Americas Now

This Week on Americas Now: Venezuela Special

Colombia’s peace process may be giving rise to violence in Costa Rica

Since Colombia achieved its historic peace deal with the FARC, the rebel group has gradually been laying down its arms. But there are new concerns the returned weapons are ending up – and giving a rise to violence in – Costa Rica.

Mexican mothers reclaim the search for their disappeared children

Mexico’s National Registry for Missing Persons says 30,000 Mexicans have disappeared in the past decade, but the government’s failure to find them has led to an extraordinary movement of citizen search groups.

Political Analyst Laura Carlsen on plight of mothers of the missing

Political analyst Laura Carlsen, who works with an organization that advises citizen search groups in Mexico, joined Elaine Reyes to discuss the plight of mothers on a quest to find their missing children.

Urban Voice Maria Pages’ flamenco stomps on traditionalism

Seville-born dancer and choreographer Maria Pages is considered a pioneer in the evolution of contemporary Flamenco, and her moves are said to be challenging traditionalism.

Guyana fights to defeat its suicide rate, the world’s highest

Stephen Gibbs travels to Guyana to discover why the South American nation has the world’s highest suicide rate, and what it’s doing to confront the problem.

Boliva’s “cholitas” redefine what it means to be female and indigenous

Gerry Hadden explores how Bolivia’s female indigenous population is breaking new ground across various fronts, including the professional one, with atypical occupations ranging from midwifery, to mountain climbing, to pro wrestling.

Game Changer Cristina Massanet’s “Conscious Cafe” combats prejudice

Run and operated entirely by people with different types of disabilities, Cristina Massanet’s “Disability Cafe” is providing jobs to people with special needs, but also bringing awareness to their special skills.

Street “zebras” in Bolivia bring joy to stressed-out drivers

A government-sponsored program in Bolivia is enlisting the help of some unusual characters, to reduce road rage.

Gregorio Uribe mixes Colombia’s unique sounds into a new kind of cumbia

A Bogota born-artist is making his way in the Latin music scene by trying to combine all of Colombia’s sounds. He incorporates traditional tunes, and borrows from cosmopolitan beats, to create his own “Cumbia Universal.”