Latest posts by Eleanor Staniforth
Guinea-Bissau: Women, Citizenship and “Mandjuandades”
Informal voluntary associations predominantly made up of women and sustained through solidarity and the sharing of individual and collective interests, may play an important role in strengthening participative democracy in Guinea Bissau: meet "mandjuandades".
Brazil: Is There A Clear Foreign Policy for the Middle East and Africa?
The twenty-first century has brought important changes to the balance of power which had been in place until then, with obvious ramifications for the international economy and politics. In this context, Brazil has come to dispute its influence in recent years in two regions which were formerly dominated by the central countries: the Middle East and Africa.
Ecuador: Remembering the Colombian Refugees
The growing displacement of Colombians towards Ecuador has awoken the interest of international bodies and the concern of Ecuadorean citizens. With the celebration of World Refugee Day on June 20, the issue of Colombian refugees in Ecuador has captured the attention of the media and citizens alike.
Equatorial Guinea: Dictatorship Seeks Entry in Portuguese Language Community
In July 2012 the Maputo Summit will take place in which a decision will be taken on the possible entry of Equatorial Guinea into the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP). On the one hand there are various initiatives which condemn Teodoro Obiang's 33 year regime, hostile to the orienting principles of the CPLP. However, there are also those who support the country's admission.
Spain: “Wanted: The Ones Responsible for the Crisis”
Following the departure of Rodrigo Rato as chairman of the financial institution Bankia, with over a million euros in indemnity payments and without any kind of explanation as to why the bank has ended up in its current state, groups of activists linked to the 15M movement have created a digital platform with the aim of making the people responsible for the crisis accountable.
Brazil: SlutWalks Spread Across the Country
On May 26th and 27th, a number of cities around Brazil were the scene of the second round of protests known as SlutWalks, calling for women's liberty and the right of women to dress as they want without being the victims of violence or moralism. Global Voices has selected a series of photos of protests around the country.
Brazil: TV Humiliation of Young Man Opens Media Regulation Debate
At the beginning of May, a televised interview of a young man who was accused by the reporter of trying to rape a woman ignited debate over the necessity of regulating the great Brazilian media and of imposing limits on the custom of stereotyping minorities and vulnerable people.
Cuba: National Meeting of Bloggers Ends in Controversy
The Meeting of Cuban Bloggers was held on 27th and 28th April 2012. More than 60 bloggers from all the provinces in the country spent two days sharing their experiences at the University of Matanzas, east of the Cuban capital. The event's final statement sparked controversy amongst different members of the national blogging community.
United States: Occupy Wall Street Returns
Many people were questioning Occupy Wall Street's future after the eviction from Zuccotti Park. However, according to the occupiers themselves, the movement never disappeared and they are now determined to occupy public spaces around the country.
Mexico: Bike Ride Protest Clashes With Local Government
On April 28, a group of cyclists organised a bike ride in protest of the Mexico City government's project to construct the so-called "Supervía Poniente" (Poniente Super-road). According to witnesses posting on Twitter, several cyclists who were participating in the bike ride were assaulted by the police.
Spain: Images of Police Brutality During General Strike
On the day of the General Strike on March 29, there were numerous moments of tension, especially in the city of Barcelona where riot police clashed with protesters. In the weeks following the strike, there have been protests in various Spanish cities against the imprisonment of protesters.
Brazil: Contemporary Slavery and Proposals to Fight the Practice
Although the practice of exercising the right of property over other human beings was abolished in Brazil in 1888 with the signing of the Golden Law, in practice, exploitation of slave labour continues on Brazilian territory, both in rural and urban areas, in the form of contemporary servitude.
Brazil: “Kilombos”, Stories of Slaves Bridging Three Continents
In this article, we make a secular journey across three continents with 'Kilombos', a documentary released in March in Portugal, which "transports us through the oral history of the African roots of the Quilombo communities, showing the intersection of these roots with contemporary cultural practices".
Spain: General Strike After Only 100 Days of Government
Spain's main trade unions have called a general strike for today, March 29, with the aim of paralyzing the country, and forcing the government to back down on implementing measures that will weaken workers' rights and cut social services.
Panama: Government and Indigenous Peoples Reach Agreement After Clashes Over Mining
The anti-mining protest which had paralysed the country for five days was violently suppressed by the national police, provoking serious confrontations with the indigenous people. Finally, on Tuesday, February 7, the government ceded to the demands of the Ngäbe Buglé, prohibiting the use of the region for the exploitation of minerals or water.
United States: Immigration in the National Pre-Electoral Debate
Latino bloggers in the United States discuss the recent proposals, or lack thereof, on immigration recently put forward by the Republican candidates to the Presidency and President Barack Obama.
Peru: Preparing for the Great Water March
As part of the protests against the Conga mining project in Cajamarca, a "Great Water March" left Cajamarca on February 1. On social networks netizens share itineraries, videos, photos, posters, and reactions.
Argentina: Diplomatic Conflict With United Kingdom Over Falklands
The conflict between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands has intensified over the past decade. Netizens are divided between those who believe that Argentina should abandon its claim for the Falklands and those who support this claim.
Argentina: Primary Elections and Future Presidential Candidates
On August 14, Argentina held primary elections to select presidential candidates for the upcoming October elections. The current president, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, won the absolute majority for re-nomination, obtaining more than 50% of the vote. On Twitter netizens shared all kinds of reactions.
Spanish-Speaking Bloggers React to Earthquake in Japan
The 8.9 magnitude earthquake which shook Japan on March 11th has provoked reactions from Spanish-speaking bloggers from all over the world. After reviewing news of various disasters around the world and most recently in Japan, the question which arises is: faced with a disaster, would you abandon your home?
Panama: Spanish Journalist Deported
Spanish journalist Paco Gómez Nadal was deported after he was detained on February 26 during an indigenous protest against a law reforming Panama's Mineral Resources Code. In spite of the promise made by President Ricardo Martinelli to repeal the law that reforms the mining code, some Panamanians have not forgotten that the issue of the deported journalist remains unresolved.
