My friend Cristian Cambronero has managed to create one of the most influential blogs in Central America, and most certainly the most important independent blog in Costa Rica. Fusil the Chispas has been live for five years now, and it has consolidated as a true alternative news source. It’s been a fascinating process to witness.
A few months ago, Cristian asked four writers, including me, to create Lechemilk, a guest blogger section on the site. Luis Chaves, María Montero, Carla Pravisani and I have published several literary articles. It has been interesting to see the reactions to different types of text, and how this particular audience responds to the things we’re writing. Most of them are opinion pieces, fictionalized, somewhat based in reality.
My pieces have ranged from the issue of same-sex partnership, to a silly article about the conversations I have about Costa Rica, and the latest was about my tendency to fall in love, frequently and profoundly, with random people. All texts are available in Spanish only.
Last time I mentioned Superdemokraticos, the project was just starting. By now, the project is coming to an end.
Turns out, the other superdemokraticos were fantastic writers. I’m amazed at the diversity of experiences and opinions that were brought into the project. All the articles were translated from Spanish to German, and some of them are available in English as well. Click on the question marks to switch languages.
My articles, linked here in Spanish, were:
Todavía en tránsito
Sobrevivir el día
Volver atrás ni para tomar impulso
Lluvia y cuerpo
Vasos sucios, ceniceros llenos
Formulario
Equipaje de mano
Atrapasueños
Leo para que me importen las cosas
A few weeks ago I was spending some time in Costa Rica with my family. While I was there, I had the opportunity to meet with a long time friend, Susana Fevrier. She is currently producing AgroEnlace, a radio program for IICA, an international organization working on Agricultural and Land issues in Central America.
We had a great interview about how technology projects can really have an impact on agriculture and agricultural communities. I think the name of the program is Las TIC, una herramienta para el desarrollo en la agricultura. I tried to stress the point that Sula Batsu has maintained for a long time: infrastructure investment can only take you so far. Finding the strengths of what the community, what they already use and what has been working, can provide better value in the local context.
I haven’t heard it because I can’t find the plugin that is needed, or my Mac doesn’t like it. Anyway, here it is, in Spanish.
