Colombia

Soldiers line up before leaving to patrol the streets in Bogotá, Colombia, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019. 

Use the force: Part II

Critical State, a foreign policy newsletter by Inkstick Media, takes a deep dive this week into what happened when Colombia’s military took on police work in Cali, the country’s third-largest city.

Use the force: Part II
man with trash

‘We were treated as disposable beings’: Waste pickers in Colombia fought for their rights after 11 murders

‘We were treated as disposable beings’: Waste pickers in Colombia fought for their rights after 11 murders
Three families from Afghanistan prepare to board a boat in Necocli, Colombia, that will take them towards the border with Panama.

Afghan families traverse most of Latin America to seek asylum at the US border

Afghan families traverse most of Latin America to seek asylum at the US border
After migrants arrive in Capurgana's harbor, they are loaded on tuk-tuks and taken to the shelter on the edge of town.

Migration across Darién Gap changes Colombian village’s economy

Migration across Darién Gap changes Colombian village’s economy
A group of Venezuelan migrants begins the grueling three day trek across the Darien Gap, as they leave the Colombian village of Capurgana.

As Title 42 ends, more migrants from South America are crossing the Darién jungle en route to US

As Title 42 ends, more migrants from South America are crossing the Darién jungle en route to US
Bogota has trained more than 500 police officers to respond to cases of gender-based violence, known as the purple patrol.

In Colombia’s capital, the ‘purple patrol’ fights sexual harassment on crowded buses

Bogotá is trying to curb sexual harassment against women on public transportation systems. It’s trained more than 500 police officers as part of the purple patrol to respond to cases of gender-based violence. Female police officers also hand out leaflets with information about hotlines that women can call for assistance.

In Colombia’s capital, the ‘purple patrol’ fights sexual harassment on crowded buses
people in line

Thousands of passengers are stranded after Colombia’s Viva Air grounds flights 

​​​​​​​Thousands of passengers were stranded in airports in Colombia and several other Latin American countries this week following the collapse of the budget airline, Viva Air. It's the latest airline company to fold amid decreasing passenger demand and higher oil prices. 

Thousands of passengers are stranded after Colombia’s Viva Air grounds flights 
To get certified by the Starlight Foundation, Villa de Leyva, Colombia, plans to change its streetlights so they only point downward and use light bulbs with warmer colored temperatures.

This Colombian town is dimming its lights to attract more tourists to view the night sky

Thousands of people gather every year in Villa de Leyva, Colombia, for the annual Astronomy Festival. Now, event organizers are working with the local government to implement lasting improvements for the town to draw more tourists to see the stars.

This Colombian town is dimming its lights to attract more tourists to view the night sky
Shakira poses for portrait photographs for "Elvis" at the 75th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, May 25, 2022.

Shakira's latest hit slamming her ex breaks records for Latin artists on YouTube

Shakira's release this week shot up to the top of the charts. It's a scathing breakup song with her ex: Spanish soccer star Gerard Piqué.

Shakira's latest hit slamming her ex breaks records for Latin artists on YouTube
Bullfighting is still legal in the Colombian city of Manizales, which holds a major festival on the first week of January.

Colombia’s plan to ban bullfighting sparks debate on tradition, animal rights

Bullfighting has become less popular as views about animal rights change in Colombia. But in some parts of the country, it is still a highly esteemed tradition.

Colombia’s plan to ban bullfighting sparks debate on tradition, animal rights
cows in the grass

To reduce its emissions, Colombian ranch experiments with a new variety of grass 

In the remote Colombian province of Vichada, mostly covered by savannah and small forests, the San Jose ranch is trying to show that there are ways for cattle ranching to be more environmentally friendly — and still be profitable. 

To reduce its emissions, Colombian ranch experiments with a new variety of grass 
people around a table

Colombia’s govt launches peace talks with the nation’s largest-remaining rebel group

Talks with the rebels started on Nov. 22 in the Venezuelan capital city of Caracas where delegates from both sides fielded questions from journalists. 

Colombia’s govt launches peace talks with the nation’s largest-remaining rebel group
Venezuelan migrants board a boat in the Colombian city of Necocli that will take them closer to Panama, the next stop on the way to the United States

New Biden policy leaves thousands of Venezuelan migrants stranded

The Biden administration announced a plan that will automatically reject all Venezuelans seeking asylum at the US border with Mexico if they enter the country without authorization. The deal will only benefit a fraction of asylum-seekers.

New Biden policy leaves thousands of Venezuelan migrants stranded
Children play in a flooded area of Leticia, Colombia, Feb. 14, 2017, located by the Amazon River, on the border with Brazil and Peru.

Brazil’s neighbors wary of environmental impact of a Bolsonaro victory

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro has promised to continue facilitating mining and agro industry in Brazil’s portion of the Amazon if he wins another four-year term. But destruction of the Amazon affects the air quality and jeopardizes the water supply in neighboring countries.

Brazil’s neighbors wary of environmental impact of a Bolsonaro victory
A Venezuelan cargo truck adorned with Venezuelan flags and balloons crosses the Simon Bolivar International Bridge during a ceremony to mark the bridge's reopening to cargo trucks between Cucuta, Colombia, and San Antonio del Tachira, Venezuela

Colombia and Venezuela reopen shared border after years of closure

Residents from Colombia and Venezuela turned out in large numbers last week to welcome the reopening of their shared border to vehicles. Two commercial trucks, covered with the respective flags of each country, crossed the border point, marking the end of seven years of closure.

Colombia and Venezuela reopen shared border after years of closure