Central America

International Women’s Day in Mexico City: A demonstration shrouded in sorrow

March 8 is undoubtedly one of the key dates for feminist movements throughout the world. The significance of this date stems partly from a deeply tragic event, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York in 1911, which claimed the lives of 146 workers. Most of these were immigrant women who had campaigned for improved working conditions that would enable them to combine their jobs with … Read more

Coca May Have Permanently Taken Root in Central America

Honduran and Guatemalan authorities are eradicating record amounts of coca plants, further evidence of the coca’s expansion beyond the traditional coca-growing region of the Andes and auguring more security challenges ahead. Honduran armed forces uprooted 945,000 coca bushes on a property in Limones, a town in the Olancho Department, they announced in a March … Read more

Women’s Day in Latin America: Reggaeton, rage, and sisterhood

After two years of restrictions due to COVID-19, hundreds of thousands of women marched from Mexico to Argentina for International Women’s Day on March 8. Their demands varied, of course, depending on the causes groups hold dear, such as asking the state to vouch for care work, abortion rights, and equal pay. All in all … Read more

Shakira: An unexpected feminist icon?

It is not unusual for an artist to take inspiration for their music from romantic relationships, either from good times or bad. For Shakira, the Colombian singer and an icon of the new mass culture, it is cathartic. Her latest song, “BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” was written after her official separation from the Spanish footballer Gerard Piqué. It is supercharged. An Argentine journalist … Read more

Death, Taxes, and Extortion: Why Latin American Companies Keep Paying Up

A new report has delved into the inner workings of extortion techniques across Latin America, showing the constant innovation needed to ensure numerous businesses pay out fees to criminal groups with little complaint. After looking at extortion schemes in the Northern Triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, as well as Colombia and Mexico … Read more