As some of you know, the little country of Guatemala holds a special place in my heart. Sadly, this beautiful and culture-rich country suffers from a terribly ineffective government. It has a population of a little over 13 million, many of them indigenous Maya. According to the World Bank: "About 56 percent of all Guatemalans (and 76 percent of indigenous groups) lived in poverty in 2000, and about 16 percent lived in extreme poverty.... The average schooling of the adult population is 5.4 years and just 1.9 years for the indigenous population." 44% of children in Guatemala are malnourished, the highest rate in Latin America and one of the highest in the world. Now it seems Guatemala may be facing a new problem that its government is ill equipped to handle: well-armed and well-financed drug cartels.
Guatemala: the next to fall?
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