Chapter 11 NotesChapter 11 Notes

Today’s Issues: Latin AmericaToday’s Issues: Latin America

Its colonial past has left Latin America Its colonial past has left Latin America with long-term problems, including with long-term problems, including

environmental crises, political environmental crises, political instability, poverty and crime.instability, poverty and crime.

EnvironmentalEnvironmental

Rain ForestsRain Forests Rain Forests have great Rain Forests have great

biodiversitybiodiversity--• Wide range of plant & animal Wide range of plant & animal

speciesspecies• Cover 6% of earth but are home to Cover 6% of earth but are home to

50% of earth’s species50% of earth’s species

Slash and BurnSlash and Burn As the region becomes more populated, As the region becomes more populated,

more room is needed for land and farmsmore room is needed for land and farms Slash-&-Burn Farming-Slash-&-Burn Farming- cut down trees, cut down trees,

brush, grasses, and then burn the debris brush, grasses, and then burn the debris • Effective method in tropical regionsEffective method in tropical regions• Leading to destruction of rain forestsLeading to destruction of rain forests

DeforestationDeforestation

Deforestation-Deforestation- cutting cutting down & clearing of trees down & clearing of trees • Major problem in the rain Major problem in the rain

forests of the worldforests of the world• Why are they cut down?Why are they cut down?• Global Warming?

Global Warming?Global Warming?

Global Warming & Rain Global Warming & Rain Forests-Forests-• Absorb carbon dioxide from Absorb carbon dioxide from

atmosphereatmosphere• As they are cut down, As they are cut down,

carbon dioxide then builds carbon dioxide then builds up in the atmosphereup in the atmosphere

• Causing temps. to riseCausing temps. to rise

Rain Forest Rain Forest PreservationPreservation

Rain Forest PreservationRain Forest Preservation• Environmentalists have programs such as Environmentalists have programs such as debt-for-debt-for-

nature swap-nature swap- Environmental organizations agree to pay off part of a Environmental organizations agree to pay off part of a

governments debt in order to protect part of the rain forestgovernments debt in order to protect part of the rain forest

Political Instability and PovertyPolitical Instability and Poverty

Government and Social Government and Social DivideDivide

After the Spanish Conquest, After the Spanish Conquest, most of Latin America was most of Latin America was ruled by Spanish colonists, ruled by Spanish colonists, this is known as rule by the this is known as rule by the few, or few, or oligarchy.oligarchy.• Limited rights & freedomsLimited rights & freedoms

Military GovernmentsMilitary Governments

If this didn’t work then the If this didn’t work then the government would be run by government would be run by generals, this is known as a generals, this is known as a juntajunta..

The CaudilloThe Caudillo

CaudilloCaudillo- military - military dictator of Latin Americadictator of Latin America• Existed mainly during the Existed mainly during the

2020thth Century Century• Most famous would be Most famous would be

Juan Peron of ArgentinaJuan Peron of Argentina• Supported by wealthy & Supported by wealthy &

militarymilitary

Struggle Between Rich and PoorStruggle Between Rich and Poor

The Caudillo caused many The Caudillo caused many problems for their countries.problems for their countries.

Many times, they often only Many times, they often only paid attention to the needs paid attention to the needs of the rich and wealthy who of the rich and wealthy who supported them.supported them.

This left the common people This left the common people to suffer.to suffer.

There is a great divide There is a great divide between rich and poor.between rich and poor.

Struggle Between Rich and PoorStruggle Between Rich and Poor According to the United According to the United

Nations, the gap between Nations, the gap between the rich and poor in Latin the rich and poor in Latin America is the largest in America is the largest in the world.the world.

The top 20% of the The top 20% of the wealthiest people hold wealthiest people hold 57% of all resources. 57% of all resources.

Urbanization is rampant as Urbanization is rampant as many people have flocked many people have flocked to cities looking for jobs.to cities looking for jobs.

This, in fact, leads to more This, in fact, leads to more rampant poverty.rampant poverty.

In some places such as In some places such as Brazil, upwards of 50% of Brazil, upwards of 50% of the population is living in the population is living in impoverished conditions.impoverished conditions.

