Stories about Latin America from July, 2008
Brazil: Live blogging the local elections debate
Nova Corja [pt] will be live blogging the second debate for the local elections in Porto Alegre, Brazil. “The concept is the same: surpassing policy analysis in the posts with...
Brazil: Gilberto Gil leaves the Culture Cabinet
Many blogs have been reporting that Minister of Culture Gilberto Gil has left the cabinet, which he had headed since 2003. He plans to give priority to his musical career.
Brazil: The 200 top blogs
Mundo Tecno [pt] published a list of the 200 most popular Brazilian blogs according to the Blogblogs ranking. Meio Bit [pt] is the top one.
Cuba, Venezuela, U.S.A.: Empty Dialogue?
Cuban bloggers Babalu and Ninety miles away…in another country focus on U.S. Republican senator Arlen Specter's upcoming Latin American trip, during which he hopes to meet with both Raul Castro...
Bolivia: The Custom of El Poro
Camiri Digital [es] proudly writes about the use of the drink “el Poro” in Camiri, Bolivia, and its customs such as pouring the drink to your right.
Cuba, Mexico: Good Relations
“I’ve always admired how Mexico, despite its own internal contradictions and conflicts, was able to dodge the US pressure on Cuba…in the early 1960s”: On a recent trip to Mexico...
Barbados, Venezuela: Staking a Claim
Notes From The Margin is monitoring the “strident” tone of an article in the Venezuelan media which deals with the South American country's claim of Barbados’ waters: “Barbados has little...
Peru: Movie Places Machu Picchu Incorrectly
Luis Ramos of Cinencuentro [es] complains about another movie that mistakenly places Machu Picchu in another country. This time it is placed in Mexico.
Russia: Exaggerated Rumours of a New Cuban Crisis
FP Passport – Russia follows up on the commotion and official denials following rumours of Russian plans to station strategic bombers to Cuba.
Cuba: Carnival Time
“It is a time to shrug off the slogans, the shortages and the frustrated expectations. Dancing is a magnificent way of forgetting. And so we will have a festival along...
Costa Rica: Concerts, riots and concerns.
Journalist Cristian Cambronero from popular Costa Rican blog Fusil de Chispas posts a recount of Sunday's Concert where youth rioted and destroyed the campus of the Universidad Latina in the capital city of San José. It seems that when around 3000 of them were not allowed entrance to the free concert venue where already 5000 spectators were waiting for the concert some of the irate teens destroyed the university buildings, storefronts,dismantled cars, damaged the church in the vicinity, looted, threw chairs, rocks and bricks everywhere.
Paraguay: Recent Photos of Asuncion and Luque
Muna Annahas posts recent pictures from her visit to her home in Asuncion and Luque, Paraguay.
Brazil: A topless protest in Rio downtown
Walter Valdevino posts pictures at Nova Corja [pt] of an unusual protest in Brazil, when a 28 year old artist protested going topless in the centre of Rio de Janeiro...
Cuba: July 26th
This past weekend, on July 26th, Cuba marked the 55th anniversary of the attack on the Moncada Barracks in Santiago that came to be recognised as the start of the Cuban Revolution. Bloggers react to President Raul Castro's much-anticipated speech at the event.
Brazil: Blogosphere makes it to the cinema
“The blogosphere made it to the Brazilian cinema. Murilo Salles’ film “A Proper Name“ [pt] brings a blog, by Clara Averbuck [pt], to the movie theater. There are reviews of...
Brazil: Who is behind the ‘Cybercrimes Bill'?
Blog do Tião writes [Pt] about the companies and political groups behind Eduardo Azeredo, the Brazilian Senator that proposed a controversial Cybercrimes Bill that's being largely discussed in the Brazilian...
AIDS: XVII International Conference call for videos
The XVII International AIDS Conference will take place in Mexico City between August 3rd and the 8th, and Witness' THE HUB has a series of videos uploaded by community members and organizations reflecting diverse approaches to HIV-AIDS related issues. The innitiative is towards creating a repository of work, testimonies, video and photographs to be shared through their site before, during and after the conference.
Ecuador: New Constitution Ready For Vote in Referendum
A draft proposal for the new Constitution in Ecuador is ready for approval by a nationwide referendum to be held in September. However, reports of a Constituent Assembly under pressure, a change of assembly president, and questionable legal conditions placed on the text leave some unsure of their vote. In spite of this, local bloggers recommend that everyone read the entire 200-page text before making a decision and that it is important to be a part of the process.
Brazil: Corruption doesn't need captions
Vejo Tudo e Não Morro [I see everything and I don't die, pt] publishes a cartoon that doesn't need captions: corruption is universal.
Brazil: Controversial nuclear project is given green light
Controversial Angra 3 reactor for Brazil's Nuclear Power Plant was given a pre-licence by the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) last July 23, not before a series of 60 environmental terms were imposed by Environment Minister Carlos Minc.
Ecuador: Guayaquil Celebrates its Past and Present
“Cheers, Guayaquil on your Anniversary!” writes Alex Anazco of Cambiemos Ecuador [es]. He writes about its past, but also about its present, which boasts the best airport in Latin America...
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