locating the caribbean pt 2
Post on 10-Jul-2015
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Its Culture, Economy and Current Issues
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In 1800, the population was around 2.2 million.
Today, the population is around 45 million!
Only about 2% of the 7,000 islands are actually inhabited which
makes it very crammed!
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*Total population is around
45 million.
*86% of the region’s population is concentrated on the four islands of the Greater Antilles.
* Largest population in Cuba
*Highest population density in Puerto Rico
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*The majority of people in the Caribbean are of African
descent.
*However, many have been mixed with Europeans over the
years.
*The mix of European and African descent has created a
Creole population throughout the Caribbean.
*People of Hispanic ethnicity also have a heavy influence in
the islands as well.
* Since the arrival of the first
explorers, European culture has
had a heavy influence in the
Caribbean.
Many countries are also under
direct government control of a
parent European country.
The four dominant European
influences in the islands are
British, French, Dutch and
Spanish.
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*The United Kingdom’s
Caribbean territories
consist of Anguilla, the
British Virgin Islands, the
Cayman Islands,
Montserrat, and the Turks
and Caicos Islands.
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*The countries of Guadeloupe
and Martinique are
territories of France while
St. Martin and Haiti are
French influenced and
French speaking countries.
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*Aruba and the Dutch
Antilles, (which consists of
Bonaire, Curaçao, and Saint
Maarten), are territories
that are semi-autonomous
parts of the Kingdom of the
Netherlands.
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*The Spanish influenced
areas of the Caribbean
mostly refer to the Spanish
speaking islands of Cuba,
Dominican Republic and
Puerto Rico. It also includes
surrounding coasts of Mexico
through to Venezuela and
Columbia in the south.
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*Because of the heavy European influence,
many countries have similar traditions and
customs to that of European nations.
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*Carnival is a festive occasion that occurs around
Lent (usually February). Typically, it involves a
public celebration and a parade including
elements of circus, masquerade and a street
party.
*Most of the islands in the Caribbean celebrate
Carnival. The largest and most well-known
celebration is held in Trinidad and Tobago,
Dominican Republic, Antigua, Aruba, Cayman
Islands, Barbados, Haiti, Jamaica, Grenada,
etc.
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*Because of the diversity, many languages are
spoken throughout the Caribbean and depends on
the influence of the European countries.
*Languages spoken are...
*Spanish – the most spoken language in the Caribbean. mainly in
Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico
*French - spoken in Haiti and Martinique
*English - spoken mainly in Jamaica, the Virgin Islands, Barbados
and the Bahamas
*Dutch - spoken in Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao
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*Spanish (24 mil.), French (8 mil.), English (6 mil.), Dutch (500,000)
*In some places, new languages have emerged such as Creole.
*Creole languages are dialects; a mix of native language/slang and parent language.* Patois (French Creole)
spoken in Haiti
* English Creole in Jamaica and the Virgin Islands
**When it comes to religion, the Caribbean is dominated by
Christianity.
*However, many cultural adaptations have flourished.
*Because of the connection with slavery, African influenced religions
are also widely practiced such as Rastafarian and Voodoo.
*The Caribbean is full of a vibrant variety of faiths.
**Rastafarian religion is a movement started in
Jamaica.
*It is Christian based but incorporates many
African themes and ways of thinking.
*God is referred to as Jah and Africa is Zion, the
birthplace of man and a utopia where that was
once a place of unity, peace and freedom.
*Rastas believe in “repatriation” or returning to
their roots. Wearing their hair in dreadlock
style is paying homage to ancient peoples of
Africa.
*Many Rastas also practice the spiritual use of
cannabis as an entheogen.
*An entheogen is a psychoactive substance used to
help reach a transcendent state of mind (similar to
nirvana in Buddhism)
**Voodoo is a religion that combines
elements of Roman Catholic ritual with
traditional African magical and religious
rites.
*Voodoo came about when African slaves
were forbidden from practicing their
traditional religion. Instead, they mixed
Catholic imagery into their own religion.
