ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS IN MEXICO AND BRAZIL

AIR POLLUTION IN MEXICO CITY, MEXICO

Mexico City Lies in a bowl-shaped valley that traps the air in the city the smog can not escape Home to 19 million people, 3 million cars, and thousands of factories

Solutions Trying to limit driving by encouraging people to ride buses and trains to work Encouraging people to carpool Drivers must leave their cars at home at least one day a week Inspections on cars to promote cleaner exhaust systems Periodic closing of pollution producing factories

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS IN BRAZIL DESTRUCTION OF THE RAIN FOREST

The Amazon rain forest is the largest rain forest in the world.

Its trees and plants create 20% of the world’s oxygen.

The rain forest is home to thousands of species of plants and animals, many of which exist no where else on the planet.

There are many indigenous people who have had little or no contact with the outside world.

These people depend on the forest for everything they need to survive.

The forest is full of plants with medicinal properties.

Indigenous people show researchers plants they have traditionally used for healing.

In what has been called “slash and burn”, the forest is being cleared at an alarming rate.

Deforestation causes loss of habitat needed by both plants and animals.

These are all endangered species found in the Amazon rain forest.

What happens to the plants and animals when the forest no longer exists?