CrimeCrime

Drug TradeDrug Trade

The The illegal drug trade in illegal drug trade in Latin AmericaLatin America concerns concerns primarily the production primarily the production and export to the United and export to the United States and Europe of States and Europe of cocaine, meth, marijuana cocaine, meth, marijuana and heroin.and heroin.

While drug use is While drug use is relatively low in Latin relatively low in Latin American countries, drug American countries, drug trafficking has increased trafficking has increased in recent years.in recent years.

Drug TradeDrug Trade

Columbia produces mostly Columbia produces mostly opium and cocaine, Jamaica opium and cocaine, Jamaica produces marijuana and Mexico produces marijuana and Mexico produces both.produces both.

90% of cocaine and 80% of meth 90% of cocaine and 80% of meth enters the U.S. via Mexico.enters the U.S. via Mexico.

Drug TradeDrug Trade

Mexican and Columbian drug Mexican and Columbian drug cartels generate around $39 cartels generate around $39 billion a year in revenue.billion a year in revenue.

Mexican cartels are currently Mexican cartels are currently considered the "greatest considered the "greatest organized crime threat" to the organized crime threat" to the United States.United States.

Though many efforts have Though many efforts have been made to stop drug been made to stop drug trafficking, its seems the trafficking, its seems the business is too lucrative to business is too lucrative to ever eliminate it completely.ever eliminate it completely.

Drug TradeDrug Trade As a result of the concentration As a result of the concentration

of drug trafficking, Latin of drug trafficking, Latin America and the Caribbean has America and the Caribbean has the world's highest crime rates, the world's highest crime rates, with murder reaching 32.6 per with murder reaching 32.6 per 100,000 of population in 2008.100,000 of population in 2008.

Violence has surged in Mexico Violence has surged in Mexico since 2006 when the Mexican since 2006 when the Mexican President intensified the President intensified the Mexican Drug War.Mexican Drug War.

In total, Mexico’s drug war has In total, Mexico’s drug war has claimed 50,000 lives.claimed 50,000 lives.

Ciudad JuarezCiudad Juarez Ciudad Juarez is Mexico’s deadliest city Ciudad Juarez is Mexico’s deadliest city

due to drug trafficking and drug wars.due to drug trafficking and drug wars. This city is home to widespread This city is home to widespread

poverty and violence.poverty and violence. Some researchers have predicted over Some researchers have predicted over

5,000 murders will occur in Ciudad 5,000 murders will occur in Ciudad Juarez alone in 2011.Juarez alone in 2011.

This is 10x worse than the most This is 10x worse than the most murderous cities in the U.S.murderous cities in the U.S.

Such violence has changed the way of Such violence has changed the way of life. life.

People now stay indoors more often for fear of People now stay indoors more often for fear of kidnapping or random violence.kidnapping or random violence.

Ciudad JuarezCiudad Juarez While more police and While more police and

military personnel are in the military personnel are in the region, the violence persists.region, the violence persists.

In 2008, Police Chief Major In 2008, Police Chief Major Castro and several other Castro and several other police officers were police officers were abducted by heavily armed abducted by heavily armed men.men.

Three days later, his Three days later, his decapitated body and decapitated body and severed head were dumped severed head were dumped in front of the police station.in front of the police station.

Pablo EscobarPablo Escobar Pablo Escobar was perhaps the Pablo Escobar was perhaps the

most famous drug lord.most famous drug lord. He was the head of the famous He was the head of the famous

Colombian Medellin CartelColombian Medellin Cartel in in the 1970’s and 1980’s and was the 1970’s and 1980’s and was mainly responsible for the large mainly responsible for the large scale introduction of the drug scale introduction of the drug cocainecocaine to the United States. to the United States.

It was said he was responsible It was said he was responsible for 80% of all cocaine trafficked for 80% of all cocaine trafficked to the U.S.to the U.S.

Pablo EscobarPablo Escobar He started at 20 years old by He started at 20 years old by

buying coca paste and refining buying coca paste and refining it into cocaine.it into cocaine.

Soon thereafter, he was making Soon thereafter, he was making billions of dollars.billions of dollars.

