Written by Laura Vidal · Translated by Kimberly Shiller This is the first part of a two-part article. The Latin American Federation of Associations for Relatives of the Detained and Disappeared [2] and the Organization for the United Nations declared August 30 as an international day of remembrance to commemorate the victims of forced disappearances […]
Spanish-Speaking Twittersphere Fumes Over Announcement
Written by Juan Arellano and Translated by L. Finch Twitter’s announcement [1], published on January 26, 2012, which revealed that due to its international growth it will restrict [2] certain user content according to the laws of each individual country, caused an immediate and overwhelmingly negative reaction in the Spanish-speaking Twittersphere. The hashtags #CensuramestaTwitter [3] and #TwitterCensored [4] were used on a massive scale […]
Peru: MOVADEF – The Return of the Shining Path?
Written byJuan Arellano and Translated by Betsy Galbreath In the afternoon of January 20, 2012, the National Elections Board (JNE) issued its decision [1] [es] denying [2] [es], for the second time, the registration of MOVADEF (Movement for Amnesty and Fundamental Rights) as a political party. Social networks were immediately teeming with reactions and the next day traditional media reported extensively about […]
In Mexico, Citizen Journalism in the Midst of Drug-Trafficking Violence
In the last months, the violence stemming from drug-trafficking organizations reached a peak in the Mexican state of Nuevo León, the metropolitan area of Monterrey and the North. There are constant battles in public spaces with firearms [es] and grenades [es], and“express” kidnappings [es] (known as “levantones”). There have also been cases of executions and […]
Venezuela: Another Miss Universe Crown
After Miss Venezuela was selected as winner of the Miss Universe beauty pageant for the second time in a row, and which was the sixth Venezuelan in the history of this pageant to win, the Venezuelan blogosphere exploded with pride and joy. Once again, the country holds the attention of the world focused on the […]
Two Years After Peru Earthquake, And No Reconstruction
August 15 marked two years since an earthquake struck Southern Peru, and primarily affected the areas of Ica, Pisco, and Nazca. Other mountainous areas such as Huancavelica were also affected. Now that 2 years have passed after the earthquake, the opinion of many is that there has been very little accomplished in regards to reconstruction […]