Latest posts by Silvia Viñas from September, 2011
Colombia: Controversy Over New Methodology to Calculate Poverty
Nazih Richani in Cuadernos Colombianos –a NACLA blog– has written two posts (1, 2) on Colombia's new methodology to calculate poverty: “The newly adopted Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) factors in health, housing, living standards, and government subsidies, alongside income. The problem is, regardless of the ‘methodological rigor,’ there are many doubts...
All-Day Virtual Event in Spanish for Bloggers
Día del Blog will hold a virtual event on Saturday September 17 [es] with several discussions broadcast through live streaming [es] with speakers from Spain, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Panama. Spanish Translation Manager Juan Arellano will participate in a panel discussion [es] about “Revolution on social networks: cyber-activism, citizen mobilization and political participation”.
Guatemala: A Look at the Candidates for November's Runoff Election
“So come the 6th November, Guatemalans should they vote, will have a choice between a former military and a business man – each with their own murky backgrounds and each who wield considerable power and influence among those who rule Guatemala”: Kevin D in his blog at Guatemala Solidarity Network...
Bolivians to Follow on Twitter
Luis Ramos in Citizen of La Paz [es] recommends 12 Bolivians to follow on Twitter.
Ecuador: Victims of Domestic Violence Ignored by Media and Society
Lunas Azules [es] argues that victims of domestic violence are often ignored by the media and by society because of their “little political weight” and because their aggressor is not usually labeled as a criminal.
Colombia: Politics in Street Art
LatAm Communiqué posts pictures of political posters, graffiti, and murals in Bogotá, Zipaquirá, Popayán, and Medellín.
Argentina: Government Returns Land to Indigenous Communities
“On Saturday, September 10th, the Argentinian government returned 9,475 hectares (more than 23,000 acres) of land to the Tehuelche and Mapuche communities living new in Las Heras (located in the northern portion of the Santa Cruz province)”, Ryan Seelau at Indigenous News reports.
Bolivia: Journalist Receives Death Threats
Tania Lara from the Knight Center's Journalism in the Americas Blog highlights the case of Mónica Oblitas, a Bolivian journalist who recently reveled on her personal blog [es] that she has received death threats. Tania explains: “‘Your days are numbered,’ was one of several telephone and e-mail messages she received...
Mexico: Protest Calls Attention to Slain Journalists [Video]
Erwin from The Latin Americanist posts a video by Periodismo IDN of a protest held on Sunday, September 11, where around “250 protesters marched in Mexico City to call attention to the eighty journalists slain in Mexico since 2000.”
Honduras: Recent Cables Released by WikiLeaks
‘La Gringa’ from La Gringa's Blogcito summarizes the content found in selected diplomatic cables that were recently released by Wikileaks. The cables “were from 2002-2004, when Larry Palmer was US Ambassador to Honduras, and Ricardo Maduro was president,” she explains.
Paraguay: Indigenous Peoples Fighting to Save Their Ancestral Home
At the Council on Hemispheric Affairs Blog, Research Associate Sean O’ Leary reports that the Ayoreo indigenous people are “fighting for their very survival. These indigenous people are struggling to save their ancestral home in the Chaco region from cattle companies, farmers and religious sects who are moving into the...
Colombia: “New York Hurts More”
@RedMujeresC, the Twitter account of Red Mujeres Ciudadanas – Colombia, quotes Mare Nubium on the massacres perpetrated by illegally armed groups in Colombia [es]. The author manifests her indignation because, in her opinion, some Colombians seem to care more about the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States than...
Guatemala: 2011 General Elections in Antigua
Rudy Girón at AntiguaDailyPhoto posts a photo slide show of “the election process in La Antigua Guatemala”. Rudy also describes the voting process, reporting that Sunday's elections in Antigua “progressed in a calm and quiet family atmosphere. It almost felt like a civic party.”
Honduras: Radio Journalist Killed
“Thursday [September 8] a reporter for Radio Uno in San Pedro was murdered […] The reporter, Medardo Flores, was part of the finance section of the Frente Amplio de Resistencia Popular (FARP), the political wing of the Frente Nacional de Resistencia Popular (FNRP) [National Popular Resistance Front] […] Porfirio Lobo...
Argentina: Seven Die and Hundreds Injured After Bus and Trains Collide
Seven people died and more than 100 were injured when a bus and two trains crashed in Flores, Buenos Aires on Tuesday morning, September 13. Twitter users in Argentina are using the hashtag #Flores to report on the accident and share reactions.
Guatemala: Voting Out Cultural Intolerance
Sakis González shares a video [es] of Guatemalan artists speaking out against “cultural intolerance” after the municipality of Guatemala City rejected the reopening of the cultural center ‘Rock’ol Vuh’. Sakis points out that citizens will have the power to choose their leaders this Sunday, September 11, during the general election.
Colombia: Strengthening Ties Between ‘Chiva’ Bus Owners Through Social Media
Carlos Múnera quotes [es] a reader's comment calling owners and drivers of ‘chiva’ buses to use the Internet to communicate, share ideas and inform each other about policies that could affect their work. The reader indicates that he is currently creating a Facebook group for fans of these buses.
Venezuela: A Dairy Cooperative's Struggle for Food Sovereignty
“PROLESA is a small dairy cooperative in the Venezuelan state of Tachira. […] the main focus of the cooperative is to purchase milk from the local community for the production and distribution of cheese and yogurt”: Venezuelan Analysis shares a video where “cooperative members share the amazing stories of their...
Honduras: Video ‘Paradise in Peril’ Documents Destruction of Río Platano Biosphere Reserve
Aaron Ortiz and La Gringa's Blogcito share “Paradise in Peril” by Skyship Films, a video “about the destruction being done in the ‘protected’ Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve,” as ‘La Gringa’ explains.
Bolivia: Interview With Blogger Hugo Miranda
Daniel Calbimonte interviewed [es] blogger Hugo Miranda of Angel Caído [es]. In the interview Hugo explains what it means to be a Community Manager, lists his favorite blogs, discusses the future of the Internet, and answers other related questions.
Mexico: The Importance of Literacy
Ismael Flores at Vivir México [es] blogs about the importance of literacy. He provides some historical background and looks at current challenges related to literacy in Mexico.
