Causes of Diffusion in Latin America Push and Pull Factors

Push Factors Factors that “push” people out of an area

Violence According to the United Nations 2013 Global Study on Homicide, Latin America has surpassed Africa as the world’s most violent region. * http://www.insightcrime.org/news-analysis/latin-america-worlds-most-violent-region-un *

Violence Contributing factors; Organized crime Drug trafficking Police corruption (lack of criminal law enforcement)

Violence-- Mexico’s drug Cartels Most of the violence is attributed to fighting between rival drug gangs for control of territory and drug shipment routes* Common tactics used; Extort local businesses Kidnappings for ransom. Human smuggling Prostitution rings Intimidation Murder Video: http://dailyoftheday.com/drug-cartel-violence-in-mexico-explained-in-animation/ This video is a little accusatory against the US about the violence Background: This is a link from BBC explaining the cartels in detail * http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-10681249

Political corruption Corruption: Use of political power for personal gain Common places; Police Political party Political office Common forms Bribery (the use of gifts or money to influence and official) Extortion (obtaining something of desire through threat of force) Drug trafficking Receiving of stolen goods

Political corruption

Income Inequality Income inequality- “refers to the extent to which income is distributed in an uneven manner among a population” According to OxFam International**; 165,000.000 million people, in 2013, were living in poverty, with 69 million of this total in extreme poverty. (Women are the majority) 32 individuals OWN THE SAME WEALTH as the poorest 50% of the region’s population In 2014, the richest 1% owned 41% of the region’s wealth, while the remaining 99% had to share 60% http://inequality.org/income-inequality/ * https://www.oxfam.org/sites/www.oxfam.org/files/file_attachments/cr-privileges-deny-rights-inequality-lac-300915-summ-en.pdf ** http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/236161468299090847/pdf/WPS6935.pdf

Income inequality

Pull Factors Factors that “Pull” people to an area

Panama canal Opened in 1914 Cuts across the Panama Isthmus, thereby acting as a short-cut between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Therefore, cutting shipping time and costs Very profitable for Panama, in 2012 the canal produced a net income of 1.26 billion USD http://micanaldepanama.com/expansion/ http://www.2wglobal.com/news-and-insights/articles/features/Widening-the-oceans/#.WG6obRsrLcs https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/an-expanded-panama-canal-opens-for-giant-ships/2016/06/26/11a93574-37d1-11e6-af02-1df55f0c77ff_story.html?utm_term=.e7d955b1ae13 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3664317/Expanding-Panama-Canal-Incredible-pictures-world-s-famous-waterway-transformed-5-5bn-project-features-locks-weighing-4-200-tonnes-4-4million-cubic-meters-concrete.html http://panamaforbeginners.com/23-facts-know-panama-canal/

Panama Canal Is being expanded to accommodate newer, larger ships. This will drop shipping time and costs even further. Officials say the larger locks and new lane will double the waterway’s cargo capacity

Panama Canal

Ecotourism Ecotourism is the “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education” Goal is to protect natural environments such as rainforests and coral reefs http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/22/earth-day-latin-america_n_3133517.html https://www.ecotourism.org/ecodestinations-south-america http://greenglobaltravel.com/2013/05/20/latin-america-ecotourism-adventures/

ecotourism Important for the growth of less developed countries in and outside of Latin America In 4 out of 5 countries, tourism is one of five top export earners. Tourism is a principle “export” (foreign exchange earner) for 83% of developing countries, and the leading export for 1/3 of poorest countries (Mastny 2001). Since the 1990s, ecotourism has been growing 20% – 34% per year (Mastny 2001). In 2004, ecotourism grew globally 3 times faster than the tourism industry as a whole (WTO 2004). http://goodnature.nathab.com/spotlight-on-sustainability-ecotourism-facts/ http://www.responsibletravel.org/news/fact_sheets/fact_sheet_-_global_ecotourism.pdf

maquiladoras With the growth of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) since 1993, american- owned factories placed in Mexico to take advantage of the cheaper labor offered by latinos. Usually located within 50 miles of the US-Mexico border to expedite shipping Usually manufacturing textiles and small electronics.

Maquiladoras Immigrants are now starting to migrate to Mexico to work in these factories from all over the world though mostly from Latin America. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/09/22/world/americas/migration-to-mexico.html?ref=Americas

Processing Select one of the three push factors discussed today that would most motivate you to leave a home in Latin America. Describe why you chose this one. Select one of the threes pull factors discussed today that would most motivate you to leave a home in Latin America. Describe why you chose this one.