*Voodoo is often characterized by sorcery
and spirit possession and is sometimes
referred to as “black magic”.
* Some elements are strange to most Westerners
such as animal sacrifice and the belief of
bringing the dead back to life.
* Despite popular belief, the use of “voodoo
dolls” is not a common practice ever if used at
all.
**Music is an important aspect
in Caribbean life.
*Many styles of music have
come from the islands such
as:
*African influences like calypso, steel
drum bands, reggae.
*Music of Bob Marley reflects political
situation in Jamaica
*Spanish influences like merengue,
mambo and rumba
*Caribbean style has even influenced
Western music!
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*Bob Marley is one of the most well
known and revered performers of
reggae music, and is credited with
helping spread both Jamaican
music and the Rastafari movement to
a worldwide audience.
*Sadly, Bob Marley was diagnosed
with cancer which had spread
throughout his body.
*He did not seek treatment other
than a strict diet.
*He died in a Miami hospital in 1981
at age 36.
* Sugar has played a crucial role in the Caribbean’s
history. Today, it is still an important export, though the importance of sugarcane has declined somewhat. Since 1990 Cuban sugarcane harvest has reduced by
50%
There are other agriculture pursuits including tropical fruits like bananas, coconuts and nutmeg.
Rum and tobacco are also large exports.
Because of the proximity to the US, Caribbean nations are dependant on import/exports from the United States.
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**The largest industry; by far, is that of
tourism.
*Instead of agriculture or trading, many
countries have adapted themselves to this
very lucrative enterprise.
*In the year 2000, the Caribbean received
around $20 billion from tourism.
*Around 20 million people visit the Caribbean
annually
*Over half of them coming from the U.S.
*Tourism creates over 1 million jobs in the
region
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**Following the Cuban Revolution in
1960 and the adoption of a
communist government, the United
States has enacted an embargo
against the country of Cuba.
*An embargo is a term to describe
the complete prohibition of trade.
*The U.S. has stated that the
embargo on Cuba will continue so
long as the Cuban government
continues to refuse to move toward
"democratization and greater respect
for human rights.”
*As a result, Cuba has suffered
severely economically over the past
50 years.
*
**Puerto Rico is currently a
commonwealth of the U.S.A
* Puerto Rico became an official
commonwealth in 1917.
* A commonwealth is a country under
direct government control of a
parent country. (e.g. Australia and
Great Britain)
* Its people are technically U.S.
citizens.
*However, they cannot vote in the
presidential election.
*Many people want full statehood
and rights.
*Just the same, there has been
independence movements to
seek secession from U.S.A
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* In the November 2012 election, more than 800,000 Puerto Ricans
voted in favor of a referendum that supported statehood.
*While the referendum for statehood of Puerto Rico was nonbinding,
it was the first time such a measure garnered that majority of votes.
*It would now be up to the American people to decide Puerto Rico’s
fate.
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**Much of the Caribbean is
situated along the Caribbean
Plate.
*As a result, the region is no
stranger to volcanoes and
earthquakes.
*With it being one of the most
seismically active areas on earth,
including 18 active volcanoes,
some scientists have even gone
as far as to calling the region of
the Caribbean, the “mini Ring of
Fire”.
**On May 8th, 1902, Mt. Pelee on the
island of Martinique started
erupting.
*There were signs that it was going to
erupt soon. In fact, the local Carib
people knew Mt. Pelee as “fire
mountain” from previous eruptions.
*The resulting explosion, ash, smoke,
sulfur and pyroclastic flow
destroyed the town of St. Pierre
within minutes, killing 30,000
people. There were only 2
survivors.
*It was the deadliest volcanic
eruption of the 20th century.
*
*On January 12th, 2012, a 7.0
magnitude earthquake occurred
just miles away from Haiti’s
capital city Port-au-Prince.
*The Haitian government
reported that an estimated
316,000 people had died,
300,000 had been injured and
1,000,000 made homeless.
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