Michael Fox

Michael Fox is a Latin America-based audio producer and media maker.

Bernardo Arévalo ran on an anti-corruption campaign to become president.

‘We want to eradicate corruption’: Guatemala’s new president makes promises that stir hope — and impatience

Guatemala's new president, Bernardo Arévalo, took office in January with a promise of battling corruption. This week, he introduced his anti-corruption team that's going to lead the charge. But it is not an easy road ahead. The expectations are high and there are many challenges.

‘We want to eradicate corruption’: Guatemala’s new president makes promises that stir hope — and impatience
Vendors sell images of President Nayib Bukele during El Salvador's election campaign.

Nayib Bukele’s popularity steers him toward an unprecedented second term as president of El Salvador

Nayib Bukele’s popularity steers him toward an unprecedented second term as president of El Salvador
A colorful mural with words in Spanish that read "Never forget, never forgive."

Panamanians remember 1989 US invasion and continue to demand justice and accountability

Panamanians remember 1989 US invasion and continue to demand justice and accountability
Quilombo Machado community, one of 11 quilombo communities in Porte Allegro, Brazil, 2017. 

'Existing and resisting': Black quilombo communities fight for land, rights in Brazil

'Existing and resisting': Black quilombo communities fight for land, rights in Brazil
People marching in street with a Panamanian flag

Copper mine protests roil in Panama

Copper mine protests roil in Panama
Two young Panamanians view the solar eclipse.

'The cosmovision of our ancestors': Panama witnesses first solar eclipse in 25 years

Saturday’s solar eclipse cut across the western United States, dipping down into parts of Mexico, Central America, Colombia, and Brazil. It was Panama’s first eclipse in 25 years and it came at an auspicious time when scientists are promoting an interest in astronomy. 

'The cosmovision of our ancestors': Panama witnesses first solar eclipse in 25 years
sanctuary

Costa Rica is Catholic by law, but the president is courting evangelicals

​​​​​​​Costa Rica is the only country in the Western Hemisphere with a state religion. The religion is Catholicism. But what happens when a president is elected promising to lift evangelical voices to the fore?

Costa Rica is Catholic by law, but the president is courting evangelicals
Rising poverty, unemployment, and inflation have plagued Costa Rica. Every few blocks, a person is passed out or sleeping on the street.

‘This is not a peaceful country’: Violence and poverty soar in Costa Rica

Costa Rica sells its image as a “green paradise,” with ample nature reserves and no standing military. But many say this reputation is more myth than reality as violence, poverty and unemployment is on the rise.

‘This is not a peaceful country’: Violence and poverty soar in Costa Rica
A tree in Costa Rica's Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve.

Climate change is rapidly shifting Costa Rica’s sensitive ecosystems

The tiny Central American country of Costa Rica is known as a green paradise. But climate change is hitting the country in a multitude of ways, including increasing its risk from storms and natural disasters. Nowhere is the shifting planet being felt more than in some of the country’s most iconic parks and reserves, where ecosystems are changing rapidly.

Climate change is rapidly shifting Costa Rica’s sensitive ecosystems
close-up shot of Honduran President Castro wearing a mask

Honduras' first female leader faces tough times

A year and a half into her administration, many say Xiomara Castro has yet to live up to expectations. But as Honduras’ first female president, those expectations are higher than usual. Much of the criticism against Castro comes from machismo and gender discrimination. She’s just one of two female heads of state of a Latin American country.

Honduras' first female leader faces tough times
Low water levels are seen at the Paso Severino dam, which supplies water to the city of Montevideo and adjacent metropolitan areas, Uruguay, May 15, 2023.

Uruguayans protest over government attempts to supplement public drinking water from salty reservoirs amid historic drought

The tiny South American country of Uruguay has faced a historic drought over the last three years. Freshwater reserves are now running dangerously low. In an effort to overcome the water shortage, authorities are now supplementing public drinking water from new saltier reservoirs. And it is causing an uproar.

Uruguayans protest over government attempts to supplement public drinking water from salty reservoirs amid historic drought
land

Brazilian Congress moves to limit Indigenous land claims 

​​​​​​​A bill making its way through the Legislature in Brazil could limit Indigenous land claims in the country, and potentially call into question large swaths of land already demarcated for Indian reservations.

Brazilian Congress moves to limit Indigenous land claims 
Leonardo de Carvalho Leal and Mayara Stelle administer the Twitter account Sleeping Giants Brazil, a platform for activism whose stated mission is to attack the financing of hate speech and dissemination of fake news, Dec. 11, 2020.

Will Brazil’s ‘Fake News Bill’ regulate disinformation or stifle free speech?

Brazil ranks third in the world for the most social media usage, following India and Indonesia. Now, a controversial, 3-year-old bill is weaving its way through Congress. It could regulate social media platforms in the same way as TV and radio. The “Fake News Bill” has staunch supporters, but some also accuse it of being a form of censorship.

Will Brazil’s ‘Fake News Bill’ regulate disinformation or stifle free speech?
volcano

El Fuego volcano erupts in Guatemala

​​​​​​​The El Fuego volcano in Guatemala spewed lava and ash over part of the country last week. Thousands evacuated the area, and many more were exposed to dangerous ash. 

El Fuego volcano erupts in Guatemala
On May 1, two large marches weaved across San Salvador in commemoration of International Workers Day. 

El Salvador president's popularity soars with controversial approach to crime

President Nayib Bukele has enjoyed a sky-high approval rating of 91% for his crackdown on crime. But thousands of families say their sons and husbands have been unjustly imprisoned under his recent suspension of civil liberties.

El Salvador president's popularity soars with controversial approach to crime