Issues

1
Issues Challenges of Latin America

• Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, South
  America
• Chapters 10-12

2
Mexico City (pages 234-235)

• Describe the history of the site of Mexico City.
• Name describe 5 places of interest within the
  city for tourists.
• Describe 4 Environmental Problems of Mexico City
  and the efforts to solve these problems.

3
Mexico City - Answers

• Founded on the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan in
  central Mexico. At its height it was larger than
  any European city at that time.
• 1. Zocalo Mexico Citys main square 2.
  Metropolitan Cathedral (1500s) is the largest
  church in Latin America 3. National Palace
  houses govt offices and Diego Rivera murals 4.
  Templi Mayor Aztec Ceremonial Pyramid 5.
  Chapultepec Park one of the worlds largest
  urban parks
• Air pollution caused by cars factory chemicals.
  City pumps huge amounts of water from wells it
  is lowering the water table causing areas of the
  city to sink. Earthquakes. Factories have been
  forced to cut production or close. Cars with
  certain licenses can be only be driven on certain
  days. All new cars must have anti-pollution
  devices. Old cars are restricted from the road
  on emergency days.

4
Mexico
Issues
Effects of Issues

• Economic Inequality
• Reducing Poverty (especially amongst Mexican
  Indians)
• Migration (legal illegal)
• Curbing Crime (drugs)
• Poor infrastructure (unclean waters/sewers, worn
  out transportation systems)

• Bring political/economic instability
• Might slow migration
• Takes away skilled workers from economy
• Further economic/social progress
• Causes health problems people cannot get their
  goods to market

5
Central America Environmental Issues

• Volcanoes
• Earthquakes
• Hurricanes
• Mudslides

Volcano Costa Rica
Earthquake Damage
Hurricanes
Mudslides
6
Montserrats Soufriere Volcano

• Errupted in 1995, destroying the islands capital
  and displacing thousands. The islands
  inhabitants were forced to move to the northern
  part of the island. After another eruption in
  1997, 2/3 of the population fled.

7
El Nino
1997 satellite image shows an El Nino developing
in the eastern Pacific. The warmer water is in
white.
8
El Nino (means The Boy)

• Shows how a physical process that happens on once
  side of the planet can affect environments
  thousands of miles away.
• Increases precipitation off North South America
  causing hurricanes, flooding, etc.

9
Issues Challenges of South America

• Deforestation
• Soil Exhaustion
• Border Disputes
• Terrorism/Drug Trafficking
• Slums

10
Amazon Basin Development

• Resources found in the Amazon rainforest include
• Rubber
• Oil exploration
• Bauxite
• Copper
• Gold
• Iron-ore
• Land for ranching farms

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Development Causes Deforestation/Soil Exhaustion
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Cleared lands that will be used for farming the
raising of cattle.
Slash Burn Methods are common.
13
Border Disputes

• Left Bolivia landlocked in the 1880s
• Ecuador Peru
• Venezuela Guyana

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Terrorism/Drug Trafficking

• Groups use fear as a political force
• Example Colombia
• Much of the violence is a result of the drug
  trade.
• Illegal profits from drugs are used to buy off or
  assassinate judges politicians and to support
  private armies

80 of all cocaine 90 of all marijuana that
enters the U.S. comes from South America.
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