Today we head to Honduras, the second-largest country in Central America bordering El Salvador and Guatemala to the West and Nicaragua to the South East.

Honduras is frequently referred to as the murder capital of the world, a title which is well deserved when you consider that according to the UN, Honduras has one of the highest murder rates on the planet.

It’s not just violent crime that Honduras struggles with. A long history of military rule, human rights abuses, world-beating corruption and high levels of poverty, violence have caused significant outflows of migrants and asylum-seekers. This was arguably what Donald Trump capitalised on with his caravan “invasion” claims.

As part of researching this post, I stumbled upon a Guardian article from 2018 following the plight of the most vulnerable people travelling north from Honduras. If you’re interested in reading beyond the headlines, it’s well worth a read - This is what Trump’s caravan 'invasion' really looks like.

On a lighter note, those that remain in Honduras, get to live in a place where it rains fish. Yes, actual fish. Falling from the sky.

While I’m not sure whether raining fish counts as a positive story, I’ll leave you with one last definitively good piece of news to come out of Honduras. 

Researchers exploring a remote rainforest area of Honduras recently uncovered a pristine, thriving ecosystem with an unexpected wealth of biodiversity. The find included 198 species of birds, 94 species of butterflies and 56 species of amphibians and reptiles. They also found many large mammals including pumas, ocelots, and jaguars. Steps are now being taken to set up a foundation to research, protect and manage the unique environment.

Right, I think it’s time for a cold Salva Vida.