Breaking Tweets » Central America

Hurricane Ida causes deadly mudslides, floods in El Salvador

Lindsey Drakert — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:16:59 +0000

CNN reports that heavy rains from Hurricane Ida on Sunday caused floods and mudslides in El Salvador that left at least 130 people dead and about 60 people still missing by Monday afternoon. El Salvador’s government Web site said there were 108 landslides, 209 destroyed buildings and another 1,835 damaged ones.

Even though there weren’t many Twitter users to be found on the scene, the Twitter scene had an international reaction:

kishanmunroe (Bahamas) Condolences to all those who lost loved ones as a result of the flood disasters in El Salvador. 09 Nov 2009 from web

cheverexYO (Buffalo, NY) Just found out about the flood situation in El Salvador… nowhere near my familys place thankGod but my prayers are with everyone out there 09 Nov 2009 from web

LeilariTirado (Atlanta, GA) LA just declared a state of emergency & Atlanta is under a flood watch. 91 dead in El Salvador. Hurricane Ida is no joke!! 09 Nov 2009 from Tweetie

omarilu (Savannah, GA) So sad Thoughts are with the people RT @guanabee: Blog Post:Mudslide Buries The Entire Town Of Verapaz In El Salvador http://bit.ly/V6Vvz 09 Nov 2009 from web

andrealathrop (Undisclosed) Pray for El Salvador-91 dead, 7K homes destroyed, 60+ missing in flooding & mudslide disaster. 09 Nov 2009 from Echofon

TheNiteRain (Atlanta, GA) Please pray for those affected by Hurricane Ida. El Salvador was hit very badly. along with other central American countries 09 Nov 2009 from web

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Castro’s sister reveals she worked with CIA during Cold War

Tony Valdivieso — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:58:54 +0000

In her recently released memoirs, “My Brothers Fidel and Raul, the Secret History,” Juanita Castro made some shocking revelations: the younger sister of long-time Cuban leader Fidel Castro revealed between the years of 1961-1969, she worked for the CIA helping to keep agents within Cuba safe.

According to CNN, Juanita was originally a supporter of the Cuban revolution which brought her brother to power in 1959 but became disillusioned by the growing injustice of his rule. In 1961, the wife of the Brazilian ambassador to Cuba persuaded Castro to meet with a CIA officer during a trip to Mexico, according to AP.

“[The CIA] wanted to talk to me because they had interesting things to tell me, and interesting things to ask of me, such as… if I was ready to listen to them. I was semi-shocked, but I said yes anyway,” she told CNN affiliate Univision-Noticias 23.

While most Twitterers were shocked upon hearing the news…

patricia_andrad (Miami, FL) En Miami estamos en shock!Juanita Castro se guardo el secreto,se arriesgo,y acepto colaborar con la CIA para ayudar a sacar a Fidel y Raul (In Miami we are in shock! Juanita Castro held the secret, take risks, and agree to cooperate with the CIA to help lift Fidel and Raul) 26 Oct 2009 from UberTwitter

carlaa11 (Undisclosed) Juanita Castro collaborated with CIA, thank goodness she lives in Miami. 26 Oct 2009 from web

mfreitasneto (Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil) Com codinome de Donna – JUANITA CASTRO, 76 – IRMÃ TRAÍDORA DO COMANDANTE FIDEL CASTRO, TRABALHOU NA CIA. Ela não fala com irmãos há 45 anos. (Code-named Donna – JUANITA CASTRO, 76 – SISTER traitor Commander Fidel Castro, he worked at the CIA. She does not speak to brothers for 45 years.) 27 Oct 2009 from web

— this quote was brought to you by quoteurl

…a few were able to find humor in the situation:

thejohnblog (Arlington, TX) Castro’s sister gave info to CIA. Man, I thought my sis was a traitor for eating my last Pop Tart on May 12th, 1987. But I’m over it now. 27 Oct 2009 from txt

charliehaldeman (Sherman, TX) What’s up with news of people on the CIA payroll? Castro’s sister… now Afghan prez’ brother? Thank goodness I’m an only child! 28 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

renatamonte (Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil) Minha irmã é como a irmã do Fidel Castro. Só que não espionar pra CIA e sim pros meus pais. (My sister is like the sister of Fidel Castro. But not a CIA spy, for my parents.) 27 Oct 2009 from web

— this quote was brought to you by quoteurl

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Costa Rica sets goal to be carbon neutral by 2021

Elle Eichinger — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:11:41 +0000

Costa Rican officials announced this week that the country plans to be carbon neutral by the year 2021, making it the first country in the world to reach carbon neutrality. Maldives is the only other developing country to have set a similar goal.

