What's happened
A severe drought affecting the Amazon River is disrupting local economies and threatening food supplies for Indigenous communities. The situation has worsened over the past year, with water levels dropping significantly, impacting fishing and access to resources. Concurrently, violence against peace activists in Chiapas highlights the broader social issues exacerbated by this environmental crisis.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Independent, the Amazon River's drought has led to alarming drops in water levels, isolating Indigenous communities and forcing them to seek resources further afield. Álvaro Sarmiento, head of operations for Colombian Civil Defense, expressed concern for these communities, stating, 'all the food has already run out.' Meanwhile, the New York Times highlights the broader implications of this drought, linking it to climate change and the effects of a strong El Niño, which have exacerbated conditions across South America. The violence in Chiapas, as reported by The Independent, reflects a troubling trend where peace activists like Rev. Pérez face threats from organized crime, indicating a dire need for government action to protect those advocating for peace.
How we got here
The Amazon River has experienced unprecedented drought conditions, attributed to climate change and a strong El Niño. This has led to significant drops in water levels, affecting fishing and access to clean water for many communities. In Chiapas, violence against activists has escalated amid ongoing drug cartel conflicts.
More on these topics
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Chiapas, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Chiapas, is one of the states that make up the 32 federal entities of Mexico. It is divided into 124 municipalities as of September 2017 and its capital city is Tuxtla Gutiérrez. Other important populat
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The Jalisco New Generation Cartel is a semi-militarized Mexican criminal group based in Jalisco and headed by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, one of Mexico's most-wanted drug lords.
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The Sinaloa Cartel, also known as the Guzmán-Loera Organization, the Pacific Cartel, the Federation and the Blood Alliance, is a large international drug trafficking, money laundering, and organized crime syndicate established during the late 1980s.
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The Amazon River in South America is the largest river by discharge volume of water in the world, and the disputed longest river in the world.
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Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At 8.5 million square kilometers and with over 211 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area and the sixth most
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Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a transcontinental country largely in the north of South America, with territories in North America.