Centenarians

Argentina's Triple Border

Argentina - Triple Border

The natural border that forms on the Parana and Iguazu Rivers in South America is known as the Triple Border. To the west lies Paraguay. To the east, Brazil and Argentina. It is a region known for its natural beauty and its tourist attractions, like Iguazu Falls the largest system of waterfalls in the world. But the area is also renowned for illicit activity. The porous border has given rise to arms and drugs trafficking with contraband estimated to be in the billions of dollars per year. Americas Now correspondent Joel Richards traveled to the Triple Border to see how authorities patrol this complex frontier.

Game Changer - Alejandro Chavez

Nearly one half of Guatemala's children are malnourished and lack of patient data makes it difficult for doctors to reach them and provide them with proper care. But a research assistant from Stanford University is using technology to revolutionize how doctors get data making vital information accessible where it never was and breathing life into rural Guatemala. Alejandro Chavez is this week's Game Changer.

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Americas Now

Guatemala - Unearthing Answers - Guatemala is one of the Central American countries that suffered the most during the Cold War - a time of post-World War Two tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States. In particular a civil conflict in Guatemala from 1960 to 1996 that left hundreds of thousands dead -- and tens of thousands missing. More than two decades after the end of the conflict, forensic anthropologists are helping families who have been searching for their disappeared loved ones. Harris Whitbeck explains from Guatemala City.

Americas Now

Brazil - Black Pride (Stephen Gibbs) - Brazil is sometimes portrayed as one of the world's harmonious, multi-ethnic "rainbow nations." But the truth is more complicated. For generations, white Brazilians have enjoyed preferential treatment over their black counterparts. It's been especially noticeable in higher education. Most publicly-funded universities are filled by white students, even though half of all Brazilians are of African descent. To reverse that trend, the government has adopted a quota policy.

Americas Now

Argentina - White Gold (Joel Richards) - The stunningly beautiful salt flats that span the north of Argentina and Chile as well as the south of Bolivia form what's known as the Lithium Triangle. More than half of the world's reserves of lithium are found there. The metal is a vital component in batteries and with the electric car market growing at a rapid rate, demand for lithium is expected to triple by 2025. But there are environmental concerns. Especially the effect extraction could have on local indigenous communities.

Americas Now

Mexico - Housing Nightmare (Mike Kirsch) - Back in 2001 some in Mexico called it a "miracle." Millions of low wage, factory workers were promised new, affordable homes under an ambitious residential construction boom. It was set in motion by then-President Vicente Fox and the World Bank. Today that "miracle" is being described as a social and financial catastrophe. According to a recent in-depth investigation by the Los Angeles Times citizens in these developments have been dealing with daily hardships and hazards across Mexico.

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