Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela, the largest lake in Latin America, is suffering from a severe ecological disaster due to permanent oil spills. The spills have been ongoing since the 1980s and have intensified since 2016. Researchers estimate that approximately 160,000 liters of crude oil are spilled daily into the lake, which is rich in hydrocarbons with around 6,000 oil wells and thousands of miles of undersea pipelines. The infrastructure, managed by the state-owned oil company PDVSA, has been neglected due to the country's crisis, corruption, and mismanagement. The pollution has had devastating effects on local inhabitants, mangroves, and wildlife, including sharks, dolphins, and turtles. The lake's ecosystem is further damaged by a microalgae that thrives on waste and blocks oxygen and light, harming the fauna and flora. High levels of heavy metals are found in fish, affecting the local diet. Residents who once relied on the lake for income through water activities have had to find alternative sources of income. Despite various initiatives by associations, such as the Mermaid project that uses harvested hair to capture oil, the situation cannot improve without addressing the leaks. The government has announced a plan to reclaim the lake, and activists are hopeful for a collaborative effort to resolve the pollution issues.

The Gran Poder festival in La Paz, Bolivia, is celebrated with great enthusiasm, marked by the joy and faith of its participants. Lola, after dancing for five hours, expresses the beauty of being together in good health for their Lord. The festival, which sees hundreds of women dressed in traditional costumes dancing through the city, is a special occasion for the devotees of Señor Jesus de Gran Poder, who dance with particular vigor and emotion, often passing the church housing the image of their saint in tears.

In Caracas, Venezuela, despite the official currency being the bolivar, an informal 'dollarization' is taking place due to hyperinflation, with prices for goods often listed in dollars. The economy is not fully dollarized, which makes small dollar bills scarce and valuable. Economist Benjamin Tripier explains that unlike formal dollarization processes, Venezuela is experiencing a bottom-up dollarization. While 70% of monetary transactions are in dollars, 76% of the population lives in extreme poverty.

Evo Morales has returned to his stronghold, Chapare, in Bolivia after a year of absence. He retains his eloquence and affinity for the crowd, engaging with them as if they were friends. Morales, appearing tired but smiling, expressed his gratitude to the massive turnout at Chimoré airport, dressed in the blue of the Movement for Socialism. His return is not just as a former president but also as the former union leader of the region's numerous coca producers.

In Bolivia, even before the final vote count is completed, congratulations are pouring in on social media for the victory of MAS, the socialist party of former president Evo Morales. Interim President Jeanine Anez acknowledged the victory on Twitter, followed by congratulations from Luis Almagro, Secretary-General of the Organization of American States, and former presidents Lula of Brazil and Miguel Diaz-Canel of Cuba, as well as Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

Bolivia is experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases, with over 400 deaths and approximately 13,000 sick as of Sunday, doubling from 6,200 cases two weeks prior. Despite a strict quarantine imposed since March 21, the country is facing a sharp increase in cases, with the Ministry of Health predicting 100,000 cases by the end of July. However, areas less affected by the virus have begun a gradual reopening since June 1. As one of the poorest nations on the continent, it is crucial for the working class to return to work. The impoverished have started blockades and gatherings across the country demanding decent living conditions and economic revival. These 'hunger' protests often turn political, with demonstrators calling for elections following the cancellation of the October vote.

Following Evo Morales's resignation on November 10, Bolivian ministries hurried to remove the wiphala flag, a symbol of the Andean nations, causing distress among indigenous people who see it as a significant symbolic achievement. Abel Flores, who marched peacefully from El Alto to La Paz, expressed a desire for Morales's return, highlighting the division in Bolivia. Sociologist Franck Poupeau believes the next government will maintain the plurinational state, aiming to integrate all Bolivian nations.

Bolivia is among the top ten nations with the highest deforestation rates, losing approximately 300,000 hectares of forest annually. The primary causes are cattle ranching and soy cultivation, followed by small-scale agriculture, which includes the planting of coca. This bush, valued at over $400 million in production, is traditionally used for chewing but also for cocaine production. In some regions, coca has become a monoculture, leading to the destruction of thousands of hectares of forest. The report by Alice Campaignolle, supported by the Pulitzer Center On Crisis Reporting, explores the challenges and potential solutions to the issue of coca cultivation's impact on deforestation.

Bolivians are preparing to vote in the upcoming presidential election, with incumbent President Evo Morales leading in most polls, followed by Carlos Mesa and Oscar Ortiz. Morales, who has been in power for thirteen years, is popular among rural and impoverished communities, while Mesa appeals to the middle and upper classes with a focus on government failures in ecology, corruption, and justice. The opposition, including the 'Bolivia said no' movement, calls for a return to democracy after a 2016 referendum where Bolivians rejected a new term for Morales, who is nonetheless running for a fourth term. The political climate is tense, with many undecided voters and thousands claiming they will not recognize a Morales victory.

