I am an English teacher living in Madrid. Before moving to Spain, I spent four years in Madison, Wisconsin where I received a degree in History and Spanish. I grew up in a suburb of New York City, where most of my family and friends still live.
Latest posts by Kimberly Shiller
Latin America Remembers the Disappeared
The disappearance of people has left a profound footprint in Latin America, where cases of disappearance still exist today. Photographs, songs and blogs help to keep memories alive.
VIDEO: ‘Hacking Democracy’ in Loja, Ecuador
In Loja citizens use social networks to propose concrete ideas to better their city. The organization Loja es Más launched a video where they tell us about their work.
Spaniards Vote for Universal Healthcare in Popular Referendum
Almost 1 million people in Madrid, Spain, voted in favor of universal healthcare in a popular referendum carried out by various independent groups in May in Madrid.
Spain: €8.1 Million Bail for the King's Son-in-law
Iñaki Urdangarín, Duke of Palma, accused of embezzlement of public funds, fraud, breach of trust/corruption and forgery of documents since 2012, has been in and out of the courts with less than enviable frequency. Recently, a warrant for Urdangarín was issued in relation to misappropriation of public funds.
Peru: Wendy Sulca, YouTube Phenomenon, Teased Once Again
Peruvian YouTube star Wendy Sulca greeted her supposed fans on her Tweetcam earlier this month, seemingly unaware that she was the victim of a series of pranks as she stated fictitious names, some with double meanings
United States: Occupy Sandy Stands Up to Destruction
Occupy Sandy has proved to be a great help in alleviating the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. Organized by the group InterOccupy, Occupy Sandy was created as a part of the Occupy movement whose methodology was to organize general assemblies, attracting individuals and groups working to promote mutual communication. As stipulated in its mission, the movement seeks to respond to the needs of the 99 percent.
Death of Colombian Football Player Miguel Calero Shakes Mexico
Mexicans expressed their support and solidarity on Twitter after learning that Colombian and former football player Miguel Calero had been declared brain dead. Hours after this post was published in Spanish, the Pachuca Football Club announced Calero had passed away.
Social Pressure Halts Evictions Temporarily in Spain
After years of action, the associations and platforms that formed in protest against home evictions in Spain achieved their first great success. The Spanish Banking Association announced that all evictions for families with small children, people with disabilities and the long-term unemployed will be suspended for the next two years.
Argentina Lowers Voting Age to 16
The possibility to vote at age 16 was passed on the first of November. Although the vote for minors who are 16 and 17 years of age is optional, this change presents a new challenge for Argentinian politicians with respect to the legislative elections of 2013. Here we share some opinions of young new voters.
Peru: Analyzing the Motives behind Violence at La Parada Market
On the afternoon of October 25, an operation at the wholesale market La Parada -which is being moved- resulted in a free-for-all between merchants and the police, leading to two deaths and 108 injured, 66 of whom were police officers. These events have been widely reported, disseminated and discussed on blogs and social network sites.
Colombian Senator Removed and Disqualified, Triumph for Social Networks?
On October 16, 2012 the Attorney General's Office dismissed Senator Eduardo Merlano from office, disqualifying him from holding public office for 10 years after finding him guilty of taking advantage of his position as senator to avoid a traffic ticket. News of the dismissal was well received among Colombian netizens, who attributed the achievement to a successful campaign calling for Senator Merlano to resign.
Panama, Honduras and Costa Rica Continue on the Road to 2014 World Cup
Panama, Honduras and Costa Rica advanced to the final qualifying round in the Concacaf (the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) competition to reach the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Football fans on various social networks have been discussing the exciting qualification matches.
Controversy over Nobel Peace Prize to European Union
The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to the European Union (EU) has sparked a lively debate in the media and on social networks in Europe and the rest of the world.
Mexico: #YoSoy132 and the Festival ‘Corona Capital 2012′
Corona Capital 2012, a musical festival in Mexico where bands such as New Order, Franz Ferdinand, The Raveonettes and many others will perform, has been immersed in a controversy, thanks to a boycott promoted by the movement #YoSoy132.
United States: The Road to Peace According to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, emblematic figure of the Burmese opposition and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, recieved the Vaclav Havel for Creative Dissent award given by the Human Rights Foundation during the San Francisco Freedom Forum. Her participation was part of a 15-day tour throughout the United States.
Peru: Poet Antonio Cisneros Dies
Antonio Cisneros, one of the greats of Peruvian poetry, died on October 6 at age 69. Here we honor his memory and include videos of his poems.
Peru: Activists Begin “Civic Crusade” in Defense of the Nanay River
In our first post in this tree-part series we briefly introduced some water-related issues in Iquitos, and later presented the controversy generated by the transnational Conoco Phillips and their exploration and search for hydrocarbons in the Nanay River basin. In this post we continue addressing the issue and discuss how organizations like the Water Committee are fighting this problem.
Internet Activa: A Course on Digital Rights and Civil Liberties
With the sponsorship of Google and the support of the organization Red Pa Todos, the Karisma foundation has launched Internet Activa, "an open, [free], and digital online course aimed at supporting those who want to actively participate in defending the open, participatory, and free Internet that we know."
United States: Occupy Wall Street, One Year Later
September 15-17 2012 marked the first year anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street movement. Scenes that took place during the inception of the movement repeated themselves: hundreds of arrests were reported on Saturday the 15th amidst the protests that culminated on Monday the 17th in the neighborhood near the stock exchange.
Venezuela: Discussion and Debate on the Road to Election Day
With less than a month left before the presidential elections, the conversation online highlights the separation between the visions incumbent Hugo Chávez and opponent Henrique Capriles have for the future of Venezuela. A collection of statements helps us further understand the complexities that remain hidden behind a division that, on the surface, only has two sides.
United States: Spanish Stands Out in Political Conventions
In the race for the White House, the political conventions held at the end of August and beginning of September served as a showcase for the Republican and Democratic parties. This year, the conventions demonstrated the continuously growing importance of the Spanish language.
