I came across some news articles that have saddened and angered me because of the lack of objectivity and irresponsible journalism.
First, I have spent the last six years living/wondering in Central America, from the Darien Provence of Panama/Colombian border and North deep into Nicaragua. Surviving hand to mouth, wild foraging and living mostly off of what the land would bless me with. I felt like a king. I was a very rich person.
During that time I would come across small well camouflaged plots of cannabis the occasional large fields. I was aware of many landing and transfer points of drug trafficking. It did have a impact on the forest but nothing compared to the widespread unconscionable destruction that monoculture agriculture is doing. In Costa Rica alone there is over 50,000 acres of palm kernel plantation. 40% or more of the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica's "rich coast" is gone due to large monoculture. Also as far as the eye can see of pineapple plantations. These large Monsanto like cartels are more of a threat to the ecological well being and food supply then gets acknowledged. With dominant monoculture the checks and balances that keep disease in check are totally disrupted. Yucca in Africa is almost completely gone due to disease. Many research articles are warning that the disease of yucca is going to hit South America. In case you did not know yucca is one of the sacred plants to many indigenous because it is a staple food. If it threatens them it threatens many in the Nexus.
The news articles speak mainly of Honduras and Guatemala. With the absence of leadership, education and the over all feeling of safety the warlord graduates of the SOA prevail through their cartels. No large company can really do business in these countries because of rampant lawlessness.
Catholic online:
http://www.catholic.org/...ional_story.php?id=54089National Geographic was more objective:
http://news.nationalgeog...vironment-policy-reform/Part of my heart is still there in the rain forest. Thanks for permitting my rant.