Odd Lots - Introducing: Blood River

Episode Date: July 28, 2020

The killers of Berta Caceres had every reason to believe they’d get away with murder. More than 100 other environmental activists in Honduras had been killed in the previous five years, yet almost no one had been punished for the crimes. Bloomberg’s Blood River follows a four-year quest to find her killers – a twisting trail that leads into the country’s circles of power.Blood River is out now.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The news doesn't stop on the weekends. Context changes constantly. And now Bloomberg is the place to stay on top of it all. Hi, I'm David Gurra. Join us every Saturday and Sunday for the new Bloomberg this weekend. I'm Christina Rafini. We'll bring you the latest headlines, in-depth analysis, and big interviews. All the stories that hit home on your days off.

And I'm Lisa Mateo. Watch and listen to Bloomberg this weekend for thoughtful, enlightening conversations about business, lifestyle, people, and culture. On Saturday mornings, we put the past week's events into context, examining what happened in the markets and the world. That on Sundays we speak with journalists, columnists, and key political figures to prepare you for the week ahead. Join us as soon as you wake up and bring us with you wherever your weekend plans take you.

Watch us on Bloomberg Television. Listen on Bloomberg Radio, stream the show live on the Bloomberg business app, or listen to the podcast. That's Bloomberg this weekend. Saturdays and Sundays starting at 7 a.m. Eastern. Make us part of your weekend routine on Bloomberg Television, and wherever you get your podcasts. Bertha Caceres was one of the most influential advocates

for indigenous and women's rights in Honduras. And in 2013, when she began leading a protest campaign against a proposed hydroelectric dam, she became one of the most celebrated environmental activists anywhere. Honduras was known as the most dangerous place in the world for environmental activists. More than 100 had been reported killed in just the previous five years. She told friends about threatening phone calls she'd get. She said strange cars followed her on the road.

She knew that she was very much still being targeted and still at risk of being killed. Bertha was the most powerful activist in her. her country. But none of the accolades could protect her in the end. A prominent environmental rights activists were shot dead in Honduras on Thursday, prompting protests in the capital. My name is Monty Real, an investigative reporter for Bloomberg Green. On the upcoming podcast, Blood River, we tell the story of a murder. Murder in a place where murderers thrive. where about 97% of all homicides are left unsolved and unpunished. Honda and police claim that she was killed in a robbery gone wrong,

but her family, friends, and supporters are convinced that her death was a political assassination. It's a story full of deception, false leads, and cruel twists. It's about money, power, political influence, and the violence that goes along with. with them. That violence didn't begin or end with Berta. I threw myself towards the side of the bed in my room to protect myself, and the gunman shot me in the head. I said, don't call the police, you know, because calling the police in Honduras is like calling the mafia to a crime scene, and you can't trust them. We'll hear from victims, investigators, and eyewitnesses, the communities that fought alongside Berta and the communities that fought alongside Berta and the the executives on the receiving end of that activism, we'll go into their homes, their offices,

and, in some cases, their prison cells. All of them now face the same question. Who in the end is really responsible for the death of Berta Caceres? And what does justice actually look like in a place where killers almost always walk away, untouched? We think it's quite possible that there's more to this crime than has been exposed so far. Blood River launches on July 27. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcast. You can get the news whenever you want it with Bloomberg News Now. I'm Amy Morris.

And I'm Karen Moscow here to tell you about our new on-demand news report delivered right to your podcast feed. Bloomberg News Now is a short five-minute audio report on the days time. stories. Episodes are published throughout the day with the latest information and data to keep you informed. Yes, there are other products like this from a variety of news organizations, but they usually rerun their radio newscasts throughout the day. That's not what we do. We create customized episodes that can only be heard on Bloomberg News Now. And we don't wait an hour to publish breaking news. When news breaks, we'll have an episode up in your podcast feed within minutes. So you're always getting the latest stories and developments.

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