According to an interview with Costa Rican president Oscar Arias, Time announced that 95 percent of Costa Rica’s energy already comes from renewable sources that do not pollute the environment.

Twitter users have been praising Costa Rica’s commitment to the environment:

innovacr (Costa Rica) Time’s Costa Rica’s President: It’s Not Easy Staying Green http://bit.ly/97pyF – una buena oportunidad para cumplir esa vision q proyectamos (a good opportunity to fulfill that vision projected)

HotUrbanGreen (San Francisco, CA)Love it RT@OceanChampions @reenymal: Already 1 of the greenest countries Costa Rica has Goal 2 be Carbon Neutral by 2021 http://bit.ly/uoupe

russwilliamsiii (Greensboro, NC) RT @OceanChampions: Awesome! RT @reenymal ne of greenest countries, Costa Rica Sets Goal to be Carbon Neutral by 2021: http://bit.ly/uoupe

GreenEconomics (London, England)@alejoint666 Costa Rica is increible.

windandthestars (New York) Go Costa Rica!! http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/opinion/12friedman.html
For once someone sees the environment as > than an economic asset!

onyxdog (Los Angeles, California) Costa Rica Sets Goal to be Carbon Neutral by 2021 http://bit.ly/26e2PG {imma movin’ to costa rica}

CNN has a video about the country’s plans to reach its goal.

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Honduras establishes curfew after arrival of ousted leader Zelaya

Bryan Simpson — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 06:10:03 +0000

Per the Associated Press, the interim government in Honduras has set a 15-hour curfew, from 4 p.m. to 7 a.m. local time, after ousted president Manuel Zelaya returned to the Honduras capital of Tegucigalpa on Monday.

Defying threats of arrest, Zelaya made his return to call for negotiations with those who forced him out in late June, seeking refuge in the Brazilian embassy.

Thousands of supporters danced and cheered outside of the embassy, where Zelaya would summon countrymen for peaceful protests, telling AP, “This is the moment of reconciliation.”

Twitterers in Honduras displayed their feelings and experiences regarding the curfew moments after it went into effect:

tayuso (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) Pro-Zelaya protesters still on the streets of Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula after the stated 4:00pm curfew has begun. #Honduras 21 Sep 2009 from TweetDeck

jorgeluispaz (San Pedro Sula, Honduras) The duly constituted coup presiding over the country is enforcing a curfew in #Honduras as they learned that #Zelaya is back. #crisisHN 21 Sep 2009 from TweetDeck

nrodriguezlima (Boone, N.C./Honduras) 50 minutes past curfew and weve moved 5 feet forward… Hope we dont get arrested… 21 Sep 2009 from TwitterBerry

Gab5584 (Honduras) I was on my way to the supermarket just to find out that there’s a curfew nation wide!… THANKS A LOT MEL! 21 Sep 2009 from web

carlolaitano (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) The ousted Honduran ex-president returned today. The current givernment has set a curfew for 4pm. It’s 3:58 and traffic is caos 21 Sep 2009 from Tweetie

alca0204 (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) curfew starts at 4pm its 3:40 and the streets are crazy! Everything was fine #Honduras 21 Sep 2009 from Ping.fm

— this quote was brought to you by quoteurl

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Florida man detained in connection with horrific murders of wife and young children

PJ Randhawa — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 05:47:58 +0000

Florida man Mesac Damas was arrested and taken in for questioning yesterday in connection with the murder of his wife and five children. According to the Associated Press, Damas was found in Port-au-Prince, Haiti after a massive police manhunt was launched Sunday.

