nder The Radar is a special series and newsletter offering from Diplomatic Courier bringing you compelling, under–the–radar stories from around the world over the past month. This month across the Americas: gangs in Haiti, Chilean biodiversity, and the battle against tuberculosis in Brazil. You can sign up to receive the newsletter here.
Can violent gangs contribute to Haiti’s struggling democracy?
As Haiti prepares for elections this year, the Transitional Presidential Council responsible for making sure elections are free and fair has been accused of corruption and accepting bribes. The council members refused to step down, claiming they are innocent. To resolve the crisis, political leaders from three different parties submitted a document to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) listing possible ways they could still hold the elections. In a controversial move, political figures included the Haitian gang Viv Ansanm in the document.
Following the UN’s recent report that gang violence killed over 5,600 people in Haiti, many are concerned by the “legitimizing” of Viv Ansanm by including it in an official political document. Some political figures have voiced their disgust at the gang’s inclusion. They are pointing out how gangs are responsible for the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Haiti and that their involvement in the growing death toll and ongoing violence cannot be overlooked.
However, the Haitian political parties involved in creating the document were not the first to suggest the inclusion of gangs, as CARICOM previously suggested that involving gangs in the political process could be an unexpected but beneficial means of ensuring the election succeeds. Haitian political leader Liné Balthazar defended Viv Ansanm’s inclusion, pointing out that while no political parties have ties to the gangs, Haiti needs to solve its problems without foreign interference. Since Viv Ansanm voiced its support for restructuring the Transitional Presidential Council, Balthazar argues its support shows the popularity of the restructuring.
Chile invests in preserving biodiversity with its 47th national park
In March 2025, Chile will unveil a new national park, the Cape Froward National Park, which will be instrumental in preserving biodiversity in Chile. U.S. conservationist Kristine Tompkins is largely responsible for creating Chile’s soon–to–be 47th national park, donating 93, 492 hectares of land through her foundation for the park's creation. The Chilean government will manage the park, promising to consult indigenous people for proper wildlife care. The Chilean government is so pleased by the teamwork between the government, civil society, and the Chilean community that it hopes to eventually create a similar national park to preserve marine biodiversity.
Cape Froward is an ideal location for a national park given its rich landscape, including kelp forests, plenty of native trees, and land comprising 20% peat—perfect for absorbing carbon and filtering water. The land is also the natural habitat of two endangered species, the huemul (a species of deer), and the ruddy–headed goose. Other endangered species, like the puma and red fox, will also be protected in the park.
As for Kristine Tompkins, the conservationist claims this is her last national park after creating 16. Her foundation found success by purchasing land from local families looking to sell. Oftentimes, the families would be more willing to sell their land at a cheaper price to her foundation since it ensured their land would be protected and not at risk of urbanization.
Are social programs key to stopping tuberculosis outbreaks in Brazil?
A January 2025 study suggests that conditional cash transfer (CCT) programs can drastically reduce the number of tuberculosis cases among people living in poverty in Brazil. Tuberculosis has often been linked to poverty, as living in crowded and poorly ventilated areas leads to a higher risk of catching and transmitting the disease. Thus, the study aimed to see if alleviating poverty through a social program could decrease the rate of tuberculosis.
CCT programs give cash to impoverished households and include specific conditions for how the households must invest the money. These programs are generally targeted at improving the lives of children living in these households by investing in their education, diet, and health. However, the results of CCT programs are often mixed, and generally, CCT programs are more likely to succeed when combined with other social programs.
Brazil is ranked 30th among countries with the highest risk of contracting tuberculosis. However, the recent study suggests that Brazil’s social programs may be key to decreasing the spread of the disease. In the study, tuberculosis cases decreased by 50% among the poor involved in CCT programs and 60% among the indigenous. An assistant professor of infectious diseases and health policy suggests that the study indicates that using social programs to combat diseases may become as important as vaccines.
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Can violent gangs contribute to Haiti’s struggling democracy?
Photo by Sollange Brenis from Unsplash.
