John Otis

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the left-wing former president, won more votes than right-wing incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro, but not enough to win outright in the 11-candidate race.

It's election day in one of the worlds largest democracies, Brazil, and people there and abroad are holding their breath and hoping the result will be respected.

Under President Jair Bolsonaro, who is running for reelection in Sunday's vote, forest clearing and wildfires have surged in the Amazon.

After record deforestation and environmental deregulation in the past few years, the result of the Brazilian election could very well determine the fate of the Amazon rainforest.

Chile is part of a South American region known as the "lithium triangle," where miners are trying to meet skyrocketing demand for the material.

The South American country of Chile has become a center of lithium mining, which has boomed as demand for electric car batteries has risen. But what are the environmental costs?

Supporters of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro are flocking to Rio's most famous beach to celebrate Independence day - and a military display with an ominous undertow ahead of next month's election.

President Bolsonaro is urging supporters to take to the streets for Independence Day. This may be a precursor to more verbal attacks on democratic institutions ahead of next month's elections.

Chile has voted a resounding NO to a proposed constitution that would have put a focus on social issues and gender parity, enshrine rights for the indigenous population, and address climate change.

The constitution would have put a focus on social issues and gender parity, enshrine rights for Chile's Indigenous population and put the environment and climate change center stage.