Americas Now

March 27, 2022

Preserving the Mayan-Era Melipona Bee

Bees have been around for literally thousands of years, producing sweet honey but, more importantly, helping keep our planet sustainable.  In Guatemala, one particular species of the honey bee harks back to the time of the ancient Mayan civilization, more than three thousand years ago.  […]

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March 27, 2022

Brazil’s efforts to Rethink Energy Models Have Sugar in Mind

Brazil is the world’s fifth-largest nation, and one of the world’s leaders in renewable energy. Nearly 12% of the planet’s freshwater flows in Brazil, so hydropower generates 61% of the country’s electricity.  So, when climate phenomena like La Nina -a warming of the Pacific Ocean- are associated […]

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March 27, 2022

An Ecuadorean Town Is Sinking Because of Illegal Mining

A town in Ecuador, aspiring to become a United Nations World Heritage Site, is slowly being destroyed by illegal gold mining.  Zaruma, in the country’s south, is collapsing. Huge sinkholes, created by mine shafts below, have swallowed the local school and brought down homes.  No […]

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March 21, 2022

The ancestral crops of Peru

The Peruvian Andes is home to one of the most diverse food systems in the world. Dan Collyns tells us about the importance of Peru´s agro-bio-diversity.  

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March 6, 2022

Mechatronic Reforestation could be a Weapon to Fight Climate Change 

Brazilian entrepreneur, Marcelo Guimaraes, has invented what he claims is the fastest tree-planting machine on earth. Fast enough, he says, to realistically address climate change.  His third-generation version of the planting machine, called Forest Bot, can plant multiple species of trees at a speed of up […]

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March 6, 2022

Migrants are dying along the route to their American Dream

As the migration crisis continues along the U.S. southern border, the dangers facing those seeking to enter the United States aren’t only in Mexico. Some of the most perilous parts of the journey are on the U.S. side of the border. The crackdown by migration […]

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March 6, 2022

Jack Wallace: When Tragedy Hit, Hockey Came to the Rescue

It was July 2008 when 10-year-old Jack Wallace had a waterskiing accident in which he lost his leg. He descended into a deep depression and, at his young age, couldn’t envision himself living without a limb. But the discovery of a program specializing in disability […]

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March 6, 2022

When Being Poor Co-exists with Dangers

In the Caribbean and Latin America, 1 out of every 5 people are living in slums. These slums are also often referred to as “informal settlements” within cities. For a poverty-stricken population, the low cost of living in these neighborhoods and the chance to make […]

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January 31, 2022

Former Guerilla Fighters Bring Tourism to the Jungle 

The rainforest and mountains in southern Colombia are home to stunning scenery and unique species. But for decades tourists weren’t able to go there because of the armed conflict. Now former FARC guerrillas have become tour guides and are teaching others about the land that […]

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January 31, 2022

Mexico’s COVID-19 Collateral Damage: Orphanhood

Mexico’s COVID death toll was one of the world’s highest. And according to official data, roughly 1.5 million children lost at least one parent since March of 2020. Alasdair Baverstock reports on Mexico’s pandemic orphans.   

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January 31, 2022

Cruise Industry Recovery Hindered by Omicron

After months of suspended operations, cruises are making a comeback. The multi-billion-dollar industry was pummeled during the pandemic. But bookings for 2022 are already higher than in 2019. John Zarrella tells us how cruise companies and passengers are adapting to new protocols.     

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January 16, 2022

Erratic rainfall in Honduras

During the last few years, it’s been a challenge for residents of Honduras to identify the “rainy season.” Rainfall in the country has become so unpredictable. Gerry Hadden reports. 

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December 20, 2021

Nicaragua Miskito People Facing the Worst of Climate Change

In November 2020, brutal back-to-back hurricanes smashed into Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast, knocking down homes and trees and washing away beaches. The ferocity of the storms, and their frequency, scientists say, are signs of climate change. If this is the new normal, then Central America is […]

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December 17, 2021

Brazilian Artist Seeks to Provoke With His Art

Thought-provoking artist Eduardo Srur aims at taking people out of their comfort zones to make them question their reality. He feels optimistic about his work and the power it has to transform future generations. Correspondent Maria Vals has his story.

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December 5, 2021

Mexico’s Modern Mayans

Mayan descendants still inhabit the Yucatan Peninsula in southeast Mexico and they defend their roots and culture. Correspondent Alasdair Baverstock paid them a visit.  

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December 5, 2021

Peru continues to battle COVID-19

During a large portion of 2021 Peru had the highest COVID-19 death rate per capita in the world. New variants of the deadly virus have emerged as the country races to vaccinate its population.

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December 5, 2021

Drug Overdose in the U.S.

In the U.S., nearly 100 thousand people overdosed and died in 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mike Kirsch reports.

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November 21, 2021

A Close Look at the Oldest Solar Observatory in The Americas

It was called a “Masterpiece of human creative genius” by Unesco. It was given a “World Heritage” status in July, along with 12 other global sites. The Chankillo Astronomical Complex -a 2,300-year-old archeological site in Peru- is believed to be the oldest solar observatory in […]

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November 21, 2021

Venezuelans Entrepreneurship is on the Rise Despite All Odds

Venezuela has been in a deep recession since 2013. And like many other countries, it has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. But it’s not all gloom and doom. Perhaps because of the crisis, Venezuelans are showing more resilience. Despite all odds, some entrepreneurs […]

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November 21, 2021

Lagoon of Seven Colors in Mexico Threatened by Development

Mexico´s Lake Bacalar, on the border with Belize, attracts tourists from across the world. The lake is famous for its stunning colors. This geographical wonder is also a scientific gem concealing a unique organism. But as tourists come to see its crystal-clear waters, Alasdair Baverstock […]

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November 14, 2021

Close and personal with Bolivia’s president

From accounting to banking, public service to politics and from academia to Bolivia’s leader. Americas Now anchor, Elaine Reyes, sat down with him to talk about the pandemic, climate change and, of course, Bolivia´s economic situation.

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November 14, 2021

Pirates in the Gulf of Mexico

Pirates and robbing ships at sea may seem like a thing of the past. But in Mexico, a region famous for pirates, the practice continues. Alasdair Baverstick reports.

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November 11, 2021

The Parana River is at its Lowest Level in Living Memory

The Parana River in South America is the second-longest river. It runs almost 5 thousand kilometers through Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. But the Parana is at its lowest levels since the 1940s. Joel Richards reports on the economic and social impacts.   

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November 11, 2021

California Becomes Ground Zero for Wildfires 

Wildfire season in the U.S. normally runs from June to November. But this year began with frightening numbers and some very destructive activity early on. Mike Kirsch deployed to what has become ground zero for wildfires. The state of California.   

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