Coca

We’re headed to the Andes for the Geo Quiz. We’re looking for two countries on the South American continent where chewing coca leaves remains popular. It’s been a cultural tradition of indigenous people in Andean countries for centuries.

The war on drugs against coca plants and cocaine production includes the use of aerial sprayed herbicides on areas where plants can grow. Quil Lawrence reports from Colombia on the adverse health effects impacting some resident Colombians who come into contact with the chemicals used to kill the coca plants.

The United States is working hard with the Peruvian government to stop coca plant growth in the jungles of Peru. Bob Carty of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reports on the impact of these efforts. Among the results, peasants are burning and cultivating increasing acres of remote rainforest to elude detection. Some would like to help […]

The United States is working hard with the Peruvian government to stop coca plant growth in the jungles of Peru. Bob Carty of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reports on the impact of these efforts. Among the results, peasants are burning and cultivating increasing acres of remote rainforest to elude detection. Some would like to help […]

A U.S-funded program in Colombia offers farmer a legal alternative to growing coca– harvesting the blue pulp from the fruit of the jagua trees and selling it overseas as ink for temporary tattoos.