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Anastasia

@anastasia-austin.bsky.social
3.1K followers 624 following 72 posts

Freelance investigative journalist and security analyst in LatAm focusing on organized crime, corruption, and the people who fight it. Former InSight Crime investigator. Read my work: muckrack.com/anastasia-austin-1

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Anastasia @anastasia-austin.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
Peru’s congress bet on ousting a rubber stamp president to pacify protestors in Lima. The bet has not come off. It may have even made things worse. www.reuters.com/world/americ...
reuters.com
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Anastasia @anastasia-austin.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
Ecuador protests |Sources in Ecuador continue to share pretty disturbing videos with me. They show military members threatening civilians rifles, attacking, beating up, and kicking people after they’re down. 🪡
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Tess McClure @tessairini.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
a bleak fable www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
As forests are cut down, butterflies are losing their colours
The insects’ brilliant hues evolved in lush ecosystems to help them survive. Now they are becoming more muted to adapt to degraded landscapes – and they are not the only things dulling down
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Richard McColl @londomomposino.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
U.S. Says It Will Revoke Colombian President’s Visa www.nytimes.com/2025/09/27/u...
nytimes.com
U.S. Says It Will Revoke Colombian President’s Visa
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Anastasia @anastasia-austin.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
Last week, the CONAIE in Ecuador called its first national strike since 2022. A lot of media are calling it a "strike over the diesel subsidy cut." But while diesel was the trigger, the region's most powerful indigenous federation's list of demands is much longer, including... 🧵
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Anastasia @anastasia-austin.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
Last week, the US designated Ecuadorian gangs, the Lobos and the Choneros as terrorist organizations, even while promising nearly US$20 million to “wage war against these vicious animals, these terrorists.” Source: www.npr.org/2025/09/04/n...
cepr.us1.list-manage.com
Rubio pledges US aid for Ecuador, to ‘wage war’ on gangs in drug fight
The move, which includes US$20 million in security aid and drones, aims to bolster Ecuador’s fight against drug cartels.
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Anastasia @anastasia-austin.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
A Canadian lawyer just filed a complaint against Dundee Precious Metals before the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) for misleading shareholders about the Loma Larga #mining project in #Ecuador. The complaint cites our report for @theguardian.com bit.ly/4oqd3Kr
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Anastasia @anastasia-austin.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
Breaking |Ecuador's mining ministry announced it will suspend the Loma Larga project in #Ecuador until Dundee Precious Metals publishes an environmental management plan. This represents a step back after the Noboa administration pushed through the company's environmental license just last month
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Nate Blouin @nateforutah.bsky.social · 05/04/2025
This is Utah in case anyone’s wondering how pissed off people are. I have never seen anything like this.
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Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 05/04/2025
Upon learning that your own mistake sent an innocent father to a brutal prison where he’s likely to be tortured, anyone with a shred of decency would be overcome with shame and fight like hell to get him back. They think it’s funny. www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
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Anastasia @anastasia-austin.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
“They are all here,” a lady running a little shop on one of these roads told us. “The military comes through during the day, and when they go home in the evening, the others come out. I serve everyone - what else can I do?” Read our latest on OffMap Media: bit.ly/3Yc3Nhz
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Anastasia @anastasia-austin.bsky.social · 30/03/2025
🚨New Article | Our latest for @offmapmedia.bsky.social explores the tricky balance between navigating real danger in Colombia’s countryside and not getting sucked into the prejudices and anxieties that have accumulated over decades of civil conflict. #Colombia #FARC-EP #ELN #security
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Anastasia @anastasia-austin.bsky.social · 25/03/2025
The Trump administration is like Hitler’s Germany — a fascist state. Except when it’s like Springtime for Hitler — an absurdist parody of itself. @theatlantic.com @jeffreygoldberg.bsky.social
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Anastasia @anastasia-austin.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
I wish democrats in the US would pay attention, instead of worrying about bipartisanship, “waiting for the fever to break”, and getting vulnerable with their gym buddies or whatever it is Chuck Schumer is doing.
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Richard McColl @londomomposino.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
youtube.com/shorts/uI9OA...
youtube.com
Surviving a gold mine collapse
YouTube video by Richard McColl
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Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 13/03/2025
I realise people like to dunk on COP in general and Brazil's determination to hold COP30 in a city without adequate infrastructure in particular, but this story about a new road "cutting through the Amazon" seems out of proportion to me… (see gif)
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Eliot Higgins @eliothiggins.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
Bellingcat's Environmental Investigation team is looking for story pitches that use open-source investigation techniques to investigate environmental issues. We offer payment for stories, so if you've been working on a story and want to get paid, look here: www.bellingcat.com/uncategorize...
bellingcat.com
Pitch Wildlife and Environmental investigations to Bellingcat - bellingcat
If your source material is online and public, and your story unearths something deeper about our planet, we'd love to hear from you.
