The Venezuelan government has officially ended the Petro cryptocurrency, launched in 2018 to counteract U.S. sanctions. The Petro failed to gain traction both domestically and internationally, with Venezuelans preferring other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. The country's severe inflation and economic instability further undermined the Petro's viability. A major corruption scandal involving the state oil company PDVSA and the cryptocurrency authority Sunacrip exacerbated the situation, leading to widespread distrust. The Petro's demise reflects broader issues of economic mismanagement and corruption in Venezuela.

The Venezuelan state-owned cryptocurrency, the petro, has been declared a failure and will be discontinued, with digital wallets converted to bolivares. Launched in 2018 to circumvent US sanctions, the petro never gained traction domestically or internationally. The currency's demise is linked to a lack of trust, utility, and transparency, exacerbated by a major corruption scandal involving the state oil company PDVSA. The Venezuelan economy continues to struggle with hyperinflation and reliance on multiple currencies, including the bolivar and the US dollar.

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.

Altair Rodriguez, a former lawyer, has taken over her family's farm, Finca Tierra Negra, in the Dominican Republic, implementing syntropic agriculture to create a productive and environmentally friendly system. Despite challenges, including skepticism from neighbors and financial constraints, she remains committed to her vision. The farm, located in a deforested area, aims to preserve the environment and improve productivity through diverse planting methods. Rodriguez's efforts are supported by her family and organizations like the Alter Eco Foundation, highlighting the potential of sustainable farming practices in combating climate change and soil degradation.

Altair Rodriguez, a former human rights lawyer, has dedicated the past decade to transforming her family's cacao farm, Finca Tierra Negra, in the Dominican Republic into a model of syntropic agriculture. This method, which integrates multiple plant species, aims to restore the environment and improve productivity. Despite initial skepticism from local farmers, Rodriguez is committed to proving the long-term benefits of her approach. The farm's history is intertwined with the country's political past, and Rodriguez's efforts are supported by organizations like Alter Eco. The article highlights the challenges and potential of sustainable farming in the face of climate change.

Scientists from the ICE Memory project extracted glacier ice samples from Bolivia's Mount Illimani, containing thousands of years of climate data. Despite harsh conditions, the team successfully retrieved two ice cores, which will be studied and preserved in Antarctica. The project aims to create an ice archive sanctuary to preserve endangered glacier data. The expedition faced challenges from global warming and local mining activities, which threaten the glaciers. Local communities have protested, demanding government action to protect the glacier as part of Bolivia's natural heritage.

The Dominican Republic is constructing an 'intelligent fence' along its border with Haiti, incorporating advanced technology for security. The initiative, part of the government's anti-Haitian policy, aims to curb theft and control migration. While some locals support the project for security reasons, others criticize it for environmental damage and government corruption. The first 50 kilometers of the fence, costing 28 million euros, were mostly built by Haitian migrants.

Bolivia is actively seeking to remove coca leaves from the United Nations' list of narcotics, emphasizing their cultural, nutritional, and medicinal significance. Bolivian officials, including Vice-Minister Freddy Mamani and David Choquehuanca, argue that coca leaves in their natural form are non-addictive and integral to Bolivian culture. Sociologist Sdenka Silva supports this view, highlighting the inconsistency in international drug policies. The Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to submit scientific studies to the UN and solicit support from the WHO, although the process may take several years.

In early September, strong winds sweep across the Altiplano in Bolivia, where the vicuñas, revered in pre-Columbian legends, roam. Efrain Mamani, a member of the Foundation for Sustainable Development, leads a traditional capture practice called 'chakku' to gather the vicuñas. The community observes the animals' habits to capture them efficiently, using modern tools like motocross bikes to drive them into a large net structure. This practice, rooted in ancient traditions, now incorporates contemporary methods to ensure sustainable development.

In the village of Rio Grande, Bolivia, at an altitude of 4000 meters, the vicuña, known as the 'gazelle of the Andes,' is closely monitored by the local inhabitants and the Fondation pour le développement durable. The vicuñas are captured using a large net structure as part of sustainable development efforts. Efrain Mamani, a member of the foundation, explains the process and the importance of timing in capturing the animals.