Warm Up Discuss a time in your life when you were treated differently because of what you look like, how much money you have or the kind of job your parents have. How did it make you feel?

Ch. 11 Today’s Issues in Latin America

Natural Resources vs. Land and Timber The Amazon provides vegetation to help clean the earth’s atmosphere, regulate the climate, and is home to many plants, animals and insects. The Amazon provides vegetation to help clean the earth’s atmosphere, regulate the climate, and is home to many plants, animals and insects. People are clearing the Amazon for its resources such as timber and land. People are clearing the Amazon for its resources such as timber and land. As of 2000, every year 50 million acres of rainforest is being destroyed As of 2000, every year 50 million acres of rainforest is being destroyed

Native people, living in poverty, travel into the Amazon in search for land on which they can grow crops- even though the Amazon does not provide very fertile soil. Native people, living in poverty, travel into the Amazon in search for land on which they can grow crops- even though the Amazon does not provide very fertile soil. Farmers/ Ranchers use the cleared land to graze there cattle so they can provide a steady supply of beef for export Farmers/ Ranchers use the cleared land to graze there cattle so they can provide a steady supply of beef for export

Population is increasing in Brazil putting pressure on the government to clear more land in the Amazon to develop homes Population is increasing in Brazil putting pressure on the government to clear more land in the Amazon to develop homes What the people of Latin America don’t realize is the long term effects of what they are doing to the world... What the people of Latin America don’t realize is the long term effects of what they are doing to the world...

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

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

Giving Citizens a Voice 16 th century citizens were ruled by King of Spain 16 th century citizens were ruled by King of Spain 1800’s won their independence but were still ruled by small groups of Spanish colonists (Oligarchy) 1800’s won their independence but were still ruled by small groups of Spanish colonists (Oligarchy) If the government felt threatened the military would step in, seize power, and form a new harsher government known as a junta, which was run by the generals If the government felt threatened the military would step in, seize power, and form a new harsher government known as a junta, which was run by the generals

From , many L.A. countries were ruled by caudillo, a military dictator or political boss From , many L.A. countries were ruled by caudillo, a military dictator or political boss Many countries are now adopting a democracy and citizens are now electing their presidents Many countries are now adopting a democracy and citizens are now electing their presidents Many reforms have had to be engaged in order to successfully run their governments. Many reforms have had to be engaged in order to successfully run their governments. Women are now allowed to run for office, and have found some success Women are now allowed to run for office, and have found some success

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