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Richard McColl @londomomposino.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
We discussing the influence of the AGC or Gaitanistas, Colombia’s largest, most powerful criminal group in the gold mining industry in Segovia, Antioquia, on next week’s Colombia Calling podcast. Not to be missed! Tune in their podcast below. open.spotify.com/show/3DdNcFZ...
open.spotify.com
InSight Crime | From the Ground Up
Podcast · InSight Crime · We have spent the last 15 years investigating organized crime in the Americas from the ground up. Now, on our audio channel, you can hear the best of our investigative and a...
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Eric Umansky @ericumansky.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
Yesterday, I published an investigation into a secretive & abusive NYPD unit led by Mayor Eric Adams’ buddies. Adams has embraced the unit, the Community Response Team, even after NYPD officials raised red flags. This is what that has wrought. **All caught on video we obtained.** THREAD.
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Anastasia @anastasia-austin.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
New article out! It’s part of my favorite series — “In their own words” — interviews with people we meet on our trip translated and edited for clarity - that’s it. This latest one is with a Colombian bike mechanic who does it for the love of the game. Check it out! www.offmap.media/p/tomas-isaz...
open.substack.com
Tomás Isaza: "For me, it is the best race there is."
A Bike Shop, a Race, and One Mechanic’s Fight for Community
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Anastasia @anastasia-austin.bsky.social · 09/03/2025
For anyone looking for podcast recommendation — InSight Crimes’s “In the Shadow of El Dorado” is captivating and incredible for understanding how messy the line between legal and blood gold in the country is. Episodes 3/4 out now. open.spotify.com/episode/2bjP...
open.spotify.com
The Shadow of El Dorado | 03 Them
InSight Crime | From the Ground Up · Episode
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Anastasia @anastasia-austin.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
Today’s recommended read on Mexico with lessons for the United States where academic research is being gutted left and right.
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Anastasia @anastasia-austin.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
“At Tourism’s Fragile Frontier” - my latest for OffMap Media! www.offmap.media/p/tourism-fr...
offmap.media
FD #3: At Tourism's Fragile Frontier
Caught in the tourism wave, these remote villages in the Colombian Andes face the Faustian choice between promise and preservation.
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Anastasia @anastasia-austin.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
Gold prices are at historic highs. And, as in the time of conquistadors, local communities in Latin America are paying the blood price in the hunt for El Dorado. This new podcast by my former colleagues at InSight Crime takes you into the depths of this shady economy: bit.ly/3DcXkeW
insightcrime.org
The Shadow of El Dorado
Colombia is home to a billion-dollar black market gold sector that funds armed groups and organized crime, fuels corruption, and has a devastating environmental impact. It is, in short, an epicenter o...
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Anastasia @anastasia-austin.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
CNE says Ecuadorians are likely to head back to the polls on April 13 in a race that's looking much tighter than expected. Our updated coverage here: open.substack.com/pub/offmapme...
open.substack.com
SPECIAL REPORT: ‘Carnival of Despair’ as Ecuadorians head to Polls
Amidst security concerns, constitutional crises, and growing public doubts, the country holds first round of presidential elections
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Anastasia @anastasia-austin.bsky.social · 09/02/2025
Polls just closed in #Ecuador. Here’s what the CNE is saying. @offmapmedia.bsky.social @murosinvisibles.bsky.social
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Anastasia @anastasia-austin.bsky.social · 09/02/2025
We're in Quito, reporting on today's elections. Our analysis is out now and will be updated throughout the day! Check it out here: open.substack.com/pub/offmapme...
open.substack.com
SPECIAL REPORT: ‘Carnival of Despair’ as Ecuadorians head to Polls
Amidst security concerns, constitutional crises, and growing public doubts, the country holds first round of presidential elections
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Anastasia @anastasia-austin.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
@theguardian.com reports that “hundreds of thousands of children who rely on school meals have been left without sustenance after food was left to rot in the wake of Musk’s declaration that he wanted the US aid agency to “die”.” Peak efficiency.
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Anastasia @anastasia-austin.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
Somehow the fact that unelected and unvetted billionaire lapdogs are blocking congressional reps from entering agencies is the part of this coup that gets me the most…
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Anastasia @anastasia-austin.bsky.social · 01/02/2025
Green Day didn’t used to be my type of music. But something about a second Trump presidency…
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Hank Green @hankgreen.bsky.social · 26/01/2025
A while back I asked folks why they’re joining Bluesky and the most common response I saw was, “I just want a good place to get my news” and, yall, no. Bad. GET YOUR NEWS FROM THE NEWS PBS Newshour is FREE FOR EVERYONE. youtu.be/PMOYN8JWdUk?...
youtu.be
PBS News Weekend full episode, Jan. 25, 2025
YouTube video by PBS NewsHour
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Joshua Collins @murosinvisibles.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
Petro's open letter doubled down against the idea that Colombia would in any sense "fold" under threats by Trump I think its worth reading in full: English translation here www.patreon.com/posts/petros...
patreon.com
Petro's open letter to Trump | Colombia Reports
Get more from Colombia Reports on Patreon
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Anastasia @anastasia-austin.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
“The forest is not mine. It belongs to the trees and animal,” the founder of the Rio Claro reserve told @douwedenheld.bsky.social and I. Our latest for the @guardian looks at how a Colombian rancher turned environmental activist is now inspiring others. bit.ly/42nDIPq
bit.ly
‘I felt death in the flames’: how lighting a forest fire inspired one man to transform a barren ranch into rainforest
