1. Latin America’s Environmental Concerns SS6G2

3. Air Pollution in Mexico City
nearly 20 million people live here
considered to be the 2ND MOST polluted city in the world
Tokyo is first
city’s population & location contribute to its bad air pollution problem

4. Air Pollution Over Mexico City

5. Air Pollution Over Mexico City

6. Causes of Air Pollution
huge population = lots of cars
high elevation--less oxygen so fuels don’t fully burn
--higher level of gases that harm eyes, lungs, & the heart
Sierra Madre mountains surround city & trap in polluted air

7. Surrounded by Mountains…

8. Air Pollution of Mexico City
Effects:
a. Breathing problems and lifelong diseases
High medical costs
High infant mortality (death) rate
b. Bad smell even inside your house, work, and school
c. Acid Rain
Killing plants, animals, and destroying architecture
d. Limited outside activity (especially with kids)

9. Solutions
To reduce air pollution, the city promotes public transportation (buses, subway).
The city is also testing buses that run on cleaner burning fuels.
new restrictions on car use
Can’t drive 1 day a week (different for each citizen)
workshops to teach people about the environment

10. DEFORESTATION
AMAZON RAIN FOREST

14. Amazon Rainforest - Characteristics
largest rainforest in the world
most of the rainforest is in Brazil
Experiences a hot, humid, & rainy tropical climate
Home to a huge variety of plants, trees, insects, birds, & animals
Produces 1/3 of the earth’s oxygen

15. Amazon Rainforest

16. So, What causes the destruction of the Amazon Rainforest? Deforestation
Deforestation is when humans remove or clear large areas of forest lands for non-forest use
The Brazilian government built a major highway system.
b. opened rainforest to loggers
c. Brazil’s population has increased

17. Before Deforestation…

18. There are many methods of Deforestation Method #1 - Clear Cutting
is when all of the trees are cut leaving the ground bare
No tree trunks, vegetation or nutrients are left on the land and so - it is longer than 50 years for the trees to grow back

19. After Clear cutting….

20. Method #2 - Slash and Burn
This is whe the vegetation is cut and later it is burned to release the minerals into the soil. This is a common practice for farmers hoping to enrich the soil.
Rain washes some of the soil nutrients away each time and after awhile the soil can no longer support crops.
The period for this to happen is between 3 to 20 years. After the land is abandoned, the rainforest will take approximately 50 years to grow back because the soil quality is so poor

21. After Slash and burn….

22. Method #3 - Mudslides due to Erosion
The roots of rainforest trees and vegetation help anchor the soil – keep it in place
When trees are cut down there is no longer anything to protect the ground, and soils are quickly washed away with rain. The process of washing away of soil is known as erosion.
As soil is washed down into rivers it causes problems for fish and people

23. Mud slide due to erosion....

24. Effects of Deforestation…
Plants & animals are losing their homes; many are endangered, and some are becoming extinct.
Loss of trees increases carbon dioxide
gas that leads to global warming.

25. Solutions…
The government is passing laws to limit the number of trees being cut
Companies are replanting trees and “farming” them until they are mature enough to cut again.

26. PSA
A public service announcement (PSA) is a message in the public interest with the objective of raising awareness of, and changing public attitudes and behavior towards, an issue

27. PSA

28. PSA

30. The effects of Oil Pollution

31. Oil-Related Pollution in Venezuela
One of the world’s leading producers of oil
has been producing oil for about 100 years
Oil production has boosted economy
Main source of income for many people
Oil production results in toxic wastes, air pollution, & oil spills

32. Result of Drilling for Oil…

33. Causes Unscientific drilling Poor government involvement
Lack of proper machinery to clean effected areas

34. Effects Venezuela’s coast has become polluted with oil.
The environment is damaged
Fishing industry is hurt
Breathing problems for children and elderly

35. Effects…
Oil businesses have damaged Lake Maracaibo (largest lake in South America).
Large amounts of oil have been removed from the area so the land is changing.
eastern shore of the lake is dropping about three inches a year
government is having to take precautions to keep water from flooding into nearby towns

36. Oil spill…….

37. Problems…
Money from selling oil is the country’s main source of income.
Venezuelans are motivated to keep producing, selling, and burning oil--and polluting.

38. Solutions… Develop renewable energy sources
Focus on clean-up and prevention of pollution
Involve government more
Better training of workers (investing in human capital)

39. Exit Ticket – “The Most Important Thing…”
On your index card, write down the three most important things you learned today
Please put your name and class period on the back of your card (the side with no lines)

40. So What and So Why?
So What? What are the causes of the major environmental issues facing Latin America?
So Why? What is being done about the issues and why is it important that countries fix their environmental issues?