An American putting her international relations background and love of writing to use while living in Madrid. My travels are chronicled at ACityInColour and I tweet here.
Latest posts by Anna Williams
Amnesty Report Accuses Spanish Government of Obstructing Justice
Time passes, impunity remains, the new Amnesty International report published on June 17, 2013, analyses the investigation of crimes committed during Spain's Civil War and the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. The organization accuses the Spanish government of protecting the impunity of the crimes committed during this period.
Extreme Anti-immigrant Groups Spread Throughout Europe
Plagued by one of the worst economic crises in recent history, extreme anti-immigrant parties are once again on the rise in 21st-century Europe.
Expectations Run High for Immigration Reform in the United States
In a massive rally in Washington DC, protesters, activists and community leaders called for immigration reform that would legalize the status of some 11 million immigrants in the United States. Their cause seems to have been heard by a bipartisan group of senators who have just proposed a new immigration bill. Netizens weigh in.
Double Standard? Protesting Foreclosures and Abortion Clinics in Spain
Elena Valenciano, Deputy Secretary General of Spain's Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), has criticised the Popular Party for seeking to regulate "escrache" protests against foreclosures, citing that many abortion clinics have suffered for years without the government stepping in to limit groups' freedom of expression and right to protest.
Spain's “Move Your Money!” Campaign Advocates for Ethical Banking
Various organizations have joined together to launch the "Move your money!" initiative in Spain, to convince citizens to transition from traditional banks, which are in large part responsible for the current economic crisis, to emerging financial institutions commonly called "ethical banks."
The Right to be Forgotten: Spain and Google Before the European Court
On 26 February, Google and Spain appeared before the European Court of Justice (ECJ) over the redaction of certain pages yielded in search results that contain the personal information of Spanish citizens. The ECJ, which will weigh the public's right to information against the right to be forgotten will issue its non-binding ruling on 25 June 2013.
Spanish Parliamentarians Tweet Secret Mario Draghi meeting
El Presidente del Banco Central Europeo (BCE) Mario Draghi pidió que su intervención en el Congreso español se realizara a puertas cerradas. Pero dos diputados desobedecieron la petición de Draghi y transmitieron en tiempo real en Twitter las intervenciones de Draghi bajo la etiqueta que ellos mismo crearon #OpenDraghi.
Under Pressure, Spain Opens Door to Foreclosure Reform
The Plataforma de Afectados por la Hipoteca (PAH), joined by an impressive social movement, fought for Congress to change mortgage legislation in Spain. In the end, the Popular Party bowed to intense public pressure mobilized via the #ILPescrache hashtag.
Ecuador: Central Bank President Resigns Amid Forged Degree Scandal
Pedro Delgado, President Rafael Correa Delgado's cousin, resigns as the President of Ecuador's Central Bank after the scandal broke that he had forged his economics degree. The forgery was made public by opposition politician Enrique Herrería before the State Attorney General.
“Hands up! This is a robbery!”: Protests Continue in Spain
People in Madrid have taken the streets in droves to show their fury with President Mariano Rajoy over new corruption allegations. Anna Williams shares her photographs of the protests.
U.S. President Barack Obama Supports Immigration Reform
U.S. President Barack Obama supported a bipartisan proposal developed by eight senators to overhaul immigration by strengthening border security, verifying the legal status of workers, and allowing university students to continue their university studies. Netizens react.
Commuted Sentence for Driver Who Killed Young Man Causes Outcry
The Spanish government just commuted the 13-year sentence of a driver who left one person dead and another in critical condition. The pardon has produced an outcry across Spain.
Flashmobs and Citizen Classrooms – Spain's Creative Protests Channel Discontent
Spain's anti-crisis movement- characterized by its creative protests- has been in full sway since 2011. Here we take a look at some of the movement's tactics and strategies.
Venezuela: Legal Stand-Off Over Chávez Absence
Venezuela returns to the spotlight of political debate. In this article, we explore what is happening in more detail.
What is Web Mapping?
In this post we learn more about web mapping with MapBox's Ian Ward, as he explains some of the organization's recent projects and how these visualization tools are improving communication locally and globally.
Fighting Deportation in the U.S.
The national "We Belong Together" campaign is compiling testimonies in response to the passing of new immigration laws in the U.S. and addressing the prejudices they perpetuate.
Pardon Granted to Police Officers Convicted of Torture in Spain
The sentence of police officers found guilty of torturing a Romanian citizen in 2006 has been commuted and they have been fined instead. This development has reignited the debate on Spain's system of granting 'pardon,' which has been used to benefit those in closest proximity to power for years.
Curuguaty's Deadly Clashes Continue to Resonate Across Paraguay
Public opinion continues to be polarized about the Curuguaty police raid that ended in the death of six police officers and eleven farm workers. The investigation of the raid, which aimed to remove illegal residents from a forest reserve, is ongoing and has yet to produce any solid evidence about who is at fault.
Chris Moya, SpainRevolt and Cyberactivism
In this interview with Juan Arellano, Chris Moya, software developer, Spanish cyberactivist and Global Voices collaborator, talks about the protests in Spain, his website SpainRevolt, and cyberactivism.
