Latin America Current Issues Lesson #3

Drug Trade in South America

Columbia Became a problem in 1970s Small Guerilla groups vied for power Gained money through drug trade 1980s – tried to stop drug trade Alliance with U.S. Peace talks with guerilla groups resulted in new constitution in 1991

Bolivia Cocoa is very important to economy President Evo Morales will not get rid of plant Chew on leaves to increase stamina and decrease hunger Most cocoa goes to Brazil for cocaine rather then U.S. Many legal products made from cocoa –Shampoo –Tea –Soap –Toothpaste –medicine

Brazil Sells more cocaine then the U.S. Gets cocoa from Bolivia Farmers can not live off of harvesting coffee beans, so cocoa plant is very important

Question How do you think we can help control the distribution of drugs from South America to the United States? Their have been talks about legalizing drugs in South America so that it can be taxed and S.A. will raise more money. Is this a good idea or not?

Border Issues napshots/index.htmlhttp:// napshots/index.html Do you think it works?

Factors of Illegal Immigration The main reason for Illegal immigration and migration are the higher wages and job availability lacking in Mexico and found in the U.S.

Smuggling Availability of Smuggler (Coyotes)Availability of Smuggler (Coyotes) Free entry into Smuggling industryFree entry into Smuggling industry Fees range anywhere from $300 to $50,000 per person, depending on where the immigrant is coming from and wants to go, as well as the difficulty of the routeFees range anywhere from $300 to $50,000 per person, depending on where the immigrant is coming from and wants to go, as well as the difficulty of the route

Affects to Smuggling Rates and Fees Apprehension probabilityApprehension probability Heighten border vigilanceHeighten border vigilance Rise in probability of injury/deathRise in probability of injury/death Illegal immigrants’ propensity to hire coyotesIllegal immigrants’ propensity to hire coyotes

Human Trafficking – Modern slavery Over 4 million persons trafficked a year – U.N. estimate 7 to 10 billion dollar a year illegal industry Third largest illegal industry in the world following drugs and arms sales

Definitions Trafficking – a person is trafficked if she/he agrees under false pretenses to relocate for employment reasons and is forced into involuntary forms of Labor Smuggling – a person is smuggled if she/he seeks and pays for assistance to cross borders without documents, but is allegedly free once arriving in the new country

Forced Labor Definition A work or service exacted under menace of penalty or harm A work undertaken involuntarily Most countries identify forced labor as a crime Forced labor is a severe violation of human rights and a restriction on human freedom

Elements of Forced Labor Loss of rights and privileges Threats of violence –To the laborer –To her/his family –Denouncing laborer to authorities – Control of Income –Non-payment of wages –Threats of dismissal

Kinds of forced labor Slavery or slave-like practices Debt bonded Indentured servant Forced begging, drug dealing, military service (often children) Forced overtime and withheld wages Confiscation of identity papers and restriction on freedom of movement

Common Sites of Forced Labor Agriculture and food processing Construction Domestic Workers Sex industry Restaurants Assembly plants Garment and textile workers

Minimum Estimates of Force Labor Exact figures are difficult to calculate because trafficking is illegal and hidden 2.4 million women, men and children are victims of forced labor yearly 1.4 million are in commercial sex work 760,000 are economically exploited 600,000 are in mixed commercially and sexually exploited

Statistics on Forced Labor 32% are economically exploited – farm workers, sweat shops, domestic servants, bus boys, etc. 43% are sexually exploited 25% in mixed forms of exploitation - Economic and sexual exploitation

What are we doing about it? The Justice Department created a unit to pursue human trafficking cases The FBI currently has 212 ongoing human trafficking investigations The Justice Department has initiated 60 investigations in the past four months. Last year, federal prosecutors charged 222 defendants and won 98 convictions.

What should the United States do differently from what we are doing now to be more effective? Should we just let them come in to the United States and make everyone legal?

Jigsaw Activity Other Issues in Latin America Break up into groups read your article and answer your questions Break into new groups and teach your group about your article You will have a sheet of questions make sure you have all of them answered by the end of this activity. You have minutes to complete this