The bodies were found Saturday morning by police officers who describe the scene as “the worst of the worst,” per the New York Times.

Naples residents and Tweeters are shocked by this senseless crime.

BrickShasha (Florida) Who do I talk to, to make sure they book a room on FL’s DEATH ROW for Mesac Damas. 21 Sep 2009 from UberTwitter

ndn (Naples, FL) Court records: Slain wife begged repeatedly to give Mesac Damas second chance after beatings http://bit.ly/3otNcO 21 Sep 2009 from twitterfeed

azbubba (Avondale, AZ) RT @Twitterzilla: Mesac Damas has been “detained”. I hate to jump to conclusions but plug in the chair and get it warmed up. 21 Sep 2009 from TweetDeck

ericjackson (Naples, FL) Creep. Glad he’s caught RT @ndn: Mesac Damas said Monday he returned to his native Haiti “to say goodbye to my family.” http://bit.ly/oJLlw 22 Sep 2009 from TweetDeck

averyre (Undisclosed) Friends of Damas: ‘He didn’t seem like that kind of guy’: By RYAN MILLS NAPLES — Friends of Mesac Da.. http://bit.ly/7AyzN 22 Sep 2009 from twitterfeed

Damas had flown to Haiti on Friday morning, a day before the bodies were discovered. In a potentially damning revelation to a Naples News reporter yesterday, Damas, while in custody at a Haiti police station, revealed that he planned to surrender and he had come to Haiti to “say goodbye to my family”.

The suspected murderer has a lengthy history of domestic abuse against his wife and young children, ranging from ages 9 to 11 months, FOX News reports.

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U.S. nixes Honduras aid in response to coup

Craig Kanalley — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:31:55 +0000

The United States pressured Honduras to reinstate its former President Manuel Zelaya on Thursday by halting all non-humanitarian aid to the country, according to CNN.

Zelaya was ousted in a coup on June 28, leading to a period of chaos in the nation, where divisions are still prevalent.

The news quickly circulated amongst Twitter users in Honduras capital Tegucigalpa, angering some. Many continue to tweet about the crisis with the hashtag #crisishn:

Candymfb (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) DO NOT Legally define the constitutional presidential succession in Honduras as a military coup. DO NOT cut off aid to Honduras. 02 Sep 2009 from web

rescobar2001 (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) EUA anuncia suspensión de ayuda, revocación de visas y el no reconocimiento de elecciones http://bit.ly/LnUde (U.S. announces aid suspension, revocation of visas and non-recognition of elections) 03 Sep 2009 from TweetDeck

bryanflacko (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) #Honduras, #crisishn, Estados Unidos de America acaba de cancelar todo tipo de ayuda economica para Honduras, no mas dinero para el pais (#Honduras, #crisishn, United States of America has just cancel all types of economic aid to Honduras, no more money for the country) 03 Sep 2009 from web

diarioelheraldo (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) “Pagaremos cualquier precio”: Gobernación http://bit.ly/DYFMI Suspensión de ayuda de Estados Unidos (”We will pay any price”: Governance http://bit.ly/DYFMI Suspension of U.S. aid) 03 Sep 2009 from web

hondurasenlucha (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) EE.UU. cancela ayudas económicas a #Micheletti y no reconocerá elecciones http://hondurasenlucha.blogspot.com/ #Honduras, #crisishn, #pazhn (U.S. cancel financial assistance #Micheletti and will not recognize elections) 03 Sep 2009 from web

Was it the right thing for the U.S. to do? Americans and others tweeted a variety of views:

joshuacstephens (Washington, D.C.) Wow! And only months after the coup! Jesus. RT – U.S. Terminates $22 Million in Aid to Honduras http://bit.ly/1H57XF (via @nytimes) 03 Sep 2009 from Tweetie

