Stories about Latin America from January, 2013
Brazil in Mourning After the Tragic Fire in Santa Maria
On January 27, 2012, the college town of Santa Maria, located in the middle of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, suffered a tragic fire in the nightclub Kiss. Considered the second largest fire by number of victims in Brazil, the incident claimed the lives of around 231 people, most of them young, 90% of them by intoxication.
Peru: ls the Renewal of Telefónica's Contract a Good Thing?
On January 21st the Peruvian government, through the Minister of Transportation and Communication, Carlos Paredes, announced the renewal of the expired cellular phone contracts with Telefónica for a period of 18 years and 10 months. Here is an analysis of the consequences of this renewal.
‘Testosterona’ Blog is Out of MTV Brazil
MTV Brazil has cancelled its contract with the Testosterona's blog, affirmed the group ‘Nós Denunciamos’ [pt] on Facebook. It is believed that MTV Brazil attitude came as a consequence of...
Colombia: A Long Way to Peace?
Despite ongoing peace talks, Colombia refused to recognize the most recent ceasefire declared by the FARC and launched an airstrike on New Year's day. Meanwhile, the deadline for brokering a peace agreement approaches.
‘Planet Asks for Pedalling': Cycling Through Latin America
"I understood that travelling like this, without being in a rush, gives you the freedom to get to know cultures more deeply and the simplicity of the people." Meet Beto, from Brazil, and his project 'Planet asks for Pedalling' that will take him on a 2.5 years journey cycling through Latin America.
Indigenous Xavantes of Marãiwatsédé Fight for the Right to Their Land
Having inhabited the Marãiwatsédé territory in the north of Mato Grosso for centuries, natives of the Xavante ethnic group face occupation and threats from farmers who are trying to evictl them from their homeland, which was returned to them 14 years ago. On December 6, 2012, the justice department in Mato Grosso ordered the delivery of subpoenas for the removal of illegal occupants of these ancestral lands. A month and a half later the process has almost been finalized.
Critical Mass: Cycling Through Brazil's Salvador City
In our attempt to discover the route of Brazilian Critical Masses, we spoke with two organizers of the Salvador Critical Mass (also known as “Bicicletada”), Roque Júnior and Rosa Ribeiro. Here's the second part of the interview, in which we get to know a little more about the city’s urban mobility policies.
Maxima Zorreguieta, the Argentinian that Will Be Queen Consort of the Netherlands
With Queen Beatrix of the Nehterlands abidcation from the throne is a cause of celebration and tweets for Argentinians. as Máxima Zorreguieta will be the new Queen Consort of the Netherlands.
Mexico: Indigenous Long-Distance Runner Wins International Race
El blog HuffPost Voces [es] picked up the story of Maria Salome, a tarahumara indigenous woman who easily won the 10 km of the OXXO international half marathon in Chihuaha, Mexico. The remarkable thing about her...
Regional Winners of Developing Latin America 2012
Finally we get to know the regional winners of hackathon Desarrollando América Latina 2012 (Developing Latin America 2012), chosen among 22 applications, in turn, winners of the hackathon in each country.
Brazil: “Massacre of Pinheirinho”, One Year Later
January 22, 2013 marked one year since the violent eviction of the Pinheirinho settlement in the city of São José dos Campos, Brazil. A demonstration to commemorate the date took place at the entrance to the grounds of Pinheirinho. The land has since remained empty and the people who lived there remain homeless.
Colombia: Campaign Against Smoking
Las Colombianadas del Facebook posts a video [es] where two children ask smoker adults to light up a cigarette for them. The adults refuse, claiming their are too young and...
Cicero Guedes, Brazilian Landless Leader is Murdered in Rio
One of the main leaders of the landless movement in Brazil was shot dead on Saturday as he was cycling home in Rio de Janeiro state. Publishing a picture he...
Peru: Violent Anti-Mining Protests in Lambayeque
Globalizado, a blog by Juan Arellano, recounts what happened [es] on Friday January 25, 2013, when a 100 police agent detachment confronted about 400 local community members from Cañaris and...
Argentinian Patagonia: Favorite Among Travel Bloggers and Tourists in Argentina
Argentinian Patagonia Argentina, is one the Argentinian tourists favorite destinations, but also for travel bloggers who related their dreams and joys.
Brazil: Families Evicted from Pinheirinho Still Without a Proper Home
One year after the violent eviction which became known as “Massacre of Pinherinho“, in the city of São José dos Campos, state of São Paulo, Amnesty International Brazil demands [pt] an...
Argentina: Suggestions for a better life
Hernán Haines, from blog El espacio de Hernán Haines [es], provides his readers with some suggestions for a better life in Argentina due to “the constant enquiries I get about...
Critical Mass: Wheels of Activism Come to Brazil's Salvador City
The international cycling movement Critical Mass - or Bicicletadas as it is been known in Brazilian Portuguese - has won the hearts of Brazilians, since cars have reached a saturation point on the country's congested roads. Visiting the city of Salvador in Brazil, Global Voices contributor, Thiana Biondo talked to Critical Mass local activists Roque Junior and Rosa Ribeiro. Check out the first part of the interview.
Cuba: Internet Change Coming?
If you took a poll in our streets about Cubans’ most serious problems, the youngest…would list…lack of access to the Internet. They want to dive into that sea of kilobytes!...
Mexico: Florence Cassez, Guilty of Kidnapping or Victim of a Staged Process?
A great fuss has taken over the cyberspace after the French citizen Florence Cassez was released from a Mexican prision where she stayed seven years charged with kidnapping, illegal gun possession and organized crime. Reactions are diverse, all of which demonstrate the complexity of the case.
Bolivia: 2012 Census Initial Data
Bolivian President Evo Morales announced the initial official data from the Census of Population and Housing 2012, carried out last November. According to the results, Bolivia has a population of...
About our Latin America coverage
