Latin Latin AmericaAmerica

Problems Problems and and PassionsPassions

Latin AmericaLatin America

The region of the Americas where Romance languages (i.e., those derived from Latin) – particularly Spanish and Portuguese,– are primarily spoken.

Developed or Developing?Developed or Developing?Infrastructure: Basic support system needed to

keep an economy going.

Examples: power, communications, power, communications, transportation, water, sanitation, and transportation, water, sanitation, and educationeducation..The more The more sophisticated the sophisticated the infrastructure, infrastructure, the more the more developed the developed the countrycountry..

Children work at the municipal dump of Children work at the municipal dump of La Chureca in Managua, Nicaragua.La Chureca in Managua, Nicaragua.

AP Photo /Cristobal HerreraPoverty

Measuring Economic Development

• Per capita income- The average amount of money earned by each person in a political unit.

• Economic Activities- Industries & Commerce.

• Standard of Living- a society’s purchasing power, health, and level of education.

GNP and GDPGNP and GDP• Gross National Product (GNP)- Total

value of all goods and services produced by a country over a specified period of time.

*Includes goods and services produced in one country by a company based in another country. (Think NIKE shoes made

in Thailand)

• Gross Domestic Product (GDP)- Total value of all goods and services produced within a country in a given period of time.

GDPGDP(2004)

purchasing power parity (PPP) method

Normal method

Development Levels• Developing Nations- Low GDP

and limited development on all levels of economic activities.

• Transition Nations- Developing countries that have greatly increased their GDP

• Developed Countries- High per capita income and varied economy.

The tropical rain forest is a forest of tall trees in a region The tropical rain forest is a forest of tall trees in a region of year-round warmth. An average of 50 to 260 inches of year-round warmth. An average of 50 to 260 inches of rain falls yearly. Rain forests belong to the tropical of rain falls yearly. Rain forests belong to the tropical wet climate group. The temperature in a rain forest wet climate group. The temperature in a rain forest rarely gets higher than 93 °F or drops below 68 °F ; rarely gets higher than 93 °F or drops below 68 °F ; average humidity is between 77 and 88%.average humidity is between 77 and 88%.

Central American

rain forest

This is the This is the narrowest point narrowest point of the link of the link between North between North and South and South America.America.

Isthmus of PanamaIsthmus of Panama

Today, Today, ships get stuck in traffic jams ships get stuck in traffic jams because there are so many of them and often because there are so many of them and often have to wait up to 20 hours to go through the have to wait up to 20 hours to go through the canal. canal.

The city that oil builtThe city that oil built

Caracas, VenezuelaCaracas, Venezuela

Informal settlements locally known Informal settlements locally known as as barriosbarrios crowd some of the crowd some of the hillsides of Caracas, Venezuela hillsides of Caracas, Venezuela

Nazca Desert, Peru.Nazca Desert, Peru.

Iguazu FallsIguazu Falls

Cape Horn, Antartica.

AntarcticaThe Antarctic Treaty The Antarctic Treaty was signed in 1959 was signed in 1959 by 12 countries. The by 12 countries. The treaty prohibits treaty prohibits military activities and military activities and mineral mining, mineral mining, supports scientific supports scientific research, and research, and protects the protects the continent's ecozone.continent's ecozone.

NAFTASince the North Since the North American Free Trade American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Agreement (NAFTA) was signed in January was signed in January 1994, its member 1994, its member countries, which countries, which include Mexico , the include Mexico , the United States and United States and Canada , have Canada , have suffered economic suffered economic peaks and pitfalls. But peaks and pitfalls. But according to panelists according to panelists at "NAFTA at 10: at "NAFTA at 10: Performance, Performance, Prospects and Social Prospects and Social Impacts,"Impacts,"

Not Not everyone, everyone, however, however, is thrilled is thrilled with the with the resultsresults

North American leaders Bush, North American leaders Bush, Mulroney, and Salinas initiating Mulroney, and Salinas initiating NAFTA in San Antonio in 1992.NAFTA in San Antonio in 1992.

Speaker V:Speaker V: Maquiladoras employ a half million people Maquiladoras employ a half million people in Mexico and bring $3.5 billion into Mexico each year.in Mexico and bring $3.5 billion into Mexico each year.Speaker W:Speaker W: While workers in foreign owned While workers in foreign owned maquiladoras get paid 20% less than what workers in maquiladoras get paid 20% less than what workers in the U.S. would get for the same work, the Mexican the U.S. would get for the same work, the Mexican government is happy to have the industries in Mexico.government is happy to have the industries in Mexico.Speaker X:Speaker X: The Mexican government is offering The Mexican government is offering incentives, such as reduced taxes and cheap land, to incentives, such as reduced taxes and cheap land, to urge foreign companies to develop industries in Mexico.urge foreign companies to develop industries in Mexico.Speaker Y:Speaker Y: Lack of government regulation of Lack of government regulation of maquiladoras has resulted in air and water pollutionmaquiladoras has resulted in air and water pollution

What conclusion can be drawn from speaker W’s What conclusion can be drawn from speaker W’s statement?statement?

A. Most Americans support maquiladoras.A. Most Americans support maquiladoras.B. Environmental concerns are not critical to the Mexican B. Environmental concerns are not critical to the Mexican government.government.C. Although maquiladoras workers offer a low wage labor pool to C. Although maquiladoras workers offer a low wage labor pool to American industry, they still earn more than other workers in American industry, they still earn more than other workers in Mexican cities.Mexican cities.D. American industries in Mexico are very profitable.D. American industries in Mexico are very profitable.

Speaker F:Speaker F: An influx of cheaper agricultural products An influx of cheaper agricultural products from Mexico will hurt our sales.from Mexico will hurt our sales.Speaker G:Speaker G: NAFTA will hurt the environment because of NAFTA will hurt the environment because of poor regulation of industry by the Mexican government.poor regulation of industry by the Mexican government.Speaker H:Speaker H: Entire U.S. Factories and industries will be Entire U.S. Factories and industries will be moved to Mexico because of NAFTA.moved to Mexico because of NAFTA. Speaker I:Speaker I: Under NAFTA increased exports to Mexico Under NAFTA increased exports to Mexico will demand greater productivity and higher wages to will demand greater productivity and higher wages to people in the U.S. work force.people in the U.S. work force.

What conclusion can be drawn from speaker H?

A. The creation of NAFTA will lead to a stronger A. The creation of NAFTA will lead to a stronger economic future for the U.S.economic future for the U.S.B. Farmers in the U.S. will be hurt the most by NAFTA.B. Farmers in the U.S. will be hurt the most by NAFTA.C. The economic advantages of NAFTA far outweigh the C. The economic advantages of NAFTA far outweigh the disadvantages.disadvantages.D. Opponents of NAFTA feared it would lead to a loss of D. Opponents of NAFTA feared it would lead to a loss of jobs in the U.S.jobs in the U.S.

Links

• http://www.legendvega.com/latinmusic/latinmusic.htm• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_America