Kitty Garden
RSS feed for Kitty Garden 
Born in the UK and raised in New Zealand, I caught the travel bug from my parents. I learned Portuguese in Brazil, Spanish in Mexico, Argentina and Spain, and have spent a lot of time living and traveling in the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Pacific. I studied politics, worked in renewable energy and development, and I love language and translation almost as much as I love music and the mountains.
Latest posts by Kitty Garden
22 February 2013
Ecuador's Political Future After Correa's Reelection
On February 17 Rafael Correa was re-elected as the president of Ecuador. According to the quick count, the ruling party also obtained at least 96 of the 137 seats in the new National Assembly. Bloggers were quick to analyze the political future of Ecuador under a new Correa mandate and a new political force in the role of the opposition.
26 July 2012
Brazil: Deported Activist Returns to Denounce Mining Company Vale
Jeremias Vunjanhe, a Mozambican journalist and activist, was prevented from entering Brazil during Rio+20. After civil society movements and organisations mobilised, Jeremias returned to the country to denounce the actions of the Brazilian company Vale.
13 July 2012
Spain: Supporting the Miners: “Yes, Yes, They Do Represent Us!”
Thousands joined in and showed their support for Spanish miners when they arrived in Madrid after walking 400 kilometres from the north of Spain. The miners were surprised at the scale of the mobilisation, which added to the intensity of what is now known as #nocheminera (mining night).
7 February 2012
Peru: Following the Great Water March
It has been seven days since the Great Water March set off, on February 1, from the heights of Celendín, Cajamarca, where the lakes threatened by the Conga mining project are located. Netizens can follow the march's progress through citizen videos, photos and reports.
25 October 2011
Mexico: President Signs Law Two Years After Daycare Centre Fire
On June 5, 2009, a fire in a daycare centre claimed the lives of 49 children and left 76 injured. The childrens' parents campaigned for a bill to improve the country's daycare centres, which has just been signed into law by the Mexican President.
22 May 2011
Peru: Fear in the Election Campaign
Almost 20 days before the date set for the second round of the presidential elections, the electoral campaign has begun to include more than just kissing babies and smiling for photos. In the past weeks, a series of events are showing the polarisation and even radicalisation that has come to surround candidates Keiko Fujimori and Ollanta Humala.
9 April 2011
Mexico: March Against Violence or Against the Government?
Thousands of Mexicans - not only in their own country, but also in various cities around the world - conducted simultaneous protests on April 6, 2011. Some took part to express their discontent at the country's violent climate, others showed their disagreement with the government's strategy in the fight against crime.
1 April 2011
Argentina: Reactions and Analysis of Blockade of Newspapers Clarín and La Nación
On Sunday the 27th of March, Argentina awoke to some big news: The daily Clarín could not distribute their newspapers in Buenos Aires due to a blockade at their printing plant. Various opinions and analyses are the subject of much discussion today in the local blogosphere.
23 March 2011
Brazil: Obama's Visit Marked by Protests, Repression and Criticism
Intended to be a party, US President Obama's first visit to Brazil was marked by the controversial decision for his country to intervene militarily in Libya, in addition to the "covering up" of the favelas and protests followed by violent police repression.
24 July 2010
Angola: Coins Gleaming Again
Last May the National Bank of Angola brought into circulation kwanza coins again. In a country where the population uses US Dollars along with Kwanza in the daily life, people are getting used to a new practice and discussing its purpose.
China must step in to protect indigenous Mongoloid Asiatic native people & their lands, and...