Wendy Call visited the Isthmus of Tehuantepec--the lush sliver of land connecting the Yucatan Peninsula to the rest of Mexico--for the first time in 1997. She found herself in the midst of a storied land, a place Mexicans call their country's "little waist," a place long known for its strong women, spirited marketplaces, and deep sense of independence. She also landed in the middle of a ferocious battle over plans to industrialize the region, where...