Indigenous-Led Protests Rock Ecuador Decrying IMF Deal and Demanding Moreno’s Resignation

Labeled “savages” in times past, today the mobilizing efforts of the indigenous have been associated with the work of “terrorist groups” and “criminal groups” by President Moreno.

Julian Cola
By Julian Cola
Ecuador Political Crisis

QUITO, ECUADOR -- “We don’t have a state! We don’t have any state!” The lady’s voice projects through a loudspeaker amid the crowd. She’s not having it. Nor is the groundswell of hundreds, if not thousands who’ve converged at Plaza Grande trolley stop, just meters from Simon Bolivar’s statue at the entrance to Quito’s historic center. They’ve come

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Report Shows Corporations and Bolsonaro Teaming Up to Destroy the Amazon

“Bolsonaro has overseen the most significant rollback, and full-on assault, on human rights and environmental protection in Brazil since the fall of the country’s military dictatorship.”

Joe Catron
By Joe Catron
Brazil Amazon | Bolsonaro

As deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest reaches the highest level in a decade, the rainforest’s indigenous peoples and their supporters have called for action against the political and business interests they blame for a spike in illegal logging and other resource extraction. A report released by Amazon Watch as part of its ongoing

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As US Laments Human Rights in Venezuela, US-Allied Colombia Descends into Drug-fueled Humanitarian Crisis

The dichotomy between Washington’s relationship with Venezuela and Colombia is yet another clear example that the public justifications for the U.S.’s Latin America policy are little more than window dressing for the U.S.-backed expansion of neo-fascist governments throughout Latin America.

Whitney Webb
By Whitney Webb
Colombia | Violence

BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA (Analysis) -- Several troubling situations are currently playing out across Colombia, yet the country’s continuing downward spiral into drug-fueled and politically-motivated violence has caused little concern in Washington, offering yet another clear indication that the U.S.’ current posturing on Venezuela is hardly motivated by

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Record Deaths Amid Duerte’s US-funded Crackdown on Philippines’ Poor

Rights defender Cristina Palabay of Karapatan told MintPress she sees Washington’s hand in the violence as Manila wages its war on poor communities to protect corporate profits.

Elliott Gabriel
By Elliott Gabriel
Activists in Quezon city protest President Rodrigo Duterte's militarized push for big mining firms and plantations making 2017 the bloodiest year for environmental defenders." Bullit Marquez | AP

MANILA – As Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte enters his third year in office, his administration has earned the ignominious distinction of ushering in the country’s ranking as the deadliest country for environmental and lands rights defenders in Asia. It’s just the latest indicator of Manila’s careless, if often hostile, attitude toward the

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Indigenous and Female: A New Gubernatorial Candidate is Making History

Five months ago, when she announced her candidacy, many did not know who she was outside Northern Idaho, tribal, and political circles. Today, she is the fresh face of a tidal wave as Americans are dumping Trump Republicans for a progressive change.

Mark Maxey
By Mark Maxey
Paulette, one of the few Natives at the rally, is a Member of Idaho House of Representatives and is a member of the Coeur D'Alene tribe.

A fierce sense of urgency prompted Paulette Jordan to run for governor of Idaho. Her brazen approach worked with her Democratic primary run last Tuesday, May 15th. It will be a first on two levels if she wins in November—as a female governor and as an Indigenous tribal member. Jordan belongs to the Schitsu’umsh, Coeur d’Alene Nation. Schitsu’umsh

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The Indigenous Community that Rebelled Against Narcos, Thieves, and Politicians … and Won

Seven years ago, in the southern Mexican state of Michoacán, a community besieged by organized crime and the politicians that enabled it, rose up against those who would do away with their way of life — and through it all inspired a country.

José Luis Granados Ceja
By José Luis Granados Ceja
crime in mexico

CHERAN, MEXICO (Report) -- On the road leading into this hardscrabble town in Mexico’s southwest corner, there stands a checkpoint staffed by heavily-armed guards, clad ominously in balaclavas, or ski masks. This scene is not particularly unusual for this violence-plagued country, but Cheran is no ordinary place: seven years ago this month, the

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