Freelance translator based in Mexico City. Passionate about social justice, environmental awareness, and human and animal rights.
Latest posts by Melissa Wise
Chronicles of a transgender woman’s visit to the doctor
“Many doctors see her from the point of view that she ’should be’ a man, who for them is so weak that he resorts to wearing feminine garments.”
Spain’s official linguistic institution steps back from gender-neutral pronoun
"The RAE is a bit like the Pope: we don't care what they say, but that they say it is half the battle."
Argentina resumes the fight for legal abortion with new draft bill
In 2018, Argentina's Senate rejected a bill that would legalize abortion in the South American country. Will it be different this time?
Cuban activists launch detailed agenda for LGBTIQ rights in Cuba
"What could be considered the first document of its kind in Cuba [...] includes 63 specific demands and is divided into two sections: legislative measures and policies, plans and strategies."
Ulises Padrón: “In [Cuban] Society, LGBTQI People and Groups are Becoming More Visible”
"...[A]lthough the country recognizes...an important set of rights (health, education, culture, employment), there are others that fall to the wayside in the current national and regional situation."
Mezcal: The Rebirth of a Traditional Mexican Drink
After having been considered an underappreciated drink, mezcal is finally found in the most chic bars on the planet and bartenders are giving it the recognition it deserves.
Equatoguinean Artist Carmen Bolena Explores Her History and Identity Through Her Drawings
"All of this discovery was restorative for my troubled conscience. It no longer hurts to recognize that I am black. I am and I say it bursting with pride."
Automatic Speech Recognition Project Seeks to Revitalize the Quechua Languages
Can you imagine computers, smartphones and robots that speak Quechua? A Peruvian engineer’s work aims to do just that.
After the Catalonia Attacks: Hate Messages and Social Network Confrontations
"This cannot be just another story. We have to learn from it, we have to make a better world. Leading by example, educating in non-violence, conveying non-hatred, equality."
Why Is the Biggest Sugar Mill in Western Cuba Economically and Environmentally Inefficient?
For years, the biggest sugar mill in Western Cuba has had the worst harvest.
Young Peruvians Trade Weapons for Shears and Razors
Ingenious solutions to big problems. Barbering becomes an alternative to crime for Peru's youngsters.
Trans Women Fleeing Central America Find Hope and Hardship Further North
"I was attacked in Mexico City and that’s why I decided to keep moving. I feel more welcome in Tijuana. Staying busy helps me forget about things."
Kaqchikel and Other Guatemalan Languages Gain Momentum Online Thanks to Digital Activism
The Digital Activism Meeting for Indigenous Languages took place in Guatemala and brought together important initiatives for the visibility and strengthening of Mayan languages through technology.
“Bodies Die, Countries Don't”: What the Venezuela Crisis Takes Away From Us
"Two years ago..there wasn't yet talk of people searching for food in the trash. Now, they not only look for it, but fight over it."
The Day Latin America Declared Itself Feminist
Activists from Uruguay, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, and Venezuela explain why the International Women's Strike was so important to their region.
Facebook Gives a Voice to Missing People in Mexico
Families in Mexico searching desperately for missing loved ones are turning to social media and other digital platforms as an effective way to get the word out.
A Legislative Proposal in Mexico Would Tie Political Parties’ Funding to Voter Turnout
"Cutting back where we should: public funding of parties so that it's linked to the vote and not the register."
What Are People Naming Their Kids in Mexico?
Did you know there are Mexicans named "Christmas Day" or "Yahoo" and that -- to make matters worse -- online bullying violates their privacy?
The Bitter Aftertaste Left by Donald Trump's Visit to Mexico
US presidential candidate Donald Trump made a short visit to Mexico’s capital last month for a private meeting with President Enrique Peña claiming a high cost for the president.
‘Avocado Talk’ No Longer So Appetizing for Mexicans
Mexico's economic crisis is forcing the country to think about how much people spend on food, and the rising cost of avocados has become a particularly sore point.
‘There Are Increasingly More and More Positive, Strong and Motivating Representations of Black Women’
The author interviews American filmmaker, scholar and activist, Beti Ellerson.
