Thursday, October 31 Warm-up: BOO! Halloween fun facts Presentation: Current Issues in Latin America Activity: Predictions, Key Points Closure: Where am I? game

History of Halloween All Hallow’s Eve Origins in ancient Celtic festivals from 2,000 years ago Brought to the U.S. by the Irish immigrants Bobbing for husbands?

ReligionDeforestationEducationHealthPoverty Prediction Description Effect

Religion Most Christians (83%) are Roman Catholic The Church is active in movements for land reform, education and health care.

Christ the Redeemer Statue in Brazil A symbol of Christianity and an icon for Rio de Janeiro and Brazil 98 feet tall Arms stretch 92 feet Weighs 635 tons

Deforestation Due to expansion of agriculture & industry Has actually been decreasing

Education Quality of education varies widely Many children do not complete elementary school Literacy and attendance rates are on the rise The Internet is helping to transform education

Health Overall, health is improving Education & the Catholic Church have played a role Most people now have access to clean drinking water Some lesser developed countries though have high disease rates & low life expectancy

Poverty Rates are falling, but poverty still affect 167 million (28%) in Latin America Many live on less than $2 a day The poorest 40% receive just 15%

Resentment towards European countries begins to grow in the 1700s. Inspired by the American Revolution, Latin American nations began to revolt for self-rule By the mid-1800s, most territories were free Brazil became independent without violence Today, many people in Latin America are demanding more political power and economic benefits.

Mexico Latin America Today The Caribbean Brazil

Brazil Today Influenced by African culture from slave trade Carnival: Holy feast day where people dance & parade in the streets Crime and drug abuse, especially in large cities

Behind the glamour of the gleaming buildings of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, lie the favelas, where the poor live among swamps, garbage dumbs and barren hillsides.

Favelas expanded in the 1970s because people could not afford to live in cities.

History of Mexico A story of conflict between native peoples and Spain Blend of Indian and Spanish culture

Cultural Diffusion in Mexico Spanish language Catholic religion The name “Mexico” comes from the word Mexia, an older name for the Aztecs Mexico has a large number of Mestizos- people of mixed Spanish and Native American heritage.

Mexico Today Mexico has a large number of Mestizos- people of mixed Spanish and Native American heritage. Today, Mexico struggles economically. Many people are abandoning farms & moving to cities for jobs NAFTA has led to the creation of many factories along the U.S./Mexico border – NAFTA: trade agreement between the U.S., Mexico & Canada

The Caribbean today Tourism remains an important industry Various cultures represented – Many islands are/were colonies of Europe – African slave trade

Panama Canal Ship channel cut through Panama that connects the Caribbean with the Pacific Built by the U.S. in the early 1900s Crossroads for world trade

Where am I? 1.If I visited this country, I’d see the pope’s hometown. 2.This country throws a big party called Carnival. 3.Here I can visit the ancient city of Macchu Picchu. 4.El Castillo, the Mayan ruin, is located in this country. 5.If I wanted to take a shortcut from the Pacific to the Caribbean Sea, I’d visit this place. 6.Here I can see the giant statue, Christ the Redeemer.

If you could take a trip to anywhere in Latin America, which country would you visit and why? Think, pair & share with a neighbor

Dia de los Muertos Day of the Dead begins tomorrow Mexican holiday focused on remembering friends and family members who have died Traced back to the Aztecs