Christopher Arsenault

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Christopher Ars...
Web Producer | Qatar
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By Christopher Ars... in Americas on September 4th, 2011
Diplomatic cables describe 'coke, tokes' and a Mexican beauty queen who parties with gangsters

Poring over US diplomatic cables leaked by WikiLeaks can be a dull business - diplomatic jargon and boring posts on consular activities. But like the journalists who read them, the young diplomats who filed the dispatches from US embassies sometimes like to have fun.

By Christopher Ars... in Americas on January 17th, 2011
Mangrove forests provide a habitat for diverse plant and animal species [Chris Arsenault]

The scenery is almost postcard perfect: a tiny beach nestled in a cove and surrounded by a lively mangrove forest ecosystem.

But local fisherman Bulfrano Castillo is worried; major hotels are rising up around the beach, and the owners are telling local people to scram.

"They can't just kick us out," Castillo says, standing beside his boat.

By Christopher Ars... in Americas on January 6th, 2011
Indigenous Mayans prepare for a ceremony, asking god for the right to stay on the land they work.

Santa Cruz, Guatemala - The road winds through a steep mountain pass, as our pick-up truck swerves around debris from rockslides on the way to a reclaimed farm in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala.  

We are traveling to a large farm or finca that has been abandoned by absentee German landlords, after the main owner died in the 1970s. The peasants, who used to work for the landlord, now work for themselves. 

Today, families on the Prima Vera farm are performing a Mayan fire ceremony, asking god- or the creator – for the right to stay. 

They recently received an eviction notice, telling them to get off the land that sustains them. 

File 4250

Justino Xllim Telum was born on this farm, but he has no formal rights to the property.

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