Warm UpWarm Up

Discuss a time in your life Discuss a time in your life when you were treated when you were treated

differently because of what differently because of what you look like, how much you look like, how much money you have or the money you have or the kind of job your parents kind of job your parents

have. How did it make you have. How did it make you feel? feel?

Ch. 11Ch. 11Today’s Issues in Today’s Issues in

Latin AmericaLatin America

Natural ResourcesNatural Resources vs. vs.

Land and TimberLand and Timber

The Amazon provides vegetation to The Amazon provides vegetation to help clean the earth’s atmosphere, help clean the earth’s atmosphere, regulate the climate, and is home to regulate the climate, and is home to many plants, animals and insects.many plants, animals and insects.

People are clearing the Amazon for People are clearing the Amazon for its resources such as timber and land.its resources such as timber and land.

As of 2000, every year 50 million As of 2000, every year 50 million acres of rainforest is being destroyedacres of rainforest is being destroyed

Native people, living in poverty, travel Native people, living in poverty, travel into the Amazon in search for land on into the Amazon in search for land on which they can grow crops- even which they can grow crops- even though the Amazon does not provide though the Amazon does not provide very fertile soil.very fertile soil.

Farmers/ Ranchers use the cleared Farmers/ Ranchers use the cleared land to graze there cattle so they can land to graze there cattle so they can provide a steady supply of beef for provide a steady supply of beef for export export

Population is increasing in Brazil Population is increasing in Brazil putting pressure on the government putting pressure on the government to clear more land in the Amazon to to clear more land in the Amazon to develop homesdevelop homes

What the people of Latin America What the people of Latin America don’t realize is the long term effects of don’t realize is the long term effects of what they are doing to the world . . .what they are doing to the world . . .

Rainforests regulate the earth’s Rainforests regulate the earth’s climate by absorbing carbon dioxide climate by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. The carbon and producing oxygen. The carbon dioxide that is not absorbed builds up dioxide that is not absorbed builds up in the atmosphere, this build up in the atmosphere, this build up prevents heat from escaping into prevents heat from escaping into space. The temperature of the space. The temperature of the atmosphere begins to rise thus atmosphere begins to rise thus changing weather patterns. To changing weather patterns. To scientists this is known as global scientists this is known as global warming.warming.

Debt-for-nature-swap is an agreement Debt-for-nature-swap is an agreement made between environmental made between environmental organizations and the government. In organizations and the government. In Latin American many of the countries Latin American many of the countries are in debt, so environmental groups are in debt, so environmental groups have agreed to pay off some of the have agreed to pay off some of the governments debt in return for governments debt in return for preservation of parts of the rainforest. preservation of parts of the rainforest. Bolivia has proven t o be very Bolivia has proven t o be very successful with this approach.successful with this approach.

Giving Citizens a VoiceGiving Citizens a Voice1616thth century citizens were ruled by century citizens were ruled by

King of SpainKing of Spain1800’s won their independence but 1800’s won their independence but

were still ruled by small groups of were still ruled by small groups of Spanish colonists (Oligarchy)Spanish colonists (Oligarchy)

If the government felt threatened the If the government felt threatened the military would step in, seize power, military would step in, seize power, and form a new harsher government and form a new harsher government known as a junta, which was run by known as a junta, which was run by the generalsthe generals

From 1900-2000, many L.A. countries From 1900-2000, many L.A. countries were ruled by caudillo, a military were ruled by caudillo, a military dictator or political bossdictator or political boss

Many countries are now adopting a Many countries are now adopting a democracy and citizens are now democracy and citizens are now electing their presidentselecting their presidents

Many reforms have had to be Many reforms have had to be engaged in order to successfully run engaged in order to successfully run their governments.their governments.

Women are now allowed to run for Women are now allowed to run for office, and have found some successoffice, and have found some success

Land reforms have been set up due to the Land reforms have been set up due to the unequal land distribution, governments are unequal land distribution, governments are breaking up large landholdings and giving breaking up large landholdings and giving portions of the land to poor peasant portions of the land to poor peasant farmers.farmers.

Role PlayingRole Playing