radio station Café Líbano, from Líbano [es] in the Tolima department, denounces its closing by the government, pointing out that it was carried out arbitrarily. According to Cesáreo Gálvez, one of its founders, the closing is “an affront to the right to information and communication embodied in community radio.”...
Colombia: Explosions near the US embassy in Bogotá
On the night of April 13, against the backdrop of the Summit of the Americas [es] (a meeting of the continent's heads of State), explosions were heard [es] near the location of the United States Embasy in Bogotá. No one was injured as a result of the incident [es], and...
Colombia: “Lend Your Leg” Campaign Raises Awareness about Antipersonnel Mines
On April 4 the "International Day for Mine Awareness" took place as part of Lend Your Leg. During the day netizens shared opinions on Twitter on what this harsh truth means for the world, and especially Colombia, using the hashtags #Remángate and #Lendyourleg.
Colombia: Using an Earthquake to Advertise
Geek The Planet writes about an earthquake in Colombia which took place during the morning of February 24 and the recklessness of some Community Managers who used the quake to come up with advertising material. The post criticizes what various companies published on Twitter [es], and the writer posts some...
Colombia: Impunity, a Documentary About the Victims of the Armed Conflict
In 2011, journalist Hollman Morris and filmmaker Juan José Lozano released the documentary Impunity, an audiovisual tour through the history of armed conflict in Colombia through the voices of victims of armed groups. Due to its theme, Impunity has generated all kinds of opinions, and reactions on the Internet are proof of that.
Colombia: Vigil for the Release of Hostages
On December 23, Las Voces del Secuestro [es] (“Voices of Kidnappings”) called for a ‘great vigil for the release of hostages’ [es], which “has as its main point of concentration the Plaza de Bolivar in Bogota, which for 17 years has received people accompanying relatives of hostages.” Vigils were also...
Colombians March Against the FARC and Kidnappings
Netizens used the hashtag #LiberenlosYa [es] (“free them now”) to share opinions and reports on the December 6 nationwide anti-FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) protests where Colombians demanded the release of hostages.
Colombia: Students Gather in Bogotá's Bolívar Square
On November 10, public university students participated in marches throughout the country and gathered in Bolivar Square in Bogota, the principal administrative center of the country. The event aimed to pressure the government to definitively repeal Law 30 for higher education reform.
