Excitement over the World Cup has once again revived a debate among intellectuals, some of whom denigrate the most popular sport on the planet while others consider it an expression of the spirit.  There is also continued debate about its economic benefits, or lack thereof.  

The biggest factor in environmental degradation is the persistence of poverty. 

Large Gay Pride parades appeared across the region as the community of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, Transvestite people called for societies to respect their rights.  

President Michelle Bachelet announced a plan to buy and return disputed ancestral lands to Chile’s indigenous communities, while teachers went on strike across the country for better public education. 

Depression is a major cause for psychiatric consultation in Latin America; statistics show that the bulk of those affected are between 20 and 50 years of age. 

The richest 1% accounted for 14% of total revenues in Uruguay. 

Just when the Catholic Movement for a Free Choice gave its semiannual report on femicide, reporting 51 dead women (46 in Nicaragua, and 5 abroad), police of Bonanza reported the death of Nicasia Inés Hernández Salgado, 35, shot to death by her partner.  And in Guatemala few cases of violence against women are ever resolved

At least five people were injured in anti-World Cup protests in São Paulo when police and protesters clashed hours before the opening game of the World Cup, which has been marred by construction delays and political unrest. 

Kirchnerista academic Ricardo Forster got a new job. 

Thousands of Chilean high school and university students marched in Santiago to protest what they see as an inadequate proposal for education reform put forward by President Michelle Bachelet.