Stories about Spanish from June, 2012
Colombia: When the Dead Belong to the Upper-Class
At Hoja Blanca, Lucas Urdaneta refers to the so-called Colmenares Case (the murder of a student of the University of the Andes which has received a lot of media coverage in Colombia), and wonders [es] what happens when victims don't belong to the privileged classes. He adds that, given the...
Spain: Miners on Strike Bring Struggle to the Net
Spanish miners, on strike to protest cuts to their sector, have used social media to further their cause. Take a look at how some of the workers are taking their struggle to Facebook, Twitter, and the world wide web.
Ecuador: #LoxaEsMas, Ideas that Generate Change
#LoxaEsMas ("Loja is more") is an initiative that intends to create new ways to report problems in Loja, Ecuador, by using technology as the main tool. This initiative also strives to find practical solutions to improve the city.
Mexico: Presidential Candidates Wind Up Their Election Campaigns
A collection of some of the thoughts and observations of Mexican citizens on Twitter and the blogosphere, regarding the end of the presidential campaign period and the approaching election day, which will decide the next president of this North American nation.
Puerto Rico: Francheska Duarte's Case Causes Outrage
The young mother Francheska Duarte was run over and later abandoned in an emergency medical centre by her ex-boyfriend. The judge presiding over the case found Francheska's former boyfriend Jorge Ramos guilty only of the less serious misdemeanor. The decision has caused an outrage in the island.
Bolivia: Tensions Rise as Police Mutiny Continues
A police mutiny is into its sixth day in Bolivia as low-ranked policemen are demanding levelling up their wages to the same amount military officers currently earn. Violent demonstrations occurred in the country's main cities, even reaching the square right in front of the Presidential Palace. As negotiations are still underway, Bolivia's cities remain without guard or police assistance for the sixth day.
Puerto Rico: Women and Cyberactivism
The feminist coalition Coordinadora Paz para la Mujer has convened people to send contributions (in Spanish) for the next edition of their magazine, which will be dedicated to cyberactivism and feminism. Deadline is July 16, 2012.
Puerto Rico: Indie Music Coming Soon
The music blog Puerto Rico Indie announces [es] it's next edition of the video series Archipiélago, in which the bands Las Robertas from Costa Rica and Dávila 666 from Puerto Rico will be performing. Stay tuned.
Puerto Rico: Artist Nora Maité Nieves
The digital magazine that covers issues of the Puerto Rican diaspora in the United States, En Punto, interviews artist Nora Maité Nieves [es], who lives in Chicago.
Puerto Rico: Goodbye, Mara Negrón
The digital magazine 80 Grados dedicates [es] it's edition to scholar and professor of the University of Puerto Rico Mara Negrón, 51, who died in Paris due to a very recently diagnosed leucemia.
Cuba: Havana Hosts Social Networking Festival
The Festival Clic or "Click Festival" was hosted last week in Havana, Cuba, organized by bloggers on the island, most notably Yoani Sánchez, author of the blog Generación Y.
Peru: Amazonian Indigenous Communities Protest Against Oil Pollution
The announcement that hydrocarbon reserves currently used for oil drilling will be put up for auction has put the people of the indigenous communities of the Pastaza river, in the Peruvian Amazon, on alert. For years, these indigenous communities have been condemning the effects of pollution on their ancestral lands and on themselves.
The world viewed through 3054 languages in danger of extinction
Endangered Languages is a project started by Google which provides technology to individuals and organisations so that they can tackle the threat of certain languages becoming extinct. The page contains information, learning materials and text files, sound and video in languages including Aragonese, Ainu, Navajo and Catalan sign language gathered from...
Paraguay: President Fernando Lugo is Removed from Office
As we reported earlier, the Paraguayan Senate voted to impeach President Fernando Lugo. Netizens have been actively reacting to today’s developments; while some defend this impeachment process as legal and constitutional, others are denouncing a coup.
Paraguayan Senate Ousts President Lugo
On Friday, June 22, the Paraguayan Senate voted in favor of removing President Fernando Lugo from office. Lawmakers brought President Lugo to an impeachment trial after 17 people died in a land dispute last week. Netizens followed the trial throughout the day, posting their impressions and reactions on Twitter using...
Bolivia: Police Mutiny Over Higher Wages
Tension escalated today, Friday, June 22, in Bolivia as more than 4 thousand low-ranked police units joined a mutiny that began the day before demanding higher wages. Netizens are reporting from different Bolivian cities on Twitter under the hashtag #MotínPolicial [es].
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.
Journeys Through Latin America
Thanks to a collective of bloggers who are traveling through Latin America, readers from all over the world can get a glimpse of the many facets of this vast region. Here's a summary of the route so far.
Costa Rica: The Need to Treat Computer and English “Illiteracy”
Costa Rica has a high literacy rate; but the blog Carepicha [es] argues that the country should also strive to increase computer and English-language “literacy”.
Uruguay: Government Proposes to Decriminalize Sale of Marijuana
The government's attempts to decriminalize the controlled sale of marijuana have generated mixed reactions. The government presented its proposal as a security measure to prevent the consumption and trafficking of cocaine paste. Netizens quickly reacted to the news.
Panama: A Country For Sale
Panama is for sale: or at least that is how a large group of Panamanians see the situation after watching with indignation how President Ricardo Martinelli's government is aiming to liquidate a large portion of state assets. The outrage of the Panamanian people can be seen both in the streets and on social networks.
