Blogger since 2003, I have lived, worked, and traveled throughout most of Latin America. I blog here.
Latest posts by David Sasaki from June, 2006
Latin America: Comparison of Presidential Salaries
Peruvian blogger Eland Vera has an interesting list of the salaries of various Latin American presidents.
Uruguay: Comments on Blogs
Ganimatux, the weblog of a Uruguayan Debian programmer explains why he's been posting less on his own blog recently (ES): “It's true that we don't all have time to read everyone's blog and then also think of a comment, because sometimes there's nothing to say. But, how about a simple...
Venezuela: Translations
Francisco of Caracas Chronicles has translated excerpts of a piece by Juan Carlos Zapata, which argues that a new power dynamic is evolving in Venezuela. Another translation comes from Guillermo Parra, who offers the english version of Antonio López Ortega's reflection on Arturo Uslar Pietri and the concept of “mestizaje”...
Venezuela: “A bad day for Venezuelan democracy”
Both Miguel Octavio and Daniel Duquenal are disheartened by opposition electoral NGO, Sumate's decision to forego primary elections. Duquenal says that “the electoral trickery of chavismo is so blatant that it seems impossible to have a free and fair election in December,” however, Oil Wars disagrees, describing the opposition as...
Spain: Music: CC Licensed Compilation
Eduardo Arcos and Fernando Casale both comment on the release of a Creative Commons-licensed compilation by the Spanish newspaper El País. The album is freely available for download.
Mexico: More on the electoral use of welfare
Michelle Dion says that “the use of social welfare for political gain is nothing new” in Mexico, an observation supported by two recent studies that suggest the Oportunidades program has been politically manipulated by local governments.
Ecuador: Weblog of the Week
This week's Ecuablogs weblog of the week (ES) is Batiduende (ES). Cartas de Palas (ES) was second place with twenty votes.
Costa Rica: Farmers Market Prices and Photos
After posting a photo album of the farmers market in Desampa, Tejas, Rojos, y un Cinco now posts a list of common prices at a Costa Rican farmer's market.
Brazil: Gilles Peterson’s Podcast
Claudio recommends the podcast of Gilles Peterson: “Each podcast is 30 minutes long and devoted to a different theme, with interviews and live sessions. Covered are Baile Funk, Roots & Samba, Bossa Nova, The Rodrigues Family, Hip Hop and Electronica.”
Colombia: Bogota, the Bicycle, and Transportation
David, a cyclist and blogger who is riding from Central America down to South America explains why we went off route to check out Bogota's public transportation system: “In the 1990s, in the face of horrible road congestion, Bogota did something amazing – it reduced space for cars.”
Guatemala: Spanish Investigative Commission Questioning Impunity
As the Spanish investigative commission arrives in Guatemala to question the impunity of Efrain Rios Montt and others connected to genocide charges, Patrick of the Guatemala Solidarity Network posts an open letter demanding the end of impunity.
Brazil, Japan: Digital TV to Mobile Devices
Melo Bichuetti explains the Japanese-Brazilian collaboration to offer digital television, noting that the “Nippon-Brazilian model allows transmission to mobile devices, what is not possible in the case of the European model.”
Argentina: “Hostile Takeover”
Why did British Brigadier General William Carr Beresford invade Buenos Aires 200 years ago without approval from his superiors? Robert Wright lays out some theories.
Bolivia: Lack of Information Regarding Assembly Candidates
Briegel Busch blames the current administration for the lack of information (ES) regarding candidates running for the new constituent assembly.
Peru: Wireless Networks in Developing Countries
Luis Gustavo Lira announces the Spanish translation of “Wireless Networks in Developing Countries,” (ES) a Creative Commons-licensed book which covers “the basic physics of radio and the development of networks, including equipment and troubleshooting … The book hopes to be a useful resource for technicians in developing countries by gathering...
Chile, Argentina: Blogger Reunions
Two blogger meetups in the Southern Cone. Ariel Vercelli reminds readers (ES) that June 29th is “Weblog Day” (ES) in Buenos Aires with an event at the University of Palermo. Meanwhile, Argentine-Spaniard José Luis Orihuela, author of the recently published “The Blog Revolution (ES),” will take advantage of his time...
Brazil: São Paulo Pride 2006
Made in Brazil has an assortment of posts on São Paulo Pride 2006, which ended last week.
Colombia: The UN's data on Coca-Growing
Adam Isacson explains why the recently released Andean Coca Survey by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime is required reading for anyone wanting “to know about drug-crop cultivation in Colombia and the rest of the region.”
El Salvador: Gay Pride and Gay Issues
Observing that “dozens of gay and lesbian protesters marched today in a Gay Pride March in San Salvador,” Tim Muth links to some background context on gay issues in El Salvador. Meg also writes about “Salvadoran Gay Pride.”
The World Cup Online: Discovering Lionel Messi's Blog or Blognovela
The anonymous nature of the web is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, everyday citizens living under repressive regimes, can easily learn how to blog anonymously and express themselves without fear of reprisal. On the other hand, it is difficult if not impossible to verify the real identity of...
Mexico: Un Poco de Todo
Ana Maria Salazar Slack runs through Mexico's big three stories: the status of negotiations between Oaxacan teachers and the Ministry of the Interior, union strikes by minors, and the campaign trail with less than one week till elections. From Pachuca, Mexico Votes 2006 describes an Institutional Revolutionary Party campaign event.
