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The USA and Peru

Two despatches from the Americas, presented by Pascale Harter: Jonny Dymond meets a volunteer border patrolman in Arizona and Mattia Cabitza hears from children in Lima who don't WANT to stop working.

Pascale Harter introduces analysis and wit from writers and correspndents around the world. Today, two despatches from the Western Hemisphere.

"Arizona is the battlefield"

The borderlands between the USA and Mexico - sometimes nicknamed "Amexica" - are rugged territory. Much of the terrain is desert, there's an inhospitable climate, and all sorts of lawlessness can flourish along the length of the frontier. Anxiety about immigration plagues US voters, and politicians rush to allay their concerns with new laws - some of which have been bitterly controversial. Jonny Dymond met one American who has volunteered to 'Protect the Border' himself - and gave up a previous life to do so.

The kids are all right (at work)

Child labour is almost universally viewed as a problem these days. Across Latin America, one child in ten is at work rather than in school. And in Peru the issue seems particularly urgent, with child workers visible all over the place and at all hours.

President Ollanta Humala, wants all children under 12 out of the workforce and in the classroom by the end of his term in 2015. You'd think the child workers would support that aim. But not all do. Mattia Cabitza has been hearing from them about why - in their view - not all child labour is necessarily demeaning.

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10 minutes

Last on

Wed 30 May 2012 00:50GMT

Broadcasts

  • Tue 29 May 2012 07:50GMT
  • Tue 29 May 2012 10:50GMT
  • Tue 29 May 2012 14:50GMT
  • Tue 29 May 2012 18:50GMT
  • Wed 30 May 2012 00:50GMT