Juan Guillermo Garcés had a brush with death while burning jungle for cattle pasture – now he runs a nature reserve in Colombia where more than 100 new species have been discovered
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Joshua Collins @murosinvisibles.bsky.social · 12/01/2025
Maduro's third term after fraudulent elections puts Colombia's Petro in the hot seat A lack of comms discipline and mixed messaging is drawing criticism at home and abroad at a time when clarity is paramount LATEST by me for Pirate Wire Services www.piratewireservices.com/p/maduros-th...
piratewireservices.com
Maduro's third term after fraudulent elections puts Colombia's Petro in the hot seat
A lack of comms discipline and mixed messaging is drawing criticism at home and abroad at a time when clarity is paramount
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Christoph Koettl @ckoettl.bsky.social · 31/12/2024
Atrocities on camera: We spent months analyzing videos & satellite images to link specific RSF commanders to likely international crimes in #Sudan. Reporting led by my newest colleague @sanjanamv.bsky.social nyti.ms/4fAggBL
nyti.ms
Tracking War Crimes in Sudan
Inside a six-month Times investigation.
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Dr. Prakash Kashwan @pkashwan.bsky.social · 27/12/2024
The 50 million-strong vulture population plummeted to near zero because of diclofenac, a cheap non-steroidal painkiller for cattle. The decline of vultures led to the proliferation of deadly bacteria & infections and the deaths of about 0.5 million people over five years. www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
Indian vultures: Decline of scavenger birds caused 500,000 human deaths
A new study links the vulture decline in India to deadly bacteria spread, causing about 500,000 deaths.
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Chris Morran @themorrancave.bsky.social · 23/12/2024
The @propublica.org Nonprofit Explorer tool now lets you find nonprofits that auditors have 🚩 flagged as having serious financial or control deficiencies. But wait, there's more! You can also now search for organizations that have reported significant theft 💰
propublica.org
Nonprofit Explorer Adds Powerful Tools to Help You Research Organizations’ Financials
ProPublica has added the ability to find nonprofit organizations that auditors have flagged as having serious financial or control deficiencies. We also added the ability to search for organizations t...
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Anastasia @anastasia-austin.bsky.social · 22/12/2024
For those interested in following the journey of two journalists cycling through the Andes, @douwedenheld.bsky.social and my project has finally launched!
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OSINTukraine @osintukraine.com · 15/12/2024
OSINTukraine: Archiving the truth, combating disinformation, and amplifying Ukraine's voice. Help us build and maintain this archive:
osintukraine.com
Transparency
Transparency, costs and donations to sustain the project
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Jamie Cameron @jamiepcameron.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
[CALL FOR PITCHES] The London Mag is looking for more essays that explore literature and its intersections with wider culture. Don’t be afraid to match high culture w/low, to be funny, iconoclastic, and have an authorial voice. Above all, please do not write in the tone of a PhD thesis lol.
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Anastasia @anastasia-austin.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
Can you claim the economy is back on track if the poverty rate has doubled? It’s like that “have we tried killing all the poor?” skit from “Mitchell and Webb look” www.aljazeera.com/news/longfor...
aljazeera.com
A year into Javier Milei’s presidency, Argentina’s poverty hits a new high
In Argentina, the poverty rate has surpassed 50 percent in the wake of wide-ranging austerity measures and deregulation.
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Anastasia @anastasia-austin.bsky.social · 07/12/2024
El Oro prison’s director & his driver are hospitalized after an attack by unnamed criminal groups, Ecuador’s prison authority confirmed. It shows that “taking back control” of prisons, longtime gang HQs, won’t be straightforward or easy. See InSight Crime’s latest to learn more: bit.ly/49yVDVa
bit.ly
Behind Bars, Beyond Control: The Fall of Ecuador’s Prisons and the Rise of its Mafias
The crisis in Ecuador’s prisons has escaped   the confines of the penitentiary system to sow violence, corruption, and chaos around the country.
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The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 06/12/2024
Column by Michelle Singletary: Financial fraud is one of the few crimes in which victims are blamed for being victimized — and it needs to stop.
wapo.st
Column | Second-guessers, scolders and empathizers. Readers react to ‘Scammed.’
Financial fraud is one of the few crimes in which victims are blamed for being victimized — and it needs to stop.
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Andrés Bermúdez Liévano @bermudezlievano.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
¿Para qué el periodismo? Este histórico fallo en Ecuador por esclavitud moderna fue posible por la investigación periodística juiciosa que hicieron dos periodistas de pequeños medios independientes, Diego Cazar de La Barra Espaciadora y Susana Morán de Plan V. elpais.com/america/2024...
elpais.com
La Corte Constitucional de Ecuador confirma que hubo esclavitud moderna en las haciendas de Furukawa
El histórico fallo da la razón a las víctimas que denunciaron explotación laboral por parte de la empresa japonesa durante casi 60 años y reconoce que fue motivado por la “extrema vulnerabilidad” y el...
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Latin America ¡Sin Filtro! @sinfiltroya.substack.com · 06/12/2024
📸 From record coffee prices in #Brazil to a crackdown on narco-subs, Latin America’s stories are as vibrant as they are complex. Our Cafecito has the latest insights on trade, migration, and regional crises: buff.ly/3OFFGmi
buff.ly
Power Struggles, Trade Deals, and the Price of Progress, in El Cafecito #11 del 6/12/2024
Key insights on Latin America's shifting dynamics in migration, trade, and regional conflicts – December 2024
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Eliot Higgins @eliothiggins.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
The Syrian Archive will be celebrating 10 years of its work next week with a webinar on archiving and legal accountability on Wednesday December 11th at 17:00 CET. You can sign up here for the webinar, which I'll be joining as a panelist. us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Image with the text:
Syrian Archive: a decade of preserving digital evidence and safeguarding narratives

