The Soybean Wars
Soybeans, rows and rows of soybeans all around. In western Paraguay the fields that were once thick rain forests are now soybean plantations.
Paraguay is the world's fastest growing producer of soy beans. But the boom has been bad for native peasants.
As the world's hunger for meat increases because of expanding middle classes and changing tastes, feeding the animals to feed that hunger is having a significant impact on our planet's agriculture
The global production of soybeans is on the rise, thanks to increasing demand.
Paraguay has been run by one political party for the past half century. But former Catholic bishop Fernando Lugo is hoping to challenge that. Reporter Charles Lane has the story.
Bishop Fernando Lugo gathered his flock on a cold Saturday morning, and they came -- more than 600 mostly poor peasants -- to the rural city of Horqueta.
Charles Lane discusses the role of Paraguay's soy bean production in the American and international market.
Everyone I interviewed blames the Paraguayan government for the negative impacts of soy. The corruption, the lack of economic and social programs, and the selective enforcement of laws.
The people pushed out by soy typically come to one of Asuncion's three shanty towns where they hope to (eventually) find work. One is behind Paraguay's legislative building and another is closer t
Charles Lane meets Paraguay's priest-turned-politician, Fernando Lugo.
I asked Lena Rigley, the wife of a Brazilian soy grower, to read from the police report filed shortly after their soy plantation was invaded in 2001:
Pulitzer center grantee Charles Lane discusses the various chemicals used in soy bean production.
Many Paraguayans' lands have been turned into soy fields and have been forced to become part of the 180 squatters living in the outskirts of Santa Rita.
An interesting/depressing side note to the last post I forgot to mention. After Lugo left the local press swarmed me to ask why Americans are interested in Lugo.
Paraguay's presidential candidate, Fernando Lugo, builds up a crowd of supporters at a rally in Horqueta.
Last night I attended my first political rally put on by the Colorado party, the party that has ruled Paraguay since 1947 making it the oldest government in the world.
Today is a state holiday, the anniversary of Asuncion's founding in 1537.
Three months ago the Plaza Uruguay was the place to find cheap prostitutes in Asuncion. But since May they were all chased out by the likes of Beatriz Rivarola, a Guarani "Indian" who, along with
The armchair tourist is told three things about Paraguay: 1) be wary of ever leaving the city, 2) corruption is everywhere, 3) and soybeans, lots and lots of soybeans.
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Grantee
Charles Lane is a freelance radio and print reporter. He has worked for National Public Radio, Voice of America, Penthouse Magazine, and the Religion News Service. His fourth radio documentary...