New York has the Hudson; Paris has the Seine; London has the Thames. Rivers were important in the building of these cities: they were commercial routes and also a source of food. Aterciopelados (in English, literally “The Velvety Ones”) the well-known Colombian band, remind us of the importance of our rivers with the title song of their socially conscious album Río.

The old saying goes “Hijo de tigre, sale pintado”. Literally, it means the baby tiger is going to bear the same marks as his father. But it also means that there are some things we inherit and carry with us. Here, Aterciopelados is singing about leaving some inherited, violent habits behind.

Útilies. It relates to school supplies, including notebooks, pens, pencils, crayons, paper, scissors… anything children need to get through the school year. Not a big deal for the middle class, but it can be a serious challenge to those of lesser means. López Obrador made it a campaign promise that útilies would be provided free to all children throughout Mexico, just as he did for the children of Mexico City while he was mayor.

Just, as immigration is a big campaign issue in the US, emigration touches a nerve in Mexico. When Andrés Manuel Lopéz Obrador ran for president of Mexico in 2006, he wanted to make it clear that his goal was to create jobs, in Mexico, so that would-be migrants would feel less need to flee north.

Our good friends from México City are willing to talk about everything: good, bad or ugly. Here we have their take on kidnapping, one of the growing fears of Mexicans.

Arriving in December of ‘71, a young Arturo Vega decides that it is New York where he is going to clavar, or stay put. His journey began in Mexico, where he began his artistic life as an actor and participant in experimental theater or “happenings”—an art form which was not well received by the powers that be in that country.

Barrio Adentro (Inside the Neighborhood) is a program of free medical clinics that have been established throughout Venezuela. Critics include the Venezuelan Medical Association, who claim that the Cubans who make up most of the doctors are not qualified, though the WHO and UNICEF are generally as enthusiastic as Omar about the program.

Partido de la Revolución Democrática is what PRD stands for, and Mexican presidential hopeful Manuel López Obrador has been with the organization since its infancy when was known as the “Democratic Current” (Corriente Democrática), a dissenting wing of the once indomitable PRI, Partido Revolucionario Institucional.

Hugo Chávez is divisive figure in Venezuela, as he is the world over, but the enthusiasm he generates amongst a large and vocal segment of the population is undeniable. Omar Vizcaya is a Chávez supporter, and was kind enough to agree to share some of his thoughts and ideas about the current situation.

Marriage and children bring with them needs and responsiblities that a soltero doesn’t have. Rafael hopes to grow his small pharmacy into a cadena of drug stores that he can use to benefit his wife and kids. To raise the necessary capital, Rafael is working abroad for a few years.

With the help of a tour guide, Pipo shows us the wonders of Atacames Beach in Ecuador.

Doctor Leonardo Suárez, who practices general medicine with an emphasis on general, obstetric and gynecological surgery, talks to us about some of the most commonly seen diseases in his local population in Otavalo, Ecuador, as well as some of their causes.

Join our guides as they monitor sea turtles in the waters of Gorgona Natural National Park and explore some of the environmental factors which are currently a threat to them.

While some people on Gorgona Island search for the tiny blue anole lizard, others are determined to spot enormous humpback whales.

The manner in which waste disposal is handled is of essential importance to the ecosystems of the island of Gorgona.

Xochitl from Monterrey, Mexico tells us about how the recent surge in violent crime in Mexico and in her area in particular affects the way that Mexican citizens live their lives.

The report regarding couples younger than thirty years old continues. In this episode, two Colombian fathers share their ideas: one about education and the legacy he hopes to pass on to his children, and the other regarding his concern for the safety of his family living in Colombia.

Sub30 examines the extent to which having children can help parents to understand their own parents and also introduces us to Ricardo and Eduardo, a homosexual couple living in Bogotá.

Meet Yimmy, who grew up on the streets and in a children's home, and his daughter Karen Dayana, who almost met the same fate as her father. They make up one of the many types of families we see today.

Twenty-two year old Estefanía García, the spokeswoman for a company in Cali, tells us her perspective on why it does not make sense to her to have children in today's society.

This last part of the series on Tayrona Natural National Park identifies the conflict between conserving and embracing the local fishermen, business owners, etc. as a fundamental part of the park and the fact that, despite having been there before the park was even a park, they are considered to be living there illegally.

This second episode of Misión Chef takes a look at some of The Culinary School for Underprivileged Youths' students and gives some background about the socioeconomic causes of poverty in Colombia.

Two Colombian children speak about their love for different kinds of diving: a young boy who practices the sport of high diving in a swimming pool and a girl who loves the freedom of scuba diving in the limitless sea.

Learn from the girls of "Sin Desperdicio" (Without Waste) about their new campaign for cleaning up the environment. It's called "Not one more bag."