Q&A: A Guatemalan Farmer Battles Climate Change
Enrique Samayoa is confronting the effects of climate change with traditional farming practices.
The Challenges Facing Guatemala’s Next President
Even after a wild election winds down, the country’s biggest challenges won’t.
Why War Criminals Could Walk Free in Guatemala
A get-out-of-jail-free card for war criminals would be a blow to Guatemala’s anti-impunity movement.
All Eyes on Guatemala as Crisis Brews Ahead of Elections
President Jimmy Morales’ maneuvering against Guatemala’s institutions could give the U.S. a chance to recalibrate its policy.
In Guatemala and Mexico, Two Very Different Responses to Piracy
Sometimes governments act to stop piracy. Sometimes they don’t. Here are two stories that show very different outcomes.
Guatemala Is on the Brink. Washington Should Take a Stand.
Washington is giving President Morales a pass on his efforts to evade justice, writes the first Guatemalan elected to the U.S. Congress.
Could This Prosecutor Become Guatemala’s Next President?
Thelma Aldana made her mark in Guatemala’s fight against corruption. Is she ready for politics?
The Good News About El Salvador
Twenty-six years since the end of civil war, El Salvador – and its neighbors – are making fragile progress on violence.
Guatemalans Ousted Their President In 2015. Now They’re After His Replacement.
This article has been updated. It took more than 20,000 protesters marching in the streets of Guatemala City to force then-President Otto Pérez Molina to resign and face corruption charges in 2015. Two years later, Pérez Molina is gone – but the thousands of anti-corruption protesters are back, and they’re taking aim at the new president, Jimmy … Read more
Why Central America’s Drought Is Harder On Women
Over the past 18 years, Rosalita García has nursed all 10 of her children back to health after bouts of malnutrition. But her three-year-old son’s recent hospital visit in Chiquimula, Guatemala has the 37-year-old mother more worried than usual. “I was able to feed my kids better before because it rained,” García told AQ. “But … Read more
Latin America Could Cut Its Murder Rate By 50 Percent. Here’s How.
Many deaths are unavoidable. Natural disasters and incurable illnesses can claim lives suddenly, without warning. But there is one untimely death that can be avoided – homicide. It is time for Latin America and the Caribbean to set a bold goal to bring down the murder rate. The region is one of the world’s deadliest. It is home … Read more
How Guatemala Is Tackling Its Social Issues
One year ago, Americas Quarterly’s 2013 Social Inclusion Index gave Guatemala the lowest total score of all countries evaluated, with a total of 14.8 points out of a possible 100. The index ranked 16 countries, including the United States and 15 countries from Latin America. The comments in the evaluation for Guatemala indicated that “Poverty … Read more
OAS General Assembly: More than Just the Drug Policy Agenda
When the 43rd General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) released its final resolution on June 7, those waiting for a brave new direction on the war of drugs were likely disappointed. For all the rhetoric of breaking taboos, decriminalization—at least of marijuana—proved to be a step too far for some participants. The writing … Read more
Mining Conflict and Indigenous Consultation in Guatemala
A handful of Mayan-Q’eqchi’ men and women met with lawyers late last year in Ontario to review the details of three lawsuits filed in local courts against the Canadian mining company HudBay Minerals. They had traveled to Canada to pursue legal recourse for their claim that security personnel at the company’s Fenix Mining Project in … Read more
Totonicapán: A Familiar Tale with the Hope for An Unlikely Outcome
On October 4, 2012, Guatemalan soldiers opened fire on a crowd of several hundred unarmed peasants from the western highland department of Totonicapán, killing six and wounding 34 others. Joined by teachers, students and local indigenous authorities, the peasants had set up roadblocks along the Pan-American Highway to protest the hike in electricity prices, education … Read more
