Latest posts by Julián Ortega Martínez
Colombia: If Mubarak were Colombian
Around the time Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak was scheduled to deliver his disappointing speech on February 10, 2011, the hashtag #siMubarakfueracolombiano ("If Mubarak were Colombian") started trending on the local twittosphere.
Colombia: British expat loves Bogotá
Vicki, a British journalist living in Colombia's capital, has posted her 101 reasons to love Bogotá, including “Streets are numbered, not named. You don’t need an A-Z,” “It is considered...
Colombia: Twitterathon for School Children
February is back-to-school season in most of Colombia, and some Twitter users (who helped organize a “Twitterathon” last December to help the victims of the rainy season) joined to gather...
Colombia: Twitter Solidarity with Victims of Rainy Season
Colombian Twitter users have joined to support the victims of this year's heavy rainy season, which has affected at least 1.5 million people. Twitteratón [es] started on December 8 as...
Colombia: Mayor of Bogotá isolated amidst corruption allegations
Bogotá Mayor Samuel Moreno Rojas faced criticism even before taking office in 2008; as the mayor, he has been regarded mostly as an "incompetent" who "lacks leadership", and is routinely mocked with nicknames as "bobolitro" ("dumb"). In the last few weeks, a corruption scandal has added to this criticism.
Peru: Two Women Contend to Become Mayor of Lima
On Sunday October 3 regional and municipal elections will be held in all of Peru, and for the first time the top candidates in Lima are two women. But this does not mean that the campaign has been free of rumors, accusations, and scandals. Of course, bloggers have also been sharing their views and evaluating the candidates.
Colombia: First Reactions to the Death of FARC Leader ‘Mono Jojoy’
Víctor Julio Suárez, better known as Jorge Briceño or Mono Jojoy, one of the top leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), was killed in the so-called "Operation Sodom." Colombian Twitter users immediately reacted to the news.
Colombia: Twitter Reactions to the Colombian Bicentennial and its Google Doodle
On July 20, Colombia celebrates 200 years of the declaration of independence and the start of the wars which ended August 7, 1819, when the then New Granada achieved its definitive independence from Spain. Colombian Twitter users reacted to the bicentennial celebration, including the Google Doodle chosen for the day.
Colombia: Critical Views on the Bicentennial
The 200 years of the Colombian independence is the subject of posts by Jaime Restrepo on Atrabilioso [es], who criticizes the common stereotypes about Colombians and their urge to “get...
Colombia: Uproar After Former FARC Hostage Íngrid Betancourt Seeks Compensation
Rescued two years ago after being kidnapped by FARC in 2002, French-Colombian citizen Íngrid Betancourt is now claiming millions in government compensation for her 6-year captivity. The uproar caused by the news was reflected on Twitter and the blogosphere.
Colombia: Armed Forces Rescue 4 Hostages Kidnapped by FARC in 1998
News of the rescue of 4 FARC hostages in Colombia caused a quick reaction from Twitter users. They commented on their thoughts and feelings about the rescue itself, the political implications and the way the Media covered the story.
Colombia: Reactions to Presidential Elections from the Blogosphere
The Colombian blogosphere also reacted to the outcome of the presidential elections held on May 30, discussing why the Green party candidate, Antanas Mockus, lost to the candidate of the ruling coalition, Juan Manuel Santos. They also analyzed what is in store for the political atmosphere in Colombia after the June 20 run-off election.
Colombia: First Reactions to the Results of Presidential Elections on Twitter
The results of the Colombian presidential elections held on May 30 surprised a lot of people. Tweeter users used the microblogging platform to voice their opinions on the outcome.
Colombia: Tweeting the May 30 Presidential Elections
Twitter activity about the May 30 Colombian Presidential elections is at an all-time high. Topics include the missteps by some of the candidates, their performance in the debates, as well as the chances of minor candidates.
Colombia: Presidential Election and Campaigning in Citizen Media
The Colombian Presidential election is scheduled for May 30, in which Juan Manuel Santos and Antanas Mockus are considered the frontrunners. The contest is actively being discussed in citizen media by supporters, opponents, and those indifferent of the candidates.
Colombia: ‘Child Bomb’ Used to Attack Police Station
Gustavo Silva Cano provides his thoughts [es] about the death of 12-year-old Heriberto Grueso in El Charco (Nariño, southwestern Colombia), killed by a bomb he was carrying inside a package...
Colombia: Results from March 14 Elections
On Sunday March 14, Colombians went to the polls to elect legislative representatives. It was also viewed as a barometer of what could happen in the May 30 presidential elections.
Colombia: Court Rules President Uribe Cannot Run for Third Term
It is official: Colombian President Álvaro Uribe cannot run for a third term in office. The referendum that could have changed the Constitution was ruled unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court in a decision announced on February 26.
Colombia: President Álvaro Uribe's Bid for Third Term
While Colombian President Álvaro Uribe has expressed an interest in running for a third consecutive term, changes in the Constitution are needed to allow this. A recent recommendation by the Inspector General gave his re-election bid a big boost.
Colombia: Tensions and ‘Winds of War’ with Venezuela
As a result of several incidents along the border, tensions have been escalating in the last few weeks between Colombia and Venezuela, two neighboring countries which already have strained relations.
Colombia: The Extraordinary UNASUR Meeting in Bariloche
The Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) recently held an extraordinary meeting in Argentina primarily to discuss the use of Colombian military bases by the U.S. military. Bloggers and twitterers commented during the 6 hour meeting.
