STARTER 05 January 2011 Look at the map on page 14 in your CRCT Coach book. Write the answer to numbers 5-8 in COMPLETE SENTENCES your starter notebook.

Mexico City, Mexico

Mexico City’s air is believed to be safe to breathe only 31 days in the year! Around 100,000 children die due to pollution complications every year. There are also over 50,000 small factories in and around the city.

Brazil’s Rain Forest

Deforestation in Brazil

Pollution in Venezuela

Environmental Issues in Latin America SS6G2 The student will discuss environmental issues in Latin America a. Explain the major environmental concerns of Latin America regarding the issues of air pollution in Mexico City, Mexico, the destruction of the Rain Forest in Brazil, and oil-related pollution in Venezuela

Mexico City, Mexico

Air Pollution in Mexico City Used to have really clear skies, now in the TOP TEN of world’s worst areas of air pollution What has caused the air pollution? City is HEAVILY populated Over 19 million people live in the city Factories and cars send pollution into the air Lead, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide Many cars are older models and produce more pollution than newer cars Geography of the city City is built in a bowl-shaped crater of an extinct volcano High elevation means thin air is caught from factories and cars and gets caught in the valley

What are some effects of this? Children are more likely to have breathing problems and develop lung diseases when they grow up Older adults must stay indoors and limit activity on particularly bad days SMOG Combination of smoke and thick fog

What is the government doing to fix this? Drivers must leave their cars at home one day each week Citizens are encouraged to take buses or carpool Cars are inspected more often Those with really bad exhaust problems must be repaired Some factories may be closed on days when pollution is at it’s highest

Brazil

Destruction of Brazil’s Rain Forests Brazil is the largest country in South America It is also the 5th largest in the world MORE THAN ½ IS COVERED BY RAIN FORESTS Are rain forests important? YES!! Plants can be used to produce drugs for treating disease People also use Brazil nuts, cocoa, and rubber which can be found in the rain forest Trees create oxygen Why do we need oxygen? Over 20% of world’s oxygen is produced in these rain forests

What is happening to the Rain Forest? There are still some native populations in Brazil that depend on the resources in the forest for food, clothing, shelter, and spiritual life What is happening to the Rain Forest? Humans are clearing large areas of forest Deforestation- process of clearing land of forests, usually to make room for farms and homes

What are some causes of this deforestation? Clearing forest and selling the timber is the only way some families make money The cleared land is needed for cattle farms and growing crops Illegal clearing of forest when prices of cattle go up What are some effects of this? In the past 10 years, nearly 200,000 sq. miles of rain forest have been lost People, animals, and plants that live here are threatened with extinction If too much timber is cut down, there will not be enough trees to absorb carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

What is being done to fix this? Government created laws to control amount of forest that is cut down HOWEVER, little money is spent enforcing the laws Environmental groups and governments from around the world are working with government of Brazil to find ways to save the rain forest

Deforestation of Brazil’s Rain Forest Square Miles Years

Venezuela

Oil-Related Pollution in Venezuela Venezuela is the 5th largest producer of oil in the world Money from oil sales account for ½ of the money received by the government of Venezuela What causes oil-related pollution? Oil spills and tanker leaks Burning fossil fuels

What are some effects of this? Oil spills damage the environment Fisherman cannot earn a living because of the water is polluted with oil Burning oil (which is a fossil fuel) leads to a lot of carbon dioxide being produced This can cause breathing problems for children and the elderly What is being done to fix this? The Venezuelan government really does not want to fix this because the government gets about ½ of its money from the oil business