Rats. It seems like they’re everywhere. They are a real threat to rural villages where they devour crops and leave farmers hungry. Rodents are especially plentiful in the hills of Laos where they can eat 20% of the harvest. But rice farmers there, in an unusual alliance with foreign academics, have found a highly effective solution. The World’s Patrick Winn reports that rat-killing tournaments reward amateur hunters with cold, hard cash.
Without federal support, local stations, especially in rural and underserved areas, face deep cuts or even closure. Vital public service alerts, news, storytelling, and programming like The World will be impacted. The World has weathered many storms, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to being your trusted source for human-centered international news, shared with integrity and care. We believe public media is about truth and access for all. As an independent, nonprofit newsroom, we aren’t controlled by billionaire owners or corporations. We are sustained by listeners like you.
Now more than ever, we need your help to support our global reporting work and power the future of The World.