Uruguayan-Spanish journalist, editor, and blogger. Currently living in Chile, tweeting in English and Spanish under @silviavinas, and blogging on silviavinas.com
Latest posts by Silvia Viñas from June, 2011
Bolivia: Using Cellphone Cameras to Document Incidents
On June 28 Oscar Trujillo was hit by the driver of police colonel Guido Espinoza in La Paz. After Trujillo complained, the colonel got out of his car and assaulted him, even taking out his weapon. The incident was recorded with cellphone cameras. Blogger Mario R. Duran [es] of Palabras...
Uruguay: Controversy Over Open-Pit Iron Ore Mining Project
A project to build an open-pit iron ore mine in central Uruguay has divided the country's citizens, who are manifesting their differing opinions on the streets and online.
Guatemala: Electoral Authorities Reject Sandra Torres Presidential Bid
Sandra Torres divorced her husband, President Alvaro Colom, to be eligible to run for president. But things didn't turn out as planned. Mike in Central American Politics reports: “On Wednesday, Guatemalan electoral authorities rejected Sandra Torres's presidential candidacy on the grounds of “supposed legal fraud.” The TSE's resolution said that...
Honduras: Zelaya Supporters March on Two-Year Anniversary of Coup
June 28, 2011 marked the two year anniversary of the coup that removed Manuel Zelaya from office in Honduras. Adrienne Pine participated with “a group of about 500 people” in a march along “half the length of the side of Palmerola [Air Base] […] around 7km”.
Uruguay: In Cerro Chato Citizens Protest in Favor and Against the Aratirí Mining Project
Citizens of Cerro Chato in central Uruguay are divided: over the weekend manifestations took place both in favor and against the Aratirí mining project. The blog Aire Libre [es] posts photos and audio of the protests.
El Salvador: Food Security, a Historical and Ongoing Struggle
Voices From El Salvador has posted a two part post on “El Salvador's ongoing struggle with food security.” Part 1 provides a historical background, as well a review of current challenges; Part 2 looks at how climate change is affecting food security.
Ecuador's Growing Problem with Organized Crime
Bloggings by Boz, explains that “Ecuador is experiencing more violent and organized crime because of an increase in drug trafficking”, and points out: “The most recent surveys I saw in Ecuador showed that crime is becoming a political liability for President Correa.”
Guatemala: What can you eat with one dollar?
In Central American Politics, Mike posts a video where Francisco Fion of the World Food Program explains that about half of the population of Guatemala lives in poverty with 7 quetzales a day –about 1 US dollar. How much food can you buy with 7 quetzales? Watch the video to...
Argentina: Buenos Aires ‘Cartoneros’
Simon Kofoed, In his blog argen-times, writes about ‘cartoneros': “The tens of thousands of cartoneros, perhaps best translated as cardboard people, make their living by extracting recyclable materials from the city’s rubbish.”
Honduras: Dam Project on UNESCO World Heritage in Danger Site Gets Little English Media Attention
RAJ, in Honduras Culture and Politics, says English language media have given little attention to the construction of a dam in the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve, “a project of the current Honduran administration, acting against the protests of the indigenous peoples of eastern Honduras, who have not been consulted as...
Uruguay: Backstage in TEDx Montevideo
Mauricio Milano from Montevideo Blogger [es] tweeted [es] and updated the official Facebook [es] feed for TEDx Montevideo [es], which was held on June 22. In his personal blog he writes about his experience ‘backstage’.
Mexico: Wikinarco.com: Crowdmapping Narco Activity
Paula Gonzalo, in Periodismo Ciudadano [es], writes about Wikinarco.com [es], a crowdmapping initiative where citizens can report illegal activities related to drug trafficking in Mexico.
Paraguay: Photo Essay: The Ovecha Rague Festival
Yluux posts a photo essay [es] of the Ovecha Rague (‘sheep fur’ in guaraní) festival in San Miguel, Paraguay. The festival includes artistic performances, craft fairs, an exposition of products made out of sheep's wool and more.
Peru: Women in Iquitos Protest High Levels of Aluminum in Water
A recent report shows that the levels of aluminum in the water consumed by the people of Iquitos is above what is permitted. Global Voices writer and Spanish Translation Manager, Juan Arellano, explains [es] the situation and shares photos of a protest organized by different women's organizations.
El Salvador: Price of Corn Triples in a Little Over a Year
El Salvador From the Inside reports on the rising cost of corn, an important and basic staple for Salvadorans: “June 2011 newspapers report a quintal [100 lb bag of corn] costs up to $40 , due to last year’s bad harvest and growing season starting late this year. Maize had...
Nicaragua: A Social Debt with the Countryside
Ronald Hill says [es] that “Nicaragua carries a social debt with the countryside, with thousands of peasants who live precariously.” He summarizes the hardships Nicaraguans in the countryside face every day and wonders why conditions there do not improve, even when the country's economy grows every year.
Argentina: The Flag Day Ceremony and Cristina Fernández's Bid for Re-Election
President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was the only speaker during the Flag Day ceremony in Argentina, an event celebrated every June 20; a patriotic holiday full of Argentine and political party flags. Argentines are beginning to find out who will run for president in this year's elections.
Panama: Politics, Football and Conspiracy Theories
Panamanian Global Voices author Ariel Moreno [es] blogs [es] about the government's and the national football team's tendency to come up with conspiracy theories and complain that the political opposition or the CONCACAF –respectively– are out to get them. He concludes: “We need to stop blaming others for our misfortunes,...
Guatemala: Families in Quiché Benefit from ‘Maya Food Security Programme’
Mike, in Central American Politics, writes about the Maya Food Security Programme, “an initiative designed to combat chronic malnutrition through the distribution of monthly food rations and the sponsorship of workshops, fairs and street theater on nutritional education.” He says that “over ten thousand Guatemalan families in [the] Quiché [department] benefit from this program.”
Argentina: Cristina Fernández Announces Re-Election Bid
On Tuesday, June 21, Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner announced she will run for reelection. The Argentine Post looks at the challenges she will have to deal with if reelected, while Eliot Brockner, in Latin American Thought, says her prospects for winning “are looking good”.
Venezuela's Prison Crisis Continues
The crisis at El Rodeo prison in Venezuela continues. Bloggings by boz updates readers on the situation and comments on the government's strategy.