His fortune was endless.His fortune was endless. He owned many large estates He owned many large estates

with mansions, his own personal with mansions, his own personal zoo, airstrips, warehouses for zoo, airstrips, warehouses for production and an army of production and an army of hardened soldiers and criminals.hardened soldiers and criminals.

He even owned his own soccer He even owned his own soccer team team/club!team team/club!

Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar made so much Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar made so much money that he spent $2,500 a month on rubber money that he spent $2,500 a month on rubber

bands to bundle up his stacks of cash.bands to bundle up his stacks of cash.

Pablo EscobarPablo Escobar

Escobar’s ruthlessness was Escobar’s ruthlessness was legendary. legendary.

His rise was opposed by many His rise was opposed by many honest politicians, judges and honest politicians, judges and policemen, who did not like the policemen, who did not like the growing influence of this street growing influence of this street thug.thug.

However, Escobar had a saying However, Escobar had a saying on how to deal with this, “plata on how to deal with this, “plata o plomo”.o plomo”.

What do you think he meant What do you think he meant by this?by this?

Pablo EscobarPablo Escobar

Escobar was Escobar was always ready for always ready for war and he had an war and he had an army to back him army to back him up.up.

Killing was just an Killing was just an average day for average day for him.him.

Pablo EscobarPablo Escobar Despite his ruthlessness, Escobar Despite his ruthlessness, Escobar

also had a soft side.also had a soft side. He often made time for those he He often made time for those he

loved, especially his children.loved, especially his children. He also reached out to the He also reached out to the

community and gave back.community and gave back. He spent millions on parks, He spent millions on parks,

schools, stadiums, churches and schools, stadiums, churches and even housing for the poorest even housing for the poorest people of his hometown of people of his hometown of Medellín.Medellín.

In a way, he was like the In a way, he was like the Colombian Robin Hood.Colombian Robin Hood.

Pablo EscobarPablo Escobar

According to According to Forbes MagazineForbes Magazine, , at the height of his power in at the height of his power in the mid 1980’s, Escobar was the mid 1980’s, Escobar was the 7the 7thth richest man in the richest man in the world.world.

He was worth around $24 He was worth around $24 billion. billion.

He was more powerful than He was more powerful than many political leaders.many political leaders.

He could order the murder of He could order the murder of anyone, anytime.anyone, anytime.

Pablo EscobarPablo Escobar Being one of the most Being one of the most

ruthless and powerful people ruthless and powerful people in the world also has it’s in the world also has it’s drawbacks.drawbacks.

He was a wanted man by He was a wanted man by many, including the United many, including the United States.States.

In 1991, the U.S. called for his In 1991, the U.S. called for his arrest and to be extradited.arrest and to be extradited.

A massive manhunt was A massive manhunt was organized and Escobar went organized and Escobar went into hiding.into hiding.

Pablo EscobarPablo Escobar In late 1992, there were In late 1992, there were

many organizations many organizations looking for Escobar, looking for Escobar, including a U.S. trained including a U.S. trained Colombian Task Force as Colombian Task Force as well as rival cartels.well as rival cartels.

In 1993, using U.S. security In 1993, using U.S. security technology, Escobar was technology, Escobar was located at a house in located at a house in Medellin. Medellin.

The task force moved in to The task force moved in to apprehend him but apprehend him but Escobar fought back.Escobar fought back.

Pablo EscobarPablo Escobar

There was a shootout and Escobar was There was a shootout and Escobar was gunned down as he tried to escape on the gunned down as he tried to escape on the

rooftop of the house.rooftop of the house.

Pablo EscobarPablo Escobar

With Escobar gone, the Medellín With Escobar gone, the Medellín Cartel quickly lost power.Cartel quickly lost power.

However, more drug cartels rose However, more drug cartels rose up to take it’s place.up to take it’s place.

While he is gone, many people While he is gone, many people are still fascinated and intrigued are still fascinated and intrigued by one of the most powerful by one of the most powerful crime lords in history.crime lords in history.

And while some people And while some people considered him evil, others considered him evil, others loved him and often visit his loved him and often visit his grave out of respect.grave out of respect.