Friday, January 25, 2008

town hall meeting

town hall meeting: cabildo abierto

Sometimes, though less so, also called 'cabildo general'. I also recently heard "evento de opinion publica" (gracias Juan). That may be more easily understood, especially by those with lower literacy, but I like the historical referent of cabildo abierto, especially given that town hall meetings also have historical roots.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

to ground

ground: poner polo a tierra

In both English and Spanish this term comes from the electrical meaning, but is used metaphorically to mean to bring a discussion back to earth, to the concrete, or it can refer to bringing your body energy and spirit back down to earth, in a chi gong kind of way. We could all probably use more of this too.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Veeduria

veeduria: oversight

We could certainty use more of it, in government institutions, NGO's, and in movements. I am a big fan of the Quaker 'oversight committee' model. On a similar note, seguimiento can be follow-through, but when it's a comisiĆ³n I would render it as a Monitoring Commission.

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

shopdrop

shopdrop: deja-compras

Ready to engage in some anti-capitalist monkey wrenching after that commodity fest? Try shopdropping. Thanks to Jonathan Luna for this creative rendition in Spanish.