· December, 2011

Stories about Latin America from December, 2011

Brazil: “We Have Overtaken the United Kingdom's GDP. So What?”

  31 December 2011

The news, published in the international press and echoed by the country's media, filled nationalist Brazilians with with pride and optimism, and left those who analysed the numbers more closely concerned. Bloggers ponder the meaning of being the world's sixth largest country in terms of Gross Domestic Product, and occupying the 84th position in Human Development Index.

Online Highlights from the Portuguese-Speaking World in 2011

  31 December 2011

2011 has been another year in which bloggers and activists from a number of Portuguese-speaking countries have come together to report, translate and promote blogs and citizen media from all over the world. This article selects the highlights in the coverage of Lusophone countries on Global Voices over the last year.

Chile: Neighbors and Netizens Unite to Save Concon Dunes

  30 December 2011

After 20 years of struggle against the construction of a real-estate project on a delicate and unique ecosystem called the Concon Dunes, neighbors and netizens have united their voices to continue the protest on the day the development company started closing in on this nature sanctuary.

Chile: Netizens Report and React to Torres del Paine Wildfire

  30 December 2011

For days, a wildfire has been consuming thousands of hectares in national park Torres del Paine in Chile's Patagonia. Netizens are sharing reports and reacting to the news through #salvemostorresdelpaine [es] (let's save Torres del Paine) and ‘Torres del Paine’ [es] on Twitter.

Argentina: New Anti-Terrorism Law Raises Concerns

  30 December 2011

A new anti-terrorism law is causing concern in Argentina. Lillie Langtry explains in her blog Memory in Latin America that, “the new package of measures is intended to combat financial crimes, but opponents are worried that its vague terms could be employed against legitimate protesters.”

Argentina Tech Blogger Looks into ‘Death’ of Blogs

  30 December 2011

Technology blogger Mariano Amartino [es] reacts to the post “The Golden Age of Tech Blogging is Over” by Jeremiah Owyang. He points out the irony that posts about “the death of blogs” are written in blogs, and asks: who defines what is or isn't ‘a blog'?

Cuba: The First Book on Afro-Cuban Women

  28 December 2011

NegraCubana interviews Daysi Rubiera and Inés María Martiatu [es], authors of the first comprehensive book on the “history, thought, and cultural practices” of Afro-Cuban women.

Cuba: on writer Achy Obejas

  28 December 2011

Montague Kobbe profiles Achy Obejas, a Cuban-American writer who “constantly challenging her readers to (re)think their positions in relation to the most basic principles that govern our attitudes towards each other.”

Puerto Rico: Investigating Monsanto

  28 December 2011

The Center of Investigative Journalism published a three-part series on the little known operation in Puerto Rico of the multinational biotechnology corporation Monsanto, the principle producer of genetically engineered seeds.

Cuba: Waiting for Change

  28 December 2011

Yasmín Portales writes that she is still waiting for radical changes [es] and different governance strategies and practices in Raúl Castro's Cuba.

Cuba: LGBT Rights on the Way

  28 December 2011

Blogger and LGBT activist Paquito el de Cuba writes about the lastest news on the status of the bill [es] that will amend the Family Act in Cuba to include more rights for the LGBT community.

Cuba: #Twittsaneo

  28 December 2011

The blog El Microwave writes about the initiative #Twitsaneo [es], convened originally by El Taburete [es] and organized by a group of avid Cuban twitter users. #Twitsaneo was the name given to the event last December 26 when a group of people got together to clean sections of the coast...

Puerto Rico: The Local Music Scene Live

  28 December 2011

The music blog Puerto Rico Indie has launched “Archipiélago,” a series of videos of live sessions of some of the “best artists in the local music scene” in Puerto Rico. “Archipiélago 101″ features the band Campo-Formio.

‘Developing Latin America': Open Data Projects

  27 December 2011

The 'Desarrollando Latin América' (Developing Latin America) competition, a public hackathon for creating technological solutions to education, security and budgetary problems in six countries in the region, took place on the 3rd and 4th of December. Juan Arellano, who acted as a judge in Lima (Peru), summarises the results and the reactions from the participants.

Latin America: Youth Unemployment

  27 December 2011

Bloggings by boz looks at youth unemployment in Latin America, concluding that “with growth projections decreased for 2011 and 2012, the current situation for youth unemployment is almost certainly getting worse. That could have major economic, political and social implications moving into 2012.”

Peru: Afro-Peruvian Christmas Music

  27 December 2011

Christmas, a Christian celebration that arrived in Perú with the Spaniards at the beginning of the sixteenth century, was adapted over the years by different Peruvian communities. The black community also managed to incorporate its own individuality in the festivities, expressing its particular experiences in the artistic creations made to honor the holiday.

Costa Rica: Numerous Sectors Oppose Government Tax Plan

  26 December 2011

At the moment, the biggest priority for the Costa Rican government is to approve the "Tax Solidarity" (Solidaridad Tributaria) tax plan. However, various sectors of society, political parties and businessmen have declared their strong opposition to it.

About our Latin America coverage

Gabriela Mesones Rojo
Gabriela Mesones Rojo is the Latin America Spanish-language editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.

Fernanda Canofre
Fernanda Canofre is the Brazil editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.