Caribbean

CaribbeanChapter 5

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Learning ObjectivesCompare and contrast two seemingly similar regions (Latin America and Caribbean)Understand the following concepts and modelsPlantation systemBrain drainHurricanesRemittancesFree trade zonesOffshore banking

FIGURE 5.6 Los Roques Islands

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IntroductionSetting the boundariesIslands and rimland (coastal Belize and the Guianas)Cultural diversity greater than Latin AmericaCaribbean includes 26 countries and dependent territories, located on Caribbean SeaEuropeans, then the United States, influenced the regionPlantation agriculture is important. Tie to deforestationHigh population densities, environmental problemsEconomy based on tourism, offshore banking, manufacturing, exports (e.g., flowers) Disparities in wealth in the region3

Environmental Geography: Paradise UndoneAgricultures legacy of deforestationEuropeans cleared much of the tropical rainforest to grow sugarcane, to produce fuel to refine sugar, to build houses and other structures, and because it was viewed as unproductive. Plantations usually consisted of one cash crop which was exported. Haitis forests almost gone; used for charcoalManaging the rimland forestsRimland: coastal zone of mainland, from Belize to South AmericaLess threatened, has more forests; supports diverse wildlife;conservation is successful

FIGURE 5.7 European Space Agency Center, Kourou, French Guiana

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Physical Geography

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Physical Geography of the Caribbean6Because the region is located at the juxtaposition of plates, many of the islands are volcanic in orginhigh hazard potential.

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Environmental Issues in the Caribbean7What are the difficulties of being an island?

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The Caribbean and Climate ChangeRising sea level 3 to 10 feet in this centuryBahamas most vulnerable: could lose 30 percent ofits landBelize, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname also affected25 to 30 percent of people could be displacedIncreased storm intensity, including hurricanesMore variable rainfall (floods, droughts)Loss of biodiversity in forests and coral reefs8

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Some photos of the marine life in the Belize Reef, one of the most biologically diverse marine ecosystems.The region is also blessed in terms of its biogeography, making it a sought out location for tourism, a main contributor to the economy. Tourism however is also detrimental to the environment.

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Climate Map of the CaribbeanMost of the region is classified as having either a tropical wet (Af) or tropical savanna (Aw) climate.Temperature varies little across the region.Important differences in total rainfall and the timing of the dry season distinguish different places

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What are the hazards of the Caribbean? Dr. Chris Emrich, University of South CarolinaPlease see video under the Geography Department videos button.You may need to download Quick Time first. Length is about 5 minutesAs you watch make a list of the hazards that he discusses.

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Take quiz 5.1 12

Population and Settlement

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Kingston Harbor, Jamaica

http://www.roamintl.com/13

Population of the Caribbean

The major population centers are on the islands of the Greater Antilles. The pattern here, as in the rest of Latin America, is a tendency toward greater urbanism. The largest city of the region is Santo Domingo, followed by Havana. In comparison, the rimland states are very lightly settled.14

87 percent of the regions population is concentrated on the four islands of the Greater AntillesLargest population in Cuba; Puerto Rico has highest population densityDemographic trendsRegion is currently growing at a rate of 1.2 percentFertility declineEducation, urbanization, preference for smaller familiesThe rise of HIV/AIDSInfection rate more than twice that of North AmericaMore than 1 % of Caribbean population ages 15 to 49 has HIV/AIDS; Haiti, Guyana, Belize, over 2 % 15

European SettlementWhat did the Europeans want from the Caribbean region?Land for plantationBut diseases wiped out native populationsImported labor from abroadSlaves from AfricaEuropean countries out lawed slaveryLater on indentured servants from Asia16

COLONIAL SPHERES17

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Colonial HistoryCountryIndependence in:From:Haiti1804FranceDominican Republic1844UKCuba1898SpanishSuriname1954NetherlandsJamaica1960sUKBahamas1973UKDominica1978UKBelize1981UKSt. Kitts and Nevis1983UK

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Territories Today BritishCayman IslandsTurks and CaicosAnguillaMontserratFrenchFrench GuianaMartiniqueGuadeloupeDutchCuracaoBonaireSt. MartinSabaUSAPuerto Rico

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20Why do so many of the territories in the Caribbean still remain part of the colonial system?

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MigrationCaribbean diaspora: the economic flight of Caribbean peoples across the globeFIGURE 5.12Caribbean DiasporaAs a region, the Caribbean has one of the highest negative rates of net migration in the world, at 3.0. That means for every 1,000 people in the region, 3.0 annually leave.

Pull towards the former colonial powers

This migration pattern has spread aspects of Caribbean culture around the world.