AngelEra (Washington, D.C.) The US says it is halting all non-humanitarian aid to Honduras in the wake of the June coup that ousted their Pres. (via @bbcnews) Fair? 03 Sep 2009 from Twitterrific in reply to bbcnews

adldesign (Caracas, Venezuela) Obama would be making a mistake if he cuts aid to Honduras. Unless, he’s like Zelaya and Chavez. Oh, wait. Oooh. Right. Nevermind. 28 Aug 2009 from Tweetie

UVa66 (Texas) Zelaya: return to Honduras TODAY; face trial for abuse of power. But, Honduras is SO rich, they don’t need US aid, huh! http://tiny.cc/1Q1R0 03 Sep 2009 from web

alara95 (Undisclosed) crazy RT @LaGringaLaCeiba: US State Dept has stopped aid to #Honduras, will not recognize the Nov elections http://shar.es/1nsNc 03 Sep 2009 from Mixero

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Ousted president says his jet denied landing rights in Honduras

Scott Swanson — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:51:35 +0000

Per CNN, a jet carrying deposed Honduran President Jose Manuel Zelaya was unable to land at Tegucigalpa’s airport Sunday evening amid a tense standoff between government troops and Zelaya’s supporters.

Tweets from Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, provide context on the situation.

puchito1029 (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) Honduras es tierra de Paz. Manuel Zelaya no termina de entender esto. Esto no le hace nada bien a Honduras. Quedate lejos Mel. (Honduras is a land of Peace. Manuel Zelaya not yet understand this. This does not do anything right to Honduras. Stay away Mel.) 06 Jul 2009 from web

Rikkilulu (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) should we have to put up with a foreign plane violating airspace, specially a military plane from Venezuela,Would they allow it? #crisishn 06 Jul 2009 from web

puchito1029 (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) The media has it all wrong and are doing a terrible job covering Honduras. The Honduran people need our help NOW. http://tr.im/helphonduras 06 Jul 2009 from web

Bllq21 (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) #Honduras: Dictator Micheletti has blood on his hands after his military killed civilians today! via @manueltreto 06 Jul 2009 from twhirl

OskrC (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) Manifestantes congragados en las inmediaciones de Toncontin iniciaban a dispersarse después que ejército impidió aterrizaje de Mel (Demonstrators in the vicinity of Toncontin began to disperse after the army prevented landing Mel) 06 Jul 2009 from TwitterFox

Earlier, tweets were flowing in that shots had been fired near the airport and at least one person had been killed.

iJeffry (Texas) [GRAPHIC] Pic of boy killed at Zelaya rally in Honduras http://twitpic.com/9fzyb (via @rodrigomx) 06 Jul 2009 from Tweetie

Whitney86: (Undisclosed) Thousands supporters of overthrown Honduras Pres. at airport as military curfew starts, media reports killed, many wounded 06 Jul 2009 from TweetDeck

inscripcion (Nevada) One killed in #Honduras protest, more wounded-medics http://bit.ly/UaEmr 06 Jul 2009 from web

Twitterer @phnx0221 posted a link to photos of the protest here, while others continue to discuss the crisis.

Rosental (Texas) #Honduras military shown on teleSur shooting their weapons hundreds of times, as demonstrators were throwing stones at Tegucigalpa airport 06 Jul 2009 from TweetDeck

AbsintheSpirit (Undisclosed) Violence brok’out among huge crowd surrounding the airport-Military forces fired shots and tear gas->30 wonded/1 journalist killed #honduras 06 Jul 2009 from web

1D4TW (Montreal) Would love to know the sacred “constitutional law” that permits exiling a citizen and barring his return. #Zelaya #Honduras 06 Jul 2009 from web

There are still many unconfirmed reports of what is going on at the airport, and the situation around Zelaya’s aircraft at this time.

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Panama earthquake strikes in middle of night

Craig Kanalley — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 09:42:23 +0000

An earthquake struck Panama at 1:50 a.m. local time on Saturday. The epicenter of the 6.0-magnitude quake was 60 miles northeast of Panama City, per the USGS.

@AndyMahfood had the first tweet on the earthquake. Many Twitterers who tweeted after him reported being woken up by the quake.