A decade has passed since the establishment of the Syrian Archive to collect and preserve open-source information documenting human rights violations and international crimes in Syria, with the aim of creating a digital memory and a tool to support efforts of justice, accountability, and evidence-based advocacy.
To mark this occasion, Mnemonic cordially invites you to join us in an online event on Wednesday 11 December at 17:00 CET. The event will bring together a panel of experts and practitioners from various organisations and work domains to share insights on collaborating with the Syrian Archive and highlighting the role of the archive in preserving memory, advancing justice and accountability, and contributing to knowledge production and advocacy efforts.

Panelists:
Hadi Alkhateb: Mnemonic Co-founder and Managing Director
Muzaffar Salman: Photographer and Photojournalism Trainer
Salma Karim (Alias): Researcher, Women Now for Development, Feminist Research Unit
Mazen Darwish: Director of Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM)
Eliot Higgins: Founder and Creative Director of Bellingcat
Moderator:
Jelnar Ahmad: Syria Archive Program Manager

The webinar will be held over Zoom, in Arabic and English with simultaneous translation available.

We look forward to you joining us for this occasion.
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Anastasia @anastasia-austin.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
Since going freelance in October, I’ve spent a lot of time talking to journalists - trying to get a grip on the field. This reflects the what many, including those who’ve built impressive careers at household name publications - told me about the realities of our trade.
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Cat Rainsford @cat-rainsford.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
A fifth of the Philippines' land mass is now covered by mining and exploration permits, eating into Indigenous lands and causing damage visible from space. New investigation on the Philippines' militarised "green" mineral push by my colleague @hanna-hindstrom.bsky.social shorturl.at/OPNxs
shorturl.at
How mining threatens Indigenous defenders in the Philippines | Global Witness
With skyrocketing global demand for critical minerals – vital to the green energy transition – Indigenous groups and biodiversity are at risk in the Philippines
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kate conger @kateconger.com · 03/12/2024
did a little survey of my socials this morning. the news from South Korea was all over Bluesky, nothing on Threads, only one post on X, a little commentary on TikTok and (surprisingly) at the top of my Instagram feed. feels like news orgs are trying to figure out where to invest for breaking news.
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