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 October, 2012
Mexican Blogger Ruy Salgado Reappears, Ends Broadcast
Arjan Shahani writes about the case of Mexican blogger Ruy Salgado from el5antuario [es], who had gone missing in September of this year. On October 20, one of his former collaborators livestreamed [es] a 3-hour Skype call with Salgado, who confirmed that he was alive but also announced that he...
El Salvador's Tough Abortion Laws
Voices from El Salvador highlights several stories of Salvadoran women affected by the country's abortion ban, ” which includes cases of rape, incest, and when the health of the woman is at risk.” The issue is compounded by other women’s rights issue, including femicide (El Salvador has the highest rate in...
Chile: The Day After the Municipal Elections
Last night's municipal elections were unusually interesting. First, they took place in the context of social unrest and mobilization. Second, polls aside, they were a real test of the government's popularity. Third, they were the first elections to take place under a new system of automatic registration and voluntary voting....
Costa Rican Bloggers Speak Up for Freedom of Expression
Ticoblogger summarizes [es] the participation of bloggers, journalists, and activists in the forum “Online Anonymity, Pseudonyms and Freedom of Expression” held on Wednesday, October 24, 2012. The post links to presentations by Gustavo Araya [es, pdf], Julio Córdoba [es], and José Medrano [es].
Peru: Police and Protesters Clash in #LaParada Market in Lima
A police operative blocking streets in a wholesale market area in Lima ended in clashes between merchants and the police. Television newscasts broadcast violent scenes showing a policeman on the ground being stoned in the head by rioters. Juan Arellano posted [es] a summary on his blog. More under the...
Panama: President Cancels Colón Land Sale Plans
“If the people of Colón don't want the land in the tax-free zone to be sold, the sale will be canceled. The rise in rents 100% for Colón” Panama's President Ricardo Martinelli (@rmartinelli) [es] tweeted on October 23, 2012, in response to the protests and clashes in Colón sparked by...
Chile: What is Poderopedia and How Does it Work?
Poderopedia is an editorial and crowdsourced data journalism platform that maps who's who in business and politics in Chile.
Guatemala: Soldiers Arrested Over Totonicapán Killings
Blogger Nic Wirtz says that the arrest of eight soldiers after the clashes in Totonicapán -which left at least 8 indigenous protestors dead- is “the first test of Guatemalan President Otto Pérez Molina's mano dura (iron fist) approach to restoring law and order.”
Chile: #LosQueSobran Campaign to Pull Youth to Polls
A group of Chilean NGOs have come together in a fun campaign to encourage young people to vote in the Municipal elections this Sunday, October 28. For the first time in Chile, voter registration is automatic and the vote is voluntary.
Costa Rica: Forum on Online Anonymity, Pseudonyms and Freedom of Expression
Ticoblogger, a community of Costa Rican bloggers, invites everyone to attend the forum “Online Anonymity, Pseudonyms and Freedom of Expression” [es] on Wednesday, October 24, 2012, at 9:00 PM (GMT-03:00) at the Legislative Assembly in San José, Costa Rica. The forum will discuss Article 230 of the ‘Cybercrime Law‘, which penalizes...
Panama: TEDxPanamaCity 2012
Porto Diao [es] reviews TEDxPanamaCity 2012, an independently organized TED event held on October 10, 2012. The post lists the best five conferences, providing a short overview of each one. It also shares several photos of the event.
Radio Campaign to Protect Colombian Human Rights Defenders
Front Line Defenders has joined Colombian social movement ‘MOVICE‘ [es] (National Movement of Victims of State Crimes) in a campaign to develop a series of 6 radio Public Service Announcements (PSAs) to “encourage public opinion in Colombia to support greater protection for [human rights defenders].”
Latin American Netizens Join Forces to Overcome Poverty
Regional organization TECHO is using Facebook [es], Twitter [es], Google Plus and YouTube [es] to raise awareness about poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean on October 17, International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
Argentina: Guarani Leader Wins International Rural Women's Day Prize
Fionuala Cregan reports that Matilde Lucio, an indigenous leader in a Guarani community in Jujuy, in northern Argentina, “will be awarded one of 10 international prizes for her creativity in rural life” on October 15, International Day of Rural Women. Read more about Matilde and her story in Upside Down World.
Guatemala: Petition Demands Justice for Totonicapán Victims
The Guatemala Human Rights Commission has released a petition [en, es] to “demand justice for the massacre in Totonicapán, Guatemala,” where 8 were killed and more than 35 injured when combined armed forces violently removed indigenous demonstrators from Cuatro Caminos, a well-known road intersection in Guatemala. With the pain of...
Mexico's Indigenous Languages in Cyberspace
The blog Native Box shares an English translation of an article originally published in Vanguardia [es]: “Indigenous Languages of Mexico: Rescued, Alive, and Facing Challenges in Cyberspace”.
Venezuela: Post-Election Reflections
Emotions ran high on Sunday night after the official results of Venezuela's presidential elections were released. Part of the country celebrated the continuation of the 'Bolivarian Revolution' under President Hugo Chávez, while the other side lamented another electoral loss.
Panama: President Martinelli Partially Vetoes Copyright Bill 510
Panamanian newspaper La Prensa reports [es] that President Ricardo Martinelli has partially vetoed the controversial copyright bill 510. According to La Prensa's report, the National Assembly approved the changes sent by President Martinelli on October 5.
Chile: Mapuche Prisoners on Hunger Strike for Over 40 Days
The hunger strike has now surpassed 40 days and, according to a spokesperson for the prisoners, the men have deteriorated physically and are experiencing symptoms of insomnia, cramps and muscle aches. The purpose of the hunger strike is, among other things, to draw attention to the Chilean government’s use of...
Venezuela: Chávez Era to Extend for Six More Years
After the most contested and intense elections of the last decade, Venezuela will see six more years under the administration of Hugo Chávez Frías. Traffic on social networks, particularly on Twitter, was extremely intense, especially moments before the official announcement of the results.
Venezuela: Election Day Tweets and Hashtags
Twitter has been the most popular citizen media platform to discuss the presidential election of Sunday, October 7, 2012. Under different hashtags occupying the Trending Topic list in the country, Venezuelans comment, discuss, debate, report and share.