AndyMahfood (Panama City, Panama) AHHHHHH EARTHQUAKE!!!!!!! [EXPLETIVE]! 04 Jul 2009 from Twitterrific

true_rockstar (Panama) @fadita nada aqui en twitter ahh ya me hiva a dormir y hubo un temblor (nothing here on twitter ahh I try to go to sleep and there was an earthquake) 04 Jul 2009 from web in reply to fadita

aglb66 (Panama) Fuerte #temblor en Panamá a la 1:50 am del día 4 de julio, parecia una montaña rusa… esperamos replicas… (# Strong quake in Panama at 1:50 am on July 4, seemed a roller coaster … hope ok …) 04 Jul 2009 from TweetDeck

miguelr (Panama) me acaba de despertar un hijue… temblor .. waooo (I just woke up son of a… earthquake .. wooow) 04 Jul 2009 from web

jctapia (Panama) just got woken up by an earthquake! 04 Jul 2009 from web

ericcollin (Panama) OOOOH! An EARTHQUAKE in Panama 5 mins ago! I felt is very strongly. It Will be in the news tomorrow 100%! 04 Jul 2009 from Power Twitter

MarviaL (Panama) Still shaking from the powerful #earthquake that just hit Colon, Panama around 1:48am. Not sure of measurement yet. 04 Jul 2009 from web

gorilita (Panama) earthquake in Panama? Last one like this was 9 years ago. Everybody woke up. 04 Jul 2009 from web

Morinoko (Panama) ¡Despiertame cuando pase el temblor! (Wake me up when an earthquake!) 04 Jul 2009 from web

rafamv29 (Panama City, Panama) earthquake,omg!!! i’m so scare, 6.0 at 1:49 a.m. i don’t know what to think, i wont be able to sleep!!! 04 Jul 2009 from web

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Featured TwitPic: ‘What the world refuses to see’ in Honduras

Craig Kanalley — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:17:07 +0000

@rikkilulu, a lawyer who lives in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, posted several TwitPics of a pro-constitution rally in the capital city on Tuesday. Here is one of them with the caption “Defending Constitution in Honduras. What the world refuses to see.” Honduras has been in a chaotic state since its president Manuel Zelaya was ousted from power a few days ago.

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Honduras president Manuel Zelaya ousted from power

Craig Kanalley — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:34:50 +0000

Per The New York Times, the Honduras army stormed the presidential palace in Tegucigalpa on Sunday, disarmed the presidential guard, and forced President Manuel Zelaya into exile, flying him to Costa Rica. It is the first military coup in Central America since the end of the Cold War.

Congress has accepted an apparent resignation letter from Zelaya, though he publicly denied signing the letter on CNN, calling it “totally false,” per USA Today.

Twitterers in Honduras provided their vantage point of developments today, for some time a chaotic scene:

alca0204 (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) helicopters and military planes are all over the city of tegucigalpa,Honduras. 28 Jun 2009 from web

alca0204 (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) @bloggingsbyboz the situation is really tense boz, there was no electricity during a period and military planes are over the city sky. 28 Jun 2009 from web in reply to bloggingsbyboz

rodrigolopez (San Pedro Sula, Honduras) Military jets are flying over San Pedro Sula as well. #Honduras #CrisisHN 28 Jun 2009 from TweetDeck

Lain_atTheWire (Heredia, Costa Rica) military has been terrorizing civilians in the streets in honduras 28 Jun 2009 from web

Most in the region agreed that this was what the Honduran people wanted, however, especially as Zelaya was pushing for another term as president and to extend his powers:

chalespinosa (Managua, Nicaragua) Mel Zelaya did not obey Honduran constitution wait for all story to come out its about constitutionality and instutuionality 28 Jun 2009 from TweetDeck

rodrigolopez (San Pedro Sula, Honduras) Manuel Zelaya is a criminal and should pay for his crimes in prison. #CrisisHN #Honduras 28 Jun 2009 from TweetDeck

alexmoncada (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) people!!!!! 85% of Honduras is glad Zelaya is out, he has taken us to the brink of social chaos, please UNDERSTAND we love democracy!!! 28 Jun 2009 from web

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