Trans people in Mexico turn to a local folk saint for patronage. Experts debunk the idea that stress doesn't affect people of color. And Costa Rica's Savegre River obtains protection from UNESCO. It's Fiery Tuesday, our segment about societal and political news from around the globe! All this and more for the Pagan News Beagle!

Santa Muerte is a controversial figure in Mexico. Widely venerated but disparaged by the official Catholic Church, she's become a symbol for Mexican folk religion in recent years. But she's also recently acquired a number of similarly unorthodox followers: trans people in Mexico looking for a form of spirituality that doesn't reject them. Religion News Service has more.

With the seemingly intractable Israeli-Palestinian conflict there's little that is not controversial. That extends to holidays too. The Israeli Independence Day, a day of celebration for Israeli institutions and many Jews around the world, is marked as a day of mourning for many Palestinians as the day known as "Nakba." Al Jazeera covers the delicate sentiments surrounding the day from both sides and how it was celebrated this year.

South Africa's controversial President, Jacob Zuma has faced increasing charges of corruption and calls to resign over the last year, coupled with some people's claim within his own party that he should retire for "his health." However, Zuma has not only pushed back but also stated that he does not suffer from stress because it is a "white man's disease." Psychologists warn however this is a dangerous characterization that can only hurt people of color.

When we talk about rising powers, we often refer to China. But China is also neighbors with two other rising powers, India and Pakistan, which have a long-standing feud with one another. As China looks to expand its influence it has increasingly turned to Pakistan as a potential ally, which some in India characterize as "economic colonization."

Costa Rica is one of the wealthiest per capita states in the Americas and has become renowned among environmentalists for its pursuit of so-called "ecotourism," rooted in the renewable use of bioregions for tourism rather than to extract perishable resources. Recently, UNESCO designated an area of Costa Rica for protection, the Savegre River and its surrounding environs.


Top image by Evan Bench