Transcript Chapter 11: today*s issues in Latin America

CHAPTER 11: TODAY’S
ISSUES IN LATIN
AMERICA
RAINFOREST LAND USES
Vegetation helps
clean the
atmosphere,
regulate climate,
and shelter millions
of species
Biodiversity: the
variety of organisms
within an ecosystem
CLEARING THE RAINFORESTS
World demand for
timber is high
Farmers use slash
and burn to create
fields
Ranchers clear
forest for grazing
land
POPULATION PRESSURE
Brazil’s population
should reach 200
million by 2020
This creates need for
new houses (timber)
and more living
space
THE PRICE OF
DESTRUCTION
DEFORESTATION
Def: cutting down
and clearing away of
trees
Long term effects
far outweigh the
short term
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
 Trees absorb carbon
dioxide and produce
oxygen
 Deforestation leads to
a build-up of CO2
 This prevents heat
from escaping the
earth
 This builds up the
temperature
 This is Global
Warming
PLANTS AND ANIMALS IN DANGER
50% of the world’s
plant and animal
species are in the
rainforest
Plants are used to
create new
medicines
MOVING TOWARD
SOLUTIONS
A JUGGLING ACT
 Countries struggle with how to balance economic concerns
with environmental ones
 Move is to educate people as to the value of the rainforest
FIGHTING ECONOMICS WITH ECONOMICS
 Debt-for-nature swap:
debt reducing deal
wherein an
organization agrees to
pay off a certain
amount of
government debt in
return for government
protection of a certain
portion of rain forest
SECTION 2: GIVING
CITIZENS A VOICE
THE LEGACY OF COLONIALISM
 Rich and powerful
ruled most countries
during and
immediately after
Spanish rule
(Oligarchy)
 Limited free speech,
censoring of the
press, punish dissent
 Junta: a govt run by
generals after a
military takeover
THE RULE OF THE CAUDILLO
Caudillo: a military
dictator or political
boss
Got support from the
military and wealthy
Ex: Juan Perón of
Argentina, PRI of
Mexico
ESTABLISHING STABLE
DEMOCRACIES
GOALS OF REFORM
Establish
constitutional
governments
Participation of
citizens
Economic stability
Gender and racial
equality
LAND REFORM
Def: process of
breaking up large
landholdings and
giving portions of
the land to land-poor
peasant farmers