Democracy & Civics

Argentina: New Law Targets Violence Against Women

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A new law in Argentina broadens the definition of violence against women to include acts of aggression that go beyond the scope of the family setting. The legislation looks outside of the home by targeting sexual, psychological and even workplace degradation, reports Inter Press Service. Now, any act directed against a woman that causes “a loss of self-esteem” or tries to control a woman’s actions by “threats, harassment, bullying, manipulation, isolation” and more is illegal. Although the legislation looks good on the books, experts fear implementing it could be tough. Women’s advocates say the political will to overcome “machista” traditions, as well as adequate budgets for the institutions charged with enforcing the law, may be lacking.

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Easy Doesn't

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For years, New Orleans has been sitting on nearly $34 million in federal housing aid. Yet officials in the Big Easy have yet to actually spend any, even in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The funding will have to be returned unless it gets used. Photo: Lower Ninth Ward/Mike Sax

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Bamboo Bikes for the People

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Elite bicycle designer Craig Calfee has developed a fully functional two-wheeler made from bamboo. Now, his Bamboosero Bikes aim bring the eco-friendly rides, made by villagers using local bamboo, to rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa. Photo: Idiolector

Democracy & Civics

New Orleans May Lose Federal Housing Aid

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New Orleans has been sitting on nearly $34 million in federal housing aid it received since 1993, and needs to spend money soon if it wants to keep it The Times-Picayune reports. New Orleans officials have been directing the money to programs such as affordable housing, but have yet to actually spend any. A May 31 deadline has been set up for the city to spend $10 million in federal Housing and Urban Development money that has been unused for the past five years. Anthony Faciane, from the New Orleans Office of Recovery, said that he is confident that the deadline will be met, and implied that slow recovery from Hurricane Katrina was the problem. City council member Cynthia Willard-Lewis told the newspaper: “I agree it was a problem for six months to a year, but now we’re into four years since the storm.”

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Facebook Politics Go Global

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President Obama’s use of social media to get out the vote was a sign of things to come. Chilean presidential candidate Sebastian Pinera and El Salvador’s Mauricio Funes are tapping into Flickr, Twitter, YouTube — and, yep, both have Facebook profiles (right). Photo montage by Jennifer Pickens