February 4, 2025
Diplomatic Courier staff writer Stephanie Gull brings you three under–the–radar stories from the Americas: Haiti struggles with free and fair elections, Chile’s new biodiversity–preserving national park, and Brazil’s tuberculosis outbreaks.
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nder The Radar is a special series and newsletter offering from Diplomatic Courier bringing you compelling, under–the–radar stories from around the world over the past month. This month across the Americas: gangs in Haiti, Chilean biodiversity, and the battle against tuberculosis in Brazil. You can sign up to receive the newsletter here.
Can violent gangs contribute to Haiti’s struggling democracy?
As Haiti prepares for elections this year, the Transitional Presidential Council responsible for making sure elections are free and fair has been accused of corruption and accepting bribes. The council members refused to step down, claiming they are innocent. To resolve the crisis, political leaders from three different parties submitted a document to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) listing possible ways they could still hold the elections. In a controversial move, political figures included the Haitian gang Viv Ansanm in the document.
Following the UN’s recent report that gang violence killed over 5,600 people in Haiti, many are concerned by the “legitimizing” of Viv Ansanm by including it in an official political document. Some political figures have voiced their disgust at the gang’s inclusion. They are pointing out how gangs are responsible for the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Haiti and that their involvement in the growing death toll and ongoing violence cannot be overlooked.
However, the Haitian political parties involved in creating the document were not the first to suggest the inclusion of gangs, as CARICOM previously suggested that involving gangs in the political process could be an unexpected but beneficial means of ensuring the election succeeds. Haitian political leader Liné Balthazar defended Viv Ansanm’s inclusion, pointing out that while no political parties have ties to the gangs, Haiti needs to solve its problems without foreign interference. Since Viv Ansanm voiced its support for restructuring the Transitional Presidential Council, Balthazar argues its support shows the popularity of the restructuring.
Chile invests in preserving biodiversity with its 47th national park
In March 2025, Chile will unveil a new national park, the Cape Froward National Park, which will be instrumental in preserving biodiversity in Chile. U.S. conservationist Kristine Tompkins is largely responsible for creating Chile’s soon–to–be 47th national park, donating 93, 492 hectares of land through her foundation for the park's creation. The Chilean government will manage the park, promising to consult indigenous people for proper wildlife care. The Chilean government is so pleased by the teamwork between the government, civil society, and the Chilean community that it hopes to eventually create a similar national park to preserve marine biodiversity.
Cape Froward is an ideal location for a national park given its rich landscape, including kelp forests, plenty of native trees, and land comprising 20% peat—perfect for absorbing carbon and filtering water. The land is also the natural habitat of two endangered species, the huemul (a species of deer), and the ruddy–headed goose. Other endangered species, like the puma and red fox, will also be protected in the park.
As for Kristine Tompkins, the conservationist claims this is her last national park after creating 16. Her foundation found success by purchasing land from local families looking to sell. Oftentimes, the families would be more willing to sell their land at a cheaper price to her foundation since it ensured their land would be protected and not at risk of urbanization.
Are social programs key to stopping tuberculosis outbreaks in Brazil?
A January 2025 study suggests that conditional cash transfer (CCT) programs can drastically reduce the number of tuberculosis cases among people living in poverty in Brazil. Tuberculosis has often been linked to poverty, as living in crowded and poorly ventilated areas leads to a higher risk of catching and transmitting the disease. Thus, the study aimed to see if alleviating poverty through a social program could decrease the rate of tuberculosis.
CCT programs give cash to impoverished households and include specific conditions for how the households must invest the money. These programs are generally targeted at improving the lives of children living in these households by investing in their education, diet, and health. However, the results of CCT programs are often mixed, and generally, CCT programs are more likely to succeed when combined with other social programs.
Brazil is ranked 30th among countries with the highest risk of contracting tuberculosis. However, the recent study suggests that Brazil’s social programs may be key to decreasing the spread of the disease. In the study, tuberculosis cases decreased by 50% among the poor involved in CCT programs and 60% among the indigenous. An assistant professor of infectious diseases and health policy suggests that the study indicates that using social programs to combat diseases may become as important as vaccines.
