Transcript Latin America

Latin America
Regional and Global
Issues
Environment
 Economic
growth occurs at the
expense of the environment.
Countries worried about feeding
their increasing populations and
paying foreign debts are not
concerned with their impact on
the environment.
Debt Crisis
 Developing
countries borrow
money to help develop and
modernize
 Many countries default (stop
paying back) on their loans
which hurts the lending bank.
Human Rights
 Human
rights abuses often
occur because the government
in charge, usually run by the
military, wants to keep
opposition to their regime to a
minimum.
Drug Trade
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Cocaine, heroin and marijuana are the
most common produced drugs in Latin
America
High demand in the U.S. & Europe,
coupled with poverty in Latin America
fuel the drug trade
The U.S. has offered economic aid to
help combat the drug trade.
Latin American governments’ view: if
the demand for drugs in the US remains
strong, then the illegal drug trade will
continue
Regional Cooperation
 Many
countries have joined
together to create regional
common markets.
 Common markets promote trade
among the countries involved,
and hopefully benefit their
economies.
Free Trade
 Trade
tariffs
without restrictions or
Examples of regional
cooperation: Organization
of American States (OAS)
 Designed
to help solve regional
disputes peacefully, prevent
foreign intervention and help
promote economic growth and
democracy in the region.
North American Free
Trade Agreement
(NAFTA)
 Includes
Canada
U.S., Mexico and