Latest posts by Janine Mendes-Franco from December, 2008
Puerto Rico: Pasteles
The Voice of the Taino People Online republishes an article which reveals that the popular Christmas dish pasteles is actually indigenous in origin.
Bahamas: Sour Santa
Simon, blogging at Bahama Pundit, is convinced that Santa Claus is vex.
Cuba, Brazil, U.S.A.: Composer Honoured
AfriClassical is thrilled that the Brazilian city of Sao Paolo is honouring renowned Cuban composer Leo Brouwer.
Trinidad & Tobago: Oval Art
The walls of the Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain have been plastered “with large posters showcasing the who's who in local contemporary art” – the bookmann thinks a few additional steps need to be taken to make the project worthwhile.
Bermuda: High Food Prices
21 Square offers a few tangible solutions for curbing high food prices in Bermuda.
Barbados, Dominica: A First for Indigenous Communities
Barbados Free Press reports on “a first in the history of the Americas” as Dominica issues a diplomatic passport to its indigenous Kalinago-Carib leader.
Dominica, U.S.A.: Economic Effects
Dan at Dominica Weekly notices that the economic downturn is having a trickle-down effect on Dominicans who live abroad.
Cuba: Damas March for Human Rights
Both Uncommon Sense and The Cuban Triangle report that the Damas de Blanco marched through Havana on Wednesday – without incident – to commemorate International Human Rights Day.
Jamaica: Speaking Patois
Iriegal explores the origins of Jamaican patois and links to a few examples of how to speak it.
Cuba: Gabo in Havana
Both Yohandry's Weblog (ES) and Havana Times blog about Nobel Laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez's visit to Cuba “for the final days of the Havana Film Festival, an annual event that he rarely misses.”
Haiti, U.S.A.: Relief Delay
The Haitian Blogger reports that storm victims are dying of starvation because of the delay in getting goods to the island: “The situation is that aid agencies are in control of foreign aid to Haiti and the Haitian government as usual, is being cut out of the picture and were...
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Differently-Abled
“I thought that not so long ago, children with disabilities were like dirty family secrets to be kept hidden away and far from curious eyes”: Abeni attends a Christmas programme at a School for Children with Special Needs in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and comes away with the realization...
Trinidad & Tobago: Artistry
Blogging from Trinidad and Tobago, the bookmann interviews Trinidadian wire artist Susan Dayal and reviews graphic artist Marlon Darbeau's most recent installation.
Cuba: Idealogical Monogamy
“If concepts such as ‘sick’ have now been banished from the study of homosexuality, why does the adjective ‘counterrevolutionary’ continue to be used for those who think differently”: Yoani Sanchez puts the question to Mariela Castro Espin, the director of the Cuban National Center for Sex Education.
Guyana: Flooding
Living Guyana posts photos of the capital city, which has been inundated with flood waters.
Cuba: Human Rights Day
Today is International Human Rights Day - an annual reminder of the day on which the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights back in 1948. Sixty years later, Cuban bloggers (particularly from the diaspora) remain vocal about the many human rights abuses that plague the island of their birth.
Puerto Rico, Barbados, Guyana: Indigenous Rights
The Voice of the Taino People Online reports that Damon Corrie, “the sometimes controversial Barbados born Indigenous Rights activist of Guyanese Arawak descent” is attending negotiations on the draft American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Dominica: Rights of the Child
“The stunning reality is there are a number of incidents of uncalled-for brutality and abuse against children every day in our society”: Dominica Weekly says that there is a fine line between discipline and child abuse.
Bahamas: Death of an Icon
“Mr. Farrington was one of the most brilliant men I have ever met. He was often in another world, but when he was in ours his intellect was staggering”: Nicolette Bethel acknowledges the passing of a Bahamian “cultural giant”.
Trinidad & Tobago: Waste Not
“The next time you see your neighbor’s garbage scattered on the road don’t think of it as an unsightly mess but as an opportunity to get to know them better”: Blogging from Trinidad and Tobago, This Beach Called Life gets trashy!
Trinidad & Tobago: Language Lessons
“What's with the dumbing down of the English language by people who should know better?” From Trinidad and Tobago, Coffeewallah thinks that “poor language is really a way to keep people oppressed.”
