6 A New Breed of Ranchers by Jeffrey P. Cohn
Landowners in Mexico's Sonoran Desert and the U.S. Southwest are implementing techniques to conserve soil and water for an improved ecosystem.     

---

14 Toasting to Brazil's Humble Spirit    by Mark Holston         
Long a symbol of national culture and pride, cachaça is gaining new popularity as a beverage that appeals across social classes at home and abroad   

---

20 Center for Endless Energy by Joyce Gregory Wyels
An interactive museum in Rio allows visitors to explore multiple aspects of science and carries on Brazil's history of innovative public-health programs    

---

28 Sacrifices of Sacred Ice by Ricardo Carrasco Stuparich
Each year at the winter solstice, hundreds of faithful participate in a pilgrimage in Peru combining Christian tradition with the worship of ancient spirits of the glacier.  

---

38  Andrés Henestrosa: From Fables to Fame by Caleb Bach
This self-taught Mexican writer captures the folktales and lore of his indigenous heritage, lifting them to new heights as literary works.

---

46 Elana Poniatowska: Between the Lines of the Forgotten by Elizabeth Coonrod Martínez
Acclaimed for her powerful journalism revealing social injustices, this contemporary Mexican writer is also known for her poignant and disturbing fiction.