Internet Access Declared a Human Right in Guatemalan Village
Region: Guatemala
By Renata Avila In the indigenous village of Santiago Atitlan, Internet access has been declared “a human right” by both inhabitants and local authorities. Authorities are also implementing a plan to provide free community Wi-Fi to the entire population so that everyone can benefit from it and exercise their rights. The concepts of community and sharing are entrenched in the daily life of indigenous ... more
Views: 1705In Guatemala, First Lady Announces Her Candidacy for President
Region: GuatemalaRenata Avila, Global Voices Intolerance was exhibited through social media when the President's wife, Sandra Torres, announced she will lead the official party in the run for the Presidency. But these comments are not new; words of disapproval and hate by her critics were spread long before she announced her candidacy. On Facebook there are at least two pages directed against Torres: one for people who hate Sandr... more
Views: 2144Giant Guatemala Sinkhole Emerges After Tropical Storm Agatha
Region: Guatemala
An enormous sinkhole appeared in Guatemala in the aftermath of tropical storm Agatha, swallowing a three-story building and a house, according to CNN's sources. The sinkhole, which appears too extreme to be real, is shown below in a photo released by the Guatemalan government. Resident blamed a poor below-ground drainage system, and said a security guard was killed. 100 people were killed in the wake of the storms... more
Views: 5199Violence Against Women Goes Unpunished in Guatemala
Region: GuatemalaBy Kristiana Carden She was seven months pregnant and just 19 years old. The men performed a crude cesarean section and killed her, then took the baby. Her body was burned to conceal her identity. The most horrendous part, though, is that the authorities in Guatelama didn’t seem to care. The faceless young woman was a victim of femicide – the killing of women, just because they are women, by men. The pra... more
Views: 4595Guatemalans organize protests to fight injustice
Region: GuatemalaPer Prensa Libre in Guatemala, protests advocating for justice were held in separate locations in Guatemala City on Sunday. The events were held at Plaza Italia and Plaza de Constitution and were organized through the social networking sites Twitter, Facebook and Hi5. They seek to fight impunity and injustice in the country and promote human rights. Twitterers were most active in Plaza Italia, where participants wore ... more
Views: 2039Shooting of American Priest in Guatemala Raises Safety Concerns
Region: GuatemalaThe murder of politically active Rev. Lawrence Rosebaugh sparks speculation and calls to mind past violence in the capital of the Central American country. Was Rosebaugh’s Death Just a Robbery? He helped garner international attention in the 1970s for human rights violations in Brazil, and was a missionary in Guatemala for 10 years. But Milwaukee native Rev. Lawrence Rosebaugh fell victim this week to... more
Views: 1427Guatemalan Baby Trade Means Trouble for Adoptions
Region: Guatemala
Posted by Shannon Firth to findingDulcinea Several countries are stepping up security to curb a growing baby trade—good news for everyone except for those who want to adopt internationally. In Guatemala, recent DNA tests confirmed what’s long been suspected: babies are being stolen and put up for adoption by corrupt state agencies. Gunmen stole Ana Escobar’s six-month-old daughter, Esther, from ... more
Views: 1788Guatemalens Celebrate Indigenous Art
Region: Guatemala
Posted by Renata Avila to Global Voices Online On International Day of the World's Indigenous People, there is a celebration of indigenous peoples and how they express themselves through their artistic creations. These groups, not only in Guatemala, but all across the world often face discrimination, extreme poverty and social marginalization on a daily basis. However, this post seeks to show how indigenous peoples in... more
Views: 2503Daniel Perry Dryden Hacked to Death near Lake Izabal
Region: Guatemala
Daniel Perry Dryden, 66, was hacked to death while on vacation with his wife Nancy, in Lake Izabal, Guatemala. Armed pirates boarded the Dyden's boat which was anchored in Lake Izabal and stabbed and poked Dryden and his wife Nancy. The four thieves were looking for money, especially U.S. dollars from Daniel Perry Dryden and his wife, who had no cash or valuables onboard. Nancy Dryden quickly put out a dis... more
Views: 2620Mayans on '2012 Doomsday': Not happening at all
Region: GuatemalaAs December 21, 2012 soon approaches, the Mayans have weighed in on the talks of "doomsday." To the Mayans, this is not true and that the talks of the world coming to the end are misinterpretations. As December approaches, one should be weary of the date December 21, 2012 or 12/21/12. So far, this has significance as it is the alleged date of “doomsday” according to the Mayan calendar. In... more
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