Chile
Walking around the world takes a village
National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek is on a global walk from Ethiopia to Tierra del Fuego, off the coast of South America. But such a walk wouldn’t be possible without help along the way. That’s why he has walked alongside dozens of walking partners on his journey so far. Salopek joined Host Marco Werman to explain how his walking partners keep him moving and what being part of his project means to them.
Mapuche sports help Indigenous Chileans revive culture
Chile’s Indigenous Mapuche people have long fought the government over land claims. They’ve faced discrimination and assimilation in Chilean society. But some Mapuche communities are now turning the page. And they’re using an ancestral sport to help protect and revive their culture, customs and language.
Chileans grapple with legacy of 2019 protests 5 years later
In October 2019, huge protests exploded across Chile. They began against increased public transportation fees, but they soon grew into the largest protest movement the country had seen since the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. Those in the streets dreamed of transforming the country, but five years later, reforms have yet to be made.
Global demand for lithium is changing Chile’s Atacama Desert
In the past 10 years, the global demand for lithium has skyrocketed, and the production increase of electric vehicles is expected to raise this demand by at least 300% in the next 10 years. Chile meets about a third of the lithium demands, and plans to boost its production in the next few years.