La Paz, Bolivia, is dealing with a significant public health issue with an estimated 400,000 stray dogs in the city and neighboring El Alto, far exceeding the World Health Organization's recommended dog-to-human ratio. The stray dogs, sometimes aggressive and potential carriers of rabies, pose a sanitary problem with hundreds of canine rabies cases detected annually, including 8 human deaths in 2017. Municipalities are overwhelmed and underfunded to address the issue effectively. While there are vaccination campaigns, they are insufficient, and authorities have ceased systematic euthanasia since 2015 due to protests from animal protection associations. These organizations have taken on the role of caring for, sterilizing, and finding homes for these dogs, many of which are abandoned, lost, or victims of natural disasters. Surprisingly, 80% of the stray dogs reportedly have irresponsible owners who neglect their pets' needs, including food, vaccination, and sterilization.

February 21, 2019, marks a significant day in Bolivia as it is an election year with presidential votes scheduled for October. Evo Morales is a candidate despite a 2016 referendum where Bolivians rejected the possibility of his re-election. Morales managed to secure his candidacy following a constitutional tribunal decision in late 2017 and the electoral tribunal's acceptance in December 2018. The first primaries in January, initiated by the government, are seen by many as a way for Morales to legitimize his contested candidacy. The opposition has called for mass gatherings in Bolivian cities, expecting tens of thousands to protest. With nine presidential-vice-presidential pairs in the race, the absence of electoral programs is notable, with most candidates focusing on their opposition to Morales rather than presenting proposals for the country.

Romeo, a Sehuencas water frog, has been living alone in an aquarium at the Alcide d’Orbigny Natural History Museum in Cochabamba, Bolivia, for a decade. Despite his calls for a mate, none had been found until a fundraising campaign on Match.com, initiated by Global Wildlife Conservation and the Amphibians of Bolivia, raised $25,000. Four expeditions led by Teresa Camacho Badani resulted in the discovery of five Sehuencas frogs, including a female named Juliet. The species remains endangered due to a deadly fungus and habitat destruction, but hopes are high for Romeo and Juliet's meeting on February 14.

Plural, a bookstore nestled in La Paz's bohemian Sopocachi neighborhood at 3,600 meters altitude, specializes in social sciences and poetry. The store, which is also a publishing house with an in-house printing press, faces challenges such as competition from pirated books and a shift towards digital information sources. Despite these challenges, the bookstore, managed by Miriam Quinteros, remains a cultural staple for the local community, particularly attracting an older clientele interested in social sciences. The annual Feria del Libro in La Paz highlights the continued popularity of books, with significant sales and over 150,000 visitors.

An international team from the ICE Memory project extracted glacier ice samples containing climate data from Bolivia's Mount Illimani. Despite harsh conditions, they succeeded in their May 22-June 18 mission, obtaining two cylinders of ice to be preserved and studied in Antarctica. The samples, dating back 18,000 years, are at risk due to global warming and mining. Locals have protested to protect the glacier, urging the government to declare it a natural heritage site.

In response to the influx of asylum seekers, Sweden's Migrationsverket has turned to private operators, including hotels, retirement homes, and hostels. Among these businesses is Jokarjo in Malmö, led by 71-year-old businessman and former anti-immigration deputy Bert Karlsson. Additionally, the culinary scene in South America is gaining international recognition, with Danish chef Kamilla Seidler, named 'Best Chef of Latin America - 2016', co-leading the restaurant Gustu in La Paz, Bolivia.

On August 17, Bolivia inaugurated a special anti-imperialist military school aimed at resisting oppression, as envisioned by President Evo Morales. The school, which will teach geopolitics of imperialism and other subjects, is seen as a response to the U.S. Ecole des Amériques and is open to members of the ALBA alliance. Critics, including military analyst Samuel Montaño and opposition member Jimena Costa, view the school as an unnecessary expense and a product of Morales' aggressive rhetoric. The school currently has 71 students and can accommodate up to 200.

On August 17, Bolivia inaugurated a special anti-imperialist military school aimed at resisting oppression, as envisioned by President Evo Morales. The school, which will teach geopolitics of imperialism and other subjects, is seen as a response to the U.S. Ecole des Amériques and is open to members of the ALBA alliance. Critics, including military analyst Samuel Montaño and opposition member Jimena Costa, view the school as an unnecessary expense and a product of Morales' aggressive rhetoric. The school currently has 71 students and can accommodate up to 200.