Lima, Peru
Thousands of farmers marched into Peru’s capital this week to protest restrictions on the cultivation of coca, the plant used to make cocaine. The demonstrators walked for a week to get to Lima from the jungle areas where coca thrives. The government is demanding that the growers cut back on coca crops to help in the war on drugs. But coca is the main cash crop for thousands of Peruvians. Farmers say they can’t afford to switch to cheaper crops such as bananas and coffee without government subsidies. “We are against drug trafficking,” said Marisela Guillen, a leader of the group. “We just want to survive.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
-
Kevin McCarthy let the House winThe Explainer A burnt out former Speaker decides it's better to fade away.
-
Today's political cartoons - December 7, 2023
Cartoons Thursday's cartoons - Kevin McCarthy bows out, Taylor Swift conquers all, and more
-
'Boris Johnson is unable to show grieving families the courtesy of truth or sincerity'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
