Mark Hammond Knihy

The past decade has witnessed significant political turmoil in Latin America, from Brazil to Venezuela. To grasp these changes, consider the origins of your quinoa and lithium batteries. The 21st century began with optimism as left-leaning leaders implemented programs aimed at reducing poverty and reclaiming national wealth. However, by the late 2010s, many of these leaders began to fall from power. The decline of this ‘pink tide’ can be traced back to the region's resource-rich lands and exploitative extraction practices. Through a commodity-by-commodity analysis, Andy Robinson illustrates the connections between various resources and political events, such as how oxen relate to Jair Bolsonaro's rise, the role of quinoa in the unrest surrounding Evo Morales, and oil's influence on Venezuela's ongoing crisis. Beyond traditional resources like gold and bananas, Robinson highlights the significance of newer commodities, including coltan for smartphones and lithium for electric cars, in shaping Latin America's future. As the global energy transition drives mineral prices up, the region remains vulnerable to the fluctuations of commodity markets. This exploration reveals how the imperial exploitation of the past continues to affect Latin America today.

A practical guidebook for walking from Land's End to John o' Groats. The 1956km (1215 mile) long-distance route, known as the End to End Trail, follows paths and tracks rather than road, and takes to the hills whenever it can. The route is presented in 61 daily stages averaging just less than 32km (20 miles).

Guidebook to the John O' Groats Trail, a 235km long-distance walk from Inverness to John O' Groats in the far north of Scotland. The trail boasts stunning coastal scenery and fantastic cliff-top walking, while attractive towns and villages offer accommodation. It can be completed in around a fortnight.