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Looking at it another way, notice that many countries have a negative migration ratepeople are moving out.

TABLE 5.122

Urban GeographyThe contrast between urban and rural is not as stark here as in other regions.Rural activities in urban settingsInfluence of plantation and subsistence farming. Arable lands were owned by elite; small plots for subsistence agricultureLarge urban centers were unnecessaryHouseyards small, enclosed properties of half acre or lessTypifies blending of rural subsistence, economic survival, and matriarchy23

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The look of the cityCities were laid out on a grid like their Spanish counterpartsHeavily fortifiedEasier to control native populationsHousingAs urbanization occurred, thousands poured into the citiesErected shantytowns; filled informal sectorElectricity pirated from power linesIn Cuba, government-built apartment blocks reflect socialismHousing landscape homogeneity24

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Houseyard25Features:Elements of subsistence farming, animals, treesExtended family residentsRental units (sometimes)FencePrivate space in urban areafew outsidersMatriarchalwomen household headsMany household members work in city and migrate for work in tourist industry

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26In this map of the Kingston Jamaica, notice that the city is an amalgamation of houseyards in the interior. Most of the citys infrastructure is on the harbor side and is to service tourism.

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Take quiz 5.2 27

Culture

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29Language is ALWAYS a clue to culture. This map shows the official language in the area. None of these are native, all are imposed by colonialism.

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African influences

30At least 10 million Africans landed in the Americas during the four centuries in which the Atlantic slave trade operated. Most of the slaves came from West Africa, especially the Gold Coast (now Ghana) and the Bight of Biafra (now Nigeria). Angola, in southern Africa, was also an important source area.

Area sometimes referred to as Neo-Africa (new Africa),

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Creating a Neo-AfricaMaroon societiesCommunities of escaped slaves (Maroons)Many short-lived, but others survived and helped African traditions and farming practices to surviveExist in isolated areas, e.g., the Bush Negroes of Suriname31

FIGURE 5.20 African Religious Influences

Most strongly associated with northeastern Brazil and the Caribbean

Voodoo most widely practiced

Great example of religious syncretism

African religions32

CreolizationBlending of African, European, Amerindian cultural elements into a unique systemLanguageSpanish (24 million)French (8 million)English (6 million)Dutch (500,000)

How does this relate to the African Diaspora?How does this relate to colonization?

FIGURE 5.21Caribbean Language Map

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PidginA simplified form of speech that is usually a mixture of two or more languages, has a rudimentary grammar and vocabulary, is used for communication between groups speaking different languages, and is not spoken as a first or native language. Also called contact language How is this different from lingua franca?34

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Creole languagesOf or relating to a language that arises from contact between two other languages and has features of both.A mother tongue that originates from contact between two languagesExample:Creole in LouisianaPapiamento (Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, English and African dialects)35

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Caribbean statesCountryPop den.EthnicityLiteracyUnemploymentAntigua & Barbuda 338Black, UK, Port, Lebanese4%9%Belize28Mestizo, Creole, Maya, Garafunda91%13%Bahamas55Black, White90%9%Haiti641Black, Mulatto, European53%60%Guyana8East Indian, Black, Mulatto, Amerindian, Chinese, European99%12%Jamaica601African, Euro., East Indian, White, Chinese98%4%

36The cultural diversity persists today.

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Creolization and Caribbean identityMusicSeveral forms emerged in the regionReggae, calypso, merengue, rumba, zouk, Afro-CaribbeanSteel drumsMusic of Bob Marley reflects Jamaicas political situationFIGURE 5.22 Carnival DrummerFIGURE 5.23 Haitis Rara Music

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Take quiz 5.3 38

GeopoliticsYou may skip this section in the book and there will be no quiz. 39

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Economic and Social Development

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From fields to factories and resortsHistorically linked to world economy through agricultureTourism, offshore banking, assembly plants more important nowSugarCrucial to the economic history of the CaribbeanImportance of sugarcane has declined somewhatSince 1990, Cuban sugarcane harvest has declined by 50 percentThe banana warsMajor exporters are in Latin America (not Caribbean)Several states in Lesser Antilles are dependent on banana productionSales depend on trade agreements and consumer whimsExperiments with other crops to reduce dependence on bananas41

RemittancesMoney sent by immigrants to their country of origin.

Related to Brain DrainCaribbean Diaspora

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Brain Drain and RemittancesDr Jerry Mitchell, University of South CarolinaBoth of these short videos are posted under the button Geography Department VideosYou may need to download Quick Time for them to play. 43

PovertyA discussion of poverty in the region is the subject of your weekly topic on the discussion board.

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Take quiz 5.4 45