Global Voices Online

The recent kidnapping of cattle rancher Fidel Santiago Zavala in Paraguay [es] has attracted criticism to President Fernando Lugo for his lack of courage to combat crime, as well as proposals for laws allowing citizens to be armed writes José Angel López Barrios.

Muna Annahas shares her favorite places to party in the Paraguayan capital of Asunción.

Carlos Rodríguez of Rescatar [es] refers to complaints from the Paraguayan Ministry of Education who says that there are no funds to purchase school supplies, yet the country spends money on purchasing arms.

In the group blog Somos Paraguayos [es] for Paraguayans abroad, David posts about a heartbreak story in Chile and writes, “I didn't know where to vent my sorrow until I found this blog.” He received 25 comments from others offering support and advice.

Much to the dismay of Guillermo Verdún of Paraguayo [es], the Colorado Party in Paraguay was found to be using the image of “Chapulín Colorado” (Red Grasshopper), a famous comedic character from Mexican television, on some of its campaign materials. As a result, Verdún wrote to the actor who played the character informing him of what was happening.

Paraguayans are the most pessimistic in the entire region writes Carlos Rodríguez of Rescatar [es] commenting on a recent study.

Despite some of the difficulties over the past year, Carlos Rodríguez of Rescatar [es] writes that Paraguayan President' Fernando Lugo's first year “was positive and was worth it.”

The blog Camino al Paraguay [es] continues by showing foods from the country with 2 posts showing Paraguayan Sopa, which is cooked in a mud oven called a Tatakua.

Carlos Rodríguez of Rescatar [es] is pleased with the negotiations between Paraguay and Brazil regarding the binational project of the Itaipú dam. He applauds the actions of President Fernando Lugo for showing “commitment, patriotism, honesty and negotiating ability.”